Caret Capital, Ev2 Ventures merge, launch USD 50 mn fund
Two venture capital funds – Caret Capital and Ev2 Ventures – on Thursday said they have merged and launched a USD 50-million India-focussed fund that will invest in early-stage businesses in the sustainability sector.

New EV policy should be fair to local OEMs
The arrival of Tesla’s Elon Musk next week once again brings into focus India’s new approach to the promotion of electric vehicles. So far, EV adoption was riding on FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles). Phased out now, this was essentially a demand-side subsidy push for EVs with an accent on two and three wheelers.

Prices of discretionary products like cars, TVs, phones begin to firm up
Prices of discretionary products such as cars, televisions and smartphones have started to firm up with prices of several commodities like copper and aluminum, components such as memory chips and display panels, and a weakening rupee has started taking a toll on the bottomline of the manufacturers.

Ola Cabs IPO coming soon! Bhavish Aggarwal's company in talks with banks for initial public offering advisors: Report
Ola Cabs IPO: Ride-hailing aggregator Ola Cabs aims to secure $500 million through its initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of approximately $5 billion, news agency Reuters reported on Friday.

Tesla's entry to drive infrastructure development, job creation: Indian EV startups
New Delhi: As Elon Musk prepares to arrive in India in the next couple of days to announce Tesla's local manufacturing plans, homegrown Electric Vehicle (EV) startups on Friday said Tesla's entry would drive infrastructure development and job creation.

Electric vehicle plant to spacetech: All eyes on X ahead of Elon Musk visit
 

Jaguar Land Rover cars to be built at new $1 billion plant in Tamil Nadu
 

EV start-up EMotorad ends FY24 with 370% growth in domestic market
Founded in 2020, the company has rapidly expanded boasting over 12 experience stores across major cities and a network of more than 350 dealers throughout India — an almost two-fold increase in the past two years.

Musk’s Tesla will set up India plant ahead of govt deadline
Elon Musk’s Tesla will set up the India assembly plant earlier than the three-year deadline which the government’s electric vehicle policy has laid down for global companies choosing to import their cars at concessional import duty. The company is also likely to meet the localisation content ahead of the schedule laid down by the government. Tata Group’s semiconductor fabrication plant which will come up at Dholera in Gujarat, has been identified as one of the major supplier of chips to Tesla.

Toyota Fortuner 48V mild hybrid makes global debut— Will it come to India?
Toyota has been working on a mild hybrid technology for its diesel engines for quite some time. This setup made its debut in the updated Hilux in Europe a few months ago and now Toyota has introduced this tech in the Fortuner as well. The Japanese auto giant has launched the updated Fortuner with a 48V mild-hybrid setup in South Africa.

Musk, Tesla & more: Ancillary companies that will benefit most from EV space
Pankaj Murarka, CIO, Renaissance Investment Managers, says Tesla coming to India and the big bang launch will expand the luxury end of electric vehicles and will also help in the evolution of the market at the mass segment. Also, with Tesla, they will bring their global vendors as well and more importantly, given the indigenisation clause, they will increase their sourcing from India as well. A host of auto ancillary companies will benefit. There are already a handful of companies from India which are supplying different kinds of parts to Tesla globally.”

Behind the wheel: exploring the significance of cast aluminum alloy wheels in modern vehicles
In recent years, the automotive industry has witnessed a significant shift towards lightweight construction, driven by stringent environmental regulations and the growing emphasis on energy efficiency. This shift has propelled the adoption of innovative materials like aluminum alloys, particularly in the realm of wheels. According to the European Aluminum Association, reducing vehicle mass by just 100kg can lead to substantial fuel savings and a significant decrease in CO2 emissions.

Car History: India's millionaires and their unique traits
Source Credit: Vikram Chauhdary, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition) 

From Maruti Suzuki Swift to Mahindra Thar 5-Door: Upcoming cars expected to launch in 2024
In the bustling world of Indian automotive, anticipation is mounting as three automotive giants – Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra – gear up to unveil their latest offerings to the eager Indian market. With fresh designs, innovative features, and a focus on sustainability, these new models promise to redefine the driving experience for Indian consumers. As per a report from India Car News, here are the upcoming expected cars of 2024.

Europe-spec Citroen C3 Aircross breaks cover in ICE, EV powertrains
Citroen has unveiled the new C3 Aircross for the European markets. This iteration of the mid-size SUV looks very distinct from the India-spec model which made its debut last year. More importantly, it will be available in both petrol and fully-electric powertrains. It is slated to go on sale across Europe later this year.

Hyundai’s plans to boost rural sales with ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ initiative
Chennai: Hyundai Motor India Ltd aims to enhance sales in rural markets through its ‘Grameen Mahotsav’ initiative, capitalising on the robust sales momentum it has witnessed in these areas in recent months.

2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift gets 4 stars in JNCAP crash test

The brand-new Swift from Maruti Suzuki will go on sale in May. The hatchback received a 4-star rating in the Japan New Car Assessment Programme (JNCAP) crash test. It is important to remember that the safety specifications of the Swift sold in India will differ slightly. The updated Swift debuted at the Tokyo Mobility Show in Japan last year, and it has recently debuted in the European market.

BMW launches new iX electric SUV variant in India, priced at ₹1.39 crore: All you need to know
German automotive titan BMW has unveiled a fresh iteration of its electric Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), the iX, in India today, marking the occasion on March 21. This latest variant of the iX, boasting xDrive50 technology, comes with a price tag of ₹1.39 crore (ex-showroom). Positioned as a completely built unit (CBU), interested buyers can secure their orders through authorized BMW dealerships or the carmaker's official online platform. The BMW iX electric SUV enters the ring to compete against formidable contenders in the burgeoning luxury electric vehicle market in India, such as the Audi e-Tron, Mercedes-Benz EQC, and Porsche Taycan.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450: Milestone-Class
Today, the SUV space is as populated as it can get, but about 25 years ago, things were a lot different. The story begins with an all-new Mercedes-Benz SUV that was unlike anything the German carmaker had made. Of course, the G-Class was present, but it was hardly a mainstream luxury SUV. The all-new ML, showcased in concept form in 1996 and released just a year later, was going to change Mercedes-Benz’s fortunes. A large percentage of the ML’s success came from the US, but it didn’t take too long for the car to find takers elsewhere, too. In 2015, Mercedes-Benz streamlined its SUV portfolio, and gave the M-Class (or ML) a new name: GLE. A little more than a quarter of a century after its arrival, the model continues to be a successful product, carrying forward the ML’s legacy and also embracing change as customers continually evolve.

Election, emission norms key factors to affect construction equipment demand in 2024 says CASE Construction
The Indian construction equipment industry has been growing in high double-digit growth over the last several quarters. In fact, as per the latest data shared by the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA), the apex body representing the industry, in Q3 FY2024, the industry clocked sales of 36,055 units, which was 30 percent higher YoY.

Aprilia RS457 accessories revealed — Here’s the complete list and prices
For Aprilia fans, it’s a relief as the official accessories list is out for the RS457, along with their prices. Aprilia is offering 12 accessories for the RS457, ranging from Rs 899 to almost Rs 30,000. Here’s a detailed look at the accessories and pricing.

Pulsar and Dominar exports in top gear; Bajaj Auto says new Chetak on the way
Exports for Bajaj Auto gathered pace in the second half of FY24. The Pulsar not only saw strong growth in the domestic market but is also amongst the top sellers globally. Mexico, Colombia and Argentina are among the best performing markets globally cushioning the impact of slowdown in African markets.

2024 Bajaj Pulsar F250, Pulsar RS200 set to receive upgrades soon: What all to expect
Bajaj Auto has been on a roll this year, diligently updating its renowned Pulsar lineup. The latest addition to this series is the highly anticipated 2024 Pulsar N250, boasting a plethora of enhancements across various fronts. While the majority of the Pulsar family has already received these updates, including mechanical tweaks, feature enrichments, and cosmetic refinements, two notable models, the Pulsar RS200 and Pulsar F250, are yet to undergo this transformation.

Bajaj to give Qute a facelift
Air conditioning and electric avatar are among the steps Bajaj Auto is exploring to change the fortunes of its quadricycle Qute. 

Hero Mavrick 440 Scrambler name trademarked

The launch of the Harley-Davidson X440 has played a crucial platform for Hero MotoCorp, as it has led to the development of the Mavrick 440, a retro-styled street motorcycle. The platform, being flexible enough, has led to Hero venturing into one of the most popular segments in India, scramblers. Hero has trademarked the Mavrick 440 Scrambler name in India.

Bajaj working on a more affordable Chetak variant — What to expect?
Bajaj is working on a more affordable Chetak, as Rakesh Sharma, the executive director of Bajaj Auto revealed. Currently, Bajaj has two variants of the Chetak on sale, the Urbane, priced at Rs 1.23 lakh ex-showroom, and Premium, priced at Rs 1.43 lakh, ex-showroom.

Emmforce IPO opens on April 23 to raise INR 53.9 cr; price band at INR 93-98
New Delhi: The initial public offering (IPO) of Emmforce Autotech Limited, a leading automotive niche components manufacturer in India, will open on April 23, 2024. The anchor portion will be opened on Monday, April 22, 2024, and the issue will conclude on April 25, 2024.

Steelbird Baby Toys launches baby helmets; to invest INR 20 cr on child safety products
New Delhi: Steelbird Baby Toys has introduced baby helmets tailored for cycling and skating activities. This expansion marks a strategic move by Steelbird Toys, a subsidiary of the world's largest helmet manufacturer, Steelbird Hi-tech India, to focus on the baby toys segment.

Energy cos form alliance to promote UPI-like platform for EV users
New Delhi: Twenty energy companies have joined hands to form an alliance to create an open energy network, on lines of the united payment interface (UPI), to facilitate seamless payment and transaction interoperability within electric vehicle (EV) charging networks.

Charging network operators, energy co.s form Unified Energy Interface for interoperability
New Delhi: Charging network operators and energy companies have come together to create an Alliance for an open energy network called the Unified Energy Interface (UEI).

We need a standardized framework to track city-level air pollution
A global air pollution report, World Air Quality Report 2023: Region and City PM2.5 Ranking, featured 83 Indian cities in the top 100 most polluted cities of the world. While the reality of air pollution in India is undeniable, the ranking of cities requires an unbiased measurement framework. The data used in this report is a combination of readings from regulatory air-quality monitors and low-cost sensors. While this approach has merit, the weak link of the study is the ‘spatial and temporal’ extent of the monitoring. For example, the yearly average of Delhi, reported at 102 microgram per cubic metre (ug/m3), is based on readings from 40 locations across the city with a cumulative uptime of 93%, whereas that of Siwan in Bihar, ranked No. 7 with 90ug/m3, is based on a single location, and Gurugram’s 17th rank reading of 84ug/m3 is drawn from four locations. The number of monitoring locations and their uptime that go into calculating the city’s average (and ranking) need standardization.

Auto financing company ORIX India appoints Vivek Wadhera as MD, CEO
ORIX India, a leading financial services company, has appointed Vivek Wadhera as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 2, 2024.

How to properly cover your bike

India has the largest number of two-wheeler users in the world (Road Transport Year Book). While two-wheelers offer an affordable, quick and easy mode of mobility, these are susceptible to accidents or thefts, and that means you must invest in a good insurance policy. While third-party motor insurance is mandatory, a large number of two-wheelers ply on the roads uninsured. For full protection, it's suggested to not just go with the compulsory third-party cover, but also a well-rounded insurance policy with add-ons. What are these?

Porsche Macan EV lower variants likely to come to India
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Porsche Macan EV, the electric second generation of the brand’s smaller SUV, is being readied for market launches across the globe. In fact, bookings are already open, even in India, but the only version listed for now is the range-topping, 639hp Macan Turbo that costs Rs 1.65 crore, ex-showroom. But the good news is that more affordable, lower-powered EV variants are likely to join the India range later this year.

Kinetic Green E Luna review: Still relevant today?
Source Credit: Autocar India

The original Kinetic Luna was a utilitarian and inexpensive workhorse that, despite going off sale over two decades ago, has now gained cult status amongst small circles of classic enthusiasts. Kinetic Green (new name, same company) wants to recreate that success with the new E Luna but times and people’s needs have changed a lot since the Luna went off the market. So, is there still an audience today for the E Luna? 

Suzuki Motorcycle India achieves 8 million unit production milestone
Source Credit: Autocar India

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, has celebrated the landmark of producing 8 million cumulative two-wheelers in India.

Nissan Magnite recalled for front door handle sensor issue
Source Credit: Autocar India

Nissan India has issued a recall for the Magnite SUV due to issues with its front door handle sensors. The recall is in effect for Magnite SUVs built between November 2020 and December 2023, however, Nissan hasn't shared the number of units that are affected.

Mahindra Scorpio N, Scorpio Classic waiting periods down by about a month
Source Credit: Autocar India

Mahindra has been working on ramping up production and reducing wait times for delivery for a while now, and these efforts seem to be paying off. At the end of January 2024, the Indian SUV specialist has significantly reduced its order backlog and delivery times, and now, just two months later, waiting periods for the Scorpio and Scorpio N have reduced again.

Affordable Bajaj Chetak variant launching in May
Source Credit: Autocar India

In a bid to sustain electric vehicle adoption amid reducing government subsidy, Bajaj Auto plans to introduce more accessible electric scooters under its Chetak brand. The automaker will launch a new mass market electric scooter under the Chetak brand in May while the company plans to expand its retail footprint by three times over the next couple of months.

Volkswagen to show SUV coupe concept at Beijing motor show
Source Credit: Autocar India

Images uploaded on Chinese social media websites show that Volkswagen has previewed a new concept car that will be unveiled at next week’s 2024 Beijing motor show. Featuring a sleeker lineage than the German firm’s existing production models, the unidentified concept is claimed to show how the design of electric Volkswagens will progress in the future.

Hyundai Venue, Alcazar get up to Rs 55,000 in discounts this month
Source Credit: Autocar India

Hyundai’s SUV portfolio sees significant discounts and benefits during the first month of the new fiscal year. Hyundai dealers are offering discounts on the Venue compact SUV, the sportier Venue N Line, the Alcazar, Tucson and Kona Electric. However, the Exter and Creta, both popular models, do not get any benefits during the month of April.

Honda readies production line for upcoming Activa EV scooter
Source Credit: Autocar India

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, which had scaled back its expansion plans ahead of the implementation of BS6 emission norms pre-COVID, has again gotten back to increasing output.

Mercedes-AMG C 43 vs BMW M340i comparison
Source Credit: Autocar India

Sports sedans are everyday drivers but ones that also inject a good dose of adrenaline into your daily commute, and what we have here with us are two German sedans that do exactly that – the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and the BMW M340i. So which one’s better? With access to the CoASTT race track and India’s first Formula 1 driver, Narain Karthikeyan, rather than compare these two ont heir daily merit, we decided to spice things up and do things differently. So we sized them up based on their sporty credentials instead.

Mercedes-Benz workers to vote on UAW membership in May
Workers at a Mercedes Benz factory in Vance, Alabama will vote between May 13 and May 17 on whether to join the United Auto Workers union, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said on Thursday. Winning a vote to organize workers at Mercedes' Tuscaloosa plant will be a big victory for the UAW as it makes renewed attempts to bring factory employees of foreign-owned automakers in the U.S. into its fold.

Mexico, facing US pressure, will halt incentives to Chinese EV makers
The office of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Mexican Economy Ministry declined to comment. BYD officials and the Chinese embassy in the Latin American country did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A White House spokesperson said U.S. President Joe Biden will not let Chinese automakers flood the market with vehicles that pose a threat to national security.

BMW to showcase 2025 i4 Facelift and MINI Aceman at Auto China event: What to expect
The BMW Group has exciting plans for the upcoming Beijing Motor Show or Auto China 2024, with a gala night scheduled on its eve to unveil two eagerly anticipated electric models: the 2025 i4 facelift and the all-new MINI Aceman, reported HT Auto.

Xiaomi says sales of its electric car 3-5 times higher than expected
Sales of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi's first electric car have been 3-5 times higher than expected, CEO Lei Jun said on Thursday, as the company began delivering standard versions of the so-called SU7 to buyers ahead of schedule.

States sue to block US rules curbing tailpipe emissions in cars, light trucks
Republican attorneys general from 25 states on Thursday sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block rules intended to reduce planet-warming emissions from cars and light trucks and encourage electric vehicle manufacturing, arguing the agency exceeded its legal authority.

T. Rowe Price says 2018 Tesla pay aligned with investor interests
Mutual fund firm T. Rowe Price said Elon Musk's record-breaking 2018 pay package from Tesla "demonstrated strong alignment" with the interests of investors at the electric carmaker.

Japanese auto giant Nissan cuts sales, profit forecasts
Japanese auto giant Nissan said Friday it had lowered its sales and profit forecasts for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, citing higher costs.

Four automakers to recall over 11,000 vehicles for faulty components
Hyundai Motor, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and two other carmakers will recall over 11,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry here said on Thursday.

Hungary's government to consider fuel price intervention on Wednesday
Hungary's government is not ruling out intervening in fuel prices and will discuss the matter at a meeting next Wednesday, economy minister Marton Nagy said at a press conference.

Auto supplier Forvia posts organic sales growth for Q1 on strong N.America
European automotive supplier Forvia reported higher organic sales for the first-quarter on Thursday driven by strong North America, and said new awards from Chinese carmakers had boosted quarterly orders.

Codelco eyeing more output, not competition with BHP, Chile's mining minister says
Chile's state-run copper miner Codelco must focus on boosting its production, but it has a global prestige that would not be tarnished if it cedes its role as Chile's top producer to rival BHP, Mining Minister Aurora Williams said on Thursday.

The West should not spark off a trade war with China over EVs
A nasty thing about waging war is that your enemies have a habit of fighting back. That’s a lesson German Chancellor Olaf Scholz would do well to keep in mind as he engages China amid a brewing trade fight over clean-tech. Recently, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that “artificially cheap" Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries and solar panels were causing “negative spillovers" in the US and around the world. Far from calling a ceasefire in President Donald Trump’s trade wars, the Biden administration appears now to be re-arming in an attempt to neutralize the issue ahead of elections in November.

Exxon Mobil's market value surpasses Tesla's as oil rises, EV sales slow
Exxon Mobil Corp. surpassed Tesla Inc. in market value for the first time in more than a year after the electric vehicle maker’s sales slowed and investors bet on consumers’ reluctance to ditch gas-powered cars.