Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 09 Jan 2026,Friday
🏢 Industry
Uttar Pradesh govt announces sops for GCCs and semiconductor plants
To this end, the Yogi- Adityanath- led government has announced special incentives for semiconductor projects involving investments of ₹3,000 crore or more under the UP Semiconductor Policy 2024.
Beyond M&M: Nomura names 5 ancillary stocks set to ride India’s auto revenue boom
The Indian automotive sector is gearing up for a high-speed year. International brokerage house Nomura has identified Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) as its top pick among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Not just M&M, Nomura also holds a ‘Buy’ rating for other major manufacturers, which include Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles (TMCV), TVS Motor Company, Ather Energy, and Hyundai Motor India.
Vehicle to Vehicle Communication system to be rolled out fully this year
India will roll out a vehicle to vehicle communication system this year starting with new vehicles this calendar year that will help reduce accidents, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said Thursday.
📝 As EU FTA enters final stretch, Indian automakers worry about a China backdoor
📝 India's auto sector set for one of strongest quarters in years in Q3FY26: Nuvama
📝 Auto players seek EV protection in EU pact
📝 MoRTH makes AVAS mandatory for these EVs: Dates, tech explained
📝 EV wholesales 2025: e2Ws grow 11%, passenger EVs nearly double YoY
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🚗 ICE Car/SUV
📝 Tata Punch 2026 Facelift Features: design, engine, and launch date revealed
📝 Toyota Kirloskar Motor showcases hybrid technology and skilling initiatives at Advantage Maharashtra Expo 2026
📝 Hyundai Motor India’s Sriperumbudur plant wins Tamil Nadu state safety award
📝 Hello again, says this trailblazer in the SUV segment: XUV 7XO
📝 Volkswagen Tayron R-Line India Launch confirmed for Q1 of 2026
📝 Kia Seltos: A sharper, smarter statement of intent
📝 Tata Harrier & Safari Petrol: Small heart, big authority
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Electric Car/SUV
📝 Buying the Mahindra XUV 3XO? These Are the Colours You Can Choose From
📝 Mahindra XUV 3XO electric: Variant-wise features with price explained
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🚗 Luxury
BMW Group India clocks 14% growth in 2025; targets double-digit expansion in 2026
BMW Group India sold 18,001 cars in calendar year 2025, recording a 14% year-on-year (YoY) growth. BMW brand deliveries stood at 17,271 units, while MINI contributed 730 units. The motorcycle arm BMW Motorrad delivered 5,841 units during the year. The company also reported a strong finish to the year, with Q4 car sales rising 17% YoY to 6,023 units.
BMW to launch 10 new cars in India and hike local sourcing to expand luxury sales
BMW's 2026 India play: Catch them early
mint
BMW pitches for retaining 5 pc GST on EVs in forthcoming Budget
BMW urges government to retain 5% GST on EVs, warns hike could hurt adoption
BMW India bets on first-time luxury buyers to expand mkt as EV sales surge
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
India’s commercial vehicle boom is back—and Ashok Leyland stands to gain most
India’s commercial vehicle industry is finally turning around, and Ashok Leyland looks poised to benefit the most.
📝 Ashok Leyland to inaugurate EV manufacturing plant in Lucknow on January 9
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🎤 Interviews & Features
Planning to buy Mahindra XUV 7XO? Variant-wise powertrains explained for buyers
The Mahindra XUV 7XO, which is essentially the Mahindra XUV700 facelift, was launched in India as a much awaited car. Available at a price range of ₹13.66 lakh and ₹24.92 lakh (ex-showroom), this premium three-row seater SUV has received a significant amount of changes at exterior and inside the cabin. The SUV has become more premium and appealing. However, the powertrain setup remains unchanged compared to the Mahindra XUV700.
Tata Punch facelift to be available in 6 trims. Variant-wise features explained
Tata Motors has revealed the Punch facelift ahead of its scheduled launch on January 13. The sub-compact SUV that was the bestselling model in the Indian passenger vehicle market in the last financial year (FY25), is now all set to get a complete rejuvenated appearance and a fresh feature list, as well as a new petrol engine - which altogether will make it more appealing proposition to the customers.
Planning to buy Tata Safari petrol? The most value for money variant you can buy
Tata Motors has launched the petrol-powered Safari in India, which was one of the most anticipated petrol SUVs in the country. It was launched alongside the Tata Harrier petrol. The Tata Safari petrol has been launched at a starting price of ₹13.29 lakh (ex-showroom), while the price list goes up to ₹25.19 lakh (ex-showroom). With this new engine, the flagship three-row Tata SUV now comes available in both petrol and diesel powertrain choices, making itself appealing to a wider set of buyers.
What do India’s draft battery identity number guidelines mean for EVs?
New Delhi: Your electric vehicle (EV) battery could soon have its own Aadhaar number, with the road transport and highways ministry proposing a new 21-digit Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN). This identity number will provide key metrics about the battery such as its health, and will allow battery makers, importers, vehicle owners, financiers and insurers to get accurate information about the effectiveness of the battery, which makes up for as much as half the cost of an EV.
Planning to buy Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol MT? This variant is most value for money
Mahindra has updated its popular XUV700 SUV with a new nomenclature, by launching the revamped and rebadged model, the all-new Mahindra XUV 7XO. The SUV is available in a total of six variants: AX, AX3, AX5, AX7, AX7 T, and AX7 L. Also, it gets both petrol and diesel engine options, which are sourced from the Mahindra XUV700. The all-new XUV 7XO is expected to ramp up Mahindra's market share in the premium three-row SUV segment further, where it competes with rivals like Tata Safari and Hyundai Alcazar among others.
‘Vision cars must reflect what finally reaches the road’: Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative officer, M&M
As Mahindra sharpens its premium ambitions and prepares a new wave of products, Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, talks to Akbar Merchant about how distinct sub-brand identities, production-led ‘vision cars’ and a growing influence of software and EV-led thinking are shaping the automaker’s design strategy for the next decade. Excerpts:
📝 We must not derail the momentum by touching GST on EVs: Hardeep Singh Brar
📝 Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari: Which Petrol SUV Should You Buy?
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🏍 EV/ICE Two Wheelers
KTM RC 160 vs Yamaha R15: Which sport-bike offers most value for money?
KTM India has launched the KTM RC 160 in the country, at a price of ₹1.85 lakh (ex-showroom), as the brand's faired offering in the 150 cc-160 cc segment. The newly launched KTM RC 160 comes directly challenging another higher popular entry-level sport-bike in the country, which is the Yamaha R15. The KTM RC 160 comes commanding a ₹14,455 premium over the base variant of the KTM 160 Duke, on which the faired bike is mostly based. Also, the new model commands ₹6,000 premium over the the KTM 160 Duke (TFT).
KTM launches RC 160 in India, priced at ₹1.85 lakh
KTM expands RC line-up with launch of all-new RC 160
The Hindu Business Line
📝 Matter partners Niron Magnetics to develop rare-earth-free motors for electric motorcycles
📝 Suzuki Motorcycle India rolls out 10 millionth two-wheeler from Gurugram plant
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⚙ Components
Auto component sector to gain from strong order pipeline, demand recovery post GST cut: Report
📝 Sundaram-Clayton to sell 16.38 acres in Chennai to Prestige–Arihant JV for Rs 560 crore
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🌇 Allied Industries
HERE Technologies powers next-gen navigation for Lucid and Hyundai
At the CES 2026 in Las Vegas, HERE Technologies, a global leader in location data and technology, showcased its pivotal role in the era of software-defined vehicles by announcing major navigation advancements with two key automotive players: Lucid and Hyundai AutoEver.
📝 Bharat forge, Germany's Agile Robots to explore collaboration for AI-led industrial automation
📝 How Edge AI is redefining road safety strategy in India
📝 SiMa.ai, Synopsys tie up to accelerate automotive AI SoC development
📝 Assocham seeks incentives for hydrogen-based steelmaking, green finance in FY27 Budget
📝 China output cap, tight supply and energy transition may keep aluminium prices on upward trajectory this year: Analysts
📝 Brandworks Technologies announces it foray into automotive, EV electronics space at CES 2026
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants
Reliance Industries to consider buying Venezuelan oil: Report
Reliance Industries said it will consider buying Venezuelan oil, as per a Reuters report. According to the report, the Indian petroleum major will consider buying Venezuelan oil if permitted to sell it to non-US buyers.
India braces for Russian oil cuts as US tariff plan risks shutting markets globally
India faces the predicament of cutting Russian crude off massively from its oil import basket if the ‘Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025’ mooted by the US senator Lindsay Graham and greenlighted by President Donald Trump gets bipartisan support and comes into effect as proposed.
📝 Oil prices gain 2% as market focuses on Venezuela and supply worries in Russia, Iraq and Iran
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EV Charging
📝 Ather installs 5,000 LECCS fast chargers across India; expands to Nepal, Sri Lanka
📝 Bolt.Earth, Statiq partner to enable interoperable EV charging network
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🌍 Emissions/Environment
📝 Chandigarh’s EV policy fuels 16-fold rise in registrations, sharp cut in emissions
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📖 Magazines
Verge TS Pro is world’s first production electric bike with solid state battery
You may not have heard of small Finnish electric bike maker Verge Motorcycles, but the company has debuted a radical new battery technology, marking a big step forward for electric motorcycles. Recently, Verge debuted the world’s first production motorcycle fitted with a solid-state battery, the TS Pro supernaked. Among many of its noteworthy features is the ability to support CCS2 fast-charging at up to 200kW, which can give it up to an 80 percent recharge in a claimed 10 minutes.
5 things to know before buying the Pulsar NS200
While the Bajaj Pulsar NS200 shares its engine, frame and core fundamentals with the Pulsar RS200, it differentiates itself with a street-naked design and a more upright riding posture. Here are a few key things to know if you’re considering buying one.
Volkswagen Taigun, Virtus starting prices drop by up to Rs 84,000
Volkswagen India is among the carmakers to have increased prices for its portfolio as 2026 began. Some VW dealerships across the country had announced a price hike for the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan, and we now have the exact variant-wise increase in prices for the India 2.0 models. It should be noted that prices for the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Tiguan are unchanged; in any case, the performance hatch has sold out, though a second batch could be on the way.
What to expect from India-bound Volkswagen Tayron R-Line
Volkswagen has revealed teasers of its upcoming Tayron SUV for India, and has confirmed that it will be launched in Q1 of 2026 in a sporty R-Line avatar. The Tayron is essentially a 7-seater version of the Tiguan, sharing the same MQB Evo platform. This will bring Volkswagen back in the three-row executive SUV segment since the discontinuation of the Tiguan Allspace in 2021. Here's everything you need to know about the SUV launching in the coming months.
What to expect from the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV in India
Toyota is set to launch its first all-electric offering for India, the Urban Cruiser EV, on January 19, 2026. The Urban Cruiser EV is already on sale in a few overseas markets and is essentially a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara, which is also slated to launch in India soon. Here’s everything you can expect from the India-spec Toyota Urban Cruiser EV.
Toyota Urban Cruiser EV India launch on January 19
Toyota India is going to launch the Urban Cruiser EV, the badge-engineered version of the Maruti e Vitara, on January 19, 2026. In addition to the midsize Maruti SUV, the Toyota Urban Cruiser EV will go against the likes of the Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6 and Vinfast VF 6. Toyota may price the electric Urban Cruiser between Rs 21 lakh and Rs 26 lakh, ex-showroom.
Toyota Fortuner, Innova Crysta, Hycross prices hiked by up to Rs 74,000
Toyota India has increased prices for select models in its portfolio and rejigged the variant line-up for some cars in January 2026. Prices for the Innova Crysta, Hycross and Fortuner – including the Legender – are up significantly, while Toyota has discontinued select variants of the Rumion, Hycross and Fortuner. The price of the Taisor, Hyryder, Rumion, Hilux, Camry, Vellfire and Land Cruiser 300 remain unchanged.
2026 Autocar India Awards: Tata Sierra, TVS Apache RTX 300 take top honours
The Tata Sierra and TVS Apache RTX 300 bagged the Car of the Year and Bike of the Year honours, respectively, at the 2026 Autocar India Awards held on Thursday in Mumbai.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs XUV400: differences and similarities explained
The recently launched Mahindra XUV 3XO EV is currently the Indian carmaker’s most affordable electric offering. Compared to its ICE-powered counterparts, the XUV 3XO EV isn’t all that different, but how does it hold up against its predecessor, the XUV400? We put both under the microscope to find out.
Suzuki Motorcycle crosses 10 million production mark
Suzuki Motorcycle has rolled out its 10 millionth two-wheeler from its Gurugram manufacturing facility, marking a key milestone nearly two decades after it began operations in India. The milestone unit is a Suzuki Access Ride Connect Edition, reflecting the scooter’s importance to the company’s domestic volumes.
10 cheapest cars with panoramic sunroof in India
Sunroofs are a popular feature offered by car manufacturers, and even panoramic ones are now available in mass-market models. The larger sunroofs do make a cabin feel more airy and let in more light. So, without further digression, here are the 10 cheapest ICE cars with a panoramic sunroof in India.
Which Mahindra XUV 3XO EV variant should you buy?
Mahindra welcomed its fourth electric model, the XUV 3XO EV, on January 6, 2026. Mahindra’s sub-4-metre electric SUV succeeds the XUV400 that was launched just three years ago and borrows the overall look and form factor of the ICE-powered XUV 3XO while retaining the larger XUV400’s electric powertrain. The only difference to its exterior compared to the ICE 3XO is a mildly revised front grille and lower apron, along with bronze highlights on the fascia and rear end. Bronze detailing aside, the EV’s interior design is also identical to the XUV 3XO’s.
Mahindra seals second spot in 2025 car sales
Mahindra & Mahindra has moved up to the No. 2 position in India’s passenger vehicle market for CY2025, based on Vahan data till December 25. This is the first time the brand has finished ahead of both Hyundai and Tata Motors in annual numbers, with Maruti Suzuki continuing as the market leader, registering 17.50 lakh units.
Kawasaki Ninja bikes get discounts of up to Rs 2.5 lakh
Kawasaki India is currently offering benefits across multiple models in its Ninja line-up, with discounts of up to Rs 2.5 lakh. The offer was announced through the company’s social media channels and is valid until the end of January 2026.
Tata Sierra diesel variants account for over 50 percent of bookings
It’s been about a month since Tata Motors opened bookings for the Sierra, and early signs are that buyers are preferring the diesel variants. Dealer sources suggest that around 55 percent of the bookings received so far have been for the diesel variants of the Sierra.
Mahindra XUV 7XO review: The X Factor?
It was only a matter of time before Mahindra brought the features from its BEVs to its ICE portfolio, and that starts with the new XUV 7XO. This is essentially a facelift of the XUV700 that’s been on the market since 2021, and while on the outside, it’s more evolution than revolution, under the skin, there are some key upgrades and, of course, a whole host of new features inside. Last year, Mahindra sold over 80,000 units of the XUV700, helping it overtake Hyundai and Tata Motors to claim second place in sales. Can the XUV 7XO help the brand hold on to that spot in 2026? We drove it in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, to find out.
Tata Harrier petrol vs diesel: Price and feature differences explained
For years, the Tata Harrier was exclusively a diesel SUV, but that has now changed with the introduction of the brand's new turbo-petrol engine option, the same unit that debuted on the Sierra. The Tata SUV's petrol version also gets some additional features over its diesel counterpart. Keep reading to find out the key differences between the Tata Harrier petrol and diesel models.
BMW iX3 at CES 2026 showcased with next-gen tech features
First revealed at the Munich Motor Show with BMW’s Neue Klasse architecture in 2025, the iX3 has now been showcased at CES 2026 with advanced tech features, including an AI-powered personal assistant. While it is the first to get them, BMW announced its entire line-up will be equipped with these technologies by 2027. Without further ado, let us go through BMW’s latest feature set presented at CES 2026 on the BMW iX3.
EV sales jump 77 percent to hit record high in 2025
Electric passenger vehicle sales in India touched an all-time high of over 1.76 lakh units in 2025, a 77 percent year-on-year (YoY) increase. Strong demand across mass-market SUVs and MPVs, along with several new launches, drove the growth, even as competition intensified.
Ather fast charger network crosses 5,000 mark
Ather has announced that its fast-charging network has crossed the 5,000 mark nationwide. This includes 3,675 fast chargers operated directly by Ather Energy, along with over 1,400 chargers added through partner networks.
Tata Sierra 1.5 NA petrol review: Comfort over performance
Arguably, the biggest launch of 2025 was the Tata Sierra, which racked up over 70,000 bookings on the very day the company began taking orders. It’s a defining moment, for Tata Motors has gone all out to bring back to life a celebrated name and has thrown everything it possibly can into the Sierra, which comes with three engine options – a 1.5 turbo diesel, a 1.5 direct-injection turbo-petrol and a 1.5 naturally aspirated (NA) petrol.
Tata Safari petrol vs rivals: Price and specifications compared
After debuting with the Sierra, Tata’s 1.5-litre Hyperion turbo-petrol engine has also made its way to the bigger Safari with a slight bump in power and torque. While specifications were revealed earlier, Tata has finally released the price list for the Safari’s turbo-petrol variants. So, how does the new petrol-powered Safari compare against its rivals, such as the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Hyundai Alcazar and MG Hector Plus, all of which also come with a similar petrol powertrain options? Let us find out.
KTM RC 160 launched at Rs 1.85 lakh
A couple of months after introducing the 160 Duke in India, KTM has now launched its fully faired sibling, the RC 160. The new model slots in below the RC 200 and RC 390, becoming the entry point into the brand's supersport line-up in our market.
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📰 International
Volvo recalls 413,000 vehicles in US over recurring rearview camera failure: Check affected models
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday said Volvo Cars is recalling 413,151 vehicles in the United States due to an issue with the rearview camera.
📝 Volvo Cars aims to tackle range anxiety with new mid-size electric SUV EX60
📝 German emissions cuts slow, North Sea has warmest year on record
📝 Stellantis car production in Italy fell to 71-year low in 2025
📝 EV sales rebound in Germany as Chinese brands make inroads
📝 Bosch bracing for 2025 profit slump and tough new year: CEO
📝 At CES, auto and tech companies transform cars into proactive companions
📝 Ford to offer its first eyes-off driver-assistance system in 2028
📝 Rezvani’s new SUV is a Wrangler-based tank with 1000hp and ballistic armour
📝 BMW Group Produces Over 1 Million Vehicles in Germany in 2025
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