Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 18 Oct 2025,Saturday
🏢 Industry
India's logistics cost to reduce to single digit by December: Gadkari
New Delhi: Logistics cost in India will come down to single digit by December this year, helped by rapid expansion of expressways and economic corridors, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday.
Automotive dealers approach Supreme Court over Rs Rs 2,500 cr compensation cess
Auto dealers seek SC relief on Rs 2,500 cr compensation cess
The Financial Express
Centre working on steps to boost rare earth supply chain: Piyush Goyal
📝 Mahindra, Embraer join hands to bring C-390 Millennium to India
📝 Hyundai throws down the gauntlet in renewed India push
📝 Bokaro automobile showrooms hopeful of record Sales this Dhanteras
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🚗 Cars / SUVs
Maruti Suzuki Fronx becomes more appealing ahead of Diwali with up to ₹1.11 lakh price cut. Variant-wise price list
Maruti Suzuki Fronx is the crossover based on the Maruti Suzuki Baleno premium hatchback. Since its launch, the crossover has become a leading revenue churner for the brand. Sold through the Nexa retail network alongside the Baleno, Maruti Suzuki Fronx has become cheaper with a price cut ranging up to ₹1.11 lakh right ahead of the festive season, following the introduction of the GST 2.0 regime that kicked in from September 22. With this price cut, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx's price now starts at ₹6.85 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to ₹11.98 lakh (ex-showroom). The spectrum of price cuts for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx ranges between ₹74,000 and ₹1.11 lakh (ex-showroom).
India’s car titan may ride the small wonder that built its empire
Market context: small cars vs SUVs
The hybrids of Hyundai
Source Credit: Vikram Chaudhary, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)
📝 Diwali, Dhanteras Car Discounts 2025: Check all offers by Maruti, Tata, Mahindra, VW and others on SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks
📝 JSW MG Motor India launches ‘Directory of Kindness’ to celebrate human connections this Diwali
📝 Flex-fuel hybrids, biofuels key to India’s clean mobility future: Toyota's Vikram Gulati
📝 Škoda launches all-new Octavia RS at ₹50 lakh to mark 25 years in India
📝 Tata Nexon gets ADAS, new Red Dark Edition: Prices, all you need to know
📝 Nissan Magnite AMT gets CNG option: Pricing and details
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Electric-Cars / SUVs
📝 Kia India broadens Carens Clavis EV range with new HTX E variants. Here's what they offer
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🚗 Luxury Cars
Mercedes-Benz G 450d launched in India: Diesel G-Class returns with hybrid power
Mercedes-Benz has expanded its G-Class lineup in India with the launch of the G 450d diesel-hybrid, priced at ₹2.90 crore (ex-showroom). This marks the return of a diesel-powered model to the G-Class family, slotted alongside the existing petrol and electric variants. The G 450d sits between the G 400d and the G 63 AMG in the global range and is now the most powerful diesel SUV from the German manufacturer. It retains the ladder-frame credentials of the G-Class while maintaining a modern set of amenities and safety systems that enhance its appeal.
Korean challenge to German luxury
At the Hyundai Motor India Investor Day on October 15, the Korean carmaker said it will launch the Genesis in the country in 2027.
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
EKA Mobility Secures ₹500 crore from NIIF’s IJF
India-Japan Fund invests Rs 500 crore in EKA Mobility
12 states, UTs support e-bus payment plan
📝 From promise to practice: The roadmap for India’s long haulage mobility
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🎤 Interviews & Features
Why sub compact sedans still thrive in SUV-led India? We explain
Today's orthodoxy within the Indian PV market demands the dominance of the SUV. As utility vehicles now account for more than 50 per cent of overall PV sales in FY24, the sedan, which was once a symbol of aspirational mobility, is headed to the archives. But one intransigent structural niche, the subcompact sedan segment, holds firm, retaining a tiny but vital proportion of PV market volume, still clinging to 7 per cent to 8 per cent.
Son Of The Soil: Mahindra Bolero
Some vehicles become so universal, they turn into rolling stereotypes. The Mahindra Bolero exemplifies that phenomenon. In the 25 years since its inception, this body-on-frame SUV has captured minds all over India, revered for its ruggedness and simplicity. And now, there’s a new model that aims to live up to more than two decades of expectations. Launched in 2000, the Bolero quickly became the undisputed patriarch of Indian SUVs, the vehicular equivalent of the country’s reliable yet rough-and-tumble spirit.
📝 5 hybrid cars in India that can travel over 1,000 km on a single tank
📝 Nissan adds Magnite EZ-Shift AMT to its CNG retrofitment programme
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🏍 2/3 Wheelers
More CC, less cash - Apache RTX 300
Source Credit: Vikram Chaudhary, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)
Sharper Still: Aprilia SR 175
Aprilia hasn’t changed the formula of its SR series since the first one arrived about nine years ago. The Italian company has periodically updated the scooter with cosmetic changes, new features and increased displacement. From a 150 cc scooter, it went to 160 cc, and has now been bumped to 175 cc. But beneath those new numbers, does the SR 175 hp-e bring anything genuinely new to the table? Well, the short answer is no. And honestly, that’s both its greatest strength and biggest limitation. The SR’s design has aged remarkably well. Its sharp front apron, sporty stance and signature twin headlamps still look clean, aggressive and unmistakably Aprilia. In the new Matt Prismatic Dark shade, it looks even more tempting with a premium, stealthy touch that makes you want to give it a second glance every time you walk past it.
📝 The other side of bonus but not equity
📝 Limited-run Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RX launched in India at ₹23.07 lakh
📝 Honda Activa Launch Date and Key Updates
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🚲 Electric 2/3 Wheelers
Oben Electric to open 10 new showrooms across Gujarat in 2026
📝 Ola Electric shares rise over 15% in 3 sessions. What’s fuelling the rally?
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⚙ Components
Dixon meets Q2 revenue target, bets on components to fuel growth
Dixon Technologies Ltd’s revenue and profit rose in the September quarter as a growing volume of mobile phones and telecommunications products fuelled growth for India’s largest publicly listed electronics manufacturer.
Nirmal Minda takes over as new Assocham President
📝 ASSOCHAM to propose policy tweaks for lowering imports
📝 Auto component firms witness surge in orders following GST rate cut: ASSOCHAM Chief
📝 Auto parts maker Continental's preliminary quarterly sales beat consensus
📝 Tenneco Clean Air India is said to plan IPO in November
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🌇 Allied Industries
Ceat to expand capacity to meet demand surge
Tyre maker Ceat is expanding capacity at all its plants to meet the surge in demand for tyres across categories following the cut in goods and services tax (GST) rates helping consumers have greater disposal incomes.
CEAT Q2 FY26 results: Profits jump 53% to ₹185 crore
Sequentially, profit increased 65.17 per cent in the June quarter, with ₹112 crore.
📝 BEM bets on battery swapping tech to drive India’s highway electrification
📝 Tata Technologies partners with Synopsys to advance software-defined vehicle development
📝 Steelbird launches bluetooth smart helmet for connected riders
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants & Charging Stations
📝 China defends its oil imports from Russia
📝 Public EV charging infrastructure in Pune faces delays in setup, low usage due to challenges
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🌍 Emissions/Environment
CAQM reviews pollution measures as Delhi residents inhale ‘poor’ air
The commission reviewed the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and statutory directions related to vehicular emissions, industrial emissions and stubble burning.
📝 Ban on entry of polluting commercial vehicles into Delhi from Nov 1
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📖 Magazines News
Which 2025 Tata Nexon variant should you buy?
While the Tata Nexon was given a comprehensive mid-lifecycle refresh in September 2023, the Indian brand has continued to update its Hyundai Venue rival since then, bringing an ADAS suite, a new powertrain option, more features and a rejigged variant line-up. The Nexon is available with petrol, CNG and diesel engines and comes in four trim levels – Smart, Pure, Creative and Fearless. Select trims get ‘+’, ‘S’ or ‘PS’ variants that pack more features. Including all powertrains and variants, there are a total of 39 versions of the Nexon on sale. So, without digressing further, here’s a breakdown of the features, safety kit and powertrain options available with each variant.
2025 India Bike Week rescheduled
We recently communicated that the 2025 edition of the India Bike Week would be held on December 12 and 13. However, IBW’s official social media has announced that it has been rescheduled, and the new dates haven’t been revealed.
Next-gen Ducati Monster to debut on October 23
The Monster has been one of the most iconic models in the Ducati line-up, and the 2026 model is expected to feature many significant changes compared to the outgoing model.
Kia Carens Clavis EV: Which variant should you buy?
The Kia Carens Clavis EV is an electric conversion of the ICE-powered Carens Clavis and is the Korean carmaker’s first locally manufactured EV for the Indian market. Moreover, the Carens Clavis EV is among a handful of all-electric MPVs in India – the others being the BYD eMax 7 and MG M9. Here’s a lowdown of the MPV’s pricing, powertrains, colour options and variant-wise features. We’ll also tell you which variant makes for the best pick in the Carens Clavis EV range.
Mercedes-Benz G 450d review: Win diesel?
The G 450d diesel you see here completes the Mercedes-Benz G-Class line-up in India and joins the mad AMG G 63 and the all-electric G 580. It’s the most affordable G by ex-showroom price; however, they still start at an are-you-serious Rs 2.9 crore (ex-showroom). And to think, in 2019, the G 350d diesel of the same gen was launched at Rs 1.5 crore.
Top 10 most affordable ADAS cars in India
The democratisation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can be seen in the Indian market, with many car brands now offering the safety tech in their mass-market models. Currently, cars in this segment offer two stages of autonomous driving: Level 1, with ADAS features like forward collision warning and lane keep assist, and Level 2, which adds adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. If you’re looking for cars with ADAS, here are the 10 most affordable combustion-engine cars in India that offer the advanced safety system in ascending order.
2026 Kawasaki Z900 launched at Rs 9.99 lakh
The 2026 Kawasaki Z900 is here, priced at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The Japanese middleweight naked received a substantial overhaul coming into 2025, so it’s no surprise that the MY26 bike sees no major mechanical changes.
All JLR production lines resume operations
Tata Group-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed that production has now resumed across all of its global manufacturing facilities. The restart of the final plant marks the end of a controlled recovery process that followed the crippling cyberattack, which forced a total operational shutdown for six weeks, beginning in early September.
Skoda Octavia RS launched at Rs 49.99 lakh
Skoda has launched the latest iteration of the Octavia RS in India at an asking price of Rs 49.99 lakh. Order books for the Octavia RS – limited to just 100 fully imported units – opened on October 6, and every unit of the long-awaited performance sedan has been spoken for.
Classic vs Hunter vs Meteor vs Bullet vs Goan Classic: Which Royal Enfield 350 to buy?
Royal Enfield's 350cc J-platform is the thumping heart behind a significant part of the company’s sales. To put things in perspective, RE sold 1,07,478 bikes below the 350cc threshold last month, while all models above that managed a comparatively timid 16,850 units.
New twin-cylinder Norton ADV bike to debut at EICMA 2025
Norton Motorcycles is expected to show off a total of 4 brand new motorcycles, including the new V4 superbike, at EICMA 2025. The other three will be smaller in both engine size and price, and we have learned that one of them is likely to be a mid-capacity adventure bike.
Mercedes G 450d price and specs compared with rivals
Mercedes expanded the G-Class line-up in India by introducing the 450d AMG Line diesel variant in October 2025. The iconic Mercedes SUV is also available in petrol – AMG G 63 – and electric – G 580 with EQ Tech – versions, but this feature specifically compares specs and price of the diesel G-Wagen with rivals like the Lexus LX, Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and Defender 110 on paper.
Best festive discounts on sedans: up to Rs 2.25 lakh off on Skoda Slavia
If you’re in the market for a new car, the festive season in India is arguably the best time to make a purchase, not just because it's auspicious but also because carmakers usually offer the best possible deals during this period. Here, we’ve listed some of the best deals you can avail on a compact or midsize sedan this Diwali, with benefits extending to over Rs 1.50 lakh on models like the Volkswagen Virtus and the Skoda Slavia. Read on to find out about all the amazing deals.
Akshay Gupta secures a podium finish in the 2025 NLS endurance race
Akshay Gupta has secured a podium finish in the 10th and last round of the 2025 Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) with the Hyundai i30N in the VT2-F+4WD class. The final round of the 4-hour endurance race was held on October 11, 2025, and was Gupta’s fourth podium of the year.
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📰 International News
The auto industry is panicking about another potential chip shortage
Volvo sees North America weakness lasting in 2026 on tariffs
Volvo AB expects a trucking slowdown to extend into next year as uncertainties linked to President Donald Trump’s tariffs weigh on demand in North America. The manufacturer sees North American registrations of heavy-duty trucks slipping to 250,000 unit next year, from an expected 265,000 this year, it said Friday. Truck orders remain under pressure from weak freight activity and regulatory uncertainty in the US. French tire maker Michelin earlier this week lowered its financial guidance for the year following a bigger-than-expected sales slump in North America.
📝 Stellantis, Pony.ai to develop self-driving vehicles in Europe
📝 Xiaomi shares post worst week in 3-1/2 years as accidents stoke EV safety concerns
📝 Autoliv beats profit estimates, recoups 75% of tariff costs in Q3
📝 EU needs more focus on self-driving to catch up with rivals, says Bolt CEO
📝 Ford recalls more than 290,000 vehicles in US due to issue with rearview camera system
📝 Porsche targets former McLaren boss Leiters to lead revival
📝 European carmakers fear for production in dispute over chipmaker Nexperia
📝 US nears tariff relief for auto industry after lobbying push
📝 Horse power: Renault-Geely engine unit speeds up as EV shift stutters
📝 Car manufacturers stand to gain from smarter infotainment offerings: Report
📝 NIO shares plummet as Chinese EV maker faces lawsuit from Singapore's GIC
📝 EV share in US car sales rises to 11%
📝 BYD makes largest recall of over 115,000 cars due to design, battery issues
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