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Indian two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Tuesday unveiled a micro electric four-wheeler under a new 'Novus' range from its emerging mobility business unit VIDA. The company also launched various sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions, including a portable, wearable micro mobility device, NEX 1, and an electric trike, NEX 2. The company also showcased a micro electric vehicle with four wheels, NEX 3, along with two concept electric motorcycles, VIDA Concept Ubex and VIDA Project VxZ, among others, here at the global two-wheeler exhibition EICMA 2025. "Novus symbolises renewal and reinvention...(it) reimagines how the world will move, shaping a future that's inspiring, intelligent and inclusive," Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Pawan Munjal told reporters here. The NEX 3 is an "all-weather personal EV that offers the safety and comfort of four wheels in an elegant and versatile form, for both urban and rural journeys, Munjal said. It is a tandem seating (front and back) ..
Negotiations for the proposed free tarde agreement between India and the EU are progressing well, but differences still need to be ironed out in certain areas such as steel, automobiles and non-tariff barriers, a senior official said on Monday. Senior officials from India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) last week concluded the 14th round of talks for the agreement in Brussels. The five-day talks began on October 6 to iron out differences on different issues related to goods and services for the early conclusion of the negotiations. "Talks are progressing well. There are issues which need resolution such as steel and automobiles. No major issue is pending in agri," the official said. The Indian negotiators were later joined by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal in the closing days of the round for providing a push to the negotiations. Agrawal held discussions with European Commission Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand during the visit. The official also said Commerce an
Skoda Auto India, part of the Volkswagen group, is evaluating the launch of electric car in the country with localised supplier base, an official said on Wednesday. The company plans to enter the fast-growing Indian electric car market by 2027-28, according to the official. Skoda has a global portfolio of electric cars positioned in the premium segment. "We are evaluating to launch the electric car in India during 2027-28 after setting up a localised supplier base. By this time, we will get the time to set up the supplier base, and the charging infrastructure would also develop", brand director of Skoda Auto India Ashis Gupta told reporters here. He said that the electric car industry comprises 10 per cent to 12 per cent of the total segment and is growing very fast. By 2027-28, the right policy framework for electric cars would also be in place, Gupta said. With four models in India, three sedans and one in the small SUV segment, Skoda Auto India has a market share of 1.7 per cent
The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday approved a government order to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to eligible autorickshaw and cab drivers, I&PR Minister K Parthasarathy said. Under the schemeAuto Driver Sevaloover 2.9 lakh drivers are set to benefit, with Rs 436 crore allocated for the fiscal year 2025-26. The scheme will be launched by the chief minister on October 4. The cabinet approved the government order issued to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to autorickshaw, motor cab and maxi cab drivers for fiscal 202526, Parthasarathy told reporters at a press conference at the Secretariat. The cabinet also approved a proposal to include a caravan tourism promotion initiative in the 202429 Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy, aimed at establishing caravan parks and promoting caravan tourism, he said. Similarly, it approved a framework and initiatives to encourage homestays and bed-and-breakfast segments in the state under the 202429 Andhra ...
Residents of 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) could see their life expectancy increase by two years compared to 2017 if India achieves its revised target of a 40 per cent reduction in particulate pollution by 2026, a new report said on Thursday. Launched in 2019, NCAP aimed to cut 2017 particulate pollution levels in 130 highly polluted cities by 20-30 per cent by 2024. In 2022, the government revised the target to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026. In practice, only PM10 concentration is being considered for performance assessment. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said in its 2025 report that residents in these 130 cities would gain two years in life expectancy as compared to 2017 if the target is met. Government data shows 103 of the 130 cities recorded an improvement in PM10 levels in 2024-25 compared to 2017-18. Sixty-four of them reduced these levels by more than 20 per cent, while 25 achieved cuts of over 40 per ...
The Delhi government is planning to inject a new lease of life into the Gramin Seva autos by issuing guidelines to ensure their transition to electric vehicles, officials said. Launched in 2010, the Gramin Seva is a para-transit scheme wherein high capacity three-wheelers with a seating capacity of six passengers were given permits to ply in the rural areas, unauthorised, resettlement colonies and the JJ clusters of Delhi. "These vehicles are an important means of last-mile connectivity in rural areas. We have received representations from their union requesting us to issue guidelines for ensuring their transition into electric vehicles. The union has held meetings with the Transport Department officials and urged them to take steps to inject a new life into the services," said an official. According to the officials, there were around 6,000 registered Gramin Seva autos. However, many of them have gone off roads with the passage of time. At present, there are around 2,000 to 3,000 .
India has proven the 'fallacy' of incompatibility of rapid economic growth and a democratic political system, and the continuity of government and policies give industry the confidence of sustained high growth, Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava said on Tuesday. In his address to shareholders in the company's Annual General Meeting held virtually, he asserted that India's democratic processes will lead it to a sustained and more equitable society. Bhargava also said the industry and the government can work with trust and confidence with each other to achieve the goal of India becoming a developed country by 2047. "Over the years, I've heard people arguing that rapid economic development and a democratic political system are not really compatible. Our country has proved the fallacy of this line of thinking," he said. Asserting his point, Bhargava said, "We are now the fastest growing economy in the world, and our prime minister is one of the most respected global ...
Annual revenue growth of leading auto component manufacturing companies will come down to 5-7 per cent in the next fiscal due to moderation in domestic volumes and a drop in exports, rating firm Icra said on Tuesday. According to Icra estimates, its sample of 45 auto ancillaries, with aggregate annual revenues of Rs 2.7 lakh crore in FY23, is likely to grow by 9-11 per cent in FY24, driven by healthy domestic demand despite a high base and moderate growth in exports. For FY25, the growth is likely to be relatively lower to 5-7 per cent, with expected moderation in domestic volume growth and a weak outlook for exports, Icra said. It also noted that capex towards capacity enhancements and technological development resulted in higher investment in FY24, which is likely to continue in FY25. The industry is estimated to incur a capex of at least Rs 20,000-25,000 crore in FY2025, with incremental investments being towards new product additions, product development for committed platforms
The domestic auto component aftermarket is expected to touch USD 14 billion mark by 2028 on the back of robust growth in vehicle parc in the country, a report commissioned by industry body ACMA in partnership with Ernst & Young said. As per the Global Automotive Aftermarket Research Report, the size of the automotive aftermarket stood at USD 10 billion in 2023. The growth of aftermarket in India is being fuelled by a steady increase in the vehicle parc -- number of vehicles running on the road -- which currently stands at 340 million and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8 per cent for the next five years, it added. "The Indian domestic aftermarket, valued at USD 10 billion in 2023, is poised to surge almost 1.4 times over the next five years on the back of growing vehicle demand and promising capabilities of the Indian aftermarket players," ACMA President Shradha Suri Marwah said in a statement. Besides, key ten international markets offer export opportunities of over USD 35 .
The Delhi Transport Department has flagged that many applicants of light motor vehicle (LMV) driving licence were turning up for tests at automated tracks with autorickshaws instead of cars, posing road traffic threat in the national capital, officials said on Wednesday. An internal communication of Transport Department has pointed out that some driving test applicants bring autorickshaws to have the driving test on automated test tracks instead of cars for getting LMV driving licence, said a Transport department official. In case any applicant uses an autorickshaw for driving test, the driving test officer may take decision on merits, said the transport department communication. The automated driving test tracks have been designed to test motor cars/vans' driving and maneuverability of LMVs that is altogether different from autorickshaws, it said. The motor cars have turning radius about five metres whereas autos have less than three metres. The clutch, brake and acceleration of a