With two major festivals, Dussehra and Diwali, in October, the Indian automotive industry has witnessed one of its best monthly wholesale performance according to the latest data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Starting with the two-wheeler segment, the past month saw the segment record its best-ever wholesales with a total of 2.16 million units sold, which was a smart uptick of 14 percent YoY. This includes 721,200 scooters, 1.39 million motorcycles and 52,380 mopeds.

The three-wheeler segment saw a decline with 76,770 units sold, as compared to 77,344 units last year.

On the other hand, SUVs continue to power the passenger vehicle segment growth. A record total of 393,238 passenger vehicles were sold in the country last month, which was a flat growth albeit a high-year ago base. This includes 225,934 SUVs, up 14 percent YoY, 107,520 passenger cars, down 17 percent YoY and 11,653 vans, down 10 percent YoY respectively.

Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM, said, “October 2024 saw two major festivals Dussehra and Diwali, both occurring in the same month, which traditionally drive higher consumer demand providing a significant boost to auto industry’s performance. This high growth was also reflected in the Vahan vehicle registration data, wherein more than 30 percent growth in registration was witnessed for both passenger vehicles and two-wheelers in October 2024, compared to October 2023.”

Going forward, all eyes are on the wholesale performance for November and December, which is expected to determine the overall performance for FY2025.

Image: Pexels/Antoni Shkraba

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Japanese passenger vehicle manufacturer Nissan Motor India (NMIPL) has opened 54 customer touchpoints across the country during the first quarter of CY2026.

The expansion includes a combination of 3S (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts), 2S and 1S facilities as part of the company's strategy to reach 400 touchpoints by the end of FY2027.

This growth coincides with a period of increased sales for the manufacturer. In March 2026, Nissan recorded cumulative sales of 10,388 units, with domestic wholesales accounting for 4,408 units. This represents a 98 percent growth in domestic wholesale compared to the previous year and the highest monthly domestic figure for the company in five years. Export volumes for the same month stood at 5,980 units.

The network development is intended to support a product offensive that includes the Nissan Gravite and the upcoming Nissan Tekton and a seven-seater C-SUV. The expansion follows the established market presence of the Nissan Magnite. The new facilities are built to global retail standards and are intended to improve brand accessibility across various Indian regions.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “The opening of 54 new customer touchpoints across India in Q1 2026 marks an important milestone in Nissan’s growth journey in India. As we strengthen our product portfolio with the launch of the all-new Nissan Gravite, soon to be launched all-new Nissan Tekton & C-SUV 7-seater along with our popular New Nissan Magnite; network expansion continues to be a critical pillar of our strategy. This growth underlines our commitment to improving accessibility, enhancing customer reach, brand experience while progressing towards our goal of 400 touchpoints by the end of FY2027.”

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has introduced the ‘Vibe’ edition to the Grand i10 NIOS model range with prices starting INR 709,400 for the manual transmission version.

The update targets a customer base that has exceeded 500,000 buyers since the model's inception. This edition includes the Sportz Vibe and Sportz (O) Vibe variants, featuring design and hardware changes alongside the addition of a dashcam.

The interior of the Vibe edition is finished in black with red inserts, while the exterior features black painted alloy wheels. Further upgrades include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen audio system with smartphone integration, automatic air conditioning and cruise control.

The Sportz (O) Vibe variant also incorporates a smart key with push-button start. Safety features across the range include six airbags and a highline tyre pressure monitoring system.

A primary addition to the Vibe and Asta trims is a dashcam that provides multiple recording modes, such as driving, emergency and vacation recording. The system allows users to download video and capture photos via a mobile application. The Vibe edition is powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine and is available with either a five-speed manual or an automated manual transmission (AMT).

The Sportz Vibe edition is priced from INR 709,400 for the manual version and INR 761,400 for the AMT. The Sportz (O) Vibe AMT is available at INR 773,400, while the updated Asta variant ranges from INR 750,700 to INR 8,02,600. Hyundai has also introduced a Titan Grey Matte colour option to the Grand i10 NIOS line-up.

Amit Dhaundiyal, Head of Product Strategy & Planning, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai Motor India Limited, we are constantly evolving our product offerings to align with the aspirations of our customers. The introduction of the Vibe edition in the Grand i10 NIOS reflects our commitment to delivering enhanced value, style and convenience to new-age buyers. Alongside the Vibe edition, the addition of Dashcam in both the Vibe edition and Asta variant addresses the growing focus on road safety while also adding engaging features like photo capture and more. Further, the introduction of the new Titan Grey Matte colour resonates with the lifestyle and aspirations of our customers.”

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JSW MG Motor India has announced that its recently introduced MG Majestor has established a Guinness World Records title for the heaviest train pulled by a sports utility vehicle on rail. The vehicle towed a 406.4 tonne train over a distance of 300 feet on a railway section between Kakapora and Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir. This performance exceeded the qualifying benchmarks of 400 tonnes and 100 feet.

The attempt used a production vehicle without modifications to the engine, drivetrain, or traction systems. The train consisted of a WAG-9HC locomotive, passenger coaches and a guard coach.

Independent experts monitored the event to confirm that the movement was powered solely by the SUV and that no external propulsion was used. The vehicle is equipped with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 215.5 PS and 478.5 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The SUV features triple differential locks, a four-wheel-drive system with 10 modes and Level 2 ADAS technology. JSW MG Motor India has opened pre-reservations for the model at INR 41,000. The initial 3,000 customers are eligible for an ownership package including a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five services without labour charges.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “This achievement is a powerful demonstration of what the MG Majestor is engineered to deliver. It reflects our focus on building vehicles that combine strength, precision and control, even in the most demanding conditions. With the Majestor, we are setting new benchmarks for capability while staying committed to delivering meaningful innovation and confidence to our customers.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced that cumulative sales of the Innova HyCross in India have surpassed 200,000 units. The milestone was achieved within 41 months of the model's launch in November 2022. The Innova HyCross is priced from INR 1.95 million (ex-showroom).

The Innova HyCross is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The flagship powertrain features a 5th Generation Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric System, which combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an e-drive sequential shift.

The hybrid tech has a claimed power output of 137 kW (186 PS), which allows the vehicle to operate in electric (EV) mode for approximately 60 percent of the time during typical driving cycles. A 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine option is also available, delivering 129 kW (174 PS).

The Innova HyCross scored a 5-Star safety rating in the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).

It comes equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which includes active safety technologies to assist driver awareness. Interior features include powered Ottoman second-row seating, ventilated front seats, and over 65 connected vehicle functions.

Toyota provides an 8-year warranty on the hybrid battery for select variants. Ownership is supported by the T CARE ecosystem, a service framework covering the vehicle lifecycle from pre-sales to repurchase, including roadside assistance and periodic maintenance packages.

The achievement of this sales volume reinforces the model's position in the premium MPV segment and supports Toyota’s ‘multi-pathway’ strategy for carbon reduction through hybrid technology.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are proud to celebrate a significant achievement of over 2 lakh Innova HyCross sales, highlighting the model’s strong legacy and enduring appeal among customers. This milestone also reflects growing customer trust in Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology, along with the brand’s commitment to design, performance, comfort, and reliability. It further motivates us to continue delivering market-relevant products, advanced technologies, and a seamless ownership experience aligned with evolving customer expectations. We extend our sincere gratitude to our customers and remain confident that the Innova HyCross will continue to inspire confidence and set new benchmarks in the mobility ecosystem.”

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