Delhivery expands road trains for auto, FMCG
Third-party logistics provider Delhivery is betting big on road trains — tractor units towing multiple trailers — to transform transportation for high-volume sectors like automobiles and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). The company believes this innovation will significantly reduce costs and enhance efficiency.

The Rising Demand for Electric Vehicle in India: An Insurance perspective
The electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with expectations for continued expansion in the coming years. Consumers are adopting EVs in response to the environmental concerns, government incentives and technological advancements. This shift is creating new frontier in insurance industry with specialised, tailor products to cater to meet the specific requirements of EV owners.

Tesla recalling more than 375,000 vehicles due to power steering issue
Tesla is recalling more than 375,000 vehicles due to a power steering issue.

Noida enforces lane driving rules: How to avoid Rs 2000 challan?
Noida traffic can feel like the wild west with lane violations taking place left, right and centre. To make life easier for commuters and reduce traffic congestion, Noida Traffic Police has implemented ‘No lane changing zones’ at three places — Charkha roundabout near Amity University, Gardens Galleria Mall to Film City, and Bird Feeding Point near Dalit Prerna Sthal. The police have increased the challan for violating lane discipline rules Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.

Tesla fever grips India again even while Musk keeps mum
New Delhi: There is a sense of déjà vu’ on the present levels of near hysteria concerning Tesla Motors and India.

Piyush Goyal says Tesla welcome to invest, manufacture in India
Mumbai: India welcomes Tesla and also all the other global companies which want to invest and manufacture in the country, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. Replying to a question on Elon Musk-promoted EV maker Tesla's speculated entry into India, Goyal said the American company is welcome to set up a presence in India.

It's just not Tesla; global electric wheels take turn on to Indian roads
Mumbai: As growth in established electric vehicle (EV) markets slows, global giants are turning their attention to India, where the sector is still in the early stages of evolution. To capitalise on this opportunity, manufacturers are adopting premium positioning and expanding into assembly of completely knocked down (CKD) vehicles.

Italian watchdog opens probe into Tesla, other EV makers
Italy's competition watchdog said Friday it was investigating four electric vehicle makers, including Tesla and Stellantis, for alleged unfair commercial practices.

India’s car market stares at stagnancy: It may need a policy kickstart
India’s market for passenger vehicles has slowed to a crawl. As reported, a forecast made by Indian carmakers at an internal meeting of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) last week points to stagnant sales in 2024-25 at a level of just above 4.2 million units, with barely 1-2% growth expected in 2025-26. 

Tesla Car Prices in India: Expected cost of Elon Musk’s EV maker’s models with 110% and 15% tariffs
Elon Musk-led Tesla is all set to enter India this year with its first EV shipment, marking the long-awaited debut of the California-based electric vehicles (EVs) maker. Tesla is planning to enter the Indian market by shipping a few thousand cars to a port near Mumbai in the coming months.

Cab fares to rise 50-60%, boosting self-drive rentals: WTicabs CEO
Cab fares are set to rise by 50-60% over the next five years as drivers demand better earnings, according to Wise Travel India Cabs (WTicabs) founder and CEO Ashok Vashist. “If a ride costs Rs 100 today, it will rise to Rs 150-160 in five years,” he told FE.

Blu Smart repays after ‘default’. Now it has to convince bondholders
BluSmart Mobility, an electric cab-hailing service, defaulted on ₹30 crore worth of bonds in early February because of a cash crunch, said two people aware of the development.

Tesla India entry a limited threat to Mahindra as de-rating priced in after 17% drop in share price: CLSA
After Mahindra & Mahindra shares fell roughly 17% in the last 2 weeks amid fears around the impact of Tesla’s much-anticipated entry into the Indian market, CLSA said the de-rating has priced in the risk.

World's EV leader BYD weighs options to rev up India engine
Source Credit: Swaraj Baggonkar, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

Musk shaking up India's auto, broadband marketNE
 

Tesla entry not a major threat to electric vehicle OEMs, says CLSA
 

Maruti's Jimny exports in the fast lane

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki's Jimny is gaining traction in global markets despite slow domestic sales. Strong overseas demand is driving its exports, positioning it as a key model in the company's international shipments for the next financial year. Between April 2024 and January 2025, Maruti Suzuki exported 40,600 units of the Jimny, accounting for 14.8% of its total exports. This makes it the second-most exported model after the Fronx, which recorded 56,400 units (20.5%). The company's total exports during this period stood at 134,033 units, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam). The recent launch of the five-door Jimny Nomad in Japan has further boosted demand. Within just four days of its price announcement, the model received over 50,000 bookings, prompting Maruti Suzuki to pause new orders. Deliveries are set to begin in April 2025. 'The Jimny Nomad's pricing and availability make it a strong contender in the export market. Given its current momentum, it could soon surpass the Fronx as Maruti Suzuki’s top export model," said Puneet Gupta, director at S&P Global.

BYD Sealion 7 crosses 1,000 booking milestone
BYD Sealion 7 has crossed the 1,000 booking milestone. The electric SUV was recently launched in India at a starting price of Rs 48.90 lakh (ex-showroom) for its base Premium variant. The top-spec Sealion 7 Performance costs Rs 54.90 lakh (ex-showroom). BYD will commence the deliveries of the Sealion 7 from March 7, 2025.

BYD Sealion 7 review: Sealion King
The Indian EV market is burgeoning — and not just at the budget end of the spectrum. The premium EV space has witnessed an influx of new products from brands new and old. If you have a budget of around ₹50 lakh, the variety of all-electric cars to choose from is quite wide, to say the least. It has everything from carmakers like Hyundai and Kia, who’ve presented some of their flagship products, to well-established premium carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and BMW, who have offered a relatively pocket-friendly way to get into luxury car ownership with their EVs in the said price bracket. Amidst all this, BYD, the increasingly popular carmaker, has introduced its latest, the Sealion 7. Priced ₹48.9 lakh, ex-showroom, this all-new crossover SUV looks quite promising. We take a closer look to see if it can substantially dent the position of global carmakers in the Indian EV space. While BYD has made immense progress in the global market, the company is in the process of gradually carving a niche for itself here. Save for the Seal, the product portfolio is comprised of practical and spacious cars. The Sealion 7 is bound to further the premium appeal and, as a crossover SUV, it’s expected to garner the Indian buyer’s attention sooner than any other BYD.

All-electric Volvo ES90 sedan set for debut on 5 March
Volvo is all geared up to unveil the next chapter of its electrification journey. The Swedish brand will officially unveil the upcoming ES90 to the world on 5 March 2025. The flagship electric sedan will eventually replace the current S90 from the lineup, and will be the first sedan and overall sixth model in Volvo’s global EV lineup. 

2025 Volvo XC90: 5 reasons you should consider buying the upcoming SUV
The Volvo XC90 facelift is set to debut in India on March 4, 2025. This flagship SUV from the Swedish automaker was revealed globally last year showcasing a refreshed design and upgraded features. This marks the XC90's second significant redesign in ten years, ensuring it remains competitive with other premium SUVs in the market. The XC90 is available internationally in configurations that seat six or seven passengers featuring three engine choices two mild hybrids and one plug-in hybrid model.

Living with Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+: 5 pros and cons that will help you decide
India’s electric vehicle market is like a toddler learning to walk, sometimes wobbling, but determined to step up and sprint as launches are coming in thick and fast  Mercedes-Benz is throwing EVs at us like confetti at a wedding ensuring there’s an option across its entire price range.  

Car Review: New BMW X7: Driving the ultimate oversized SUV
Goggle 'Muscle Car' and it'll show you images of Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger — all American two-door coupes it's unlikely to show you an SUV, and never a German brand. But race the new BMW X7 against any of those muscle cars, and you'll know who's the boss — thanks to its 3.0-litre turbocharged engine, hurling this huge SUV from 0-100 km/h in less than 6 seconds. 

Lotus Emira review: The right Lotus
This is it — the last ICE-powered of its kind is here. It’s called the Emira and it looks like Lotus’s swansong. Sports cars are something Lotus has had great success with, so it’s only natural to think that the Emira is going to be, for the lack of a better word, epic. It would also be my first Lotus sports car experience, having driven the all-electric Eletre SUV only a few months ago. So, how good is it?

VE Commercial Vehicles to announce expansion plans worth Rs 1500cr in GIS
Indore: VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd, a joint venture between Swedish auto giant Volvo Group and India's Eicher Motors, is poised to broaden its operations in Madhya Pradesh with a fresh investment of Rs 1,500 crore. The automobile company currently operates manufacturing facilities in Pithampur in Dhar district and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

Ashok Leyland to accelerate export growth, targets 25,000 units in three years
Chennai: Ashok Leyland is charting an aggressive growth trajectory for its export business, aiming to more than double its export volumes over the next three years compared to FY24 levels. The leading truck and bus maker seeks to expand its global presence by penetrating new markets while reinforcing its position in existing ones. The company has set an ambitious medium-term export target of 25,000 units. For the current fiscal year, it aims to achieve exports of about 15,000 units, a substantial rise from last year’s figure of around 11,850 units. Despite certain challenges, the company remains optimistic about meeting this goal, driven by a strong order book, Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director, said during the company’s Q3FY25 earnings call.

Government committed to fostering environment to attract investments : HD Kumaraswamy
The government is committed to fostering a favourable environment to attract substantial investments from global automakers including Tesla, says HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries. In an exclusive interview with businessline, Kumaraswamy tells even without subsidies, EV sales are projected to grow significantly by 2030.

Edited excerpts:

John Abraham wants the Tuareg, Aprilia says not yet
The launch of the Aprilia Tuono 457 has set expectations high for the company’s next product — the Tuareg 457. While enthusiasts are eager, there is one person who can’t wait — John Abraham, renowned Bollywood actor and Aprilia’s brand ambassador. However, Aprilia’s top man, Diego Graffi, says not yet.

Aprilia Tuono 457 vs competition — Which one should you pick?
The Aprilia Tuono 457 is the newest sub-500cc street naked in the market and knocks directly on the doors of KTM and Yamaha. The KTM 390 Duke has been the leader in the segment for long, while the Yamaha MT-03 has always been an aspirational motorcycle but with a hefty budget and basic components compared to the 390 Duke. Now, the Italians want in, with the Tuono 457.

Ducati Panigale V4 launch on March 5: Here’s what to expect
Ducati will be launching the all-new Panigale V4 in India on March 5. The Italian superbike brand has confirmed through a media release and a social media most where the litre class sports bike has been teased. Bookings for the same commenced earlier last month. Even before the price announcement, all units of the new-gen Panigale V4 have already been sold out for this year.

Petrol prices in India among lowest in the world, says Puri
New Delhi: Petroleum prices in India are among the lowest in the world, said Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
 

Petrol prices in India among lowest in the world: Union Minister Puri
New Delhi: Petroleum prices in India are among the lowest in the world, said Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Good if we get Russian crude, but no major concern if we don’t: BPCL Director (Refineries) Sanjay Khanna
India’s second-largest refiner and fuel retailer Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) does not expect any disruption in supply of Russian crude to have significantly impact its profitability or crude supply security since discounts on Russian crude have shrunk considerably and there are numerous oil supply sources available, according to BPCL’s director (refineries) SANJAY KHANNA. As for its planned greenfield coastal refinery project in Andhra Pradesh, BPCL is open to taking on international oil majors as partners. A decision on this front is expected only when there is a “certain level of clarity” about this project. In an interview with SUKALP SHARMA, Khanna talks about oil imports and energy security, BPCL’s expansion plans, decarbonisation, and its energy transition and evolution path.

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Greater Noida Authority to set up 15 stations to charge electric vehicles in 20 minutes
Greater Noida Authority is set to install 15 new stations for electric vehicles, promising full charging within 15-20 minutes.

Global oil supply rise may lower energy prices, tame inflation, says Hardeep Puri

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep S Puri has said with more oil coming up in the global market including from the USA, energy prices are likely to come down which would help tame inflation.

Three-year car insurance: Are you still buying motor insurance annually?
 

Most powerful bikes under Rs 5 lakh
We recently brought you a list of the most powerful bikes under Rs 2.5 lakh, but this list doubles that budget. All entrants on this list make over 40hp, but none of them breach 47.6hp as they need to comply with the European A2 licence requirements, which caps power at 35kW (47.6hp) – and the bikes sold in India are European-spec ones.

Skoda Kylaq Cup racing series in the works
To underline the Skoda Kylaq’s image of being a fun-to-drive and performance-oriented alternative to the bevy of compact SUVs, the Czech company is planning to put together a racing series in India. Speaking to Autocar india on the sidelines of the Octavia RS drive in Croatia, Skoda Auto India brand director Petr Janeba, said, "We want the series to be competitive but still very reliable and accessible from costs, so that young drivers can train and get better."

Hyundai Ioniq 5 long term review, 21,000km report
There’s little doubt the Hyundai Ioniq 5, our 2024 Car of the Year, is one of the best cars Hyundai has put to market in recent times. Part of this is because it breaks new ground and seamlessly integrates modern EV tech into regular everyday motoring.

Maruti Ciaz to be phased out by April 2025
The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz will be phased out by April 2025 amid declining sales and a market shift towards SUVs. Autocar India has learned that production will cease by March 2025, with sales expected to end by April.

2025 Skoda Kodiaq India launch in April
Just three months after the second-gen Skoda Kodiaq made its India debut, the seven-seat full-size SUV is set to launch in India. Speaking to media at the Octavia RS drive, Skoda Auto India brand director Petr Janeba, confirmed that prices for the new Kodiaq will be announced in April, and that it will be offered in two trims.

The Modern Classic Rally is back! 2025 event details
Get ready to meet your hero cars! The Modern Classic Rally is back, and the 2025 edition will be held on March 1 and 2 at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, in Kalina. The event will consist of a static display on Saturday, March 1, followed by a drive across Mumbai on Sunday, March 2, with over 80 of the most alluring modern classics expected to be in attendance. Be there!

Top 10 bikes below Rs 2 lakh with highest power-to-weight ratios
Enthusiasts know that it’s the power-to-weight ratio that tells a more detailed story when it comes to performance. That’s why we’ve decided to list out the top 10 bikes with the highest power-to-weight ratios and priced below the Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) mark. All figures have been calculated using kerb weights.

Aston Martin Vantage India review: split personality
Aston Martin Vantage exterior design

Me and my cars: Gururaj Pawar
What are you driving/riding and why?

Stellantis' USD 807 million UK lawsuit over airbag, seatbelt cartels dismissed
Stellantis' 771 million euro (USD 807.62 million) lawsuit against two safety equipment makers was dismissed by a London tribunal on Friday.

Stellantis pauses retooling at Canada factory slated to build Jeep Compass
Stellantis is pausing work on its next-generation Jeep Compass compact SUV including retooling a plant in Canada designated to build the vehicle, the company said Thursday.

Ford slashes manager stock bonuses to cut costs, boost performance
Some middle managers at Ford Motor will not get stock bonuses this year in what is seen internally as CEO Jim Farley's latest attempt to cut the automaker's bloated costs, according to six people familiar with the matter.

BMW says it will review timing of electric Mini production in UK
London: BMW said on Saturday it is rethinking its timetable for manufacturing all-electric Mini cars in Britain, citing uncertainties facing the industry.

China's EV maker XPeng eyes doubling global presence by year's end
Guangzhou: One of China's leading electric vehicle makers XPeng plans to double the number of countries in which the company operates by the end of this year, its CEO said Saturday.

China's CALB to invest USD 2.09 billion in EV battery factory in Portugal
China's CALB, one of the world's largest battery makers for electric vehicles, said on Friday it would invest 2 billion euros (USD 2.09 billion) in a gigafactory in Portugal that is expected to start production in 2028.

Japan seeks Tesla investment in Nissan, Foxconn approaches Honda, reports say
A high-level Japanese group that includes a former prime minister has drawn up plans for Tesla to invest in Nissan after the collapse of its merger talks with Honda, the Financial Times said on Friday.