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Gurugram, July 30: JBM Auto Limited, India’s leading automotive and electric vehicle company (BSE: 532605 & NSE Code: JBMA), today announced its consolidated results for the quarter ended 30th June 2026 and has registered a 15.96 % increase in net profit to Rs. 42.43 crore in Q1FY27 as compared to Rs. 36.59 crore in Q1FY26.

Revenues including other operating income stood at Rs. 1,442.45 crore compared to Rs. 1,253.88 crore in Q1FY26, an increase of 15.04 %. EBIDTA increased by 8.48 % at Rs. 194.88 crore compared to Rs. 179.65 crore in Q1FY26. Earnings per share (EPS) for Q1FY27 stood at Rs. 1.78, compared to Rs. 1.56 in Q1FY26.

The EV business of the company registered a 16.67% increase in revenues to Rs. 460.04 crore in Q1FY27 as compared to Rs. 394.31 crore in Q1FY26. The auto components business demonstrated a sustained growth at 15.53% in revenues to Rs. 894.12 crore in Q1FY27 as compared to Rs. 773.91 in the corresponding quarter last year.

Highlights of the Quarter

1. JBM EV retained its market leadership with a ~25% market share in Q1FY27.
2. JBM Ecolife Mobility (P) Ltd, part of JBM Auto, secured 750cr strategic investment from Motilal Oswal to scale e-bus deployment pan India.
3. Signed an agreement with DRIVN, an electric commercial vehicle leasing platform for supplying 500 ultra-modern electric luxury buses.
4. Reduced long term debt by Rs. 500 cr approx.
5. Shri. Amit Shah, Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs, flagged off 155 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Ahmedabad and 40 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
6. Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport & Highways launched JBM Galaxy, India’s first indigenous sleeper and seater electric luxury coach at Prawaas, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
7. Shri. Bhupendra Patel, Hon’ble CM of Gujarat, flagged off 130 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Vadodara, Gujarat.
8. Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon’ble CM of Delhi, flagged off 110 JBM Ecolife electric buses in New Delhi.
9. Shri. Nayab Singh Saini, Hon’ble CM of Haryana, flagged off 70 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Panipat, Haryana.
10. Shri. Anil Vij, Hon’ble Transport Minister of Haryana flagged 20 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Ambala, Hayana.
11. Shri. Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Govt. of Gujarat, flagged off 25 JBM Ecolife electric buses in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
12. JBM Auto recognised in Hurun India 500, a prestigious list of India’s 500 most valuable companies.

Daiva Rakauskaitė, CFA, partner and fund manager of Aneli Capital  

From Nvidia’s multibillion-dollar bets to Europe’s first dedicated photonics exchange traded fund, investor interest in the sector is surging, yet industry leaders say Europe still lacks the funding to scale its own champions.

Vilnius, Lithuania, July 30:  The AI boom, together with rising investment in 5G, defence quantum computing and medical technologies, is renewing investor interest in photonics. But as more capital flows into the sector, European companies face intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers, raising concerns that Europe may struggle to turn its scientific strengths into industrial scale, an investor warns.

Since March, Nvidia has backed US photonics companies Coherent and Lumentum, among other optics and AI networking investments worth over $6 billion combined, as it seeks to replace electrical connections with faster, more efficient optical ones. Beyond data centres, 5G, quantum computing, medical technology, and defence are also fueling photonics demand, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Amid the investor rush, Defiance has launched Europe’s first dedicated photonics ETF, listed on the London Stock Exchange and Borsa Italiana since 9 July.

According to Daiva Rakauskaitė, managing partner at a VC fund Aneli Capital, this is a strong catalyst for Europe’s photonics leaders to build on the region’s scientific and engineering strengths and translate them into industrial scale faster. This matters because, over the last two decades, China’s share of the photonics market has tripled to more than 30%, while Europe’s has fallen to 15%, according to a previous report by Photonics21, the European Technology Platform for Photonics.

Europe still produces world-class laser science; now it needs to make a decisive strategic move by investing to close the scale-up gap,” Rakauskaitė says. “A European startup with a working photonics design should already be able to build it at scale, rather than having European businesses turn to Chinese competitors instead. Europe is still inventing photonics and should be a committed customer of its own technology.”

The leading European companies from defence, manufacturing and other industries including Mercedes, Bosch, Volkswagen, last year issued a joint statement urging to strengthen

the resilience and sustainability of Europe’s strategic photonic supply chains. 

Some of these challenges were addressed in the Chips Act proposal, as Integrated photonics was listed as a key enabling technology alongside traditional electronics. Therefore, according to Rakauskaitė, further measures are needed to help businesses move from research and pilot production to commercially competitive manufacturing.

“Strengthening European photonics means backing startups all the way through, from first prototype to full-scale production, with patient capital and policy that treats them as strategic assets. It also means governments recognizing that a photonics startup succeeding at scale is a matter of economic security,” Rakauskaitė says.

One of the proofs that Europe can manufacture lasers at home is Lithuania, which marks the 60th anniversary of its laser industry this year. 90–95% of Lithuanian laser production is exported to more than 80 countries, while the sector continues to grow by more than 16% annually, according to the Lithuanian Innovation Agency.

“Lithuania shows that Europe can build globally competitive laser companies. The next challenge is ensuring that companies emerging across Europe have access to the capital and manufacturing capacity needed to achieve the same success at industrial scale,” Rakauskaitė concludes.

India, July 30: Haier Smart Home, part of Haier Appliances India, global major appliances brand for 17 consecutive years, has once again earned its place on the prestigious 2026 Fortune Global 500 list. It has surged an impressive 12 spots to secure the No. 378 rank. This marks its ninth straight year on this esteemed index. The result reflects two forces that have been building in parallel: a global brand and operations footprint that has matured into genuine local leadership in every major market, and an AI integration effort that is restructuring how the organization itself works.

Global Brands, Local Leadership

Haier Smart Home’s brand portfolio, including Haier, Casarte, Leader, GE Appliances, Fisher & Paykel, AQUA, and Candy, operates as market leaders with their own manufacturing bases, R&D mandates, and product roadmaps tailored to local users. In North America, GE Appliances has held the No. 1 position among U.S. appliance companies for four consecutive years, with enlarging market share. In Europe, the company organizes by country rather than region, prioritizing speed of local response over scale efficiency. The X11 washing machine — engineered across Nuremberg, Milan, and China — consumes 70% less energy than Europe’s highest A-class standard and has sold over one million units across 20-plus countries. In Southeast Asia, where Haier now ranks No. 1, a new air conditioning production base also deepens local manufacturing capabilities.

The core strength lies in operating as a local incumbent in each market — with the product depth, manufacturing proximity, and brand resonance that incumbency demands.

AI Embedded, Not Bolted On

Internally, Haier Smart Home has embedded AI across every function through a self-developed domain-specific large model and a unified technology platform. The internal entry point, ZhiXiaoNeng, is an AI digital worker serving more than 60,000 users that independently executes complete processes.

In manufacturing engineering, ZhiXiaoNeng drafts process plans from historical data, compressing an hours-long task into minutes with a 20% improvement in accuracy. The engineer’s role shifts from drafter to reviewer — a redefinition of the work itself. Across the organization, new product development cycles have shortened by 30%, manufacturing efficiency is up 20%, and the SG&A expense ratio has declined for five consecutive years.

This represents organizational velocity — the speed at which a signal from a user in Lyon or Lucknow can translate into a product change, a service adjustment, or a new scenario offering.

Where It Converges

The smart home business sits where these two forces meet. Centered on an AI Agent, Haier Smart Home delivers AI products that anticipate user needs, AI scenarios that coordinate devices into coherent experiences, and AI lifestyles that extend intelligence into a unified person-vehicle-home-community continuum.

The scale is no longer experimental: 130 million global registered users, 86.1 billion annual scenario interactions, and certification from Euromonitor International as the world’s No. 1 enterprise by smart home sales — a shift from No. 1 in major appliances to No. 1 in smart homes.

Taken together, the Fortune Global 500 climb is not a single-year event. It is the measurable outcome of a company that has been building local leadership in every market it serves and embedding AI across every function it runs — and the two are now reinforcing each other in ways that are difficult for competitors to replicate.

India July 30: AGI Greenpac Limited, India’s leading packaging products company and the country’s most profitable glass packaging manufacturer, today announced recommendation of appointment of Mr. Shashvat Somany as Joint Managing Director (JMD), for 5 years effective from 1st October 2026, subject to shareholders approval.

Mr. Shashvat Somany holds an MBA in Technology and Analytics from London Business School and a BA in Economics and also in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He currently serves as the Head of Strategy of the Company, where he has led several strategy and transformation initiatives across the Group’s businesses. He also founded SIG Tattva, the corporate venture capital platform of the Company, built around backing deep-tech innovation alongside sustainability-driven clean technologies and enterprise SaaS solutions. He began his career with Deloitte Consulting, advising clients across the consumer, industrial, and telecommunications sectors, before joining AGI Greenpac.

In his new role, Mr. Shashvat Somany will work alongside Mr. Sandip Somany, Chairman and Managing Director, overseeing the Company’s operations and its expansion across manufacturing capacity. This spans the Company’s core categories of container glass and specialty glass, its PET bottles and security caps & closures businesses, and its recent entry into aluminium cans.

Mr. Sandip Somany, Chairman and Managing Director, AGI Greenpac Limited, said: “AGI Greenpac has always believed that businesses endure when they are built on strong fundamentals and clear purpose, carried through by consistent execution. The Board’s recommendation reflects a considered view of what the Company needs at this stage of its growth, as it expands into new categories and strengthens its manufacturing base. Shashvat has been closely involved in shaping this direction through his work across the Group, and I am confident that alongside our leadership team, he will continue to create lasting value for all our stakeholders.”

Mr. Shashvat Somany, Head of Strategy, AGI Greenpac Limited said: “I am honoured by the Board’s recommendation for me to take on the role of Joint Managing Director at AGI Greenpac. We are at a defining moment for the Company, diversifying into aluminium cans while expanding our footprint geographically and investing in increasing our manufacturing capacity. Together, these reflect our collective ambition to become a truly integrated packaging partner for leading brands, built on innovation and operational excellence. I look forward to working closely with our teams, customers and stakeholders as we build on AGI Greenpac‘s strong foundation and create long-term value.”

Furniture has grown far beyond its traditional purpose. Every cabinet alongside wardrobe, kitchen, workstation as well as retail display today serves as a combination of aesthetics, engineering & long-term performance. Consumers admire elegant surfaces and flawless finishes while designers & manufacturers evaluate durability along with consistency & lifecycle value. Within this equation, one component quietly determines how furniture performs through years of daily use i.e., the edgeband. As India’s furniture industry continues its journey towards greater sophistication, the conversation around edgebands deserves similar attention. Every project carries unique performance expectations, making the choice of the right edgeband an important design and engineering decision.

Understanding the Purpose of an Edgeband

Furniture panels irrespective of MDF, particle board or plywood – requires edge protection after cutting. Exposed edges remain vulnerable to chipping, moisture ingress and gradual deterioration. An edgeband seals these edges while enhancing the visual appeal of the finished product. Its contribution extends across several dimensions. It improves impact resistance besides protecting decorative surfaces & preserves structural integrity – thus creating smooth tactile finishes & enables consistent colour coordination across furniture elements. For environments experiencing continuous use such as kitchens other than offices, healthcare facilities, hospitality projects and educational institutions – these characteristics directly influence the useful life of the furniture. As furniture moves into increasingly demanding applications, edgebands have progressed from simple finishing accessories to engineered performance components.

Every Furniture Application Has Different Expectations

A residential wardrobe experiences an entirely different usage pattern compared to a hospital workstation or a busy retail environment. Kitchen cabinets encounter humidity, temperature fluctuations and frequent cleaning. Office furniture undergoes repeated movements and constant handling over many years. Hospitality interiors mix heavy usage with increased aesthetic demands. Each application places different demands on furniture edges. Selecting a suitable edgeband therefore requires evaluation of its intended environment rather than consideration of colour or thickness alone. General furniture applications often benefit from reliable, quality-driven solutions that provide consistent appearance and reliable performance for everyday use.

The Difference: General Purpose and High Performance Edgebands

The industry currently broadly operates across two categories. General Purpose Edgebands support a wide range of furniture applications where functionality, aesthetics and value remain the primary considerations. They provide reliable edge protection whilst supporting diverse design requirements across residential and commercial furniture. High Performance Edgebands are the next step in furniture engineering. These solutions are developed for projects where durability, precision, design consistency and lifecycle performance are more important. Material composition, colour stability, dimensional accuracy, superior bonding characteristics and advanced manufacturing technologies lead to better long term performance. The distinction resembles the evolution witnessed across several material categories. Flooring, architectural glass, hardware and decorative surfaces have all progressed from standard products towards performance-driven solutions designed for specialised applications. Edgebands are following the same path.

Material Engineering Shapes Furniture Performance (Revised)

Modern edgebands are the outcome of continuous advances in polymer science and precision manufacturing. Material selection influences flexibility, impact resistance, machining behaviour, colour consistency and long-term dimensional stability. Equally important is the quality of the polymer itself. A uniform, filler-free composition ensures colour consistency throughout the entire thickness of the edgeband, preserving a sophisticated finish after trimming and machining, while facilitating smoother processing and reduced tool wear. Premium formulations also contribute to healthier interiors by eliminating regulated hazardous substances from the material itself, allowing furniture makers to meet changing environmental expectations while delivering consistent mechanical performance. Consistency in application is just as important. Tight dimensional tolerances, engineered bonding surfaces and superior adhesive interaction enable the edgeband to bond securely to the panel, creating durable joints that withstand humidity, temperature fluctuations and years of daily use.

Performance Extends Beyond Installation (Revised)

Furniture continues interacting with its surroundings throughout its service life. Daily cleaning, changing temperatures, sunlight, humidity and continuous usage gradually influence every component. An engineered edgeband preserves bond integrity through these changing conditions while maintaining colour consistency and structural stability. Carefully engineered bonding layers promote uniform adhesive interaction, reducing the possibility of edge lifting, peeling or joint deterioration over time. Precision profile geometry further improves the way the edgeband conforms to the panel during application, allowing uniform pressure distribution, minimal glue-line visibility and an exceptionally refined finish. Premium furniture manufacturers increasingly evaluate lifecycle performance rather than installation alone, since customer satisfaction ultimately depends upon furniture looking and performing as intended over many years.

Design Freedom Matters as Much as Durability (Revised)

Furniture design today embraces a wider spectrum of colours, textures and finishes than ever before. Matte surfaces, natural woodgrains, stones, metallic finishes and contemporary monochromes demand equally sophisticated edge solutions. Modern edgebands therefore contribute as much to visual harmony as they do to protection. Multi-stage precision printing technologies reproduce décor with remarkable depth, sharper pattern definition and exceptional shade consistency, allowing the edge to mirror the decorative surface with impressive accuracy. Further protective surface coatings preserve colour fidelity against ultraviolet exposure, routine cleaning and everyday abrasion, enabling furniture to retain its intended appearance for a long time. Laser & zero-joint processing technologies further enhance this visual continuity, making transitions between the decorative surface and the edge virtually invisible, and conferring the furniture a seamless, monolithic appearance.

Going with the Right Solution (Revised)

Selecting an edgeband often begins with understanding the intended furniture application. Residential furniture designed for everyday living benefits from dependable, quality-driven edge solutions that balance appearance and durability. Premium kitchens besides hospitality interiors as well as healthcare environments plus educational institutions & high-traffic commercial furniture frequently call for advanced engineering that delivers stronger bond reliability alongside superior dimensional stability & enhanced colour permanence in addition to greater resistance to demanding service conditions. The conversation around edgebands has gradually shifted from covering an exposed edge to engineering furniture for its entire lifecycle. Material composition coupled with processing consistency along with bonding performance, environmental responsibility and visual precision together determine how furniture performs year after year.