Kia India has introduced a scrappage incentive programme in line with the commitment to reduce environmental impact. 
Taking a significant step toward a greener future by launching an initiative that promotes sustainable mobility, Kia India – under the scrappage incentive programme – will enable customers to trade in or scrap their old cars, regardless of make or model in exchange for a brand-new Kia vehicle. 
The programme offers incentives across Kia's entire lineup, making it more affordable than ever to drive a new, feature rich vehicle with lower emissions. By offering the ‘Scrappage Incentive’ against the certificate of deposit, Kia India is encouraging responsible vehicle recycling while making it easier for customers to upgrade to the latest clean and advanced automotive technology. 
The initiative provides 1.5 percent or INR 20,000 (whichever is less) as an incentive on the ex-showroom price of any Kia vehicle purchased when customers trade-in or scrap their old car.
Speaking about the development, Hardeep Singh Brar, Senior Vice-President – Sales and Marketing, Kia India, averred, "At Kia, we have always been committed to supporting clean, sustainable mobility solutions. This scrappage incentive initiative is not only aligned with the government’s scrappage mandate but also reflects our dedication to empowering customers to make environmentally responsible choices. We are proud to assist our customers in transitioning to more efficient, lower-emission vehicles while also encouraging the eco-friendly recycling of old cars."

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With Chinese brands like BYD, MG and Polestar gaining traction in Europe, the US electric vehicle brand Tesla has lost much of its stream since the last two months. Tesla registrations have plunged, according to a recent report of Jato Dynamics. The Elon Musk led brand saw its market share fell to 9.6 percent in February 2025 – the lowest it has been during the month of February over the last five years. Its year-to-date market share fell from 18.4 percent in 2024 to 7.7 percent this year. 

A total of 966,300 new passenger cars were registered in Europe in February 2025, marking a decline of three percent, compared to the corresponding month last year. As per the Jato Dynamics report encompassing 28 markets, sale of automobiles witnessed a decline in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Ireland mainly. The year-to-date registrations fell by two percent to a total of 1,962,850 units.

Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst, Jato Dynamics, averred, “There are still no clear signs of recovery in the European automotive industry. Uncertainty in the domestic market is being further complicated by challenges in both China and the US.”

In February 2025, the registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) increased by 26 percent to 164,000 units – the highest volume on record for both the month of February and the period of January to February. A total of 329,700 units were registered, up by 31 percent.

 Of the opinion that Tesla is experiencing a period of immense change while pointing at an increase in electric vehicle registrations in Europe, Munoz said, “In addition to Elon Musk’s increasingly active role in politics and the increased competition it is facing within the EV market, the brand is phasing out the existing version the Model Y – its best-selling vehicle – in anticipation of the introduction of a new refreshed version.”

“During this process, brands often experience a drop in sales before they return to normal levels, once the updated model becomes widely available. Brands like Tesla, which have a relatively limited model lineup, are particularly vulnerable to registration declines when undertaking a model changeover,” he added.

The registrations of the Model Y fell by 56 percent to 8,800 units in February 2025. The registrations of the Model 3 fell by 14 percent to 6,800 units.

“The difference in volume drops between these two vehicles suggests that the decline in the brand’s overall sales is more firmly rooted in the Model Y changeover than Musk’s political activity,” Munoz articulated. “However, it will be interesting to see to what extent demand rebounds once the new Model Y hits markets across the region,” he expressed.

Chinese brands outpace Tesla for BEV sales

The difficulties that Tesla is currently facing have created opportunities for some of its competitors. In February, Chinese-owned car brands registered 19,800 new electric vehicles in Europe, outpacing Tesla which registered just over 15,700 units. In the same month last year, the former registered 23,182 units compared to the 28,131 registered by Tesla.

The best-selling Chinese-owned car brands in February 2025 turned out to be Volvo, BYD and Polestar. While Volvo recorded a 30 percent drop in BEV registrations, BYD and Polestar made substantial gains, with increases of 94 percent and 84 percent respectively. Xpeng also performed well with more than 1,000 units, closely followed by Leapmotor with almost 900 units. 

Renault Group shines

Volkswagen group continued to lead the market with share of 25.8%. Stellantis followed in second position but lost 2.6 points of share when compared to February 2024 due to double-digit drops at Citroen, Opel/Vauxhall and Fiat. Renault Group was the month’s top performer, with a 12 percent increase in volumes and a market share gain of 1.5 points. The group’s strong performance in February can be attributed to positive results posted by the Renault Clio, Dacia Duster and the new Renault Symbioz and Renault 5. 

Much of Renault’s success was found in the BEV segment, with 9,400 BEVs registered in February, up by 96 percent. The French manufacturer was only outperformed by Volkswagen, which recorded a 108 percent increase in BEV sales. Other strong increases within the BEV segment included Audi (up by 67 percent), Kia (up by 56 percent), Skoda (up by 63 percent), Citroen (up by 190 percent), Cupra (up by 179 percent), Mini (up by 804 precent) and Ford (up by 146 percent). In contrast, Tesla, Volvo, MG, Fiat, Jeep and Smart recorded a sales decline in the respective month.   

The Dacia Sandero leads again

The Dacia Sandero once again led in the ranking by model as Europe’s most registered new vehicle during the month. Meanwhile, second position was occupied by the Citroen C3, with the new generation already being widely available. The Renault Clio followed closely in third thanks to a 22 percent increase in volumes – the second best within the top 10, only outperformed by the Volkswagen Tiguan, in ninth position, which recorded a 43 percent increase in registrations.

The Tesla Model Y and Skoda Octavia have dropped out of the top ten model rankings, making way for the Dacia Duster and Volkswagen Tiguan. The best-performing models in the top 100 included the Peugeot 3008 (with sales up by 40 percent), MG ZS (up by 47 percent), Skoda Kodiaq (up by 32 percent), Jeep Avenger (up by 40 percent), Volkswagen ID.4 (up by 150 percent), Volkswagen ID.3 (up by 114 percent), Skoda Enyaq (up by 41 percent), Mini Countryman (up by 109 percent), BMW 5 Series (up by 54 percen), Fiat 600 (up by 369 percent), Audi A5 (up by 181 percent), Audi A6 (up by 74 percent), Mercedes E-Class (up by 49 percent) and Cupra Born (up by 64 percent)

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In an unfortunate incident on the upcoming Delhi-Dehradun expressway, two workers were injured after a pillar collapsed in the Saharanpur. The accident that occurred on Sunday, 23 March 2025, has been confirmed by Narendra Singh, Project Director at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). This incident occurred when a concrete girder fell while being shifted using a machine. The injured were immediately rushed to the hospital.  

The pillar, built at a cost of INR 120 billion, was erected in Deoband as part of the Deoband Canal Flyover, near Meerut. Incidentally, this flyover is part of the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor. Police and the administration were prompt in reaching the site immediately after getting the information. It took about 3 hours for the police and local villagers to extract the buried workers. 

As per Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, it appears that some of the work was being carried out without adequate safety equipment. Acting swiftly on this lapse, NHAI has set up an expert committee to look into the technical causes of this incident. Prima facie, it has been stated that the crane’s string wire snapped, resulting in the fall of four already-launched girders and one girder. However, it has come to light that three to four other workers were also trapped underneath the debris and were rescued after major efforts.  

The 212 km long expressway is being built in four phases. However, this incident is likely to push back its launch by a few months. It will link Shastri Park, Khajuri Khas, Mandola, Baghpat, Shamli and Saharanpur to finally reach Dehradun. The new expressway will allow the 32 km stretch from Akshardham to Baghpat to be covered in just 25-30 mins. Major features of the Delhi-Dehradun expressway include 5 railway overbridges, a 76 km service road, 16 entry and exit points, 4 major bridges, 13 smaller bridges and 110 vehicle underpasses.   

Volkswagen Group UK has been recognised by The Carbon Literacy Project as a Silver Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO) for its unwavering dedication to lower its carbon emissions, address climate change and striving for a zero-carbon future.

A company is considered a CLO if it has been certified by The Carbon Literacy Project to have a significant percentage of its employees who are ‘Carbon Literate’ and exhibit this competency via organisational behaviour. The Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels of CLO certification is a tiered system that demands ever greater degrees of dedication to climate change action and the development of a low-carbon culture. Under the direction of Leanne Thomas, Head of Aftersales Business Development, the Volkswagen Group has been offering voluntary Carbon Literacy training since 2022, and more than 200 workers have earned the certification. The Group offers its staff a customized Automotive Carbon Literacy curriculum.

Participants in the one-day training programme gain knowledge of the science behind climate change, its effects, ways to mitigate it and how the automotive sector is influencing it. Participants must also make a personal and professional commitment that is documented and supervised in order to receive their Carbon Literate credential. Individuals have personally undertaken a wide range of commitments, such as switching energy providers, altering eating and travel patterns, cutting less on fast fashion and moving many items to more environmentally friendly suppliers. Several teams have also started improvements in the workplace. These include installing solar panels, electrifying the vehicles, using more HVO fuels and LED lighting, reducing the number of printed documents in network and doing away with single-use cups.

Dave Coleman, Co-Founder and Managing Director, The Carbon Literacy Project, said, “Carbon Literacy is an essential skill, vital to every workplace, community and place of study. It is foundational knowledge and a catalyst to empowering people to act on climate, but it is only the first step. The actions taken and pledged by learners as part of their Carbon Literacy have an immediate impact within their organisation; however, it is the maintenance of these and further actions, supported by Carbon Literate organisational culture, that reaps the greatest rewards for both participants and their organisations. By becoming a Silver accredited Carbon Literate Organisation, Volkswagen Group UK has demonstrated its commitment to genuine low carbon action, environmental and economic impact and the building of a low carbon future for us all.”

Thomas said: “I am delighted that Volkswagen Group has achieved Silver accreditation, and to see the growing interest, engagement and excitement around the topic. Having support from members of our board of management has really helped us to move this forward, especially in allowing colleagues time and ‘permission’ to take part and then to fulfil their pledges. We’re really proud of the accreditation but even more proud of the changes we’re making and the impact it’s having on our carbon footprint. We’re looking forward to continuing to do more and grateful for the guidance and support of the Carbon Literacy Project team.”

From 1 April 2025, all drivers in Mumbai will have to pay tolls using FASTag at every toll plaza. This is in line with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC) announcement some time ago regarding a FASTag-only system to make toll payments, which would facilitate quicker and easier passage of vehicles through toll gates. But that is not the key news. The key news is that the toll on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will rise by three percent from 1 April 2025. This hike is expected to dig a hole of up to INR 10 in every passenger car owner every time he gets on the respective expressway. 
Fully operationalised in April 2002, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway – first of its kind in India – was built on a BOT basis. It cost more than INR 16.3 billion to complete, according to a report found on the Magicbricks.com website dated 5 February 2025. An analysis in 1994 estimated the cost to be INR 11.46 billion. 
In its affidavit in response to a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court in 2019 citing a CAG report, MSRDC – the Maharashtra state’s special vehicle that built the respective expressway – mentioned that the CAG failed to consider aspects such as traffic flow in initial years, fluctuation in interest and value of money at the time when the first contract was awarded in 2004. 
After taking into consideration the internal rate of return at 16 percent, the total amount recoverable in 2021 was INR 223.7 billion (22,370 crore), MSRDC is known to have stated in its affidavit filed by Kamlakar Phand, Chief General Manager, MSRDC, justifying the extension of contract to collect toll.  
Known as India’s highest toll collecting expressway and also the costliest, the toll collection across the nine gates of the expressway in FY2022-23 was an estimated INR 480.28 billion (48,028.22 crore). In FY2023-24, it was an estimated INR 648.09 billion (64,809.86 crore), a 35 percent increase from the previous year. The average daily collection of around INR 1.5 billion in FY2023-24 in the respective fiscal marked an all-time high. 
But then it is not just the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that will see a hike in toll tax, driving in turn the cost of consumables, essential goods etc., up, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will also increase the toll tax on national highways and expressways that it governs, effective 1 April 2025, mention sources. 
This hike will also touch two-wheelers as stretches such as the Delhi-Lucknow expressway are known to charge toll from that class of vehicles as well. The toll tax increase, sources say, will be in line with the tradition to yearly revise the charges to account for changes in the wholesale price index (CPI)-based inflation. 
Not stopping there and not taking into account the poor quality as well as sheer unsafe stretches of key highways such as the one connecting Pune with Belgaum, which is said to have been under construction for many-many years now, or the one that connects Mumbai with Goa, motorists of all class of vehicles, two-wheelers included, should brace themselves to see their pockets burn a bigger hole effective 1 March 2025 as road fines increase. 
Not supposed to complain about bad road surface, unsafe road design, crater-like patches or the suddenly appearing speed humps and simply pay the roll tax, motorists found to be under the influence of alcohol will have to pay a fine of INR 10,000 and/or face a six months term in prison for the first offence. Repeat offenders will have to pay INR 15,000 and may face up to 2 years in prison.
Those riding without helmets will have to pay INR 1,000 (earlier it was INR 100) and face license suspension for three months. Failing to wear a seat belt, the fine will be INR 1,000. 
Found talking on the phone while driving, the fine will be INR 5,000. Found driving without a valid driving license, the fine will be INR 5,000. Riding triple seat on a two-wheeler, the fine will now be INR 1,000. Sans a valid insurance (insurance attracts 18 percent GST whereas buying a vehicle amounts to between 28 to 50 percent of the price being taxes!), the fine will now be INR 2,000. Besides three months of imprisonment and community service, a repeat offence will see the fine double to INR 4,000. 
The absence of pollution certificate will attract a fine of INR 10,000 along with a prison sentence of six months and community service. Dangerous driving and over speeding with attract a fine of INR 5,000 each here after. Blocking of emergency vehicles will lead to a fine of INR 10,000. Overloading of commercial vehicles will lead to a fine of INR 20,000. 
Jumping a red signal will attract a fine of INR 5,000. Earlier it was INR 500. Offence committed by juveniles behind the wheel or handlebar will lead to a fine of INR 25,000 rather than INR 2,500. A prison sentence of three years and cancelation of vehicle registration for a year besides ineligibility to get a driving license till the age of 25 will be there too. 

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