Caterpillar has acquired Monarch Tractor, the agricultural technology startup that had been struggling under sustained pressure from dealers, farmers, and internal critics over product reliability. The deal ends Monarch's run as an independent company after the startup failed to stabilize its business amid deepening complaints about its core technology. Monarch had positioned itself as a pioneer in autonomous and electric tractor systems for the farming sector, but co-founder dissatisfaction and market-level grievances over functionality eroded its standing. The acquisition hands Caterpillar a foothold in smart agricultural equipment at a time when the industry is contesting the transition to electrified and autonomous farm machinery. How deeply Caterpillar integrates Monarch's technology versus absorbing its talent and customer relationships will determine whether the underlying platform survives or is quietly retired.
Flipkart will launch a food delivery pilot in Bengaluru by mid-August, charging restaurants a 10-11% commission compared to the 25-35% levied by Swiggy and Zomato. The move targets growing restaurant discontent with incumbent platforms and aims to drive daily engagement across Flipkart's 500 million registered users.
Maruti Suzuki crossed two lakh domestic units in July 2026 for the first time, recording 42.4% year-on-year growth. Total sales including exports and OEM supplies reached 2,41,421 units, with all passenger vehicle segments posting gains.
Air India's net loss more than doubled to ₹22,238 crore in FY26, prompting Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran to extend the Vihaan.AI turnaround timeline from five years to as long as a decade.
UpGrad's all-stock acquisition of Unacademy, valued at Rs 1,955 crore, is set to close within three weeks after CCI clearance and near-complete investor sign-offs. The deal combines upGrad's upskilling business with Unacademy's test prep and medical education platforms, with Gaurav Munjal staying on as CEO.
