From EV charging guidelines to JLR’s cyberattack recovery and fresh growth bets by Škoda, Minda, and Ultraviolette, the week saw a blend of regulatory resets, corporate strategies, and leadership changes shaping the auto sector.
28 Sep 2025 | 4084 Views | By Darshan Nakhwa
The week spanning September 22-28, underscored the sheer complexity and dynamism of the global and Indian automotive landscape. On one side, policymakers tightened their grip with new rules and proposals, from operational guidelines for EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme, to draft norms mandating acoustic vehicle alert systems ...
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The week spanning September 22-28, underscored the sheer complexity and dynamism of the global and Indian automotive landscape. On one side, policymakers tightened their grip with new rules and proposals, from operational guidelines for EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme, to draft norms mandating acoustic vehicle alert systems in electric vehicles by 2026, and a recalibration of CAFE 3 emission standards that balance stringency with relief for small cars.
On the corporate front, Jaguar Land Rover’s cyberattack saga dominated headlines, with the company restoring key digital systems and the UK government stepping in with a £1.5 billion loan guarantee to safeguard its supply chain. Back in India, Škoda outlined plans to double market share, while Scania repositioned its India strategy beyond mining, and suppliers like Minda Corp unveiled aggressive growth roadmaps to ride the wave of electrification and premiumisation.
Startups too had their moment, Ultraviolette targeted rapid scale-up with its high-performance e-bikes, while Euler Motors doubled down on electric cargo three-wheelers and Recyclekaro bet big on critical mineral recycling to reduce dependence on imports. Adding to this churn, leadership reshuffles at Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, MAHLE, and Olectra Greentech signalled a season of realignment at the top.
Amid this flurry of policy resets, corporate pivots, and tech transitions, one theme stood out: the auto sector’s resilience in navigating immediate disruptions while laying the groundwork for long-term transformation.
Here’s the detailed round-up of all major developments this week:
Policy and Regulation
Government releases guidelines for EV public charging infra under PM E-Drive
The Ministry of Heavy Industries has released the operational guidelines for setting up electric vehicle public charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme.
According to the guidelines, central government ministries, central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), or autonomous bodies under the government, as well as state and Union Territory governments setting up charging infrastructure, are eligible for incentives.
The Rs 10,000 crore scheme has set aside Rs 2,000 crore to subsidise charging infrastructure, including up to 72,300 new public EV charging stations, battery swapping stations, and battery charging stations.
EVs in India May Need Acoustic Alert Systems from Oct 2026
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Saturday issued a draft notification that amends the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to mandate acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) for new electric vehicles, including private and commercial ones, from October 2026. This system is aimed at alerting pedestrians to approaching electric vehicles, which are much quieter than vehicles with internal combustion engines.
The government's decision to mandate the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) comes in response to concerns regarding silent electric vehicles on the roads. Because these EVs are so quiet at low speeds, they have caused accidents with pedestrians who couldn't hear them approaching. The new regulation will require EVs to automatically produce sound when moving at low speeds, alerting pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users. This system is already mandatory in regions like the European Union, Japan, and the United States.
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Draft CAFE 3 Norms Ease Emission Rules for Small Cars, Push Hybrids
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has come out with a revised draft of the CAFE 3 norms that proposes to make average CO2 emissions stringent from April 2027, but gives relief for sub-4 m petrol cars. The proposal seeks to incentivise electric vehicles and range-extender hybrid electric (REE) vehicles in the same way, while there are incentives for plug-in hybrid, strong hybrid and flex fuel vehicles.
Corporate and Strategy
UK guarantees £1.5 billion Loan to Jaguar Land Rover Amid Cyberattack
The UK government on Sunday said it will support Tata Motors-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) with a guarantee for a £1.5 billion (approximately Rs 17,826 crore) loan to ensure certainty to its supply chain following the recent cyberattack.
This comes as JLR continues to grapple with the financial and operational impact of a cyberattack that hit production at its manufacturing facilities worldwide from August 31. The BBC recently reported that the production shutdown at multiple JLR facilities could cost approximately £5 million daily in lost profits.
The automotive manufacturer was forced to shut down its computer systems and send workers home from plants in Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton last week, with no confirmed date for production to resume.
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JLR Restores Key Systems, Begins Recovery After Cyberattack
Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Thursday said parts of its digital infrastructure have been restored and that a phased recovery program is firmly underway, weeks after a cyberattack forced the Tata Motors subsidiary to suspend production across its UK plants.
The company’s statement was issued in response to a clarification sought by BSE following media reports that JLR could face a £2 billion bill as it was not insured against the attack, which has already disrupted operations and triggered significant financial losses.
“As part of the controlled, phased restart of our operations, we have informed colleagues, suppliers and retail partners that sections of our digital estate are now up and running. The foundational work of our recovery program is firmly underway,” JLR said.
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Škoda Aims to Double Market Share in 2025, Bets on New Launches, Network Expansion
Škoda Auto India aims to double its market share in 2025 from 0.8% last year, driven by network expansion and new product launches. The company also plans to expand its retail and service footprint to 350 touchpoints across the country by the end of the year.
“We are looking at doubling our market share. It is not only about what volumes we are targeting, but also about the opportunities the new GST reforms could offer,” said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, during a media roundtable.
Between January and August 2025, Škoda sold 46,616 vehicles in India, already surpassing the 36,000 units it managed in all of 2024. The Kylaq accounted for over 30,000 of these sales, while the Kushaq and Slavia contributed around 17,000 units combined. The company’s portfolio was further bolstered recently with the launch of the updated Kodiaq SUV.
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Scania Shifts Gears Beyond Mining to Target Haulage and Construction in India
Swedish truck maker Scania is preparing a fresh push in India. Its focus is on expanding its presence in mining and construction before gradually entering on-road haulage.
Under the leadership of Silvio Munhoz, a 43-year industry veteran who came out of retirement to spearhead the brand’s revival, the company is treating its India operations as a near start-up, but with global backing and compliance discipline from the Volkswagen Group.
Munhoz, who previously led Scania operations in Brazil and Chile, is bringing to India the company’s “solution sales” concept—offering customers not just vehicles, but a bundled package of financing, leasing, driver training, uptime guarantees, and resale support.
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Minda Corp Targets 3.5X Revenue Growth by FY30 to Rs 17,500 crore
Auto component major Minda Corp has set a revenue target of over Rs 17,500 crore for the financial year 2030, representing a three-and-a-half-fold growth from the current topline, driven by higher shares from the passenger vehicle business, premiumization, electrification, and exports.
According to an investor presentation, the Delhi-based company plans to boost its revenue to Rs 17,500 crore from Rs 5,056 crore in the financial year 2025. The company has also set a target to expand its operating profit margin (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, or EBITDA margin) to more than 12.5% from the current 11.4%.
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Ultraviolette Targets to Sell up to 12,000 Units in FY25; Eyes Profitability in 2-3 Years
Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle startup Ultraviolette Automotive is looking for quick scale with expansion of its product portfolio and retail presence. The company is targeting volumes in the range of 10,000 to 12,000 units during the current financial year with two products and retail presence in close to 100 cities.
"Overall, I would say we are targeting 10,000 units to 12,000 units in this financial year across mostly X47 and F77 models," Ultraviolette co-founder Niraj Rajmohan told Autocar Professional.
The TVS-backed brand was seen as a niche player known for its high-performance F77 electric motorcycle, which is priced above Rs 3 lakh and targeted a small segment of performance enthusiasts in India and some European markets. Its volume was close to 600 units in the previous financial year.
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Euler Motors Aims to Double Revenue in FY26, Reach EBITDA Breakeven by 2029
As electric commercial vehicle startup Euler Motors expands its product portfolio and presence across the country, the Hero MotoCorp-backed company has set a target of doubling its topline during the current financial year while it looks at achieving profitability over the next three and a half years.
“We did Rs 192 crore in revenue last financial year and in this year, we are targeting to grow 100% on that,” Euler Motors founder and CEO Saurav Kumar told Autocar Professional while launching the company’s new 1-tonne electric mini truck.
The Haryana-based startup, established in 2018, now has a portfolio of three commercial vehicles in the 1-1.5 tonne space – the newly launched Turbo EV 1000, StormEV and HiLoad EV. The company sold close to 3,200 vehicles in the financial year 2025.
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Need Strategic Rethink of Construction Equipment Policy: Ajax Engineering’s Joshi
India’s infrastructure push, contributing nearly 13% to GDP and delivering a multiplier of ₹250 for every ₹100 invested, is powering the nation’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Ajax Engineering’s Chief of Planning and Strategy Anshul Joshi highlighted the need for construction equipment to be treated as a strategic sector to catalyse its export and innovation potential.
“Today, India boasts the highest economic growth rate among major economies, with infrastructure directly contributing nearly 13% to GDP. The construction sector’s impressive multiplier—where every ₹100 invested translates into ₹250 of GDP output—is a clear sign that the country’s growth engine is firing on all cylinders. The real challenge now is how do we catalyse this growth further,” Joshi said at Autocar Professional’s Construction Equipment Inner Circle, a CXO roundtable hosted by ZF Group.
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Recyclekaro Targets Cathode-Grade Shift as India Backs Critical Mineral Recycling
As India races to localize its electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, domestic recycler Recyclekaro, is making aggressive bets on producing high-purity battery components, driven by fresh government incentives aimed at reducing India’s dependence on critical mineral imports from China.
Prassann Daphal, CEO of Recyclekaro, outlined the company’s strategic expansion, which centers on high-value processing rather than merely increasing capacity for existing operations. "In the next three years, what we want to do is that we want to create a LFP cathode grade material, which can go directly into cell manufacturing," Daphal stated.
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‘We look forward to opportunities in all vehicle segments in India’: Texas Instruments India’s Mohit Agarwal
At the recently concluded Electronica India 2025 show in Bengaluru, technology giants showcased their latest innovations in the world of electronics and semiconductors that are set to determine the trajectory of various sectors going forward. Leading American semiconductor major Texas Instruments also displayed its range of advanced solutions for the automotive, infrastructure, and consumer electronics segments in the Indian market.
In an exclusive interaction with Autocar Professional, Mohit Agarwal, Regional Sales Manager, Texas Instruments India, shared the company’s vision for the Indian market, which is registering strong growth in the demand for technologies like ADAS.
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Features
Can GST Cuts Revive India's Tepid Auto Market?
For months, India’s car and bike showrooms have worn a muted look. Sales charts flattened, test drives slowed, and once the heart of Indian mobility, the entry-level market began to stumble under the weight of relentless price hikes.
Adding to that, fuel prices stayed stubbornly above Rs 100 a litre, regulatory upgrades like BS6 sent sticker prices soaring by nearly 30-50% in just a few years, and inflation squeezed household budgets. Buyers either postponed purchases or migrated to used vehicles. Now, a sharp GST rate reform promises to release that brake.
Shriram Finance Drives India's EV Growth with ₹5,000 Cr Green Loan Plan
The year was 2002. Shriram City Union Finance, then a rising but little-recognized player from south India, faced an unwritten embargo: North India’s all-powerful two-wheeler dealerships, especially those of a behemoth with the then 44% national market share, refused to allow this southern upstart onto their showroom floors.
YS Chakravarti, then Business Head, didn’t take no for an answer. Instead, he went quite literally outside the system. “We would sit outside and do business,” he recalled. With makeshift tents and umbrellas pitched just beyond the iron gates of the OEM showrooms, Shriram’s teams issued attractive loans, discounts, and fuel incentives.
The real 'jugaad', though, was in alignment with rival-brand dealers, who gladly supported an interloper financing a few extra units on their turf. Soon the numbers added up. Dealers that stonewalled Shriram began losing customers. Some of showroom footfalls migrated into Shriram’s makeshift loan stalls, pushing the once-resistant original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to ultimately partner with Shriram City Union Finance, recognizing the opportunity and threat alike.
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Opinions
EVs Beyond Subsidies – The Changing Face of Commercial 3W Buyer Sentiment
India’s electric three-wheeler sector has been one of the earliest beneficiaries of government policy. Schemes such as FAME II helped reduce entry barriers by offering upfront incentives, sparking demand, and encouraging manufacturers to scale up.
But that phase is drawing to a close. Subsidies are being phased down, and the conversation among buyers is shifting. Today, operators are no longer deciding on subsidies alone. They are evaluating vehicles on durability, daily operating economics, and long-term trust in the brand.
The Evolution of Software in Vehicles and Trends: How Cockpits Are Revolutionizing the User Experience
The automotive industry in India is at an inflection point where software has become the single biggest driver of value and differentiation. For decades, vehicles competed on metrics like horsepower, torque, and build quality.
Today, the competitive edge lies increasingly in intelligence, connectivity, and seamless digital experiences enabled by software. At the centre of this transformation sits the vehicle cockpit—now a command hub for safety, personalization, productivity, and entertainment.
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Appointments
Balaji Named JLR CEO as Tata Motors Splits Units; Wagh to Lead CV, Chandra PV, Butschek Back in Fold
Tata Motors announced sweeping changes in its leadership as it prepares to demerge its commercial vehicles arm. Group CFO P B Balaji will take charge as CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and former CEO Guenter Butschek will move to the board of the proposed listed truck unit.
Balaji, who has been Tata Motors' finance chief since 2017, will step down on Nov. 17 to lead JLR in the UK. He will, however, continue his association with the parent as a non-executive, non-independent director on Tata Motors' board. Balaji, an IIT-IIM alumnus and former Hindustan Unilever executive, has been credited with strengthening the automaker's balance sheet and steering capital allocation across its businesses.
Olectra Greentech Appoints Former Switch Mobility CEO Mahesh Babu Subramanian as Managing Director
Olectra Greentech Limited announced significant board-level appointments following its board meeting held on Tuesday, September 24, 2025. The company has appointed Mahesh Babu Subramanian as Additional Director effective September 27, 2025, immediately after the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting scheduled for the same day. Subject to shareholder approval, Subramanian will also assume the role of Managing Director for a three-year term.
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MAHLE Appoints Michael Macht as New Supervisory Board Chairman
MAHLE's Supervisory Board has elected Michael Macht as its new Chairman, effective January 1, 2026. The appointment comes as Heinz K. Junker steps down after serving as Chairman for 10 years and concludes his nearly three-decade association with the automotive technology group.
The leadership transition was announced following the Supervisory Board meeting on September 25, 2025. Macht, who has served as a MAHLE Supervisory Board member since 2020, brings extensive automotive industry experience from his previous roles as CEO of Porsche AG and Board Member of Volkswagen AG.
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Hero MotoCorp Appoints Madhuri Mehta as Chief Human Resources Officer
Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, announced the appointment of Madhuri Mehta as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), effective October 1, 2025.
Madhuri will oversee the company's global people strategy, culture transformation, and capability-building initiatives as Hero MotoCorp continues expanding its international presence.
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