Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 12 Aug 2025,Tuesday
🏢 Industry
Tata Motors soars 3% despite disappointing Q1: 3 reasons why
The Tata Motors share price is rallying in trade today and surged nearly 3% intra-day. Are you also wondering why, especially after the automotive major posted disappointing Q1 numbers and the consecutive brokerage downgrades. Most brokerages are cautious on the stock price yet the share price of Tata Motors is one of the big gainers on Nifty today.
Why BluSmart’s bankruptcy resolution professional is struggling
New Delhi: BluSmart’s bankruptcy case has run into a maze—the court-appointed resolution professional says the electric taxi operator’s most valuable assets, its cars and technology, are locked in subsidiaries outside the insolvency process, making it harder to get a fair valuation for creditors.
Refex eVeelz rebrands as Refex Mobility; to consolidate focus on existing Tier-1 market
Chennai-based Refex eVeelz, which rebranded itself on Monday to Refex Mobility, announced a renewed strategy to consolidate operations in its existing Tier-1 markets before entering new geographies. The company will continue its focus on strengthening its presence in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
With a fleet of around 1,400 electric vehicles, Refex Mobility caters primarily to corporate clients through employee transportation, airport transfers and long-term rentals.
“Our name change to Refex Mobility reflects our broader clean mobility vision — Reliable Fleet, Exceptional Experience. We want to be synonymous with reliability and quality in the corporate EV mobility space,” said Anirudh Arun, who also took over as company's chief executive officer.Partnerships and growth plans
Tata Motors aims double-digit PV growth
Given the above headwinds, we expect margin pressure to persist for JLR and have factored in 150bp margin decline over FY25-27E. Even in India, both CV and PV businesses are seeing moderation in demand. The overall India business (PV+CV) recorded free cash outflow of ₹3,800 crore in Q1 after capex of ₹2,200 crore. We reiterate Neutral with June-27E SoTP based TPO of ₹631.
Recharging the old: How retrofitting can help improve green mobility
📝 Kia joins hands with ASDC to develop talent pool for auto industry
📝 E-challan recovery hindered by traffic police staff crunch
📝 Auto recap, August 11: Tesla debuts in Delhi, KTM 160 Duke launched, Triumph Thruxton 400 reviewed
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🚗 ICE Car/SUV
New-gen Hyundai Venue India launch on Oct 24: Report
It is already known that Hyundai is working on the second generation Venue for some time now. Test mules of the new-gen Hyundai Venue have been spotted on numerous occasions in the last few months. It has now come to light that Hyundai is about to launch the second-gen Venue in India sooner than expected.
📝 Stellantis to scale India operations with new Citroen and Jeep launches
📝 Skoda Kylaq, Kushaq, and slavia get new limited edition starting at rs 11.25 lakh
📝 Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq Edition revealed. What's new?
📝 Nexa turns 10: How Maruti Suzuki built a premium segment to retain customers
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Electric Car/SUV
Vinfast VF7 patented ahead of launch next month, to be offered in 2 variants
Vinfast is gearing up to officially set foot in the Indian market with the launch of two electric vehicle (EV) models — VF7 and VF6. Both electric SUVs made their first grand appearance at the Bharat Mobility global Expo earlier this year. Pre-bookings for both vehicles are currently underway since last month at a refundable token amount of Rs 21,000.
Tesla opens second India showroom in Delhi
Tesla on Monday opened a showroom at Delhi’s Aerocity, less than a month after making its India debut with a retail outlet in Mumbai. At its showroom in the National Capital Region, the company unveiled the Model Y, priced at ₹59.89 lakh (ex-showroom).
Tesla to expand supercharging network in key Indian cities ahead of September deliveries
Tesla plans to expand charging network in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
The Hindu Business Line
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🎤 Interviews & Features
The whole world is switching to EVs faster than you
There’s a comforting story that oil bulls like to tell themselves to stave off worries about the future: While the privileged few in Europe and California might have lost their minds over electric vehicles, billions of drivers in the Global South are readying themselves to provide the next wave of petroleum demand.
📝 Mahindra CEO & MD Anish Shah says constructive dissent strengthens company
📝 Tata Harrier Adventure X vs Hyundai Creta SX(O) compared: Which variant packs more
📝 Verstappen calls this car setup 'boring, anti-driving’: It’s the one most Indians drive!
📝 Planning your next 10-year car? Which fuel type should be future-proof for you?
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🏗 Construction & Agriculture
Tractor sales decline month-on-month in July on seasonality
Chennai: Tractor sales declined by nearly 40 per cent in July to 72,797 units as against 1,21,613 in June. However, the July 2025 number was up by nearly 8 per cent when compared with 67,952 reported in July of 2024, according to Tractor and Mechanisation Association data.
BEML Q1 FY26 results: Losses narrow down, revenue stagnant at Rs 640 crore
BEML reported a loss of Rs 70.2 crore in the first quarter of FY26. The company’s losses narrowed by 6.7 per cent YoY in Q1 FY26, as the company reported losses of Rs 75.3 crore in Q1FY25.
📝 M&M puts Finnish company Sampo on the block
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🏍 EV/ICE Two Wheelers
Have a BS3 two-wheeler and worried about E20? Bajaj says solution is simple
The growing debate over the usage of ethanol-blended petrol in vehicles has kind of overshadowed the two-wheeler market, which is the largest in India. Two-wheeler users have also shown their concern about the usage of E20 petrol and have been left without a concrete answer.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 gets new colour option, first matte shade
Royal Enfield provided a comprehensive set of updates to the Hunter 350 earlier this year which included a fresh set of colour options. The Chennai-based bikemaker has now introduced another colour scheme to the 350cc neo-retro roadster. Called Graphite Grey, this is the colour scheme for the Hunter that comes with a matte finish.
2025 Hero Glamour with cruise control teased ahead of launch this month
Hero MotoCorp has gone on the offensive in the recent past, introducing multiple new models across various new segments. The homegrown two-wheeler brand has teased another motorcycle ahead of its launch. The company has shared a Block Your Date invite with the media for an unnamed 125cc motorcycle dated for 19-20 August 2025.
KTM India launches 160 Duke at ₹1,84,998
New KTM 160 Duke launched — Bringing the fight to the competition
The Financial Express
📝 Honda hints at more flex-fuel models for India, details ‘top secret’
📝 KTM 160 Duke debuts as brand's new entry-level naked bike in India, paves way for RC 160
📝 2025 Triumph Thruxton 400 First Ride Review: Return of the icon?
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⚙ Components
ED files supplementary prosecution complaint in Amtek Auto bank fraud case
📝 Indian auto component makers have huge export opportunities in markets of Brazil, Colombia, Poland, Africa: Report
📝 NRB Bearings fully focused on executing new growth strategy
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🌇 Allied Industries
Mahindra Logistics launches mobility service Alyte for urban commuting
The service, which offers seamless airport-to-city, in-city travel and outstation rides, made its debut in Delhi NCR, with planned expansions across Noida International Airport, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other key metropolitan cities, Mahindra Logistics Ltd said.
📝 Apollo Tyres setting up outdoor testing facility in Finland
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants
Shift from Russian barrels could cost India up to $5-bn annually
While many including Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee have said India would do well to rethink cheap oil purchases from Russia, as the hefty US tariffs could hit it harder, sector experts say though Indian refiners could technically adapt to the loss of Russian barrels, it would have significant economic consequences.
Biofuels are a pathway to rural prosperity: Sanjeev Chopra, Secy, DFPD
📝 Transport dept proposes e-bus charging depot in Mysuru division
📝 Oil steady as markets focus on US-Russia talks
📝 India's ethanol drive imperils its push for edible oil self-sufficiency
📝 Industry lauds E20 milestone but red-flags the challenges ahead
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💸 Finance & Insurance
VinFast India partners with HDFC Bank to deliver comprehensive EV financing solutions
Chennai: VinFast Auto India, a subsidiary of global EV brand VinFast, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HDFC Bank, to provide auto and inventory financing for its exclusive dealer network. The partnership, VinFast’s first with a banking institution in India, aims to offer a seamless suite of credit solutions.
E-20 compliance and insurance claim: Here's what you need to know
📝 RBI clears merger of Hinduja Leyland Finance with NDL Ventures
📝 ICICI Lombard partners with Mahindra Finance to expand motor insurance distribution
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📖 Magazines
8 best luxury sports cars in India
While serious performance numbers, lap records at racetracks and downforce-enhancing wings and diffusers are great marketing tools, the truth is most sports car buyers, especially in India, will have little use for all that. Yes, buyers love the sleek styling of a sports coupe – low slung, with two doors and loads of attitude, but they also want comfortable suspension to tackle bad roads and a plush and beautiful cabin to make them feel like they’ve got their money’s worth.
New Vinfast 7 seat SUV design patent filed in India
Vinfast is preparing to launch its VF7 and VF6 five-seat SUVs in India and has now filed a design patent for a new seven-seater. Called the Vinfast Limo Green, the three-row SUV is sold exclusively to taxi operators in Vietnam, and it may be planning to do the same here. Interestingly, Chinese rival BYD previously adopted a similar strategy with the e6 MPV.
Skoda Kylaq Limited Edition price starts at Rs 11.25 lakh
To mark its 25th anniversary in India, Skoda has launched a Limited Edition of the Kylaq, the brand's current bestselling model. Only 500 units of the Skoda Kylaq Limited Edition will be produced, with prices starting from Rs 11.25 lakh, ex-showroom. While the mechanicals are unchanged, the new edition comes with a complementary accessory kit.
Top 5 bikes between Rs 3 and 4 lakh with highest power-to-weight ratio
The Rs 3 to 4 lakh price bracket opens the door to some genuinely exciting options. We recently covered the Rs 2 to 3 lakh segment, where every model happened to come from the Bajaj umbrella of brands. This time, the field is far more diverse, with different manufacturers, varied engine configurations, and a wider range of motorcycle types.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650: FAQs on price, power and features
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 was among the first bikes to debut the brand’s 648cc parallel-twin engine, and remains one of the few cafe racer-style motorcycles on sale in India. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about it.
Next-gen Hyundai Venue India launch on October 24
The new-gen Hyundai Venue will launch in India on October 24, our sources have hinted. Internally codenamed the QU2i, the upcoming Venue will see a thorough exterior and interior overhaul but is expected to remain mechanically unchanged. This will be first generational update for the Venue since the model was first introduced in May 2019.
Skoda Kushaq, Slavia Limited Editions launched; prices start from Rs 15.63 lakh
Skoda India has launched special edition variants of the Kushaq and the Slavia to mark the brand’s 25th anniversary in the Indian market. The Kushaq Anniversary Edition is priced from Rs 16.39 lakh, while the Slavia Anniversary Edition starts at Rs 15.63 lakh (ex-showroom). Both limited-edition cars come with a unique exterior finish and some additional equipment on the inside, but carry no price premium over the Monte Carlo trims they are based on.
Royal Enfield Hunter 350 new Graphite Grey colour launched
Royal Enfield has introduced a new Graphite Grey paint scheme for the Hunter 350, priced at Rs 1.76 lakh (ex-showroom, India). This addition takes the total number of colour options for the retro roadster to seven.
New Tesla Delhi showroom opens with 4 Superchargers
Less than a month after launching its first showroom in Mumbai, Tesla India has now opened its second outlet at Worldmark 3 in Aerocity, Delhi. Located near the IGI airport, the new facility is also equipped with 4 Supercharger stalls, bringing the total number to 8 in India. Later, 4 more Tesla Supercharger units will be added in each of the two regions.
KTM 160 Duke launched at Rs 1.85 lakh
KTM has launched the all-new 160 Duke in India, positioning it as its most affordable naked streetfighter and claiming it to be the most powerful bike in the 160cc class.
KTM 160 Duke confirmed for launch
KTM had earlier released a teaser showing the silhouette of its upcoming model, and has now confirmed that it will indeed be the KTM 160, which will serve as the entry point into the brand’s lineup.
Honda NS125 LA scooter design patented in India
Honda has patented the design of its NS125 LA scooter in India. It’s a retro-styled scooter already on sale in certain international markets.
New Hero-Harley 440 model confirmed for launch by September
Hero MotoCorp has confirmed it will add a new model to the Harley-Davidson line-up in India, based on the 440 platform, within the ongoing July-September quarter. The new bike will join the Harley-Davidson X440 in the brand’s co-developed portfolio.
Triumph Thruxton 400 review: Small Thruxton, big style
Following the success of the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, Triumph has now introduced yet another model in its Bajaj-made 400cc portfolio and this time it's a cafe racer. With its recognisable silhouette and design that pays tribute to the now-discontinued Thruxton 1200, does this new Thruxton 400 go beyond surface-level charm?
Kia Syros EV spied for the first time
First-ever spy shots of the upcoming Kia Syros EV have surfaced online, giving us a taste of what the production version could look like. While the Syros EV India launch timeline is said to be between January and March 2026, a specific date is still unclear, and Kia will sell the model alongside its combustion-engine counterparts.
Citroen C3, Basalt, Aircross to get new top-spec X trim
Citroen India’s three mass-market offerings – the C3 hatchback, Basalt coupe-SUV and Aircross SUV – are set to get a new range-topping trim. The automaker has started a teaser campaign, with the first one hinting at a Citroen C3 X, which gets more features.
2025 Maruti Dzire long term review, 5,000km report
"Are you sure there wasn’t an error while filling the tank?" That was my first reaction when my colleague, Lokesh Dutt Semwal, shared the real-world fuel efficiency numbers for the new Maruti Dzire. According to our tests, it returned 14.5kpl in the city and a staggering 20kpl on the highway – figures that are not only impressive for a petrol-manual sedan but also higher than those of the lighter Swift hatchback with the same engine.
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📰 International
📝 BorgWarner secures Chinese NEV motor deal; expands capacity
📝 China's CATL suspends operations at major lithium mine, seeks new license
📝 Tesla gets Texas robotaxi license amid safety lawsuit, Dojo shutdown
📝 Ford EV shift: Automaker to invest nearly $2 billion in Kentucky plant; plans affordable midsize electric pickup by 2027
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