Source : PTI | India has the potential to be among the top five markets globally for the Maybach range with demand for high-end luxury vehicles likely to grow steadily in the country, Mercedes-Maybach Head Daniel Lescow said on Tuesday. Mercedes-Benz saw sales of Maybach portfolio increase over 140 per cent year-on-year last year in India at over 500 units.

The luxury carmaker has further enhanced the range in the country by introducing the Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series, priced at Rs 4.2 crore (ex-showroom).

Continue reading “India can be among top five Maybach markets globally: Mercedes”

Source : PTI | Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government will soon announce a new policy for toll charges on national highways, offering a reasonable concession to consumers. Replying to queries in Rajya Sabha, the minister asserted that the government is spending a lot on building road infrastructure and therefore toll charges are necessary.

“It is the policy of the department that when you want good road, you have to pay for it,” Gadkari said. Continue reading “Govt to announce new toll policy soon, will give reasonable concession to consumers, says Nitin Gadkari”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: Ride-sharing company Uber on Wednesday announced new safety measures for riders and drivers on its two-wheeler offering “Moto” including initiatives aimed at improving helmet adoption and a feature that would allow female drivers to filter for female riders. The new safety feature for “Uber Moto” includes AI-powered helmet selfies for drivers as well as in-app helmet “nudges” for riders.

Uber said it is ramping up safety for two-wheeler riders and drivers with new tech-led features and distribution of 3,000 safety kits across the country. Over half of the rides on Uber today happen over auto and moto services in India. Continue reading “Uber unveils new safety measures for 2-wheeler riders, drivers”

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) has achieved a significant milestone by producing 500,000 locally manufactured engines at its state-of-the-art facility in Chakan, Pune. The plant’s emphasis on technological advancements and sustainability has enabled it to meet global quality standards while ensuring cost efficiency. This milestone reflects the Group’s long-term strategy of integrating India into its global supply chain for high-quality automotive components. Continue reading “Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Surpasses 500,000 Locally Manufactured Engines”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Japanese automaker Honda Motor will procure batteries for its hybrid vehicles from Toyota Motor’s plant in the United States in an effort to reduce tariff risks under the Trump administration, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday.

From fiscal 2025, Japan’s second-biggest automaker will take in Toyota’s U.S.-made batteries for about 400,000 vehicles, which will be enough for all of its hybrid cars it sells in the country, the newspaper said. Continue reading “Honda to procure Toyota’s US-made batteries in tariff response, Nikkei reports”

(Reuters) – Honda and Suzuki will pool carbon emissions with U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla in 2025 to comply with European Union rules, an EU filing showed on Monday.

The pool also includes Stellantis , Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Subaru, the filing shows. Continue reading “Honda, Suzuki to join Tesla’s CO2 emissions pool for 2025”

TORONTO, (Reuters) – Toronto is no longer providing financial incentives for Tesla vehicles purchased as taxis or ride shares due to trade tensions with the United States, the city’s mayor, Olivia Chow, said on Monday.

The city is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles purchased as vehicles for hire by giving drivers and owners a reduction in licensing fees and renewal fees until the end of 2029, to help it lower emissions. Continue reading “Toronto excludes Tesla from EV incentive due to US trade war”

Summary

• U.S., Mexican and Canadian growth will all suffer under tariffs, OECD says
• Trump says next tariffs will go ahead on April 2
• Consumers and businesses increasingly worried tariffs will hurt the economy and stoke inflation

(Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes will drag down growth in Canada, Mexico and the United States while driving up inflation, the OECD forecast on Monday, just as Trump promised to press ahead with a new wave of levies in early April. Continue reading “OECD warns of tariff drag on growth as Trump vows to press on with levies”

Summary

• Audi, works council agree cost-saving package
• Measures to reduce costs by 1 bln eur a year in medium-term
• Total planned layoffs across VW Group just under 48,000
• “We had to make compromises”, works council chief says

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Volkswagen’s Audi will cut up to 7,500 jobs in Germany by 2029 in areas like administration and development, the premium carmaker said on Monday, the latest German auto industry player to reduce costs. Continue reading “Volkswagen’s Audi to cut 7,500 jobs in administration, development by 2029”

Summary | Elon Musk’s EV company is struggling as he plunges into politics. Robyn Denholm, the Australian chair of Tesla, is thriving after cashing in half a billion dollars of the stock. Investors are clamoring for her to rein in the world’s richest man – but some question whether she has the independence to do so.

SYDNEY – Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is drawing political flak as he champions right-wing causes in Europe and leads President Donald Trump’s slashing of the U.S. federal workforce. The controversy is pummeling sales at Tesla, the electric-vehicle giant Musk runs. Its stock has plunged – down 15% on March 10 alone – and investors are yelping in pain. Continue reading “As Tesla tanks, Musk’s hand-picked board chair is doing just fine”

Source : PTI | Traffic violations surged by more than 100 per cent during Holi celebrations this year, an official said on Saturday. A total of 7,230 challans were issued on Holi this year, marking a sharp increase from 3,589 violations recorded in 2024, he said.

According to a police statement, the number of people caught for drunken driving surged to 1,213 in 2025 compared to 824 in 2024. Similarly, helmet-related violations increased by 56 per cent to 2,376 this year from 1,524 challans in 2024. Continue reading “Traffic violations surge over 100% during Holi in 2025”

LONDON, (Reuters) – Tech companies must start putting in place measures to protect users from child sexual abuse images and other illegal content in Britain from Monday as enforcement of its online safety regime ramps up.

Media regulator Ofcom said Meta’s Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and other companies must now implement measures such as better moderation, easier reporting and built-in safety tests to tackle criminal activity and make their platforms safer by design. Continue reading “Tech firms must start protecting UK users from illegal content”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – BYD on Monday unveiled a new platform for electric vehicles (EVs) that it said could charge EVs as quickly as it takes to pump gas and announced for the first time that it would build a charging network across China.

The so-called “super e-platform” will be capable of peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), enabling cars that use it to travel 400 km (249 miles) on a 5-minute charge, founder Wang Chuanfu said at an event livestreamed from the company’s Shenzhen headquarters. Continue reading “BYD unveils new super-charging EV tech, to build charging network in China”

MILAN, (Reuters) – Automaker Stellantis is investing 38 million euros ($41 million) in its Verrone plant in Northern Italy to manufacture parts for electric engines for its upcoming small-size models, it said on Monday.

The plant will manufacture steel components for electric drive modules Stellantis currently makes in other European facilities, the company said in a statement, adding production is expected to start at the end of 2027. Continue reading “Stellantis invests $41 million in Italy to make EV engine parts”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The joint venture of Volkswagen and FAW Group (SASACJ.UL) said on Monday it will launch 11 new Volkswagen and Jetta branded models tailored for the China market from 2026.

The new models, as part of a deal signed in Wolfsburg between FAW and VW, include six electric vehicles, two plug-in hybrids, two extended-rangers and one gasoline, the joint venture said in a statement. Continue reading “Volkswagen, FAW venture to launch 11 new models tailored for China from 2026”

(Reuters) – Automakers Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki India said on Monday that they will increase the prices of vehicles to offset raw material and operational costs.

Tata Motors will hike prices of its commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, by up to 2% from April, while Maruti Suzuki said it will increase car prices by as much as 4% next month. Continue reading “India’s Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki to hike vehicle prices”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – BMW Group will integrate Huawei (HWT.UL) HiCar, the Chinese tech conglomerate’s car mobile app connecting devices with vehicles, into its locally produced new models in 2026, the German automaker said on Monday.

BMW is teaming up with Huawei to develop smart applications based on the Harmony operating system for drivers of its vehicles using the tech conglomerate’s devices in China, according to a company statement. Continue reading “BMW to integrate Huawei smart-connect system into its China-made cars in 2026”

Summary

• Chinese car-makers seek to boost sales in Europe as Chinese market slows
• No decision taken yet as BYD weighs labour costs, productivity
• Germany’s new government expected to encourage auto sector investment

MILAN, (Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is considering Germany for a possible third assembly plant in Europe, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, after the region’s biggest economy and car market opposed EU tariffs on China-made EVs last year. Continue reading “Exclusive: BYD considers Germany for third plant in Europe”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Chinese tech company Xiaomi new electric crossover SUV, the YU7, will have a driving range of up to 770 kilometres (478 miles), a government document showed on Thursday.

The car will be Xiaomi’s first SUV and is expected to hit the market this summer, to take on Tesla Model Y. Continue reading “Xiaomi’s electric crossover car YU7 to have range of up to 770 km, govt document shows”

SEOUL, (Reuters) – Samsung SDI said it would issue new shares worth 2 trillion won ($1.38 billion) in a regulatory filing on Friday and use the proceeds to invest in a U.S. joint venture with General Motors and expand its factory capacity in Hungary among others.

($1 = 1,452.6800 won) Continue reading “Samsung SDI to issue new shares and invest in U.S. joint venture with GM”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump met General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Wednesday to discuss the automaker’s investment plans amid his tariff war, a White House official told Reuters.

In meetings with automakers, Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have said they want the industry to move more assembly and production of parts to the United States. Continue reading “GM CEO met Trump amid tariff fight, White House says”

Summary

• BMW expects 1 billion euro hit from tariffs
• Central bankers call Trump policies a tragedy for U.S. economy
• European stocks outperforming U.S. peers
• EU trade chief says has ‘better understanding’ of US counterparts

FRANKFURT/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – German carmaker BMW said on Friday it expected tariffs to cost it 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) this year, while European officials warned the U.S. economy would be the biggest loser if President Donald Trump pursues an “idiotic” trade war. Continue reading “BMW sees earnings hit from US tariffs as EU warns against escalation”

Source : PTI | The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced Rs 20,000 subsidy for buying new e-scooter to 2,000 internet-based service workers who are registered with the Gig Workers Welfare Board. In his 2025-26 Budget speech, Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu, referring to a large number of young people being engaged in internet-based services and the state setting up the Tamil Nadu Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board to promote their welfare said: “A new scheme will be launched to support the livelihood of workers registered with the welfare board by providing a subsidy of Rs 20,000 each to 2,000 internet-based service workers for purchasing a new electric vehicle (e-scooter).” Continue reading “Tamil Nadu to subsidise Rs 20,000 for buying e-scooters for some gig workers”

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India Automobile Sales Performance – February-25 WAF

Electric passenger vehicle retail sales rise 19% in February WAF Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (14th March 2025)”

Exotel, a leader in customer engagement solutions, has announced its collaboration with JSW MG Motor India to enhance communication systems and drive superior customer experiences across the automotive giant’s network.

The solution provided by Exotel ensures:Seamless customer experience with a single national number; Brand consistency through virtual dealership numbers; Real-time feedback collection and efficient issue resolution. Continue reading “Exotel Joins JSW MG Motor India To Augment Customer Engagement”

Monthly Performance: February 2025

Production: The total production of Passenger Vehicles , Three Wheelers, Two Wheelers, and Quadricycle in February 2025 was 23,46,258 units

Domestic Sales:

• Passenger Vehicles sales were 3,77,689 units in February 2025.
• Three-wheeler sales were 57,788 units in February 2025
• Two-wheeler sales were 13,84,605 units in February 2025.

Commenting on February-2025 performance, Mr Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM said, “Passenger Vehicles segment remained resilient and posted its highest ever sales of February in 2025 of 3.78 Lakh units, with a growth of 1.9% as compared to February 2024. Continue reading “India Automobile Sales Performance – February-25”

Summary

• JLR had plans to source parts locally for EVs, sources say
• There were problems with price-quality mix in procuring parts, sources say
• JLR’s decision expected to delay Tata’s India EV plans
• Tata making design changes to Avinya EV range, sources say

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Jaguar Land Rover has shelved plans to build electric vehicles at parent company Tata Motor’s upcoming $1 billion factory in southern India, four people with knowledge of the matter said. Continue reading “Exclusive: Jaguar Land Rover shelves plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant, sources say”

Summary

• Partnership would include VW’s Skoda cars in Europe
• Looking at launching cars with Ecarx technology in the US
• Western carmakers turning to Chinese smart driving technologies

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – Volkswagen is in talks with digital cockpit system developer Ecarx to put the Chinese company’s technologies in cars it sells in developed markets, such as Europe and United States, Ecarx’s CEO said on Wednesday. Continue reading “Exclusive: Geely-backed Ecarx in talks with VW to develop smart cars for Europe, US, CEO says”

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – When Australian Dick Friend bought a Tesla in 2015, he was so impressed with its environmental credentials and performance that he and his wife bought two more of the electric vehicles, plus shares in the Elon Musk-led company.

Now, however, he is selling his Tesla stock and will not replace one of his cars, wrecked in an accident last year, citing his objections to Musk’s right-wing tilt and his growing role in the administration of Donald Trump. Continue reading “Vandalism, weak sales hit Tesla in Australia and New Zealand”

(Reuters) – German automaker BMW is telling dealers in the U.S. it will absorb the added cost of new tariffs on its imports from Mexico, at least for the next several weeks, a spokesperson for the company said on Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.

BMW said it would “price protect” certain Mexican-built models that would be subject to tariffs – the 3 Series sedan and 2 Series coupe – until May 1, WSJ reported , citing a message to the company’s U.S. dealers. Continue reading “BMW to absorb tariff costs on some Mexican-built models”

Summary

• Bankruptcy filing is one of Sweden’s largest
• Debt of more than $8 billion as of end-January, documents show
• North America, German operations not filing for bankruptcy

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – Battery cell maker Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, the company said on Wednesday, marking one of the country’s largest corporate failures and effectively ending Europe’s best hope of developing a rival to challenge China. Continue reading “Europe’s would-be battery champion Northvolt files for bankruptcy”

Source : PTI | Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL) on Tuesday said the company is in the process of investing Rs 700 crore in decarbonisation projects to achieve its net-zero goals by 2050. The investments will continue over next five years to set up various environment-friendly projects, which include renewable energy, green hydrogen, biodiversity conservation, waste management and adoption of carbon capture technologies, JSL said in a statement.

“By investing Rs 700 crore in decarbonisation projects over the next five years…aim is to achieve financial and environmental goals, significantly reducing GHG emissions and carbon intensity by 50 per cent by FY35, and accomplishing net-zero emissions by 2050,” the company said. Continue reading “Jindal Stainless investing Rs 700 crore on decarbonisation projects”

Source : PTI | A UK electric vehicles delegation, comprising six innovative SMEs specialising in fleet telematics, battery energy storage systems, AI, IoT-based cybersecurity and modular decentralized generators, visited Kolkata on Tuesday to explore opportunities in India. The delegation, facilitated by Connected Places Catapult and supported by Global Business Inroads (GBI) in association with the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I), aims to foster bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India, particularly in the 2- and 3-wheeler EV segments.

Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, said, “This EV delegation marks a major step in advancing EV innovation and forging new partnerships. By working together, we can unlock opportunities, drive investment, and accelerate the adoption of clean mobility solutions.” Continue reading “UK team visits Kolkata to explore EV opportunities, FIDC stresses challenges for clean mobility”

Source : PTI | A lobby grouping of non-bank lenders on Tuesday said they have sought a scheme to incentivise electric vehicle finance in the country on the lines of FAME or production-linked incentive schemes. In a recent meeting with the central government’s think tank Niti Aayog, the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) said while a shift to electric vehicles is pivotal to achieving decarbonisation goals, EV financing is a “bottleneck”.

“Just as the government supported and incentivised manufacturing of EVs through FAME (Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) and PLI (production-linked incentives) schemes, a similar initiative for the financiers is the need of the hour,” the FIDC said in a memorandum. Continue reading “NBFCs seek FAME, PLI-like scheme to incentivise EV finance”

Source : PTI | New Delhi: The Delhi government has announced key highlights of the proposed Delhi EV Policy 2.0, aiming to make 95 per cent of new vehicle registrations electric by 2027. The policy, reviewed by Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, outlines a roadmap to accelerate the city’s transition to electric mobility while strengthening its position as India’s leader in EV adoption, an official statement of the Delhi Transport Ministry said on Monday.

Under the new policy, all CNG auto-rickshaws, taxis and light commercial vehicles will be replaced by electric vehicles (EVs) in a phased manner. The government has also committed to a full transition to electric buses to ensure a sustainable public transport system.

Continue reading “Delhi govt proposes EV policy 2.0, aims for 95% EV adoption by 2027”

Summary

• Mercedes did not immediately provide comment
• Decision followed long deliberation given Trump’s stance on China – source
• Hesai is China’s largest lidar maker, competes with US-based Luminar

SHANGHAI, (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz will develop smart driving cars for global markets equipped with Hesai’s lidar sensors, a person with direct knowledge said, the first time a foreign automaker has sought to use such Chinese-made technology for models sold outside China. Continue reading “Exclusive: Mercedes to develop smart cars for global markets with China’s Hesai lidar”

Summary

• Volkswagen expects 5.5-6.5% operating profit margin in 2025
• Outlook does not factor in impact of possible US tariffs
• Expanding EV, battery production to weigh on costs
• Operating margin of 5.9% in 2024, in line with estimates
• Shares up 1.6%

WOLFSBURG, Germany, (Reuters) – Volkswagen, Europe’s top carmaker, forecast another challenging year of ramping up EV sales, cutting costs, and navigating trade tensions as it seeks to streamline its operations in Europe and catch up with cheaper and faster rivals in China. Continue reading “Volkswagen sees flat margin as cost cuts, trade tensions weigh”

(Reuters) – Toyota said on Wednesday that it will launch a total of nine fully-electric models in Europe in 2025 and 2026 for its Toyota and premium Lexus brands to compete in a large EV market.

The Japanese automaker said it will launch three Toyota brand electric SUVs this year – new versions of the bZ4X, Urban Cruiser and C-HR+ – followed by three more in 2026. Continue reading “Toyota plans nine EVs for Europe for this year and 2026”