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Cosmo First diversifies into paint protection film and ceramic coatings

Autocar Professional Bureau — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:23:00

The Aurangabad, Maharashtra-headquartered Cosmo First that operates in several industries, including packaging materials and window sunfilm, has diversified into emerging automotive aftermarket products such as paint-protection films (PPFs) and ceramic coatings, with a new entity, Cosmo Consumer.

The move is in line with its plans to tap into growth opportunities that can leverage Cosmo First’s over 40-year-old expertise in packaging materials and specialty chemicals, with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Aurangabad as well as an integrated R&D centre.

The company, which kicked off operations in April 2025, caters to the end consumer with a product portfolio of automotive paint-protection solutions, including two PPF variants – Gold and Platinum – as well as a range of ceramic coating solutions, positioned at multiple price points. While the in-house developed Gold PPF claims a five-year warranty, the Platinum comes with a lifetime warranty. The films are priced in the range of Rs 100,000-150,000, depending on the vehicle size and PPF version.

The company currently retails its products through a distribution network of 75 distributors and nearly 500 retail outlets across India, and claims to register a strong demand for its offerings. Cosmo Consumer aspires to emerge as a top brand in the emerging domain of PPF and ceramic coatings, which are witnessing strong growth in India and overseas.

As per studies, the PPF market in India is expected to grow at a 7-8% CAGR over the next five years, and globally, the same could be anticipated in the 5-10% growth rate, with developed economies such as the US, Middle East, and Europe promising strong demand for aftermarket paint protection solutions as buyers move towards more premium and expensive cars.

Cosmo First estimates a market size of about Rs 200-300 crore (annually) for PPF in India, and a more mature category for ceramic coatings to the tune of Rs 800-1200 crore annual revenue potential. Cosmo Consumer says both segments are highly unorganised, and therefore, the right product positioning and awareness are key to drive growth in the category.

Speaking to Autocar Professional, Abhineesh Das, Business Head, Cosmo Consumer, said: “We intend to reach as many end consumers as possible, and explain the benefits of our product. That is how we intend to create a super brand with Cosmo PPF.”

Cosmo Consumer is betting big on its product capabilities and competitive pricing, along with an aggressive marketing strategy to strengthen its reach and positioning in the PPF market. The company aims to clock Rs 30-50 crore revenue from its PPF offerings over the next two-year timeframe. Since it began operations in April 2025, Cosmo Consumer says it has witnessed robust traction for its products at the primary level, with Tier-1 cities being the main demand drivers for PPF.

“Having said that, we intend to be aggressive in Tier-2 cities as well, as these geographies will soon catch up with the metros, with the growing affordability of the buyer becoming a key driving factor,” Das highlighted.

“We are hungry for more growth and therefore, continue to expand our product portfolio. In this regard, our robust R&D setup that allows us to leverage synergies from Cosmo First’s specialty chemicals business, is giving us a distinct advantage to enter new segments, while enhancing the performance of our existing products,” he added.

Built with thermoplastic polyurethane, Cosmo's paint protection films provide durability, flexibility and self-healing properties while offering a lifetime warranty.

High-quality products
The company says with a highly unorganised market, there are a lot of sub-standard products with unverified claims of durability, wherein customers are misled towards low-quality films that are made with inferior TPU materials that tend to turn yellow under prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays.

For Cosmo First, while the company locally manufactures window sunshade films at its mother factory in Aurangabad in Maharashtra, it is currently getting its PPF products contract manufactured overseas. However, as per Das, the idea is to bring it in-house within the next 12-18 month timeframe, albeit only focusing on the local assembly of the adhesive and self-healing layers on the fully-imported TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane.

PPF comprises three layers – the central layer consisting of the TPU, which, on one side is treated with a self-healing coating and an adhesive layer on the other side. While a cap sheet is applied to the final product to ensure its durability during transportation and logistics, a liner is put on the adhesive side to prevent it from getting activated inadvertently. The manufacturing process involves heat curing at moderate temperatures as well.

Cosmo Consumer says its in-house developed paint-protection films are manufactured using high-quality TPU resins being supplied by global players such as Lubrizol, Covestro, and BASF, and that it will focus on strengthening its positioning by spreading awareness about Cosmo’s unique product attributes within the PPF domain. “There are not too many credible products in the affordable range and that is the gap we intend to fill with our products,” pointed out Das.

The company says that with the increasing foray of high-quality products in the market, the low-quality options will have to move out or upgrade to better product standards. According to experts, TPU resin is the key cost component leading to the high pricing of most high-quality and durable PPF products in the market, where, in case of India, the country presently sees PPF getting imported majorly from the US, China, and Korea.

“We are fighting for a space in the branded market, and intend to increase the size of the branded-PPF market itself. Cosmo Consumer aims to command a 25% market share of the PPF market in the next two years,” outlined Das.

Cosmo Consumer is also eyeing tapping into export opportunities with PPF, and aims to leverage its existing overseas infrastructure of warehouses and offices to distribute its products. “While our primary focus will be on the domestic market, we see in-house manufacturing aiding the export potential of these products from India,” he said.

Globally, the demand for PPF is going up, and Cosmo Consumer is eyeing markets such as the Middle East and Europe, where the volume of high-end vehicles is quite high. “India too is reflecting global trends where the adoption rate of PPF is higher in the premium-segment cars, than the entry-level category, where the consumer is more price sensitive,” Das pointed out.

With growing consumer interest in keeping their rides shiny and clean to reflect their personality, Cosmo Consumer is also eyeing strong growth in gloss-enhancing ceramic coating treatments, as well as sunshields which offer UV-block characteristics, and aim to keep the vehicle cabin cooler than the ambient temperature.

Cosmo First diversifies into paint protection film and ceramic coatings

Autocar Professional Bureau — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:23:00

Built with thermoplastic polyurethane, Cosmo's paint protection films provide durability, flexibility and self-healing properties while offering a lifetime warranty.

JSW MG Motor India confident of selling 1,000 M9 electric MPVs in first year

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:38:35

Gurugram-headquartered JSW MG Motor India, which is gearing up to launch its latest all-electric model – the MG M9 EV – is betting big on the product’s capabilities to carve out a slice for itself in the fast-growing luxury MPV segment in the country. According to sources, the company aims to achieve the 1,000-unit sales milestone in the first year itself, and is confident that it can take on the segment leader, the uber-luxurious Toyota Vellfire which clocked wholesales of 1,155 units in FY2025, registering stellar 189% year-on-year growth (FY2024: 400 units).

The MG M9 will also compete with similar luxury vans such as the Kia Carnival, Kia EV9, and the Lexus LM, albeit with a major differentiation in the form of an EV-only drivetrain. With nearly 70% of JSW MG Motor India's volumes being contributed by EVs, the company has a distinct advantage over its peers, when it comes to understanding the nuances of this zero-tailpipe-emission technology, which has the backing of its parent – SAIC Motor.

According to JSW MG Motor India, the company is venturing into India's luxury MPV segment with a vision to redefine the category, and with a fully-electric offering in the MG M9, it will blend its commitment to EVs with its core philosophy of meeting the sustainability mission.

With the M9, the company is foraying into the country's luxury car category, which is on an upswing and driven by rising consumer aspirations, growing incomes, and an overall trend of premiumisation in India’s passenger vehicle market. The luxury car segment recorded moderate 6% year-on-year growth in FY2025, after registering three successive years of double-digit growth.

Leveraging its proven track record of introducing advanced, fully-electric offerings like the MG Windsor, Comet, and ZS EV, the company will differentiate itself from its key competitors in the luxury car segment with an EV-only gameplan at the onset, wherein the MG M9 and MG Cyberster which is a two-seater all-electric sports coupe, will kickstart its new innings in the Indian market.

Pushing the premium EV envelope with the MG M9
The seven-seater MG M9 is the longest luxury MPV in India with a focus on absolute space, comfort, and a premium experience. The M9 is 5.2 metres long and 2 metres wide, bigger than the Toyota Vellfire, which measures 5.05 metres and 1.85 metres, respectively. MG’s latest MPV also features a segment-best wheelbase of 3.2 metres, whereas the Toyota’s stands at being 3-metre long.

In terms of design, the MG M9 bears the shape of a typical large van with a tall roof, and large windows. MG says it has focused on a minimalist design language, with most body panels bearing clean lines that are accentuated with highlights such as large chrome door handles, subtle chrome touches, sleek LED headlights, and multi-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels. The car also features waterfall-styled large LED tail lamps, whereas there is a monoblock face upfront, giving it a characteristic EV signature. MG will offer the M9 in three distinct colour options: Metal Black, Concrete Grey, and Pearl Lustre White.

On the inside, the cabin is replete with high-quality swede and leather materials with cognac brown colour palette for the upholstery. The second row of the M9 features two business-class-styled captain seats, equipped with 16 adjustability functions along with heating, ventilation and massage features. Second row occupants can also control the AC, infotainment, and ambient lighting, among other functions, using a touch panel housed on the armrest of every seat.

One-touch sliding rear doors, twin sunroofs, three-zone climate control, a 12.23-inch infotainment system, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and memory seats are some of the premium features that aim to enhance the occupant experience inside the M9’s cabin.

Powering the M9 is a 90kWh NMC battery pack that supports up to 160kW DC fast charging to gain 30-80% charge in under 30 minutes. The MPV is driven by a 245hp, 350Nm electric motor that powers the front wheels to pull the M9 with brisk acceleration despite its heavy kerb weight. Despite its size, the MPV feels extremely composed at speeds, with the suspension tuned to offer a pliant ride quality. However, some more suppleness to the back-seat ride quality could have made the drive plusher, that is further complemented by the creature comforts such as the massage seats, panoramic sunroof, and JBL sound system . . . all best experienced in a chauffeur-driven mode.

The MG M9 also scores high on safety with a suite of active and passive safety technologies such as Level-2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot detection system. There are seven airbags that come standard, and along with high- and ultra-high-strength steel construction, has scored five stars under the Euro and Australian NCAP tests.

MG M9 will be sold from a brand-new retail channel, MG Select, initially in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Premium Retail Network
This next phase of growth for the MG brand in India will be marked by the emergence of a brand-new retail channel – MG Select – catering solely to the premium segment with state-of-the-art standalone outlets. The company had already showcased its premium showroom concept at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year, and will initially target 13 cities in the country.

The new MG Select outlets, based on a minimalist theme, will aim to highlight the product, while focusing on offering a premium retail experience to customers who will also get to indulge in curated fine art. The company will open MG Select showrooms in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata with the launch of the MG M9, which will be soon followed by the MG Cyberster. The entire exercise will be completed by September 2025.

In its quest to ensure a premium, and top-notch customer experience, JSW MG Motor India is also giving new dealer principals such as Jubilant, an opportunity to make a mark in the automotive retail business by investing into MG Select outlets. According to the company, new dealer principals are likely to be more committed to quality, as well as customer service to gain reputation and future business.

Despite its size, the MPV feels extremely composed at speeds, with the suspension tuned to offer a pliant ride quality.

Bullish on domestic market demand
With a differentiated product and targeted audience, JSW MG Motor India is confident about the M9’s opportunity in the market which has already showcased strong demand for luxury MPVs. The company is eyeing high net-worth individuals such as business owners, CXOs, and filmstars as its potential clientele for MG Select and the M9.

The company also sees strong potential in the hospitality industry, wherein five- and seven-star hotels promise good demand for the M9 MPV to ferry business travellers as well as tourists to and from the airport. JSW MG Motor India, which has commenced pre-bookings for the M9, claims to have received a robust order pipeline already for the luxury MPV that will be locally assembled in India under the semi-knocked down or SKD format.

While a separate assembly zone has been created at its plant in Halol, Gujarat, JSW MG Motor India is keen to ensure the highest standards of assembly quality to dispatch a flawless vehicle to its customers. Therefore, the company foresees rising wait times becoming an inadvertent challenge in the future once it launches the M9, at an expectedly aggressive price tag that could be in the range of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh, ex-showroom.

According to company sources, the M9 also remains unaffected by the rare-earth material shortage impacting the broader Indian automotive industry in general, as the company is importing most of the electronics and high-voltage components from China in a completely-built form rather than in raw materials, and then locally manufacturing in India.

JSW MG Motor India is realising strong hopes from the M9 MPV which will mark the next chapter in the company’s highly successful journey in India, where it has already become a household name, and is aspiring for a 33% EV market share by 2030, with an aggressive gameplan of launching one new product every six months.

ALSO READ:
MG Windsor EV sales cross 30,000 units in 9 months since launch

JSW MG Motor India confident of selling 1,000 M9 electric MPVs in first year

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:38:35

MG M9 will be sold from a brand-new retail channel, MG Select, initially in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Despite its size, the MPV feels extremely composed at speeds, with the suspension tuned to offer a pliant ride quality.

ALSO READ:
MG Windsor EV sales cross 30,000 units in 9 months since launch

JSW MG Motor India confident of selling 1,000 M9 electric MPVs in first year

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:38:35

MG M9 will be sold from a brand-new retail channel, MG Select, initially in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Bengaluru, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Despite its size, the MPV feels extremely composed at speeds, with the suspension tuned to offer a pliant ride quality.

ALSO READ:
MG Windsor EV sales cross 30,000 units in 9 months since launch

Modern Automotives targets 25% CAGR in forged components by FY2031, diversifies into e-3Ws

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:21:12

Gurugram-headquartered Modern Automotives, which is a leading supplier of powertrain, suspension and chassis components to two-wheeler, passenger vehicle, and commercial vehicle OEMs in India, is aiming at a robust 25% CAGR by FY2031.

The company, which supplies forged connecting rods, crankshafts, fork bridges, front fork assemblies, and kick-starter arms to leading two-wheeler OEMs in India, is betting big on the growth potential of the domestic market, while targeting to increase the value of its components by transitioning into becoming a systems integrator. For instance, the company has recently started manufacturing front fork assemblies for scooters and motorcycles.

Modern Automotives is also adopting new manufacturing competencies such as cold forming, which will allow it to strengthen its market position in its existing product categories, while making it diversify into more sectors such as aerospace and defence. It plans to manufacture cold-formed splined shafts, toothed sized gears, as well as heat sinks (from aluminium and copper forming) and deep-extruded transmission shafts from this new cold-forming system that will cater to demand from the automotive, electronics and thermal engineering segments.

Modern Automotives aims to grow its annual forging capacity that currently stands at 36,000 metric tonnes, to 60,000 metric tonnes by FY2031.

Left: The plant in Punjab's Mandi Gobindgarh manufactures connecting rods, crankshafts, pistons, and front fork assemblies for 2W OEMs. Right: State-of-the-art heat treatment machines produce strong and durable forging components.

The company is setting up a new cold forming facility at its mother plant in Punjab (Mandi Gobindgarh), and will leverage it to supply high-quality forging components to its OEM customers.

While Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), India Yamaha Motor, and TVS Motor Co are some of the prime two-wheeler OEM customers for the company in the domestic market, it is also a supplier of differential pinion shafts to BMW (Germany) for its EV powertrains. As per Modern Automotives, the company has received an order worth Rs 150 crore to supply 2.5 million pinion shafts to BMW by 2034, and this will enable it to grow its exports composition to 25% of revenue by 2025.

In the passenger vehicle segment, Modern Automotives acts as a Tier-2 supplier to Honda Cars India, wherein it provides the gears to Musashi Auto Parts India for assembling the carmaker’s 5-speed manual transmission, while also supplying a range of products such as steering arms, steering knuckles, and tie-rods to other OEMs in the country.

In FY2025, Modern Automotives clocked Rs 500 crore, and the company aims to triple its revenue over the next five years. While its EBITDA margins presently stand at 13%, it aims to scale it to 20% level in this period. “Profitability is key to our business and we make any fresh investment with an RoI target of 3-4 years. We are investing Rs 150 crore in FY26, and spend around 2-3% of our topline into R&D every year,” Aditya Goyal, MD, Modern Automotives, told Autocar Professional.

“We aim to register a 25% CAGR over the next five years, and are planning to grow its annual forging capacity from 36,000 metric tonnes to 60,000 metric tonnes by FY31,” he added while pointing out that automation and Industry 4.0 deployment are some of the key measures to augment efficiencies within its existing plants in Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Manesar.

ENTERING THE ELECTRIC 3W BUSINESS, PARTNERING HONDA POWER PACKOn September 9, 2024 – World EV Day – Bhago Mobility tied up with Honda Power Pack Energy India to incorporate Honda e:Swap’s cutting-edge battery swap technology in its electric three-wheelers

The company has also kicked off another venture – Bhago Mobility – a fleet of L5 electric three-wheelers that are deployed as a pilot in Bengaluru and Delhi for carrying goods and passengers for last-mile mobility operations. The e-mobility venture has seen an initial investment in the range of Rs 15-20 crore towards R&D, and strategically expanding fleet operations.

On September 9, 2024 – World EV Day – Bhago Mobility tied up with Honda Power Pack Energy India to incorporate Honda e:Swap’s cutting-edge battery swap technology in its electric three-wheelers, where discharged batteries can be replaced with fully charged batteries within minutes to enable EV fleets with maximum uptime. According to the company, these vehicles with swappable battery packs will be stationed within a 10km radius of every metro station in Bengaluru and Delhi, offering reliable, convenient and sustainable mobility services.

According to Goyal, the larger goal is to transform the last-mile logistics and mobility categories with more sustainable, affordable, and profitable means of transportation, which will help micro-entrepreneurs unlock potential to grow their income. At present, Bhago Mobility’s L5 three-wheelers deploy swappable lithium-ion battery packs from Honda e:swap, and the company is working on introducing various technology-led solutions such as sun-powered charging hubs, and fleet optimisation to drive efficiency.

Goyal is also keen on venturing into a spree of acquisitions next year, and armed with a war chest of around Rs 500 crore, aims to strike strategic or technology-centric acquisitions under the Modern Automotives umbrella to steer the company towards future growth led by product innovation and technology upgradation.

ALSO READ: Electric 3W sales grow to over 360,000 units in first-half CY2025, eat into CNG 3W market

India beats China again to be world’s largest electric 3W market

Modern Automotives targets 25% CAGR in forged components by FY2031, diversifies into e-3Ws

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:21:12

Modern Automotives aims to grow its annual forging capacity that currently stands at 36,000 metric tonnes, to 60,000 metric tonnes by FY2031.

The company is setting up a new cold forming facility at its mother plant in Punjab (Mandi Gobindgarh), and will leverage it to supply high-quality forging components to its OEM customers.

ALSO READ: Electric 3W sales grow to over 360,000 units in first-half CY2025, eat into CNG 3W market

India beats China again to be world’s largest electric 3W market

Modern Automotives targets 25% CAGR in forged components by FY2031, diversifies into e-3Ws

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:21:12

Modern Automotives aims to grow its annual forging capacity that currently stands at 36,000 metric tonnes, to 60,000 metric tonnes by FY2031.

The company is setting up a new cold forming facility at its mother plant in Punjab (Mandi Gobindgarh), and will leverage it to supply high-quality forging components to its OEM customers.

ALSO READ: Electric 3W sales grow to over 360,000 units in first-half CY2025, eat into CNG 3W market

India beats China again to be world’s largest electric 3W market

Modern Automotives targets 25% CAGR in forged components by FY2031, diversifies into e-3Ws

Autocar Professional Bureau — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:21:12

Modern Automotives aims to grow its annual forging capacity that currently stands at 36,000 metric tonnes, to 60,000 metric tonnes by FY2031.

The company is setting up a new cold forming facility at its mother plant in Punjab (Mandi Gobindgarh), and will leverage it to supply high-quality forging components to its OEM customers.

ALSO READ: Electric 3W sales grow to over 360,000 units in first-half CY2025, eat into CNG 3W market

India beats China again to be world’s largest electric 3W market

VinFast’s second plant in Vietnam goes on stream ahead of India factory

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:28:53

June 29 saw VinFast officially inaugurate the VinFast Ha Tinh Electric Car Factory in Vung Ang Economic Zone, Vietnam, less than seven months after starting the project. Spread across 360,000 square metres and with a manufacturing capacity of 200,000 vehicles per annum, this is the fifth manufacturing plant for the Vietnamese electric car maker. Its other plants include the facilities in the USA, Indonesia and the one coming up in India.

The VinFast Ha Tinh Electric Car Factory is spread across 360,000 square metres, including the main functional subdivisions of shell welding workshop, painting workshop, assembly workshop, logistics warehouse and quality inspection centre. In addition, an auxiliary factory cluster with a total area of 240,000 square metres is also being built and will continue to be expanded in the following years.

VinFast states that the VinFast Ha Tinh has the most modern production line in Southeast Asia, with a high degree of automation, applying advanced technology from the world's leading partners such as ABB, Durr, Fanuc and Siemens. The entire production process complies with international standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and IATF 16949 (International Automotive Quality Management System).

In the first stage, to optimise production, the VinFast Ha Tinh factory will focus on producing small urban EVs such as the VF 3, Minio Green, EC Van and a number of new models that are on the development roadmap. Products from the VinFast Ha Tinh factory will cater to both the domestic and export markets.

Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice-Chairman and General Director of Vingroup said: "The inauguration of the VinFast Ha Tinh factory is an important milestone in VinFast's long-term development strategy and global production scale. When put into operation, VinFast Ha Tinh factory will contribute to VinFast towards the goal of producing a million vehicles per year to meet the increasing demand of domestic and foreign markets. This is also a clear demonstration of VinFast's ability to master technology, production autonomy and pioneering vision in promoting sustainable transportation trends in Vietnam and around the world."

In the first five months of 2025, VinFast has sold over 56,000 EVs and has the largest electric car market share in Vietnam, with the VF 3, VF 5 and VF 6 being the best-selling products. VinFast electric cars are also popular in the Philippines and Indonesia.

VinFast has begun showcasing its electric SUVs, the VF 7 and VF 6, at leading shopping malls across 11 states and cities in India.

Vinfast India plant slated to begin production soon
Vinfast India, which had the ground-breaking of its integrated EV plant at Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu on February 25, 2024, is billed to have a manufacturing capacity of 150,000 EVs per annum and generate employment opportunities for up to 3,500 people.

The Thoothukudi plant will begin with CKD operations and a 50,000-units-per-annum capacity, gradually expanding to 150,000 units while expanding its model line-up from the premium to mass market EVs.

Recognising the strong demand for SUVs in India, Vinfast India will initially assemble the VF7 and VF6 midsize electric SUVs planned for introduction in the domestic market ahead of the festive season which begins in September this year.

In an effort to create brand as well as customer awareness about VinFast and its EVs, the company has from June 21 begun showcasing its vehicles at high-traffic malls in key Indian cities, giving potential customers the opportunity to get an up-close look at the VF 7 and VF 6, which were first displayed at the Bharat Mobility Expo in January 2025..

VinFast would be keen to do well in India, which is the world’s third-largest automobile market and remains one of the fastest-growing global economies despite the current geopolitical turmoil. The India project is the Vietnamese EV OEM’s strategic plan designed to cater to both the domestic Indian market as well as made-in-India EV exports to South Asian, Middle Eastern and African markets. Furthermore, given the strength of the Indian automotive component manufacturing ecosystem, the India project is also a key part of VinFast’s overall goal to strengthen its supply chain for global expansion.

ALSO READ: Electric car and SUV sales in India jump 44% in first 5 months of 2025 to 60,000 units

Electric car and SUV sales hit highest level in FY2025: 107,500 units

Two-wheeler share of EV sales grows to 58% in FY2025

VinFast’s second plant in Vietnam goes on stream ahead of India factory

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:28:53

VinFast has begun showcasing its electric SUVs, the VF 7 and VF 6, at leading shopping malls across 11 states and cities in India.

The Thoothukudi plant will begin with CKD operations and a 50,000-units-per-annum capacity, gradually expanding to 150,000 units while expanding its model line-up from the premium to mass market EVs.

ALSO READ: Electric car and SUV sales in India jump 44% in first 5 months of 2025 to 60,000 units

Electric car and SUV sales hit highest level in FY2025: 107,500 units

Two-wheeler share of EV sales grows to 58% in FY2025

VinFast’s second plant in Vietnam goes on stream ahead of India factory

Autocar Professional Bureau — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:28:53

VinFast has begun showcasing its electric SUVs, the VF 7 and VF 6, at leading shopping malls across 11 states and cities in India.

The Thoothukudi plant will begin with CKD operations and a 50,000-units-per-annum capacity, gradually expanding to 150,000 units while expanding its model line-up from the premium to mass market EVs.

ALSO READ: Electric car and SUV sales in India jump 44% in first 5 months of 2025 to 60,000 units

Electric car and SUV sales hit highest level in FY2025: 107,500 units

Two-wheeler share of EV sales grows to 58% in FY2025

Continental exits TBR market in India, shifts focus to car and SUV radials

Autocar Professional Bureau — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:17:48

German tyre manufacturer Continental has pulled the plug on its local manufacturing of truck-and-bus radials (TBRs) in India. The company, which saw the business struggling due to the extreme price sensitivity of the TBR segment, took the tough call and finally ceased TBR manufacturing operations at its Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh) plant on June 2.

The TBR section of the plant will now be repurposed to produce large tyres – above 20-inch size – to cater to the growing number of SUVs and luxury cars in India. In a recent interaction with Autocar Professional, Samir Gupta, MD, Continental Tires India, revealed that the company had been critically evaluating its business, including manufacturing operations for quite some time. “What we found out is that the TBR segment is a highly cost-sensitive category, and despite being able to deliver some best-in-class products, there was less consumer willingness to pay for those tyres due to intense competition from regional players.”

Samir Gupta, MD, Continental Tires India: “More UVs and premium cars are now being sold and a premiumisation trend is sweeping the market, and that means tyre sizes are going up. This aligns with our overall strategy and competency of making bigger car tyres.”

“Therefore, while we were able to generate value for the customer, it was getting difficult to achieve profitable growth in the segment,” Gupta highlighted as the key concern for the company’s exit from the TBR tyre category in the Indian market.

Continental will now shift its India focus towards passenger-car radials (PCR) or in the company’s global terminology – passenger and light-truck (PLT) tyres – which are delivering robust business growth.

“On the other hand, when we see the PLT business, it is a completely different business dynamic, wherein the whole environment looks very positive. When we see the passenger vehicle industry in India, the vehicles are changing significantly, and more utility vehicles and premium cars are now being sold in the market. Overall, there is a premiumisation trend which is sweeping the market, and that means tyre sizes are going up. This aligns with our overall strategy and competency of making bigger car tyres,” Gupta said.

New passenger and light-truck tyre line at Modipuram plant
Continental has announced plans to invest Rs 100 crore into the Modipuram facility in Meerut to instal machines and transform the erstwhile TBR line into one that will roll out passenger car and SUV tyres over the course of the next 18-24 months, which, as per Gupta, is the normal gestation period that it takes for readying such a manufacturing line.

The new PLT line at Modipuram will add incremental volumes to Continental’s overall PLT capacity, and according to Gupta, “we are expecting a double-digit percentage increment in our current production capacity.” He further pointed out that more than capacity, the investment will bring capability to produce bigger size passenger car and SUV tyres at this facility. “Several luxury cars and SUVs today are coming with 20-, 21-, 22-, and 23-inch tyres, and it is important that we start serving the needs of those customers, and that is why we have decided to localise even those sizes at Modipuram,” he added.

“While it may not be big today, it is the fastest growing segment in India. Based on our study, we expect the utility vehicle and premium car segment to grow at a CAGR of over 25% in the next five years in India,” pointed out Gupta.

New ZF SELECT e-drive platform gives EV makers a choice in 100 to 300 kW range

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:56:33

German technology company and supplier ZF chose its annual Tech Day 2025 to announce and reveal an array of innovations, particularly targeted at electric vehicles. With its new SELECT e-drive platform, ZF is positioning itself as the technology leader for all-electric passenger car drives in the 100 to 300 kW power range. With SELECT, ZF states that it “has redeveloped and harmonized an attractive and highly variable overall system as well as the underlying components.”

How the concept works
A newly developed electric drive based on the SELECT platform beats current series production technology in terms of efficiency, power density and other parameters.

In addition to innovations at system and component level, ZF has also designed all components of the SELECT platform in such a way that they are easier to industrialize. They are geared towards automated production methods and multi-sourcing concepts to be able to react appropriately to volatile demand and scale quickly.

Innovation vehicle EVselect, which can vary between different drive configurations while driving.

With the SELECT platform, ZF is leveraging its decades of experience in passenger car e-drives – and its in-depth knowledge of the international automotive business. "The pace of innovation in many e-drive components is enormous. Our customers want to have the latest technology available quickly – and with limited integration effort," explains Dr. Otmar Scharrer, Senior Vice-President R&D, Electrified Powertrain Technology, ZF.

"This is exactly where we come in with our SELECT platform: the overall system and components are perfectly matched to each other – at the same time, the components are interchangeable depending on requirements. We will develop future innovations for series production in such a way that they can be easily integrated into the SELECT platform." Clearly defined interfaces within the SELECT platform will also significantly reduce the development time of future electric drives.

Flexible and innovative, yet faster to develop and scalable: ZF SELECT platform is the technological basis for the technology group's future e-drives. Electric drive developed on the basis of the SELECT platform e-drive outperforms a current series solution.

Modular componentry at work
The SELECT platform consists of several component modules that make innovative technology available and at the same time ensure the high variability of the overall system. These include:

em:SELECT for all types of e-machine technologies. This includes both the tried-and-tested PSM (permanently excited synchronous machines) and ASM (asynchronous machines) and extends to new developments such as the award-winning and sustainable ZF innovation I2SM, a separately excited electric machine that is on a par with a PSM in terms of performance data;

in:SELECT for inverter technology, which is characterized by maximum power density and extremely high efficiency in 800 volt architectures;

co:SELECT for state-of-the-art converters, which are a key component for bidirectional charging – and thus underpin the increasing importance of e-vehicles for the energy transition;

rd:SELECT for reduction gears in parallel-axis and coaxial design, essential for high torque density and thus for very efficient energy use when high-speed motor concepts are required;

sw:SELECT for a software library that covers many basic functions and makes attractive connected driving functions possible.

"SELECT allows us to strike a balance between a high degree of individualization and flexibility, while at the same time speeding up development times for a quick market launch," adds Scharrer.

Platform brings new ZF benchmark
The strong performance of ZF’s SELECT modular system is evident in a newly developed e-drive focused on efficiency: a coaxial primary drive with a PSM delivering 300 kW of power and 5,500 Nm of torque.

At speeds above 100kph, it reduces losses by more than 25 percent – even compared to an already very efficient series solution. In almost all relevant parameters – from installation space and weight to costs – developers achieve better values with the SELECT platform. In addition, the new ZF development can achieve a continuous performance of 60 percent – also a value above the current industry standard.

New ZF SELECT e-drive platform gives EV makers a choice in 100 to 300 kW range

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:56:33

How the concept works
A newly developed electric drive based on the SELECT platform beats current series production technology in terms of efficiency, power density and other parameters.

Innovation vehicle EVselect, which can vary between different drive configurations while driving.

in:SELECT for inverter technology, which is characterized by maximum power density and extremely high efficiency in 800 volt architectures;

co:SELECT for state-of-the-art converters, which are a key component for bidirectional charging – and thus underpin the increasing importance of e-vehicles for the energy transition;

rd:SELECT for reduction gears in parallel-axis and coaxial design, essential for high torque density and thus for very efficient energy use when high-speed motor concepts are required;

sw:SELECT for a software library that covers many basic functions and makes attractive connected driving functions possible.

"SELECT allows us to strike a balance between a high degree of individualization and flexibility, while at the same time speeding up development times for a quick market launch," adds Scharrer.

New ZF SELECT e-drive platform gives EV makers a choice in 100 to 300 kW range

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:56:33

How the concept works
A newly developed electric drive based on the SELECT platform beats current series production technology in terms of efficiency, power density and other parameters.

Innovation vehicle EVselect, which can vary between different drive configurations while driving.

in:SELECT for inverter technology, which is characterized by maximum power density and extremely high efficiency in 800 volt architectures;

co:SELECT for state-of-the-art converters, which are a key component for bidirectional charging – and thus underpin the increasing importance of e-vehicles for the energy transition;

rd:SELECT for reduction gears in parallel-axis and coaxial design, essential for high torque density and thus for very efficient energy use when high-speed motor concepts are required;

sw:SELECT for a software library that covers many basic functions and makes attractive connected driving functions possible.

"SELECT allows us to strike a balance between a high degree of individualization and flexibility, while at the same time speeding up development times for a quick market launch," adds Scharrer.

Daimler India CV and BharatBenz deliver 200,000th truck

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 27 May 2025 07:30:58

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, has reached a new milestone: the 200,000th BharatBenz truck was recently delivered in India.

The BharatBenz commercial vehicle brand was established in 2012 and is specifically tailored to the Indian commercial vehicle market. The portfolio includes truck models ranging from 10 to 55 tonnes for a wide variety of applications, from local distribution to long-haul transport and mining, as well as various bus models. BharatBenz vehicles are sold and serviced through a nationwide network of more than 375 customer touch points.

DICV's manufacturing plant, which is home to the company's headquarters and R&D operations, is located at Oragadam, Chennai spreading over 400 acres (160 hectares) and includes a state-of-the-art test track.

The production site in Oragadam is part of the state-of-the-art global production network. Here, commercial vehicles from four different brands (BharatBenz, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, FUSO) are manufactured for more than 70 different markets in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Within the Daimler Truck Group, DICV has been assigned to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks segment under the lead of Achim Puchert, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks, since the beginning of the year.

Kia India inks MoU with IIT Tirupati to drive industry-academia collaboration

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:50:46

Kia has announced that the Kia India Regional Headquarters has signed an MoU with IIT Tirupati on May 9, 2025.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), as is well known, is a top-tier engineering education institution with 23 campuses across India. Kia India has signed the first industry-academia cooperation MOU with IIT Tirupathi, the region's top university with a campus in Andhra Pradesh, where its factory is located in Anantapur district.

Kia India Regional Headquarters will sponsor IIT Tirupathi with Rs 35 crore for five years from CY2025 through to CY2029. It plans to support various industry-academia cooperation, such as supporting the establishment of educational infrastructure, operating internship programs, opening majors specialized in the automotive industry, providing scholarships, promoting joint projects between industry and academia, and sponsoring sustainable future mobility research.

Setting up of a 'Makers Laboratory'
In particular, it supports the establishment of a state-of-the-art research space called the 'Makers Laboratory'. It is expected that students will use this space for prototype conception, design, and development for research.

Lee Kwang-koo, Executive Vice-President of Kia's India Regional Headquarters, said: "In cooperation with IIT Tirupati, we aim to nurture skilled engineers and technicians who will lead the development of sustainable mobility and industrial manufacturing."

Dr. K.N. Satyanarayana, President of IIT Tirupati, said: "We are delighted to have a future-oriented collaboration with Kia's India Regional Headquarters, and we look forward to creating meaningful innovation and empowering students to shape the future of mobility."

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Kia India inks MoU with IIT Tirupati to drive industry-academia collaboration

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:50:46

Kia has announced that the Kia India Regional Headquarters has signed an MoU with IIT Tirupati on May 9, 2025.

ALSO READ: Kia India produces 1.5 millionth vehicle, Seltos and Sonet command 81% share

Kia India sells 255,207 vehicles in FY2025, Sonet top seller with over 99,000 units

Kia India expands Carens lineup with new Carens Clavis

Bajaj Auto launches new Chetak 3503 at Rs 110,000

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:35:27

A few months after launching the all-new Chetak 35 series, Bajaj Auto has introduced the most affordable variant in its electric scooter line-up. The new Chetak 3503 is priced at Rs 110,000 and uses the same battery and new chassis as the more expensive models but gets fewer features.

The Bajaj Chetak 3503 uses the same basic architecture as the other 35 variants, which means it houses a 3.5kWh battery delivering a claimed range of 155km.

Since it also uses the same chassis as the higher variants, the 3503 also gets a big 35-litre boot. However, unlike other variants, the Chetak 3503 has a lower top speed (claimed) of 63kph.

The feature set, too, is a little simpler on the new Chetak 3503. It uses a colour LCD display with basic Bluetooth connectivity, has a longer charging time (0-80 percent SOC takes three hours and 25minutes, compared to three hours on the other Chetak 35 models), doesn’t get sequential indicators, and has a drum brake at the front unlike the disc on the other two. At the same time, it isn’t completely barebones and has the same two riding modes (Eco and Sports), hill-hold assist and the full metal body that is a hallmark of the Chetak.

With a price tag of Rs 110,000 (ex-showroom), the Bajaj Chetak 3503 sits comfortably below the 3502 (Rs 122,000) and 3503 (Rs 130,000). However, Bajaj Auto has still kept the 2903 variant, which comes with the smaller 2.9kWh battery and a 123km claimed range, on sale. Priced at Rs 98,498, it is currently the entry-level model in the Chetak line-up. Similarly-priced rivals to the Bajaj Chetak 3503 include the Ather Rizta S, Ola S1 X+ and TVS iQube 3.4.

BAJAJ CHETAK PACKS A PUNCH IN FY2025
Bajaj Auto had an outstanding fiscal in FY2025. The consistent and strong growth all through the fiscal meant that Bajaj Auto registered record retails of 230,808 Chetaks in FY2025, up 116% (FY2024: 106,624 units), selling an additional 124,184 units to surpass the 200,000 milestone for the first time in a fiscal year.

This stellar performance saw the company’s e-2W market share nearly double to 20% from 11% in FY2024. The numbers kept improving quarter on quarter – Q1 (25,861 units), Q2 (53,794 units), Q3 (73,246 units), Q4 (77,905 units) – translating into an additional 124,184 Chetaks sold in FY2025 over FY2024. This is the highest additional volume sold by an e2W OEM in FY2025.

This consistently strong showing meant that Bajaj Auto was the No. 1 e2W OEM for three months. It took the crown for the first time ever time in December 2024, then in February 2025 and followed it up with best-ever monthly sales of 34,907 units in March 2025.

What helped accelerate sales, particularly in the last four months of FY2025, is the new 35 Series launched in December 2024. The 35 Series Chetak comprises three variants – 3501, 3502 and 3503 – and offers a higher range of 153km.

Bajaj Auto, which has been engaged in an intense battle for supremacy with legacy rival TVS Motor Co, is just 6,768 units behind the iQube manufacturer at the end of FY2025. The sales gap between these two OEMs in FY2024 was 76,565 units, which indicates just how rapid demand has been for the Bajaj Chetak.

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