Toyota Signs MOU with Maharashtra govt for proposed new plant
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Maharashtra, to examine the setting-up of a Green Field Manufacturing Facility at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The company is said to have a manufacturing setup with two state-of-the-art units located at Bidadi.  

Demand, margin concerns likely to weigh on Tata Motors in near term
Tata Motors reported a strong performance in the AprilJune quarter (Q1) of FY25, but the company also issued caution over supply constraints.

Tata Motors Q1 profit up nearly 74%, soon to be launched Tata Curvv seen as next growth driver
Tata Motors delivered strong Q1 performance. The Q1FY25 net profit came in at Rs 5566 crore, up 73.8% YoY from Rs 3203 crore in Q1FY24. The revenue from operations came in at Rs 108,048 crore in Q1FY25, up 5.7% YoY from Rs 102,236 crore. Lower interest outflow, favourable currency and commodity movements helped Q1 performance. PV revenues declined 7.7%, reflecting the challenging market conditions. However, the CV revenues grew by 5.1% benefiting from better realizations and material cost savings.

Classic Legends forms JV with Tube Investments of India Limited
Mumbai: Classic Legends Pvt Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra’s premium bike arm, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Tube Investments of India Ltd (TIIL) to use BSA marks in India. TIIL is a part of the Murugappa Group of companies and manufactures bicycles, components, transmission and engine parts for four-wheelers and two-wheelers, automotive and industrial chains, precision steel tubes and fitness equipment. Classic Legends sells Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA motorcycles in the country.

M&M targets product, revenue leadership in all areas: Shah
In the highly competitive automobile sector, Mahindra & Mahindra’s focus will be on achieving leadership in revenue market share and product quality, rather than being a price warrior.

Hyundai, Tata doesn't want UP to give a major tax advantage to Maruti, Toyota
Hyundai, Kia Motors, Tata and Mahindra are lobbying India's most populous state not to offer incentives for hybrid cars, saying the move - set to help rivals Toyota and Maruti Suzuki - would hit targets on adopting electric cars and investment plans.

GST demand order for Eicher Motors reduced to Rs 27 crore on appeal

The company had received the original demand from the Additional Commissioner, Chennai North Commissionerate, Chennai, Tamil Nadu on December 30, 2023 for aggregate amount of Rs 129.79 crore, including tax demand of Rs 117.99 crore and penalty of Rs 11.79 crore.
 

Toyota reopens bookings on Innova Hycross top variants
Toyota has reopened the bookings of the top models of the Innova Hycross, the ZX and ZX (O). The company opened the bookings of the top models of the hybrid variant on August 1. According to Toyota, after launching the Innova Hycross in November 2022, there was an overwhelming demand for the top two variants, which led to a temporary hold on bookings. Toyota had earlier halted the bookings in April 2023.

Tata Nexon iCNG launch confirmed
The Tata Nexon ranks among the top ten best-selling vehicles in the first half of 2024, and the Indian automobile manufacturer is all set to expand its offerings by introducing a CNG variant. Tata Motors is anticipated to launch the Nexon iCNG in September, which will position it as the most versatile compact SUV on the market, available in petrol, diesel, all-electric, and now CNG options. The Nexon CNG was exhibited at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 earlier this year.

Hyundai Creta records highest monthly sales in July
The 2024 Hyundai Creta keeps setting new records. Despite the automotive industry’s low sales figures, the Hyundai midsize SUV achieved sales of 17,350 units in July 2024, marking a monthly domestic sales record for the Creta.

Tata Punch becomes fastest SUV to cross 4 lakh sales milestone
Tata Punch is a raging success in the Indian passenger vehicle market and consistently being one of the top-selling cars on a monthly basis ever since it was launched in 2021. In fact, Punch was the first-ever SUV in India to record the highest monthly sales volume in the passenger vehicle category.

Hyundai India launches Grand i10 Nios with dual cylinder CNG at INR 7.75 Lakh
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has launched the Grand i10 Nios with a Dual cylinder CNG at a starting price of INR 7,75,300.

Hyundai Venue gets new S(O)+ variant with sunroof, priced at Rs 10 lakh
Hyundai has announced the launch of a new variant to the Venue lineup. Called the ‘S(O)+’, this new variant is priced at Rs 9,99,900 (ex-showroom) and, making it the most affordable variant to be offered with an electric sunroof. The new variant sits between the S(O) and SX variants which are priced at Rs 9.89 lakh and Rs 11.05 lakh, (both ex-showroom), respectively.

Tata Curvv with dozens of features, new design and offerings set to take on top SUVs
Tata Curvv, recently unveiled in both EV and ICE versions, is set to spice up the SUV market with a host of innovative features and a cutting-edge design. Scheduled for launch on August 7 for the EV model, followed by the ICE variant in September, the Curvv promises to outshine its competitors with up to 25 additional features and some unique first-time offerings.

Maruti Suzuki plans one EV model every year, to launch first EV in January
Maruti Suzuki Ltd., which reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit boosted by higher sales of its sports utility vehicles, plans to launch one electric vehicle model a year.

Lamborghini H1-2024 Sales, India a tough but promising market
Italian Super sports carmaker Lamborghini is on track to achieve one of its highest-ever half-yearly sales in India — likely crossing 50 units, or two cars sold every week —but this number is less than 1% of its global sales, despite India being the world's third-largest car market. 

Make way for Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal’s Rs 6.5 crore Bentley
Co-founder and CEO of Zomato Deepinder Goyal has been on a roll since last year. His food delivery app-based company’s stock skyrocketed last year by over 300 per cent. Early this year, Goyal added the exotic Aston Martin DB12 and last month in July, he joined the elite billionaire club. To add a cherry on top to the good times, Goyal has added an iconic two-door Bentley Continental GT. The Continental GT Speed is the latest to join Goyal’s luxurious cars including Ferrari Roma, Porsche 911 Turbo S and the Lamborghini Urus. 

The Fantastic 5: BMW 5 Series
The first-ever BMW 5 Series was launched abroad more than five decades ago, and since then the carmaker’s presence has only been stronger. As the intermediate model between the 3 Series and the range-topping 7 Series, the 5 didn’t ever shy away from providing the best balance between driving fun and luxury. The latest iteration, which happens to be the eighth generation of the model, offers a different approach than before. With a longer wheelbase, the 5 Series isn’t just a touch closer to the 7 but also a substantial upgrade over the existing 3. In our first drive report, we try to find out if the said move will prepare BMW for the impending arrival of its biggest successor, the E-Class, in an all-new avatar.

Eicher Motors gets a cut of more than INR 100 crore in GST demand
Eicher Motors on Friday said that the GST demand orders served to it in December 30, 2023 from the office CGST and Central Excise, Chennai, has been revised to INR 26.97 crore from INR 129.79 crore, following an appeal by the automaker.

Documents required to sell your car
Selling a car in India requires gathering and submitting various documents to ensure a smooth and legal transaction. Here’s a comprehensive list of documents needed to sell a car in India:

Mahindra Thar Roxx spied again ahead of launch, gets new alloy wheels
Mahindra has been testing the 5-door version of Thar for over two years now and has been spied on numerous occasions. The homegrown manufacturer recently unveiled the official name of the vehicle as “Thar Roxx” and shared a glimpse of the 5-door version of the off-roader via its latest teaser and advertising campaign on the internet and television.

Lower APM gas allocation could raise procurement cost: Mahanagar Gas MD
Mahanagar Gas (MGL) expects its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) per standard cubic metre (scm) to decline marginally to Rs 10-12 in the current fiscal from Rs 13.5 in FY24 due to higher cost of gas, managing director Ashu Shinghal told Arunima Bharadwaj in an interview. However, the company’s PNG and CNG volumes are estimated to grow at robust rates of 6% and 7%, respectively, on year. MGL is also looking for opportunities to diversify its business in the electric vehicle segment and retail LNG. Excerpts:

'Coupe shape doesn't compromise on space' : Martin Uhlarik, VP & Head of Global Design, Tata Motors

On August  7, Tata Motors will launch the Curvv, which is unlike any SUV design you have seen in the mass market. An SUV coupe, the Curvy has a sloping roof at the rear, and a sedan-like boot. Martin Uhlarik — who with his team designed the Curvv — told FE that on paper a coupe design appears to compromise on head-room for rear-seat passengers, but in reality, this design offers the best of aesthetics and cabin space.

Back to basics: Renault Kwid
Renault is no stranger to small cars — neither in India nor in the global market. Its ability to churn out affordable machines which aren’t just practical to use but also great to drive is well-known. The list of enjoyable Renault hatchbacks is long, but it is difficult not to mention cars like the Twingo and Clio, both of which have been loved by many, and also the upcoming all-electric Renault 5, which can quite possibly be one of the most brilliant retro-modern electric cars to be launched recently. That’s Renault on the global market, but in India, things didn’t appear to be as smooth until the mega-affordable Kwid arrived sometime in the middle of last decade. By the time it was launched the Duster had already become a well-known product, and thus offering the customers a car that mimicked the large crossover SUV in terms of appearance but came with a tempting price tag just about sealed the deal for Renault. Now, just about a year short of its 10th anniversary, we drive the 2024 Kwid to see what it has to offer for its customers.

Escorts Kubota Q1 Results Live : profit rise by 1.1% YOY
Escorts Kubota Q1 Results Live : Escorts Kubota declared their Q1 results on 01 Aug, 2024. The topline decreased by 1.92% & the profit increased by 1.1% YoY. As compared to the previous quarter the revenue grew by 10.34% and the profit increased by 16.36%.

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: A light roadster that’s the life of the party
We’re all looking to declare independence from the mundane commute from Point A to Point B, and Royal Enfield has given this thought a physical form with its newest motorcycle, recently launched in sunny Barcelona. The Guerilla 450 is a roadster that embodies the pure pursuit of fun, and announces Royal Enfield’s entry into the modern street-oriented motorcycle segment.

TVS NTorq Black Edition teased ahead of launch
TVS is gearing up to launch multiple products in the coming days and one of them is the NTorq Black Edition, which has been officially teased by TVS. Lately, TVS has been launching Black Editions of select models and the NTorq will be the latest offering.

Suzuki Motorcycle India domestic sales up 25% to 1,00,602 units in July 2024
Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL) sold 116,714 units in July 2024, marking an 8% year-on-year growth from 107,836 units in July 2023. This includes over 1 lakh units sold domestically and 16,112 units exported.

Indian Roadmaster Elite launched at Rs 71.82 lakh
Indian Motorcycles has launched the limited edition Roadmaster Elite in India, priced at Rs 71.82 lakh, ex-showroom. The motorcycle will be limited to 350 units globally and will be interesting to see how many will be sold in the country.

Hero MotoCorp commences operation in Philippines; partners with Terrafirma Motors Corporation
Hero MotoCorp has started operations in the Philippines, partnering with Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC) for assembly and distribution. The move aims to enhance Hero's global presence, with a new facility in Laguna producing three models and an annual capacity of over 150,000 units.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 spied testing — Features dual front discs
After so many enthusiasts wanted a larger, more capable Himalayan, Royal Enfield did it with the new Sherpa platform. Now, the motorcycle maker is satisfying those who wanted more — a larger 650cc twin-cylinder Himalayan.

Battle Royale: India's Best Roadster : Ready for Guerrilla warfare?

With Royal Enfield launching the Guerrilla 450, the midsize roadster segment (350-500 cc) has turned out to be a hotly-contested space. The Guerrilla 450 has entered a tough arena — dominated by Triumph Speed 400, Harley-Davidson X 440, and Hero Mavrick 440.

OLA Electric IPO opens today: Check the price band, allotment, listing information and other details
The Ola Electric IPO is open for bid from August 2 to August 6, 2024. Ola Electric aims to capture market opportunities in the electric vehicle sector. The company seeks to raise INR 6,145.56 crore by offering 808.6 million shares, combining fresh shares and an offer for sale, with the fresh shares constituting the majority.

Ola Electric's $734 million IPO to fetch nearly $100 mn to Hyundai Motor
The company has set a price range of Rs 72 to Rs 76 per equity share, each with a face value of Rs 10. The IPO will open for subscription on Friday, August 2, 2024, and will close on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

E2W maker Ola Electric IPO subscribed 35% so far on the opening day
The anchor allotment was made to over 80 domestic mutual funds (MFs), life insurers, and foreign funds. These include SBI MF, HDFC MF, Nippon MF, Templeton Global, Nomura, Amundi, Jupiter Global and Goldman Sachs. Ola’s IPO, the biggest in the domestic markets in over two years, closes on Tuesday.

Ola Electric IPO: Analysing its potential and should you subscribe?
Pricing the IPO was never going to be an easy exercise for Ola Electric (Ola), the first pure-play electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer attempting to list on the bourses. For one, with bulls continuing to rule the roost, it is a market where one can make hay when the sun shines, especially in themes such as EVs, which have a long runway. But the fact is that Ola is today a young company heavily in the investment phase, is burning cash and is loss making (EBITDA negative). Important to note that it can continue to be so in the near-to-medium term as it invests in its mammoth Gigafactory and in R&D, as well as in expanding its network of charging stations and experience centers.

Bhavish Aggarwal's Ola Electric set to hold Sankalp 2024 annual event on August 15. Here's what to expect
Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has announced that the company's annual event, Sankalp 2024, will be held on 15 August. The EV maker has used its annual event on August 15 to make new announcements. It unveiled the Ola S1 electric scooter during the inaugural event in 2021, while teasing the Ola Bike concept during last year's event.

Ultraviolette opens retail experience centre ‘UV Space Station’ in Pune
New Delhi: Ultraviolette (UV), a leading innovator in electric vehicle platforms and battery technology, Thursday inaugurated its retail experience centre - Ultraviolette Space Station in Shivajinagar, Pune.

Ola Electric raises INR 2,763 crore from marquee anchor investors ahead of IPO
Leading electric two-wheeler maker Ola Electric has raised INR 2,763 crore from marquee anchor investors ahead of its issue opening tomorrow.

River Mobility’s EV route blends style with efficiency
Chennai: Armed with the belief that the market for e-scooters is growing in the country even without subsidies, River Mobility now aims to position itself as a brand targeting the utility lifestyle segment in the crowded electric two-wheeler space. The Bengaluru-based start-up shared its plans while inaugurating its fourth showroom in Chennai. “The government has been extremely supportive in promoting electrification. Subsidies have been crucial in reaching the current market level. But the industry is maturing and manufacturers are preparing to operate without subsidies. Despite the cut in subsidies, the market has remained strong and demand has not decreased,” said Aravind Mani, co-founder and chief executive officer.

Uno Minda partners with Aisin corporation to manufacture vehicle sunroofs in India
Uno Minda Ltd, an auto components manufacturer, announced on Thursday that it has entered into a technical licence agreement with Japan-based Aisin Corporation to manufacture and sell vehicle sunroofs in India. Aisin Corporation, a top 10 global Tier-1 automotive supplier known for its dominance in Japan’s sunroof product segment, will partner with Uno Minda to tap into the growing Indian market.

Pricol Q1 Results Live : profit rise by 42.65% YOY
Pricol Q1 Results Live : Pricol announced their Q1 results on 31 Jul, 2024, showcasing a 15.4% increase in revenue and a significant 42.65% rise in profit year over year.

Electric motor parts maker EuroGroup Laminations enters India, signs JV in China
Italian electric motor component maker EuroGroup Laminations is buying a 40% stake in India's Kumar Precision Stampings, the company said shortly after announcing a preliminary agreement for a strategic electric vehicle sector alliance in China.

Metadome.ai co-founder and CRO Prashant Sinha quits to float new venture
Prashant Sinha, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Metadome.ai, has announced his departure from the company. After investing 5.7 years for the growth of Metadome.ai, formerly known as Adloid Technologies, Prashant is now moving on amicably to launch a new venture aimed at addressing significant global challenges in the technology sector.

Ather Energy signs MoU with Amara Raja to manufacture battery cells
Ather Energy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies (ARACT). As part of this agreement, Amara Raja will collaborate with Ather to develop and supply NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) and other advanced chemistry cells. 

TVS Mobility, Mitsubishi Corp sign deal for employee exchange programme

MC Japan will host employees from TVS Mobility and train them in automotive and mobility sectors, covering inspection in auctions and service mechanics. TVS Mobility India will host MC Japan employees, providing them insights in digital deployment in the aftermarket business and supporting the growth of an independent aftermarket. Employees younger than 45 and who have more than three years of service with TVS Mobility Group and Mitsubishi Corporation are eligible for the exchange programme.

From crossroads to carbon neutrality: ESG is the new engine of growth for the automotive industry
This sector has long been scrutinised for its environmental impact, primarily due to its significant carbon footprint. With the world increasingly prioritising sustainability, ESG practices have become the lens through which this industry is evaluated. The transition to carbon neutrality is not merely a regulatory obligation but a strategic imperative to unlock short, medium and long-term value creation.

Hero FinCorp files draft papers with Sebi to raise Rs 3,668 crore via initial public offering
 

Tata Altroz Racer vs Hyundai i20 N Line comparison
Source Credit: Autocar India

You’ve got to hand it to Hyundai and Tata Motors. At a time when other manufacturers are shying away from hatchbacks, especially the performance-oriented kind, these two continue to bet on this space with two competent products. Hyundai’s i20 N Line has been on sale for a while now, and was the defacto choice if you wanted a sporty hatchback. That was until Tata decided to have a second crack (after the Tiago JTP) at this space with the new Altroz Racer. We’ve now pitted the two against each other to see which one you should opt for.

Royal Enfield Bullet 650 Twin name trademarked
Source Credit: Autocar India

Yesterday we brought you the first spy images of the upcoming Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 and now we have more news about another model based on the same platform. Royal Enfield has trademarked the Bullet 650 Twin name and this is likely what the model will be called upon its launch. 

Tata Punch crosses 4 lakh unit sales milestone
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Tata Punch sub-compact SUV has crossed the four lakh unit sales milestone. The Hyundai Exter rival went on sale back in October 2021 and has averaged monthly sales of around 16,000 units.

Triumph Scrambler 400 X, Speed 400 discount extended till end of the month
Source Credit: Autocar India

The offer on the Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X, initially set to expire on July 31, has been extended to August 31. This discount reduces their prices to Rs 2.24 lakh and Rs 2.54 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), respectively.

Tata Safari, Harrier get up to Rs 1.65 lakh off on MY2023 stock this month
Source Credit: Autocar India

Tata Motors dealerships are still offering big discounts on the company’s MY2023 cars and SUVs, including the Nexon, Harrier, Safari, Punch, Tiago, Tigor and Altroz. Read on to find out how much you can save on a new Tata vehicle this month.

Tata Nexon gets discounts of up to Rs 1 lakh on FY2024 stock this August
Source Credit: Autocar India

Tata dealerships are offering big discounts on the Nexon, Harrier, Safari, Punch, Tiago, Tigor and Altroz made in 2024. Read on to find out how much you could potentially save on your new Tata car or SUV.

EV sales drop 3 percent in July 2024; Tata loses 7 percent EV market share
Source Credit: Autocar India

Retail sales of electric cars and SUVs have crossed the 7,500-unit mark for the third month in a row in July 2024. While the 7,517 units sold in July 2024 are down 3 percent on year-ago sales (July 2023: 7,768 units), they're still a 4 percent increase over last month (June 2024: 7,211 units).

Hyundai Venue with sunroof more affordable by Rs 1.05 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Hyundai has introduced a new S(O) + variant for the Venue priced at Rs 10 lakh. The new variant essentially adds a sunroof over the S(O) variant it is based on, making it the most affordable variant to be offered with this feature.

Maruti, Hyundai, Tata among carmakers that saw sales decline in July 2024
Source Credit: Autocar India

Combined wholesales of the top seven passenger vehicle manufacturers were down 1 percent year-on-year in July at 3,11,553 units. The top three – Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors – registered declines. In fact, four of the seven carmakers have registered a year-on-year decline in their wholesales.

Citroen Basalt interior, exterior revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India

After showing us the first set of design sketches this March, Citroen has now officially unveiled the production-spec Basalt coupe-SUV for India. This is the fourth model based on Citroen’s C-Cubed programme that’s specifically meant for India, but it will also be made available in South American and European markets. The Basalt, which will be joined by the Tata Curvv later, is a new niche of coupe-SUVs in the hotly contested midsize SUV segment.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios CNG dual cylinder launched at Rs 7.75 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

After introducing its dual-cylinder CNG setup in the Exter, Hyundai India has brought out the Grand i10 Nios hatchback with the same layout. This is said to have helped liberate more space in the boot. It's available in two mid-spec variants, and is priced between Rs 7.75 lakh and Rs 8.30 lakh.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 to get three new features
Source Credit: Autocar India

A few days ago, we reported that the updated Royal Enfield Classic 350 is launching on August 12 and now, we can exclusively share what will be new on the Classic. 

US lithium giant Albemarle to slash operations in Western Australia's Kemerton
The US-headquartered lithium mining giant Albemarle has declared its decision to axe processing operations of its Kemerton lithium hydroxide conversion site in Western Australia, with a spokesperson flagging "market conditions" and "commercial realities" as the sole reason.

Chinese EV-makers rush in and upend a country's entire auto market
Ma Haiyang and eight of his colleagues arrived in Thailand a year ago to establish the first overseas operation for GAC Aion, an electric vehicle maker from China. They had no office, no factory, no local employees and, basically, no clue.

Audi's new China EV series won't have signature four-ring logo
Audi's new electric cars series developed in China for the Chinese market will not sport its four-ring logo, two people with direct knowledge of the plans said.