By WAF Think Tank

The tragic loss of lives in Indore due to an EV charging-linked fire is not just an isolated incident—it is a systemic warning. As India accelerates towards electrification, safety cannot lag innovation.

This is not about blaming EVs. It is about fixing the ecosystem gaps—in infrastructure, regulation, product standards, and user behavior.

Let’s get brutally honest.

🔥 What Likely Went Wrong (System View)

Early indicators from such incidents typically point to a combination of:

• Improper home charging setups

• Substandard wiring / overloading

• Thermal runaway in batteries (especially 2W/3W)

• Lack of fire isolation in parking areas

• No early warning systems (smoke/heat sensors)

In India, EV adoption is outpacing safety readiness.

Continue reading “5 Reform Pillars for EV Safety | Indore EV Fire Tragedy Is a Wake-Up Call”

By WAF Think Tank 

Solid build isn’t just about their cars.
It’s equally about the strength of their customer relationships. 💯

Last Saturday, Škoda Auto India curated a truly immersive Škoda Experience Drive for the all-new Skoda Kushaq in New Delhi.

What unfolded was more than an event —
it was a live case study in meaningful customer engagement and an industry benchmark in experiential brand building.

Because they believe —
Dealership teams are the first customers.

Continue reading “From Dealership Pride to Customer Delight – The Škoda Playbook”

The Gallops Group, the flagship venture of the Pugalia Group, stands today as one of Western India’s most respected and diversified business conglomerates. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the group has built a formidable reputation over the past two decades through its unwavering commitment to customer delight, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

Founded by visionary entrepreneur Shri Rajkumar Pugalia, the group has grown from strength to strength under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Tanuj Pugalia, who continues to expand the legacy across multiple high-growth sectors.

Continue reading “Gallops Group – India’s Finest Auto Retail Group”

By WAF NewsDesk

Madhus Garage Equipment has announced that Hunter Engineering Company, a global leader in wheel service technology, has chosen to realign exclusively with Madhus as its partner for the Indian market beginning 2026 and beyond.

This development marks a significant milestone in a relationship that has been built over more than 25 years of collaboration, technical alignment, and a shared commitment to advancing workshop technology across India. Over the past two decades, Hunter and Madhus have worked closely with automotive workshops, dealerships, and tyre service centres across the country, introducing advanced wheel alignment, balancing, and tyre service technologies supported by structured training and dependable after-sales support. Continue reading “Hunter Engineering realigns exclusively with Madhus for India operations”

MG’s e-HUB: Powering India’s EV Journey, One Charge at a Time

India’s electric mobility story is accelerating. But every EV revolution needs one critical ingredient — a reliable, visible and easy charging ecosystem.

In that context, JSW MG Motor India has announced a significant milestone: its e-HUB by MG platform has now become India’s largest unified EV charging app, bringing together over 22,500 charging points across the country.

More importantly, the platform integrates 40 leading charge point operators (CPOs) — including Jio-bp, Tata Power, Adani Total Gas, Shell, Zeon Charging, ChargeZone, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

The result: one unified digital gateway for EV charging across India.

Continue reading “MG’s e-HUB is now Officially India’s Largest Charging App”

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday inaugurated SIAM Sustainable Mobility Week in New Delhi, a first-of-its-kind initiative by the auto industry body that brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and global stakeholders on a single platform to deliberate on sustainability issues spanning decarbonisation, road safety, circularity and material compliance.

The four-day programme, being held at India Habitat Centre until February 19, opened with the 4th edition of the International Symposium for Thriving Eco-Energy in Mobility (ISTEM), themed “Partnering for a Sustainable Future: Accelerating India’s Multi-Fuel Mobility Transition.” Continue reading “SIAM Inaugurates Sustainable Mobility Week in New Delhi as 4th ISTEM Symposium Focuses on Multi-Fuel Mobility Pathways”

New Delhi — 12 February 2026

JSW MG Motor India today officially unveiled the MG Majestor — a flagship, full-size SUV positioned to redefine MG’s presence in the Indian SUV market. The launch event marks a decisive moment in the premium SUV segment, signaling MG’s intent to challenge entrenched competitors and elevate its brand stature.

Anuj Guglani, CEO, WAF said, ‘The MG Majestor’s unveiling today is more than a product launch — it’s a strategic inflection point for JSW MG Motor India. It represents a deliberate push toward premiumisation, technological leadership, and broader segment engagement beyond traditional expectations. For industry observers, its journey from bookings to market acceptance will offer key insights into the future shape of India’s SUV ecosystem.”

Continue reading “MG Majestor: India’s New Flagship SUV Emerges — Strategic Implications & Market Outlook”

By WAF Think Tank

In a landmark development for India’s automotive sector, Mahindra & Mahindra has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra to set up a 1,500-acre automotive and tractor manufacturing facility in Nagpur. The proposed mega investment is poised to significantly strengthen Maharashtra’s manufacturing ecosystem, generate large-scale employment, and position Nagpur as a key automotive hub in Central India.

The project marks a major step in reinforcing Maharashtra’s status as one of India’s most investment-friendly industrial states. With the automotive industry undergoing rapid transformation, the establishment of this plant is expected to create a ripple effect across the value chain — from ancillary units and MSMEs to logistics providers and service industries — thereby contributing to sustainable, long-term economic development in the Vidarbha region. Continue reading “Mahindra & Mahindra to Establish Mega Auto & Tractor Plant in Nagpur, Boosting Maharashtra’s Industrial Growth”

By WAF Think Tank

• Bharat Taxi App Launched in New Delhi by Shri Amit Shah

• Services rolled out in Delhi- NCR and Gujarat

• To spread to all States and Union territories in 2 years

India’s mobility landscape is witnessing a quiet but powerful disruption — not driven by venture capital alone, but by cooperation, inclusion, and collective ownership. The launch of Bharat Taxi, a cooperative cab platform joined by over 3 lakh drivers and inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marks a historic moment in the evolution of India’s gig economy.

Unlike conventional ride-hailing platforms dominated by private corporations, Bharat Taxi represents a driver-owned, cooperative digital mobility model — aligned with the Government of India’s vision of Sahakar se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation).

Continue reading “Bharat Taxi – The Cooperative Cab Platform Joined by 3 Lakh Drivers and Launched by Amit Shah”

Announces further democratisation of features across the range with more variants, greater choice and unmatched value

• Kylaq range grows from four variants to six, available at 11 price points
• Introduces New Classic+ variant, making Kylaq the most accessible car with a full-fledged torque converter automatic in its segment
• Equipped with electric sunroof, cruise control, Auto IRVM, rain-sensing wipers, multi-function steering, LED lights, and more, as standard
• Signature and Signature+ variants now get Electric Sunroof and several other upgrades
• Prestige+, an all-new variant, added at the top of the Kylaq line
• Introduces special anniversary offers on select variants, service packages, and assured gifts on purchase of the Kylaq for a limited period

Mumbai, February 03, 2026: Škoda Auto India, after registering its most successful year of sales in 2025 and introducing the new Kushaq, continues to keep its foot on the pedal with its growing product portfolio. The brand has furthered its strategy to democratise European technology on Indian roads by expanding the variant mix of its best-selling car, the Kylaq, and offering customers more variants, more choice and more value.

The Kylaq has emerged as a strong pillar of Škoda Auto’s growth story in India. With over 50,000 units sold since its launch, the Kylaq has been a major contributor to Škoda Auto India’s best-ever sales performance, in the brand’s 25th year in the country. The Kylaq’s combination of safety, driving dynamics, technology, and value has resonated strongly with customers, establishing it as a key contender in the sub-4m SUV segment. Continue reading “Kylaq marks 1 year landmark by celebrating 50k sales”

JSW MG Motor India opened calendar year 2026 on a steady growth trajectory, delivering 4,843 wholesale units in January — representing approximately 9 % year-on-year sales growth compared with the same month in 2025.

While not among the largest mainstream volume players in the broader Indian passenger vehicle market, MG’s performance stands out within several key dynamics:

📊 1. Positive Year-on-Year Momentum

• Sales rose nearly 9 % YoY in January 2026, up from muted comparisons in early 2025.
• This indicates improving demand traction after the company’s prior month-on-month declines, signalling resilient buyer interest across its portfolio.

Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India: A Strategic Start to 2026”

by CA Jatin Minocha

India’s economic trajectory marked with stability, fiscal discipline, fiscal prudence, structural reforms, aatmanirbhar bharat. These efforts delivered high growth rate of 7% with employment generation. India continues to take higher steps to expand trades, boost growth, macro economic stability.

PM made proposals for this Yuva Shakti Budget.

This is first budget prepared in kartavya bhawan with three kartavyas

First kartavya to accelerate sustainable economic growth and build resilience
Second kartavya to fulfill aspirations of people by making strong partners
Third kartavya is sabka saath sabka vikas – every family has access to meaningful resources. Continue reading “Union Budget 2026 Highlights | Key Announcements, Tax Changes & Reforms”

Synopsis: The Auto9 Awards 2025, organised by TV9 Network, brought together a panel of jury that included industry veterans and automotive experts to honour the most outstanding cars, two-wheelers, manufacturers and industry initiatives of the year.

India’s automotive landscape defined by rapid electrification, design-led innovation and growing global ambition found its most discerning spotlight at the Auto9 Awards 2025, presented by TV9 Network. The prestigious awards brought together a panel of jury members comprising industry veterans, mobility experts and senior leaders, who undertook a rigorous evaluation of the most impactful vehicles, manufacturers and campaigns of the year at the Buddh International circuit on January 18, 2026.

From commuter motorcycles and performance hatchbacks to electric SUVs and sustainability champions, Auto9 Awards 2025 celebrated excellence across the full spectrum of mobility. The jury assessed entries on design, performance, value, innovation, safety, sustainability and consumer relevance reflecting the evolving priorities of Indian buyers and the future-facing vision of the industry.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Guest, Shri. Nitin Gadkari, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, underscored the significance of the platform, and said, “The automobile sector is a key pillar and the growth engine of our economy. It contributes the highest revenue to both state and central governments in GST and is also the biggest exporter.”

Continue reading “Auto9 Awards 2025: TV9 Network Crowns India’s Finest Cars, Two-Wheelers and Automotive Trailblazers”

Auto Industry Performance of December 2025 and Q3 (October – December 2025)

I. Key Highlights from Q3 (October–December 2025) and CY 2025

a) Passenger vehicles

• Passenger Vehicle segment posted its highest ever sales of Q3 of 12.76 Lakh units in Q3 of 2025-26, registering a growth of 20.6%, compared to Q3 of same period last year.

• The segment also clocked its highest ever sales of a calendar year of 44.90 Lakh units during Jan – Dec 2025, posting a growth of 5.0%, as compared to Jan – Dec 2024 period, driven by the Q3 offtake.

• This robust performance was supported by improved affordability following the GST rate reduction, benefits from personal income tax relief, successive repo rate cuts by RBI easing financing costs, and a renewed sense of optimism among buyers, which together helped in boosting consumer demand in this festive quarter. Continue reading “India Automobile Sales Performance – December 2025”

By WAF Think Tank 

In what has become a defining moment for India’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape, the MG Windsor EV emerged in 2025 as the largest selling electric car in the country, reshaping competitive dynamics and accelerating EV adoption across urban and regional markets. A combination of strategic positioning, competitive pricing, and broad consumer appeal has propelled this model to the top of India’s EV sales charts.

A Breakthrough Year for EV Adoption

India’s EV market grew exponentially in 2025, with passenger EV sales nearly doubling year-on-year, according to industry bodies, as buyers shifted from early adoption to mainstream preference. Rising environmental awareness, improving charging infrastructure, and better total cost of ownership have all contributed to this surge.

Within this broader context, the MG Windsor has stood out not merely as a high-volume seller, but as a market pivot point — the first single EV model to cross significant annual sales milestones in India’s passenger car segment.

Continue reading “India’s Largest Selling Electric Car in 2025 Is the MG Windsor”

Records 107% year-on-year growth with 72,665 cars sold in its 25th anniversary

• 2025 becomes a landmark year: guided by clear business imperatives and anchored in pillars of relevance, differentiation and trust
• Product offensive: strong response to the Kylaq, sustained demand for the Kodiaq, Kushaq and Slavia, and the extraordinary reception to the Octavia RS
• Network Growth: to over 325 Customer Touchpoints across 183 cities
• Customer-centricity at the core: several initiatives rolled out to reinforce a laser-sharp focus on customer delight

Mumbai, January 01, 2026: Škoda Auto marked 2025 as its most defining year in its India journey so far. It marked its 25th anniversary in the country with its strongest-ever sales performance. The brand closed 2025 with sales of 72,665 cars, registering a 107% year-on-year growth compared to 35,166 units sold in 2024. This exceptional performance makes 2025 Škoda Auto India’s biggest year ever, reflecting the surge in momentum across products, markets and customer touchpoints.

Continue reading “Škoda Auto’s silver jubilee year in India becomes its biggest-ever”

•JSW MG Motor India recorded a notable 19% year-on-year sales growth, reaching 70,554 units in calendar year 2025, compared to the previous year.

•The company surpassed a major milestone of cumulative EV sales of over 100,000 units.

•In December 2025 alone, the company registered wholesale figures of 6,500 units, demonstrating continued demand for its internal combustion engine (ICE) and Electric Vehicle (EV) offerings, according to a company statement.

•MG SELECT luxury retail channel experienced a significant 38% month-on-month increase in wholesale growth, further highlighting the brand’s expanding market presence.

Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India Achieves Record 19% Sales Growth | Surpasses Cumulative EV Sales of 100K”

by WAF Think Tank 

India’s proposed CAFE III (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms—expected to apply from FY 2027 onward—have triggered a rare and public divergence within the auto industry. Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, has written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking a review of the draft framework, while several other manufacturers appear broadly aligned with the regulator’s direction.

What are CAFE III norms?

CAFE norms mandate that a manufacturer’s fleet-wide average CO₂ emissions remain below a specified threshold. Each new phase tightens limits, pushing companies toward lighter vehicles, cleaner powertrains, hybrids, and EVs. CAFE III is expected to be significantly more stringent than CAFE II.

Continue reading “CAFE III Norms: Maruti Suzuki vs Other Carmakers — Why They Wrote to the PMO”

by WAF Think Tank 

•Last Sat, the fire at the PG&E Substation knocked out power to around one third of the residents in parts of San Francisco

•Waymo, the popular Robotaxi service from Alphabet ( Google’s parent) operates a fleet of around 2,500 Robotaxis in the bay area. 

•Traffic Signals went dark and these driverless cars in the affected areas had navigation problems

•Many of these cars were stalled and stranded at intersections further exacerbating the traffic snarls and jams 

The promise of driverless robotaxis has long been tied to a vision of safer roads, reduced congestion, lower emissions, and round-the-clock urban mobility. Cities like San Francisco have been at the forefront of this transformation, serving as real-world laboratories for autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment. However, the recent power outage in San Francisco — which disrupted traffic signals, communication networks, and parts of digital infrastructure — has once again raised a critical question: Should the expansion of driverless robotaxis continue at the current pace, or is a strategic pause needed to reassess risks and readiness?

Power Outages: A Reality Check for Autonomous Mobility

Autonomous vehicles depend heavily on a complex ecosystem — high-definition maps, sensors, cloud connectivity, GPS signals, traffic infrastructure, and uninterrupted power supply. While robotaxis are designed with redundancies, large-scale power outages expose systemic vulnerabilities beyond the vehicle itself.

Continue reading “Should Driverless Robotaxis Be Continued to Expand without Proper Testing? Lessons from the Recent San Francisco Power Outage”

Hunter Engineering Company – The global wizard of tyre & vehicle maintenance gear.

300+ patents. 120+ engineers & developers. 98.7% of customers who’d shout “Hunter rocks!” from the rooftops.

Madhus Garage Equipment – The undisputed favourite of OEMs and the aftermarket alike! Continue reading “When Two Powerhouses – or let’s say, families join forces – Hunter & Madhus”

Source : PTI |  New Delhi: Japan’s Nippon Paint Holdings arm, NIPSEA Group, on Monday announced the appointment of Sharad Malhotra as Managing Director of Nippon Paint India, effective December 1, 2025, making him the first Indian to occupy the position in the company.

Malhotra will succeed Jon Tan as Managing Director, reporting to the Group’s CEO, Wee Siew Kim, the company said in a statement. Continue reading “Sharad Malhotra appointed as MD of Nippon Paint India”

by WAF Auto News

•  Charging Ahead in India’s Green Revolution

JSW MG Motor India just hit a massive milestone — 1 lakh electric vehicles on Indian roads!
That’s not just a number — it’s a statement. A signal that India’s EV revolution is well and truly rolling.

The five car-lineup of EVs from MG viz the Business class ride Windsor EV to the stylish ZS EV to the city-smart Comet EV to the zippy Cyberster and to the Luxury Limousine M9 EV, the brand has built a lineup that’s turning heads — and turning India greener, one car at a time. Continue reading “JSW MG Motor India Crosses the 1 Lakh EV Milestone!”

by WAF Auto News

New Delhi, October 30, 2025 – MG Motor India today announced that all its vehicle models will now come equipped with PM 2.5 cabin air filters as standard, reinforcing the company’s commitment to customer health and environmental sustainability.

The announcement comes amid rising air pollution levels across major Indian cities. The inclusion of PM 2.5 filters aims to significantly improve in-cabin air quality by removing fine particulate matter, dust, smoke, and pollutants smaller than 2.5 micrometers — known to be hazardous to human health.

An MG Motor India spokesperson said, “Our customers’ well-being is at the core of every innovation we introduce. With PM 2.5 filters now standard across our lineup, we aim to ensure a cleaner and safer driving experience for all MG owners, regardless of model or segment.”

Continue reading “All MG Cars in India to Come Equipped with PM 2.5 Filters”

By WAF Auto News Desk

“A Landmark Move in India’s Auto Retail Space”

In a decisive development that could shape the future of tax transitions in India, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) has moved the Supreme Court over the issue of blocked compensation cess credits, amounting to nearly ₹2,500 crore.

The move follows the rollout of GST 2.0 on September 22, 2025, a major tax reform that abolished the compensation cess previously levied on certain vehicle categories.

While the reform aims to simplify taxation and enhance ease of doing business, the unintended consequence has been the blocking of legitimate input credits held by dealers across the country.

Continue reading “FADA Moves the Supreme Court Over the GST Cess Issue — Seeks Relief on ₹2,500 Crore Blocked Credits”