Ambassador, Honda, Isuzu D-Max: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari declares ownership of 3 cars in election affidavit
Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has disclosed ownership of three vehicles in his election affidavit filed for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Gadkari listed an Ambassador from 1994, a 2016 Honda CRV, and an Isuzu D-Max among his possessions. The latest addition to his garage, the Isuzu D Max, was purchased in 2024.

Government plans to develop plant for recycling lithium-ion batteries, e-waste in Uttarakhand
The Technology Development Board (TDB) recently announced a partnership with startup Remine India to build a commercial plant for recycling lithium-ion batteries and e-waste in Uttarakhand. The agreement provides INR 7.5 crore in financial assistance from TDB for the INR 15 crore project, said the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Original owners are not accountable for delays in vehicle registration transfers: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court recently issued a decision on the puzzling problem of car registration transfer to a new owner. The Supreme Court has addressed the process of car ownership transfer and whether the original owner can be held liable if the new owner fails to transfer the vehicle under their name despite having completed all of the documentation. We will clarify the Supreme Court’s observation and explain how to transfer automobile ownership.

Vehicles without HSRPs: RTOs to act against dealers
The state transport department, which has been receiving complaints of vehicles being delivered without high-security registration plates (HSRPs), has issued a directive asking its respective RTOs to carry out checks at the nearly 3,000-odd vehicle dealerships and investigate sales of vehicles without number plates.

Total vehicle domestic sales up 12.5% to 23.8 mn in FY24: SIAM
New Delhi: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) released data today revealing a surge in domestic vehicle sales for the financial year 2023-24. According to the latest figures, total vehicle sales soared by 12.5%, reaching a staggering 23.8 million units, compared to 21.2 million units in the previous fiscal year.

Automobile exports under stress in FY24, dip 5.5%
New Delhi: Overall exports remained under stress during the last financial year with sizeable drop in commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers, though passenger vehicles grew marginally, said Vinod Aggarwal, President, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Friday.

Firm economic growth helped Indian automobile industry post 12.5% sales growth
New Delhi: Backed by robust economic growth and conducive government, the Indian automobile industry has posted a satisfactory performance with sales growing by 12.5 % during the just-concluded financial year.

Passenger vehicle wholesales surge; up by 8.4% in FY24, SIAM data shows
Sale of entry-level cars, two-wheelers yet to hit pre-pandemic peak

Two wheeler, three wheeler and CV exports skid in FY24 on global woes

Exports of passenger vehicles (PVs) also increased marginally in 2023-24. Approximately 672,000 units of PVs were exported from India, recording a 1.4 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth. 

Stellantis, the maker of Jeep and Citroen brands, plans to make India an EV export hub
"We will be the first 'multinational OEM' in India to achieve this feat (to export EVs). We also have plans for a couple of other markets, Nepal and Bhutan. This is just the start...the plan is to take it from there," Stellantis India CEO & MD Aditya Jairaj told PTI.

Five per cent someone: What kind of ride is Tesla likely to have in India
 

Auto exports recover in Q4 riding robust two-wheeler shipments
 

Tata Motors: Positives fully priced in, analysts still upgrading the stock
There is no impediment to normal operations as Tata Motors puts in place the demerger process of its commercial and passenger vehicles businesses. Instead, the demerger would provide greater manoeuvrability for both new entities to operate independently, according to Tata Motors management. While there may not be immediate value unlocking, it will give investors clarity about future growth and the financials across different segments.

‘With demand changing, peak oil can happen soon. Some Indian steel and cement companies are leading the field in reducing emissions’
Jim Skea is Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Speaking to Srijana Mitra Das, he discusses key elements of the energy transition needed to combat global warming.

How Hollywood spiced up a simple car care guide
Hollywood has had an influence, not only on how India makes movies but also on how we wash cars — yes, you read that right. We Indians are willing to experiment, and Hollywood has only added more ‘masala’ to something as simple and essential as how one washes a car. It is nice to see women (no harm intended, ladies) get all dirty and wet in the process and slide over the bonnet, while we as Indians can even be more efficient and use a simple broom to sweep away all the dust.

`We work like a local firm with global capabilities' : Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director, Bridgestone India

Excerpts:

India-bound Volkswagen Tayron spied ahead of international debut
Volkswagen is working on a seven-seater SUV for the global market. At the company’s annual media conference held earlier in March this year, Volkswagen confirmed that they will be bringing this SUV to India sometime next year. Called Tayron, the German marque will bring the 7-seater SUV to India as a CKD unit.

Maruti to Honda: Check out new car prices, discounts for various models

Maruti Suzuki  

Hyundai Creta EV spied again, interiors revealed
Creta is one of the primary breadwinners for Hyundai in India. Not only volume, but the compact C-segment SUV also generates quite a bit of frenzy on social media. Hyundai wants to capitalise on the ‘Creta’ brand name and hence it is developing an all-electric version of the same to cater to the rising demands for EVs globally.

Car Review: Mercedes-Benz G-Class : When a Wagen hitches to a Star
The S-Class customer, it can be argued, has pretty much achieved most materialistic things in life. But when you see an S-Class customer (in his Rs.2 crore car) taking photos of the SUV you are driving, it has to be special. 

Mercedes-Benz India reports best ever sales in FY24, 10 per cent growth over last fiscal
 

BMW XM: Performance SUV reimagined
Do you remember the BMW M1? The Guigiaro-designed mid-engined supercar was unlike anything BMW had on offer, and it essentially gave impetus to the brand’s hallowed M division. Now it would be blasphemous to compare the BMW XM with the M1, but there are similarities. Firstly, as was the case with the M1, the XM isn’t an ‘M’ version of an existing car. It is instead a brand new SUV that puts performance before anything else. Do you want a lesser version? You can’t get a lesser version. Full stop. It’s a new direction for the sporting department, which allows them to amalgamate everything they’ve learnt about internal combustion engines with electric power. The flagship performance SUV might not be a supercar like the M1, but it has performance as its top priority, and the way it delivers makes it unique in the whole of the BMW line-up. We get in the driver’s seat to find out if it’s any good.

Truck rentals hold firm even after dip in diesel price
Truck rentals have remained largely unchanged in the first quarter of 2024, riding on robust economic activity and the year-end push to meet stock-up delivery commitments. This has been despite a INR 2 reduction in diesel prices in March.

DICV engineers in Chennai takes an ‘Offensive’ route to raise Daimler Truck’s competitiveness
In 2023, an estimated 14 Offensive Patents were filed for by the DICV engineering team. “That was the highest we have done so far on an offensive side,” Thimmaiyan tells ETAuto. There’s a ‘Defensive Patent’ too, which helps an individual/organisation to avoid or settle any future infringement lawsuit against it. There has been a stronger focus on filing for Offensive Patents by the engineers in Chennai after the reorganisation of Daimler AG in 2018 which saw the German major’s commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle businesses becoming independent entities.

Omega Seiki Mobility and Exponent Energy launches fast charging E3W at INR 3.25 lakh
OSM Stream city Qik with Exponent Energy’s 15-minute quick charge tech launched at Rs 3.24 lakh
The Financial Express

Sany India launches first fully electric indigenous open-cast mining truck
Sany India, a construction and mining equipment manufacturer, has introduced the SKT105E Electric Dump Truck, the first fully electric open cast mining truck. 

Domestic tractor sales fall 8% in FY24 on El Nino impact
Chennai: The tractor industry has ended the fiscal FY24 with an 8 per cent decline in domestic sales after reporting peak volumes in the previous fiscal. Though tractor exports fell 22 per cent in FY24, the March quarter signalled a rebound with positive growth in shipments.

Bajaj Pulsar N250 vs Suzuki Gixxer 250: Specs, features, prices compared
Bajaj provided its current flagship Pulsar– the N250– some crucial updates over its predecessor. In its latest avatar, the quarter-litre naked roadster is a lot more feature-packed. Let us find out how it compares in terms of specs and prices against its direct competitor Suzuki Gixxer 250.

Kawasaki Eliminator: Cruiser control
Afamiliar name on a slightly unfamiliar bike, isn’t it? The Kawasaki Eliminator isn’t quite the same as its namesake from the early 2000s. It’s grown up, doesn’t sport a Bajaj badge, and has Ninja DNA in it. Priced at ₹5.62 lakh, ex-showroom, it’s a fair bit more expensive than the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650. So while not in terms of value, what does the Eliminator have in store for the end consumer, and why should they take it seriously? We take the blacked-out machine for a spin to find out all that and more.

Ola to slash S1X's price?
Ola introduced its most affordable electric scooter, the S1X, last August. The S1X kWh model was launched at introductory price of INR 79,999 post which it was to cost INR 89,999 while the 3kWh model was to cost INR 89,999 for the first week and INR 99,999 after that.

TVS Supply Chain achieves delivery of 5 lakh CKD kits to TVS Motor

This milestone highlights the significance of our digital capabilities, scalability and adaptability that ensured we stayed in line with our customers’ evolving requirements, said Ravi Viswanathan, Managing Director, TVS Supply Chain Solutions.

Oil’s rise complicates global war on inflation
Oil’s on the boil, and India’s finances wouldn’t look that pretty if fuel-stoked inflation rearers its ugly head. A Morgan Stanley study showed if global crude oil prices rise to USD 110-120 a barrel in the next 3-4 months due to supply or geopolitical concerns, India’s inflation fight could stretch.

Volkswagen Taigun prices slashed by up to Rs 1.1 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Volkswagen has silently reduced prices for select variants of its Taigun midsize SUV. The Volkswagen Taigun range now starts at Rs 11 lakh, and goes up to Rs 18.90 lakh. Of the 21 variants available in total, including unique colours, prices of five variants have reduced – the entry-level 1.0 TSI Comfortline, 1.5 TSI GT Plus Chrome, the 1.5 TSI GT Plus Chrome with added features, 1.5 TSI GT Edge and (again) the 1.5 TSI GT Edge with added features.

Tata Nexon EV gets discounts up to Rs 50,000 on MY2023 stock
Source Credit: Autocar India

Tata’s EVs continue to get significant discounts and benefits during the month of April. The Nexon EV has up to Rs 50,000 off, while the Tiago EV gets up to Rs 65,000 in benefits – interestingly, the electric compact SUV and hatchback were offered with the same level of discounts during the previous month. While the maximum benefits are offered on MY2023 models, MY2024 models of the Tiago EV also get some discounts this month.

Mercedes EQS facelift debuts with new grille, larger battery
Source Credit: Autocar India

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a facelift for the EQS, and it gets updated styling and more range. The 2024 model year update is also claimed to offer improved rear seat comfort.

Huracan STJ is the last V10 Lambo
Source Credit: Autocar India

Lamborghini has revealed the new Huracan Super Trofeo Jota (STJ) – the Italian manufacturer’s final V10-engined sportscar. The STJ is limited to just 10 units and marks the culmination of production of the Huracan series, which started back in 2014. The model will be replaced by a new hybrid sportscar later this year.

Kawasaki now offers 3 year warranty on all bikes
Source Credit: Autocar India

Kawasaki India has announced that it will now be offering a 3 year/36,000km warranty on all its machines, up from the 2 year warranty it offered previously.

BMW X1, 3 Series boost brand's Q1 2024 sales by 51 percent
Source Credit: Autocar India

BMW Group India recorded a growth of over 51 percent in the first quarter of 2024 on the back of high demand for its SUVs, the ‘Luxury Class’ models and its EVs. Models like the BMW X7, X3, X1 and 3 Series were reportedly sold out during the period. During January-March 2024, BMW delivered 3,510 cars, Mini sold 170 units and BMW Motorrad sold 1,810 motorcycles.

Audi India sales see 33 percent growth in FY2023-24
Source Credit: Autocar India

Audi India has retailed 7,027 cars and SUVs in FY2023-24, posting an overall growth of 33 percent. The brand retailed 1,046 units in the January-March 2024 period, encountering notable challenges with sales compared to the corresponding period last year, primarily due to supply chain disruptions.

Defender, Range Rover sales help JLR India post 81 percent YoY increase
Source Credit: Autocar India

JLR India, the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, reported retail sales of 4,436 units, which is a year-on-year growth of 81 percent for the year ended March 31, 2024. The company said that the number is not only one of its best performances in the Indian market since its launch here in 2009 but also its highest sales in the last five years.

Force Gurkha to return with three, five door bodystyles
Source Credit: Autocar India

Force Motors has teased the Gurkha again, but this time, along with the five-door model, the brand has stated that it will also bring back the Gurkha 3-door; the 3-door was discontinued with the start of BS6 Phase II norms in April 2023. While both models are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks, the teaser video only shows design details of the larger SUV.

China's oil majors face uphill climb to adapt to EV future
Tucked away on a side road in suburban Beijing, the Xiaowuji battery charging station opened by Sinopec in December 2023 offers a glimpse of China's post-gasoline future.

US opens investigation into Ford gasoline leak, saying automaker's remedy doesn't fix the problem
The U.S. government's auto safety agency has opened an investigation into a Ford recall for gasoline leaks from cracked fuel injectors that can cause engine fires, saying in documents that the remedy doesn't fix the leaks.

IEA trims oil demand forecast on weakness in wealthier countries
The International Energy Agency (IEA) trimmed its forecast for 2024 oil demand growth on Friday, citing lower than expected consumption in OECD countries and a slump in factory activity.

Ohio senator wants Biden to permanently ban Chinese EVs from US
The chair of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday urged President Joe Biden to block Chinese-made vehicles from the United States auto market, marking the strongest call yet for action against China's automakers by a U.S. lawmaker.

Study shows retention ponds can help reduce tyre particle pollution
Retention ponds and wetlands constructed as part of major road schemes can reduce pollution coming from tyre particles -- a great cause of concern for human health and the environment --, finds a study on Friday.

President Milei of cash-strapped Argentina starts another US tour, plans to meet Elon Musk
President Javier Milei of Argentina kicked off a visit Wednesday to the United States, where he'll meet with tech billionaire Elon Musk, as his government seeks an infusion of cash to overhaul Argentina's embattled economy.

Mahle secures €1.5 bn worth of orders for thermal management modules, boosting e-mobility footprint
New Delhi: In a significant move towards reinforcing its position in the realm of e-mobility, Mahle has clinched two substantial orders for thermal management modules. These contracts not only underscore Mahle's strategic expansion in the electric vehicle sector but also mark pivotal milestones in the company's trajectory, with one of the agreements representing the largest single order in Mahle's corporate history.

Italy government chides Stellantis over Polish-made Alfa Romeo 'Milano'
Italy's industry minister criticised Stellantis on Thursday for producing Alfa Romeo's first fully electric vehicle (EV) abroad, saying the automaker's decision violated Italian law.

China's battery storage capacity growth likely to slow in 2024
Growth in China's battery storage capacity could slow down in 2024, according to an industry association, as energy storage struggles with low profitability.

Ford to send 144,000 trucks to North American dealers
Ford said on Thursday it will begin shipping to North American dealers 144,000 of its redesigned F-150 and Ranger pickup trucks that it built but held back until now in an effort to head off quality problems.

Visiting Chinese trade official warns EU on greentech probe
China's top trade official warned the European Union against protectionism on Friday, saying Beijing was puzzled by EU probes into green tech exports and the bloc's concerns they threaten the domestic solar panel, wind turbine and electric vehicle industries.

Aston Martin to make petrol cars 'for as long as allowed'
British luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda will continue to produce traditional combustion-engine vehicles for as long as legally possible, its boss told UK media this week.

Bikes overtake cars in Paris
Bicycles have passed cars as a means of transport in Paris according to a recent study, a city official said Thursday.