Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 27 Jun 2025,Friday
🏢 Industry
Rare earth magnets crisis: Auto dealers rush to get additional inventory
With rare earth magnet scarcity threatening to challenge electric vehicle production and supplies in India, automobile dealers are stocking up on vehicles, as current inventory will last them for a month or so, according to industry circles. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) have alerted dealers that a delay in procuring rare earth magnets could slow down wholesale dispatches as production will be hampered.
India's rare earths riddle: No quick fix as China holds the magnetic key
There seems to be no quick fix in sight for India's rare earths predicament as it scrambles for magnets, slaps export curbs and weighs production incentives, while a delegation from the country waits to meet Chinese officials.
Geopolitical tensions impact PV sales in May, 2Ws show resilience: Report
The recent crisis in West Asia is proving to be a major threat to the global economy and industries. Prior to this, heightened tensions between India and Pakistan started to affect businesses and the economy. Now, this war-like situation has started to take its toll on the sale of automobiles in India as well.
Do two-wheelers need to pay toll from July 15? Fact check
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has unequivocally dismissed reports claiming that two-wheelers will be charged toll tax on national highways from July 15. Issuing a clarification via an official fact-check, the authority confirmed that no such proposal is under consideration and issued an advisory for the readers to always verify with official sources before believing such viral news.
Toyota explores hydrogen infrastructure to power future of automotive in India
The collaboration explores combining Ohmium’s modular PEM electrolyser technology with Toyota’s globally proven fuel cell stack to produce and use green hydrogen in a closed-loop energy system. If successful, this prototype could open up new opportunities for industrial energy use, especially in areas where grid access is limited or where uninterrupted clean power is critical.
Kirloskar cos drag Sebi to court—say key disclosure rules are ‘unconstitutional’
Mumbai: In a dramatic escalation of the long-running Kirloskar family dispute, five listed Kirloskar Group companies have moved the Bombay High Court challenging the constitutional validity of a regulation that mandates disclosure of private agreements by promoters, directors, and other stakeholders.
Mahindra to launch new ‘Nu’ platform on August 15
Mahindra & Mahindra are gearing up to take a massive step forward by introducing a brand new platform on August 15. The Indian SUV manufacturer has sent a block-your-date invitation on the 78th Independence Day of India, and the company recently confirmed at the Q4 FY25 earnings that the new versatile platform could house petrol, diesel, electric and even hybrid vehicles. That’s right. The company, along with Tata Motors, has been championing the EV cause, but not keeping its options open.
India's EV growth is significantly lower than top 10 countries: Report
India's electric vehicle (EV) sector is growing steadily but continues to lag behind global leaders, according to a recent report by Intelsense. In FY24, India's EV market grew by 27 per cent year-on-year, yet it remains outside the global top 10 in terms of growth and market penetration, reports ANI.
Govt mulls easing fuel efficiency norms for small cars sought by Maruti Suzuki: Report
India is considering relaxing fuel efficiency norms for small cars after lobbying by Maruti Suzuki, which has seen sales of such cars drop amid an SUV boom, industry and government sources told Reuters.
Prices of used cars ‘artificially inflated’: First-time buyers find new cars ‘value for money’ - Report
In what may be a major shift for the passenger vehicle industry in India, a new survey has revealed that nearly eight out of ten first-time car buyers are now considering buying a new car rather than a used one.
Govt eyes sops for rare magnets to reduce dependence on China
Govt is working on an incentive scheme for rare earth magnets and is likely to subsidise processing units as it seeks to develop a domestic base to reduce its dependence on China. A decision on rolling out the scheme will be taken in 15-20 days, heavy industries and steel minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.
CITU-backed union demands recognition at Hyundai Motor’s Sriperumbudur plant
Another unrest seems to be brewing in the Sriperumbudur industrial corridor after the recent Samsung saga. As Hyundai looks to ink a new wage agreement with United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE) — the management-backed labour union — the CITU-backed Hyundai Motors India Employees Union (HMIEU) has put out a strike notice stating that 1,457 out of the 2,420 permanent employees have signed up with them. This gives HMIEU a clear majority over UUHE, the notice signed by by union leader Muthukumar states, adding that Hyundai must either include HMIEU in ongoing wage negotiations or facilitate a secret-ballot union vote.
With favourable policies, availability of more options, EV sales outpace hybrid growth
📝 Elon Musk's Tesla only keen on selling cars in India, not setting up local factory despite new EV manufacturing scheme
📝 Govt launches scheme for imported EVs
📝 Odisha to launch EV policy 2.0, targets 50% battery EV registrations by 2036
📝 Auto recap, June 26: 2025 Indian Motorcycle range launched, JLR to begin local assembly and more
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🚗 ICE Car/SUV
5 Indian Cars from the 90s We Want Back
The Indian automotive industry had come a long way compared to the 90s — a time when design had no constraints owing to safety norms. This era also gave us some amazing cars that were simple, and offered nothing more but pure driving pleasure. Some cars were ahead of their time, but the evolving auto industry has left us with nothing but memories of them. If given a chance and we had to wish back for five, here they are.
CARS24 introduces 'Crashfree India' to eliminate road fatalities by 2040
In a move to tackle India’s silent road safety crisis, auto-tech platform CARS24 has launched Crashfree India—a mission-driven non-profit aimed at achieving zero road fatalities by 2040.
Hyundai India launches monsoon service camp for all models. Check the benefits
Hyundai Motor India Limited has launched its exclusive monsoon camp, offering a range of benefits and discounts across all its models. The campaign aims to raise awareness about essential preventive measures during the monsoon season, while Hyundai vehicle owners can enjoy various benefits related to warranties, spare parts, repairs, and more.
3rd-gen Hyundai Creta to get petrol hybrid engine: Here’s what we know
Hyundai Creta is one of the highest-selling SUVs, and the best-selling model by Hyundai in India. In its second-generation now, the South Korean auto giant has already started working on the third-gen Creta. It has also been spotted testing on foreign soil on a few occasions in the recent months.
Honda Cars India bets big on Kerala with 10% market share
Honda Cars India is betting big on the Kerala market given the market share gained by the company across its models in the State. “Kerala is a significant contributor to our overall national business as 6 per cent of the total sales is happening from the State compared to three per cent of the industry,” said Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd.
📝 New-gen Mahindra Bolero Neo spotted ahead of launch
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Electric Car/SUV
Mahindra BE 6 owner hack unlocks over 500 km range on one charge
Mahindra’s born-electric duo, the BE 6 and XEV 9e, have generated significant excitement in recent months. Mahindra reports delivering 10,000 EVs since March. Amid the enthusiasm for these models, a BE 6 owner, PM Sreenivas, shares tips for maximising driving range through simple techniques on the Team-BHP forum. He emphasises understanding the BE 6’s characteristics and spending time familiarising oneself with its features to optimise performance.
📝 Mahindra to launch brand new EV, SUVs, teases new platform: Debut date, details
📝 Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e: BNCAP crash test scores compared in detail
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🚗 Luxury
📝 Volvo XC60 becomes brand’s bestselling car of all time, over 2.7 million units sold
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
Shift to alternative fuel trucks: Gadkari
New Delhi : Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday urged vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies to opt for trucks that run on alternative fuels rather than diesel-fuelled ones to cut down pollution, reduce logistics costs, and decrease India’s dependence on imported fossil fuel.
Mahindra launches Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD 1.9 CNG at ₹11.19 lakh
Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the Bolero MaXX Pik-Up HD 1.9 CNG, expanding its small commercial vehicle portfolio. The new variant is priced at ₹11.19 lakh (ex-showroom) and comes with a payload capacity of 1.85 tonnes, the highest in its segment.
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🎤 Interviews & Features
DIY: How to fix foggy headlights?
Headlights are a very crucial part for any automobile. Even though headlights have witnessed a massive transformation from classic halogen bulbs to LED projector lamps, all of them face some common issues that reduce their effectiveness. Keeping headlamps clean is very important for clear and accurate projection of the light forward.
📝 Honda City Sport vs Volkswagen Virtus GT Line: Which stylish sedan offers better value
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🏍 EV/ICE Two Wheelers
Yamaha India shifts focus to premium bikes, drops 100-125cc commuter plans
Yamaha was once a force reckon with the mainstream two-wheeler market that offered a wide range of motorcycles catering to the wide demography of India. This included 100-125cc models like Saluto, Gladiator, and our all-time favourite the RX100. However, in the last five to six years, the Japanese two-wheeler giant has started focusing only on the premium segment.
5 forgotten motorcycles under Rs 2 lakh that you should consider
May 2025 was a good month for the two-wheeler sector in India as the leading companies registered a year-on-year increase, barring Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. After low sales numbers in April 2025, the market bounced back. With so many choices, we list five motorcycles that may not be the best-sellers in their class, but they offer performance, fuel economy, features and are budget-friendly.
Indian Motorcycle announces 2025 prices for heavyweight range in India
Indian Motorcycle, a division of Polaris Industries, has released the official price list for its Model Year 2025 heavyweight motorcycles in India. The updated pricing covers the Chief, Chieftain, Challenger, Pursuit, and Roadmaster models.
📝 Honda BigWing begins Rebel 500 deliveries, but only in these cities. Take a look…
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🌇 Allied Industries
Growth rate of India's steel production outpaces China's: Report
India's steel industry is rapidly advancing toward the government's target of achieving 300 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of crude steel capacity by FY2030-31, according to a private sector report released on Thursday.
Apollo Tyres launches UHP made-in-India Aspire 5
Apollo Tyres Ltd has announced the launch of its latest Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tyre — Apollo Aspire 5 — developed and manufactured in India for both domestic and global markets. Apollo Aspire 5 will be available from July 2025.
Eurogrip Tyres opens two exclusive retail stores in Chennai
📝 TVS Srichakra expands exclusive retail stores of Eurogrip Tyres in Chennai
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants
Indian refiners' May crude processing edges up 0.4% from a year earlier
Indian refiners' throughput in May rose 0.4 per cent year-on-year to 5.47 million barrels per day (23.11 million metric tons), provisional government data showed on Thursday.
From shortage to surplus: India pours record rice crop into ethanol
India is allocating record rice volumes for ethanol production as it struggles with unprecedented inventories that are likely to swell further with the arrival of the new season crop, a reversal from earlier shortages that led to export curbs.
Inside Gulf Oil India's EV push, R&D drive and future roadmap
In a candid and wide-ranging conversation, Mr. Ravi Chawla, Managing Director of Gulf Oil Lubricants India, provided valuable insights into the company's evolving strategy. The discussion delved into Gulf Oil's initiatives in the electric mobility space, innovations in lubricants, strategic partnerships with OEMs, and the company's future growth prospects in India. Below is a comprehensive overview of the key takeaways from the interaction.
📝 Delhi fuel stations seek police support as ban on over-age vehicles nears implementation
📝 Gadkari pushes for energy independence with hydrogen, ethanol and biogas plans
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💸 Finance & Insurance
What auto loan borrowers must know before it’s too late?
TransUnion CIBIL has reported that delinquency rates for auto loans on a 90+ days past due (DPD) basis stood at 0.6per cent in June 2024, presenting a very marginal improvement, indicating prevailing stress in the sector. Though the volume of auto loan origination has reduced by 3per cent year-on-year for the quarter ending September 2024, the amount disbursed saw a moderate growth of only 1per cent . This suggests that the borrowers are availing themselves of fewer loans but for bigger amounts, which may be risky.
This Monsoon season drive worry free with SBI General's Motor Insurance
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (NewsVoir) As the monsoon season brings much-needed relief through refreshing showers, it also presents a range of challenges for vehicle owners. Waterlogged streets, unexpected flooding, slippery roads and reduced visibility significantly increase driving risks. SBI General Insurance recognises the unique concerns associated with this season and urges vehicle owners to proactively secure the right motor insurance coverage. A comprehensive motor insurance policy not only protects your vehicle from potential damage but also gives you the confidence to navigate rain-soaked roads with peace of mind.
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📖 Magazines
2025 Tata Nexon price, variants, features explained
The Tata Nexon was given a comprehensive, mid-cycle refresh in September 2023, but since then, the brand has updated its compact SUV with a new powertrain option, more features, and rejigged the variant line-up. The Nexon is available in petrol, CNG and diesel form, and comes in 4 trim levels – Smart, Pure, Creative and Fearless – each of which get a ‘+’ and an ‘S” variant that pack in more features. Including all the powertrain and variants, there are a total of 39 versions of the Nexon on sale, so without further digression, here is what features, safety kit and powertrain options available with each variant.
Range Rover Evoque: 3 reasons to buy and 2 not to
The Range Rover Evoque is the most affordable model from Land Rover’s premium sub-brand. Last facelifted in 2024 and recently given a variant rejig, the Evoque rivals entry-level luxury SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, and Audi Q3. Let’s take a look at some key reasons why the Evoque should be on the radar of compact luxury SUV buyers, and a couple of areas where the baby Range Rover falls short.
Hyundai Creta Electric: 3 reasons to buy and 2 not to
The Hyundai Creta Electric is the Korean carmaker’s first mass-market EV for India. While the Creta Electric retains the core strengths of the ICE-powered Creta it's based on, like an expansive feature list, capable powertrains, the vaunted SUV bodystyle, etc, it faces stiff competition from the likes of the Mahindra BE 6, Tata Curvv EV, and MG ZS EV. Listed below are three reasons why you should buy the Creta Electric, and two reasons why you might want to think twice.
Skoda, Volkswagen hybrids India launch likely by 2028
Skoda and Volkswagen join the list of carmakers in India that are planning to launch hybrid cars in the country. The European brands are working on strong hybrid midsize SUVs and sedans that are likely to launch by 2028.
Mercedes AMG GT and GT Pro: 5 things to watch out for
Mercedes-Benz is set to bolster its performance-focused line-up in India with the imminent launch of the new-gen AMG GT sports car. The latest and greatest from the AMG division will serve as its flagship model and will be available in two guises: GT 63 4Matic+ and GT 63 Pro 4Matic+. Ahead of the new AMG GT’s launch in India, let’s go over five notable aspects of the performance coupe.
Indian Motorcycle cruiser prices for 2025 announced
Indian Motorcycle, the other American cruiser manufacturer, has announced its price list for our market for the 2025 model year. While almost every bike it makes is available here on a made-to-order basis, the company has only revealed starting prices for each model line.
Raida Carbonite gloves review
In a fiercely competitive segment, the Raida Carbonite gloves promise a blend of robust protection and everyday comfort. But having put them through their paces on Mumbai’s chaotic roads, allow me to delve into whether they live up to the promise.
F1 movie review: Is it for the fans?
If Netflix’s Drive to Survive proved one thing then it’s that F1 has plenty of storytelling potential – both on the track and off it. This is exactly why Apple and Warner Bros teamed up with F1 to bring the all the drama of the pinnacle of motor racing to the big screen. And rather than going down the tried-and-tested documentary/biopic route, F1:The Movie promised something fresh – integrating a fictional team into the championship itself.
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📰 International
Tesla top executive Omead Afshar exits amid slumping global sales
Tesla has reportedly fired Omead Afshar, its Head of Operations for North America and Europe, in a significant shake-up of its leadership team, reports ToI Business Desk. Afshar, often referred to as “Elon Musk’s fixer,” was considered one of the most influential figures at the EV giant and had been instrumental in driving several of Tesla’s major projects.
Foxtron Model B EV receives certification, set for commercial launch in Q4
Taipei: A joint venture between Hon Hai Precision Industry also known globally as Foxconn and Yulon Motor Co., called Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, announced that the company's model B passenger electric vehicle has received government certification for sale and is scheduled to hit markets in the fourth quarter of this year, as reported by Focus Taiwan.
Intel shuts down auto division: Triggers layoff storm
Intel has decided to slam the brakes on its automotive chip business and roll the shutters down, which was based in Munich, Germany. The Oregonian got its hands on an internal memo which confirms that the company is shutting the auto division.
General Motors to recall over 62,000 United States vehicles over fire risk from brake assembly
GM is recalling 62,468 vehicles over the risk that a fault in the brake pressure sensor assembly may allow fluid to leak, increasing the chances of an electrical short, the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.
France orders extra 800,000 cars off the road over Takata airbag scandal
France is ordering an extra 800,000 cars with Takata airbags to be taken off the road, two weeks after a woman died in the northeastern town of Reims from injuries related to a faulty airbag.
Amid global headwinds, Chinese automakers set sights on Africa
Chinese automakers are pushing to unlock Africa's underdeveloped potential, with a focus on electric and hybrid vehicles, as restrictions on exports to the United States and Europe send them on a global quest for new markets.
Tesla’s robotaxi struggles with driving errors during Texas tests
A first public test of robotaxis by Tesla in Austin, Texas led to multiple traffic problems and driving issues, videos from company-selected riders showed over the first few days.
📝 Chinese-Moroccan joint venture inaugurates EV battery parts plant
📝 Musk's 'robotaxis' draw regulatory scrutiny after video shows one driving in an opposing lane
📝 Xpeng executive says company does not export new cars as 'used', Chinese media report
📝 Hybrid cars, once derided and dismissed, have become popular
📝 Tesla's European sales slump for fifth month as EV rivals gain momentum
📝 Xiaomi launches YU7 priced from 253,500 yuan, challenging Tesla's Model Y
📝 Tesla's Robotaxi peppered with driving mistakes in texas tests
📝 Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear unveiled with 1,603 bhp. A limited edition, road-legal supercar.
📝 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT XX Concept unveiled with 360 kmph top speed
📝 NBA star Dwyane Wade's car collection: A lavish garage filled with Ferraris, Maybachs, and sentimental gifts
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