Sikkim first state in India to introduce AI-powered traffic management system
With growing population and massive urbanisation carried out in major parts of the country in the last few years, road traffic has become a menace that causes severe environmental and logistic challenges. Since modern problems require modern solutions, time has come to adopt some modern technologies to mitigate the ever increasing traffic challenges.

Two big choices Anand Mahindra made four years ago are now paying dividends
There are two choices that were made four years ago by the Mahindra & Mahindra management team led by Anand Mahindra that is now paying rich dividends.

Using seat belts in cars, helmets on bikes made mandatory in Tripura
The Sikkim government made it mandatory for the drivers of vehicles to use seat belts and motorbike riders to wear helmets in the state with effect from June 1, according to an official order issued on Wednesday. The order was issued to mitigate the number of accidents and to safeguard the well-being of all road users, Transport Commissioner-cum-Secretary Raj Yadav said.

Revenue growth of road transport fleet operators to double to 9-11% this fiscal, says CRISIL
Revenue growth of road transport fleet operators is expected to double to 9-11 per cent this fiscal, said a report by CRISIL Ratings. This, it added, is driven by better domestic demand, and despite tepid exports. Also, operating margin is seen improving 75-100 basis points on better fleet utilisation and steady fuel costs. 

Ride-hailing startup BluSmart to raise INR 200 crore in new funding
Electric ride-hailing startup BluSmart is raising INR 200 crore (USD 24 million) through a funding round, according to regulatory filings.

Surge in demand for 'young' used cars outpaces supply, drives prices north
According to the Indian Blue Book report by car&bike and Das WeltAuto, the current value of pre-owned car sales, standing at $32.44 billion, is expected to more than double to $73 billion by FY28. The growing demand for SUVs, which now comprise around 55 per cent of the new passenger vehicle market in India, is mirrored in the used car segment. This shift is contributing to the overall expansion of the organised used car market.

Share of passenger vehicle output geared for export at 10-year low in 2023

India’s share of production geared for export is the lowest in Asia, trailing South Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia. 

Pricol continues its capex cycle with over ₹200 cr planned for FY25

Chennai: Pricol Ltd, a leading vehicle dashboard manufacturer, has announced plans to invest in the range of ₹200-220 crore in capital expenditure for FY25 to expand its production capacities across various product lines. “Our capacity utilisation is currently hitting almost 85 per cent. Hence, we are now enhancing capacity and undertaking capex at our new plants in Pune, and upgrading our facilities in Coimbatore and Manesar,” said Vikram Mohan, Managing Director of Pricol, during the Q4FY24 earnings call.

Govt mulls incentives for heavy duty electric trucks to reduce diesel ones
 

Volkswagen in advanced talks for passenger car partnership in India, CFO confirms
Volkswagen is in advanced discussions regarding a potential partnership for passenger car production in India, according to the company's CFO, Arno Antlitz. Speaking at the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference in Munich, Antlitz emphasized the seriousness of the talks, though he did not provide specific details.

Nissan launches Magnite Geza CVT special edition at INR 9.84 lakh
Nissan has launched the Magnite GEZA CVT Special Edition at Rs 9.84 lakh, making it the most affordable CVT Turbo compact SUV segment. The GEZA name originates from Japanese theater, offering an advanced infotainment system combined with the convenience of a CVT Turbo.

Das WeltAuto to grow 10% in 2024
Mumbai: Das WeltAuto, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India’s pre-owned car business is expecting a 10 per cent growth this year. The company sold 30,000 used cars in 2023 and grew by 12 per cent. Introduced in 2012 and present in 137 facilities, Das WeltAuto provides consumers with pre-owned cars from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) across the country.

Hyundai Motor India provides assistive devices to people with disabilities
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), hosted its first ‘Samarth Assistive Devices Conclave’ here on Thursday.

MG India to deliver 3000 EVs for Vertelo fleet
New Delhi: MG (Morris Garages), a British automobile brand with a 100-year-old legacy, has signed an MoU with Vertelo, a Macquarie-managed integrated fleet electrification platform, funded by Green Climate Fund.

Kia EV3 breaks cover, in India early 2025
New Delhi: Kia has unveiled EV3, its compact electric SUV (ESUV), marking its fourth EV release after the EV9, EV6, and EV5. It comes in two trim levels, the standard version with a 58.3kWh battery pack, and the long-range edition (up to 600km on WLTP cycle) with an 81.4kWh battery pack.

Kia EV3 SUV debuts with OpenAI's ChatGPT-based AI voice assistant: Details
In a statement to TechCrunch, Kia’s head of customer experience design, Pablo Martinez said that the large language model (LLM) behind the company’s AI assistant is ChatGPT from OpenAI. However, it has been “heavily modified”, he said.
 

Mercedes-Benz expands elite segment amid India's billionaire boom
New Delhi: India ranks third in the world when it comes to having the most number of billionaires. It is also the 5th largest economy in the world in 2024, according to media reports.

Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 launched for Rs 3.35 crore — Here are other alternates
Mercedes-Benz launched the Maybach GLS 600 in India, with a price tag of Rs 3.35 crore, ex-showroom. Like how the regular GLS is the SUV version of the S-Class, the Maybach GLS is the uber-luxury version of the Maybach S-Class sedan. The SUV features a host of luxury features such as rear seat infotainment, seats with a massage function, and much more. 

BMW 220i M Sport Shadow Edition launched in India, can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 7.2 seconds
BMW India has launched the limited edition 220i M Sport Shadow Edition today. Locally produced at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai, this exclusive model is now available for purchase through the BMW Online shop. The ex-showroom price is ₹46,90,000.

Zevo and Zen Mobility join to introduce 3,000 Zen Micro Pods for last mile delivery
New Delhi: Zevo, a tech-enabled EV mobility platform, has partnered with Zen Mobility, an emerging electric vehicle OEM, to enter the last-mile delivery business with the Zen Micro Pod - a specialized vehicle designed to navigate the congested urban roads. This collaboration is set to benefit the delivery services of Zomato, Swiggy, and others, the companies said in a media release..

Hyundai Creta rival MG SUV leaked: What to expect?
MG Motor’s soon-to-be-launched mid-size SUV was caught testing. Surprisingly, the MG VS HEV, which is also sold as the Astor in the South East Asia market was spotted in India without any camouflage claddings. Reports suggest that this will be the new facelift Astor, which will go up against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. We find out what’s new about the MG SUV. 

The Hybrid red flag for Tata Motors

What has Tata Motors claimed about hybrids? 

Triumph Speed 400 rival: Royal Enfield to launch 450cc roadster next
Royal Enfield has its plate full with plenty of new models lined up for launch over the next few years. The next in line will be a 450cc roadster based on the Himalayan 450. Test mules of this naked roadster have been spied on numerous occasions over the past year or so. 

Title-UNO Minda records 31% growth in FY24
UNO Minda reported a financial gain of Rs 301.72 crore in the fourth quarter of FY24, up 55.5 percent on year comparison to the previous one. The company reveals that Rs 3,794 Cr for Q4 FY24 as against Rs 2,889 Cr in Q4 FY23, indicating a rise of 31 percent.

Uno Minda stock surges on Q4 show, fundraising plans
Shares of Uno Minda Ltd surged over 10 per cent on Thursday after reporting strong financial performance for Q4-FY24 and fundraising plans. The company reported its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March at ₹269 crore (excluding exceptional income) a jump of 47 per cent over ₹183 crore posted in the corresponding quarter last year. Revenues increased 31 per cent to ₹3,794 crore ( ₹2,889 crore) The board considered authorisation from shareholders for fundraising up to ₹2,000 crore through issue of securities including foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) or other financial instruments/securities convertible into equity shares, any secured or unsecured bonds/NCDs by way of a public or private placement including but not limited to Qualified Institutions Placement in one or more tranches.

Minda reports highest-ever quarterly revenue of Rs 1,215 crore
Minda Corporation reported highest highest-ever consolidated quarterly revenue of Rs 1,215 crore, marking 13.1% YoY growth. This performance is attributed to our robust product portfolio, expanding customer

Balkrishna Industries off-roading well in India & US, Europe to give traction
The stock of Balkrishna Industries — a maker of off-highway tyres (OHT) — has gained 21% over the past month as the company’s volume grew in double digits for the second quarter in a row even though the growth of global peers has been lackadaisical.

How to keep your car cabin cool in summers?
As the country is boiling under repeated heat waves, driving can be quite a task as the blazing heat shoots up the cabin temperature. With 45 degrees now the new 40 degrees, sitting inside the car is like getting inside an oven. Here are some simple hacks and guidelines one can follow to keep the car cool. 

Indag Rubber’s CEO comments on FY24 results, shares rise
Indag Rubber Limited’s shares were up by 3.18 per cent after the company released its audited financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. For FY24, the company reported a total revenue of ₹261.2 crore, marking a 4 per cent year-over-year increase from FY23. The company’s EBITDA rose by 26 per cent to ₹27.7 crore, with an EBITDA margin improvement of 190 basis points to 10.6 per cent. Profit After Tax (PAT) for the year was ₹16.7 crore, showing a 27 per cent increase.  

Oil prices fall on worries of higher US interest rates
Oil prices eased for a fourth straight day on Thursday on worries that U.S. borrowing costs could be hiked again if inflation surged, a move that could hurt oil demand.

India's use of crude tankers to export diesel slows in May
Indian refiners' use of crude oil vessels to ship refined fuels such as diesel to key European markets has diminished in May after volumes neared two-year high levels last month, trade sources and analysts said.

Bajaj readies new 125cc Raider, Xtreme rival
Source Credit: Autocar India

The premium 125cc commuter space has seen two very credible entrants from TVS and Hero in the form of the popular Raider and the Xtreme 125R, respectively. Now it seems as though Bajaj will be joining the fray with its own aspirational, premium 125cc commuter.

Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5, AX5 L variants see high demand
Source Credit: Autocar India

The newly introduced Mahindra XUV 3XO seems to be gathering good customer interest. The company announced last week that it has already received around 50,000 bookings for the SUV, and deliveries will commence next week, on May 26. Dealers said the waiting period for some variants is as high as six months. 

SCOOP! Mahindra Thar 5 door to get 1.5 diesel
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Mahindra Thar Armada (Thar 5-door) will go on sale in the coming months and dealer sources tell us that it will get a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. This is the same engine that is available with the 3-door Thar RWD, and it will serve as the entry-level powerplant in the line-up.

Nissan Magnite Geza turbo CVT launched at Rs 9.84 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Nissan has launched the Magnite Turbo Geza Special Edition CVT in India at a starting price of Rs 9.84 lakh. Originally introduced in May last year, the Geza Special Edition was only available with the 1.0-litre petrol engine until now.

Nissan X-Trail India launch in the coming months
Source Credit: Autocar India

Nissan has been keeping a toe-hold in India with just one model – the Magnite compact SUV – and this situation has been unchanged since April 2023, when the Kicks was discontinued. Soon, however, that’s about to change with the introduction of the new Nissan X-Trail. The SUV was sold here in its first and second-generation body styles, and though it didn’t go on sale, the third-generation model was also showcased in the country some years ago.

New mass-market SUVs yet to be launched this year
Source Credit: Autocar India

Nearly halfway through the year, we have already had quite a few exciting launches, including the new Maruti Swift, the updated Mahindra XUV 3XO, the BYD Seal and the Hyundai Creta N Line. And the second half has a lot more in store: a couple of compact sedans, a sporty hatchback, and, of course, many more SUVs. Here’s a list of all the upcoming SUVs that you should watch out for in the remainder of 2024. 

F1-inspired Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed speedster breaks cover
Source Credit: Autocar India

Mercedes-AMG has unveiled the PureSpeed concept, the first model from its limited volume and highly exclusive Mythos range. Essentially a two-seater speedster based on the SL roadster, the PureSpeed swaps a conventional windscreen for an F1-inspired halo. The world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed concept took place ahead of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

Kia EV3 electric SUV breaks cover
Source Credit: Autocar India

Kia has unveiled the all-new EV3 electric SUV as the brand’s fourth born EV following the EV9, EV6 and the EV5. It's based on the same E-GMP modular platform as its larger siblings, carries over the family design language, and sees a lot of interior technology and equipment trickling down from the more expensive models.

Jeep Avenger 4xe with hybrid powertrain revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India

Jeep has finally added a rugged offroad-focused variant of its smallest SUV, the Avenger. The Jeep Avenger 4xe sits at the top of the small SUV’s range and gets an all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. The Avenger is also sold with a petrol and EV variant.

Honda Shine 100 sales cross 3 lakh unit mark in one year
Source Credit: Autocar India

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) celebrated the first anniversary of Shine 100, with over 3 lakh units sold in the first year. To commemorate the occasion, HMSI organised mega delivery events of Shine 100 in several cities across the country. 

BMW 2 Series Shadow Edition launched at Rs 46.90 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

BMW has launched the 2 Series Shadow Edition in India at Rs 46.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The Shadow Edition is only available on the 220i M Sport trim and gets blacked-out exterior elements as well as subtle updates to the upholstery.

Tata Sanand plant tour: How the Nexon is born
Source Credit: Autocar India

About twelve months and a Rs 1,300 crore retooling exercise. That’s what it took Tata Motors to get its Sanand unit up and running after acquiring it from Ford for Rs 725.7 crore on January 10 last year.

TSMC sees annual sales growth to reach 10% in semiconductor industry
Taiwanese contract chipmaker TSMC, a major supplier to Apple and Nvidia, on Thursday forecast an annual revenue growth of 10% in the global semiconductor industry, excluding memory chips.

US says tariff increases on Chinese EVs, batteries and chips to start Aug. 1
Some of the steep U.S. tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles and their batteries, computer chips and medical products, will take effect on Aug. 1, the U.S. Trade Representative's office said on Wednesday.

Jeep releases teaser film on its new BEV Wagoneer S
New Delhi: The Jeep brand Thursday today released “Surpass Yourself” on its official YouTube channel.

Hyundai Motor and Plus join to unveil Level 4 autonomous fuel cell e-truck in US
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor) and autonomous driving software leader Plus unveiled on Wednesday the first Level 4 autonomous Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in the US at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas (May 20-23, 2024), the largest advanced clean transportation technology and fleet event in North America.

Kia shrugs off slowing EV demand to launch compact electric SUV
Kia Corp launched on Thursday the company's first compact electric sports utility vehicle built on its dedicated EV platform, betting it can win over buyers through competitive pricing even as momentum in the global EV market stalls.

EV maker Tesla breaks ground on Megapack energy storage battery factory in Shanghai
Electric vehicle maker Tesla has begun construction of a factory in Shanghai to make its Megapack energy storage batteries, Chinese state media reported Thursday. The USD 200 million plant in Shanghai's Lingang pilot free trade zone will be the first Tesla battery plant outside the United States.

China should hike tariffs on large cars to 25%, says research body
China should raise its import tariffs on large gasoline-powered cars to 25%, a government-affiliated auto research body expert told China's Global Times newspaper as the country faces sharply higher U.S. auto import duties and possibly additional duties to enter the European Union

Lithium miner SQM swings to USD 870 mn loss as oversupply sinks prices
Chilean mining company SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, on Thursday posted a net loss of USD 869.5 million for the first three months of the year, as oversupply of the metal needed for EV batteries drags on prices.

Thailand car production drops 11% Y-o-Y in April, domestic sales fall
Car production in Thailand fell 11.02% in April from a year earlier to 104,667 units, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Thursday.

Tesla drops reference to its goal of delivering 20 million vehicles annually in impact report
Tesla excludes delivery goal of 20 mn vehicles a year in impact report

Xiaomi ups EV goal to 120,000 as Q1 tops forecasts on strong phone sales

China's Xiaomi said it will aim to deliver 120,000 electric vehicles (EVs) this year, up from the initial goal of 100,000, and will implement double-shift production to meet rising demand for its EVs.

Focus-European automakers need time, not tariffs, to fend off China competition