After terming India’s import duty barriers high for some time, US President Donald Trump has expressed that 2 April 2025 will be remembered as the day the American industry was reborn as his government announced a broad new tariff policy that imposes at least a 10 percent duty on nearly all imports from certain countries. In the case of India, the policy speaks of 26 percent ‘discounted' reciprocal tariffs. The tariff on China, on the other hand, is 34 percent. 

Aimed at protecting American farmers and ranchers, according to Trump, the broad-based tariff policy is also being termed as ‘national emergency’ driven in view of the ongoing trade deficits, which hit a record USD 1.2 trillion in 2024.

The German auto industry has reacted to the US policy by stating that it 'will only create losers'. While the Asian stock markets have shrunk in response to the announcement, the Indian Ministry of Commerce is analysing the impact of the 26 percent ‘discounted’ tariff announcement. 
Mentioning in its statement that it understands the intent of the US administration to boost domestic manufacturing and address trade imbalances, the Indian auto components apex body ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India) has said that autos and auto parts as well as steel and aluminium articles are already subject to Section 232 tariffs at 25 percent announced earlier by the US President’s order on 26 March 2025. A detailed list of auto components that will be subject to 25 percent import tariff is awaited, it mentioned.

Shraddha Suri Marwah, President, ACMA and CMD, Subros Ltd, averred, “ACMA remains hopeful that the ongoing bilateral negotiations between the Indian and U.S. governments will lead to a balanced resolution that benefits both economies. We believe that the strong trade relationship between India and the United States, especially in the auto components sector, will encourage continued dialogue to mitigate the impacts of these measures. ACMA is committed to engaging with all stakeholders to ensure the long-term interests of the Indian auto component industry.”

Saurabh Agarwal, Partner and Automotive Tax Leader, EY India, observed, "With US automotive tariffs rising, India's electric vehicle sector has a prime opportunity to capture a larger share of the US market, especially in the budget car segment.” He drew attention to the fact that China's 2023 auto and component exports to the US stood at US$17.99 billion whereas India's were only US$2.1 billion in 2024, highlighting the potential for growth. “To accelerate this, the government should enhance the PLI scheme by including more auto components, opening it to new players, and extending it by two years,” he added. 

Mrunmayee Jogalekar, Auto and FMCG Research Analyst, Asit C Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd, expressed, “Certain sectors such as auto and auto ancillary, which are already subject to a separate 25 percent tariff announced in March are exempt to the levy of reciprocal tariffs. This means no additional tariffs will be imposed on this sector.”
Stating that other exempted segments include copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, critical minerals and energy products, she informed,

“Since import duties apply to all trading partners, the extent of impact will vary across sectors and countries based on competitive advantages.” “For the Indian auto component industry, which derives around 30 percent of its revenue from exports, with 30 percent of that coming from the US, this could result in a potential hit on sales or profit margins,” she added. 

In FY2024, ACMA reported that India exported USS$ 6.79 billion worth of auto components to the US. It imported only USS 1.4 billion, resulting in a substantial trade surplus in India's favour. 

Against the backdrop of the broader tariff policy that speaks of a 26 percent duty of Indian exports to US, the discussion between Indian and the US regarding the bilateral trade agreement will assume importance as well as urgency. For US automotive companies to find their way to the Indian market despite their near cult status – the likes of Harley Davidson and Tesla – will only mean facing a competition that is stiffer than expected and a customer mindset that is far different from how it is in the US. 

Srikumar Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice-President & Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA, said, "The US Government has imposed a 25 percent tariff on passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles, minivans and cargo vans) and light trucks (collectively referred to as automobiles), which come into effect from 3 April  2025. As the PV exports from India to the USA represent less than 1 percent of the total PV exports, the tariff imposition of the tariff does not have any material impact on the Automotive OEMs. The scenario is however different for auto components. On 12 March 2025, a 25 percent tariff was imposed on all aluminium and steel components being imported into the US. Subsequent to this, on 26 March 2025, a 25 percent tariff was imposed on other key auto parts as well (including engines, transmissions, powertrain components and key electrical parts except those under USMCA), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts, if necessary. The effective date is pending but is expected to be no later than 3 May 2025. Auto components have not featured in the latest set of additional tariff announcements that has been made on 2 April 2025. India’s auto components exports accounted for around 29 percent of industry revenues in FY2024. Of this, about 27 percent went to the US. While the situation is evolving, the recent tariff related development and the consequent inflationary pressures and slowdown in demand in the US could have a negative impact on revenue and earnings for component exporters (in the affected product categories) over the next few months. Nevertheless, with higher tariffs being levied on other competing nations, this could also create long-term opportunities for the exporters. Exporters dependent on the US are also trying to diversify their revenue base across other geographies (including Asia). Measures to improve value addition, diversification into non-auto segments and cost-optimisation strategies are also being worked upon to reduce the potential impact on margins.

Image for representative purpose only.

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Maruti Suzuki India has announced that its staff contributed 2,600 hours to the eParivartan initiative during FY2025–26.

The programme involved 1,100 employees who participated in 30 activities focused on health, community care, and education.

In the health sector, employees took part in four blood donation sessions at company sites. Staff also used kits to build wheelchairs for donation to care centres and provided food, medicines, and toiletries to residents of shelter homes. Companionship programmes were established to connect volunteers with elderly and underprivileged individuals.

Education efforts included hosting students from underprivileged backgrounds at the Manesar manufacturing plant to observe production processes. Volunteers also provided support to students with visual impairments by distributing Braille kits and held art sessions for children with disabilities. A 'Wish Tree' project resulted in the provision of stationery and bags to 300 students. Additionally, employees painted 1,400 square feet of wall space at schools in Manesar and Gurugram to update learning environments.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we believe progress is meaningful only when it is shared with the communities around us. We are happy to share that in FY 2025–26, over 1,100 Maruti Suzuki employees volunteered more than 2,600 hours, supporting more than 8,700 people in education, healthcare, or companionship. We don’t know how much difference we have made to the lives of these people, but we do know that the Maruti Suzuki volunteers have found it an immensely fulfilling, soul-warming, and life-changing experience.”

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JSW Motors, the new energy passenger vehicle division of the JSW Group, hosted its first Supplier Partner Conference & Tech Show at its manufacturing facility in Bidkin, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.

Organised in collaboration with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the event brought together over 100 auto-component business houses. The conference serves as a strategic precursor to JSW Motors' upcoming entry into the Indian passenger vehicle market, focusing on building a localised, resilient and ‘glocal’ supply chain for its new energy vehicle (NEV) programs.

The conference highlighted JSW Motors' commitment to domestic value creation as it prepares for its first vehicle rollout later this year.

The Bidkin facility in the Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) is positioned as the primary production hub for JSW’s independent EV and hybrid lineup, separate from its joint venture with MG Motor.

The Tech Show showcased innovations in automotive design and next-generation manufacturing, encouraging technical licensing agreements (TLAs) between local suppliers and global technology partners.

Ranjan Nayak, CEO, JSW Motors, said, “At JSW Motors, we believe that building world-class mobility solutions requires a strong and future-ready supplier ecosystem. The first ever Supplier Conference & Tech Show reflects our commitment to collaborative growth, technology excellence and supply chain resilience. JSW Motors is months away from its first launch. The conference we're holding today is a signal of how seriously we take localisation and how seriously we take the partners we're building with.”

Vikrampati Singhania, President, ACMA, said, “This initiative marks an important step towards building a future-ready and resilient mobility ecosystem in India. As the industry transitions towards new energy vehicles, the role of suppliers becomes increasingly strategic, requiring early alignment on product roadmap, technology direction and scale to enable timely investments and capability development. We are encouraged by JSW Motors’ strong commitment to collaboration and localisation, which will be critical in strengthening the domestic value chain and enhancing the global competitiveness of India’s auto component industry.”

The event aligns with JSW Motors' broader strategy to disrupt the Indian NEV segment with a mix of high-tech SUVs and premium models.

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Michael R Bloomberg has announced a new USD 350 million investment towards Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, including the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure, aimed at saving one million lives over the next five years through improved road safety policies and cycling infrastructure.

The announcement, made at CityLab 2026 in Madrid, brings the total funding for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) to USD 865 million since 2007. The initiative focuses on high-impact interventions to combat the more than one million annual road traffic deaths reported by the World Health Organization.

The new funding will scale proven interventions across 13 countries and over 30 cities, with a specific focus on high-risk regions in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

• Cycling Infrastructure (BICI): A global competition will select 25 cities for technical training, with 10 finalists receiving USD 400,000 each to implement safe cycling networks. The goal is to reach 15 million people with improved bike lanes.
• Policy & Enforcement: Continued support for national and city-level policies targeting speeding (a factor in 50 percent of fatalities) and new research into distracted driving.
• Vehicle Safety: Expanding safety standard improvements to more car models across emerging markets.
• Urban Transit: Promoting government investment in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), cited as the safest urban transport method.

In India, the initiative will specifically target Delhi, Karnataka State and Maharashtra State (with an emphasis on Mumbai and Pune). To accelerate progress, the program uses a ‘mentor city’ model where regional leaders like Bogota, Ho Chi Minh City and Addis Ababa provide peer-to-peer support to neighbouring municipalities.

Michael R. Bloomberg, said, “Road crashes don’t receive enough attention, even though they take a staggering toll on human life and health – and so many of the injuries and deaths are preventable. At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we’ve long recognized the urgency to improve road safety and the important role that improved cycling infrastructure can play. This major new investment will expand and accelerate the lifesaving progress we’ve made bringing proven interventions to streets around the world.”

The initiative which begin in 2007 has established a strong track record of measurable outcomes including nearly 900,000 lives saved through the passage of 190 policies.

Over 2,400 dangerous intersections redesigned and 200 miles of bike lanes built. Nearly 80,000 traffic police trained across 22 countries and anticipated reduction of 97,000 tons of CO2 emissions by 2040 through increased cycling.

The program will also produce the world’s first comprehensive guide for safe cycling infrastructure, establishing new international design standards to supplement the Global Street Design Guide.

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Caterham has developed a new Miami Special Edition, a track-only model set to debut during the upcoming race weekend in Miami. The lightweight, performance-focused vehicle will be presented to motorsport fans for the first time on 1st May on Race Street within the West Campus of the Miami International Autodrome.

The exterior of this limited-edition Seven features a bespoke Aqua custom paint finish, complemented by a distinctive decal pack in Vibrant Pink and White. The design is completed with the iconic Miami script and a silhouette of the circuit displayed on the rear of the car. Inside, the custom theme continues with the Miami script embroidered on the headrests, while a numbered plaque is mounted on the dashboard. Reflecting its hand-built origin, a second plaque in the engine bay carries the names and signatures of the two builders who assembled the car at Caterham’s UK factory.

Powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine producing 210 bhp at 7,600 rpm, the Miami Special Edition achieves a power-to-weight ratio of 375 bhp per tonne. Coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox, it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 136 mph (approximately 220 kmph). The Miami race weekend, known for its high energy, world-class entertainment and diverse audience of celebrities and industry leaders, provides a fitting backdrop. Caterham’s participation underscores its US market expansion, highlighted by the recent appointment of Miami’s Walt Grace Vintage as a dealer and a new partnership with Precision Drive Club, an invitation-only private driving and hospitality community based at the autodrome.

After the race weekend, enthusiasts will have the chance to own a piece of history, as 10 of the 12 examples produced will be available for purchase through Caterham’s U.S. dealer network. Pricing is available upon application.

Trevor Steel, Senior Vice President – Operations, Caterham Cars, said, “Miami has become a global hub for elite motorsport and luxury automotive culture, so to have this moment to unveil the Miami Special Edition is truly unique. This car represents the very best of lightweight British engineering, and seeing the car launched and on display at the race weekend will be a significant moment for our brand.”

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