As the news of a seven-seater C-segment SUV being tested by Nissan in India gathers speed (besides the news that Renault will launch the new Duster as the Bigster in the next few months), the Renault Group and Nissan have announced new strategic projects. 
The most important of these is the restructuring of the Indian Renault Nissan Alliance entity with Renault Group buying out the 51 percent stake of Nissan, making Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL) its fully owned subsidiary. 
Despite this change, Nissan will maintain its presence in India with a strong focus on enhancing market coverage. RNAIPL will continue to support Nissan’s production of models, including the New Nissan Magnite in India. 
With Nissan choosing Renault Group to develop and produce a derivative of Twingo that it has designed, the restructuring of the Indian business that was until now a well-honed alliance effort with almost equal-equal investment by both the auto makers, the Renault Group and Nissan have entered into a new alliance agreement that would increase the flexibility of each of the two regarding their cross-shareholdings. This would be done by setting the lock-up undertaking at 10 percent instead of the current 15 percent. 
Nissan would be released from its commitment to invest in Ampere while continuing the agreed product projects.
 Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, commented on the significant development: “As a long-time partner of Nissan within the Alliance and as its main shareholder, Renault Group has a strong interest in seeing Nissan turnaround its performance as quickly as possible. Pragmatism and business-oriented mindset were at the core of our discussions to identify the most effective ways of supporting their recovery plan while developing value-creating business opportunities for Renault Group. This Framework Agreement, beneficial for both parties, is the proof of the agile and efficient mindset of the new Alliance. It also confirms the attractiveness of our products with Twingo as well as our ambition to grow our business on international markets. India is a key automotive market and Renault Group will put in place an efficient industrial footprint and ecosystem.”
 “Nissan is committed to preserving the value and benefits of our strategic partnership within the Alliance while implementing turnaround measures to enhance efficiencies. Our goal is to create a more agile and effective business model that allows us to respond quickly to changing market conditions and conserve cash for future investments. We remain committed to the Indian market, delivering vehicles tailored to local consumer needs while ensuring top-notch sales and service for our existing and future customers. India will remain a hub for our research and development, digital and other knowledge services. Our plans for new SUVs in the India market remain intact, and we will continue our vehicle exports to other markets under the “One Car, One World” business strategy for India," said Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO of Nissan. 
 

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has announced a cumulative investment of over INR 32 billion in Andhra Pradesh.

The announcement was made as the company held a foundation stone ceremony for its second Global Parts Centre (GPC) in Tirupati, which involves an investment of Rs 7.5 billion.

N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said, “Hero MotoCorp has been a valued partner in Andhra Pradesh's growth journey, and particularly in the transformation of Rayalaseema. Its decision to establish the Global Parts Centre in Tirupati is a strong endorsement of our state's progressive policies, world-class infrastructure, investor-friendly ecosystem, and our commitment to the Speed of Doing Business. Over the years, Hero MotoCorp's presence has generated thousands of jobs, strengthened local supply chains, enhanced skills, and accelerated economic growth across Rayalaseema and Andhra Pradesh. We are delighted to see this partnership grow even stronger. This landmark investment will create new opportunities for our youth, strengthen the industrial economy of Rayalaseema, and further establish Tirupati as one of India's leading manufacturing, mobility and logistics hubs. As Rayalaseema emerges as a major centre for industry, innovation and advanced manufacturing, partnerships like these will play a defining role in shaping its future. We deeply appreciate Hero MotoCorp's continued trust in Andhra Pradesh and look forward to working together to build a future-ready, globally competitive industrial ecosystem that drives innovation, creates quality employment, and delivers sustainable prosperity for all.”

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, "At Hero MotoCorp, we have always believed that business growth and nation-building go hand in hand. The foundation stone of our second Global Parts Centre in Tirupati marks an important milestone in our journey and reflects our deep confidence in India’s future and Andhra Pradesh’s vision for growth. By transforming Tirupati into a future-ready manufacturing and electric mobility hub, this investment will enhance our global supply chain, support our expansion across markets, and reaffirm our commitment to 'Made in India, for India and the World.' It is deeply meaningful to mark this milestone on the birth anniversary of my father, our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal. He believed in building enduring institutions and always preparing for the future. It is deeply meaningful to mark this milestone on the 103rd birth anniversary of my beloved father, our Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal. A true visionary, he championed the belief that great institutions are not just built to survive the present but are actively sculpted to lead the future. This Centre is a humble tribute to his vision, values and enduring belief in India’s potential. I am certain that this new Centre will proudly carry forward his legacy of enterprise, purpose and service to the nation.”

The Global Parts Centre is expected to support domestic and international operations. The company plans to scale the annual production capacity of the Tirupati plant to between 1.2 and 1.5 million units. The expansion is projected to create 4,000 jobs.

Furthermore, Hero MotoCorp also introduced two community programmes the ‘Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal Heroes of Tomorrow Scholarship’ to provide tuition coverage for students pursuing engineering degrees at state IIITs. And the company would deploy VIDA electric scooters and providing safety training for women police personnel in the Tirupati district.

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Automotive component supplier Rane (Madras) has signed a business transfer agreement to acquire the friction business of Hindustan Composites on a slump sale basis for an enterprise value of INR 3.7 billion.

The acquired business includes manufacturing plants in Paithan and Bhandara, Maharashtra. The facilities manufacture brake pads, brake linings, clutch facings and brake blocks.

The agreement also includes the transfer of the ‘COMPO’ brand name, which is intended to increase market access across distribution and aftermarket channels. Rane’s (Madras) existing friction business generates revenue exceeding INR 7 billion and the merger of these operations will scale the friction materials business to more than INR 10 billion.

Harish Lakshman, Chairman, Rane Group, said that the integration of the complementary operations is intended to build a scaled friction solutions platform to service the domestic transportation sector while creating manufacturing and supply efficiencies. The company expects the transaction to reach financial and operational closure by the end of the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

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Mumbai-headquartered engineering major Greaves Cotton has incorporated a wholly-owned subsidiary, Greaves International Trading FZE (GITFZE), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The subsidiary will function as a hub for trading and distribution, aiming to increase the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa.

The subsidiary will manage business development, customer engagement, technical support, channel partnerships, aftermarket services and supply chain coordination. Its portfolio will include diesel engines, gensets and powertrain solutions.

Greaves International Trading FZE  will initially target GCC markets, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, with subsequent expansion planned for the Levant and Africa.

Parag Satpute, MD & Group CEO, Greaves Cotton, said, “International Business is a key growth driver for Greaves and a core pillar of our GREAVES.NEXT strategy. In line with our strategic roadmap, its contribution increased from 9 percent to 13 percent in FY2026. The establishment of Greaves International Trading FZE marks a significant step in strengthening our presence across the Middle East and Africa. It enhances our ability to respond with agility to market needs, deepen customer engagement and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions. This is a focused move towards expanding our global footprint and driving sustained, long-term growth.”

The establishment of GITFZE is part of the company's strategy to scale its footprint and export capabilities.

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Stellantis, one of the leading automotive groups, has announced appointments within its Enlarged Europe organisation, effective 1 July 2026.

The company has announced that Santo Ficili has been appointed the CEO of the Maserati brand, while continuing his role as CEO of Alfa Romeo. In addition, Luca Napolitano has been appointed Head of Stellantis &You Sales and Services.

These appointments follow the departure of Jean-Philippe Imparato, who is leaving the company after 36 years.

Emanuele Cappellano, COO, Enlarged Europe & European Brands and Head of Stellantis Pro One, said, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jean-Philippe for his unparalleled contribution to our Company, in which he spent his entire professional life. Jean-Philippe has been a true example of how to combine passion with business, inspiring people with his daily commitment and deep knowledge of the automotive industry. I congratulate on their appointments Santo and Luca, who are already fully operational within Maserati and Stellantis &You organisations and will ensure continuity in these key areas. Their experience and leadership will be crucial in this new stage of growth.”

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