Project Malar Empowers 20 Women with E-Autos for Income and Green Mobility

By: WE Staff | Monday, 4 August 2025

• 20 women from Chennai and Chengalpattu empowered through E-Autos. 

• Electric auto-rickshaws provided for income and independence. 

• Promotes green mobility while building women-led micro-businesses 

Renault Nissan Technology and Business Center India (RNTBCI) have launched Project Malar, a unique initiative that combines women empowerment, green mobility and financial inclusion. Malar, which means “blooms” in Tamil, reflects the feeling of nourishing women to develop independent earnings and leaders within their communities. 

The program supports 20 courageous women of Chennai and Chengalpattu, carefully chosen through a community-centric procedure including proclamation of questionnaires and commitment. Extensive training is underway to equip these women with essential life and professional skills. Training encompasses driving and traffic-safety, the skills of map reading, financial literacy, customer-service, micro-marketing and even training on cyber security awareness. 

After successfully obtaining their driver's licenses, each participant will be provided with an Electric Auto-Rickshaw (E-Auto), giving them the opportunity to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. Through this initiative it is envisaged that every woman will earn at least 16,000 per month with constant guidance and financial assistance in first 18 months. 

To build long -term financial discipline, every participant opens a dedicated bank account linked to UPI services. They are encouraged to save 1,500 per month, promoting regular savings and future financial stability. 

Project Malar is also aligned with RNTBCI's commitment to sustainable urban mobility. By providing electric vehicles, the initiative not only supports micro-negotiations led by women, but also contributes to reducing air pollution and noise in busy areas of the city. 

This initiative is part of the broader mobility of RNTBCI as a service vision (MASS) and its CSR pillar, Our Neighbourhood, which focuses on the creation of self-sustaining local communities through inclusive development. 

"The Malar project reflects our belief that true progress comes from innovation and inclusion," said Debashis Neogi, administrative director of RNTBCI. "We are proud to support these 20 women to learn new skills, gain with dignity and grow with confidence." 

Sneha D., Collector of Chenggalpattu, added: "This is an attentive initiative to enable women. I wish all the best for women who receive these and-acute."