Hyundai Motor India is all set to add a new member to its SUV family as it recently unveiled the official images of the Alcazar. According to the Korean manufacturer, this new three-row SUV will be a natural upgrade for Creta owners. Going by its name, Alcazar, which means castle or fortress in Spanish, is set to offer plush comfort lavishly. No doubt the Creta continues to be the best-selling SUV in its segment, but Hyundai feels the Alcazar will add more versatility and flexibility by offering a 6- or 7-seater SUV in the lap of luxury.

At the unveiling of the Alcazar, S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, said, “With a deep-rooted understanding of our customer’s aspirations, our R&D centre has invested countless man-hours to ensure every aspect of Hyundai Alcazar exudes magnificence. And combined with our premium and superior manufacturing capabilities and rich heritage of ‘Make in India’, we have crafted the perfect masterpiece of grandeur. Hyundai Alcazar is well set to enter a new segment, marking Hyundai’s genesis into uncharted territories. With bold new moves, we are on a conquest of redefining benchmarks to exceed the aspirations of our customers.”

Even though the Alcazar’s based on the Creta, it gets a 2,760 mm wheelbase, which is 150 mm longer, and this additional space allows it to accommodate the third row. As a matter of fact, the Alcazar boasts of having the longest wheelbase in the segment beating the Mahindra XUV500, MG Hector Plus and the Tata Safari.

At a glance, there’s no getting away from the fact that the Alcazar looks like a stretched Creta, but once you take a closer look, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. The first thing that will catch your attention is the new chrome-studded front grille. The lower part of the grille, which also houses the number plate, gets a thick silver-finish rim that runs all the way to the headlamp cluster splitting the LED headlights and the DRLs. The front bumper is slightly tweaked from the Creta and sports a new set of fog lamps. With faux skid plates in front and rear, the Alcazar does try to flex its SUV image. As the Alcazar is 6- or a 7-seater, it has a massive quarter glass for the third-row passengers.

Coming to the side silhouette, Alcazar’s extended length becomes quite evident with its longer rear overhang. Hyundai has given the new SUV quite a muscular stance with bulging wheel arches and deeply etched bodylines starting from the headlight across the doors and ending at the rear lamps. For practical purposes, it also comes with a side step for making entering and exiting the cabin easier for the passengers. Apart from this, the Alcazar gets a new set of dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels like the Safari and the XUV500, but bigger than Hector Plus and the Creta.

The Alcazar’s rear profile is completely different from the Creta as it sports a clean and simple design with wrap-around elongated C-shaped taillights.

Even though Hyundai hasn’t revealed much about the Alcazar’s cabin, the second row will either come with Captain seats with floor-mounted armrest, a first in the segment, or a three-seater bench. Both the seats can slide forward or back for additional space. The third row, on the other hand, comes with 50:50 split seats that can be completely folded to make more boot space. With the third row up, the Alcazar offers a decent space of 180 litres, which is again more than Hector Plus, Safari and the XUV500. The third-row passengers will also get dedicated air conditioner vents. Expect the Alcazar to retain all the features from the Creta like a 10.25-inch touchscreen unit, Bose music system, ventilated front seats, Blue Link car connectivity, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger and much more.

The Alcazar will be powered by a 2-litre petrol engine like the Elantra and the Tucson and the tried-and-tested 1.5-litre diesel, which is seen in the Creta. The petrol motor will churn out 157 bhp and 192 Nm of torque. It gets an additional 7 bhp more than the Elantra and Tucson. The diesel variant, on the other hand, produces 113 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Both the powertrains will be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The Alcazar will also boast of multiple drive mode selection—Eco, City and Sport.

After a span of two decades in India, Hyundai has managed to sell over one million ‘Made in India’ SUVs in both domestic and export markets, which began with the Tucson, Santa Fe, Terracan and now the torch has been passed on to the Creta and the Venue. No doubt the new Alcazar will further strengthen the Korean manufacturer’s position in the SUV market. (MT)

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BYD India, a subsidiary of China-headquartered BYD (Build Your Dreams) a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, inaugurated its 42nd dealership showroom in the country.

The new facility, located in Sonipat, Haryana, was launched in association with SAMTA BYD (Samta Greentech), further strengthening BYD’s growing presence in the Northern part of India.

The showroom spread across 2,000 sqft will showcase BYD’s all-electric vehicle range, provide test drives, financing options and aftersales support. It will display the company’s electric passenger vehicle lineup consisting of the BYD Sealion 7, BYD Seal, BYD Atto 3 and the BYD eMAX 7.

Rajeev Chauhan, Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles Business, BYD India, said, “The launch of our 42nd showroom in India reflects BYD’s continued commitment to expanding clean mobility across key regions. Haryana is a high-potential EV market, and with partners like SAMTA BYD, we are confident in delivering not just world-class electric vehicles, but also a seamless and engaging customer experience. Sonipat is an important step in our journey to bring sustainable innovation closer to communities across India.”

Bhupesh Sahni (Director) & Bhanu Khetarpal (Director) of SAMTA BYD, said, “We are proud to partner once again with BYD in bringing cutting-edge sustainable mobility solutions to Sonipat. With increasing awareness and demand for sustainable transportation, our new facility is well-positioned to cater to the needs of this growing market."

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Jeep India has unveiled the rugged Trail Editions of its popular SUVs – the Jeep Compass and Jeep Meridian – combining bold styling with exclusive ownership benefits under the new ‘Jeep Trust’ programme. Available from 15 July 2025, these special editions cater to adventure enthusiasts seeking distinctive design and enhanced value.

The Jeep Compass Trail Edition features striking exterior upgrades, including Trail Edition decals, a matte black grille and Neutral Grey accents on key elements like the roof rails, ORVMs and badges. It rides on 18-inch Granite Metallic alloy wheels, while the interior sports black leatherette upholstery with red contrast stitching, a dark camouflage motif and Trail Edition-branded floor mats.

Meanwhile, the Jeep Meridian Trail Edition exudes premium ruggedness with a high-gloss black roof, signature hood decals and Neutral Grey highlights on the grille and cladding. Piano Black accents and red front fascia details complete its bold stance. Inside, it offers a black vinyl cabin with ruby red accents, camouflage appliques and skid plates for an adventurous touch.

The ‘Jeep Trust’ programme enhances ownership with added benefits. Compass Trail buyers receive a 3-year maintenance package, a 5-year warranty and an INR 20,000 cash benefit, while Meridian Trail owners get a complimentary 3-year maintenance plan.

Priced between INR 2,541,000 and INR 3,727,000 (ex-showroom), the Trail Editions are based on the Compass Longitude (O) and Meridian Limited (O) variants, retaining their core features while adding exclusive styling and value-packed ownership perks. Available for a limited time, these models can be booked at Jeep dealerships across India.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head and Director – Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “The Trail Editions reflect the Jeep brand’s core values of freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion. These bold new editions provide a differentiated ownership experience for customers who want to stand out — both on and off the road. With the addition of the Jeep Trust programme, we are reaffirming our commitment to offering value beyond the drive.”

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 India’s automobile industry delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2025-26, with passenger vehicle exports reaching an all-time high even as domestic sales remained largely flat, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.

Passenger vehicle sales crossed the one million mark for the second consecutive year in Q1, reaching 1.01 million units, though this represented a 1.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The segment’s performance was buoyed by utility vehicles, which now account for 66 percent of passenger vehicle sales and posted 3.8 percent growth, whilst passenger cars declined 11.2 percent.

The standout performer was exports, with passenger vehicles achieving record Q1 exports of 204,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase. This surge was driven by stable demand across most markets, with particularly strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America, alongside recovery in neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.

"The performance of the Auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1," said Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM.

The two-wheeler segment faced headwinds with wholesale sales declining 6.2 percent to 4.67 million units due to inventory correction across the industry. However, retail registrations increased 5 percent during the quarter, driven by the marriage season and positive demand sentiments. Two-wheeler exports showed robust growth of 23.2 percent to 1.14 million units.

Three-wheelers achieved their highest-ever Q1 sales of 165,000 units, representing marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The segment benefited from increased economic activity supporting urban transportation demand and easier financing options. Exports in this category surged 34.4 percent to 96,000 units.

Commercial vehicles posted a marginal decline of 0.6 percent to 223,000 units, though exports grew strongly by 23.4 percent to around 20,000 units.

Looking ahead to Q2, SIAM expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges. The upcoming festive season is expected to drive demand, particularly for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, whilst an above-normal monsoon could aid rural income recovery.

"With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve," Chandra added.

The Reserve Bank of India's cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points over the past six months are expected to gradually ease borrowing costs, potentially boosting consumer sentiment and affordability.

However, supply-side challenges persist, particularly the recent export licensing requirement from China on rare earth magnets, which has raised concerns for original equipment manufacturers across all categories.

"Sales of Passenger Vehicles in Q1 of 2025-26 de-grew by (-) 1.4 percent, posting sales of 1.01 million units as compared to Q1 of previous year," said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.

In June alone, passenger vehicle sales declined 7.4 percent to 312,849 units, whilst two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 percent to 1.56 million units. Three-wheeler sales bucked the trend with 3.8 percent growth to 61,828 units.

The industry's overall domestic sales fell 5.1 percent in Q1 to 60.75 million units, reflecting the challenging operating environment facing India's automotive sector.

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Czech automotive brand Skoda Auto India has announced that it has achieved a new milestone by surpassing 300 customer touchpoints in the country. With this, the OEM has a network of touchpoints in 172 cities across the country and is rapidly expanding its presence in not just tier 1 cities, but also tier 2 and tier 3 markets.

Interestingly, 86 percent of the recent expansion have happened in these geographies and 75 percent of the 300 touchpoints are directly servicing customers in the same cities.

The Czech automaker is marking its 25th anniversary in the country and 130 years globally. It was just recently, Skoda Auto India reported its highest-ever half-yearly sales in the first half of 2025.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Our growing network makes our product range more accessible to customers, while enabling smarter, faster service with consistent quality, across the country. With a strong emphasis on ‘growing together and getting closer to customers’, a large part of our expansion has been undertaken with Skoda Auto’s long-term dealer partners in India, while also bringing new partners with a proven track record of customer centricity into the fold. This expansion is a step forward in strengthening Skoda Auto’s legacy in India and delivering on our promise of safety, value, and a truly rewarding ownership experience."

The expansion the company shared perfectly complements its product strategy, which has been significantly boosted by the Kylaq SUV, joining the Kushaq and Kodiaq to offer an ‘SUV For Everyone.’ The Slavia continues the brand's sedan legacy, with a new global icon expected to launch in India soon.

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