Luca De Meo has announced his decision to step down as the CEO of Renault Group after spending five years at the helm of the auto major, and pursue interest outside the automotive industry.

Renault Group’s Board of Directors, convened by its Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, have expressed their gratitude to Meo for the turnaround and transformation of the brand and accepted that his departure would be effective from 15 July 2025. Meo will continue to perform his duties until that date.

The Board of Directors has initiated the process of appointing a new Chief Executive Officer based on the already defined succession plan.

Jean-Dominique Senard, said, "For five years, Luca de Meo has worked to restore Renault Group to its rightful place. Under his leadership, our company has returned to a healthy foundation, boasts an impressive range of products and has resumed growth. Besides being an exceptional captain of industry, Luca de Meo is also a creative, committed, passionate and inspiring individual. Today, the entire company joins me in thanking him for all these years and all the collective challenges successfully met. On a personal level, I will always remember the quality of our relations during this unforgettable journey. This also gives me the opportunity to warmly thank the Group's employees who have worked alongside us for the recovery of this emblematic company that we are all so proud of.” 

Luca De Meo, added, "There comes a time in one’s life when one knows the job is done. At Renault Group, we have faced immense challenges in less than five years! We have achieved what many thought impossible. Today, the results speak for themselves: they are the best in our history. We have a strong team and an agile organisation. We also have a strategic plan ready for the next generation of products. That is why I have decided it is time for me to hand over the baton. I am leaving a transformed company, poised for the future, to apply my experience to other sectors and embark on new adventures. Leading Renault Group has been a privilege. It has been a human and industrial adventure that only happens once in a lifetime. For this, I will always be grateful to the women and men of this company - the ‘Renaulutionnaires’ - for their passion, their commitment and their conviction. They are the true driving engines. Moreover, I would like to thank Jean-Dominique Senard for choosing me several years ago, for his support and trust, as well as the Board of Directors, for believing in our projects. And the best is yet to come."

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VinFast Auto India, the Indian subsidiary of the Vietnamese-based electric vehicle maker VinFast, has inaugurated its first showroom in Surat, Gujarat, promoted by Chandan Car.

The new facility is spread across 3,000 sqft will showcase VinFast’s upcoming range of electric SUVs – VF 6 and VF 7. It was on 15 July 2025 that the automaker opened bookings for its soon-to-be launched EV offerings. The vehicles are being locally assembled at VinFast’s upcoming factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “The first VinFast Showroom in Surat, Gujarat is a symbol of our deep commitment to India. We are excited to bring the VinFast experience closer to Indian consumers. With this dealership in Gujarat, we aim to offer not just electric vehicles, but a complete ownership journey built on quality, trust, and service excellence. With trusted partners like Chandan Car, we are building a future-ready EV ecosystem in the country. Their proven automotive expertise, combined with VinFast’s technology and vision, will help shape a premium EV experience for Indian customers.”

VinFast Auto India has signed agreements with 13 dealer groups to open 32 dealerships in 27 Indian cities.

As part of its India market entry, VinFast has formed strategic partnerships with RoadGrid, myTVS, Global Assure for aftersales services, while its association with BatX Energies will focus on battery recycling.

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Renault Group reported a 1.3 percent increase in global vehicle sales in the first half of 2025, reaching 1.17 million units across its brands – Renault, Dacia, Alpine and Mobilize. This somewhat flat growth reflects the Group’s strategy of prioritising value creation over volume in a challenging market environment.

The Renault brand led the performance with global sales up 2.7 percent YoY to 808,413 units, driven by a 12.2 percent rise in passenger car sales. However, light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales fell by 22.8 percent, impacted by the end-of-life of certain models and the incomplete rollout of the new Master range.

Dacia recorded a marginal decline in global sales (-0.7 percent) to 356,084 units, while Alpine saw the strongest growth within the Group, with an 84.6 percent surge to 5,015 units, supported by the success of its new A290 electric city car.

Electrified vehicles now account for nearly 44 percent of Renault Group’s total sales, up more than 15 points from H1 2024. Renault’s electrified mix reached 59 percent, including strong growth in hybrid (+36.2 percent) and electric vehicle sales (+57 percent), with the Renault 5 E-Tech emerging as the best-selling B-segment EV in Europe. Dacia increased its electrified mix to 23.5 percent, led by strong hybrid demand for the new Duster. Alpine's electric share jumped to 76 percent, underpinned by the A290.

Geographically, Renault saw international growth of 16.3 percent, particularly in Latin America (+24 percent), Morocco (+48 percent) and South Korea (+150 percent). In Europe, the Group grew by 5.4 percent despite a declining passenger car market, with the Renault and Dacia brands maintaining strong positions among retail customers.

Looking ahead, the Group plans to launch seven new models in 2025, including the electric Renault 4 E-Tech, Dacia Bigster and Alpine A390, alongside two major facelifts. It will also expand the rollout of the Grand Koleos and Kardian in international markets. A EUR 25,000 version of the Renault 5 E-Tech is set to support broader EV adoption in Europe.

Renault Group maintains a solid order book in Europe, equivalent to around two months of forecast sales and continues to focus on retail channels, which represented over 56 percent of total sales in the region. Residual values for its vehicles remain well above the European average, supporting the Group’s value-over-volume approach as it navigates the ongoing market transformation toward electrification.

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JSW MG Motor India has launched the much-awaited MG Cyberster, its first electric roadster, under the MG Select brand at INR 7.49 million (ex-showroom) for fresh bookings and for pre-reserved customers the EV is priced at INR 7.24 million.

The Cyberster features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain producing 510 PS and 725 Nm of torque. The company claims a zero to 100 kmph in just 3.2 seconds using Launch Control Mode. It is powered by a 77 kWh ultra-thin battery pack – 110 mm thick – providing a MIDC-certified range of up to 580km. A thermal management system is included for long-term efficiency.

The roadster is built on a chassis developed with inputs from former Formula 1 engineer Marco Fainello. It uses a double wishbone suspension setup and maintains a 50:50 weight distribution. Braking is handled by Brembo 4-piston front brake calipers, stopping the car from 100 kmph in 33 metres.

Aerodynamic design features include a drag coefficient of 0.269 Cd, active aero elements and electric scissor doors. The car also comes with 20-inch staggered lightweight alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Four dual-tone exterior combinations are available: Nuclear Yellow/Black Roof, Flare Red/Black Roof, Andes Grey/Red Roof and Modern Beige/Red Roof.

Inside, the Cyberster offers a driver-centric cockpit with a triple-display layout – comprising a central 10.25-inch touchscreen and two 7-inch digital panels. It also includes dual-zone automatic climate control with PM2.5 filtration, regenerative braking paddle shifters and premium vegan leather and Dinamica suede upholstery. The BOSE audio system features active noise compensation.

In terms of safety, the vehicle has a high-strength H-shaped cradle structure with a Static Stability Factor (SSF) of 1.83. Standard features include Level 2 ADAS, a Driver Monitoring System, dual front and side airbags, electronic stability control and an electronic differential lock.

The pricing includes a 3.3 kW portable charger, 7.4 kW wall box charger, and standard installation. MG says range will vary based on driving conditions and usage.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “At MG Select, we aim at curating experiences that spark emotion, inspire desire, and lead the shift towards conscious mobility. The MG Cyberster is a powerful expression of that philosophy. It is a car that is engineered for performance and designed to be remembered. For many, roadsters were once daydreams. The Cyberster brings that dream to life, with the freedom of the open road and the conscience of an electric future”.

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Nissan Motor India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new recognition for its made-in-India Magnite compact SUV.

The Magnite has bagged a 5-star overall safety rating in the Global New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP). 

The SUV was tested by GNCAP and scored 5-star rating in adult safety and 3-star rating in child safety, which translted to an overall 5-star safety rating for the vehicle occupants. The Nissan Magnite is manufactured at the Renault India’s Chennai plant and is exported to more than 65 countries under Nissan Motor India’s ‘One Car, One World’ strategy for both RHD and LHD markets.

Launched in October 2024, the new Magnite comes with over 40 standard safety features including 6 airbags, improved body structure incorporating 67 percent high tensile strength steel (>440Mpa), 6 Airbags, ABS + EBD, ESC, TCS, HSA, Brake Assist and TPMS among others.  

The Global NCAP’s crash test protocols assess frontal and side impact protection for all models, as well as ESC. Pedestrian protection and side pole impact protection assessments are required for vehicles scoring the highest star ratings.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “We are delighted to receive a 5-star safety rating for the Made In India New Nissan Magnite. Safety remains at the core of our engineering philosophy, and this reflects our dedication to providing our customers with secure, reliable, and technologically advanced and safe vehicles. As per our One Car, One World strategy, Nissan remains committed to the production and sale of the highest quality and safest cars in India for the domestic and export markets”.

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