Cabinet nod to royalty cut for critical minerals
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved downward revision of the royalty rates for a host of critical minerals namely caesium, graphite, rubidium and zirconium. All these are widely used in the green energy sector. 

Ratan Tata's 27 year-old vision comes true as Tata Motors demerger completes with trucks business listing
New Delhi/Mumbai: More than a quarter of a century after the late Ratan Tata first hinted at Tata Motors splitting its operations into two companies, one making cars and the other trucks and buses, the automaker has finally consummated the demerger.

Why is Kotak Institutional Equities ‘cautious’ on the auto sector despite festive momentum? 3 reasons revealed
India’s auto sector reported a mixed performance in Q2FY26 amid the festive season, rare earth supply issues, and the GST cut implemented in September to boost consumption. Kotak Institutional Equities, however, maintained a ‘cautious’ stance on the sector, noting that while festive momentum and GST relief may support short-term demand, structural headwinds in passenger vehicle sales remain a concern.

Ashok Leyland to inaugurate its EV manufacturing at Lucknow in 30-60 days
Chennai: Ashok Leyland is expected to inaugurate its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Lucknow in the next 30-60 days, said the company’s MD and CEO Shenu Agarwal. With an initial annual capacity to manufacture 2,500 buses, the facility mainly focus on electric buses. However, the way it has been constructed, the facility can produce any type of buses, including electric, diesel or alternate fuel, he told newspersons while discussing the company’s second quarter financial results.

Syrma SGS to begin PCB trial production at Andhra plant by Dec 2026: MD
 

How Indian EV makers are racing to go rare earth-free amid China’s chokehold
 

Hitting a speed bump: Carmakers raise concerns over EV scheme rules
 

Top 10 cars in India in October 2025: Tata Nexon to Maruti Suzuki Swift
The Indian passenger vehicle market witnessed a multi-dimensional sales boost in October 2025. It was the month that witnessed the sales boost owing to the festivities and positive consumer sentiment, while the GST rate cut in late September further propelled the sales numbers for the auto companies. The GST rate cut helped the small car segment revive its sales figures a bit, while the sub-compact SUVs continued to witnessed heightened demand.

Tata Sierra fully revealed ahead of November 25 launch: Check expected India price, exterior, and interior details here – Watch video
Tata Sierra, the highly anticipated SUV from Tata Motors, is inching very closer to its debut on November 25. Although the SUV was already shown by Tata Motors at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025, car enthusiasts and critics are eagerly awaiting for the launch. Since the new 5-door Sierra is inspired by the Original three-door Sierra launched in the 1990s by Tata Motors, which still has a cult like following.

CAFE norms are inappropriate, says Maruti’s RC Bhargava
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) Chairman RC Bhargava has said that in his “personal opinion”, the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards should not exist at all — arguing that these were European benchmarks designed for bigger, heavier cars, and were unsuited to India’s market. “I think the CAFE norms are inappropriate, but that’s a different matter — that’s my view. Regulation should not be biased in favour of anybody. These norms (the current draft CAFE-3 norms in India) are biased in favour of big cars and are therefore inappropriate. They were made in Europe, they reflected the power structure there between car makers — the German manufacturers were the most powerful,” Bhargava told businessline.

GST benefits: Mercedes sees uptick in diesel car sales
After remaining relatively quiet for a couple of years, Mercedes-Benz India has witnessed a surge in sales of diesel powertrains following the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rationalisation. The recent 6% reduction in taxes on both diesel and petrol engines has made diesel options more attractive, taking into account their mileage and overall cost of ownership. 

Diesel roars back as Mercedes-Benz bets big on its ‘Made in Chakan’ for India’s future
 

Tata Motors demerger ends cross-subsidy: Chandrasekaran
The demerger of Tata Motors has brought to an end decades of cross-subsidisation between its commercial and passenger vehicle businesses, creating two independent listed entities that will now chart their own growth paths, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Wednesday.

Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles were always profitable and passenger cars were not so: N Chandrasekaran
Mumbai: Tata Motors’ (formerly Tata Motors Commercial Vehicle) shares were listed today on the Indian stock market, after the scheme of arrangement which took effect from October 1. The shares opened 29 per cent higher than its discovered price and ended the day 27 per cent higher at ₹330 on the NSE. “It is a defining moment in Tata Motors, the combined Tata Motors journey. Tata Motors has always been considered one of the top companies within the group. To do any structural changes to that iconic company is always difficult for two reasons. First, the people in the company believe this is a good, solid company, and we should not touch it. Second, there is also a group-wide perspective that it’s one iconic company. Third, there are a billion people who love the Tata Group and have a billion views. However, it was clear to me eight to nine years ago that this company had to have a different path. We have had ups and downs and had to go through a major transformation journey, which we did. The fact of the matter is that Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles were always profitable, and Tata Motors’ passenger cars were not so. There was always support for Tata Motors’ passenger cars from the performance of Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles,” said N Chandrasekaran, Chairperson of Tata Motors at the listing.

Leyland’s EV arm to shift plant from UK to UAE
Chennai: Hinduja flagship truck and bus maker Ashok Leyland is restructuring the global operations of its EV arm, Switch Mobility, and consolidating electric vehicle manufacturing around India and the Middle East.

Ashok Leyland’s EV arm Switch Mobility hits profit milestone, eyes expansion
Ashok Leyland's electric vehicle (EV) unit, which makes e-buses and trucks, reported profit for the first time in the July-September period, joining its listed peer Olectra Greentech in the black.

Tata Motors Limited shares list at 28% premium amid investor optimism
Tata Motors CV shares list at 26% premium
The Financial Express

Tata Motors’ CV arm lists, marks new chapter after major transformation: N Chandrasekaran
Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles listing a ‘Defining Moment’ in company’s journey: N Chandrasekaran
The Financial Express

Ashok Leyland Q2 net profit rises 23% to ₹1,083 crore; EBITDA margin improves to 12.1%
Ashok Leyland Q2 net profit flat at Rs 771 cr 
The Financial Express

Strong festive auto sales and banking resilience signal long-term investment opportunities: Harsha Upadhyaya, CIO, Kotak Mahindra AMC
As India continues to navigate post-festive season trends and shifting market dynamics, investor focus is turning to three key sectors: automobiles, capital markets, and banking. Harsha Upadhyaya, CIO, Kotak Mahindra AMC, shared his insights on ET Now about what investors should watch in the coming months.

Yamaha XSR 155 vs Royal Enfield Hunter 350 vs TVS Ronin: Price comparison
With the rapidly evolving consumer preference for bigger and more powerful motorcycles, the bikes in the range of 125-160 cc motorcycles have been increasingly becoming the neo-entry level models. Yamaha has been present in this space for long time and now, the company has attempted to enhance its market share with the launch of the Yamaha XSR 155, which is a neo-retro roadster, launched at ₹1.50 lakh (ex-showroom). In the neo-retro roadster segment, we have taken two popular models from different engine displacement categories, which come priced competitively against the Yamaha XSR 155 - Royal Enfield Hunter 350 and TVS Ronin.

The rise of private initiatives is good for making Art more accessible: Hero’s Sunil Munjal
Chennai: As Serendipity Arts Festival (SAF), one of South Asia’s largest multi-disciplinary arts festivals, returns for its milestone 10th edition to Goa from December 12-21, 2025, it is extending its presence with activations across 10 cities throughout the year including Chennai. “This is a fairly unique festival in the sense that first it covers all art forms in one place. Two, it’s a festival where everyone is welcome,” Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder-Patron, Serendipity Arts Festival, and Chairman, Hero Enterprise, said. “It has evolved over 10 years into something quite significant which now attracts artists and visitors, museologists, experts, intellectuals, academics, researchers in all art forms from many different parts of the world,” he added.

IPO: Is Tenneco India with 3% revenue worth what Apollo paid for global ops?
When Apollo Global Management took Tenneco private in 2022, it triggered an interesting sub-plot in India. Back then, Apollo’s investment arm launched an open offer for Federal-Mogul Goetze (India) Ltd at INR275 per share. With the stock already trading near INR320, the market wasn’t interested. “The open offer may not solicit any major response,” wrote Atul Karwa of HDFC Securities in September 2022.

KPIT Technologies: Strong deal flow, but can it keep the engine running?
Midcap IT company KPIT Technologies, which has carved a niche in automotive software services, is set to bear the brunt of planned cuts in IT investments by automobile OEM clients. The company reported a revenue impact of around $65 million recently, of which $45 million stemmed from clients deprioritizing older programmes across the US, Asia, and parts of Europe, it said in its September quarter (Q2FY26) call.

Asian Paints Q2 rises 43% to Rs 994 crore on strong domestic demand
Asian Paints on Wednesday reported a 43% year-on-year increase in its consolidated net profit for the September quarter (Q2FY26) to Rs 994 crore, beating street estimates of Rs 895 crore for the period.

India to be among top four emitters in 2025, says carbon report
New Delhi: Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025, reaching a record high of 38.1 billion tonnes, over 2024, with the US heading for the highest increase of 1.9% followed by India (1.4%), and China and the EU (0.4% each) among the big four emitting countries, showed the Global Carbon Budget — an annual, peer-reviewed report — released on Thursday.

What makes diesel engines more polluting than petrol? Explained in 5 points
Diesel engines are considered more polluting than their petrol counterparts. This is the key reason why the small cars in India have been shying away from using diesel engines, in face of the mounting regulatory pressure. The government has been implementing stricter emission norms that is making the development process of diesel engines costlier to comply with new regulations, especially for the smaller cars. This is inadvertently impacting the consumers' preference as well. The greater polluting nature of the diesel engines are to be blamed for this.

Driving to Delhi? Explainer of GRAP 3 fines, cars allowed & restricted
After AQI levels spiked to 425 in Delhi, which is similar to a man smoking about 30 cigarettes a day, the authorities officially activated Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), commonly dubbed as GRAP 3 across the national capital regions (NCR). The GRAP 3 restrictions are implemented when the AQI levels drop into the severe category, with the readings ranging between 401 and 450. Amid various restrictions across different sectors, the vehicular restrictions are also included in the GRAP 3 mandate.

With 409 AQI, Delhi’s air quality plunges into ‘severe’ zone, GRAP Stage III kicks in
 

Yamaha XSR155 vs MT-15: price and differences explained
Yamaha has launched the much-anticipated XSR155 in India. While it comes powered by the same 155cc, liquid-cooled engine, it sets itself apart from the MT-15 and R15 by sporting a neo-retro design. Here are all the differences between the MT-15 and its newest sibling in town.

Reason behind the meteoric rise in Mercedes SLS AMG prices
Who says supercars from the modern classic era aren’t collectible. The meteoric rise in the price of Mercedes’ SLS AMG has fascinated and surprised many. The 2010 gull-winged icon now changes hands for almost thrice its list price in India, and that comes as a big surprise to many. However, examine the reasons behind the steep rise in prices of this modern classic, and things get clearer.

All Grown Up: 2025 Mahindra Thar
There are cars that evolve, and there are cars that mature. The Mahindra Thar has done both before, but this time, with its 2025 facelift, it appears to have reflected – as if catching its own rugged silhouette in a city window – and decided it could walk into the world with its boots polished, without ever taking them off.

Mahindra Thar Fest 2025: Sun, sand, and off-road
The Thar is one of the most revered nameplates among Indian off-roading enthusiasts, and Mahindra is well cognizant of this. Once every few years, Mahindra holds the Thar Fest, where winning teams from various off-road club events held across the country compete with highly modified Thars in the Club Challenge, the finale to all the off-road competitions conducted by Mahindra that year.

Tata Sierra EV teased in production spec
The Tata Sierra is set to make a comeback on November 25, 2025, and the manufacturer has been teasing the upcoming SUV for some time now. 

Second-gen Kia Seltos global debut in December
The second-generation Kia Seltos (codenamed SP3i) is set for a world premiere on December 10 in Korea. Its first-generation model had made its global debut in India. The next-gen midsize SUV will have a completely overhauled exterior and interior, as well as a brand-new powertrain option. An India launch is expected sometime in 2026. 

Honda 0 Alpha EV incoming, Maruti Alto turns 25, and more: November 2025 issue
The November 2025 issue of Autocar India is headlined by the Honda 0 Alpha concept. We whet our appetite for adrenaline with drives of three supercars – the Porsche 911 Turbo S, the Maserati MCPura and the Ferrari 296 Speciale. We also have reviews of the Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch, the new Mercedes-Benz G 450d, and we take an in-depth look at the Porsche Cayenne Electric. In the bike section, we have news on Norton’s new bikes and a review of the TVS RTX 300. This and more in this issue of Autocar India.

Hyundai Venue: 4 reasons to buy, 2 reasons not to
The new‑gen Hyundai Venue gets major updates in design, cabin quality and features, aimed at keeping it competitive in the compact SUV space. It rivals the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Skoda Kylaq and Maruti Suzuki Brezza. But with its prices now higher and competition fiercer than ever, should you still buy one? Here are four reasons why it makes sense and two reasons why it might not.

Which Tata Curvv trim should you consider buying?
Tata Motors has recently updated the ICE-powered Curvv with new features across the lineup. The coupe-SUV is priced from Rs 9.65 lakh, and comes in eight trim levels, namely Smart, Pure+, Pure+ S, Creative, Creative S, Creative+ S, Accomplished S and Accomplished+ A. Let’s take a look at what features you get with each trim, and at what price.

Maserati Grecale Folgore India price starts at Rs 1.89 crore
Maserati India has launched the Grecale Folgore, the Italian marque's first fully electric SUV, at Rs 1.89 crore, ex-showroom, without options. Maserati Grecale ICE variants, including the standard (Rs 1.31 crore), Modena (Rs 1.40 crore) and Trofeo (Rs 1.96 crore), have been on sale since last year. Compared to the top trim, the new Grecale Folgore is less expensive by about Rs 10 lakh.

Maserati GranTurismo, GranCabrio Folgore EVs India price starts at Rs 3.05 crore
Maserati India has launched the fully electric ‘Folgore’ versions of the GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible in India. The GranTurismo Folgore price in India starts at Rs 3.05 crore, whereas the GranCabrio Folgore costs Rs 3.18 crore. Neither of them have any direct rivals at their respective price points.

Yamaha EC-06 vs River Indie: Differences explained
It’s no surprise that the recently unveiled Yamaha EC-06 is based on the River Indie. In fact, we were the first ones to break the story that Yamaha is working with the Bengaluru-based startup – River – to develop and produce its first global electric scooter. That said, it's clear that the EC-06 ought to have a lot in common with the Indie; however, it isn’t merely a badge-engineered product and there are several design differences. 

Raptee.HV T30 Review: Accessible High-Voltage Technology
Internationally, high-voltage electric motorcycles are not new, but they are priced at a premium. Raptee.HV is a Chennai-based startup that has incorporated this technology into its first electric motorcycle. We got to spend a day with the T30, and after covering around 60 kilometres, these are our first impressions.

Every car with a branded audio system under Rs 25 lakh
Driving and music go together like hot chai on a rainy day. Here, we take a look at the most affordable cars – those priced under Rs 25 lakh – which come with branded speaker systems. Carmakers like Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia and MG Motor offer several models with a branded music system in this price bracket, representing every body style, from hatchbacks and sedans to SUVs, coupe-SUVs and MPVs.

BMW F 450 GS pre-bookings commence
BMW recently unveiled the F 450 GS at EICMA, and now we have information that some dealers have started accepting pre-bookings for this bike.

First Bentley EV pre-production begins ahead of its 2026 debut
Bentley has begun the pre-series production of its first all-electric model, a new luxury SUV built at its Crewe site as part of the revised Beyond100+ plan. The EV, referred to as a “Luxury Urban SUV”, is set to debut in late 2026, with deliveries scheduled for 2027. Measuring under five metres, the e-SUV will offer advanced battery charging capability, adding 100 miles of range in about seven minutes, according to the automaker, which says global prototype testing is underway.

Every automatic hatchback in India under Rs 10 lakh
Automatic gearboxes are quite popular among urban buyers thanks to the convenience they offer in our notoriously congested cities. Today, nearly every car on sale is available with the option of an automatic gearbox. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the cheapest automatic cars in India, capping the starting price of the models at under Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Tata Safari, Harrier petrol launch on December 9
After years of waiting, the Tata Harrier and Safari petrol are set to launch in India on December 9,2025. In development for over 5 years, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol unit is part of Tata’s ‘Hyperion’ engine series, and was first showcased at Auto Expo 2023. 

Ford CEO Jim Farley says automaker's had shakeup after ‘humbling’ discovery he found in Tesla Model 3, Chinese EV cars
Ford Motor Company President and CEO Jim Farley said that taking apart cars from Tesla and Chinese rivals “humbled” and “shocked” him. The discovery he said led to a shakeup at the American carmaker, as per a Business Insider report.