‘Aligned to improve quality, availability of critical minerals’: Ashwini Vaishnaw hails ‘positive meet’ with US Treasury Secy Bessent
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended a ministerial-level meeting organised by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which was focused on strengthening resilience in the global supply chain of critical minerals.

Delta Electronics to ramp up manufacturing footprint in India amid semiconductor push
Taipei [Taiwan]: Delta Electronics plans to nearly ramp up its manufacturing footprint in India to support the country's expanding semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem, aligning with India's 'Make in India' push. Reflecting confidence in India's industrial and policy momentum, Sanjeev Srivastava, Business Head - Industrial Automation SBP, Delta Electronics India, told ANI on Tuesday, "India is at an inflexion point in manufacturing, especially in semiconductors and electronics, and expanding our factory base is a natural step to support this growth."

Can M&M rally 21%? Motilal Oswal reveals 3 growth drivers
Motilal Oswal has maintained its ‘Buy’ rating for Mahindra & Mahindra after the auto major launched XUV7XO and the XEV9S. The brokerage maintained its target price at Rs 4,521, which implied nearly  21% upside potential over the coming 12 months. 

Record 27% surge in December car sales puts Maruti, Hyundai and M&M in focus ahead of Budget 2026
India’s passenger vehicle market has handed policymakers an encouraging data point just weeks before the Union Budget – a 27% surge in car dispatches in December, the strongest monthly growth recorded in  2025. 

Strong finish for autos: December surge lifts passenger vehicle sales to record high in 2025
Category-wise Sales (FY25 vs FY24) 

Govt may change EV manufacturing scheme to attract global players

What are the existing concerns?

Passenger vehicle dispatches up 20.6% in Q3 on strong UV demand
 

Honda Amaze, City, Elevate become costlier. Old & new pricelists compared
Honda Cars India has joined the bandwagon of car manufacturers in India that have announced price hikes for their respective passenger vehicles. The Japanese carmaker that sells Amaze sub-compact sedan, City midsize sedan and Elevate SUV in India have increased the pricing of its cars citing reasons like increased input costs, owing to higher raw material costs, rising inflation and adverse impact of fluctuations forex rates.

Tata Motors PV launches 2026 Punch facelift at ₹5.59 lakh with new iTurbo petrol engine
Tata Punch 2026 new model launched: Base price starts from Rs 5.59 lakh, Rs 8.2 lakh for turbo petrol variant
The Financial Express

Tata Motors ramps up capacity amid strong demand for Sierra, Punch
 

CarDekho Group-backed Carrum raises Series A funding from Uber
 

Small cars shouldn’t trade safety for affordability: Q&A with Shailesh Chandra, MD TMPV
Tata Motors has launched an updated version of the Tata Punch at a starting price of Rs 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom). Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, speaks to Akbar Merchant on how the company sees the Punch going forward, the outlook for the passenger vehicle industry, and Tata Motors’ own positioning across internal combustion, CNG and electric vehicles. Excerpts:

‘Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles see a robust track ahead in 2026’: Shailesh Chandra, MD & CEO, TMPV
Mumbai: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles on Tuesday, launched the all-new Punch, ‘faster, smarter, bolder” equipped with a turbo engine at a starting ex-showroom price of ₹5.59 lakh for the petrol, manual transmission and going all the way to ₹10.54 lakh for the CNG-fuelled automatic transmission. Ahead of the launch, businessline spoke to TMPV’s MD&CEO, Shailesh Chandra, who said he expected sales to be robust in 2026, with the new facelifted Punch as one of its biggest contributors.

Tata Punch Facelift 2026 vs Tata Punch: Check price, features, engine, interior and exterior comparison
Tata Punch Facelift 2026 vs 2025 model: Check out what’s new, including design, engine, safety features, price and more
The Financial Express

Suzuki e-Access vs Ather 450 Apex: Price and powertrain compared for buyers
Suzuki has finally entered the Indian electric two-wheeler market by launching the long-awaited e-Access electric scooter. The Suzuki e-Access electric scooter was launched in India at a price of ₹1.88 lakh (ex-showroom). This marked the entry of another legacy player in this space, which was initially dominated by the startups. The Suzuki e-Access comes challenging several rivals in this segment, both from other legacy players and EV startups.

Confused with ⁠KTM RC 160? Top 3 alternatives to consider at similar price
KTM RC 160 was launched in India at ₹1.85 lakh (ex-showroom), as the brand's most affordable faired sportbike in the country. The KTM RC 160 comes bearing the legacy of the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer's legacy of big sportbikes, but offers the package at an affordable pricing. While the motorcycle with its affordable price tag aims the young generation buyers, the availability of wider range of options offer the consumers to pick a product as per their preferences.

Royal Enfield, Krafton partner to bring Bullet 350 and GT 650 to BGMI
Royal Enfield bikes to debut on online game
The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Bosch Bengaluru Campus
 

Centre moves to allocate final 10 GWh ACC battery capacity under PLI scheme
In a fresh push to strengthen the domestic battery storage ecosystem, the Centre has initiated the process to operationalise the remaining 10 GWh capacity under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage.

Tata Elxsi Q3 profit falls 45% on one-time labour code charge
Tata Elxsi Q3 FY26 results: Profit declines 45%, revenue growth moderate at Rs 953 crore
The Financial Express

18% of world oil reserves, but 0% risk? 5 reasons why Crisil sees ‘negligible impact’ of Venezuela on India Inc
In the recent past, ever since Trump’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, there has been a lot of attention on how the Venezuelan crisis will affect India’s global trade. Crisil Ratings, in a recently published report, said that it does not expect the situation in Venezuela to have any adverse material impact on Indian corporates. This has largely been attributed to India’s relatively modest trade ties with Venezuela.

India slips to third as major refiners tap the brakes on Russian crude
India slips to No 3 in Russian oil imports as Reliance Industries, PSU refiners cut crude buys
The Financial Express

Gurugram shivers in coldest winter in 90 years; AQI dips

Weather expert Navdeep Dahiya also posted a video on social media showing the temperature in an open area dropping to -0.4°C. While the weather department clarified that the city had not experienced, nor was expected to experience, snowfall, the cold conditions prompted the local administration to issue an alert for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, and those with heart conditions.

Only 10% of 66 lakh ELVs may be plying on Delhi roads, latest CAQM report shows
 

New Tata Punch vs old model: Differences explained
To broaden the appeal of the Tata Punch, one of the brand's bestselling SUVs, the 2026 facelift brings several exterior, interior and safety upgrades. The mid-lifecycle update also adds a new turbo-petrol engine option, shared with the Nexon and Curvv. The new Tata Punch is priced between Rs 5.59 lakh and Rs 10.54 lakh, ex-showroom, compared to the outgoing model's Rs 5.50 lakh to Rs 9.30 lakh range. 

5 things to know before buying the TVS Ntorq 150
The TVS Ntorq 150 aims to build on the strengths of its younger sibling, the Ntorq 125, with a larger displacement engine. Here are a few things to know if the TVS Ntorq 150 is on your list.

Tata Punch facelift launched at Rs 5.59 lakh
Tata Motors has launched the Punch facelift in India, with prices starting from Rs 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom). This is the first major mid-lifecycle update for the sub-compact SUV since it was introduced in 2021. Apart from the exterior and interior updates that are usual with facelifts, Tata Motors has also introduced two new powertrain options with the 2026 Punch. Bookings for the new Tata Punch have commenced.   

Tata Punch facelift: All you need to know
Tata Motors has launched the Punch facelift in India, with prices starting from Rs 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom). The sub-compact SUV gets its first major update since it was introduced in 2021, with revised styling, a refreshed cabin with added features, and two new powertrain options including a turbo-petrol engine.

Which variant of the 2026 Tata Punch should you buy?
Tata has launched the new Punch subcompact SUV with a redesigned exterior, revised interior and feature additions. Additionally, the Punch gets a new CNG AMT powertrain combination and a powerful new turbo-petrol engine from the Nexon. The new Punch is offered in eight trims, namely Smart, Pure, Pure+, Pure+ S, Adventure, Adventure S, Accomplished and Accomplished+ S.

Maruti Suzuki partners with Indian Oil to expand service network
Maruti Suzuki has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to further its service network. With over 5,780 service centres spread across 2,882 cities, Maruti already has the nation’s most expansive sales and service network. Similarly, Indian Oil operates over 41,000 fuel stations in the country, maintaining a strong presence in both urban and rural locations.

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 vs Jawa 42 Bobber: Price and spec comparison
Looks can be subjective when you’re buying a motorcycle, but most people will agree that the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 and the Jawa 42 Bobber are a couple of the most unique bikes on sale in our market today, bringing custom-like styling and design to you straight off the showroom floor. The Jawa Perak also falls into this category but is mechanically almost identical to the Jawa 42 Bobber, which is why we haven’t considered it for this comparison.

2026: Year of the midsize SUV
Last year saw the already competitive midsize SUV segment grow even more crowded with the launch of the reborn Tata Sierra, and just earlier this month, Kia announced prices for the second-gen Seltos. With four all-new cars, three facelifts, and an all-electric version of an SUV currently on sale coming in 2026, there’s going to be a whopping 18 midsize SUVs to choose from across powertrains, suggesting this is the year of the midsize SUV. Interestingly, six of the eight cars listed here are badge-engineered twins, which highlights how carmakers are trying to build economies of scale, and in turn profits, in this fiercely competitive segment. We tell you what to expect from the upcoming models.

Kia unveils GT versions of EV3, EV4 and EV5
Kia has revealed the EV3 GT crossover, the EV4 GT in fastback and hatchback forms and the EV5 GT SUV at the ongoing Brussels Motor Show. The GT versions of Kia’s EV portfolio bring in a dual-motor setup, more power and performance upgrades. These models will join the existing performance line-up, which already comprises the EV6 GT and EV9 GT.

Honda to switch to new logo from 2027
Honda has announced that it will use a newly designed ‘H mark’ badge as its latest symbol to represent its automobile business division. The updated logo was first revealed on the Honda 0 Series saloon in 2024, while its production version will be the first model in Honda’s line-up to feature it. Prototypes of the 0 Series saloon and SUVs wore the logo in person at CES 2025 for the first time.

Tata Punch facelift vs rivals: Price and specifications compared
Four and a half years after it went on sale, the Tata Punch has finally received a facelift. The updated Punch comes with substantial design changes inside and out, a longer list of features, a new turbo-petrol engine, and more. Let’s find out how the 2026 Tata Punch facelift squares up against its chief sub-compact SUV competitors, namely the Citroen C3, Hyundai Exter, Nissan Magnite, and Renault Kiger, on paper.

Punch sales will start hitting a new peak, says Tata Motors boss
Ever since its launch in 2021, the Punch has been a strong seller for Tata Motors, and in 2024, it became India’s largest-selling car and, incidentally, the first non-Maruti car in over 40 years to sit at the top of the sales chart. Last year, however, it slid to the number 10 position. 

Ducati to launch 10 new bikes in India in 2026
Ducati India has announced that it is planning to launch 10 new motorcycles in the coming months across its new V2 and V4 platforms. Currently, the company has dealerships in eight metro cities across India and plans to increase that number.

Ducati Desmo450 MX Factory Revealed
Ducati has revealed the Desmo450 MX Factory one year after the debut of the Desmo450 MX. The Factory version is designed for riders looking for a race-ready bike, equipped with everything needed to compete.

What to expect from new-gen Bajaj Chetak ahead of launch tomorrow
Bajaj is all set to launch a next-generation version of the Chetak on January 14, 2026. Recent spy shots and the invite for the launch have given us a glimpse of what to expect from this upcoming model.

New-gen Bajaj Chetak spotted testing
Bajaj appears to be working on a next-generation version of the Chetak, which could be launched in early 2026. 

River Indie-based Yamaha EC-06 production begins
After its reveal late last year, production of the River Indie-based Yamaha EC-06 electric scooter has commenced at River’s factory in Hoskote, Karnataka. While the EC-06 is based on the same platform as the River Indie, it has some notable differences in its styling and feature set.

Global semiconductor revenue grew 21% to $793 billion in 2025: Gartner
Bengaluru: Worldwide semiconductor revenue totalled $793 billion in 2025, an increase of 21 per cent year-over-year (YoY), according to preliminary results by Gartner. “AI semiconductors — including processors, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and networking components continued to drive unprecedented growth in the semiconductor market, accounting for nearly one-third of total sales in 2025,” said Rajeev Rajput, Sr. Principal Analyst at Gartner.

Hyundai, Kia patent grid-based cooling case to prevent EV battery fires