Government extends EMPS by 2 months, increases funding to INR 778 crore
What the statement did not say was that the government was likely compelled to extend the EMPS due to the absence of a consensus on the contours of a third edition of the purchase subsidy scheme for electric vehicles, called FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles). The second edition of FAME ended on March 31 and EMPS was always intended as a short term, stop gap scheme before a likely third edition of FAME was brought back.

Auto firms can start claiming PLI benefits, but there's a catch…
The Indian government has released the final standard operating procedure (SOP) for automobile companies to file claims under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, almost three years after it was first notified in September 2021, Mint has learnt.

India will need to be vigilant if it opens its doors to Chinese EV makers
New Delhi: The Economic Survey has made a strong case for attracting investments from China. The logic is that it makes more sense for Chinese companies to manufacture products here which can also be exported. By the end of the day, this will be a win-win situation for both countries more so when China is now India’s largest trading partner.

Brakes India-ADVICS joint venture’s ₹500-crore unit is to come up near Hosur
Chennai: Brakes India, a leading manufacturer and exporter of braking systems, is likely to establish a greenfield factory that will make advanced braking products under a joint venture with ADVICS, Japan’s leading premium brake system supplier, at Shoolagiri near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The joint venture between Brakes India and ADVICS will operate under a 51:49 partnership to design, develop, and manufacture advanced braking products for the Indian light vehicle market. A total investment of ₹500 crore has been planned for the new production facility.

From Curvv to Basalt: New cars, SUV launches in August
August will be a busy month for the Indian automotive industry. Besides the monsoon, it will be raining new cars in the market next month. Let us look at all the cars and SUVs to launch in August this year.

Electric 2W, 3W companies likely to face retest for FAME-III scheme

This is what major testing and certification agencies for vehicles under the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), such as the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), have conveyed to them in a meeting.

Maruti Suzuki India gets tax demand of Rs 779.2 cr from I-T authorities

The company has received a final assessment order for the financial year 2019-20 from the Income Tax authority, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) said in a regulatory filing.

Skoda to reveal subcompact SUV’s name on August 21
Skoda is preparing to unveil the name of its brand-new sub-4-metre SUV on August 21st. Previously, Skoda initiated a contest where participants were selected from ten shortlisted names, all beginning with ‘K’, in line with Skoda’s SUV naming ethos. To date, the Czech automaker has released exterior sketches of the forthcoming subcompact SUV, although numerous spy shots of the vehicle have surfaced.

New Hyundai Creta 2024 sales exceed 1 lakh units in six months
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) Friday said that the sales of the new Hyundai Creta 2024 launched in January exceeded one lakh units in six months.

Reports: New Kia Carnival to go on sale in India this October as CBU
Kia launched a mid-cycle facelift of the Seltos in August last year and followed it up with a launch of the facelifted Sonet in January this year. The next big launch by Kia in India will be the all-new Carnival. Showcased as the KA4 concept at last year’s Auto Expo, the upcoming Carnival is the facelifted fourth-gen model in Kia’s global lineup.

What Tata Motors looks to Curvv out with its new coupe SUV
After taking a cursory glance at the Tata Curvv, this was by far the first reaction of anyone who entered the comfort of the Tata Motors pavilion at the Auto Expo 2023 amid Delhi’s bone-chilling January cold.

Five Years of The Hector : The SUV that made MG in India

When the Hector was launched on June 27, 2019, MG Motor India — the British automaker owned by Chinese SAIC —was Greek to most Indians. Five years later and after selling over 100,000 units of the Hector, MG is quite popular, is Indian — 35% stake with JSW, 8% with Indo Edge India Fund, 3% with dealers, and 5% with MG employees — and has been renamed as JSW MG Motor India. 

Survey finds 51% Indian e-car owners want to return to ICE vehicles
New Delhi: Park+, which hosts about 1.5-crore cars on its app, Friday announced key findings from its India (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru) centric survey among e-car owners. The survey, answered by 500 e-car owners, wasto understand their mindset.

MG teases Tata Nexon EV rival Cloud EV before launch
After a string of spy images, MG Motor has officially released a teaser of the Cloud EV. This will be the company’s third EV after the ZS EV and the Comet. The Cloud EV is expected to be priced under Rs 20 lakh and will go against the Tata Nexon EV and the Mahindra XUV400. 

India is among fastest growing markets for BMW Group: Jean Philippe Parain
BMW India is going aggressive with several launches planned this year. The German luxury carmaker recently launched BMW 5 Series LWB, Mini Cooper S, Countryman EV, luxury electric scooter CE-04 to further accelerate sales in India. In an exclusive interview with ETAuto, Jean Philippe Parain, Senior Vice President of Sales for Regions Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at BMW Group highlights the importance of the Indian market as well as talked about its electrification journey in India and globally.

Ashok Leyland reports highest-ever Q1 CV volumes, growth in revenue, EBITDA, PBT
New Delhi: Increased volumes and strong contributions from non-CV businesses like power solutions, aftermarket, Defence, and international operations fuelled this growth.

Tata Curvv interior officially revealed ahead of launch
The Tata Curvv has been in the spotlight for a while now, especially given the design of the vehicle, which is a first in the segment. The Tata Curvv has garnered attention for its powertrains as well, as the SUV will be offered in both ICE form as well as in all-electric form.

‘Q1 demand growth was a surprise’: Dheeraj Hinduja, executive chairman Ashok Leyland
The June quarter produced a surprise as demand for trucks and buses surpassed expectations. According to Dheeraj Hinduja, executive chairman Ashok Leyland the rest of the year looks promising thanks to a healthy head start. Hinduja and KM Balaji, CFO, spoke to Swaraj Baggonkar post the announcement of the June quarter financial results. Edited excerpts.

Tata Curvv: 5 most frequently asked questions answered
Tata Motors will soon be entering the packed mid-size SUV segment with the Curvv. The Indian automobile manufacturer has already confirmed that the electric vehicle version will be first launched on August 7th and later the internal combustion engine model. We answer the following most asked questions about the Curvv.

SUVs are taking a new shape
In August, Citroen will launch the Basalt and Tata Motors will drive in the Curvy. Both these aren't SUVs, but SUV coupes. 

Ashok Leyland MD on Q1 results, plans to list subsidiaries & more
Despite being an election-impacted quarter, you have registered record Q1 volumes. Can this be a record year for Ashok Leyland with industry-breaking records?

Godspeed: Hyundai Verna
Six generations of the Hyundai Verna have graced the market and there’s no doubt that it has left its mark with every new model. The latest one, the sixth of its kind, was brought out a year ago and it has since then managed to garner respectable monthly sales, despite operating in the price bracket where nearly every other car is an SUV — something the market seems to be extremely fond of. We test the top-spec turbocharged-petrol-engined iteration to see what makes the Verna worth a buy.

Nissan’s new weapon
Nissan India has been around for over two decades and in this period, the Japanese manufacturer has tried its luck with nearly every segment. The Micra did hatchback duties quite well; its booted sibling, the capacious Sunny wasn’t too bad either; the Terrano helped Nissan taste success in the compact SUV segment whereas the Teana brought along V6 power for smooth transitions from one boardroom to the other. There was the 370Z for all the sporty driving, the GT-R for shaming many a supercar, and the good old Evalia for carrying the whole family together. This didn’t end there: Nissan India also got the Kicks followed by the Magnite, which is the sole model in Nissan’s current line-up, and the X-Trail, a premium SUV which was a very capable car off the road. Now, Nissan has decided to bring that back, in an all-new form, of course, and we think it’s a reason to celebrate.

Hero Xtreme 160R 4V old vs new — What’s changed?
The Hero Xtreme series of motorcycles has been popular for Hero MotoCorp, especially given its styling. The Xtreme 160R 4V, in particular, gets a host of segment-first features and stands out in the segment. Hero has updated the motorcycle for 2024, launching an updated version with a few changes and added features, priced at Rs 1.38 lakh ex-showroom.

2024 Hero Xtreme 160 4V vs TVS Apache RTR 160 4V: Specs, Features, Price
The 160 cc segment hits the sweet spot as it sits above the commuter category while providing decent performance at an affordable cost. Hero Motocorp introduced the Xtreme 160R 4V last year, and shortly after its first anniversary, the company released an updated version. The 2024 Xtreme 160R 4V is now being compared to the well-liked and sporty TVS Apache RTR 160 4V.

Suzuki Motorcycle India recalls 4 lakh vehicles for safety checks
New Delhi: Suzuki Motorcycle India has initiated a large-scale recall of nearly 4 lakh vehicles across various models due to safety concerns. The affected models include Access 125, Avenis 125, Burgman 125, and V-strom 800DE.

Harley-Davidson X440 now cheaper by Rs 15,000 — Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 effect?
Harley-Davidson’s most affordable motorcycle, the X440 is seeing a discount of Rs 15,000 for a limited time period. The Harley-Davison X440 Vivid variant is now listed for Rs 2.45 lakh, ex-showroom. The Rs 15,000 discount on the mid-spec variant is valid till August 15.

Travelling with A CXO: YS Guleria : The aim is to have `right' gear for riders
Source Credit: Vikram Chaudhary, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

Ola Electric suspends development on cars, sole focus on two-wheelers
Ola Electric has big plans for the future. Be it their upcoming range of electric motorcycles or entering the stock market with the announcement of its IPO, Ola Electric will find itself in the headlines in multiple news reports in coming days. However, out of all the interesting developments for the Bengaluru–based EV startup, electric cars are not likely to be one of them.

Ola Electric IPO: Anchor book likely on August 1, issue to launch between August 2-6
Ola Electric filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on December 22, 2023. The company competes with other significant players in the market, including TVS Motors, Bajaj Auto, and Ather Energy. Investment banks such as Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, Goldman Sachs, ICICI Securities, Citi, BofA Securities, SBI Caps, and BoB Caps are assisting in the deal. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is acting as the company counsel.

Ather Energy net loss widens to ₹1,059.7 crore in FY24
Bengaluru: Bengaluru-based two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Ather Energy’s net loss jumped to ₹1,059.7 crore in FY24 from ₹864.5 crore in FY23, per the annual report of Hero MotoCorp. The revenue from operations rose to ₹1,789.10 crore during the year under review from ₹1,783.60 crore in FY23. Ather Energy is yet to file its financial statements for FY25 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

LML bets big on Star to charge up electric scooter space
At that point in time, it was widely assumed that these products would be launched in the following year. However, market feedback suggested that the LML brand was synonymous solely with scooters. “We collated all critical inputs and problematic areas, which customers face with other electric scooters, have been addressed,” said Bhatia.

Ramkrishna Forgings Q1 Results Live : profit rise by 3.02% YOY
Ramkrishna Forgings Q1 Results Live : Ramkrishna Forgings declared their Q1 results on 24 Jul, 2024. The topline increased by 12.63% & the profit increased by 3.02% YoY. However, as compared to the previous quarter, the revenue declined by 1.78% and the profit decreased by 13.8%.

JioThings,MediaTek partner for indigenously made smart IoT tech for 2 wheeler EVs
New Delhi: Semiconductor company MediaTek has partnered with JioThings, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, to launch a locally-made Internet of Things (IoT) platform tailored for the two-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) market. This new platform aims to enhance MediaTek and JioThings' footprint in the global two-wheeler segment by providing a Smart Digital Cluster and Smart Module designed specifically for this market.

Google Maps to alert about road widths, flyovers, EV charging stations in India
New Delhi: Google on Thursday announced several new features to enable more efficient and sustainable journeys via Maps in India, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and local partners.

Battery costs for EVs and energy storage set to come down: INOXGFL ED Devansh Jain
Import duty waivers on critical minerals such as lithium are set to bring down the costs of batteries both for electric vehicles and energy storage, according to INOXGFL Group’s executive director Devansh Jain.

Shriram Finance Q1 net profit rises 18%
Shriram Finance has posted an 18% rise in its first-quarter net profit to ₹1,981 crore, led by a strong growth in interest income. The Shriram Group company had reported a net profit of ₹1,675 crore for the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Hyundai Creta facelift sells 1 lakh units in just 6 months
The Hyundai Creta facelift has crossed the 1 lakh sales milestone in just six months since its launch in January. The company has been selling an average of over 15,000 Cretas a month, with peak sales of 16,458 units in March. Last month, it sold 16,293 Cretas; the daily average stands at over 550 units, claims Hyundai.

Tata exploring expanding Racer performance brand
Tata Altroz Racer EV among those under evaluation

New Toyota rugged SUV to enter production by November 2024
New Toyota off-roader will be around 4.5-metre-long

MG Cloud EV teased before launch
Cloud for India to get two screens, steering-mounted controls, and more

Suzuki issues recall for almost four lakh scooters, bikes in India
Source Credit: Autocar India

Suzuki has issued a massive recall for the Suzuki Access 125, Burgman 125 and Avenis 125 on July 25, 2024. The recall affects vehicles manufactured between April 30 and December 3, 2022.

Ola electric car plans halted for at least two years
Source Credit: Autocar India

Ola Electric has temporarily paused its electric car launch plans as it wants to focus on expanding its e-scooter business at the moment, Reuters reported. Sources confirm that Bhavish Aggarwal, founder of the SoftBank-backed company, has put the initiative on hold for at least two years. Reuters could not obtain a response from the company.

MG Gloster facelift spy shots reveal interior details
Source Credit: Autocar India

MG is readying a facelift for the Gloster, which has been around in India since 2020. Ahead of its launch later this year, the Gloster facelift has been spied on test yet again, revealing its interior design for the first time.

Google Maps adds flyovers, narrow road alerts in India
Source Credit: Autocar India

Google has introduced several new features for Google maps in India, addressing key challenges faced by its users. The company says it has used a custom-built AI approach to alert people about narrow roads, flyovers, and even EV charging stations.

2025 Ducati Panigale V4 revealed, loses single-sided swingarm
Source Credit: Autocar India

Ducati has unveiled the 2025 Panigale V4, marking the biggest change to the superbike since its debut in 2018. The entire motorcycle has undergone revisions in just about every area. The 2025 Panigale V4 is the first flagship Ducati superbike since the iconic 916 to not use a single-sided swingarm, a move that is sure to divide the Ducatisti right down the middle. 

Thailand to offer investment incentives for makers of hybrid vehicles
Regional auto making hub Thailand will introduce investment incentives for manufacturers of hybrid vehicles, its Board of Investment (BOI) said on Friday, with excise taxes for hybrids to be lowered from 2028 to 2032.

US car market gives Stellantis, Nissan a rough ride
Problems in the highly competitive U.S. car market ranging from weak prices to high inventories and difficult logistics dented profits and hit shares of automakers Stellantis and Nissan on Thursday, as they scramble to find a fix.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia appoints Nadia Trimmel as VP Marketing & Sales
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has appointed Nadia Trimmel as the new Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia & SEA II, effective July 1, 2024. Trimmel, who has been with the company since 2014, replaces Bettina Plangger, who will transition to a Strategic Project role within Region Overseas in Stuttgart, Germany.

Air pollution falls after London vehicle curbs: mayor
London's Mayor Sadiq Khan on Thursday claimed success for his expanded pollution toll zone for motor vehicles, pointing to a drop in levels of a harmful air pollutant since its controversial introduction.

Toyota to build EV battery plant for Lexus cars
Japan's Toyota Motor plans to build a battery plant for electric vehicles in the southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka and supply its batteries to a factory that makes luxury Lexus brand cars, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday.

How Germany's hydrogen economy could transform energy use
German utility EnBW this week pledged 1 billion euros (USD 1.08 billion) to build pipelines to carry clean hydrogen as part of a plan for a nationwide grid that will start commercial operations by 2032.

German car parts manufacturer ZF to cut 11,000-14,000 jobs by 2028 amid electric vehicle shift
German car parts manufacturer ZF announced it will reduce its workforce in Germany by 11,000 to 14,000 employees by 2028. The decision, impacting a fifth to a quarter of its current 54,000 domestic jobs, is driven by challenges in the electric vehicle market and intensifying foreign competition.

Thailand car production drops sharply in June, local sales fall
Car production in Thailand fell 20.11% in June from a year earlier due to tighter financing rules and high consumer debt, and full-year production is now expected to be lower than in 2023, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Thursday.

Umicore H1 core profit falls on weak EV battery demand
Belgium's Umicore missed expectations for half-year core profit on Friday, after weak demand for electric vehicles weighed on its battery materials division.

Under pressure in China, Mercedes-Benz trims 2024 car profit outlook
Mercedes-Benz on Friday narrowed its annual profit margin forecast for its core car division as the German luxury automaker faces fierce competition in China, though new models should lift sales in the second half of the year.