Vietnam's VinFast to set up EV battery plant in India -sources
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is set to open its first Indian manufacturing facility, where it will make batteries, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, three people familiar with the matter said.

Fantastic four - Hyundai, Tata, M&M and Toyota - fire up Motown, drive into record books
New Delhi: In a record year for car sales, only four companies - Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota - hit new highs, amid weak demand at the lower end of the market. Market leader Maruti Suzuki got to 1.71 million units, but that was still short of its pre-Covid record of 1.73 million units registered in 2018.

Gujarat GST authority upholds Rs 173.9 cr tax demand against Maruti Suzuki's arm
New Delhi, Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said the Gujarat GST authority has upheld the tax demand of Rs 173.9 crore along with a penalty of Rs 17.4 crore against its arm Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd and the subsidiary company will move the first appellate authority to challenge the order.

Govt scientific advisor wants lithium alternatives explored amid global race
New Delhi : India should explore alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for scaling up electric mobility, the government’s principal scientific advisor Ajay Kumar Sood said, amid a global scramble for critical minerals.

Transforming the last mile: New delivery models, technology strengthen logistics in India
It is undeniable that the landscape of last-mile logistics in India has undergone a revolutionary transformation in the last few years, with key advancements reshaping the way goods are delivered to our doorsteps.

Rs 26,400 cr on the cards for FAME-III, Rs 200 cr to support e-tractors
Further discussions on the basic contours of the scheme are currently ongoing. The focus of the proposed scheme will clearly be on enhancing electric-based and environment-friendly public transportation in the country.      

Delhi had highest share in total EV sales in country in December: Minister
Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Tuesday announced that the national capital had accomplished a remarkable milestone by recording massive sales of electric vehicles (EVs), which accounted for 19.5 % of total vehicle sales in December.

Finance Ministry approves additional Rs 1,500 cr for FAME-II scheme
A proposal to increase the outlay for FAME-II from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,500 crore was approved by the department of expenditure (DoE) on January 2.

No such thing as EVs vs hybrids, both sister tech: Toyota V-P Gulati

Over the past three quarters, the sales of strong hybrid cars in India have shown a consistent upward trend compared to electric cars.

All about upcoming car and bike launches in January 2024; details inside

Likewise with the beginning of another year, it additionally carries with it the energy of new scooters and bikes entering the scene. In this way, we should investigate the ones we'll get to find in January 2024.

New SUV launches in January: Creta, GLS, Sonet, XUV400
 

Mint Explainer: Why India needs to look for new battery minerals other than lithium
With its ambitious energy transition and electric mobility targets in sight, India has been scouting for minerals for battery manufacturing both within the country and abroad. Although sourcing of lithium from countries like Australia and Argentina have gained momentum in the past few years, efforts are also underway to diversify battery manufacturing technologies and chemicals away from lithium-based chemistries. Here is a look at the need for such diversification and what options India has on this front.

Hyundai Creta old vs new: Expected updates
Hyundai Creta is due for a mid-cycle facelift very soon. This will be the first major makeover of the second-gen Creta ever since it was launched in February 2020. Pre-bookings for the facelifted Creta went live yesterday and the SUV is slated to make its debut on 16 January. Ahead of its launch, let us look at all the expected updates in the facelifted Creta over its predecessor.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor announces senior management rejig
Similarly, Swapnesh R Maru, presently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, has been elevated as Deputy Managing Director Corporate Planning, Finance and Administration and Manufacturing, it added.

Hyundai opens bookings for 2024 Creta Facelift set to launch on Jan 16; revamped interior revealed!
Hyundai has initiated the anticipation for the upcoming 2024 Creta, slated for launch on January 16th. Bookings are now open, requiring a token payment of ₹25,000. Significant modifications are anticipated in both the exterior and interior of the Creta facelift, with the manufacturer providing a sneak peek into the redesigned cabin.

UP introduces EVs for inter-city travel between Lucknow, Ayodhya
Lucknow, As part of the initiative to develop Ayodhya as an eco-green religious destination, the Uttar Pradesh government has introduced 15 four-wheeler electric vehicles (EV) for intercity travel between Ayodhya and Lucknow.

EVs lose steam on charging infra woes

Electric Car making companies are staring at a lower than anticipated sales volume total by the end of this year, as poor charging infrastructure and range anxiety deter buyers. The electric passenger vehicle (PV) segment will likely close the year at roughly half the targeted volume number. As per estimates made public by stakeholders in the first half of FY24, the segment is to close the year with a near three-fold growth to 150,000 units from a little under 54,000 units sold in FY23. But as per Vahan, the Centre-run portal that tracks actual vehicle registrations, the electric PV segment recorded just under 59,000 units in the nine months ended December. Tata Motors, with a share of 70% of the segment with three electric models, said that the demand swings are expected since the segment is at a nascent stage. 

Tata supplies 100 electric buses to Assam State Transport Corporation
Tata Motors has announced that it has supplied 100 electric buses to the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC). The 9-metre, air-conditioned Tata Ultra electric buses that will ply on the roads of Guwahati are designed to provide a safe, comfortable and convenient intra-city commute.

Truck drivers protest: EV owners flood the internet with memes
Long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps in several parts of the country following a protest by truck drivers against a provision in the new penal law regarding hit-and-run accident cases involving motorists.

EKA Mobility and GreenCell Mobility sign MoU to roll out 1000 e-buses
EKA Mobility and GreenCell Mobility are committed to working together to drive positive change in the global automobile sector by producing industry leading electric buses to transform public transportation.

Triumph Daytona 660 teased again ahead of debut— exhaust note revealed
Triumph has teased the upcoming Daytona 660 yet again ahead of its global debut. The iconic British has posted a short video of the middleweight sports tourer on its social media handles where the bike can be partially viewed. However, the most distinct part of the teaser is the bike’s exhaust note.

Suzuki Motorcycles registers 24% YoY growth in December 2023
Suzuki has announced its sales for December 2023. The company closed Dec 2023 with total sales of 79,483 units, recording 24% year-on-year growth. Within the domestic market, the company sold 69,025 units, while it exported 10,458 units internationally during the same month.

Hero MotoCorp Gurugram facility wins CII Water Management award
New Delhi: The manufacturing facility of Hero MotoCorp, in Gurugram, Haryana, has won the CII National Award for Excellence in Water Management, and was rated as the ‘Winner’ in the ‘Within the Fence’ category.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter sales rise 27% to 3,17,123 units in December
New Delhi: Ending the year on a positive note, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) on Wednesday reported a 27% increase in total sales at 3,17,123 units in December 2023 as compared to 2,50,171 units in the year-ago period.

Kawasaki Eliminator launched in India at Rs 5.62 lakh
Kawasaki has launched the Eliminator in India at a price tag of Rs 5.62 lakh (ex-showroom). Bookings for the neo-retro cruiser have already begun and deliveries are expected to commence soon as well. The bike comes as a fully-imported model via the CBU route, and hence the hefty price tag.

Royal Enfield Himalayan receives first price hike – Old vs new prices
Just months after its launch, Royal Enfield has announced a price hike for the Himalayan. The price increase is between Rs 14,000 to Rs 16,000 and applies to all the variants of the motorcycle. The Himalayan’s introductory pricing of Rs 2.69 lakh was announced in November and as we roll into 2024, the company has ended the introductory price offer.

India's Bajaj Auto to consider share buyback on Jan 8; stock soars
India's Bajaj Auto said on Wednesday it will consider a share buyback proposal on Jan. 8, sending its shares to a record high with a nearly 6% increase.

Bullet at 30% less: What Royal Enfield’s pre-owned market foray means for buyers and its business
If you want to call it the democratisation of the Royal Enfield brand, feel free.

Will Hero name upcoming 440cc bike ‘Hurikan’ or something else?
By now it has been established that Hero is working on a 440cc motorcycle based on the Harley Davidson X440. For the uninitiated, Hero has co-developed the neo-retro roadster alongside the iconic American brand and manufactures the same in India. It was recently reported that Hero will launch its own version of the X440 later this month on January 22.

Hero MotoCorp grows 5% with over 54.99 lakh units sold in '23 as Dec sales remain flat
Hero MotoCorp registers 5% growth in CY 2023
The Financial Express

Bajaj Auto to consider share buyback, second in less than 2 years

Bajaj Auto will consider a proposal to buy back fully paid-up equity shares of the company at its upcoming board meeting on January 8, it said in a filing to the stock exchanges.

Ola Electric clocks highest ever monthly registrations in Dec 2023, crosses 30K mark
Ola Electric on Monday announced that it clocked its highest ever monthly registrations in December 2023 -- recorded 30,219 registrations and captured a 40 per cent market share in the EV 2W segment (as per VAHAN Portal).

Electric 2-wheeler sales up 17% in India as electrification improves
Electric two-wheeler (E2W) sales volume in India rose 17 % year-on-year in December as electrification improved after a recent hiatus, a report showed on Wednesday.

Who dominated the electric two-wheeler race in 2023?

The market for electric two-wheelers is experiencing unprecedented growth, with Ola recently announcing its record-breaking monthly sales in December 2023, reaching 30,219 units.

Stock of this auto ancillary company has zoomed 40% in 4 trading sessions
In past four trading days, the stock of auto ancillary company has zoomed 40 per cent. At 01:39 PM; NRB Bearings was trading 9 per cent higher, as compared to 0.43 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex at 71,584. A combined 9.7 million equity shares representing 2.9 per cent of total equity of NRB Bearings changed hands on the NSE and BSE.

CEAT gets GST demand, penalties of over Rs 19 cr
New Delhi: Tyre maker CEAT Ltd on Wednesday said it has received GST demand and penalties totalling over Rs 19 crore from tax authorities in Maharashtra and Vadodara. The Additional Commissioner, CGST & Central Excise, Vadodara has issued an order for an interest of Rs 3.27 crore along with a penalty of Rs 13.68 crore following a show cause notice (SCN) that was initially issued towards the delay in reflection of input tax credit to the credit ledger, caused due to technical issue of TRAN-1 return, CEAT Ltd said in a regulatory filing.

Evolution of in-car display tech: From instrument clusters to pillar-to-pillar screens
New Delhi: In recent years, the automotive industry has undergone a significant transformation in the in-car display technology, revolutionizing the way drivers interact with their vehicles. From traditional instrument clusters to expansive pillar-to-pillar displays, the landscape has evolved rapidly, incorporating cutting-edge technologies like OLED displays, gesture controls, head-up displays, etc., to enhance the driving experience.

Amber Group to acquire majority stake in Ascent Circuits
New Delhi: Home-grown B2B electronic manufacturing company, the Amber Group, on Wednesday said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 60 per cent stake in Ascent Circuits Pvt Ltd. The acquisition has been affected through ILJIN Electronics, a part of Amber Group company.

Tech Mahindra appoints former Infosys EVP Richard Lobo as its chief people officer
Former HR head and executive vice president of Infosys, Richard Lobo, on Wednesday joined Tech Mahindra as its chief people officer. Lobo had resigned from Infosys in August last year.

How AI-powered driver management system automates coaching and mitigates accidents
According to the latest ‘Road Accidents in India’ report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), road accidents increased by 11.9% from 2018 and the National Highways accounted for 33% of all road accidents in 2022 — which meant more than 61,000 deaths. The report placed ‘over-speeding’ as the main cause of road deaths in 2022, about 75.2%.

Amara Raja, Adani reiterate investment commitments in Telangana
 

Fuel on its way, say oil marketing companies
The oil marketing companies on Tuesday evening assured the people that an adequate fuel supply channel has been activated and tankers are on their way to refill underground fuel tanks.

Oil minister Puri denies fuel price reduction talks, says
New Delhi: Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri refuted claims of discussions with oil marketing companies over fuel price reductions on Thursday, as energy availability is government's priority amid high crude volatility.

Situation normalising day after petrol pumps in Punjab see panic buying
Later in the evening, authorities in some Punjab districts had said the truckers had called off their strike and urged people not to resort to panic buying.

India's Russian oil imports drop on pricing, not due to payment woes
India's oil imports from Russia fell due to unattractive pricing and not because of payment problems, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.

Commuters can now get door-to-door fuel delivery amid protests, shortages across India. Details here
Fuel supplies ran low in parts of India this week as people resorted to panic buying amid a truckers' strike. Long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps in parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday even as local authorities ordered temporary rationing of fuel. Fuel delivery platforms have now seen a sharp spike in interest as uncertainty continued to prevail.

Ethanol blending program saved INR 24,300 crore foreign exchange in 2022-23: Hardeep Puri
Blending of ethanol into petrol has resulted in savings of over INR 24,300 crore of foreign exchange in the supply year 2022-23, said Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on Wednesday.

90 reasons why your city is so polluted
New Delhi: Delhi government’s environment department has prepared an inventory of major air pollution sources at 24 priority areas in the city. The department has identified sources of pollution at all continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (Caaqms) in Delhi and these include open burning of biomass, dumping of municipal waste, potholed roads, traffic congestion and construction activity. The department had earlier prepared a similar inventory of 13 pollution hotspots.

Fuel supply to normalise after transporters call off strike
Source Credit: Autocar India

Truck drivers called off their strike on the night of January 2, after assurances from the central government that the new law on hit-and-run cases will be implemented after due consultation with the transporter community. After this, the fuel supply returned to normal at many refuelling stations on Wednesday morning.

Kawasaki Eliminator 500 launched at Rs 5.62 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

The new Kawasaki Eliminator 500 debuted in mid 2023 overseas and now the bike has been launched in India at Rs 5.62 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

Ather 450 Apex launch on Jan 6, pre-bookings open
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Ather 450 Apex is an upcoming e-scooter which the Bengaluru-based startup has been teasing for some time now. We know that this will be the quickest Ather e-scooter yet, featuring a new Warp+ mode that will be quicker than the already rapid Warp mode on the 450X. Pre-bookings for the 450 Apex are already open, and we can now confirm that an official launch will take place on January 6 at 12 noon.

Ducati to launch 8 new bikes in India this year
Source Credit: Autocar India

Just like it did in 2023, Ducati has plans to launch a diverse range of models in India in 2024. 

Hero 440cc bike likely to be called Mavrick 440
Source Credit: Autocar India

It is no secret that Hero will launch its own motorcycle on the co-developed 440cc platform with Harley-Davidson. In fact, we recently reported that the bike will make its public debut in January with the launch and first ride reviews likely to happen in February. 

Hyundai Creta facelift engine, variant breakup revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India

Hyundai commenced bookings for the Creta facelift on Tuesday and also revealed the powertrain options that will be available on the SUV. As before, the 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines will continue with their respective gearboxes, but what’s new is the 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. Now we have a complete breakdown of which powertrain will be available on which trim.

VW's PEAK EV project to bring EV SUV to India by 2026
Source Credit: Autocar India

After years of studying the electric vehicle space in India, the Euro 272.9 billion (about Rs 25,089 crore) Volkswagen Group has finally begun work on localising its electric vehicle with a project codenamed “PEAK EV”, which is likely to spawn multiple vehicles starting 2026. According to several people in the know, Volkswagen Group’s lead entity in India – Skoda Auto Volkswagen India – has started work on the born EV platform on its own. The company had engaged in a discussion with Mahindra to explore possibilities of jointly developing a small electric vehicle platform, but it has decided to go on its own.  

New Porsche Taycan laps Nurburgring 17 seconds faster than Tesla Model S Plaid
Source Credit: Autocar India

A new range-topping version of the Porsche Taycan has beaten the Tesla Model S Plaid around the Nurburgring by a blistering 17.681 seconds. It becomes one of the fastest Porsches around the fabled circuit, posting a time of 7min 7sec.

Kawasaki Eliminator 500 vs rivals: specifications compared
Source Credit: Autocar India

The new Eliminator 500 may look like a cruiser but has bonafide sportbike underpinnings, so we pit it against a true-blue Indian cruiser as well as an older sibling from Kawasaki. 

Tesla sees China-made EV sales grow 68.7% year on year in December
US automaker Tesla sold 94,139 China-made electric vehicles in December, a 68.7% increase from a year earlier, China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data showed on Wednesday.

Tesla Faces a Higher Bar for Hype in 2024
Tesla shares had a stellar 2023, in large part because they had such a dismal end to 2022. By the same logic, this year could be tough for the world’s most traded stock.

Hyundai Motor, Kia expect auto sales to rise 2% in 2024
South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and affiliate Kia Corp forecast on Wednesday that their combined global sales will rise about 2% in 2024, even as last year's sales fell short of target.

Hyundai Motor, Kia plan to take lead in electrification, target auto sales to rise by 2% in 2024
South Korea's automobile major Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia are planning to take the lead in electrification and aim to increase sales by 2% in 2024. The new target came as the company fell short of delivering last year's target by 3%. In 2024, Hyundai Motor and Kia are targeting global sales of 7.44 million vehicles.

EV maker Rivian's quarterly deliveries miss expectations, shares tank
Rivian Automotive missed market estimates for fourth-quarter deliveries as tough competition and high interest rates weighed on demand for its electric vehicles, sending the company's shares down nearly 10% on Tuesday.

Chevron to take up to USD 4 bn impairment impact in Q4
Oil giant Chevron said Tuesday it would take an accounting hit to part of its US assets and recognize some losses, resulting in an impact in its fourth quarter results of up to USD 4 billion.

Hyundai Group opens first dedicated EV plant in Korea Kia AutoLand, Executive Chair Euisun Chung says needs to be future-ready
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) held its 2024 New Year address at Kia AutoLand Gwangmyeong, its first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) plant in Korea and outlined its future focus area.

China's BYD to give dealers 2 bn yuan for hitting sales target -sources
BYD, which outsold Tesla in electric car sales globally for the first time in the fourth quarter, will hand out rewards totaling billions of yuan to its Chinese dealers, according to two dealers with knowledge of the matter.

Arrival misses interest payment on convertible notes amid cash crunch
British electric-vehicle startup Arrival said on Tuesday it missed the Dec. 1 deadline to make an interest payment on its convertible debt due 2026 as it battles a cash crunch.

VW sees promise in an innovative EV battery technology
 

BYD pulls ahead as world's biggest producer of battery passenger cars
By David Fickling It may be just one-tenth the size of Tesla Inc. in terms of market capitalization, but BYD Co. has just pulled ahead to become the world’s biggest producer of battery passenger cars. For its next trick, it’s going to take on the world.