Kookhyun Shim, MD and CEO at Kia Motors India said “The aggressive pricing has been arrived at to bring delight and offer incredible value to the young and the young-at-heart customer of the Sonet. As our endeavour has been to ensure there is a Sonet for virtually all customers in this category, it is being offered with the widest choice in this segment.”

The SUV is available across 17 variants, including two petrol engines – Smartstream 1.2-litre four-cylinder and 1.0 T-GDi (turbocharged petrol direct injection), and two 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine (WGT & VGT configurations). Available in two trim levels - Tech Line and GT-Line, the car comes with five transmission options - five- and six-speed manuals, an intuitive seven-speed DCT, six-speed automatic, and a new six-speed Smartstream intelligent manual transmission (iMT). A technological breakthrough from the company the iMT offers fatigue-free driving thanks to the absence of a clutch pedal, yet the same driver control as a conventional manual transmission. For the first time in this segment, the 1.5 CRDi diesel motor is also available with a six-speed automatic transmission.

According to Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, Kia Motors Corporation, the company has already grabbed a six percent market share in the passenger car segment in India. With the launch of the Sonet, the carmaker aims at becoming the segment leader not only in India but globally and make Kia the brand of choice. “With its aggressive and modern, design language, quantum-drive dynamics, and an array of the latest high-tech features, the Sonet puts an exclamation point on our ambition to make Kia the brand of choice, especially among millennial and Gen Z consumers. The Sonet fills a need in the growing SUV market,” said Song.

The interiors of the Kia Sonet is designed to offer comfort and luxury at the same time, with a well laid-out, easy-to-use connected infotainment and cluster interface along with high-quality materials all around. Despite compact exterior dimensions, the interior of the Sonet offers ample, ergonomic space for all the passengers. In addition to this, the Sonet comes loaded with multiple segment-first features offering complete comfort, convenience, safety and optimum driving pleasure to customers.

Design

The design team travelled to India before the project started and it discovered many elements that it implemented in the Sonet, said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head at Global Design, Kia Motors Corporation. “The Sonet is inspired by the young, passionate and dynamic culture that you find in India. We were inspired by traditional architecture and the modern architecture that you find in the big cities in India. The silhouette, the presence of the vehicle, has a lot to do with what we believe the young people and young at heart in India would like to have. Other small details like material, light and colour that is very important in India,” said Habib.

The first thing anyone would notice is the distinctive bold profile of the car. Inspired by the baby elephant, the Sonet is compact but powerful. The car has got a powerful presence with long hood and bumper and powerful stance. It has black A-pillars that allow the dynamic silhouette for the hood to seem longer for such a compact car. “When you look at the car and look at the baby elephant, we see the link and believe power is visible from the inspiration to design,” added Habib.

At the front, the brand’s signature design trait – the Kia’ tiger-nose’ grille – is reinterpreted to suit the car’s personality. The company tries to evolve the tiger-nose grille to a bit more power with a tusk-like feature to it. The headlamps look like a tiger eye-line that gives a powerful concentrated look in daytime and night. Flanked by ‘heart beat’ LED DRLs and stylish front skid plates below, the wild nature of the car comes alive. Within the tiger-nose grille, with its classy chrome and diamond knurling pattern, is the distinctive grille mesh featuring a three-dimensional geometric design inspired by India’s iconic step-wells. The grille mesh design pays respects to India’s historic strengths in sophisticated mathematics, science and architecture. 

At the rear, ‘heart beat’ LED tail lamps and its unique reflector garnish give the car even more significant presence and impart a wider look. “At the rear too, Kia tries to create the same sense of power, and that’s why the car feels very wide for a compact car as it is and that’s why we have the wrapped -round glass that gives the car lot of width. The signature of the tail lamp is similar to the front and has a very continuous feature to it and gives it a lot of widths,” said Habib. Additional highlights at the rear include a sporty dual muffler design and diffuser fin rear skid plate.

For the interior, the company emphasises on keeping it natural and intuitive and establishing a strong emotional connection in the car. To appeal to young-at-heart and always-connected consumers, the Sonet offers a sophisticated and lively cabin with a smooth, flowing dashboard. The 10.25-inch (26.03 cm) HD touchscreen with infotainment and navigation system at the centre on the dashboard has 57 connected car features. The 4.2-inch (10.66 cm) instrument cluster gives turn-by-turn navigation instructions, Highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and drive mode and traction mode selection. The double-layer AC vents are ideal for the Indian weather. It also offers Kia’s UVO ‘connected car’ technology, Bose speakers, LED Sound Mood Lighting, a wireless smartphone charger with cooling function and Smart Pure Air Purifier with virus protection. 

“On the technology front, we offer many futures for our customers, including intelligent manual transmission, an air purification system that is the world’s first just mention a few. We make sure that our customers will benefit from the latest for their life at the very beginning as soon as we launch the model. I promise that there will be much more excitement in future from Kia for the Indian market,” said Lorenz Glaab, VP and Head of global product management, Hyundai Motor. He also added that in the future, it is not the ecosystem that will be built around the car, but the car will be part of the ecosystem of each customer. (MT) 

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Renault India, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French automaker Renault Group, is set to introduce its new logo across all new product launches, starting with the new Triber SUV.

The move part of the company’s ‘renault. rethink.’ brand transformation, which has already seen the new logo already part of Renault India marketing campaigns and other assets strategy. 

Renault’s new visual identity marks its evolution into a modern, human-centric, and technology-driven brand. At the heart of the redesign is a refined, interlocked diamond logo — a minimalist symbol that represents clarity, connection, and continuity, in line with Renault’s global ambitions and digital-first strategy.

First introduced in 1925, the iconic diamond has been reinterpreted with clean lines and geometric precision, reflecting the brand’s progressive outlook. With its flat, typography-free design, the updated logo embraces simplicity and openness, enhancing its versatility across both digital platforms and physical applications – from vehicle fronts to screen graphics. This fresh identity underscores Renault’s renewed focus on innovation, adaptability and the future of modern mobility.

The new visual identity, including the updated logo, is being implemented across all Renault touchpoints in India, including dealerships, offices, manufacturing facility and the R&D centre.

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French automotive major Renault Group has announced the appointment of Stephane Deblaise as the new Chief Executive Officer of Renault Group in India, effective 1 September 2025.

Deblaise, until recently, served as the CEO of Renault Korea, and in his new role, he will be responsible for defining and executing the Group’s strategy in India. He will report directly to François Provost, Renault Group Chief of Procurement, Partnerships, and Public Affairs Officer, and all Renault Group entities in India will report to him.

Furthermore, the automaker has announced Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD, Renault India, will support Deblaise on corporate affairs in India to help structure the Group’s mid-term growth strategy in the region.

Deblaise is a graduate of Telecom Physique Strasbourg and IFP School. He started his career at Saft Batteries before joining Renault Group in 2000 as an Advanced Process Engineer. He has over two decades of experience with the French automaker and has held positions across countries, and is credited to have led transformation initiatives, including positioning the company as a global development and production hub for mid- and large-sized vehicles and modernising the Busan plant for multi-energy vehicle production in South Korea.

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JSW MG Motor India has officially launched the MG M9, what it describes as the ‘Presidential Limousine’, under its premium brand MG Select.

The MG M9 is priced at an introductory ex-showroom rate of INR 6.99 million, which can be now booked through the brand’s online platform and select experience centres. The deliveries are scheduled to begin from 10 August 2025.

Positioned as a flagship electric luxury limousine, the MG M9 boasts a certified range of 548 km (as per standard MIDC testing), delivering a blend of high-end design, advanced EV performance and premium in-cabin experiences.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The MG M9 marks a new era, reflecting India's growing demand for luxury and sustainable innovation in automotive. Crafted as a symbol of prestige and technological prowess, the MG M9 blends avant-garde design, advanced electric performance and the finest features for India’ rising aspirations. With the MG M9, we have created more than a luxury limousine – we have curated a serene, opulent and responsible journey for discerning individuals. Every mile in the M9 is an invitation to experience refined comfort, uncompromising sustainability and effortless elegance.”

Promising presidential-level comfort, the MG M9 is equipped with 16-way adjustable Presidential Seats, 8 massage modes and heating & ventilation functions. A yacht-style dual sunroof invites natural light, while 64-colour ambient lighting allows passengers to customise the cabin atmosphere. A 13-speaker sound system with subwoofer and amplifier ensures a premium auditory experience.

Interior details reflect artisan attention — from Cognac brown leather & suede upholstery to an Intelligent Arm Rest that seamlessly controls key comfort functions. Flexible storage offers up to 1720 litres with foldable third-row seating and an additional 55-litre frunk under the hood.

Available in three colour options — Pearl Lustre White, Metal Black and Concrete Grey — the MG M9 features a bold trapezoidal mesh grille, minimalist split LED headlights and connected daytime running lamps for a distinctive, futuristic look. The rear design is equally elegant, highlighted by a waterfall-style integrated LED taillight signature.

Riding on 19-inch self-sealing ContiSeal tyres and equipped with heated ORVMs, the M9 promises a smooth, worry-free drive in all weather conditions.

Built with high strength and ultra-high strength steel, the M9 reinforces its safety credentials with 7 airbags, along with 5-star certifications from both EURO NCAP and ANCAP. Advanced driver assistance is delivered via Level 2 ADAS and an innovative driver monitoring system.

At the heart of the M9 is a potent 245 PS electric motor delivering 350 Nm of torque, powered by a 90-kWh NMC battery. The vehicle features fast charging capabilities, with the ability to charge from 30 percent to 80 percent in just 30 minutes, ensuring convenience along with high performance.

The MG M9 will be available for preview and test drives at 14 MG SELECT Experience Centres across 13 major Indian cities. Customers making pre-reservations – with a booking amount of INR 100,000 – will receive exclusive early access to vehicle experiences ahead of deliveries.

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Mercedes-Benz India has expanded its presence in Bihar by launching its first luxury car showroom in Patna, operated by the Landmark Group. The new facility is part of the automaker’s broader strategy to reach emerging markets in India, attracting affluent buyers beyond the country’s major metros.

The new facility is spread across 16,500 sqft and will showcase Mercedes-Benz’s full suite of sales and service capabilities to Patna, including test drives of the complete model range – from core sedans to ultra-luxury vehicles.

Customers will benefit from a top-end vehicle lounge, exclusive hospitality areas, dedicated handover bays and a 60kW fast-charging point for electric vehicles.

The company stated that the retail experience emphasises cutting-edge digital integration, with personalised consultations, digital specification stands and private consulting rooms designed to create an immersive luxury journey for buyers.

Patna is among a series of smaller cities targeted by Mercedes-Benz India as high-potential markets with a growing appetite for luxury products. The company has committed to launching 20 new outlets in 2025, focusing on cities such as Kanpur, Varanasi and Patna.

Landmark Group, already a key Mercedes-Benz franchise partner in other Indian metros, brings its experience in automotive retail to Patna with this launch. The company aims to set regional benchmarks for luxury sales, aftersales support, and customer engagement through the new showroom.

The luxury car market in India still accounts for just over 1 percent of total vehicle sales, but Mercedes-Benz believes smaller cities represent enormous untapped potential.

Santosh Iyer, MD, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate Patna’s first-ever luxury car showroom, marking a significant milestone in Mercedes-Benz’s India journey. Patna represents the evolving aspirations of new-age customers in Patna, with a growing appetite for luxury products, services and experiences. As part of our ‘Go-to customer’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz’s presence in Patna underlines the rising demand for our vehicles, driving us closer to discerning customers in the region. We are confident our long-standing partner Landmark Cars, will deliver a world-class customer experience that reflects the values of the Three-Pointed Star in Patna.”

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