As the lockdown restrictions are lifted and cities across India see relaxations on movement, people are gradually bound to get behind the wheel. While it isn’t advisable to step out just yet, it is necessary to take precautions by cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting your car to ensure all around safety before hitting the road. This is because cleaning physically removes germs with soap and water but does not kill them. Sanitising lowers the number of germs and kills bacteria, and thus the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting uses chemicals to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, further complementing the cleaning and sanitising.
Ford India states warns car users to be sure to choose a disinfecting spray safe for your vehicle’s interior. Household cleaning products contain ingredients like bleach, acetone, chlorine, and ammonia, which will damage the interior materials and paint of your vehicle. To take disinfecting your vehicle to the next level, purchase a disinfectant germ fogger.
When cleaning using detailing products, do not spray directly onto surfaces like the dashboard. Spray products into a microfibre towel and then apply to the surface. While you’re at it, take the dirt from fabric seats and headliner with a quick vacuum. If you have access to a wet vacuum with shampoo it will garner better results. And don’t forget a quick wash of regularly-touched exterior surfaces, specifically door handles.
Leather
Try the product of your choice – again, free of harmful ingredients like bleach, acetone, chlorine, and ammonia – at the rear portion of the steering wheel and wait for its effects to the materialise. If there is no stain, or any discoloration on the leather you can continue using the product. Much like using the detailing products, DO NOT spray onto the surface, but spray into a clean micro-fibre towel and gently apply the product.
Disinfecting
You’re now ready to disinfect your vehicle. Hard surfaces like plastic buttons and knobs can be wiped down with a bleach-free disinfectant wipe or apply your disinfecting spray onto a microfibre cloth. Given how often you probably interact with your infotainment screen, be it a infotainment touchscreen or otherwise, opt for an electronic-specific non-toxic device-cleaning wipe.
Where to Use
This list might seem extensive, but it’s by no means comprehensive. Anything you find yourself touching throughout your day should be wiped down, and a solid place to start is to think of the first thing you touch as you approach your Ford, to the last thing you touch before getting out.
- Key/Key FOB
- Exterior Door Handle
- Interior Door Handle
- Lock and Unlock Buttons and Interior Door Release
- Seatbelt and Seatbelt Buckle. Also include the release button
- Push-to-Start Button, or Ignition Area
- Rearview Mirror, and Automatic Side Mirror Buttons
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) Buttons
- Radio Buttons and Knobs or Infotainment Touchscreen
- Gear Selector
- Parking Brake Lever
- Steering Wheel and Wheel Mounted Buttons
- Signal and Wiper Stalk
- Headlights Knob
- Centre Console and Cup Holders
Other areas to disinfect
- Window Buttons
- Terrain Management System (TMS) Rotary Knob
- Glove Compartment Handle
- Tailgate/Hatch Release and Power Close Button
- Power Folding Third Row Buttons
- Fuel Cap
Once you have finished disinfecting the car, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap. In fact, this step-up in personal hygiene is a habit that should be continued even after the Covid-19 pandemic is over. (MT)
Citroen India Delivers 51 C3 CNG Vehicles To Luthra Group
- By MT Bureau
- December 24, 2025
Citroen India, in partnership with its dealership La Maison Nanavati, has completed the handover of 51 Citroen C3 CNG vehicles to the Luthra Group. The ceremony took place at the Luthra Group’s headquarters in Surat.
The delivery is part of Citroen's strategy to expand its presence in tier-II and tier-III markets by providing mobility solutions to businesses and individuals.
The Citroen C3 CNG is designed for high-usage environments and daily commutes. The model includes several features tailored for the Indian market, integration of a factory-fitted CNG kit to manage running costs. A suspension system tuned specifically for local road conditions. Provisions for cabin space and air-conditioning systems designed for high-ambient temperatures.
The handover to Luthra Group represents the brand's focus on cost-efficient transportation. By targeting the regional business sector, Citroen India aims to strengthen its footprint in Gujarat and the broader Indian mobility market.
The C3 CNG is positioned as a solution for users requiring reliability and low operating expenses without compromising on ride comfort.
Maruti Suzuki India Partners Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank For Retail Financing
- By MT Bureau
- December 24, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, a regional rural bank, for vehicle retail financing partnership on new cars, pre-owned vehicles and commercial vehicles.
This collaboration marks the 50th retail finance partner for Maruti Suzuki India. The partnership is intended to use the bank’s network to provide credit options to a range of customer profiles, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions.
The partnership aims to increase the accessibility of Maruti Suzuki products through, tailored finance schemes designed for rural and regional customers.
Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Our partnership with Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank marks a significant milestone as we onboard our 50th retail finance partner. This reinforces our commitment to making car ownership simpler and more affordable for customers across India. By expanding our reach through this strategic alliance, we aim to empower buyers with competitive, customer-friendly financing solutions that enhance the overall purchase experience. We remain focused on delivering seamless, tailored finance options, and this collaboration strengthens our vision of providing the Joy of Mobility to aspiring Indian consumers.”
Yadav S. Thakur, Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, said, “At Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, empowering customer aspirations is at the heart of everything we do. Our partnership with Maruti Suzuki, a leader in the automotive industry, is a strategic step towards enhancing our service offerings and delivering greater value to our customers. This collaboration aligns with our 'Customer-First' mission, enabling us to provide accessible and affordable vehicle financing solutions. We look forward to helping more individuals and families across the country realise their dream of owning a Maruti Suzuki vehicle.”
Kia India Commences Production Of New Seltos In Anantapur
- By MT Bureau
- December 23, 2025
Kia India has started production of the latest generation Seltos at its manufacturing facility in Anantapur. The company has confirmed that prices for the mid-SUV will be announced on 2 January 2026.
The Anantapur plant, established in 2019, serves as a hub for both the Indian domestic market and international exports. The facility uses automation and a local workforce to manufacture the Seltos, which was the first model produced by the company in India.
The new model is built on Kia’s K3 platform, which has been engineered to increase structural rigidity and improve suspension damping. The vehicle has grown in size compared to its predecessor to increase cabin space and stability. It has 4,460 mm of length, 1,830 mm of width and a wheelbase of 2,690 mm.
The exterior design follows the ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, featuring a ‘Digital Tiger Face,’ LED projection headlamps, and alloy wheels with neon brake callipers.
The vehicle integrates several digital interfaces and driver assistance systems. It features an upgraded Kia Connect 2.0 suite with over-the-air (OTA) software updates and a proximity unlock function.
In terms of safety, it gets 24 features as standard, while ADAS Level 2 offers 21 autonomous features to assist the driver. The Kia Seltos SUV comes with three engine options – 1.5-litre Petrol producing 115 PS of power and 144 Nm of torque, 1.5 T-GDI Petrol producing 160 PS of power and 253 Nm of torque and a 1.5-litre diesel engine producing 116 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque.
Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual (6MT), intelligent manual (6iMT), IVT, 7-speed dual-clutch (7DCT) and a 6-speed automatic (6AT). The model will be sold in four trims – HTE, HTK, HTX and GTX – with additional option variants and an X-Line styling pack.
Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director & CEO, Kia India, said, “The roll-out of the All-New Kia Seltos marks a proud milestone for Kia India. Seltos has long set benchmarks in the mid-SUV segment, and this new generation represents a bigger, bolder, and more progressive evolution shaped by insights from Indian customers. With production now underway at our Anantapur facility, our teams are fully geared to ensure customers can take delivery of their all-new Seltos without long waiting periods. We are confident the all-new Seltos will once again redefine expectations in the segment and strengthen Kia’s leadership in India."
“The new Seltos looks fantastic. The Anantapur team, together with our supplier partners, have done an outstanding job in delivering our customers a great looking, significantly bigger, technologically progressive and safe vehicle with impressive functionality and connectivity,” he said.
- Citroen India
- Jeep
- Stellantis
- Citroen 2.0
- Shailesh Hazela
- Kumar Priyesh
- Sree Venkata Teja Kethineni
- VTK Automobiles
Citroen India Opens 126th Outlet In Chennai Under Citroen 2.0 Strategy
- By MT Bureau
- December 23, 2025
Stellantis-owned French automotive brand Citroen India has inaugurated its 126th point of sales and service (POS&S) facility in Chennai, continuing the expansion of its network under the ‘Citroen 2.0 – Shift Into The New’ strategy.
The new 3S (Sales, Service and Spares) facility is located at Chitlapakkam, near Chrompet. It is an extension of the partnership with VTK Automobiles, which now operates five Citroen touchpoints in the city. The outlet functions as a ‘Stellantis Brand House,’ allowing customers to access both Citroen and Jeep brands within a single space.
Since the announcement of the Citroen 2.0 strategy, the brand has increased its network by 48.6 percent. Over the last six months, the company added 43 points of sale through its network expansion programmes. Citroen expects to reach a total of 135 outlets by the end of the year, with further operations planned for the north, west, and east of India.
The strategy focuses on several pillars – deepening the domestic supply chain for India-centric products. Expanding the dealer footprint into Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations. Using digital tools and unified spaces for sales and aftersales services.
Shailesh Hazela, CEO and Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, “The expansion of Stellantis network further with VTK dealership in Chennai marks another important step in Citroen and Jeep India’s network growth strategy. Chennai is a key market for us, and this upgraded facility will enable us to serve our customers better with a seamless sales and ownership experience. Aligned with our Citroen 2.0 strategy, we remain committed to strengthening our dealer partnerships and building a robust, customer-centric network across the country.”
Kumar Priyesh, Director Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “We have grown our network by almost 48.6 percent since we announced the Citroen 2.0 strategy and have been able to expand our operations in different parts of country: adding tier 2/3 locations while further strengthening in Metro/ Tier 1 cities. Through project Visitar, Network Expansion Program and expansion in new geographies we added over 43 POS in the last 6 months and are already in advanced stages to start additional operations in North, West and Eastern parts of the country and expected to close the year with 135 POS for Citroen.”
Sree Venkata Teja Kethineni, Dealer Principal, VTK Automobiles, said, “We’re happy to partner to this pivotal shift in automotive retail, proudly representing Jeep and Citroen. Our dual-brand strategy empowers us to deliver a truly elevated and distinctive experience – whether customers seek rugged performance or refined sophistication. With passion, professionalism and personalised care at the core, our team is committed to exceeding expectations and upholding the global standards these iconic brands represent.”
The facility includes a service centre equipped with diagnostics and digital tools. Staff members are trained across both Jeep and Citroen product lines to provide technical support and product information.
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