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Ford Motor Co. has announced a shift in capital investment toward trucks, hybrid models and more affordable electric vehicles as it works to restore profitability and impose tighter discipline on its electrification strategy.

Under the agreement, Energy Core Lanka has been appointed as the authorised distributor of TotalEnergies lubricants in the country. The partnership aims to strengthen market access to OEM-approved lubricants for passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, and industrial equipment across Sri Lanka.

Renault Group has become the first automotive manufacturer to launch and exclusively offer a complete range of premium engine oils formulated with re-refined base oils (RRBO), reinforcing its efforts to lower the carbon footprint of its after-sales portfolio.

Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to introduce its first battery-electric vehicle, the eVitara, in the Indian market, where EV adoption is still at an early stage. While interest in electric mobility is steadily increasing, the automaker believes progress continues to be constrained by three key factors: real-world driving range, charging infrastructure and uncertainty over resale value.

Development of the replacement fuel-economy test for ILSAC GF-8 will begin again after the International Lubricants Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) determined that the proposed test hardware does not adequately represent modern engine designs and does not provide sufficient fuel-economy differentiation for a new passenger car engine oil category.

Idemitsu Kosan has begun supplying a biofuel blend for oceangoing vessels, marking the first time a Japanese oil refiner has entered this segment. The company announced that it is now delivering a blended fuel made from heavy fuel oil and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) to shipping operators, including Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha. Supply volumes are expected to reach 5,000 tonnes by March 2026, covering both domestic coastal vessels and international ships.

India and Germany brought together senior policymakers, industry executives, and international partners on Wednesday to advance a coordinated approach to electric mobility, marking the ninth edition of the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP) Conversation Series.

MOL Group’s lubricants subsidiary, MOL-LUB Ltd., has rolled out a Bag-in-Box packaging solution for its lubricants and engine oils, aimed at significantly reducing plastic consumption and lowering emissions associated with logistics. The company estimates that the new format can cut plastic use by as much as 80% compared with conventional 20-litre plastic canisters, supporting its broader circularity and decarbonisation goals.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has secured a five-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e VITARA electric SUV, marking the company’s fourth consecutive top rating under India’s national vehicle safety assessment programme.

TotalEnergies Marketing Qatar and Q-Auto LLC have renewed their exclusive lubricants supply agreement, extending the partnership through 2028. The renewal was announced on 18 November 2025 in Doha.
Under the extended agreement, TotalEnergies’ Quartz range of premium engine oils will continue to be supplied across Q-Auto’s authorised after-sales service network for Audi, Volkswagen, and Skoda vehicles in Qatar. The collaboration, which began in 2020, focuses on providing fully synthetic lubricants developed for modern hybrid and conventional engines.

Castrol has introduced BioTrans GB, an environmentally acceptable lubricant developed for marine thrusters, selected controllable pitch propeller systems, and deck machinery. The product complies with the U.S. Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) and meets the biodegradability, toxicity, and bioaccumulation criteria set out in the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP).

Shell Indonesia has introduced a new range of transformer fluids under the Shell MIDEL brand, expanding its portfolio with ester-based insulating liquids for the country’s power sector. The products are designed for both industrial and utility applications, including power and distribution transformers, as well as equipment used in renewable energy, rail, mining, and other industries.

BASF and ExxonMobil have entered a strategic collaboration to advance methane pyrolysis— a low-emission hydrogen production technology that generates hydrogen and solid carbon without process-related CO₂ emissions. The companies signed a joint development agreement on 17 November to co-develop the technology and plan to construct a demonstration plant in Baytown, Texas, USA.

Toyota will invest USD 912 million to expand hybrid-vehicle and hybrid powertrain production across five U.S. manufacturing plants, creating 252 new jobs as part of its multipathway strategy toward electrification. The announcement forms part of Toyota’s previously declared plan to invest up to USD 10 billion in its U.S. operations over five years.

Shell has unveiled a significant breakthrough in battery electric vehicle (BEV) thermal management with its new EV-Plus Thermal Fluid, which is capable of cooling all major BEV powertrain components through a single-circuit, single-fluid system.

RAVENOL has refreshed its lineup of high-performance brake fluids with a new, more ergonomic packaging design.
The updated golden containers now offer an improved grip and feature an airtight seal with a convenient pull tab, making opening and pouring easier and safer. Additionally, the caps are now color-coordinated with their respective labels to improve product differentiation.

Infineum, the UK-based additive manufacturer, and Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in lubricant technology and explore long-term business opportunities within India’s evolving mobility sector.

PTT Lubricants, the lubricant brand of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), has launched Thailand’s first engine oil certified under the new API SQ and ILSAC GF-7A standards.
Its PERFORMA Super Synthetic 0W-20 formulation—powered by PTT’s proprietary Evotec technology—meets the latest passenger car engine oil specifications introduced by the American Petroleum Institute in March 2025.

Shell Malaysia has celebrated 26 years of technical partnership with Ducati Corse in MotoGP by unveiling its latest flagship motorcycle lubricant — Shell Advance Ultra 10W-50 (API SP) — at the 2025 MotoGP held at the Sepang International Circuit.

Lubrizol has introduced Lubrizol AH933ZF, a zinc-free hydraulic fluid additive package engineered to deliver outstanding performance while reducing environmental impact in sensitive operating environments. The launch reinforces Lubrizol’s continued commitment to sustainable innovation in the global lubricants industry.