Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 04 Dec 2025,Thursday
🏢 Industry
Force Motors reports a 59% growth in domestic wholesales in November
Pune: Force Motors, India’s largest van manufacturer, reported a 59 per cent year-on-year increase in domestic wholesale volumes for November compared to the same month in 2024. The growth was driven by the strong scaling of the Urbania and Trax platforms, both of which now account for a larger share of total volumes. Trax, in particular, saw heightened demand following GST rationalisation for rural mobility categories, which has improved affordability and boosted replacement purchases in rural and semi-urban markets.
📝 Centre releases ₹1,634 crore under PM E-DRIVE: Govt
📝 India’s journey to self-sustenance in the rare earth ecosystem
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🚗 ICE Car/SUV
Tata Nexon to Kia Syros: Top 5 most fuel efficient diesel SUVs in India
Sales of diesel cars in India have been witnessing a gradual slump over the last several years, owing to the tightening emission norms fuelling uncertainty around the diesel engines, lowered cost difference between petrol and diesel, lower number of diesel model available in the market as well as higher price of diesel cars compared to their petrol-powered counterparts. However, despite the slowdown in diesel passenger vehicle's market share, these cars still attract many buyers, especially people who seek the thrill of powerful driving, comparatively higher fuel economy.
New Hyundai Venue clocks 32,000 bookings in a month. Top 5 facts fuelling growth
Hyundai Venue was one of the most hyped car launches of 2025. The second generation Hyundai Venue sub-compact SUV was launched in India just a month ago on November 4, at an introductory starting price of ₹7.90 lakh (ex-showroom). Within a month, the new generation Hyundai Venue has raked in more than 32,000 bookings, showing positive growth trajectory.
Maruti Suzuki signs pacts with 13 charge point operators, unveils pan-India EV charging network
📝 Maruti Suzuki stock eases despite strong EV outlook; slips 1% after recent gains
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Electric Car/SUV
Eyeing leadership in EVs, Maruti to set up 1 lakh charging points, drive in multiple models
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said it aims to drive in multiple electric models across bodystyles and set up charging infrastructure across the country as it looks to attain leadership in the segment.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara vs rivals: Dimension and specifications compared
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara, the most awaited electric SUV in India has been officially showcased in the country again. While it was thought to be a launch event on December 2, Maruti Suzuki ended up showcasing the car and revealing some key details. Also, rejuvenating enthusiasm among the potential customers, Maruti Suzuki has announced that it will launch the SUV in India in January 2026.
📝 Maruti Suzuki's e Vitara secures 5-star Bharat NCAP rating
📝 Maruti e-Vitara SUV unveiled ahead of launch
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🚗 Luxury
PB Balaji's reign at JLR begins with twin crises
New Delhi : The tenure of Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) new chief executive P.B. Balaji, has begun with twin crises of dealing with the exit of chief creative officer Gerry McGovern and the loss of business due to the halt in production in September and October owing to the cyberattack.
JLR's chief creative officer departs: Reports
Gerry McGovern exits JLR amid leadership shake-up
The Financial Express
📝 The rising trend of hyper-personalised luxury cars
📝 Lexus expands RX line-up in India with new ‘Exquisite’ grade at ₹89.99 lakh
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
India may allow e-ambulance manufacturers to import traction motors fitted with rare earth magnets till March
New Delhi: The heavy industries ministry has proposed new localization rules for e-ambulances under the ₹10,900 crore PM E-drive scheme, allowing manufacturers to import traction motors fitted with rare earth magnets till 3 March 2026, the ministry said in response to Mint’s email query.
📝 Andhra Pradesh CM orders 1,000 EV buses, 5,000 charging stations
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🎤 Interviews & Features
BMW Group Chennai plant expects higher production growth driven by demand
Chennai: BMW Group Plant Chennai, established in 2007, at the Mahindra World City in Chengalpattu, has come a long way when it comes to the scale of its facility, operations, manpower and achievements around localisation. Sitting on a large capacity, the auto maker is anticipating production growth and is getting ready to cater to the rising demand. In 2026, the Chennai plant will undertake 15 product launches, Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, told businessline in an interaction on the sidelines of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce meeting held in Chennai recently. BMW Group India posted highest-ever car sales in January-September with 11,978 units of cars (BMW and MINI) and 3,976 motorcycles.
📝 Formal vehicle scrappage picking up, but incentives for private owners need strengthening: ReSL MD Mallick
📝 Mahindra’s Pratap Bose on the changing dynamics of design
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🏗 Construction & Agriculture
📝 Moonrider raises $6 million Series A to scale electric tractor operations in India
📝 Sonalika Tractors posts record 1.26 lakh unit sales in April-November period
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🏍 EV/ICE Two Wheelers
Royal Enfield Bullet 650 vs BSA Goldstar 650: Powertrains compared
The 650 cc motorcycle segment in Indian two-wheeler market is all set to welcome a new model, the Royal Enfield Bullet 650, which was recently showcased at the Motoverse 2025, after debuting at EICMA 2025. The Royal Enfield Bullet 650 comes bearing the legacy of the one of the bestselling nomenclature in the Indian motorcycle market, the Bullet.
📝 Bajaj Auto announces limited-run savings up to Rs 15,500: Eligible models, details
📝 IBW 2025 moves to new venue: Details on tickets, new venue, events & more
📝 Harley-Davidson X440T launch on December 6: All you need to know
📝 Suzuki Motorcycle India November 2025 sales rise 30 per cent YoY, exports surge 62 per cent
📝 Bajaj Auto revives Pulsar Hattrick Offer with savings of up to ₹15,759
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⚙ Components
NRB targets $6 bn industrial bearings mkt with Unitec JV
📝 Systems India secures mandate from e-mobility commercial vehicle maker for ADAS suite
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🌇 Allied Industries
📝 Zypp Electric launches AI-powered FleetEase platform to modernise fleet operations
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants
India won’t blink: Russian oil will still keep coming despite latest US sanctions
India’s Russian oil fix isn’t going anywhere. Even as Washington rolls out new sanctions, India is poised to keep Russian crude flowing, “just through less transparent routes”, analysts say.
BPCL recognised among global top 100 corporate startup stars
📝 Nepal, India to discuss supply of aviation fuel through pipeline
📝 Europe reaches deal on phasing out Russian gas imports by 2027
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🌍 Emissions/Environment
Delhi air pollution: CM Rekha Gupta forms new panel, stringent crackdown against violators
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday directed all government agencies to work on a war footing to curb pollution and announced a committee with special powers to monitor and strengthen the city’s pollution-control efforts.
CAQM asks industries to install online pollution monitoring systems and control devices by December 31
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💸 Finance & Insurance
Compact cars and SUVs drive three-fourth of motor insurance claims, EVs costliest to repair: Report
New Delhi: Compact cars and SUVs together account for nearly three-fourths of all motor insurance claims in the country, highlighting their dominance on Indian roads and in insurance payouts, an analysis report by PolicyBazaar has said.
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📖 Magazines
Riders Music Festival 2026 dates announced
The Riders Music Festival (RMF) is returning for 2026 on February 21-22, with a larger focus on bikes, pre-event rides and track activity, alongside music and comedy.
2025 ISRL guide: Teams, where to watch, and more
The 2025 Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) season resumes, with Round 2 slated to be held in Hyderabad on December 6, followed by the season finale in Calicut on December 21.
Skoda Kylaq vs Toyota Taisor Turbo real world mileage compared
Of the many rivals in the compact SUV space, the Skoda Kylaq and Toyota Taisor are among the select few that have sportier aspirations, with a punchy 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and manual and torque convertor automatic gearbox options. Depending on how they are driven and whether they use E20 fuel from public-sector oil marketing companies or private fuel suppliers, these turbo-petrol engines can be thirsty. We put them through our real-world mileage tests to find out which is the more efficient turbo-petrol compact SUV.
Maruti Swift, Wagon R get discounts of up to Rs 58,000 in December
Maruti Suzuki Arena showrooms are offering cash discounts, exchange/scrappage bonuses and additional benefits on nine models. Do note that these offers are not available on the new Maruti Victoris. Here is how much you could save on a new car from Maruti Arena in December 2025.
Lexus RX 350h Exquisite trim launched at Rs 89.99 lakh
Lexus India has added a new entry-level Exquisite trim to the RX line-up, replacing the prior Luxury trim and dropping the hybrid luxury SUV’s base price. Specifically, the Lexus RX 350h Exquisite is Rs 6.14 lakh more affordable than the Luxury trim, which was priced at Rs 96.13 lakh. The price of the top-spec RX 500h F-Sport+ has also been reduced by Rs 9 lakh.
Kia EV2 electric crossover to be unveiled on January 9
Kia has confirmed that it will debut the EV2 electric crossover at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, which is slated to commence on January 9. Previewed by the EV2 Concept earlier this year, the production-spec EV2 will serve as Kia’s new entry-level model in overseas markets. The EV2 could launch in India as well, since Kia trademarked the name here in 2023.
India-made Kawasaki W175 set for US launch
Kawasaki has certified the W175 LTD with the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a 2026 model, signalling the retro motorcycle’s imminent arrival in the American market. The W175 is manufactured by India Kawasaki Motors and will be the first locally developed and manufactured motorcycle from the Japanese brand to be exported to the US.
Top 10 premium EVs with the highest claimed range in India
It’s safe to say that the EV scene in India is no longer in its nascent stage. Consumer interest in electric vehicles has been increasing, thanks to steady growth in charging infrastructure, more affordable and accessible pricing, zero emissions and expanding choice across all price ranges. However, range anxiety continues to stand in the way of many buyers looking to purchase an EV.
Every car tested by Bharat NCAP so far
Introduced by the central government in 2023, the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) is responsible for conducting crash tests and awarding scores to cars sold in the country. The government hopes this will help buyers make more informed purchase decisions. Since its inception, BNCAP has tested 26 vehicles, primarily SUVs, and below are the results detailing how each model performed.
Mahindra XEV 9S vs 7-seater rivals: price and specs compared
If you’re in the market for a mainstream EV with three rows of seats, there are currently three options you can choose from: the Mahindra XEV 9S, the Kia Carens Clavis EV and the BYD eMax 7. They differ in their form factor, with the former being a traditional SUV while the latter two are MPVs, but they all offer the space and practicality of a three-row vehicle. Here in this article, we are exploring how the three EVs stack up on paper in terms of their size, seating configurations, powertrain options and price.
Honda Elevate, City get discounts of up to Rs 1.36 lakh this December
Honda is offering various discounts and benefits across its entire car range. Buyers can expect to receive cash discounts, exchange bonuses, loyalty and corporate benefits, and an extended warranty. Depending on the model, these offers are valid until this month end.
Top 5 highest mileage cars in India
Frugal cars, or vehicles that are fuel-efficient and deliver high mileage, are among those that see the highest demand in the Indian market. Every model that goes through the homologation process before going on sale gets an ARAI-rated fuel-efficiency figure, which carmakers quote on brochures and marketing material. Here, we take a look at the 5 best mileage cars in India, regardless of whether they have a petrol, diesel or hybrid powertrain. Do note that we have not considered CNG options for this list.
Most shared engines in mass-market cars
Automakers spend thousands of crores and several years developing an engine from scratch. This is not the most feasible option when multiple models (even across brands) have near-identical requirements. While engine-sharing within a brand’s line-up is routine, the practice is also common between companies. Here is our list of the most shared engines in mass-market cars under Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom).
10 quickest Indian bikes as tested
At Autocar India, we’ve put dozens of motorcycles through our testing protocols using a GPS-based data logging system. And what we’ve consistently found is that several motorcycles manufactured in India today, despite typically being lower-capacity offerings, deliver genuinely impressive performance. Here are the 10 quickest bikes made in India, ranked by their 0-100kph times.
Maruti e Vitara vs Mahindra BE 6: Bharat NCAP results comparison
Ahead of the e Vitara’s India launch early next year, Maruti Suzuki has announced the results for its Bharat New Car Safety Assessment Program (BNCAP) crash tests. The Mahindra BE 6, one of the major rivals to Maruti’s first electric offering, has already been rated by the Bharat NCAP.
Triumph Tiger Sport 800 Tour revealed
A little over a year after revealing the Tiger Sport 800, Triumph has now unveiled a more long-distance and passenger-friendly variant of the lightweight road-focused tall-rounder, called the Tiger Sport 800 Tour.
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📰 International
Korea's 2025 auto exports projected to fall for first time in five years
Seoul [South Korea], December 3 (ANI): South Korea's car exports are projected to decline this year for the first time in five years, as per a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business News Korea.
Tesla’s trillion-dollar takeaway
Most of us may not know Michael Burry. Among the savvy stock investors, both in India and abroad, he is a known Cassandra. Like the princess from Greek mythology, whose prophecies were true but she was never believed, Burry’s accurate warnings about the 2008 Financial Crisis, and Great Recession, were ignored. He made money from it through the Big Short,’ and became famous. In his new Substack newsletter, Cassandra Unchained, he hopes to take on the tech giants, and the mystique of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
📝 Sentiment in German auto sector deteriorates in November, survey finds
📝 US Postal Service using 2,600 EVs for mail deliveries
📝 Ford, Hyundai US sales down slightly in November as EVs drag
📝 Rivian to recall nearly 35,000 US delivery vans over seat belt issue
📝 Volvo Cars sales fall 10% in November, says US market subdued
📝 Tesla's China-made EV sales rise 9.9% in November
📝 Auto supplier Schaeffler and Helsing to cooperate on drone development
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