NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz grew its revenues in India in 2025 thanks to strong demand for its high-end luxury cars, its CEO said, even as stiff competition from rival BMW in the entry-level part of the luxury market pulled down the carmaker’s overall sales in the country.

Mercedes India’s leading luxury carmaker, sold 19,007 vehicles in 2025 versus 19,500 a year earlier, Santosh Iyer told Reuters on Wednesday, reducing its lead against BMW which sold 18,000 cars last year. Continue reading “Mercedes India’s revenue hits fresh record on strong top-end luxury sales”

Mumbai: Volkswagen India revealed the design philosophy of its upcoming flagship SUV, the Tayron R-Line, offering a first look at how the brand is entering the premium 7-seater space. 12 months after its European launch, the Tayron R-Line makes its way to India, underscoring the brand’s intent to bring globally relevant products to Indian customers without delay.

The Tayron R-Line marks a clear evolution of the brand’s global SUV design, combining strong proportions with the sporty sophistication of the R-Line trim. Continue reading “Packed with Substance the German-engineered Tayron R-Line, coming soon”

Source : PTI | The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in line with the vision of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will introduce Integrated Last Mile Connectivity services to enhance passenger convenience and ensure seamless end-to-end urban mobility across the National Capital Region.

In this regard, DMRC has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Ltd (STCL), a multi-state cooperative society and a mobility service provider operating the platform branded as ‘Bharat Taxi’.

Continue reading “DMRC to introduce integrated last mile connectivity in collaboration with Sahkar Taxi”

Source : PTI | In an effort to improve road safety, the Delhi transport department is considering giving unregistered e-rickshaw operators a one-month window to complete vehicle registration, officials said on Wednesday.

Initially introduced as an eco-friendly transport option, e-rickshaws have increasingly become a problem on city roads due to their slow movement, contribution to traffic congestion and safety concerns. Continue reading “Delhi govt considers one month registration window for unregistered e-rickshaws”

Summary

• Toyota lifted bid by 15% to 18,800 yen per share after criticism
• Elliott says Toyota Industries worth over 25,000 yen per share
• Tender offer runs until February 12

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota Motor may have revised its offer for Toyota Industries 15% higher, but that hasn’t satisfied activist shareholder Elliott, which said on Thursday that the planned buyout “very substantially” undervalued the forklift maker.

Elliott Investment Management, which disclosed a stake in Toyota Industries in November and raised its holding to 5% last month, said it would not be tendering its shares under the improved terms and would be encouraging other shareholders to follow its lead. Continue reading “Toyota’s sweetened bid for group forklift maker opposed by Elliott”

Source : PTI | Royal Enfield and Krafton India on Tuesday announced a partnership to launch Bullet 350 and Continental GT 650 as rideable bikes in the popular online game Battleground’s Mobile India (BGMI).

Both motorcycles will make their debut in the game from January 19, 2026, as part of the BGMI 4.2 update that goes live on January 15, 2026.

“Partnering with BGMI is about more than just presence; it’s about meeting our community in their element and amplifying the shared values of thrill, freedom, and self-expression,” Royal Enfield Head- Custom & Motorsports Adrian John Sellers said. Continue reading “Royal Enfield, Krafton partner to bring Bullet 350 and GT 650 to BGMI”

Source : PTI | SAVWIPL also marked a major landmark in its internationalisation strategy as cumulative exports surpassed 7,15,000 units, firmly establishing the country as a strategic global production base for the group, it said.

The group expanded its global footprint by exploring and entering new markets in GCC and ASEAN regions.

The year also saw Volkswagen retained leadership in the premium sedan category, with Virtus commanding a 38 per cent share, while the first batch of the Golf GTI sold out within days of its launch, the company said. Continue reading “Skoda Auto Volkswagen India sales surge 36% to 1,17,000 units in 2025”

Summary

• Offer price raised to 18,800 yen per share from 16,300 yen
• Toyota Industries urges shareholders to tender shares
• Tender offer to start from January 15, Denso filing shows

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Toyota Motor said on Wednesday it had agreed to raise its offer for group firm Toyota Industries to 18,800 yen ($118.11) per share as part of the plan to take the forklift maker private.

The Japanese automotive giant had previously offered 16,300 yen per share in a deal announced in June. Continue reading “Toyota agrees to hike offer for Toyota Industries by 15%”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is targeting sales of 550,000-600,000 vehicles this year, Chinese tech portal 36Kr reported on Wednesday, citing a recent internal strategy meeting.

That would translate into around a 28-40% increase from its sales last year, when the automaker delivered 429,445 cars, up 126% from 2024.

A company source confirmed the 36Kr report. Continue reading “China’s Xpeng aims to sell up to 600,000 vehicles in 2026”

Summary

• Toyota lifted bid by 15% after criticism
• New terms seen as fairer but investors await Elliott’s response
• Tender offer runs until February 12

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Shares of forklift maker Toyota Industries surged to a record high on Thursday after a sweetened bid from Toyota Motor trading slightly above the new offer on hopes that a better price might be forthcoming.

The initial deal to take Toyota Industries private that will strengthen the Toyoda founding family’s control of the Toyota group had been criticised by global investors for what they called an opaque valuation. Continue reading “Toyota Industries’ shares hit record on sweetened bid, Elliott’s response awaited”

(Reuters) – Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday that the electric vehicle maker’s full self-driving (FSD) software will only be available as a monthly subscription after February 14.

Currently, Tesla allows its electic vehicle owners to purchase FSD (Supervised) for a one-time payment of $8,000 or a subscription of $99 per month in the U.S.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year opened an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with its FSD system, based on over more than 50 reports of traffic-safety violations and a series of crashes. Continue reading “Tesla to offer self-driving software only on monthly basis from Feb 14, Musk says”

Summary

• New rules would cut commission caps to 10% from 20%
• Platforms to pay full accident and death insurance for drivers
• President may enforce new rules through decree
• Industry fears insurance costs unsustainable, source says

JAKARTA, (Reuters) – Millions of Indonesian ride-hailing drivers would receive major increases to financial and social benefits under a draft decree being considered by President Prabowo Subianto, two sources said, threatening profitability of ride-sharing platforms in their largest market in Southeast Asia.

Prabowo is under pressure to respond to drivers’ demands for better pay and conditions, particularly after their involvement in widespread student-led protests in August demonstrated the political clout of the sector’s workforce. Continue reading “Exclusive: Indonesian ride-hailing industry set for shake-up under draft presidential decree”

(Reuters) – Tesla agreed to enter mediation that could resolve the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s lawsuit accusing Elon Musk’s electric car maker of tolerating severe and widespread harassment of Black employees at its Fremont, California, assembly plant.

The EEOC said it is working with Tesla to choose a mediator, and negotiations could begin in March or April. It also said both sides will make a proposal to the presiding judge by June 17 on what to do if settlement discussions and mediation are unsuccessful. Continue reading “Tesla agrees to mediation that could resolve US agency’s racism lawsuit”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Shriram Automall Dhanbad commenced operations on 12th January 2026
• New Automall launched to address growing regional demand for organised auctions
•  Strengthens SAMIL’s footprint in Jharkhand and eastern India
•  Strong participation from local trade, transport, and buyer communities
•  Opening-day auction recorded 120+ active bidders
•  Over 70 pre-owned assets offered across multiple segments
•  Expands access to transparent and technology-enabled auctions in emerging markets

Dhanbad, Jharkhand | Shriram Automall India Limited (SAMIL), India’s largest phygital marketplace for pre-owned vehicles, equipment, and other assets, launches its new Automall in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The opening marks a significant step in SAMIL’s expansion strategy aimed at strengthening organised asset auction infrastructure in high-potential regional markets.

The newly opened Dhanbad Automall has been established to cater to the increasing demand for structured, transparent, and professionally managed auctions in the region. With Jharkhand emerging as an important commercial and industrial hub, the facility is designed to support local businesses by offering improved accessibility, robust infrastructure, and seamless auction operations. Continue reading “Shriram Automall Opens New Dhanbad Automall to Strengthen Organised Auction Ecosystem in Jharkhand”

Bengaluru, India – The future of electric mobility isn’t just about building vehicles – it’s about building the ecosystem that helps them thrive.

Together, Yuma Energy and e-Sprinto have entered into a partnership setting out to do just that, as the two companies announced today that they intend to deploy swappable-battery electric two-wheelers at scale, a bold step set to supercharge fleet electrification across India’s cities. Continue reading “Yuma Energy and e-Sprinto Announce Partnership to Deploy Swappable-Battery EVs Across India”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Renault will sell its new Filante car in South Korea from March before launching sales in Latin American and Gulf countries by early 2027, it said on Tuesday.

The hybrid SUV crossover is based on the Compact Modular Architecture of Chinese partner Geely and will be produced at Renault’s plant in the South Korean city of Busan, the automaker said on its WeChat account. Continue reading “Renault to sell Geely-based Filante SUV in South Korea from March”

Summary

• Volvo Cars pauses operations at battery project
• Conversations with potential partners continue
• EU support crucial to attracting partners, Volvo Cars exec says

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Sweden’s Volvo Cars has halted operations at its battery startup Novo Energy, which had already been sharply scaled back, as its search for a partner drags on, Novo Energy said on Tuesday.

The move comes as several battery projects in Europe have been cancelled or delayed over the past two years amid spiralling costs and slowing demand for electric cars. Continue reading “Volvo Cars pauses Novo battery project as partner search drags on”

Summary

• Trump addresses Detroit Economic Club, says ‘growth is exploding’
• Factory employment fell nationwide by 8,000 jobs in December
• Trump’s approval on cost-of-living issues at 27% in December, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows

DETROIT, Michigan, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump touted his economic record in Detroit on Tuesday, aiming to refocus attention on U.S. manufacturing and his efforts to tackle high consumer costs as the White House strives to show it is addressing the economic anxieties gripping U.S. households.

In remarks to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump boasted that he had rebuilt the U.S. economy in the span of 11 months. His sprawling speech was marked by his typical stream-of-consciousness discursions. Continue reading “Trump touts economic record during Detroit trip, seeking to ease voter anxieties”

Source : PTI | The Delhi government is planing to install around 7,000 new electric vehicle charging stations by the end of the year to promote clean mobility and boost EV adoption, officials said on Monday.

According to the officials, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to mitigate vehicular emissions, a primary driver of air pollution in the national capital. Alongside the charging infrastructure, the government is planing to strengthen public transport by expanding the bus fleet. Continue reading “Delhi govt to add 7,000 EV charging stations, 2,000 buses this year to curb air pollution”

Source : PTI | The Punjab government on Monday approved a major expansion of state-run public transport system, adding 1,279 buses to its fleet.

Officials said the move is aimed at improving affordability, safety and last-mile connectivity across the state.

The government currently operates 2,267 buses, including 1,119 under the Punjab State Bus Stand Management Company Limited (PUNBUS). To ensure faster deployment and financial prudence, the new fleet will be added through a combination of direct purchase and leasing. Continue reading “Punjab govt to expand state bus fleet with 1,279 new vehicles”

New Delhi : Maruti Suzuki India Limited (“Maruti Suzuki”) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (“IOCL”), India’s leading energy company, to establish vehicle service facilities at several IOCL fuel retail outlets across the country.

Customers can get routine maintenance, minor repairs, and even major services* at these facilities, making car care easier and more accessible. The initiative will further strengthen Maruti Suzuki’s service network, which already spans over 5,780 service touchpoints across 2,882 cities in India. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki collaborates with Indian Oil Corporation Limited to further expand nationwide service reach”

Indian automaker Maruti Suzuki said on Monday it plans to add up to 1 million units of annual production capacity after buying land worth about $550 million, expanding manufacturing to meet rising domestic auto demand.

The country’s top carmaker by sales has an order backlog of about one-and-a-half months for its entry-level models, its marketing and sales head Partho Banerjee said on January 1. The company had also said then that its sales to domestic dealers were up 37% in December to a record 178,646 units. Continue reading “Maruti Suzuki to boost capacity by 1 million units in India expansion”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The European Union will issue guidelines on submitting minimum price plans for Chinese exporters of electric vehicles, China’s commerce ministry said on Monday. Continue reading “EU to issue guidelines on Chinese EV minimum price plans, China says”

Summary

• GM adapts product plans due to regulatory shifts
• Barra emphasizes EVs as superior product despite challenges
• Automakers, including Ford, pull back from EV investments

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the Trump administration’s push to loosen fuel-economy rules has affected the automaker’s business even more than its fast-changing trade policies.

Speaking at an Automotive Press Association event ahead of this week’s Detroit auto show, Barra said the administration’s regulatory shifts, such as killing a $7,500 electric-vehicle tax credit and moving to roll back tailpipe-emissions rules, prompted GM to rapidly adapt its product plans. Continue reading “GM CEO says EVs still the ‘end game’ despite industry pullback”

(Reuters) – German carmaker Volkswagen saw a 4.9% decline in vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by lower demand in North America and China, the company said on Monday.

The company delivered 2.38 million vehicles in the quarter, compared with 2.50 million units the same period a year ago. Continue reading “Volkswagen’s fourth-quarter deliveries decline as Chinese, US demand softens”

Summary

• Uber faces over 3,000 similar lawsuits, but trial is first in US federal court
• Outcome could impact resolution of remaining lawsuits
• Uber argues drivers are independent contractors, says it is not liable for their actions

(Reuters) – Uber is set to face trial this week in Phoenix, Arizona, in a lawsuit brought by a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a driver she booked through the app.

The trial will be the first test of Uber’s efforts to shield itself from liability for alleged assaults committed by its drivers, with thousands of cases pending in U.S. federal court. Continue reading “Uber faces sexual assault trial in Arizona that puts its safety record under scrutiny”

Source : PTI | Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw arrived in Washington DC on Sunday to participate in a critical minerals meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Bessent will host a meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers in Washington to discuss critical minerals. The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union. Continue reading “Ashwini Vaishnaw arrives in Washington to participate in critical minerals meeting”

Source : PTI | Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo is committed to an all-electric future, clocking one EV out of every four cars sold in India, although GST 2.0 has made its mild-hybrid SUVs even more compelling for customers, according to a senior company official.

The implementation of GST 2.0 has been a significant catalyst, and it has streamlined the luxury segment by rationalising the tax structure, Volvo Car India Managing Director Jyoti Malhotra told PTI in an emailed interview. Continue reading “Committed to all-electric future, GST 2.0 made mild-hybrid SUVs more compelling: Volvo Car India MD”

Source : PTI | Kerala witnessed a 12.8 per cent increase in the number of vehicles registered in the state in 2025, with registrations of electric vehicles seeing a major surge, officials said on Thursday.

In a statement, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) said a total of 8,78,863 vehicles were registered in the state in 2025, compared to over 7.79 lakh in 2024, recording a rise of 12.8 per cent.

Continue reading “Kerala vehicle registrations up 12.8% in 2025, EV numbers surge”

Source : PTI | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the inauguration of Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant here reflects growing investor confidence in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy were also present at the event. Continue reading “Adityanath hails Ashok Leyland EV plant as symbol of UP’s industrial turnaround”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing $200 million in new state electric-vehicle tax rebates after Congress earlier this year ended a federal $7,500 state tax deduction on new EVs, the state said on Friday.

In late 2024, Newsom said if President Donald Trump eliminated a federal EV tax credit, he would propose creating a new version of the state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program that ended in 2023 and spent $1.49 billion to subsidize 586,000 vehicles over a decade. EV sales fell sharply in the final three months of 2024 after the federal tax credit expired on September 30. Continue reading “California governor proposes $200 million in new state EV tax rebates”

GUANGZHOU, China, (Reuters) – Chinese automaker Xpeng said it wanted to become better known as a “physical AI” company rather than just a carmaker, as it gears up to launch street trials of robotaxis and start mass producing humanoid robots later this year.

Robots and autos are the core of physical artificial intelligence and share a wide range of existing sensor tech and other hardware. Automakers, for example, are creating robots to automate warehouse and factory tasks. Continue reading “Chinese automaker Xpeng touts AI pivot in face of fierce competition”

Summary

• China’s 2025 car sales +3.9% y/y vs 0% growth forecast for 2026
• Domestic demand faded while exports beat estimates
• Strong EV growth unlikely to continue, association chief says
• Revised subsidy to weigh on budget carmakers

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s car sales are expected to be flat this year, extending a downtrend, while robust electric vehicle exports in 2025 are unlikely to be sustained, a Chinese industry association said on Friday.

Car sales in the world’s largest auto market were up 3.9% in 2025, slowing from growth of 5.3% in 2024 and the slowest in three years, data from the China Passenger Car Association showed. Continue reading “China car sales may stagnate in 2026, strong EV export growth unlikely to last”

(Reuters) – German carmaker BMW on Friday reported declining sales in the final quarter of 2025, dragged by weaker demand in the United States and China.

BMW group achieved quarterly sales of 667,981 vehicles, down 4.1% compared with the same quarter a year ago.

While sales in Europe grew by 4%, they dropped in the United States and China by 4.6% and 15.9%, said the carmaker. Continue reading “BMW reports Q4 sales decline on weaker demand in US and China”

Summary

• Polestar’s sales rise 27% in Q4; 60,119 cars sold in 2025
• Focus squarely on Europe, Polestar CEO says
• Carmaker got $900 million financing lifeline in December

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – EV maker Polestar reported a sharp rise in fourth-quarter vehicle sales on Friday, helped by its recent strategy of focusing on Europe.

The company’s sales rose 27% to 15,608 vehicles sold in the fourth quarter. It sold 60,119 cars throughout the year. Continue reading “Polestar’s EV sales jump as ‘All about Europe’ strategy pays off”

Summary

• AI and partnerships aim to reduce costs and speed deployment
• Western automakers pressured by China’s autonomous driving advancements
• Nvidia’s open-source platform seen as Tesla rival

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – The short history of the self-driving car industry has been littered with expensive failures and endless delays, but tech suppliers, chipmakers including Nvidia and some automakers are betting on AI and a web of partnerships to spark new progress.

Many interested automakers, however, still have major questions. Apart from concerns about high costs and scalability, they want to know if there is enough customer demand to make money out of an expensive wager. Continue reading “Focus: Nvidia and auto suppliers roll out partnerships to rekindle self-driving push”

Summary

• GM’s $6 billion charge linked to EV investment reduction
• Most of the writedown tied to supplier payouts for canceled work
• GM is latest automaker to walk back EV plans after federal policy changes

DETROIT, (Reuters) – General Motors said on Thursday it would take a $6 billion charge to unwind some electric-vehicle investments, the latest car company to pull back from EVs in response to the Trump administration’s policies and fading demand.

The charge stems from reducing its planned EV production and the fallout on the supply chain, GM said in a regulatory filing, and comes weeks after rival Ford Motor announced a similar but much bigger charge. Continue reading “GM to take $6 billion writedown on EV pullback”