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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said all European carmakers would prefer to manufacture in India, as producing vehicles there would be uncompetitive due to the region's regulations. Goyal said India is going to become a global car manufacturing hub. "Finally India is going to become the global hub for car manufacturing. Everybody is going to come and manufacture in India and with Europe having such crazy regulations, it is going to be impossible to be competitive. All the European manufacturers will come to India," he said at The Dilli Dialogue here. India has provided quota-based tariff concessions to the UK and the European Union (EU) in free trade agreements. The pact with the UK was operationalised on July 15, while the deal with the EU is likely to be signed by the end of this year. "I do not know if you are aware. Tatas had so much trouble after they bought Jaguar. Tata Motors itself was going to collapse and then they put in a lot of re-engineering, an
Audi India is considering local manufacturing of a battery electric vehicle (BEV), with the luxury carmaker betting on a three-pillar strategy to double its market share in the segment over the next three to five years to 15-16 per cent, a top company executive said. In an interview with PTI, Audi India Brand Director Balbir Singh Dhillon outlined its strategy for India, centred on three key areas: customer centricity, new product introductions, and network expansion, to double its market share in the luxury car segment from around 8 per cent. The German automaker is also looking to leverage the proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) to bring more models to India to test market demand, while expanding its dealership network, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities. "We are contemplating a locally made BEV electric car with a decision expected in the next couple of months," Dhillon said. Elaborating, he said, "So we intend to double our market share in the next three to fi
Mercedes-Benz India sees potential for plug-in hybrid vehicles in the luxury segment, as consumers are willing to pay a premium over pure electric or conventional ICE models for electric driving range, combustion engine flexibility, and better resale value than fully electric vehicles, a top executive said. In an interview with PTI, Mercedes-Benz India CEO Santosh Iyer said plug-in hybrids could address some concerns associated with electric vehicles, including charging infrastructure and range anxiety. "I think it is a good interim technology for the customer because today, each powertrain has its pros and cons," Iyer said. "When you look at a plug-in hybrid, it balances both worlds. You get, like in the S-Class hybrid Maybach, a 100 kilometers EV range for everyday driving to your office and back. In case you are not able to charge the car, you can drive it in combustion engine mode." Iyer said plug-in hybrids are priced 5-6 per cent higher than electric or conventional engine ca
Leading automakers are ramping up production and building dealer inventory to meet strong customer demand as India enters the peak festive buying season, with manufacturers seeking to ensure adequate vehicle availability and convert healthy bookings into retail sales. Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India has 2.2 lakh pending bookings ahead of the festive season, while Hyundai Motor India has built four-five weeks of inventory across its dealer network. Mahindra & Mahindra, meanwhile, has scaled up its utility vehicle and electric vehicle manufacturing capacity to 68,000 units a month to improve supply and bring down waiting periods. Maruti Suzuki India's Senior Executive Officer Partho Banerjee told PTI, "At the beginning of this financial year, we had 12 days of stock. The current bookings pendency is 2.2 lakhs, which translates to 16 days of stock before the festive season. "We have already commissioned two new production lines, adding 5 lakhs capacity in total. The production .
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Thursday reported a 24.4 per cent rise in total sales at 2,36,013 units in September, as compared to 1,89,665 units in the same month last year. The total figure includes domestic, exports and sales to other original equipment manufacturers. Total domestic passenger vehicle sales rose nearly 37 per cent to 1,81,838 units last month from 1,32,820 units a year ago, a regulatory filing by Maruti Suzuki India said. Total domestic sales, including LCVs (light commercial vehicles), were at 1,85,252 units in September as against 1,35,711 units a year ago, the company said. Total exports increased to 44,219 units in September from 42,204 units in the same month last year. Sales of mini, compact and mid-sized cars, including Alto, Baleno, Celerio, Ciaz, Dzire, Ignis, S-Presso, Swift and WagonR rose to 91,887 units last month from 74,090 units in September 2025. Sales of utility vehicles consisting of Brezza, Ertiga, e Vitara, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny,
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles expects to cross 15 per cent domestic market share "very soon" and is working towards its previously stated target of 20 per cent by FY31, as the nearly year-old standalone business looks to drive significant growth through investments in new product categories, faster product interventions and powertrain expansion, its Managing Director and CEO Shailesh Chandra said. In an interview with PTI, Chandra said the passenger vehicle business, which became a standalone entity following the demerger effective October 1 last year, has grown nearly 40 per cent over the past year and is exiting September with electric vehicles accounting for more than 25 per cent of its total sales. "Our focus is going to be, of course, to drive significant growth, double-digit growth. At the same time, we want to be leading the charge as far as the sustainable or zero-emission powertrains and emission-friendly powertrains are concerned, and at the same time, we have to continue
German luxury car manufacturer Audi on Friday started local assembly of its Q3 model at the Skoda Auto Volkswagen plant in Shendra here. The Audi Q3 India launch is scheduled for October 16, ahead of next month, the company said in a release. Powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine and equipped with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive, the all-new Audi Q3 combines dynamic capabilities. The model also features a range of segment-first features and technologies, further enhancing its appeal to modern luxury car buyers, it added. Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said that it is an important milestone for the company in India. The production of the All-New Audi Q3 reflects the strong capabilities of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar facility, he added. Balbir Singh Dhillon, Brand Director, Audi India, said, "Today marks a significant day for us as we begin production and take another important step towards the launch of the All-New Audi Q3. The Audi Q3 has b
Domestic passenger vehicle dispatches from companies to dealers rose 36.5 per cent year-on-year to 4,39,309 units in August, industry body SIAM said on Tuesday. Passenger vehicle dispatches were at 3,21,901 units in August 2025, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a statement. Total two-wheeler sales increased 10.5 per cent to 20,34,698 units last month, as against 18,41,954 units in August last year, it added. Three-wheeler dispatches were up 22.8 per cent in the previous month at 93,764 units as against 76,324 units in the year-ago period, it added.
Automobile dealers' apex body FADA has signed an initial pact with Rosmerta Group firm Rosmerta Digital Services to make vehicle compliances easier using the latter's tech platform that provides customers with a simple digital access point to check their traffic violation details and necessary action. As part of this association, RDSL has introduced Rosmart, its compliance services platform, available through Rosmart.com, where citizens can log in to access challan-related services and address pending traffic violations, the Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association (FADA) said in a statement. Through the platform, dealers can upload cases in bulk or assist customers directly, while customers can visit Rosmart.com or access the service by scanning a QR code available at participating dealerships and customer touchpoints, it said. The need for a reliable platform has also become increasingly important with the proliferation of unauthorised websites and online intermediaries ...