RevFin partners Government of India’s PM Solar2EV initiative to drive adoption of electric vehicles
To support faster adoption of sustainable mobility and related ecosystem in Maharashtra, Revfin has partnered with the government of India’s Social Justice Department to provide digital lending services and foster financial inclusion.

EV Policy to intensify competition in Passenger Vehicle segment, auto component makers key beneficiaries, say analysts
The new Electric Vehicle Policy is likely to intensify competition in the electric passenger vehicle (PV) segment, but will benefit domestic auto component players due to its emphasis towards localization, analysts said.

NexGen Energia to invest INR 1,000cr for setting up EV manufacturing unit in J&K
Sustainable energy solutions firm NexGen Energia on Monday said it will invest INR 1,000 crore in setting up a manufacturing unit for electric vehicles (EVs) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Noida-based company said it is currently in talks with the authorities in the Union Territory and scouting for 100-acre land either in the Kathua industrial area or in the Kashmir Valley.

India’s new EV policy will be in sync with FTA momentum
New Delhi: There is more to India’s new electric vehicle policy than just wooing Tesla to set up shop here, according to top sources in the automotive industry.

New scheme to boost EV adoption, manufacturing in India: Hanif Qureshi
New Delhi: The newly-unveiled Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme or EMPS would promote the nascent electric vehicle (EV) industry including acceleration in adoption and manufacturing in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), a senior official said.

Kashmir on fast lane: Inaugural Formula 4 grabs PM’s attention
Motorsports is slowly gaining traction across the country with various forms of racing events being organised across the country over the past few months. The latest spectacle is the inaugural Formula 4 held in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Thousands of spectators were enthralled by speeding Formula 4 cars whizzing around the banks of Dal Lake on Sunday.

ETAuto Tech Summit '24: Engineering sustainable transitions
In order to address urgently the environmental concerns and enhance mobility efficiency, the automotive landscape is making a paradigm shift towards cleaner, smarter, and safer transportation solutions. Against this backdrop, the Summit aims to explore cutting-edge technologies that redefine the future of mobility, with a special focus on the emergence of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), and sustainable innovations related to decarbonizing, manufacturing etc.

Govt launches portal for cab & delivery services
Delhi govt’s transport department has set up a portal to facilitate licensing, payment of fees, and to ensure other regulatory compliances for cab aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities. Service providers must register on the portal to obtain the required licence and onboard their existing fleet within 90 days from Saturday.

Electric mobility
Source Credit: Business Standard Editorial 

Mumbai: In a major new policy direction for the Indian automobile sector, the government has announced that import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) will be slashed as long as the EV manufacturer makes certain commitments to the government about producing in India. In particular, for models of electric cars with a combined cost, insurance, and freight price in India of $35,000 or above, the tariffs have been slashed from 100 per cent to 15 per cent. A similar reduction has been made for cheaper vehicles attracting a tariff of 70 per cent. In return, the companies have to promise to set up a manufacturing plant in India alongside an investment of $500 million (Rs 4,150 crore) within three years. Further, the localisation of components is required, with at least 50 per cent domestic value addition by the fifth year of operation.
 

Uttar Pradesh govt invites private players to invest in e-mobility market

According to a bidding document, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has floated a tender, inviting bids for the supply, operation, and maintenance of 5,000 e-buses on gross cost contract basis. The bids could be submitted by March 28.

EV policy can recharge competition in auto sector
 

Popular Vehicles IPO listing date today. What GMP, experts signal subdued debut of shares
Popular Vehicles IPO: The listing date of the initial public offering (IPO) of Popular Vehicles and Services Limited has been fixed on 19th March 2024 i.e. today. As per the information available on the BSE website, Popular Vehicles IPO will be listed on BSE and NSE in a special pre-open session on Tuesday, 19th March 2024.

Clean charging should herald India’s EV drive
India’s new electric vehicle (EV) import policy will turn the local EV market more vibrant at the upper end, no doubt, especially if Tesla were to make its domestic debut, but we also need to work on a plan to ensure EVs use clean power to charge their batteries. This aspect, however, seems to be getting much less attention than is due. Our current policy focus appears set on getting EV adoption to accelerate. Sure, electrifying vehicles does keep the noxious fumes of fossil-fuel combustion off the streets, but it is also energy intensive. Since much of India’s grid-linked generation of electricity is done by burning coal to boil water and steam-drive turbines, the broader goal of our green transition would be lost if an EV boom results in vehicular power consumption outpacing our ramp-up of renewable capacity, as that would add up to even greater carbon emissions overall. Getting car buyers to go electric is just one part of the endeavour.

Top 5 best-selling Tata vehicles in Feb 2024
Vehicle sales in February saw hatchbacks registering negative growth, while Hyundai’s Creta managed to outsell Tata’s best-seller, the Nexon. However, the Tata Nexon was not the best-selling model for the carmaker in February. Here are the top 5 best-selling Tata vehicles in February 2024, with their sales numbers and YoY growth.

Maruti Suzuki to reply to Rajasthan GST authority showcase notice
The company in its regulatory filings revealed that the company has been issued a show cause notice (SCN), for the period of April 2019 to March 2020 on account of reconciliation of tax returns filed by the company.

Top 5 hatchbacks sold in Feb– WagonR, Baleno, Tiago, Alto
Hatchbacks were once a very desirable body style for an average Indian car buyer, especially for the middle class buyers. However, with the advent of more and more SUVs and crossovers, the hatchback segment has somewhat lost its charm. 

Top 5 affordable diesel SUVs: Mahindra Bolero to Tata Nexon
Affordable diesel-powered vehicles have become a dying breed, especially after the introduction of BS6 norms. With stricter emissions, diesel engines have become a lot more expensive due to the technology. Many leading automobile manufacturers have even exited this market altogether like Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault and Nissan. There’s still some hope as there are a couple of companies who still believe in the oil burner. We find out what are the most affordable diesel-powered SUVs in India. 

Tata Punch Facelift spotted testing: Internal updates mirror EV variant, tailored equipment lists expected
Tata Motors, following the triumph of its electric Punch model, has unveiled plans for a revamped version of its internal combustion engine (ICE) variant. A disguised prototype of the Tata Punch facelift has been spied recently, giving eager enthusiasts a glimpse of what is to come for the sub-compact SUV. While the official release is anticipated around mid-2025, sneak peeks from @thesimbarider suggest that the facelifted Punch draws inspiration from its electric counterpart in terms of design cues.

Tata, Maruti may remain mass market kings in electric car sales
New Delhi: As the dust settles on the new, liberalised import policy for electric four wheelers, at last two different scenarios could play out in the near future. One, there will likely be a churn in the local components industry, as the promise of an exponential increase in volumes drives much faster localisation of certain key parts needed in electric cars.

Hyundai Creta EV in the works? Here's what report suggests
Electric vehicle enthusiasts in India have been abuzz with anticipation for the Hyundai Creta EV, even prior to the debut of the updated version of the mid-size SUV in January this year. Recently, a sighting in South Korea has provided a glimpse into what the electric iteration of the popular vehicle might entail, reported HT Auto.

BluSmart to induct 4,000 Citroen EVs in its fleet
BluSmart a leading full-stack vertically integrated e-mobility ride hailing service and EV charging infrastructure network company has signed a MoU with Citroen, the leading French automaker, to integrate 4,000 electric vehicles (EVs) into its fleet.

India's new EV policy to help launch many eco-friendly premium-quality SUVs: VinFast Auto
VinFast hails India’s new EV policy, pledges $500 million
The Hindu Business Line

India-bound Skoda Epiq electric SUV breaks cover
 

Govt plans to roll out e-buses in all cities, some long routes: Gadkari
New Delhi: Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that the government has plans to introduce electric buses in all Indian cities as well as some long routes such as Delhi-Shimla, Delhi-Chandigarh and Pune-Mumbai over the next five years.

Minus Zero joins hands with Ashok Leyland
 

Upcoming Ampere Nexus electric scooter completes Kashmir to Kanyakumari
Ampere, a subsidiary of Greaves electric mobility, is gearing up to launch its new electric scooter. Named Nexus, it is based on the Nxg concept revealed at the Auto Expo last year. The Ranipet-based electric scooter manufacturer is ramping up its social media presence ahead of the launch of the Nexus which is expected to take place next month.

Ather Energy all set to expand its presence in the family scooter segment
Source Credit: Business Standard

To deal with rising competition from players like Ola Electric and TVS, Ather Energy is all set to expand in the family scooter segment by launching Ather Rizta on April 6.

E-Luna turns an instant hit in electric vehicle two-wheeler market
Source Credit: Shine Jacob, Business Standard

Chennai: Luna is once again making inroads, this time silently and without pedals. The rickety moped of the pre-liberalisation era, whose manufacturing ceased in 2000, is back in an electric avatar and is looking to ignite competition in the affordable electric two-wheeler segment.

Sona Comstar achieves milestone of producing 400 million differential gears and 6 million differential assemblies
Tier 1 supplier Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has announced achieving production milestone of 400 million differential gears and 6 million differential assemblies.

Harish Lakshman to take over as Chairman of Rane Group after L Ganesh retires on March 31
L. Ganesh has decided to retire as Chairman from the operating entities of Rane Group, effective March 31, 2024. He will serve as a Non-Executive Director on these entities and continue as Chairman and Managing Director of Rane Holdings Limited.

RPPL and JK Tyre host showrun of Indian Racing Festival in Srinagar
Racing Promotions Private Limited (RPPL), led by Hyderabad-based Akhilesh Reddy to host the Indian Racing Festival, has partnered withJK Tyre.

Swiss-Indian Alliance Sets Stage for Hyperloop Innovation; signs MoU
New Delhi: Hyperloop pioneers Swisspod Technologies (Switzerland), and TuTr Hyperloop (India) have come together with the governments of Switzerland and India to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainable, high-speed transportation solutions in India.

Servotech Power to build 20 EV charging stations for Nashi
New Delhi: Servotech Power Systems Ltd. a prominent player in the EV charging and solar industry, has secured a contract from the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to supply, commission and construct 20 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the NMC area to meet the increasing need for convenient and accessible charging facilities for electric vehicles.

HCG Group to invest INR 500 cr for Gurugram's PNG and CNG network expansion
New Delhi: HCG Group announced an investment of INR 500 crore to expand the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure in Gurugram. This strategic move aims to provide nearly 100,000 domestic PNG connections in the next year, with a long-term plan to reach around 300,000 households over the next five years.

Russia remains India's top crude supplier, imports rise 14% in January
New Delhi : Russia remained the top supplier of oil to India in January, accounting for nearly a third of the crude brought into the country, according to data from the commerce ministry.

India-bound Volkswagen Tayron interior leaked
Earlier this year, we'd reported that a set of images of the Volkswagen Tayron were leaked from China. Now, new spy shots of the SUV, spotted in China again, gives us a first look at the interior of the upcoming seven-seater SUV. The Tayron is essentially a lengthened version of the latest-gen Tiguan, and it will first go on sale in China as the Tiguan L Pro, before coming to India in 2025.

Mahindra XUV300 facelift launch imminent, fresh details revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India

The sub-4-metre SUV segment is one of the most hotly contested in the Indian automotive industry. Mahindra is working on a mid-life update for its XUV300, and with the compact SUV recently being spied on test ahead of its launch in the coming weeks, here are some fresh details:

Pierer Mobility AG now owns majority stake in MV Agusta
Source Credit: Autocar India

KTM’s parent company Pierer Mobility AG has now acquired an additional 25 percent stake in famed Italian bikemaker MV Agusta, meaning it now has a 50.1 percent stake in the Varese-based brand.

New Indian Scout reveal on April 2
Source Credit: Autocar India

Indian Motorcycles has announced that it will be revealing an all-new Scout model on April 2. This will be the first major change to the Scout lineup since it came out nearly a decade ago. 

Hyundai Creta EV to have 4 rivals at launch
Source Credit: Autocar India

Hyundai India will enter the mass-market EV space with the Creta. The all-electric midsize SUV has been spied testing again in South Korea, not too long after the SUV was caught testing in India. The electric version is based on the Creta facelift that launched in India in January; the interiors are also likely to be similar to the current Creta on sale, with some interior bits borrowed from the Ioniq 5. When it arrives by March 2025, the Creta EV will compete with Tata, Mahindra, Maruti and MG Motor.

Bajaj Pulsar 250 duo to get digital dash with Bluetooth
Source Credit: Autocar India

Bajaj is revamping its entire Pulsar line-up and it seems to be working its way up from the bottom. The latest spy shot reveals a Pulsar N250 with a digital dash, which is likely the same one that's seen on the recently refreshed Pulsar N150 and N160.

Audi Q6 e-tron first look: A new beginning
Source Credit: Autocar India

Audi says the Q6 e-tron isn’t just another new car, but the next step in the brand's transformation into a premium electric mobility company. Indeed, the Q6 e-tron is the very first model to be built on the group’s new platform; the premium platform electric (PPE), which also underpins the Porsche Macan electric. The Q6 e-tron also comes with a new e&e architecture that gets an all-new electronic hardware and software, which is set to filter into the rest of the Audi range, including the internal combustion engine (ICE) models. So yes, the Q6 e-tron is a very important car to examine inside out.

Upcoming Ampere Nexus electric scooter completes K2K
Source Credit: Autocar India

Ampere has been releasing regular updates on its social media handles about its upcoming Nexus electric scooter’s journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and that trip has finally come to an end.

Vietnam’s Vingroup launches global EV charging business under V-Green
Vietnam’s Vingroup has launched its electric vehicle charging stations business under V-Green according to Reuters. The EV charging stations would prioritise VinFast vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz’s Vision EQXX claims 1,000 km on a single charge
Undertaking its third journey spanning over 1,000 kms, the VISION EQXX technology program proved its mettle in traversing the Arabian Desert while maintaining energy efficiency. Across a challenging terrain encompassing busy city streets and open desert, the test vehicle showcased electric power consumption of merely 7.4 kWh per 100 km, equivalent to 8.4 miles (13.51 km) per kWh), according to an official release. 

Uber to pay $178 million in Australia taxi class action settlement
Uber has agreed to pay A$271.8 million ($178 million) to settle a lawsuit brought by Australian taxi operators and drivers, who say they lost income when the ride-hailing company moved into the country, a law firm said on Monday. The settlement is Australia‘s fifth-largest, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said in a statement.

Yokohama to invest $380 million towards new passenger car tyre plant in Mexico
The Yokohama Rubber Co, has announced that it will build a passenger car tyre plant in Mexico to strengthen its capacity to supply tires to the North American market. The new plant will have an annual production capacity of 5 million tyres, with planned capital investment totalling $380 million (Rs 3,165 crore).

Is it the last run? Nissan launches 2025 GT-R in Japan
Nissan has launched its 2025 GT-R models in Japan, since its debut in 2007 as Nissan’s premier super sports car, the GT-R R35 has undergone a continuous evolution. The 2025 GT-R lineup introduces two exciting editions: the Premium Edition T-spec and the Track Edition engineered by NISMO. 

Rich Americans keep high-end RV company rolling along
Most U.S. recreational vehicles - those behemoths of the roadway often resembling box cars that accidentally wandered off the rails - roll out of gritty factories in the gray environs of Elkhart, Indiana, and aim to satisfy the wanderlust of largely middle-income customers.

EV startup Fisker to raise up to $150 mln, pauses production
Fisker said on Monday it would pause production of its electric vehicles for six weeks and raise up to $150 million in funding by selling convertible notes as the startup tries to navigate a cash crunch and weak demand for its cars.

As electric-vehicle shoppers hesitate, hybrid sales surge
Automakers have been working for years to transcend the image of hybrid cars as stodgy fuel sippers, remaking them with sportier designs and extra pep. Now, the once-niche hybrid is the hottest car on the lot.

As electric-vehicle shoppers hesitate, hybrid sales surge
Automakers have been working for years to transcend the image of hybrid cars as stodgy fuel sippers, remaking them with sportier designs and extra pep. Now, the once-niche hybrid is the hottest car on the lot.

American Manufacturers Seek Perfection as Quality Issues Mount
Imagine a world in which every product that leaves a factory is flawless, every time.