From Tesla’s symbolic entry and rare-earth urgency to Hero’s European play and Ola’s cautious EV pivot—India’s auto sector is navigating opportunity and disruption in equal measure.
20 Jul 2025 | 2419 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
The past week in India’s auto industry brought a mix of symbolic milestones, strategic pivots, and long-term planning. Tesla finally entered the Indian market—but more with a whisper than a roar. Meanwhile, domestic players like Hero MotoCorp and Tata Motors sharpened their global ambitions.
The industry also saw new ...
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The past week in India’s auto industry brought a mix of symbolic milestones, strategic pivots, and long-term planning. Tesla finally entered the Indian market—but more with a whisper than a roar. Meanwhile, domestic players like Hero MotoCorp and Tata Motors sharpened their global ambitions.
The industry also saw new pressures—from rare-earth shortages impacting EV plans to signs of softening consumer demand in Q1 FY26. But amidst these headwinds, optimism still shines through: CEAT and Landmark Cars reported strong topline growth, exports remained buoyant, and India’s status as a manufacturing and aftermarket powerhouse continued to solidify. Here's a complete wrap of the week’s key headlines, insights, and trends.
Tesla’s India Move: Symbolic, Not Disruptive
Tesla has launched the Model Y in India (₹60 lakh) and opened its first showroom in Mumbai. But with premium pricing and limited volumes, its entry is seen more as symbolic than game-changing.
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Maharashtra Aims to Be India’s EV Capital
At the Tesla showroom launch, CM Devendra Fadnavis announced Maharashtra's ambitions to become India’s largest EV manufacturing hub, citing rapid investments and infrastructure readiness.
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Electric Car Sales Forecasted to Hit 7% Market Share by FY28
According to CareEdge, India’s electric car market is projected to cross 7% share by FY2028, a jump from 0.3% in FY21—fueled by policy support and consumer interest.
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AMP 2047: India’s Long-Term Automotive Vision Takes Shape
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has kicked off work on Automotive Mission Plan 2047, a roadmap aligning with the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ vision and aiming to elevate India’s global auto standing.
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Clean Freight Future: LNG & EVs Key to Long-Haul Decarbonization
India’s trucking sector, which accounts for ~40% of road CO₂ emissions, is turning to LNG and EVs as key pathways to reduce emissions and meet 2070 net-zero targets.
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Honda Eyes Expansion in 100cc Bike Segment
Following the success of Shine 100, Honda is evaluating new models in the entry-level motorcycle space to strengthen its presence.
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Hero MotoCorp to Enter UK and Europe by Q2 FY26
Hero MotoCorp will launch operations in the UK and select European markets by September 2025—marking a major leap in its global growth journey.
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Tata Motors in Talks to Buy Iveco Stake from Exor
Tata Motors is exploring a potential acquisition of Italy’s Iveco Group (excluding defence), in talks with Agnelli family's Exor—potentially expanding its global footprint.
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JLR to Cut 500 UK Roles Amid US Sales Slump
JLR will trim 500 managerial roles in the UK following a 15.1% global sales drop and weakening US demand, largely due to Trump-era tariffs.
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Ola Electric Slows Down Cell Expansion Plans
Ola Electric is delaying its cell capacity expansion to 5 GWh (vs planned 20 GWh) till FY29, potentially affecting PLI scheme timelines amid slow EV market growth.
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Kinetic Green Targets Global Growth with e-Golf Carts
With Lamborghini’s Tonino as JV partner, Kinetic Green is set to launch e-golf carts in 25 countries, targeting $300M revenue over five years.
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ZF Bets on India Amid European Slowdown
ZF is banking on India as its aftermarket growth engine, aiming for double-digit expansion, while Europe sees softening demand.
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CEAT Approves ₹450 Cr Capex to Boost Tyre Output
CEAT will invest ₹450 crore in its Chennai plant to ramp up PCUV tyre production capacity by 35%, signalling bullish long-term demand.
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Creativity Reimagined: Auto Design in the Age of AI
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AI & SDVs: Rewriting the DNA of Indian Auto Industry
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Rare Earth Crunch
Magnets of Disruption: How China’s Grip on Rare Earths Is Stalling India’s EV Dreams
Rare-earth magnets are the invisible drivers of electric motors, and China controls more than 80% of global supply. For India’s EV players, this overreliance has become a looming risk, threatening to stall growth and innovation.
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Motor Makeover: India’s Search for Rare Earth Alternatives Intensifies
Electric vehicle manufacturers are stepping up efforts to adopt alternatives to rare-earth permanent magnet motors, as concerns over China's supply chain dominance, cost volatility, and environmental risks continue to grow. Although permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) still power over 80% of EVs due to their high efficiency and power density, new motor technologies are gaining momentum.
Ola Electric to Launch Rare-Earth-Free Motors by Q3 FY26
Taking a lead among Indian OEMs, Ola Electric will debut rare-earth-free motors in its two-wheelers starting October–December 2025. The move is part of the company’s broader plan to de-risk its supply chain and localize critical EV components.
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Indian OEMs See Uneven Impact from Rare Earth Shortages
The rare earth crisis is hitting automakers differently. While some have secure stockpiles, others are close to halting production. This uneven turbulence highlights the urgent need for diversified sourcing strategies and local alternatives.
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Q1 FY26 Sales
Post-COVID Growth Streak Ends: India’s Auto Sales Drop 5.1% in Q1 FY26
India’s domestic auto sales declined 5.1% YoY in the April–June quarter, falling to 60.75 lakh units from 64.01 lakh a year earlier. The slowdown was led by weak demand in the two-wheeler and entry-level PV segments, marking the first decline since the COVID era.
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Mahindra Overtakes Hyundai in PV Sales; Tata Slips to 4th in Q1 FY26
In a reshuffle of the passenger vehicle leaderboard, Mahindra & Mahindra surged to the No.2 position in Q1 FY26, displacing Hyundai and Tata Motors. With its highest-ever PV market share, Mahindra’s SUV-led strategy appears to be paying off.
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Motorcycle Sales Down 9% in Q1; 7 of 10 OEMs Impacted
The country’s largest two-wheeler segment faced a sharp 9.2% YoY drop in Q1 sales, dampening momentum after a healthy FY25. The slump in rural demand and high base effect seem to be key contributors.
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Exports Shine Amid Weak Domestic Market: Shailesh Chandra
Tata Motors’ Shailesh Chandra expects a robust double-digit export growth across categories, driven by healthy global demand despite supply chain constraints. Exports are likely to continue outpacing domestic momentum.
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Earnings Report Card
Muted Outlook: Ola Electric Braces for Flat FY26
Despite previous quarter growth, Ola Electric expects FY26 volumes and revenues to remain largely flat. The company has forecasted volume growth between -9.5% and +4.4%, with revenue growth hovering in a narrow band of -9.5% to +1.2%. Industry watchers see this as a sign of cooling momentum in India’s electric two-wheeler space.
CEAT Sees Revenue Climb but Profit Slides
CEAT Ltd clocked ₹3,529 crore in consolidated revenue in Q1 FY26, marking a 10.5% YoY increase. But net profit dipped by 27.2% to ₹112.3 crore due to higher input costs and macroeconomic challenges. The EBITDA margin stood at 10.9%, underlining a cost-sensitive quarter for the tyre maker.
Volvo Group Faces 5% Q2 Revenue Decline
Volvo Group’s Q2 2025 net sales dropped to SEK 122.9 billion, reflecting a 5% decline YoY (adjusted for currency). The company attributed the downturn to demand stabilization in Europe and ongoing buyer uncertainty in North America—both key markets for its heavy commercial vehicles and equipment.
Landmark Cars Accelerates with 21.5% Revenue Growth