🏢 Industry
Tata Motors to keep factories humming to electric beats
Tata Motors to launch five new EVs by FY30, aims to retain segment lead
Business Standard
An evening driven by automotive excellence
Source Credit: The Economic Times (ET Panache)
Zoomcar calls for experience-led EV adoption as India prepares for a breakthrough year in 2026
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles aims for 45-50% ‘defendable’ market share in EVs
Passenger car exports grew 20% y-o-y in April-November 2025
Export of passenger cars (up to five seats), including utility vehicles (UVs), reported a 20 per cent growth during April to November 2025 over the same period last year driven by strong demand. Maruti led the pack, and a strong growth was reported by others, according to SIAM data.
📝 SIAM rolls out nationwide student challenge on road safety
📝 Auto dealers move SC seeking refund of ₹2,500 crore GST compensation cess
📝 Delhi plans to bring back EV subsidies to tackle pollution
📝 Auto stocks rally up to 140% in 2025. How smooth will the road be in 2026?
📝 'Foreign EV cos must create jobs,' says Tata Motors
📝 Auto dealers likely to end 2025 with near-optimal 40 days of inventory
📝 Auto dealers likely to end 2025 ddwith near-optimal 40 days of inventory
Read More >>
🚗 ICE Car/SUV
Made-in-India Suzuki Fronx Scores poorly in Australia NCAP Crash Tests
The made-in-India Suzuki Fronx has received a one-star safety rating in crash tests conducted by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), after a rear seatbelt failure was recorded during testing — an issue the safety agency described as “rare and serious”.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid gets year-end benefits up to ₹2.13 lakh
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is available with significant amount of year-end offers, ranging up to ₹2.13 lakh. The midsize SUV is available in petrol, CNG and hybrid variants. The strong hybrid variant of the SUV has received heavy discounts as part of the brand's year-end offers, in an attempt to clear the stock and boost the sales in the last few days of the year.
Mahindra Thar 3-door 2026 ‘Roxx’ facelift spotted: 3 major upgrades worth waiting for
It seems that Mahindra is planning to bring another mid-life facelift to the popular 3-door Thar in 2026. After the rather minimal updates showcased in the 2025 update, Mahindra seems to want to bring some features from the 5-door Roxx SUV. New spy photographs have surfaced online showing a test mule of the Mahindra Thar 3-door facelift, revealing a series of design and equipment upgrades clearly borrowed from its larger sibling, the Thar Roxx. Although Mahindra hasn’t hinted at a launch date, the facelifted version could launch in 2026, ahead of the festive season period.
Top 6 most value for money SUVs with panoramic sunroofs
Indian car buyers have long left the fascination of fuel efficiency. Their new fascination is about high-end features inside the cabin. These features include ventilate seats, touchscreen infotainment system, cooled glovebox, sunroof, etc. Speaking of sunroof, whether it is practical or not in Indian climate condition remains a subject of great debate, but there is no doubt that this feature is finding increasing level of demand and takers across India.
Top 5 hatchbacks with automatic transmission under ₹10 lakh
Hatchbacks are designed and built for convenience. The hatchbacks are easy to drive in congested city traffic conditions. They are easy on the wallet as well, owing to the lower cost of ownership. If you live in a city, where dense traffic is common, finding parking spot is quite an issue, and you are looking for a no nonsense affordable car that will serve the purpose of regular commuting, taking you from point A to point B without any fuss, there is no better thing than a hatchback. If the car comes with an automatic transmission, in any form, that becomes added boon, making your driving experience even more convenience, saving you from the hassle of constant clutch pressing and gear changing, a process the manual cars command.
Hyundai Motor roped in as premier partner for ICC 2026–27 tournaments
Hyundai enters into global partnership with ICC
The Hindu Business Line
📝 Kia India fires up new Seltos production at Anantapur plant; announce prices on January 2, 2026
📝 Citroën India opens 126th sales and service outlet in Chennai
📝 2026 MG Hector facelift: Variant-wise features with price explained
📝 SUVs set to overtake cars in exports
📝 Nissan Motor India to hike car prices by up to 3% starting January 2026
📝 Maruti Grand Vitara Hybrid Gets December Benefits Up to ₹2.13 Lakh
Read More >>
Electric Car/SUV
Tata Motors Steps Up EV Push with fresh investment, new models
Tata Motors Ltd. has announced a Rs16,000–18,000 crore investment plan for its electric vehicle (EV) business, underlining a renewed push to scale products, platforms and infrastructure as India’s EV market enters a more competitive phase.
Tata Motors to invest up to Rs 18,000 crore in EV business by FY30
Tata Motors is stepping up investments and expanding its electric vehicle portfolio as it looks to retain a dominant 45–50% share of the EV passenger vehicle market over the rest of the decade.
TATA.ev hits new milestone with 250,000 electric vehicle sales, commands 66% market share
New Delhi: Tata Motors reached a major milestone in India's automotive industry as its electric vehicle division, TATA.ev, surpassed 250,000 cumulative sales. According to an official release from Tata Motors, the company now holds a 66 per cent share of the total electric passenger vehicles sold in the country to date. This growth marks a shift in electric mobility, moving it from a niche segment into the mainstream Indian market.
Pearl City finds it way home
For seven years, every Diwali and Pongal followed the same weary script for Arjun Selvam: a 700-km journey, nearly 16 hours on the road, and the familiar ache of departure for automotive jobs—first in Chennai, later in Andhra Pradesh. Each visit ended the same way: leaving Tuticorin behind.
📝 Tata Avinya to launch in 2026; What we know so far
Read More >>
🚗 Luxury
Mercedes-Benz India plans price hike each quarter in 2026 to offset adverse forex impact
Source Credit: PTI, The Economic Times
New Delhi, Mercedes-Benz India is considering hiking prices of its products every quarter in the next calendar year to offset the adverse impact of rupee depreciation against the euro, its Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer said on Tuesday.
The company has already announced plans to hike prices of its products by up to 2 per cent from January 1, 2026.
The price adjustment reflects the ongoing forex challenges as euro-rupee exchange rate consistently remains above Rs 100-mark in 2025, significantly higher than historical averages, it had stated.
"We are considering price hike every quarter next year, and that is because of rupee devaluation to euro," Iyer told PTI here on the sidelines of FICCI Mercedes-Benz Bharat Innovation business ideas challenge programme launch.
He said about 18 months back, the exchange value was Rs 89 to a euro and now it's around Rs 104-105.
"That is more than 15-18 per cent of depreciation," he noted.
While the company has already announced price hike from January, Iyer said there will be subsequent increases "to absorb the huge depreciation".
Iyer said there is more than 10-15 per cent gap between the impact of rupee depreciation and price hike. "So we are spreading (the price hike), otherwise the demand may get also affected," he added.
Iyer said while the company has not exactly finalised the quantum of price hike expected on each quarter of 2026, it could be around 2 per cent each.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/mercedes-benz-india-plans-price-hike-each-quarter-in-2026-to-offset-adverse-forex-impact/articleshow/126136650.cms
Mercedes-Benz India plans price hike each quarter in 2026 to offset adverse forex impact
Deccan Herald
https://www.deccanherald.com/business/companies/mercedes-benz-india-plans-price-hike-each-quarter-in-2026-to-offset-adverse-forex-impact-3840318
Mercedes-Benz India may hike prices quarterly in 2026 amid rupee weakness
Business Standard
📝 Mercedes-Benz expands Mumbai footprint with new Auto Hanger showroom and service centre
📝 Jaguar F-Pace production ends as brand closes chapter on 90-year-long ICE era
Read More >>
🎤 Interviews & Features
Tyre demand positive after GST cut, says MRF V-C & MD Arun Mammen
📝 Tata Safari & Harrier Petrol New "ULTRA" variants explained
Read More >>
🏍 EV/ICE Two Wheelers
Top 4 reasons why Kawasaki Ninja 300 is liked by Indians so much
The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is one of the most popular sportsbikes in the Indian market for quite some time owing to a unique blend of heritage, mechanical refinement, and strategic localization. The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a popular entry-level sportsbike, which is known for its smooth and reliable parallel-twin engine, which promises reliable performance. Beyond that, the styling of the bike is inspired by larger models, which further increases its appeal. It competes with rivals like the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC 390.
Rivals chip away at Bajaj Auto’s motorcycle strongholds
Bajaj Auto’s domestic motorcycle business has come under sustained pressure in recent years, with the company steadily ceding market share in its core segments as rivals Hero MotoCorp Ltd. Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and TVS Motor Company Ltd. Motor Company strengthen their positions in the increasingly competitive two-wheeler market.
Bajaj Auto prepares script for KTM revival as domestic share slips
New Delhi : Bajaj Auto Ltd is crafting a turnaround for KTM, its biggest acquisition, to boost profitability even as it loses market share in its home market.
📝 TVS Motor rolls out pan-India year-end service campaign for customers
📝 Yamaha Motor India appoints Hajime Aota as Chairman from January 2026
Read More >>
⚙ Components
Sona Comstar, Motherson to benefit from stress in European auto parts companies
New Delhi : Electric vehicle investment write-offs by global auto giants, and a general automotive slowdown in demand, are sending some European auto component suppliers into bankruptcy, creating a potential business opportunity for Indian parts manufacturers as customers shift orders away from the distressed vendors.
📝 NTF Group announced as Leading Employer in North India 2025
Read More >>
🌇 Allied Industries
Rare earth recycling bet: Attero lines up a ₹2,000 crore expansion plan over the next three years
New Delhi: Amid India’s push for self-reliance in rare earths and critical minerals, e-waste recycler Attero plans to spend ₹2,000 crore over the next three years to expand its battery recycling and critical minerals refining capacity, said co-founder and CEO Nitin Gupta.
📝 JK Tyre completes Cavendish Industries merger, boosting capacity and product portfolio
📝 Harman acquires ZF’s ADAS arm for €1.5 billion, bolsers software-defined vehicle play
Read More >>
🌢 Fuels, Lubricants
CAQM notice to six thermal power plants over lapses
New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued show-cause notices to six coal-based thermal power plants located within a 300-km radius of Delhi for failing to comply with mandatory biomass co-firing norms, proposing environmental compensation of about Rs 61.85 crore, officials said on Tuesday.
HMEL to invest ₹2,600 crore at Guru Gobind Singh Refinery
New Delhi: HPCL Mittal Energy (HMEL) said on Tuesday that it will invest Rs 2,600 crore in the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Bathinda in Punjab for setting up polypropylene downstream industries and fine chemical projects. Prabh Das, MD & CEO, HMEL, stated that due to the Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, the state has emerged as a major hub for polypropylene manufacturing in India. He informed that nearly 14 per cent of the country’s total polypropylene demand is met by this refinery. He further emphasised that the refinery has been operating continuously without interruption for several years. Das added that apart from producing fuels such as petrol, diesel and gas, HMEL is now planning to further expand industrial activities through fine chemical projects in Bathinda.
Zipbolt unveils ZeFlash.App: AI-powered EV battery diagnostics at CharjKaro’s 100+ EV charging network, supported by MeiTY startups RIIDL SVU–SAMRIDH deeptech AI IoT fund.
New Delhi: As India’s electric vehicle (EV) market scales at an unprecedented rate, Gurugram-based deeptech startup Zipbolt Innovations has announced the launch of ZeFlash.App. This AI-powered EV battery diagnostics and safe-charging application is now live across 100+ CharjKaro-operated fast-charging stations in Delhi and Chandigarh, with active expansion underway in Dehradun, Agra, and other emerging EV hubs.
📝 CESC inaugurates fast charging unit for EVs in Mysuru
📝 Fuel consumption rises 3% in November; crude output grows 2.6%
Read More >>
🌍 Emissions/Environment
‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy to continue in Delhi even after GRAP-IV easing: Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Delhi to continue ‘no PUC, no fuel’ policy even after GRAP IV curbs lift – What we know
The Financial Express
📝 GRAP-IV flags polluters, but gaps in emission testing cloud true picture
Read More >>
💸 Finance & Insurance
Tata Motors Finance pays Rs 32 lakh to settle SEBI probe on NCD Issuances
Tata Motors Finance has settled with the capital markets regulator SEBI a case pertaining to alleged violations in the issuance of non-convertible debentures, after paying a settlement amount of Rs 32 lakh.
Zuno SmartDrive clocks over 1 crore kms, 1.5 Lac trips as young india embraces usage-based car insurance
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 23: Zuno General Insurance, a new-age digital insurer committed to making insurance easy, friendly and transparent, today shared increasing early traction for Zuno SmartDrive, its app-led usage-based car insurance (UBI) launched in March 2025. In less than nine months, Zuno SmartDrive users have logged over 1 crore kms, signalling a clear shift towards behaviour-driven, personalised insurance among India's new generation of drivers.
Motilal Oswal sector of the week: Motor Insurance; top bets, target here
📝 Can M&M Finance sustain its 27% rally amid improving margins?
📝 Shriram Finance to double in 3.5 years
Read More >>
📖 Magazines
Upcoming sedans in India in 2026
While SUVs will continue to dominate the upcoming year’s new launches, sedans will see some resurgence. Incidentally, all the models in this list belong to the midsize sedan category, with the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus receiving a facelift in 2026. Here’s everything we know so far.
2026 Kia Seltos review: Revolution or evolution?
The Seltos isn’t just another midsize SUV. It’s the model that ushered in a pretty much unknown Kia brand into India in 2019, established the company as a major player and took on the segment champ, the Creta, often emerging victorious in the monthly sweepstakes. Six years on, it’s time for a new generation. So can the new car build on its predecessors’ achievements and make the cut in what is still a crowded and hotly contested space?
5 things to know before buying the Kawasaki Versys-X 300
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 made its return to India in 2025 after a near five-year hiatus, powered by the same high-revving 296cc parallel-twin engine as the Ninja 300. While the mechanical package remains largely unchanged, the motorcycle now faces stiffer competition from newer rivals in the adventure touring segment. If you're considering the Versys-X 300, here are answers to some of the most common questions you might have.
Tata Motors crosses 2.5 lakh EV sales milestone
Tata Motors has sold over 2,50,000 EVs since the Nexon.ev went on sale in early 2020. The Nexon EV has also become the first EV in India to surpass one lakh cumulative sales milestone. Tata currently has the widest EV portfolio in the market, with prices for its models starting from around Rs 8 lakh and going up to about Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom). The company has a dominant position in the EV segment, supported by its extensive charging ecosystem.
Tata Safari petrol: 3 pros and 2 cons
Tata Motors has revealed nearly all details of the turbo-petrol-powered Safari, including the output figures and variants. This engine is available across the existing Safari line-up, and a new petrol-only top-spec Accomplished Ultra trim has also been introduced. While prices are still awaited, we have reviewed the SUV’s new petrol version to find out if it is a good package. Here’s a detailed account of three positives and two negatives we observed during our time with Tata’s flagship combustion-powered SUV. Let’s start with the positives.
Tata to launch three new EVs in 2026
Tata Motors has outlined its EV plans for 2026. The company has confirmed that it will enter the premium EV market under the Avinya brand by the end of 2026, following the launch of the Sierra.ev and the updated Punch.ev in the first half. These three models will form the core of Tata’s next EV wave, with three more nameplates to follow by FY2030 as the brand expands its electric line-up across more segments.
Exclusive: Next generation Bajaj Pulsar Classic launch in 2026
Next year marks 25 years of the Bajaj Pulsar, and the company has big things in the works to celebrate this milestone. The Pulsar is easily the most important motorcycle that Bajaj has ever made, and while the family has branched off into three distinct divisions (Classic, N and NS/RS), the Classic models are still big sellers. However, these are also the most dated Pulsars, and Bajaj is gearing up to give them a massive update.
New Mahindra Thar spied with Roxx-like design details
Mahindra rolled out the first major update for the current-generation Thar in October 2025, bringing subtle exterior tweaks and a few feature upgrades. At the time, the 3-door SUV was expected to pick up design cues from the Thar Roxx, positioned a rung above, but that didn’t happen. However, a recently spotted test mule wearing partial camouflage now hints that these updates could arrive with another refresh for the Mahindra Thar; the launch timeline is unclear at the moment.
KTM 390 Adventure X, 390 Enduro R recalled globally over side-stand issue
KTM has announced a global recall for its 390 Adventure X, Adventure R, Enduro R and SMC-R. Pertaining to the side-stand issue that leads to the bike stalling or not starting. Although this recall only affects models sold in the USA, Canada and a few other regions that come fitted with forged side stands and the Indian models remain unaffected.
Citroen Basalt Turbo AT vs Skoda Slavia AT: Performance compared
If you are in the market for a performance-oriented midsize vehicle, the Citroen Basalt coupe-SUV and the Skoda Slavia sedan can be prime contenders to suit your requirements. Both offer similar specifications with their turbo-petrol automatic options. But which of these offers better real-world performance? Let’s find out.
Tata Harrier petrol: Pros and cons explained
After debuting its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol Hyperion engine in the Sierra, Tata Motors has now introduced the same unit in the Harrier and Safari, both of which have been limited to a diesel engine since their respective launches. The petrol SUVs have also received a new top variant with minor feature upgrades, but prices are still awaited.
Read More >>
📰 International
Faulty Tesla electric doors, which led to 15 deaths, were approved by CEO Elon Musk for clean design, says report
An investigative report by Bloomberg has revealed a controversial take on Tesla’s electronic doors that has raised alarm bells all around the world. The report has revealed a disturbing safety trend, stating that at least 15 people have died in Tesla vehicles because the electronic doors failed to open following a crash, and Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, was given a warning about the faulty design.
📝 Mercedes reaches $150 million settlement with US states over diesel scandal
📝 Thailand's car production rises 11% on year in November
📝 Why Ford and GM’s Good Times May Be Their Riskiest Moment Yet
📝 Huawei’s $100,000 Maextro S800 Is Outselling Porsche, Mercedes and BMW in China’s Ultra-Luxury Car Market
Read More >>
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