Source : PTI | Lower rates of Goods and Services Tax (GST) that took effect from Monday are expected to boost sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) by 25 to 30 per cent during the festival season between September and October, a senior official of Ashok Leyland said on Tuesday.

“The move to reduce GST rates is a historic tax reform of this century. We expect this to lead to a 25 to 30 per cent increase in LCV sales during the current festive season between September and October compared to the same period last year,” Viplav Shah, head of LCV business at the Hinduja Group’s flagship firm, told reporters here. Continue reading “GST cut to increase sales of light commercial vehicles by 30% during festivals: Ashok Leyland official”

Summary

• Will start production of new next-gen hybrid model before 2030
• In addition to plans of producing XC60 by late 2026
• Volvo Cars currently produce EX90 and Polestar 3 at factory

STOCKHOLM/DETROIT (Reuters) – Volvo Cars said on Tuesday it will begin producing a new hybrid model in the United States by the end of this decade as the Swedish auto maker continues to adjust to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

The new model, details of which have yet to be released, will be designed for the U.S. market and help Volvo boost the capacity utilisation at its South Carolina plant, the company said in a statement. Continue reading “Volvo Cars to produce new US model amid tariff pressure”

Summary

• JLR extends factory shutdown to October
• Breach leaves suppliers and staff facing uncertainty
• Government steps in to support JLR, supply chain
• Incident latest in string of cyberattacks globally

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain’s biggest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover is extending the closure of its factories until October 1 following a cyberattack in early September that has left its operations paralysed and smaller suppliers struggling.

The luxury carmaker, owned by India’s Tata Motors has three factories in Britain, which together produce about 1,000 cars per day. The company is losing 50 million pounds ($68 million) a week, according to the BBC, with many of its 33,000 staff told to stay at home. Continue reading “UK’s Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack shutdown to hit four weeks”

(Reuters) – Stellantis detected unauthorized access to a third-party service provider’s platform that supports its North American customer service operations, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

The automaker said the incident, which is under investigation, exposed only basic contact information and did not involve financial details or sensitive personal data. Stellantis did not specify how many customers were affected. Continue reading “Stellantis detects breach at third-party provider for North American customers”

(Reuters) – China’s Chery Automobile is planning to price its shares at HK$30.75 ($3.96) each to raise $1.2 billion in a Hong Kong initial public offering, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

The company last week started a bookbuild to sell 297.4 million shares in a price range of HK$27.75 to HK$30.75 each, according to its regulatory filings. Continue reading “China’s Chery Automobile to price shares at top of range in Hong Kong IPO, sources say”

Summary

• Musk promised Bay Area robotaxis but Tesla’s service does not involve autonomous vehicles
• Alarmed regulators pressed Tesla for answers and asked it to clear up ‘public confusion’
• Musk’s robotaxi promises underpin Tesla’s $1 trillion valuation and Musk’s enormous proposed pay package

(Reuters) – Tesla CEO Elon Musk tantalized investors in July with a robotaxi update: After a small-scale test in Austin, Texas, Tesla would rapidly expand driverless cabs to markets including the San Francisco Bay Area, where it was “getting the regulatory permission to launch.” Continue reading “Musk’s robotaxi plans for San Francisco alarmed, confused regulators, emails show”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has fully exited Chinese automaker BYD, a filing showed, ending a 17-year investment that grew over 20-fold in value in that period.

The filing by Berkshire’s energy subsidiary recorded the value of its BYD investment as zero as of end-March, down from $415 million at the end of 2024. Continue reading “Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway exits China’s BYD, filing shows”

Summary

• Shares sink 7% on EV roll-out delays and profit warning
• Parent Volkswagen faces 5.1 billion euro hit, cuts guidance
• Porsche profit margin trimmed to 2% for 2025 from 5-7%
• Traders say reversing EV bet will cost time and money

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Investors punished German sports car brand Porsche on Monday after the firm, caught between its iconic gas guzzlers and a shift to electric vehicles, warned that its profits this year would be hurt by delays in its EV roll-out. Continue reading “Porsche caught between a slowing China, EV road bumps, and Trump”

Summary

• BYD’s July market share in Spain 10%, double its European average and ahead of Tesla
• Pricing, dealership expansion help sales, BYD country manager says
• Spain’s lack of national carmaker also aids Chinese EV expansion
• BYD plans local European production, eyes Spain for expansion

BARCELONA, (Reuters) – When Javier Hernandez went car shopping in Barcelona, he ended up choosing a plug-in hybrid by China’s BYD – swayed by a price nearly 10,000 euros cheaper than European rivals.

The 51-year-old Spanish excavator operator wanted something cheap and versatile for city drives and trips to the Catalan mountains, but had doubts about Chinese electrified cars as he didn’t know the brands well. Continue reading “China’s BYD makes gains in Spain with low EV prices, fast expansion”

(Reuters) – Stellantis detected unauthorized access to a third-party service provider’s platform that supports its North American customer service operations, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

The automaker said the incident, which is under investigation, exposed only basic contact information and did not involve financial details or sensitive personal data. Stellantis did not specify how many customers were affected. Continue reading “Stellantis detects breach at third-party provider for North American customers”

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Nissan Motor said on Monday it has started testing a new driver-assistance system that uses technology from British startup Wayve, ahead of a planned launch in Japan in the 2027 financial year.

The Japanese automaker demonstrated the system in Tokyo earlier this month using Ariya electric vehicles equipped with advanced collision avoidance features designed to assist drivers in urban areas. Continue reading “Nissan showcases assisted driving system using UK startup Wayve’s technology”

(Reuters) – Electric vehicle maker Polestar is recalling 27,816 cars in the United States due to a rearview camera issue, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Saturday.

The NHTSA said the rearview camera image in certain Polestar 2 vehicles may not display when the car is placed in reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.

Car dealers will update the vehicle software free of charge. Continue reading “EV maker Polestar recalls over 27,000 US vehicles due to rearview camera issue, NHTSA says”

(Reuters) – Tesla has been approved to start testing autonomous robotaxi vehicles with a safety monitor in Arizona, the state transportation department said in an email to Reuters on Friday.

Tesla had applied in June for a permit to begin trials for an autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service, and now plans to test robotaxis in the Phoenix Metro area using safety drivers, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in its email. Continue reading “Tesla wins approval to test autonomous robotaxis in Arizona”

Source : PTI | Mid-sized motorcycle maker Royal Enfield on Friday said it has tied up with e-commerce marketplace Flipkart to sell its entire 350cc portfolio.

The company’s 350cc range – the Bullet 350, Classic 350, Hunter 350, Goan Classic 350 and the new Meteor 350 will be available on Flipkart, starting September 22, 2025, in five cities – Bengaluru, Gurugram, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai, the company said in a statement.

Continue reading “Royal Enfield ties up with Flipkart to sell 350 cc bikes”

Source : PTI | Ola Electric is gearing up for the festive season with an aggressive production and inventory push, aiming to slash vehicle delivery timelines by more than half, from the current handover period of 12-14 days, sources said.

Reducing delivery timelines and improved handover experience have been identified as a key priority for the company this season.

Continue reading “Ola Electric sharpens festive focus with faster deliveries, sustains profitability push”

Source : PTI | Buyers are in for a bonanza with leading automakers Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai Motor India set to cut prices from Monday, coinciding with the first day of the auspicious Navaratri period.

Luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW as well as two-wheeler makers are set to reduce prices with new GST coming into force from September 22. Continue reading “Navaratri bonanza for buyers as car, bike makers roll out price cuts”

Source : PTI | State-run oil explorers ONGC and Oil India Ltd are planning to begin a ₹3,200 crore stratigraphic drilling campaign in untapped offshore areas early next year, as part of efforts to discover new hydrocarbon reserves and cut reliance on imports, officials said.

In the first phase, four wells will be drilled in deepsea of Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra and Bengal sedimentary basins.

Continue reading “ONGC, OIL aim to launch ₹3,200 cr stratigraphic drilling campaign next year”

Summary

• Porsche says launch of some all-electric models to be delayed
• Production of current combustion, hybrid models will be extended
• Volkswagen, Porsche both cut 2025 profit outlooks due to shift
• Frankfurt-listed Porsche shares down 3.1%

BERLIN/FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – Porsche AG on Friday dialled back plans for its electric vehicle rollout due to weaker demand, pressure in key market China and higher U.S. tariffs, causing the luxury sportscar maker and its parent Volkswagen to slash their 2025 profit outlooks. Continue reading “Porsche EV roll-out delay deals $6 billion hit to parent Volkswagen”

(Reuters) – U.S. chip designer Nvidia has signed, a letter of intent for a possible $500 million investment in the next funding round at Britain’s Wayve, the autonomous driving technology group said on Thursday.

The development comes after Britain and the United States signed a technology pact aimed at boosting ties in artificial intelligence and other fields. Continue reading “Nvidia explores $500 million investment in UK self-driving startup Wayve”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to confirm the top auto safety official along with dozens of other nominees, including officials overseeing highways and pipelines.

The Senate voted 51-47 to confirm Jonathan Morrison to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 47 other nominees, the first time the NHTSA has had a permanent leader in three years. Continue reading “US Senate confirms top auto safety official, who will oversee Tesla probes”

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) has launched an anti-discrimination probe into the impact on the auto industry of U.S. trade policy over chips, the association said in a statement on Friday.

Automakers are called on to submit their inputs as of October 13. Continue reading “China auto industry body to launch discrimination probe into US chips”

PARIS, (Reuters) – Stellantis unveiled an electric vehicle prototype on Friday featuring a faster-charging, lighter and more affordable battery that eliminates the need for a separate inverter and charger.

The IBIS (Intelligent Battery Integrated System) was developed in partnership with TotalEnergies subsidiary Saft. It is one of the first of its kind and provides weight and space savings and is easier to service, Stellantis said. Continue reading “Stellantis unveils lighter, faster-charging EV battery”

(Reuters) – Ford Motor is recalling 101,944 Taurus sedans in the United States due to a defect that could cause door trim to detach while driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

The issue involves the B-pillar trim on the driver and front passenger doors, which may come loose during vehicle operation. Detached trim pieces could fall onto the road, causing a road hazard, NHTSA said in the notice. Continue reading “Ford recalls nearly 102,000 vehicles over risk of door trim detachment, NHTSA says”

Source : PTI | The transport authority of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has directed app-based taxi and auto rickshaw aggregators to follow the base fare of black-and-yellow taxis until the government decides on separate rates for them.

The three aggregator firms — Uber, Ola and Rapido — were supposed to incorporate the existing fare structure of black-and-yellow taxis in their mobile applications before 5 pm on September 18. Continue reading “Ola, Uber, Rapido asked to follow base fare of black-&-yellow taxis in Mumbai”

Source : PTI | Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated on Thursday that ensuring safe traffic cannot rely solely on rules and penalties; it must become the responsibility of every citizen and part of their lifestyle.

Gupta earlier attended the 26th Annual Conference of the Society of Automotive Fitness and Environment (SAFE) and the SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) Green Plate EV Rally at Bharat Mandapam. Continue reading “Adopting electric vehicles essential to make Delhi pollution-free: CM Gupta”

Source : PTI | India’s electric vehicle market is surging, with 20.38 lakh EVs sold in FY 2024-25, up 15.68 per cent from the previous year. EVs now account for 7.8 per cent of total automobile sales, reflecting the nation’s rapid shift to clean mobility. Amid this growth, VNT is expanding its nationwide sales and service network, reinforcing its leadership in EV charging. Proven in demanding mining environments, VNT chargers are built for extreme conditions, operating 14-15 hours daily (60 per cent of the day) versus 4-5 per cent utilization for peers – making them true workhorses. Continue reading “VNT expands EV charging network to power buses, trucks, and mining fleets in India”

Source : PTI | Mid-sized motorcycle maker Royal Enfield on Friday said it has tied up with e-commerce marketplace Flipkart to sell its entire 350cc portfolio.

The company’s 350cc range – the Bullet 350, Classic 350, Hunter 350, Goan Classic 350 and the new Meteor 350 will be available on Flipkart, starting September 22, 2025, in five cities – Bengaluru, Gurugram, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai, the company said in a statement. Continue reading “Royal Enfield ties up with Flipkart to sell 350 cc bikes”

Source : PTI | Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) on Friday entered into an initial pact with Oil India Ltd for cooperation on exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals, including copper.

The development comes at a time when the country is prioritising domestic production to reduce import dependency on China.

Continue reading “Hindustan Copper, Oil India sign pact for exploration of critical minerals”

Summary

• Anode-free technology could boost EV battery capacity
• Potential 90-mile increase in range of Tesla Model Y
• Panasonic also aims to reduce the amount of nickel required

(Reuters) – Panasonic aims to develop a new type of higher-capacity battery in about two years, potentially extending the driving range of electric vehicles in a groundbreaking advance for the Tesla supplier.

The Japanese company is working on eliminating the anode in batteries during the manufacturing stage to increase energy density through technology it says is likely to provide a “world-leading level” of capacity by the end of 2027. Continue reading “Panasonic aims to develop groundbreaking EV battery in about two years”

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to confirm the top auto safety official along with dozens of other nominees, including officials overseeing highways and pipelines.

The Senate voted 51-47 to confirm Jonathan Morrison to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 47 other nominees, the first time the NHTSA has had a permanent leader in three years. Continue reading “US Senate confirms top auto safety official, who will oversee Tesla probes”

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Continue reading “WAF Auto News | The Auto World This Week (19th September 2025)”

New Delhi, 18^th September 2025: To deliberate on advancing road safety, fostering responsible driving practices, and accelerating the transition towards greener mobility solutions, the Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), an initiative of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), organised the 26th SAFE Annual Convention under its Safe Journey (सुरक्षित सफर) initiative at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. At the convention, themed ‘Together for Safe Roads and Green Mobility: Building a Sustainable India,’ policymakers, industry leaders, and experts discussed strategies to advance road safety and accelerate the transition towards sustainable mobility in Delhi and in India. Continue reading “26th SAFE Annual Convention Reinforces Commitment to Road Discipline and Sustainable Transport”

Summary

• SAIC to cut 49% stake in JSW MG Motor, sources say
• Money-losing venture last valued at $1.2 bln
• SAIC to stop investing in venture; will supply tech, sources say
• Curbs on Chinese investment stunt venture’s growth, sources say
• JSW exploring Chery tie-up for own-brand cars, sources say

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – China’s SAIC Motor will slash its 49% stake in its Indian joint venture and halt further investment, five people said, the latest sign of how political tension between the Asian neighbours is spilling over into business.

SAIC’s decision comes after India introduced limits on investment from its neighbours in 2020, a move widely seen as being aimed at China. Friction between the two nations intensified after a border standoff that same year. Continue reading “China’s SAIC to cut stake in India car venture amid investment curbs, sources say”

Summary

• Analysts predict gradual U.S. price increases, focus on higher-end models
• Automakers face $2,300 added cost per vehicle due to tariffs
• Destination fees rise 8.5% for 2025 models, offsetting tariff costs

DETROIT, (Reuters) – Automakers have been absorbing billions in added expenses since U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs took effect in April, sparing American car shoppers from sticker shock. So far.

Car prices were supposed to have bolted higher by now, auto executives and analysts predicted. But that has not happened, mirroring some other industries where companies have decided to eat added expenses rather than passing them on to consumers. Continue reading “Automakers have resisted raising car prices because of tariffs. That might not last.”

Source : PTI | Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery on Wednesday said India’s energy transition should be embedded in the overall development strategy of the country.

Addressing a session at ‘FT Live Energy Transition Summit India’, Bery said he is concerned that an excessive reliance even on domestic electricity sources, such as coal, is not necessarily the best solution for energy.

Continue reading “India’s energy transition should be embedded in overall development strategy: Bery”

(Reuters) – Toyota is recalling 591,377 vehicles in the U.S. due to an issue with the instrument panel display that does not show critical information, increasing the risk of a crash or injury, the country’s auto safety regulator said on Thursday.

The recall covers several models including Venza, Highlander, Lexus, Tacoma and GR Corolla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Continue reading “Toyota to recall over 591,000 US vehicles over instrument panel issue, NHTSA says”

(Reuters) – Hyundai Motor is recalling 568,580 Palisade vehicles in the U.S., over an issue with the seat belt buckles which may not properly secure passengers in a crash, the U.S. autos safety regulator said on Thursday.

The recall affects certain 2020-2025 model year Palisade vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Continue reading “Hyundai Motor to recall over 568,500 US vehicles over seat belt issue”

Volkswagen is bringing back the music and pop culture of the 1990s with its new all-electric ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE special model: With spectacular stunts and breathtaking landscape shots, Willy Bogner’s ski film “Fire and Ice” (1986) quickly achieved cult status in the 1980s. The legendary Golf 2 Fire & Ice (1990), inspired by the film, had a lasting impact on the Zeitgeist. The film and the car have retained their cult status to this day. Volkswagen is now continuing this success story in musical form: with “Fire + Ice”, internationally acclaimed DJ Purple Disco Machine reinterprets the film’s iconic theme song and, together with Jake Shears, brings a fresh sound to the nostalgic success story. The protagonists of the action-packed music video are the Golf 2 Fire & Ice and its all-electric successor, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE Continue reading “Volkswagen celebrates the comeback of “Fire and Ice” with a special model and a song by Purple Disco Machine”

(Reuters) – Tesla is looking to combine the electronic and manual door-release mechanisms, which are currently in separate locations, the company’s longtime design chief, Franz von Holzhausen, said on a Bloomberg News podcast on Wednesday.

Von Holzhausen said the decision is intended to make the handles more intuitive for occupants in “a panic situation”. Continue reading “Tesla redesigning door handles that drew scrutiny over safety, Bloomberg News reports”

Battery energy storage systems maker Tesla Group a. s. and SRAM & MRAM Group, a global leader in technology and sustainable development, have inked a USD 1 billion agreement to set up electric vehicle battery facilities in India and other countries, according to a company official.

As per the agreement, a total of five EV battery factories, also called gigafactories, will be set up in India and 15 other countries such as the US, Malaysia, Oman, Brazil, the UAE, and Cambodia, Sailesh L Hiranandani, Chairman of SRAM & MRAM Group, said in a statement. Continue reading “Tesla Group, SRAM & MRAM partner to set up EV battery facilities”