The highly-anticipated Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 commenced with a bang on 17 January 2025. The first day of the event saw vehicle exhibitors unveiling and launching a total of 34 new products at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The e VITARA, Maruti Suzuki's first electric SUV, has been released. Modern technologies including Level 2 ADAS and Suzuki Connect's next-generation connectivity are standard on the e VITARA. Additionally, Suzuki Motorcycle India has introduced three cutting-edge products: the GIXXER SF 250 Flex Fuel, India's first E85-compliant sports bike that promotes ethanol-based mobility; the e-ACCESS, Suzuki's first electric scooter and the brand-new Access 125.

Hero MotoCorp debuted a number of new products and projects including the Xpulse 210 to expand its adventure range and the Xtreme 250R to enter the 250 cc motorbike market. The company unveiled the Xoom 125 and Xoom 160 in the scooter market. Hero also unveiled the VIDA V2 e-scooter and the Hero HF Deluxe, the company's first flex-fuel motorbike powered by ethanol.

At Auto Expo 2025, BMW India debuted the BMW X1 Long Wheelbase All Electric, the company's first domestically manufactured EV. The SUV, which costs INR 4,900,000, has a 531-km MIDC range and an eDrive20L engine that produces 204 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. Mercedes-Benz debuted the EQS Maybach SUV 680 ‘Night Series’, an opulent luxury BEV, at the Global Expo. It costs INR 26,300,000, while the Maybach GLS 600 costs INR 37,100,000. The much-anticipated Hyundai CRETA Electric was introduced by Hyundai Motor India at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, with a starting price of INR 1,799,000.

MG Motors added the MG Cyberster and MG M9 to its NEV portfolio at the Expo. These cars, which were unveiled under the recently established premium brand channel MG Select, perfectly capture the company's philosophy of customer-focused, sustainable and intelligent transportation. At the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo, Tata Motors unveiled the All-New Tata Sierra. This contemporary version of the iconic car embodies the ideal harmony of sustainability, elegance and utility by fusing cutting-edge technology with classic design. With the introduction of the Eicher Pro X Range, VE Commercial Vehicles made its debut in the 2-3.5T Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) market. Co-developed with logistics professionals, this electric-first line transforms mid- and last-mile operations. 

The new Kia EV6 was introduced by Kia India during the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo. outfitted with the state-of-the-art ADAS 2.0 package, which includes 27 innovative safety and driver-assistance technologies. Greaves Cotton Limited unveiled the Race and Executive versions, two high-end Ampere Nexus variations. The 'Xyber' e-motorcycle, which has a certified range of up to 200 km on a single charge and fast-charging capabilities, was also introduced by the business.

Porsche India demonstrated the brand's dedication to sustainability and innovation by introducing two ground-breaking Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): the revised Taycan sports saloon and the brand-new Macan SUV. Three versions of the Macan BEV are available: the Macan Turbo (INR 16,900,000), the Macan 4S (INR 13,900,000), and the Macan (INR 12,100,000). Eight ICE and EV vehicles from India and a global range are on display by Škoda Auto India. Škoda Kylaq, Škoda Kylaq (Accessorised), Škoda Kushaq Monte Carlo, All-new Škoda Kodiaq, All-new Škoda Superb, Facelifted Škoda Octavia vRS, Škoda Elroq and the Škoda Vision 7S were among the products on display.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.

The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.

The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.

In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.

The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.

Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.

In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has posthumously conferred Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards, to Late Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Former Director & Honorary Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, in a formal conferment ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on 28 April 2025.

The Padma Vibushan was conferred to Osamu Suzuki for his outstanding contribution in the field of trade and industry. The award was accepted by Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President, Suzuki Motor Corporation on behalf of his late father.

Toshihiro Suzuki, said, “My sincere gratitude to the Honourable President of India and the Government of India for awarding the prestigious Padma Vibhushan to my father, Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation. I have just received this high-level award on his behalf, and I am deeply honoured. I believe he is, from heaven, looking back fondly on the 45 years he spent with India, his second home.”

“This award goes not only to my father, but also to all the people who have worked at Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki and all our business partners, who have supported us in this journey. My father must be feeling very proud today. I am also feeling extremely proud to receive this award. All the employees at Suzuki and Maruti Suzuki and our business partners must be feeling proud of this recognition. This award also expresses thanks to the ‘love of Indian people towards Suzuki’. This award belongs to all of you.”

“We, at Team Suzuki, will carry forward the commitment of Osamu Suzuki with the same passion to bring inclusive and sustainable mobility solutions that will be loved by the people of India,” he added.

Osamu Suzuki played a key role in driving the Indian automotive industry, especially the passenger vehicle segment. Under his leadership, Maruti Suzuki began manufacturing passenger vehicles with around 100,000 units per annum capacity in 1983.

The company is now one of the largest passenger vehicle manufacturers not just in India, but globally.  It was last year that the company reached a cumulative production milestone of 30 million units, an annual production of 2 million units and exporting over 3 million units cumulatively today.

Japanese automotive company Suzuki Motor Corporation, along with Maruti Suzuki India, aims to establish the  Osamu Suzuki Centre of Excellence (OSCOE) in India as part of their tribute to Late Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation.

The former chairman was instrumental in bringing Japanese concepts of manufacturing in India, alongside being instrumental in advancing the automotive industry in the country.

The announcement was made as part of the remembrance event held today for Late Suzuki at Yashobhoomi, Delhi Corporation, who passed away on 25 December 2024, in Japan.

The new OSCOE is proposed to be located in Gujarat and Haryana, and will work towards fulfilling the following objectives: 

Support national objective of high manufacturing growth.  

Raise the standard of component manufacturers (including tier-1, 2 & 3) to make supply chains of the country globally competitive.

Build infrastructure and develop programmes in collaboration with academia and others to propagate Japanese manufacturing philosophy. The programme would include, but not limited to formal teaching, lectures, discussions and seminars among others.

It will also focus strengthening the manufacturing landscape beyond just automotive sector.  

For the unversed, Osamu Suzuki played a crucial role in making car ownership accessible to the common man in the country and driving automotive manufacturing, innovation in India. He won many global awards and recognitions such as -

French auto major Renault Group has inaugurated its new Renault Design Centre in Chennai, as part of its new India-centric transformation strategy – renault. rethink.

The new design centre further strengthens the company’s ‘design in India’ and ‘make in India’ strategy. It is also expected to function as a hub of excellence, particularly due to its proximity to Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India (RNTBCI).

Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group, said, "India is highly unique and locally driven. Having a dedicated design studio is essential to understanding its nuances, listening to its needs and building from its strengths. The Renault Design Centre Chennai will focus on developing models and concepts tailored to the Indian market while contributing to Renault Group’s global projects. By leveraging local talents and insights, this centre will play a key role in shaping Renault’s future mobility solutions. Its strategic location - at the heart of RNTBCI’s excellence hub - also enables closer collaboration across functions and faster integration of design into our engineering and innovation processes.”

Renault shared that the year 2025 marks an inflection point for the automaker in India, as it gears up to strengthen its presence in the world’s third-largest automobile market.

Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, "The launch of the 'renault. rethink' strategy heralds a new era for Renault in India. We are proud to be the most Indian of European carmakers, boasting the largest R&D centre, manufacturing unit, highly localised supply chain and now one of the largest design centres. The opening of new design centre in Chennai will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Renault International Game Plan 2027. Our commitment is to redefine our brand, product positioning, and customer experience to meet the evolving needs of our customers in the country, hence we recently witnessed the global debut of new ‘R store’ in Chennai, India."

It has renewed its commitment for India with a 90 percent localisation target, and the recent takeover of the alliance’s manufacturing plant RNAIPL.

In 2024, Renault Group clocked a record EUR 4.3 billion in profit, which is 7.6 percent of its revenue, and saw its revenue grow to EUR 56.2 billion, up 7.4 percent YoY.

Design & Engineering in India

At present, Renault Group’s Chennai R&D centre is one of its largest globally, with around 10,000 engineering working on global and local projects. Now, the Renault Design Centre Chennai extends over 1,500 metre and is equipped with the latest technologies. It features a high-tech environment designed for 3D model evaluation and virtual reality experiences, a next-generation visualisation studio, a creative collaboration zone, high-performance LED wall, advanced VR integration and a harmonious blend of European and Indian Design.

“renault. rethink is more than a sculpture – it’s a bold expression of Renault’s vision for India. It symbolises our commitment to innovation and to designing cars in India, for India. This artwork captures the energy of a nation in motion, a future taking shape, and Renault’s ambition to be part of this exciting journey,” stated Acker.