Tresor Attempto Racing scored a class victory in the highly acclaimed edition of the Spa 24 Hours to mark its 100th anniversary. The team deployed the Audi R8 LMS in GT3 and GT4 versions to do so. 

An event that would revoke the memories of the Spa 24 Hours that was held for the first time exactly 100 years ago, the Audi customer racing team – Tresor Attempto Racing – put in a convincing performance in the Bronze Cup, the second strongest class with 20 participants in a field of 66 GT3 sports cars. Max Hofer, Andrey Mukovoz, Aleksei Nesov and Dylan Pereira fought a close battle with their pursuers right to the end. As class winners and tenth in the overall standings, the four private drivers were also the best of eight Audi R8 LMS driver line-ups. 

Saintéloc Racing, another Audi customer team, also contributed a class podium result with second place in the Gold Cup of Paul Evrard, Gilles Magnus, Jim Pla and Hugo de Wilde. Stefan Wieninger put in a faultless performance at the second ADAC Racing Weekend at the Nürburgring.

Attracting 99,500 spectators on the last weekend in June 2024, the event saw the ‘privateer’ driver Wieninger from Land-Motorsport drive behind fellow Audi driver Martin Zander in the first sprint in the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy in the Audi R8 LMS. This was in the initial laps until he decided and successfully overtook Zander from the ‘équipe vitesse’ team and won by 7.5 seconds after 24 laps.

In the second race, Wieninger even built up a 12.4-second lead over the Porsche of his closest rival. Berthold Gruhn won Class 2a in both races in his Audi R8 LMS. The GTC Race series also held its second competition at this event. In the second sprint, Land-Motorsport finished third with Ivan Peklin. The Audi customer team Stradale Motorsport remained undefeated in South Africa. At the fifth event of the Extreme Supercars Driven by Dunlop racing series, South African Arnold Neveling won all three sprints on the Aldo Scribante circuit in his Audi R8 LMS. Andy Deng maintained his lead in the GT Sprint Challenge standings in China. At the second event, the driver from the Winhere Racing by HAR team won the second race on Sunday. He celebrated this success after a tactically clever drive, as he delayed the pit stop for a long time.

Due to a handicap stipulated in the regulations, he had to make the longest mandatory pit stop of all the competitors at 95 seconds. In his victory on the Ningbo circuit, he left Li Dongsheng and Li Donghui behind in another Audi R8 LMS. This driver duo had already achieved second place the day before with the Climax Racing team. Another Audi customer team, Zhou Tianji and Lin Weixong from Team Azure Lane by ‘HEHEHE’ Racing, finished third in the first race.

Audi R8 LMS GT4

In a promising position, Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche improved to second place in the Silver Cup standings at the halfway point of the GT4 European Series powered by Rafa Racing Club season. At the third event at Spa, the Audi R8 LMS of the Speedcar team led the 55-strong field after the first pit stop, but Consani was beaten by 3.8 seconds at the end of the one-hour race. After three of six events, Consani and Lariche moved up one position in the Silver classification and are now the second-best of 21 driver pairings. Jürgen Hemker collected three trophies at the ADAC Racing Weekend at the Nürburgring. The private driver from the Konrad Motorsport team drove the Audi R8 LMS GT4 to third place in his class in the first race of the Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy. In the DMV Super Touring and GT Cup as part of the same event platform, Hemker won his class in the first race and was second in the second race. At the second race weekend of the P9 Challenge at the Lausitzring, the Audi R8 LMS GT4 achieved two double victories in its category. Sophie Hofmann won Class 2 for Seyffarth Motorsport ahead of the driver duo Bernd Schaible and Tobias Erdmann. In China, Team Harmony Racing took two second places in the GT Sprint Challenge in the GT4 category. Bao Junbin and David Chen secured these results in the Audi R8 LMS GT4 at the second event on the Ningbo circuit. Harry He from the Madness Racing Team completed the second result with third place in another Audi.

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American electric vehicle maker Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former Chief Business Officer of Classic Legends, as its new business head, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The report further stated that Agarwal joined the EV maker a week ago and is tasked to drive sales for Tesla in India, which as per industry observers, has not performed as per the company’s expectations.

Agarwal, an automotive industry veteran, had begun his career with TVS Motor Co as Area Sales Manager in December 2002, before joining Mahindra First Choice Wheels as its Business Head for North and Eastern region in March 2007.

It was in January 2013, he moved to Audi India as the head of Sales, before taking over as the head of Lamborghini India in April 2016, where he spent almost 9 years, before joining Classic Legends.

During his tenure at Lamborghini, the Italian super luxury car maker saw its dealerships across India achieved a Return on Sales (RoS) of more than 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for the automotive business in the country. He also grew India’s ranking for the automaker as the third market globally in terms of PR visibility in 2021.

He also expanded Lamborghini India’s reach to over 60 cities, with sales volumes from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributing more than 25 percent of the total.

Tesla, which formally started deliveries in September 2025 with its first dealership in Mumbai and the second facility in Delhi, has till date delivered 114 vehicles, of the estimated 600-plus bookings.

File photo for representational purposes only.

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Mumbai-headquartered business conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2026 with consolidated Revenue reaching INR 461 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY growth.

The consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 36 billion, a 16 percent increase YoY. The company stated that, excluding specific one-time impacts, PAT growth was 28 percent YoY.

Mahindra’s Auto business reported sales of 262,000 vehicles, up 13 percent, which includes around 146,000 SUV sales. This translated to a revenue of INR 271 billion, up 25 percent YoY, while net profit came at INR 15 billion, up 8 percent YoY.

On the other hand, the farm sector reported its highest ever Q2 market share at 43 percent with sales of 123,000 units, up 32 percent YoY. The revenue came at INR 102 billion, up 25 percent, while consolidated net profit came at INR 11 billion, up 45 percent YoY.

Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “We are pleased with the strong execution and solid performance delivered across the group in Q2 FY2026. Auto and Farm sustained their leadership with consistent gains in market share and profitability. TechM is progressing well on its transformation journey. MMFSL achieved a 45 percent PAT growth and remains committed to quality growth and digital transformation. Our Growth Gems are steadily advancing towards their ambitious goals, reinforcing our long-term value creation potential.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Strong performance of our Auto and Farm businesses continues in Q2 FY2026 reinforcing our leadership position, with a gain of 390 bps YoY in SUV revenue share, and 100 bps YoY in LCV (< 3.5T) market share. In Tractors, we gained 50 bps YoY to reach 43 percent market share. Our Auto Standalone PBIT margin (excl. e-SUV Contract Mfg.) improved by 80 bps to 10.3 percent and core Tractor PBIT margins improved by 190 bps to 20.6 percent.”

Amarjyoti Barua, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, “Our solid Q2 consolidated results reflects the strength of our diversified portfolio. We continue to deliver on our strategic priorities. We had strong cash generation in the first half, delivering over INR 100 billion of operating cash flow. We remain committed to sustainable growth and value creation.”

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Hyundai Motor India Limited has globally launched the all-new Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Venue N Line, revising its popular compact SUV with prices starting INR 789,900 (ex-showroom).

The new Venue SUV is built on Hyundai’s Global K1 enhanced Platform. It has dimensions of 3,995 mm (Length), 1,800 mm (Width), 1,665 mm (Height) and a 2,520 mm Wheelbase.

The vehicle introduces the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) system, which NVIDIA accelerates. Technology includes Dual 62.5 cm (12.3-inch + 12.3-inch) curved panoramic displays and a 31.24 cm (12.3-inch) ccNC Navigation system. Up to 20 controllers are capable of Over-the-Air (OTA) vehicle updates.

Safety features include 6 airbags and Hyundai SmartSense ADAS Level 2 with 16 features. It is available with three powertrain options: Kappa 1.2-litre MPi petrol (5-speed manual transmission), Kappa 1.0-litre Turbo GDi petrol (6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT transmission) and U2 1.5-litre CRDi Diesel (6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission).

The N Line is available in two variants, N6 (MT/DCT) and N10 (DCT). It is powered by the Kappa 1.0-litre Turbo GDi petrol engine. This engine delivers 88.3 kW (120 PS) and 172 Nm of maximum torque. Transmission options are a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. The vehicle includes paddle shifters, traction control modes and drive mode select. Technology features include the 31.24 cm (12.3-inch) ccNC Navigation system accelerated by NVIDIA, and up to 20 vehicle controllers capable of over-the-air (C-OTA) updates. For safety, the N Line is equipped with ADAS Level 2 with 21 features and over 70 advanced safety features. It features disc brakes on both the front and rear axles.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Limited, discussed the company's deep commitment to the Indian market, confirming an investment of over INR 450 billion. He noted that the all-new Hyundai Venue is the first product from the new Pune manufacturing plant and the first of 26 products planned by 2030.

"At HMIL, our commitment to India runs deep. We have recently announced an investment of over INR 450 billion, reaffirming our long-term vision for this vibrant market. The all-new Hyundai Venue marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter and it is the first product to roll out from our state-of-the-art Pune manufacturing plant and the first among the 26 products we plan to introduce by 2030. The launch of the all-new Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Venue N Line represents a significant milestone in our journey of automotive excellence," said Kim.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director & COO, Hyundai Motor India, highlighted the Venue's strong market presence, with over 700,000 units sold and a consistent top-three position among compact SUVs in India. He confirmed that the all-new Hyundai Venue will be manufactured exclusively in India for global markets, supporting the 'Make in India for the World' vision.

"Since its debut in 2019, the Hyundai Venue has been one of the most successful nameplates in our SUV lineup, with over 700,000 units sold and a consistent position among the top three compact SUVs in India. Venue has played a pivotal role in strengthening Hyundai's SUV leadership and shaping our identity as a progressive and customer-centric brand. Preferred by young, aspirational working professionals who seek performance, Hyundai Venue has become a symbol of dynamic urban mobility and spirited individuality. With the launch of the all-new Hyundai Venue and Venue N Line, we are taking this success story to the next level. The new Hyundai Venue embodies disruptive design, advanced technology, superior safety and exhilarating performance, setting new benchmarks in the compact SUV segment. It also marks a proud moment for Hyundai Motor India, as the all-new Hyundai Venue will now be exclusively manufactured in India for global markets a true testament to the 'Make in India for the World' vision and the growing role of HMIL in Hyundai Motor Company's global strategy," said Garg.

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French automotive major Renault Group and Chinese automaker Geely have executed agreements to extend their strategic cooperation, focusing on the production and sales of zero and low-emission vehicles by Renault do Brasil for both the Renault and Geely Auto brands in the country.

As part of the agreements, Geely has acquired 26.4 percent stake in Renault do Brasil. Renault Group will remain the majority shareholder and continue to consolidate the entity in its accounts. As a minority shareholder, Geely gains access to the Brazilian industrial and commercial resources, which should accelerate its expansion in the region.

Renault do Brasil will produce Geely Auto-branded vehicles alongside Renault vehicles at the Ayrton Senna plant in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Parana. This joint production is expected to increase output and sharpen the industrial complex's competitiveness.

Renault will utilise Geely's GEA new energy architecture to expand its zero and low-emission vehicle line-up for the Brazilian market.

Renault do Brasil will distribute Geely Auto's portfolio of zero and low-emission vehicles in Brazil, including the Geely EX5 electric SUV, opening up new growth opportunities in sales, financing, and services.

Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group, said, “The partnership we are announcing today with Geely in Brazil marks a decisive step forward in our international strategy. It establishes an agile cooperation founded on industrial excellence and technological leadership. Once again, combining our strengths will make us more competitive, more innovative and more responsive in a fast-evolving automotive market.”

Eric Li, Chairman, Geely Holding Group, said, “Our continued cooperation with Renault in exploring new markets and new opportunities will make for a win-win scenario as both Renault and Geely are able to leverage technology scales on a global level to bring the best products to market.”

The cooperation aims to enhance both companies' presence in Brazil, a market that accounts for over 40 percent of vehicle registrations in Latin America in H1 2025. The two groups have previously collaborated on projects including joint investment into Renault Korea and the creation of Horse Powertrain.

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