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Valeo To Supply ADAS System for Commercial Vehicles to Indian OEM

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:38:10

French automotive supplier Valeo has been selected by an unnamed Indian automaker to supply its Valeo Smart Safety 360 (VSS360) advanced driver assistance system for commercial vehicles in the country.

The ADAS system will be manufactured at Valeo’s facility in Sanand, Gujarat, and has been developed specifically for Indian operating conditions and regulatory requirements.

According to the company, the VSS360 package includes features such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning and Driver Drowsiness & Attention Warning. The system also incorporates Moving Off Information System and Blind Spot Information System functions aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists around commercial vehicles.

Valeo said the system combines radar fusion and a smart front camera into a single-box architecture, eliminating the need for separate electronic control units and allowing easier integration into existing vehicle platforms. The setup includes three radars and one camera developed and integrated by the supplier.

The company added that the system supports over-the-air software updates and has been designed to operate across both 12V and 24V vehicle architectures through its Univolt Camera, enabling deployment across light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.

“This award demonstrates how our high-end ADAS technology can perform in demanding environments while improving road safety,” said Marc Vrecko, CEO of Valeo Brain Division. “India is a cornerstone of our ‘Elevate 2028’ strategy, and we are focused on providing scalable and cost-optimised safety solutions suited to local requirements.”

Jayakumar G, Group President and Managing Director of Valeo India, said regulatory developments are expected to support wider adoption of ADAS technologies in the Indian commercial vehicle segment.

Tata Motors Incorporates Teesta Renewable Energy SPV, Takes 26% Stake In New Power Venture

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 13 May 2026 11:01:31

Tata Motors has incorporated a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Teesta Renewable Energy Private Limited (TREPL), to expand its involvement in renewable energy and captive power generation. The company disclosed the development through a regulatory filing dated May 12, 2026.

The automaker will hold a 26 per cent equity stake in the newly formed entity, thereby making TREPL an associate company of Tata Motors. Welspun Renewable Energy Private Limited has been identified as the holding company of the SPV.

According to the filing, TREPL has been incorporated in India and will operate in the power sector. Its business activities will include solar and wind power generation, along with captive generation and sale of electrical energy.

The filing did not specify the scale of the proposed renewable energy projects or provide timelines for commercial operations. However, the structure suggests the SPV could support Tata Motors’ broader energy requirements through captive renewable power sourcing, while also aligning with ongoing industrial decarbonisation efforts across the automotive sector.

Tata Motors stated that the initial capital subscription in the SPV will be made in cash, with the shares subscribed at par value at the time of incorporation. The company also noted that no governmental or regulatory approvals were required specifically for the incorporation process

Maruti Suzuki Reaches 3 Million Rail Dispatches Milestone

Angitha Suresh — Wed, 13 May 2026 10:58:02

Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced on Wednesday that it has cumulatively dispatched over 3 million vehicles through railways, a threshold the company crossed in March 2026. The milestone marks a notable point in the automaker's decade-long effort to shift its outbound logistics away from road transport and toward rail, a move the company frames as central to reducing its carbon footprint and easing road congestion.

The progression from 2 million to 3 million cumulative rail dispatches took 21 months, shorter than the 2 years and 7 months it took to move from 1 million to 2 million, and significantly shorter than the 7 years and 8 months it took to reach the first million after rail operations began in 2014. The company said this acceleration reflects the expansion of its rail infrastructure and increased operational capacity in recent years.

The share of rail in the company's total outbound vehicle dispatches has grown from 5% in FY 2014-15 to 26.5% in FY 2025-26, representing a more than fivefold increase over the period. According to the company, rail-based dispatch volumes have grown ninefold since 2014 in absolute terms. Maruti Suzuki said it has committed over ₹13,720 million toward rail logistics infrastructure, covering in-plant railway sidings at its Hansalpur and Manesar manufacturing facilities, rail yards at logistics hubs, procurement of specialized automotive rakes, and supporting infrastructure upgrades.

Maruti Suzuki is currently the only passenger vehicle manufacturer in India with operational railway sidings at two of its plants. The Hansalpur siding in Gujarat, which began operations in March 2023, was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually in March 2024. In February 2026, the siding was registered as the world's first Modal Shift Transportation Project under the Verified Carbon Standard program of Verra, an international carbon credit registry and certification body. This recognition ties the facility's operations to quantifiable carbon reduction metrics under a globally accepted standard.

The Manesar siding in Haryana, described as India's largest automobile in-plant railway siding, was inaugurated in June 2025 by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The facility crossed 1 lakh vehicle dispatches by March 2026. Together, the two sidings have a combined annual dispatch capacity of 750,000 vehicles.

The rail network services more than 600 cities across the country through 22 hubs, operating on a dedicated hub-and-spoke model. Vehicles manufactured at the company's Gurugram, Manesar, and Gujarat plants — including the Swift, Baleno, WagonR, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Dzire, Ertiga, Alto, Celerio, XL6, Eeco, and Super Carry — are transported through this network. The rail infrastructure also connects to the export ports of Mundra and Pipavav, extending its utility beyond domestic distribution.

In October 2025, the company transported its first batch of vehicles by rail to the Anantnag terminal in the Kashmir valley, marking an extension of rail-based delivery to a region that had not previously been part of the network. The development was notable given the geographical and logistical challenges associated with freight movement to that area.

Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the company aims to raise the share of rail-based dispatches to 35% by FY 2030-31 and plans to add an in-plant siding at its upcoming Kharkhoda facility in Haryana, which is currently under development. He credited the government's PM GatiShakti National Master Plan — a multimodal connectivity initiative launched in 2021 — as providing the enabling framework for the company's rail logistics expansion.

Maruti Suzuki first entered rail logistics in May 2013, when it became India's first automobile manufacturer to obtain an Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) license, which allows private operators to run freight trains on Indian Railways' network. The first Flexi-deck auto wagon rake — a specialized rail wagon designed to carry multiple vehicles on two levels — was flagged off in March 2014. By July 2022, the company and its AFTO partners had inducted 40 such rakes. The company reached 1 million cumulative rail dispatches in November 2021 and 2 million in June 2024.

The broader context for this shift is India's push to increase the share of freight moved by rail, which is generally more fuel-efficient and less carbon-intensive per tonne-kilometre than road transport. The automobile sector has historically relied heavily on car carriers operating on highways, and Maruti Suzuki's scale — it accounts for roughly two-fifths of India's passenger vehicle sales — makes its logistics choices consequential for overall freight patterns in the sector.

Demand Grows Strongly for Ultraviolette Performance Electric Motorcycles

Ajit Dalvi — Wed, 13 May 2026 09:34:43

Even as electric scooters command the bulk of the retail sales of electric two-wheelers which clocked a record 1.4 million units in FY2026, demand is slowly growing for the nascent electric motorcycle segment in India. This sub-segment currently has only a few players in the form of Revolt Motors, TVS-backed Ultraviolette, Ola Electric, Oben EV, KLB Komaki, Matter Motor Works, Okaya EV and Wardwizard Innovations. Now, as per the latest Vahan retail sales data, demand is seen to be growing for Ultraviolette Automotive which has registered its best-ever quarter sales of 975 units in Q1 CY2026 (January-March 2026), up 373% YoY on a low year-ago base (Q1 CY2025: 206 units).

Ultraviolette, which registered its highest first-quarter sales of 975 units in January-March 2026, looks well set to achieve record sales of around 3,800 to 4,000 units in CY2026.

The Bengaluru-based Ultraviolette, incubated as an EV startup in 2016, manufactures performance electric motorcycles that are well-known for their high-voltage battery systems, advanced electronics, and aerospace-inspired engineering.

Cumulative retail sales since February 2023 till May 9, 2026 indicate that Ultraviolette has delivered 3,799 electric motorcycles, of which 81% (3,085 units) have been sold in the past 16 months and 12 days. While sales in CY2023 (271 units) and CY2024 (443 units) were tepid, demand rose by 250% YoY in CY2025 (1,551 units) and is set to scale a new high this year. Between January and May 12 this year, the company has already sold and delivered 1,534 units to customers. Ultraviolette opened this year with record monthly sales of 403 in January albeit numbers were lower in February (283 units), March (289 units) and April (379 units). The first 12 days of May have seen sales of 180 units.

On the sales network front, Ultraviolette at present has over 40 experience centres across major Indian cities and has stated that it “will be present across 100 cities by end of 2026”.

The company currently has five models on sale with pricing starting at Rs 145,000 for the Tesseract, which is the cheapest model, and goes up to Rs 449,000 for the top-end Desert Wing variant of the flagship X-47, the most expensive model in the lineup (ex-showroom). The F77 Mach 2 (155kph top speed), F77 Superstreet (155kph top speed) and X-47 (145kph top speed) share the same powertrain rated at 40.2 hp and 100 Nm of torque, with a claimed 0-60kph time of 2.8 seconds. The 10.3 kWh battery delivers an IDC-rated range of 323km per charge. The fourth product is the Shockwave (Rs 175,000) designed for efficient and eco-friendly city commuting as well as short weekend rides and targeted at urban riders. The fifth model is the Tesseract scooter (Rs 145,000) with a claimed IDC range of 261km, 0-60kph sprint in 2.9 seconds and rated for 20.4hp, helping it achieve a claimed top speed of 125kph. Deliveries of the Tesseract, which is said to have received a good response, are slated to commence in the second half of this year.

In early March this year, Ultraviolette cut the flagship X-47’s entry-level variant’s ex-showroom price of Rs 250,000 by 101,000 by introducing the Battery-as-a-Service option to enhance affordability.

BaaS SLASHES FLAGSHIP X-47 PRICE BY Rs 101,000

September 2025 saw Ultraviolette launch the flagship X47 model, priced at Rs 250,000 (ex-showroom) and capable of a claimed 323km range, 0-60kph in 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 145kph. Powered by a 40 hp (30 kW) motor developing 610 Nm of torque, the X47 at launch had price parity with similarly powered ICE motorcycles.

In early March this year, in a strategic move to enhance EV affordability and similar to that adopted by TVS, Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto and Hero Vida, Ultraviolette in association with NBFC Ecofy introduced Battery Flex, a BaaS-driven battery subscription model, on all five variants of the X-47 as also the F77 Original and F77 Recon. Under this new subscription model, customers can purchase the X-47 for Rs 149,000, while the battery can be subscribed to at a starting price of Rs 2,499 per month. This EMI will have to be paid over five years. Ultraviolette says opting for Battery Flex reduces the initial purchase cost by nearly 40%, making the e-motorcycle more accessible to a wider range of buyers. After customers finish paying monthly EMIs for the battery during the financing period, the battery ownership will be transferred to them at no additional cost.

According to Ultraviolette’s CEO and co-founder Narayan Subramaniam, the new pricing structure makes the motorcycle competitive with petrol-powered bikes in a similar performance bracket. He added that the subscription model allows riders to access advanced technology and performance while keeping monthly operating costs lower than the average fuel expense for many motorcycles.

Ultraviolette at present has over 40 experience centres across major Indian cities and plans to expand its sales and service network to 100 cities in India by the end of CY2026.

CAN ULTRAVIOLETTE DISRUPT THE PREMIUM ICE MOTORCYCLE MARKET?

Admittedly, given the premium pricing of its e-motorcycles which are targeted at premium petrol-powered 300cc-400cc IC-engine motorcycles including the Royal Enfield 350c bikes (Classic, Bullet, Hunter and Meteor), Bajaj Pulsar N250, TVS Apache RTR 310, BMW G310R, Kawasaki Ninja 300, KTM 390 Duke, Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, Harley-Davidson X440 and Mavrick 440, Ultraviolette will remain a niche player. However, the recent move to offer Baas on the F77 models and X-47 seems to have clicked, making the zero-emission bikes more affordable.

Can this Bengaluru-based e-motorcycle startup, which now also has an e-scooter, disrupt the e-2W market, particularly at the premium end? Midsize motorcycle major Royal Enfield, which marked its entry into EVs on April 9 with the Flying Flea priced at Rs 279,000 and Rs 199,000 (with Baas), has had limited success in its first month of sale. As per Vahan, only 6 units have been sold till May 12, 2026.

Importantly, Ultraviolette e-bike performance is comparable to ICE motorcycles. In fact, in March 2025, in association with Autocar India bike testers, the revealed-at-EICMA but yet-to-be-launched Ultraviolette F99 hit 258kph on the race track at NATRAX Indore. Along the way, the green speed machine also set records for 0-100kph in under 3 seconds, 0-200kph in 9 seconds and the fastest quarter-mile in 10.712 seconds.

The clincher, of course, is the wallet-friendlier cost of charging versus tanking up on expensive petrol (Rs 103.49 a litre in Mumbai on May 12, 2026), which is likely to get dearer soon and could see a number of ICE two-wheeler buyers across the scooter and motorcycle segments actively consider buying an EV.

India’s top four legacy ICE 2W players – Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co – which have diversified into electric scooters, are looking to advance their e-2W game into electric motorcycles. Electric motorcycles is the only remaining ‘white space’ which remains unexploited due to technological constraints vis-à-vis e-scooters, high battery costs, limited range and a paucity of affordable products at present. Even a small percentage of the high-volume ICE motorcycle segment, which clocked sales of 13 million units in FY2026, would result in big numbers.

ALSO READ: Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj and Royal Enfield target India’s nascent electric motorcycle market

Praj, ARAI Deepen Diesel-Isobutanol Trials for Vehicle Compatibility

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 13 May 2026 09:21:29

Early chassis dynamometer tests suggest a 5% blend delivers measurable emission cuts with a minimal 1 to 2% impact on fuel efficiency.

India's auto industry heavyweights, which include commercial vehicle OEMs, testing agency ARAI, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), oil marketing companies, and others, are moving to break a decades-long deadlock in diesel decarbonization by launching a nationwide validation program for isobutanol blending.

Beginning this June, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will lead a 10-month technical assessment alongside bioenergy tech supply major Praj Industries to determine if isobutanol can serve as a seamless "drop-in" replacement for standard diesel. With nearly all major OEMs expected to participate, the initiative signals a shift away from problematic diesel-blending trials, focusing instead on a molecule that promises better stability and safety for the nation's critical transport fleet.

The experiments continue.

To understand why isobutanol is causing a stir, one must look at the failures of ethanol-diesel blending. For years, engineers tried to force ethanol into diesel tanks, but the chemistry refused to cooperate. Ethanol is a two-carbon alcohol with a "polar" structure, meaning it doesn't like to mix with the oily consistency of diesel. Without expensive chemical binders, the two fuels simply separate in the tank.

More critically, ethanol is a fire hazard in a diesel ecosystem. Its "flashpoint"—the temperature at which it catches fire—is a mere 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. Diesel, by contrast, is regulated to a minimum of 35 degrees. This difference puts them in entirely different petroleum safety classes, making shared storage and transport a logistical nightmare. Even with proprietary binders, OEMs were rarely comfortable going beyond a 5% blend before combustion issues emerged.

Enter Isobutanol: The Four-Carbon Fix

Praj Industries, the Pune-based bioenergy giant, has spent the last two years building the technical bridge that ethanol couldn't cross. As a four-carbon alcohol, isobutanol behaves much more like diesel. Its flashpoint sits between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius, which allows it to stay within the same "Class B" petroleum category as diesel. This means the existing network of tankers and pumps doesn't need a multi-billion-dollar overhaul.

Initial investigations found that isobutanol remained stable at 10% blends for over 40 days without any separation. Early dynamometer trials on standard Indian driving cycles showed that a 5% blend slashed emissions with a negligible 1 to 2% impact on fuel mileage, a trade-off most fleet operators would take in a heartbeat.

Moving from Lab to Road

The upcoming ARAI-led exercise is comprehensive. It will test everything from engine durability and material compatibility (ensuring the fuel doesn't eat through rubber seals) to particulate emissions across almost every major OEM in the country.

Oil majors are already showing commitment to the initiative. BPCL has been quietly testing isobutanol for two years, recently completing a three-month trial in stationary Cummins engines. They are now committing significant capital to validate data across 33 different vehicle types in India. However, as Anshul Gupta of BPCL noted, technical success is only half the battle; OMCs cannot blend at scale without a formal government mandate.

Retrofitting the Future

There is a persistent myth that you have to turn ethanol into isobutanol. In reality, the production shift happens earlier in the process. The debate has been whether India’s existing 1G ethanol plants, the ones processing corn and sugarcane, can be converted.

The emerging consensus points to a "hybrid" model. Industry leaders suggest that 1G plants can be retrofitted to produce both ethanol (for gasoline) and isobutanol (for diesel) simultaneously from the same ton of feedstock. This dual-track production could maximize the utility of India's agricultural surplus.

To sweeten the deal, the government is looking at existing financial vehicles. The Scheme to Enhance Ethanol Distillation Capacity, which offers interest subventions of 6% or 50% of the bank rate for retrofitting existing facilities, could potentially be applied to isobutanol retrofitting. Similarly, the PM JI-VAN Yojana, aimed at innovative biofuel pathways, might provide the necessary financial cushion for commercial-scale projects.

An Uncertain But Necessary Horizon

Despite the optimism, the market remains in its infancy. Bharati Balaji of the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) cautioned that while the emission reductions are impressive when mixed correctly, it is too early to set firm commercial timelines.

However, for Praj President Atul Mulay, the Middle East crisis and global energy volatility have created a "new normal" where India can no longer afford to wait.

As ARAI begins its 10-month countdown this June, the automotive industry isn't just looking at a new fuel; it’s looking at the potential end of the diesel-blending deadlock. For OEMs and fleet owners, the "Next Frontier" is finally coming into view.

Govt Approves Setting Up 4,874 EV Chargers Worth Rs 503 Crore

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:20:21

The Ministry of Heavy Industries organized a national conference in Bengaluru on May 12, 2026, to discuss the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. During the event, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy announced the approval of proposals worth Rs 503.86 crore for installing 4,874 electric vehicle chargers nationwide under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. This includes a specific allocation of Rs 123.26 crore for 1,243 chargers in Karnataka.

The approved charging infrastructure will be deployed across several states including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Central public sector enterprises such as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited are among the key implementing agencies for these projects. Ministry officials noted that the charging network will support electric two wheelers, three wheelers, cars, buses, and trucks.

The charging infrastructure expansion is part of the broader PM E-DRIVE initiative which commands a total financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore. The scheme allocates Rs 2,000 crore specifically for public charging infrastructure. It also provisions Rs 3,679 crore towards demand incentives to support the adoption of 24.79 lakh electric two wheelers and 3.16 lakh electric three wheelers. Additionally, Rs 4,391 crore has been earmarked for the deployment of 14,028 electric buses across the country.

The government has also allocated Rs 780 crore for the modernization of vehicle testing agencies under the heavy industries ministry. The Bengaluru conference was attended by senior government officials from various states and representatives from original equipment manufacturers and charge point operators to coordinate standardisation and deployment strategies for the growing electric mobility ecosystem.

Puri Signals Fuel Price Hike as OMCs Losing Rs 1,000 Crore Daily

Kiran Murali — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:09:14

India may eventually have to consider fuel price increases if global crude oil prices remain elevated and losses of oil marketing companies keep mounting, according to Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said.

After a strong demand in FY26 following the GST cut, the automotive industry is now cautiously optimistic about short term growth as any potential increase in fuel price could result in inflation and impact demand.

While speaking at an event organised by Confederation of India Industries, Puri said state-run oil marketing companies are under severe financial strain as crude prices surged amid prolonged geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

According to him, Puri said oil companies were currently losing around Rs 1,000 crore per day as crude oil prices climbed from about $65 a barrel to nearly $115. “If you look at the fact that oil companies are losing what? Rs 1,000 crores every day,” he said. “How long can you keep it like this?”

The minister said the financial burden on refiners and fuel retailers could become unsustainable if high prices persist.

“Frankly, that is something that worries me,” Puri said when asked how long oil companies could continue absorbing losses. “At some stage, the government will have to take a view on that.”

There have been reports and speculation that the government may raise fuel prices after the recent state elections. Responding to the speculation, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said fuel price revisions were not linked to elections.

“Somebody said elections are over, now fuel prices will suddenly go up. How many elections have there been in the last four years? The last time prices were raised was in 2022. Since then, there have been general elections and several state elections,” he said.

“It is not my case that prices will never go up. I am saying the two are unrelated,” the minister added.

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, has kept petrol and diesel prices largely unchanged despite volatility in global crude markets.

The government has said it wants to protect consumers from inflationary pressures, especially after the pandemic and recent geopolitical conflicts.

At the same time, he stressed there was no immediate supply concern, saying India had adequate stocks of crude oil, LNG and LPG, and that fuel supplies across the country remained uninterrupted despite the ongoing crisis.

LANXESS and HPCL Partner to Expand Aviation and Industrial Lubricant Supply in India

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:09:44

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) entered into a memorandum of understanding on May 12, 2026, to expand the availability of aviation and industrial lubricants. The agreement targets the Indian market and neighboring SAARC countries to provide technologically advanced lubricant solutions for specialized sectors.

Under the terms of the partnership, both entities will explore marketing and business development opportunities across short, medium, and long term horizons. The collaboration is intended to provide broader local access to premium LANXESS branded products, including those used in critical industrial segments. LANXESS produces a range of synthetic basestocks and additives under various brands, including Royco and Anderol, while HPCL is currently the largest distributor of industrial and automotive lubricants in India.

Neelanjan Banerjee, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Lubricant Additives at LANXESS, stated that the partnership aims to set quality benchmarks while accelerating growth in the domestic aviation market. Srinivas Ch, Executive Director of Lubes at HPCL, noted that the collaboration combines LANXESS’ technical expertise with HPCL’s existing market presence to drive efficiency across the industrial sector.

LetzRyd Names Ambuj Mishra as New Head of Product

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:38:44

Mobility infrastructure platform LetzRyd announced the appointment of Ambuj Mishra as its Head of Product on May 12, 2026. In his new role, Mishra is tasked with leading the company’s product strategy and execution, specifically focusing on the development of an artificial intelligence-led fleet operating system. The platform is designed to automate workflows and optimize supply-demand matching to address fragmentation and low utilization in urban transport.

Mishra brings a decade of experience in product management to the startup, having previously held leadership positions at Flipkart-Cleartrip where he managed booking automation and growth systems. His career includes roles at organizations such as Ajio, UpGrad, and Flyhomes, focusing on platform strategy and end to end product lifecycles. He holds a Master of Science by Research degree in Electronic System Design from IIIT Bangalore.

Tarun Jain, Founder and CEO of LetzRyd, stated that the appointment aligns with the company’s goal of building a digital infrastructure layer to organize mobility supply. The company intends to leverage data and automation to create a more integrated mobility network and improve unit economics for fleet operators. Mishra noted that his immediate focus will be on reducing operational friction and building scalable systems that continuously improve through network data.

Tata Motors Introduces AMT Option In Altroz iCNG Range

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:23:43

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has introduced an AMT option in the Altroz iCNG line-up, expanding the hatchback’s powertrain portfolio with a two-pedal transmission paired to its CNG powertrain.

With the launch, Tata Motors says the Altroz iCNG is now the first premium hatchback in India to offer an AMT gearbox with a factory-fitted CNG setup. Prices for the Altroz iCNG AMT start at Rs 8.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and go up to Rs 10.76 lakh for the top-spec Accomplished S variant.

The Altroz iCNG AMT is powered by Tata’s 1.2-litre Revotron iCNG engine, producing 73.5 PS and 103 Nm in CNG mode. The company says the AMT has been introduced to improve drivability and ease of use, particularly in urban traffic conditions.

The model continues with Tata Motors’ twin-cylinder iCNG technology, which places the CNG cylinders beneath the luggage compartment floor. Tata claims this allows the Altroz iCNG to retain a usable 210-litre boot space, compared to the reduced cargo capacity typically associated with CNG vehicles. Petrol and diesel variants offer 345 litres of boot space.

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd, said, “With the introduction of AMT in the iCNG line-up, we are addressing a clear and growing customer need for greater convenience in CNG vehicles.”

The Altroz iCNG AMT also continues with features such as connected LED tail lamps, LED headlamps with DRLs, twin digital displays for infotainment and instrumentation, ambient lighting and rear AC vents. Safety equipment includes six airbags, ESP, ISOFIX mounts, and reverse parking sensors as standard.

Tata Motors said CNG penetration in India rose to 19 per cent in FY25 and further increased to 22 per cent in FY26, with adoption expanding beyond traditional CNG-focused regions.

How India MATLAB Expo Grew with Auto’s Software Shift

Shahkar Abidi — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:15:26

India’s auto industry has spent the last 15 years racing from mechanical dominance to software overload. BS4 gave way to BS6, electric drivetrains arrived in force, and automated driving moved from conference slides to regulatory drafts. In that same window, one constant in engineering toolchains has quietly reshaped itself: MATLAB and Simulink, and with them the India MATLAB Expo that has grown into a key metric of the sector’s software ambitions.

From Combustion Controls to Software-defined Cars

When the first India MATLAB event ran in 2010, most automotive code written on the platform ended up in engines and transmissions. “Fifteen years ago, the automotive industry was majorly using electronics and software for their powertrain controls, for engine-related controls, for transmission controls, and so on. That mechanism is model-based design,” recalls Prasanna Deshpande, Manager, Application Engineering at MathWorks India. Engineers built mathematical models of engines and gearboxes and tuned controllers in simulation.

Today, the same tools sit much closer to the centre of the vehicle architecture conversation. As automakers pursue software-defined vehicles, where application software is decoupled from hardware and over-the-air updates are expected, MATLAB and Simulink are used to sketch system architectures, validate service-oriented designs, and coordinate software and data flows across domains. The journey mirrors the industry’s own evolution from a few standalone ECUs to fleets of controllers backed by high-performance compute platforms and GPUs running ADAS and automated driving algorithms.

Expo as a Mirror of the Auto’s Software Turn

The 15th India MATLAB Expo in Bangalore, still the event’s home base after occasional forays into multi-city formats, reflects how its remit has broadened. What began as a user conference for control engineers is now pitched as a platform where industry, academia, and startups compare notes on AI, electrification, virtualisation, and software-defined vehicles. “Technology is transforming at a very rapid pace, be it in the form of AI, electrification, automotive, aerospace… customers are continuously interested to know what are the recent developments and how it can benefit them,” says Vijayalayan R, Senior Manager, Application Engineering at MathWorks India.

The Expo’s audience has diversified, too. The core remains R&D and engineering design teams, but the personas now include system architects, software developers working on embedded controls and AI, and data engineers charged with extracting insights from vehicle and fleet data. For many OEMs, the event doubles as a forum to understand how peers are using virtual vehicles, virtual sensors, and digital twins to compress test cycles and avoid late-stage surprises.

Model-based Design Becomes a Digital Thread

Vijayalayan describes a shift from MBD as an isolated activity to models acting as a digital thread that stitches together requirements, design, testing, and field data. In a classic V-cycle, many software defects only surface during hardware-in-loop or full-vehicle testing, when fixing them is slow and costly. By contrast, “shift left” practices move as much verification as possible to the early stages, using models as virtual prototypes to check feasibility and behaviour while requirements are still being written. The aim, he says, is to “front-load most of the activities that actually happen in the test track to the desktops,” so teams can get it “right the first time.”

From Statistics to AI, and On to GenAI

MATLAB’s analytics stack has also expanded in lockstep with the data deluge hitting automakers. Early statistical and neural-network toolboxes have been re-cast as Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox and Deep Learning Toolbox, reflecting the leap from basic data analysis to production AI deployed on vehicles and in the cloud. Those tools underpin virtual sensors that replace or augment physical devices – for example, using data-driven models instead of costly emission after-treatment sensors now mandated by BS6 and future BS7 norms.

On the newest frontier, MathWorks is weaving generative AI into its workflows, albeit with caution. The company launched MATLAB Copilot in 2025, followed by Simulink Copilot and Polyspace Copilot in April 2026, as embedded assistants that explain models, annotate scripts, and help track down bugs. “It’s like an interactive AI assistant that can help the engineers to explore, explain the models, explain the scripts, and debug everything,” says Vijayalayan. Deshpande stresses that in an industry full of safety-critical functions and tightly regulated user experiences, GenAI must remain a “productivity and efficiency multiplier” wrapped around “trusted tools” that perform the core work.

The newly introduced agentic toolkit extends that logic by allowing AI agents – running on whichever large language model a customer prefers, to call into MATLAB and Simulink through defined skills and plug-ins. “We are in the era of agentic workflows, where AI agents help in automating multiple-step tasks… Our goal is to enable the seamless integration of AI agents with MATLAB Simulink,” Vijayalayan says. In practice, that could mean agents that generate test benches, run design-of-experiments campaigns, or refactor model structures, leaving engineers to focus on architecture and interpretation.

Electrification: Batteries, Twins and Range Anxiety

If there is one technical area where MATLAB’s evolution is particularly visible, it is batteries. Indian operating conditions, heat, dust, and load cycles, have exposed the limits of naïve pack designs and shallow BMS strategies. Deshpande points out that engineers do not really “control” batteries; they manage them, working around electrochemistry that is highly sensitive to temperature and current. Keeping thousands of cells within safe thermal and electrical bounds, and preventing a single runaway cell from cascading, is the central BMS challenge.

Simscape Battery, a domain-specific library within the Simscape family, is MathWorks’ answer to that modelling burden. Engineers can pick from established cell types such as pouch and prismatic, assemble modules and packs, add cooling hardware, and quickly evaluate thermal performance and control strategies in one-dimensional simulations. On top of that, supervisory logic for detecting low voltage, high temperature, or other fault conditions is built in Stateflow, a graphical environment for state machines and decision logic. Because temperatures cannot be measured at every cell, MATLAB’s estimation algorithms, including Kalman filters, infer internal states from limited sensor data.

As EV fleets grow, those models evolve into digital twins, updated using operational data to reflect ageing and real-world stress. That enables more accurate range predictions, better charging recommendations, and, potentially, new services such as battery-as-a-service or cloud-based battery health offerings. For consumers, the payoff is less range anxiety; for OEMs and suppliers, it is a way to turn data and models into recurring revenue rather than one-time hardware sales.

Startups as Proof Points

One way to read MATLAB’s 15-year arc is through the lens of Indian startups that built their engineering pipelines around it. Ather Energy, now a mainstream electric two-wheeler OEM, first used MATLAB on complimentary licences while incubated at IIT Madras around 2013. “Then they shifted to our startup offerings, which is a very discounted offering. And then our technical teams were all through engaged with them,” says Deshpande.

Ather needed to make an electric scooter feel as familiar as an internal-combustion one while hitting performance and cost targets. Model-based design lets the team quickly prototype battery systems, motor controllers, and charging logic in simulation, benchmark against conventional vehicles, and cut the number of physical prototypes they have to build. According to Deshpande, Ather’s own user story describes reducing prototype counts from double digits to roughly a third of that, with strong designs emerging “even before the physical prototypes” were on the road.

Newer players such as Raptee, which is targeting high-voltage architectures for motorcycles, use MATLAB and Simulink to explore trade-offs between motors, battery packs, and vehicle dynamics entirely on the desktop. In three-wheelers, where price pressure is intense, and hardware must be heavily optimised, MathWorks has supported companies on motor controls and BMS that squeeze more control out of smaller ECUs.

Industry 4.0 and Beyond the Vehicle

The same modelling and AI tools are also moving deeper into the factory. As Indian auto hubs expand in regions such as Aurangabad and Nashik, machinery builders and plant engineers are using MATLAB and Simulink for virtual commissioning, modelling multi-domain production systems, and testing complex control algorithms in a virtual environment before installing them on expensive hardware. In parallel, predictive maintenance models help operators anticipate failures that could shut down lines, combining physics-based models with historical data to catch edge cases.

Computer-vision-based automated visual inspection is another emerging use case. Instead of relying on humans to spot cracks, paint defects, or assembly errors on fast-moving lines, camera systems feed images into AI models built and tested in MATLAB to flag anomalies at speed. For MathWorks, this extends its automotive exposure from vehicles in the field to the plants that build them.

Financials: Tools as a Growth Engine

All of this is showing up in MathWorks India’s financial trajectory. The company’s total income rose from Rs 923.6 crore in FY2024 to Rs 984.6 crore in FY2025, while net profit increased from Rs 54.0 crore to Rs 73.8 crore.

The directors, in their latest regulatory filings, say they are “continuously looking for avenues for future growth” and expect higher turnover and profit alongside broader economic expansion. For now, the combination of export-linked development work and rising domestic demand for licences and services, with automotive a key vertical, is turning what was once a specialist engineering tool into a visible profit engine.

The company faces intense competition from major software giants and specialised engineering simulation providers such as Dassault Systèmes and Altair, among others. Many companies, including startups, are also using open-source models.

According to a list prepared by TheirStack, Indian auto companies using MATLAB include KPIT, Tata Technologies, Ather, and Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India Pvt Ltd., among several others.

Next phase: Agents in a Billion-line World

Looking ahead, both Deshpande and Vijayalayan see the scale of automotive software as the main driver of change. A modern luxury car, they note, can already approach a billion lines of code, on par with aircraft, with around 100 ECUs gradually giving way to zones run by powerful processors. In that context, the industry’s move to software factories, where code flows through automated pipelines of modelling, testing, and deployment, looks inevitable.

If the past 15 years are any guide, the answer will be written both in the sessions at future India MATLAB Expos and in the software stacks of the vehicles rolling out of Indian plants.

Maruti Suzuki Selects Six Startups for AI and Technology-Led Solutions

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:37:08

Maruti Suzuki India has selected six startups under the 10th cohort of its Accelerator Program to develop technology-led solutions across manufacturing, product development and customer operations.

The selected startups — Goat Robotics, SheerDrive, Schijnenn Digital, GenbaNEXT, Swayatt Drishtigochar and Swiftex, have been awarded paid proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with the automaker. The solutions are expected to focus on areas such as plant safety, operational efficiency, material traceability and dealer support systems.

Goat Robotics will work on solutions aimed at enabling safer and more efficient movement of materials within plant operations, while SheerDrive is developing a real-time, market-linked used car price visualisation platform. Schijnenn Digital has been tasked with tools intended to shorten product design and development cycles. GenbaNEXT will focus on material traceability systems linked to circularity initiatives, and Swayatt Drishtigochar is developing predictive maintenance and industrial equipment safety solutions. Swiftex, meanwhile, is building a sales assistance platform intended to help dealer sales executives improve customer engagement and support functions.

According to the company, the projects include solutions for safe movement of materials, predictive maintenance of industrial equipment, AI-led sales assistance platforms and tools aimed at shortening product design and development cycles.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said the collaborations are intended to support operational efficiency and improve traceability and customer engagement across the company’s ecosystem.

Maruti Suzuki said it has built multiple innovation and incubation initiatives over the past seven years to engage with startups in mobility and manufacturing technologies. The company stated that it has screened more than 6,800 startups, engaged with over 250 and onboarded 34 as business partners so far.

Navi General Insurance Expands Cashless Motor Claims Network Through New Partnerships

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:30:10

Navi General Insurance has announced partnerships with GoMechanic, ReadyAssist, myTVS and AIS Windshield Experts to expand its motor insurance claims and roadside assistance network across India.

The company said the partnerships are aimed at strengthening its “Cashless Anywhere” claims offering, allowing customers to access vehicle repairs and related services without upfront payments at partner garages and service centres.

Under the arrangement, ReadyAssist will provide 24x7 roadside assistance coverage across more than 19,000 pincodes and support Navi’s physical claims survey operations across the country. The company said authorised representatives are expected to reach customers within a few hours of claim intimation in cases such as roadside breakdowns or on-site vehicle inspections.

GoMechanic, myTVS and AIS Windshield Experts will support Navi’s cashless claims servicing network through their garage and windshield service infrastructure. The services will include accident repairs and windshield replacements.

Navi said its cashless garage network has expanded from around 710 garages in January 2026 to more than 1,600 garages across over 500 cities. The company is targeting a network of more than 3,000 garages by June 2026.

Vaibhav Goyal, managing director and CEO, Navi General Insurance Limited, said the company’s focus was on improving claims accessibility, turnaround times and physical support capabilities through technology integration and partnerships.

According to the company, motor insurance currently contributes around 32 per cent of India’s general insurance premiums, with increasing adoption of digital-first insurance models influencing customer expectations around claims servicing and support networks.

Sona Comstar’s New Hybrid Play to Capture Market Share

Shahkar Abidi — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:34

For years, Sona Comstar's massive order book and the relentless pace of global electrification meant the company had to generally say "no" to anything that wasn’t a pure battery electric vehicle (EV). But with the manufacturing capacity now exceeding its immediate EV commitments, the Indian Tier 1 supplier is pivoting to capture a larger slice of the hybrid market.

During Q4FY26, the company won four driveline orders, including three EV programs and one hybrid program. Nevertheless, the revenue share from BEVs remained at an all-time high of 39% in Q4, growing by 22% year-over-year.

The strategic shift comes at a critical juncture for the European automotive supply chain. As regional heavyweights like Neapco Europe and AIMS fall into bankruptcy, Sona Comstar is moving to fill the vacuum, no longer limiting itself to the "EV-only" lane.

The Bandwidth Breakthrough

For a company that counts 71% of its Rs 23,500 crore ($2.8 billion) lifetime order book in the EV segment, the focus on hybrids indicates a significant broadening of its "Axis X" strategy—selling existing products to more customers.

"We were very focused on EV only because at that time our demand was so high and the programmes that we ran were so numerous that we could only undertake those developments," Sona Comstar Managing Director and Group CEO Vivek Vikram Singh said. "Now that our capacity has finally outstripped demand and we have the bandwidth, we can start focusing on hybrids as well."

"The hybrid program wins reinforce our view that hybrids are an opportunity for us, not a risk," Singh noted in an earlier press statement.

Direction vs. Magnitude

To the uninitiated, shifting from EV to hybrid components might seem like a major engineering hurdle. In the world of drivelines, the system that sends power from the motor to the wheels, Singh argues the transition is more about scale than a change in core technology.

"When you make powertrain or drivetrain products, EV or hybrid, both are basically just a question of magnitude," Singh explained. "Direction is the same in that you are making far higher-torque drivelines and motorised rather than engine-driven powertrains."

In simpler terms, both hybrids and EVs use electric motors that deliver power instantly, creating massive force (torque) that traditional internal combustion components are not built to handle. Because Sona Comstar already specialises in these mission-critical high-torque systems, moving into hybrids is a natural extension of its existing expertise.

Investment in Fungible Capacity

The company’s ability to pivot so quickly is rooted in its investment in fungible capacity. While many European rivals invested in non-fungible lines, factories tied to a single customer or a specific vehicle program, Sona Comstar and a few other Indian Tier 1 suppliers built multipurpose production lines.

"It is by design that we want to build a business that, when disruption happens, forget being resilient," Singh noted. "When disruption happens, we should gain."

Customs Department Pushes AEO Adoption Among Auto Ancillary Firms

Kiran Murali — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:40:38

The customs department has urged MSMEs and auto ancillary companies to adopt the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, noting that the scheme can help reduce logistics costs and improve cargo movement as manufacturers face global supply chain disruptions.

Speaking at an industry event organised by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association, Manish Mohan Govil, principal commissioner at the Directorate of Logistics, Customs and Central Excise under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, said companies registered under the programme could benefit from faster customs clearance, lower cargo inspections and deferred duty payments.

“If you are a company which fulfils certain criteria, in that case, you get certain advantages from the government,” Govil said.

He said the benefits include “faster customs clearance, reduced customs examination of cargo, deferred duty payments, priority during port congestion, direct port delivery, and mutual recognition agreements with other countries.”

“Overall, what it leads to is the reduction of transaction costs,” he added.

The government has been trying to encourage wider participation in trade facilitation schemes, particularly among MSMEs and ancillary manufacturers that form a key part of India’s automotive supply chain.

The AEO programme is a voluntary initiative designed to secure and facilitate legitimate international trade. It is implemented by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs under the World Customs Organisation’s SAFE Framework.

Govil said many government programmes often see limited participation from industry despite their potential benefits. “The problem is that certain budget announcements are made, and we find that the industry doesn't come forward to take these programmes,” he said.

According to him, the reasons could include a lack of awareness, procedural bottlenecks, higher onboarding costs, and concerns over whether the schemes suit existing business models.

He urged industry members to share feedback with customs officials to improve implementation and make the programmes more useful for businesses.

The customs department also highlighted the government’s new Eligible Manufacturing Scheme (EMI), announced in the Budget, which offers benefits such as deferred duty payments aimed at easing working capital pressures for manufacturers.

Govil said India was also moving towards a more technology-driven customs framework, including a new customs integrated system and wider use of cargo-scanning infrastructure at ports.

He said the measures were aimed at improving trade efficiency and supporting industry growth amid global uncertainties.

Eicher Pro X EV Completes Kashmir-To-Kanyakumari Run Under Full Load

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:06:02

Eicher Trucks and Buses has completed a Kashmir-to-Kanyakumari endurance run with its Pro X electric commercial vehicle, as part of a campaign aimed at demonstrating the real-world viability of electric CVs in India.

According to the company, the Eicher Pro X EV travelled 4,100km from Lal Chowk in Srinagar to Kanyakumari in six days under fully loaded conditions, becoming what it claims is the first and fastest electric commercial vehicle to complete the route in such conditions. The journey has been recognised with four entries in the India Book of Records.

The route covered a mix of terrains, including highways, hilly sections, ghats and coastal roads, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 40°C. Eicher stated that the vehicle relied on public charging infrastructure accessed through the MyEicher App during the expedition.

The campaign, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, also involved content creator Raman Nayak of Behind The Wheels, who documented the trip through a multi-episode video series distributed across YouTube and social media platforms. Regional creators along the route were also engaged to create local-language content around the journey.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV – Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions.” He added that the initiative was intended to build confidence in electric mobility through demonstrable performance rather than conventional product messaging.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said the company aimed to move beyond conventional product communication by demonstrating the vehicle’s capability through a real-world long-distance journey.

Eicher said the campaign aligns with broader industry and government discussions around logistics efficiency and electrification, including the Gati Shakti initiative and India’s Net Zero 2070 target.

Mahindra Deploys AI Voice Agents for XUV 7XO Customer Outreach

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:50:06

Mahindra & Mahindra has deployed AI-powered voice agents developed with ElevenLabs to support customer outreach during the launch of the XUV 7XO SUV. The company said the deployment was aimed at handling increased inquiry volumes and outbound lead engagement associated with major vehicle launches.

The initiative was led by Mahindra AI, the group’s artificial intelligence division, which focuses on applying AI across business operations and customer engagement processes. According to the company, the AI voice agents were deployed during the XUV 7XO launch on January 5 and were used to conduct outbound calls with prospective buyers.

Mahindra stated that the voice agents were capable of handling multi-turn conversations, responding to customer queries, and routing leads to dealerships. The deployment was powered by ElevenLabs’ voice AI platform, which the companies said enabled low-latency and natural-sounding interactions at scale.

Manjari Upadhye, Chief Marketing Officer, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd, said the partnership was intended to help the company manage customer conversations during periods of peak demand and support dealership lead routing.

Karthik Rajaram, GM and Country Head, India, ElevenLabs, said the deployment handled thousands of concurrent calls across multiple languages during the launch period.

According to the companies, the deployment resulted in higher contact rates and an estimated 8 per cent uplift in conversions, while also generating additional qualified inquiries. Mahindra AI said it plans to expand the use of AI voice agents across other customer engagement workflows within the automotive business following the XUV 7XO deployment.

Honda Adds E-Clutch Technology to NX500 Adventure Tourer

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:25:08

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has introduced its E-Clutch technology on the NX500 adventure touring motorcycle in India. The updated model is priced at ₹7,43,900 (ex-showroom, All India), with bookings opening across Honda BigWing dealerships from May 11, 2026.

The E-Clutch system electronically manages clutch engagement during starts, gear shifts and stops, reducing the need for manual clutch operation in traffic and during long-distance riding. Riders can still override the system manually when required.

Honda says the addition is aimed at improving riding comfort in urban conditions while retaining the conventional riding feel associated with manual motorcycles. Commenting on the launch, Tsutsumu Otani, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said the technology is intended to “enhance comfort and control across both urban and touring environments in India, by reducing rider fatigue, while retaining the engaging, hands-on riding experience.”

The NX500 continues to use a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine paired with a 6-speed gearbox. Honda says the engine has been tuned for stronger low- and mid-range torque delivery while maintaining linear power at higher RPMs.

Cycle parts include a steel diamond frame, Showa SFF-BP upside-down front forks, preload-adjustable rear monoshock, dual front disc brakes, rear disc brake and dual-channel ABS. The motorcycle rides on a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel setup.

Other equipment includes a 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) and full-LED lighting. The NX500 will be available in Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Horizon White colour options.

Tata Sierra Crosses 30,000 Sales, Becomes Third Highest-Selling SUV for Tata Motors Since January

Ajit Dalvi — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:09:28

Tata Motors, which opened FY2027 with sales of 59,000 passenger vehicles, up 30.5% YoY (April 2025: 45,199 units), continues to ride the strong wave of demand for its SUVs. Its six-pack of SUVs comprising the Nexon, Punch, Safari, Harrier, Punch and the recently launched Sierra, clocked wholesales of 49,964 units in April 2026, up 49% YoY (April 2025: 33,454 SUVs). Year on year, the monthly share of SUVs has increased to 85% in April 2026 compared to 74% in April 2025. What has added tailwinds to Tata SUV sales is the launch of the Tata Sierra on November 25 last year.
Wholesale data reveals that the new Tata Sierra, the modern avatar of the iconic model sold between 1991 and 2003, has cumulatively sold an estimated 30,713 units since December 2025, when factory dispatches to Tata Motors’ showrooms began, followed by deliveries to customers from January 15 this year.

With 30,713 units sold since launch, the Tata Sierra accounts for an 12% share of Tata Motors’ wholesales of 255,442 SUVs in the past five months.

Within Tata Motors’ SUV portfolio, the Sierra is positioned between the Curvv and the Harrier, and goes head-to-head against the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara and Victoris, Renault Duster, Toyota Hyryder, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor and Citroen Aircross X.
In the short span of a little over four months, the Sierra (30,713 units) has become the third highest-selling SUV for Tata Motors after the Nexon and Punch compact siblings and accounts for a 12% share of the 255,442 SUVs the company dispatched between December 2025 and April 2026.
While the Nexon (100,106 units) tops with a 39% share, the Punch (94,069 units) has a 37% share. The Harrier (14,556 units, 6% share) is ranked fourth, followed by the Safari (8,468 units, 3% share) and the Curvv (7,530 units, 3% share).
The Tata Sierra, crowned Autocar India’s Car of the Year 2026 as well as the winner of the Best Design & Styling, Viewer’s Choice for Car of the Year and the Midsize SUV of the Year awards, had impressed the jury with its premium, well-appointed cabin, a wide spread of powertrain options and a design that turns heads. Clearly, this is now playing out in the real-world market where the value-conscious buyer is keen on the latest Tata SUV in town.
Pricing for the 24-variant Tata Sierra starts from Rs 11.49 lakh through to Rs 21.29 lakh (ex-showroom). In terms of powertrain, the Sierra debuts Tata’s all-new 1.5-litre direct injection turbo-petrol engine and also has the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options on offer with manual and automatic transmissions. Fuel efficiency depends on the engine and transmission options. As per ARAI, the petrol variants deliver 16-18kpl, while the diesel variants deliver better fuel efficiency of 18-20kpl.

Tata Sierra impresses with its premium, well-appointed cabin, a wide spread of powertrain options and a design that turns heads.

Sierra Goes Big on the Desirability Quotient
The feature-laden Sierra is big on the desirability quotient, which is key in the SUV segment. It comes with dual-tone 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with a full-width LED light bar on top, panoramic sunroof, flush-type door handles, a powered tailgate, segment-first three-screen setup: one for instrumentation and two for infotainment, Dolby Atmos, rear window sunshades, Boss mode functionality for the front passenger seat and more.
The safety features include six airbags as standard, Level 2 ADAS, traction control, front and rear disc brakes, 360-deg camera, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, electronic parking brake with auto hold, hill hold assist, and more.
The surging demand for the Tata Sierra, which has over 100,000 bookings, means that Tata Motors has had to ramp up production. It is understood that the company plans ramp up this midsize SUV’s monthly production to around 15,000 units over the next six months. It is understood that the Sierra, at present, has a waiting period of three to four months.

Bajaj Group Marks 100 Years; PM Modi Highlights Role in India’s Economic Journey

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:52:40

The Bajaj Group marked 100 years since its founding at a centenary event held in Mumbai on May 11, 2026, bringing together business leaders, government representatives and members of the Bajaj family.

Founded by Jamnalal Bajaj in 1926 during the pre-independence era, the group today operates across automobiles, financial services, electricals and engineering. According to the company, the conglomerate has more than 100 companies, exports to more than 100 countries, and employs more than 130,000 people.

In a message issued for the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the group had remained part of India’s industrial and economic landscape through multiple phases of national development. “A hundred years is a significant journey for any institution. It reflects not only longevity, but also the ability to adapt to changing times, contribute to economic growth and remain relevant across generations,” Modi said in his message to the Bajaj family.

He added that the group had “played an important role in nation-building by creating jobs, fostering innovation and supporting community development.”

The event at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai included speeches by senior members of the Bajaj family, a performance by composer Ricky Kej, the screening of a film on Jamnalal Bajaj and Mahatma Gandhi directed by Rajkumar Hirani, and the unveiling of a centenary logo.

Speaking at the event, Niraj Bajaj, Chairman of Bajaj Auto, said the company’s trajectory had evolved alongside India’s industrial development. “The story of Bajaj and the story of India have never really been separate,” he said, adding that the group’s long-standing focus had been to “Build in India. Build for India. And build India.”

Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, referred to the company’s international presence and its partnership with KTM. “Today, Bajaj Auto is not just one of India’s largest two-wheeler companies. It is among the top three globally,” he said.

Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv, said technology and artificial intelligence would influence the next phase of growth in financial services and inclusion. “At Bajaj, we don’t see AI only as a technology trend. We see it as a powerful force that will further financial inclusion,” he said.

The group also said its social initiatives in areas such as education, healthcare, livelihoods and youth skilling have reached more than 10 million beneficiaries so far.