Vehicles

After E20, India should now focus on flex fuel: Toyota country head

Toyota's India head says the country should now push flex-fuel vehicles, calling for lower taxes and pricing support as E20 stabilises and higher blends prove impractical for legacy fleets

Uttarakhand to impose green tax on 'out-of-state' vehicles from Dec

Green tax will be collected from vehicles coming to Uttarakhand from outside states from December, officials said. According to officials, the decision aims at controlling pollution, protecting the environment, and promoting cleanliness in the state. The collection of this tax will begin in December. State Additional Transport Commissioner Sanat Kumar Singh said Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed along the state's borders will capture the registration numbers of incoming vehicles. He said 16 cameras were already installed in the border areas, and their number has now been increased to 37. The transport department has appointed a vendor company to collect the green tax, Singh said. The data captured by the cameras will be sent to the vendor through software, which will then separate information related to Uttarakhand-registered, government, and two-wheeler vehicles, and send them to National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) database, he added. He infor

NHAI to deploy Network Survey Vehicles to analyse 21,000 km highways

Survey to collect data on road quality, defects, and upkeep using AI-based analysis; NHAI to identify deficiencies and plan proactive maintenance across 23 states

SC directs states, UTs to set rules for pedestrians, non-motorised vehicles

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all the states and Union Territories to frame road safety rules within six months by regulating the movement of non-motorised vehicles and pedestrians in public spaces. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan directed all the states and UTs to frame such rules under Sections 138 (1A) and 210D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. "We direct all the states and UTs to formulate rules under Section 138(1A) of the Motor Vehicles Act within a period of six months, if not already framed, for the purpose of regulating activities and access of non-mechanical propelled vehicles and pedestrians to public places and national highways. "We direct all the states and UTs to formulate and notify rules under Section 210D of the Act within a period of six months, if not already framed, for design, construction and maintenance of standards for roads other than national highways," the bench said. The directions came on a petition filed by Coimbatore-base

GST 2.0, rural recovery may boost prospects for vehicle financiers

Vehicle finance demand has been muted and asset quality stressed in the financial year 2026 (until August)

Omega Seiki Mobility launches world's first autonomous electric 3-wheeler

Electric mobility firm Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) on Tuesday announced the launch of an autonomous electric three-wheeler, Swayamgati, aimed at addressing the growing challenges of urban congestion and last-mile transit. With the passenger variant of the world's first production-ready autonomous three-wheeler priced at Rs 4 lakh and the cargo version at Rs 4.14 lakh, the vehicle integrates Omega Seiki Mobility's electric vehicle platform with AI-driven retrofit autonomous system, offering seamless and intelligent transport for short-distance use cases in airports, smart campuses, industrial parks, gated communities, and dense urban environments, the company said. The autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) are rapidly emerging as a transformative force in the global mobility sector, the company said, citing a 2025 McKinsey report, which stated that the global autonomous vehicle market is expected to surpass USD 620 billion by 2030, with shared and low-speed autonomous mobility solutions

Only 10% consumers see full GST benefit, 3 in 10 see cuts on food: Report

A LocalCircles survey finds GST 2.0 benefits have reached only a fraction of consumers, with packaged foods and medicines lagging while vehicles and appliances show clearer price cuts

80% automakers face launch delay due to late-stage engineering changes

Changes should drop To fewer than 15% in pre-production, 8 % or less in production post-launch

Auto bodies seek closer cooperation with govt to secure key raw materials

Auto industry bodies on Friday stressed on the need for closer cooperation with the government to secure critical raw materials such as rare earth magnets, and technologies amid shifting geopolitical alignments and evolving trade agreements. The industry has a shared resolve to transform challenges into opportunities and position India as a reliable and competitive global hub for mobility components while navigating geopolitical challenges, creating a resilient automotive supply chain in India, ACMA President Shradha Suri Marwah said. In her address at the annual session of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), she said, "Critical raw materials, the availability of rare earth magnets, semiconductors and battery inputs is becoming a strategic issue that requires national focus." Marwah further said,"We stand at crossroads where opportunities are immense but challenges are daunting to allude to, some of them, geopolitical volatility, trade wars, tariff ...

Bengal govt undertakes cleanup drive to scrap its 22,000 'aged' vehicles

In an initiative aimed at modernising its fleet, the West Bengal government has launched a massive cleanup drive to scrap its nearly 22,000 vehicles that are over 15 years old, a senior official said. The process, which is already underway, seeks to decommission the old vehicles used by various government departments, most notably police and transport, he said. The state government is emphasising replacing these old vehicles with electric ones, he said. "At least 698 vehicles from the police department, 481 from the transport sector, and 710 from various public sector undertakings have been earmarked for decommissioning," the official told PTI. "In addition, departments such as Public Works, Panchayat, and Public Health Engineering (PHE) have collectively listed over 19,000 vehicles for scrapping, bringing the total number close to 22,000," he added. The transport department has begun the identification of these 'aged' vehicles and initiated their removal from service, the officia

Maruti commences e VITARA exports; ships over 2,900 units in August

Maruti Suzuki India on Monday said it has commenced shipment of its battery electric vehicle e VITARA, having dispatched over 2,900 units last month. The units were shipped from Gujarat's Pipavav Port to 12 European countries - the UK, Germany, Norway, France, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Austria, and Belgium. On August 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first e VITARA from the Gujarat facility. The battery electric model is exclusively manufactured at Maruti Suzuki's Hansalpur manufacturing facility. "The start of export of e VITARA to Europe is indeed a proud and defining moment for us," Maruti Suzuki India MD and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said in a statement. The company plans to export the model to over 100 countries and will be sold in the domestic market as well. Maruti Suzuki's overall exports in August surged 40 per cent to 36,538 units compared to 26,003 units in the year-ago period.

Motor vehicle tax not applicable if vehicle not used in 'public place': SC

Motor vehicle tax is compensatory in nature and if a vehicle is not used or not kept for use in a 'public place', then its owner should not be burdened with motor vehicle tax for such period, the Supreme Court has said. A bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan delivered its verdict on an appeal challenging a December 2024 judgement of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. "Motor vehicle tax is compensatory in nature. It has a direct nexus with the end use. The rationale for levy of motor vehicle tax is that a person who is using public infrastructure, such as, roads, highways etc. has to pay for such usage," the apex court said. Referring to section 3 of The Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1963, the bench said the legislature has consciously used the expression 'public place' in this provision. Section 3 of the Act deals with levy of tax on motor vehicles. "If a motor vehicle is not used in a 'public place' or not kept for use in a 'public place' then the person concer

HMSI seeks to increase market share through series of new model launches

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) is seeking to increase its market share in the two-wheeler sector in the country through a series of new model launches, a company official said. The company has launched two new motorcycles in the 100cc and 125cc segments in the Indian market. The current market share of HMSI in the two-wheeler sector in the country is 28 per cent, the official said. HMSI Director (sales and marketing) Yogesh Mathur said, "The company is a leading player in the two-wheeler segment in India with 28 per cent market share. We aim to raise the market share with new launches in the coming days." The Indian subsidiary of Japan's Honda Motor Company manufactures motorcycles and scooters in the country at its facilities in India. HMSI has motorcycles in the 100cc, 110cc, 125cc, 160cc and 200cc segments, and four models in the scooter segment, in India. Mathur said that in July and August, HMSI emerged as a market leader in the motorcycle and scooter segments in t

Govt doubles registration renewal charges for vehicles older than 20 yrs

Motorcycles, cars, three-wheelers, and imported vehicles will now cost more to register

Govt hikes registration renewal fee of motor vehicles older than 20 years

The transport ministry has raised the registration renewal fee for motor vehicles older than 20 years to discourage people from keeping them. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in a notification, announced that the renewal fee for light motor vehicles (LMVs) older than 20 years has been doubled to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000. According to the notification, for motorcycles older than 20 years, the renewal fee will rise from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. For three-wheelers and quadricycles, the renewal cost will increase from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000. In case of imported two- or three-wheelers, the cost of the renewal of the certificate of registration will be Rs 20,000, while for imported vehicles with four or more wheels, it will be Rs 80,000. The draft amendment was issued in February and finalised on August 21. The ministry, in October 2021, increased the registration and renewal fee for motorcycles, three-wheelers and cars. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered ...

TVS launches new electric 3-wheeler model to target cargo vehicle market

TVS Motor Company on Thursday expanded its electric commercial vehicle range with the introduction of a three-wheeler for the cargo segment. The company had forayed into the electric three-wheeler segment earlier this year with the launch of the King EV MAX to cater to the passenger segment. TVS King Kargo HD comes with a driving range of 156 km and is priced at Rs 3.85 lakh (ex-showroom). TVS Motor Company Head Commercial Mobility Business Rajat Gupta said the model would also be launched in CNG trim later this year. He noted that electric models are witnessing robust acceptance and the segment is likely to account for 60 per cent of the overall three-wheeler market by 2030. Gupta noted that EV models sold around 20,000 units last year, which is roughly 31 per cent of the overall 60,000-unit three-wheeler market. "As far as the cargo segment is concerned, around 10,000 units are getting sold each month, with diesel accounting for 50 per cent and EV and CNG accounting for 25 per

JSW Sarbloh Motors forms JV with Tomcar USA to make ATVs locally in India

JSW Group firm JSW Sarbloh Motors on Thursday said it has formed a joint venture with Tomcar USA for local production of the TX range of all-terrain vehicles in India. Phoenix, Arizona-based Tomcar is a manufacturer of high-performance all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) designed for military, commercial, and industrial operations. Under the joint venture, JSW Sarbloh Motors will indigenise, manufacture, assemble, and support the Tomcar TX range at its facility in Chandigarh, said JSW Sarbloh Motors, an arm of JSW Defence Pvt Ltd, in a statement. The first India-assembled TX units are expected to roll out by early 2026, with field trials and demonstrations planned for multiple defence and paramilitary agencies in the coming months, it added. The strategic joint venture between JSW Sarbloh Motors and Tomcar USA marks a significant milestone in the group's commitment to enhancing India's defence capabilities, Parth Jindal of the JSW Group said. "The TX platform is designed to meet the rigor

Tata Motors enters Dominican Republic with range of commercial vehicles

Tata Motors on Wednesday said it has forayed into the Dominican Republic market through a strategic partnership with Equimax, its authorised distributor. The launch marks a significant milestone in the company's global expansion strategy and introduces a tailored portfolio of commercial vehicles designed to meet the evolving needs of the region's logistics, infrastructure, and last-mile delivery sectors, the Mumbai-based auto major said in a statement. "The Dominican Republic presents a high-potential market aligned with Tata Motors' commercial vehicles' global growth ambitions. With its growing economy and infrastructure, our advanced commercial vehicle solutions are well-positioned to support national development goals," Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Head International Business Asif Shamim said. Tata Motors said its commercial vehicles are sold in over 40 countries worldwide, with a portfolio that spans sub-1-tonne mini-trucks to 60-tonne heavy-duty trucks and 9- to 71-seater ...

Uttar Pradesh cancels 8,322 transport permits in road safety crackdown

In a sweeping enforcement action, the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Department on Friday said it has cancelled over 8,000 transport permits and suspended over 700 for violations ranging from expired validity to breach of statutory conditions. The move, aimed at tightening compliance and improving road safety, also saw three permits linked to fatal crashes -- each involving four to five deaths -- revoked with a one-year ban on fresh issuance to the operators concerned, it said. According to an official statement, the decisions were taken at a meeting of the State Transport Authority (STA) held on August 7, where members reviewed permit matters, clean-fuel compliance in the National Capital Region (NCR), school vehicle safety, and the functioning of Accredited Driving Training Centres (ADTCs). "A total of 8,322 permits were cancelled to ensure strict compliance with age limits, expiry and other statutory conditions... It was decided to suspend 738 permits for 45 days," the statement .

Motor Vehicle Agregator Guidelines: Empowering drivers, customers alike

These guidelines, built on the legal foundations of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 aim to regulate the operations of app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, and others