After lockdown due to Covid 19 Kia Motors India resumes production today at its Anantapur facility adhering to stringent and comprehensive safety protocol. The company is currently operating on a single shift and hopes to go full steam once situation improves.
The company invested the initial few days to ready its facilities, putting all safety measures in place for the well-being of its employees and vendors. The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant started functioning again on May 8, 2020 to cater to both domestic and export markets after its operations were suspended following the nationwide lockdown announced by the Government of India. All the necessary permissions from the Andhra Pradesh Government and Anantapur local municipal corporation were taken before operations resumed at the Kia Motors India manufacturing facility.
Commenting on the development, Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director & CEO, Kia Motors India said, “As we resume production and bring processes back on track, we have introduced a comprehensive safety protocol to ensure a safe environment at our Anantapur plant to ensure all employees at our facility are protected. These are unprecedented conditions and we are committed to adapting to the new norms of the world while we work towards normalcy. Our initial focus is to keep our employees motivated, retain a positive outlook and deliver on our promises to our customers.”
He further added that “Kia Motors India priorities are to clear pending orders for the best-selling Seltos and luxurious Carnival, and also to prepare the line for the eagerly anticipated compact SUV, Sonet. Our stakeholders, including suppliers and logistics partners, are all in-line with the current production and have assured us support in case we have to increase production volumes over the coming days.”
Kia Motors India is taking all the necessary precautions to ensure physical distancing at the work environment. Health and hygiene measures such as sanitization, distribution of masks, regular temperature checks, and medical check-up before entering the plant premises, etc. will be adhered to.
As a responsible corporate, Kia Motors India has donated INR 2 crores to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Relief Fund, along with one lakh masks to the government to support its COVID-19 control measures. Additionally, the company announced several support initiatives for its dealer partners to sustain and improve the cash flow in these difficult times of the pandemic. The company has also distributed 50,000 masks to its dealer partners to ensure safety of dealers and customers. The company has taken up several initiatives to encourage online sales, thereby reducing physical interactions and maintaining social distancing at all times possible. A detailed guideline on dealership operations has been issued to maintain required hygiene and distancing protocols at its facilities to ensure the safety of customers and staff. As a step towards spreading awareness about the global pandemic, the brand also came up with the #RewindKia campaign, urging everyone to stay home and be safe. (MT)
Honda’s Upcoming Made-In-India E-SUV Honda Alpha To Debut With New H Logo
- By MT Bureau
- November 03, 2026
Honda Cars India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced 'Honda Alpha' as the official name of its upcoming electric SUV, which is scheduled to make its global debut on 2 December 2026.
The model marks the company's first manufactured electric SUV in India, with the country serving as the global production base for the model.
The e-SUV was previously shown as a concept prototype at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 with India to serve as the initial market for the model's rollout. The announcement also marks the debut of Honda's new H mark in the company's official communication in India, reflecting the corporate brand transformation. The revised badge will be applied to the Honda Alpha as its first model in the country.
Toshiyuki Yanagisawa, President and CEO, Honda Cars India, said, "We are delighted to announce Honda Alpha as the official name of our upcoming electric SUV. Honda Alpha represents our ambition to bring advanced electric mobility to our customers in India while delivering the quality, reliability and joy of driving that Honda is known for. With India serving as the global production base for this model in future, it is an important step in Honda’s electrification journey and reflects our strong commitment to the Indian market. We look forward to ushering in a new chapter for Honda in India with this exciting new offering."
Skoda Auto India Expands Network To Over 350 Touchpoints
- By MT Bureau
- November 02, 2026
Skoda Auto India has expanded its retail and service footprint to over 350 customer touchpoints across 193 cities, following the inauguration of its 350th outlet in Imphal on 30 October 2026, which marked the brand's entry into Manipur.
The company claims its network has grown by nearly 85 percent over a five-year period, increasing from 191 touchpoints in 2021 to 325 outlets in 2025 and exceeding 350 touchpoints across 29 States and Union Territories by October 2026.
Supported by 79 dealer partners, the current infrastructure comprises 270 sales touchpoints and 203 aftersales touchpoints. Between January 2025 and October 2026, the carmaker added 58 showrooms across 38 new cities and 45 workshops across 34 new cities.
Outlets established during the expansion period generated over 25 percent of the brand's total sales volume between January and October 2026. In 2026 alone, Skoda entered 11 new cities, including Balasore, Baramati, Bathinda, Bikaner, Guna, Imphal, Jorhat, Kaithal, Khammam, Sri Ganganagar and Vasai.
The brand's dealer partner in Bengaluru secured the top position for dealership customer experience in the CarPhD survey, which evaluated 16 cities, 18 automotive brands, and 88,000 customer reviews. Ownership propositions are further supported by Skoda Super Care, providing a four-year standard warranty, roadside assistance, and complimentary service labour, alongside Skoda Express Care for expedited service turnaround times.
Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Surpassing 350 Customer Touchpoints across 193 cities demonstrates our commitment to bringing Skoda closer to customers across India. Our dealer partners, both existing and new, are central to this journey, and I thank them for sharing our vision of building a stronger Skoda brand in India. As we enter new markets, our priority is clear - to deliver a consistent, enriching customer experience across sales and aftersales. Together with our expanding product portfolio and customer-first initiatives, this growing network will help us strengthen customer trust and deepen our relevance across the country."
Nissan Motor India Sells 3,600 PVs In October 2026
- By MT Bureau
- November 02, 2026
Nissan Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has recorded domestic wholesale dispatches of 3,600 units in October 2026, marking a 50 percent YoY increase compared to 2,402 units in October 2025.
This also marked the company's eighth consecutive month of YoY domestic volume growth.
For YTD (January to October) 2026, the company registered total wholesales of 85,124 units across domestic and export operations. Export dispatches for October 2026 stood at 4,710 units. Volume performance was driven by customer response to the product lineup, including the Tekton, Magnite, and Gravite models, alongside dealer network expansion.
Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan Motor India, said, "Our 50 percent YoY growth in domestic wholesales in October reflects continued customer confidence in Nissan and the progress we are making in India. With 85,124 units wholesaled across domestic and export markets between January and October, we continue to build on the strength of our expanding portfolio and dealer network. As we approach Dhanteras and Diwali, we remain focused on serving customers through distinctive products and enhanced ownership experiences. We also value the continued support of our international dealers, distributors and customers, who contribute to Nissan’s export performance."
Honda Cars India Sells 7,609 PVs In October 2026
- By MT Bureau
- November 01, 2026
Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has recorded total sales of 8,082 units in October 2026, supported by domestic dispatches of 7,609 units and export volumes of 473 units.
Domestic sales grew 19 percent YoY compared to 6,394 units recorded in October 2025. Export dispatches for the month stood at 473 units against 4,124 units exported in the corresponding month of the previous year.
The company attributed its domestic volume performance to demand for the updated Honda Elevate SUV alongside its existing passenger vehicle portfolio.
Kunal Behl, Vice-President of Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "We are delighted with our strong sales performance in October, driven by robust festive demand and positive customer sentiment across our model line-up. The highlight of the month has been the outstanding performance of the New Honda Elevate, which has received an overwhelming response from customers following its recent launch. Its bold new styling, enhanced features and strong SUV appeal have translated into excellent market demand, making it a key contributor to our October sales momentum. The encouraging performance across our portfolio reinforces customer confidence in the Honda brand. We look forward to sustaining this positive momentum in the coming months."
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