Speaking to this correspondent, Ganesh Mani S, Director – Production, HMIL, said, to have the first-mover advantage in the industry, carmakers are constantly looking for newer technologies and innovations. The Indian auto industry is at the cusp of a new era with updated regulation norms for emission and recall. This brings more relevance to have fool-proof quality testing processes in place. “Towards fulfilling this objective, we at Hyundai Motor India have a Quality Assurance ‘Testing, Inspection, and Certification’ (TIC) process to ensure that every car we make is 100 percent defect-free. The ‘TIC’ process has a two-pronged strategy. First, we test the condition of the respective part before assembling at the vendor’s end and next we test the condition of the assembled vehicle as per the required standards at our end.” 

It may be recalled that both its R&D Centres in Namyang, South Korea and in Hyderabad, India work in tandem to design and develop any new model. They also conduct all the region specific tests before they sign-off the car for manufacturing. “At the production stage, we conduct several standard tests including the wheel alignment, head-light aimer, roll and brake and much more. We test the ride handling capabilities of our cars first at our internal tracks in our Sriperumbudur facility which simulates 17 types of Indian road conditions, and later also conduct a Vehicle Durability Test across India. At the Certification level, we also use government authorised test agency (Global Automotive Research Centre) tracks to conduct standardized tests,” he said.

Talking on the challenges faced in testing vehicles in the assembly line, he said, the digital revolution has created a great impact offering practically unlimited possibilities for a pleasant and safe driving experience. Today the cars are smarter and more connected than ever. This means an exponential increase in the number of tests and its duration at the assembling stage. “To offer best quality cars for our customers, we need to reach the desired quality targets and address defects related issues during assembling while successfully implementing the essential TIC solutions. This will help minimise the human error, if any. Solutions such as limiting the opportunity to insert the product on the wrong fixture (through appropriate mechanical constraints) and partially automating the activation of the correct test program (based on barcode readers) using in-line systems goes a long way. Along with maximum performance, the testing equipment should also be engineered to optimize system ergonomics with respect to operator comfort. This coupled with the precepts of lean production which will allow more flexibility in the mixing of various models. It is also necessary to guarantee high test results throughout to comply with the increasing production cycle-times. So, these testing machines should have the basic data analytics tool with summarized output screen, which could be used as an input for improving the process and design. This idea can also be extended to monitor the performance of the testing machine as well to proactively do the maintenance activities. Going forward, we will work towards minimising human intervention as much as possible and improve the process to do more self-learning and proactively suggest feedback & countermeasures,” he said.

Be it for the domestic or export markets, any OEM has to address three aspects to make cars with top-most quality. Firstly, at the design stage it is necessary to achieve the best performance and quality for the vehicle at optimal cost while keeping other factors in check. Hyundai ensures that all the learnings from previous models are implied in upcoming models. Secondly, during production it ensures that the vehicle meets all the required country-specific test standards and feature options for all its variants. Finally it understands the customer’s pulse and needs.    

“At HMI we transform metal into excellence with hand-crafted engineering and at 100 percent precision. To make the perfect cars we follow a 3-stage systematic tightening confirmation process which captures over 200,000 quality data points related to tightening, every day. We have linked this information with ‘Sign-off Gate’ to prevent the ‘not ok’ car roll out from the final assembly line. Our vehicle final inspection method is digitally enabled for assembled part specification/ type verification; we use a Hyundai Integrated Dialogistic System which is loaded with pre-set information on quality confirmations for 350+ variants. Such high degree of customization helps us to meet the growing customer requirement and enables desired results in the manufacturing process,” he said.

Beyond BS-VI

The move to make BS-VI compliant vehicles is not just important for cleaner air but it will also enable carmakers and Government agencies to record data on Real Driving Emissions (RDE). After the roll-out of BS-VI complaint vehicles there will be enough captured data available with the concerned authorities and regulators to be able to reduce the gap between type-approval vehicle emissions results and the actual ones on roads. Hyundai has global experience in the area of RDE vehicle development and this is a huge technical advantage to help develop vehicles for the Indian market. “We have done some amount of testing specific to the Indian road conditions. Before the Government’s regulations are set in motion, we too will be prepared to take up this challenge by upgrading our technical and analytical capabilities in all the required areas,” he said.

Nowadays, all cars come loaded with different kinds of infotainment, safety and communication systems. For instance, the recently launched Creta has 50 plus India-specific connected features which is 30 percent more than any other cars manufactured by the company. All these are absolutely important to ensure all these electronic devices work smoothly for the customer to enjoy a great drive. HMI has a multi-layered assurance process designed and developed by its in-house teams with specific performance indicators. ‘Hyundai Automatic Diagnostic System’ is another tool it uses to inspect the proper functioning of over 60 checkpoints in the electrical system and connected car features in all its cars.

Besides, it also has an integrated in-line testing facility installed in the assembly process line to check and approve the performance of all electronic systems fitted in all the cars at the sign-off gate. Also it ensures that the same​​ level of standards are maintained at the vendors end too. This makes the quality assurance process more robust & mistake proof, Ganesh Mani added.  (MT)

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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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Mercedes-Benz India, one of the leading luxury carmakers in the country, has recorded its highest-ever fiscal sales, retailing 19,363 units during the April 2025 to March 2026 period.

The company marked an uptick of 7 percent in the Q1 2026, where the company delivered 5,131 units compared to 4,775 in Q1 2025.

The German luxury brand’s growth was primarily driven by the Top-End Luxury segment, which grew by 16 percent in FY2026 and now accounts for 27 percent of total sales. This category includes the S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach and the AMG range. Demand for certain models, such as the AMG G 63 and Maybach S-Class, has resulted in waiting periods of up to 12 months.

In contrast, the Entry Luxury segment saw an 18 percent decline. The company stated it would maintain a ‘value over volume’ strategy, prioritising feature-rich content and brand desirability over price-led volume incentives.

For Mercedes-Benz India, the Long Wheelbase (LWB) E-Class remains the highest-selling luxury car in the country. It continued to see robust demand for the C-Class, GLC and GLE SUVs.

Furthermore, contribution of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) now comprise 20 percent of all Top-End models sold. Within the luxury BEV segment (priced above INR 14 million), the company recorded 85 percent growth. The EQS SUV has emerged as the highest-selling luxury electric model for the brand. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the electric CLA on 24 April 2026 as its first ‘software-defined’ electric vehicle.

Under its ‘Go to Customer’ strategy, the company plans to open more than 20 luxury outlets in 2026. This expansion involves a INR 4.50 billion investment from franchise partners. New facilities are scheduled for Q2 2026 in emerging markets, including Visakhapatnam, Varanasi and Goa, alongside reinforcements in Mumbai and Pune.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz remains the most desirable luxury brand in India buoyed by strong customer loyalty for both our new and existing products. We are thrilled with the strong demand for our top-end luxury portfolio that set new benchmarks in the luxury segment with exclusivity and personalization. Similarly, a sustained demand for the ‘core’ segment underlines unwavering customer trust for winning products like the C-Class, LWB E-Class sedans and GLC and GLE SUVs.”

“Our product fireworks for 2026 will continue as we introduce two new AMGs for performance enthusiasts. We are enthused by the overwhelming response to new products like GLS Maybach, the V-Class and the CLA BEV, and customers can expect more desirable products planned across segments for the remaining quarters. Mercedes-Benz will maintain a sharp focus on superior product content and customer aspirations, reinforcing our strategy of value-led growth over volume aspirations,” he concluded.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has introduced the Creta Summer Edition, featuring updates to technology and convenience features across several trim levels at prices starting INR 1.2 million upto INR 1.63 million (ex-showroom). The launch follows a fiscal year where Creta sales exceeded 200,000 units, contributing to a cumulative customer base of over 1.4 million since 2015.

The Summer Edition introduces specific hardware and software upgrades intended to increase accessibility to premium features.

• EX and EX(O) Trims: These variants now include smart keys and push-button start. The EX(O) specifically adds quad-beam LED headlamps, LED tail lamps and a rear camera with dynamic guidelines.
• S(O) and SX Trims: A dashcam with multiple recording modes (driving, emergency, and vacation) has been integrated. The SX trim further receives a 26.03 cm (10.25-inch) multi-display digital cluster.
• SX Premium Trim: This top-tier edition is equipped with a Surround View Monitor (SVM), Blind-spot View Monitor (BVM) and front parking sensors in addition to the digital cluster and dashcam.

The integrated dashcam allows for video downloads to mobile devices via a dedicated application, supporting on-demand video and photo capture.

The Summer Edition is available with both 1.5l MPi petrol and 1.5l U2 CRDi diesel engines. Transmission options include manual (MT), Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) and automatic (AT).

Sunil Moolchandani, National Sales Head, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The Hyundai Creta is not just a product, it is a legacy that has played a defining role in shaping the SUV market in India. With more than 1.4 million customers and annual sales exceeding 2 lakh units in FY 2025-26, Hyundai Creta continues to reinforce its position as the undisputed No.1 in the mid-size SUV segment since its launch in 2015. The introduction of the Creta Summer Edition variants reflects our commitment to making advanced technology and comfort more accessible, with features such as the 26.03 cm (10.25”) Multi Display Digital Cluster, Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Dashcam among others further enhancing safety, convenience and driving confidence. These meaningful upgrades will continue to strengthen Creta’s leadership and emotional connect with customers across the country.”

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Kia India has announced that more than 100,000 customers have renewed their paid subscriptions for Kia Connect. The automaker has achieved a retention rate exceeding 30 percent following the expiry of the initial three-year complimentary period.

Since its introduction in 2019, the platform has evolved from its original 'UVO' branding to the current Kia Connect 2.0. Globally, the manufacturer reports an enrolment rate of approximately 97 percent. In India, the company has surpassed 500,000 total sales of connected vehicles.

The platform provides over 100 features across five categories – navigation, remote control, safety & security, vehicle management and convenience.

Kia offers three tiers of renewals – Standalone, Basic and Premium – with flexible durations. Prices for a one-year subscription range from INR 1,890 to INR 4,690, while three-year plans range from INR 3,890 to INR 9,090.

The renewal trend is supported by hardware integrations such as the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCNC) and software initiatives like Drive Green, which monitors sustainable driving practices.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “Crossing the milestone of one lakh Kia Connect subscription renewals reflects the growing trust customers place in our connected mobility ecosystem. The continued adoption beyond the complimentary period highlights the everyday value we deliver through enhanced convenience, safety, and control. We remain committed to advancing our digital platforms for a smarter, more connected driving experience.”

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