The display of flagship XUV700 SUV, the three-door Thar and the XUV 300 at the Bharat Mobility Expo may not be as exciting as the ‘BE.RALL-E’ concept SUV painted in a shade of bright lemon-yellow and arranged at the centre of the stall. It is a true-blue off-road vehicle concept built on the INGLO architecture and electric in nature. It builds on Mahindra eSUVs’ core philosophy of ‘infinite possibilities’ with a compelling and exciting concept. 

The rugged interior and exterior of the ‘BE.RALL-E’ concept may seem like it has drawn inspiration from those Land Rover SUVs which participated in the Camel Rally, the fact is, Mahindra & Mahindra has some wild and highly exciting SUV up the sleeve – both on the ICE side and the BEV side. 

It was not long ago that the automaker unveiled the Vision Thar.e Concept, Global Pik-Up Truck in Cape Town, South Africa. The Vision Thar.e Concept brought to the fore the automaker’s recently engineered subsidiary, Mahindra Electric Automobiles Limited (MEAL) besides highlighting a powerful and distinctive new visual identity for it with such a concept. 

Under the ‘Born Electric Vehicles’ nomenclature, the automaker leveraged the INGLO architecture to build the Vision Thar.e. The ‘BE.RALL-E’ concept also uses the same architecture. 

While claiming that the INGLO architecture is being honed to engineer some very interesting BEV vehicles in the future, it is the body-on-frame Global Pik Up truck – claimed to be based on the Scorpio N platform – that points at how Mahindra & Mahindra is leaving no stone unturned to further strengthen its position in the Indian SUV segments. The Mumbai-based automaker is also pushing for a larger pie of SUVs and pick-up trucks in markets like South Africa and Australia among others. 

In India, the company is expected to launch the XUV 300 facelift, an electric large SUV based on the XUV 700 and the five-door Thar. What the three vehicles, when introduced, may not fully reflect is the changes the automaker is carrying out at its research valley on the outskirts of Chennai. 

It has been investing into some fancy labs, product development tools, and test and validation equipment. It is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to ensure that there is a made-in-India vehicle running across most of the markets globally. Coming from a market that is currently being dominated by Japanese and Korean automakers, the rise of a homegrown automaker like Mahindra & Mahindra to the global stage – the Chinese automakers are just doing that with their EVs particularly – will be an expression of a country’s technological, manufacturing, design and entrepreneurial strength.

The technology transition and transformation could provide homegrown automakers like Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors just the right opportunity to expand their presence to the global stage, aided albeit by the regulatory push in terms of safety and emissions. The BS VII emission regulation draft is ready as per the sources aware of the development. Its date of announcement could be as early as 2026 or 2027! 

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has released its unaudited financial results for Q3 FY2026 and nine months ending 31 December 2025.

The company reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of INR 123.44 billion for Q3, representing a 6.3 percent increase YoY. Revenue for the quarter reached INR 1,797.35 billion, up 8 percent compared to the same period last year. EBITDA stood at INR 2,018.3 billion, a 7.6 percent rise, supported by festive demand and the implementation of GST 2.0.

The company stated that the domestic demand was supported by wholesale volumes increasing 5 percent QoQ. The Hyundai Creta recorded sales of over 200,000 units in the 2025 calendar year, while the new Venue model has received nearly 80,000 bookings to date.

Hyundai Motor India also entered the commercial mobility segment with the Prime HB and SD taxi models. Exports grew by 21 percent YoY in Q3 FY26, accounting for 25 percent of the total sales mix.

For the nine-month period, EBITDA reached INR 6,632.5 billion, a 3.3 percent increase. EBITDA margins expanded to 12.8 percent, up from 12.5 percent in the previous year, despite costs related to capacity stabilisation and commodity prices.

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, said, “The third quarter performance underscores our resilience and strong execution of 'Quality of Growth' strategy, marked by healthy growth in volumes, revenue and profitability. Notably on a year-to-date basis, EBITDA margins expanded to 12.8 percent as against 12.5 percent last year, supported by our efforts towards improving sales mix and prudent cost control measures. As we move ahead, the robust January’26 sales number gives us great momentum towards a healthy 2026.”

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Stellantis-owned Jeep has announced its Strategic Plan Jeep 2.0, positioning India as a central hub for its operations in the Asia Pacific region. The plan focuses on localisation, manufacturing depth, and export expansion from the company's facility in Ranjangaon, Pune.

As part of the strategy, Jeep intends to increase localisation levels to 90 percent, up from the current 65–70 percent. This move is aimed at strengthening supply-chain resilience and cost competitiveness. The Ranjangaon plant, which has an annual capacity of 160,000 vehicles, currently exports the Compass, Meridian, and Commander to markets including Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Plans are underway to expand exports to Africa and North America.

The company plans to introduce a new vehicle lineup in India starting from 2027. In the interim, Jeep will maintain its current portfolio through refreshes and special editions. To support its customers, the brand has introduced the Confidence 7 programme, which includes a buyback scheme, pre-maintenance packages, and extended warranties.

At present, Jeep operates over 85 sales and service touchpoints across 70 cities in India. The automaker stated that in 2025, the Wrangler Willys 41 limited edition sold out within seven days. The company is also focusing on its owner community, which has reached 100,000 members, through experiential platforms and brand clubs.

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, “Jeep’s 85-year legacy is built on authenticity and adventure. Strategic Plan Jeep 2.0 lays out how we will sharpen our product strategy and strengthen the customer experience year after year, driven by deeper localisation, global product alignment, expanding our vehicle offerings, and programs that deliver real value. We are equally focused on taking care of our existing customers, ensuring they receive the support, service and confidence they expect from Jeep. Success in India demands resilience and long-term commitment and we are investing with that clarity to ensure Jeep remains a brand of pride and desirability.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its financial results for Q3 FY2026.

The company reported revenue of INR 475.344 billion, as against INR 368.02 billion last year, net profit came at INR 37.94 billion, as against INR 36.59 billion last year. It is to be noted that the net profit was impacted for Q3 FY2026 was impacted due to a one-time provision of INR 5,939 million relating to new Labour Codes.

During the period, the company achieved its highest quarterly domestic sales of 564,669 units, an increase of 97,676 units over the previous year. Total sales reached 667,769 units, which included 103,100 units in exports. This performance was supported by a recovery in the car market following GST reform, with the small car segment in the 18 percent GST bracket contributing significantly to the volume increase.

For the nine-month period from April to December 2025, the company recorded its highest sales volume, net sales and net profit. Total sales volume reached 1,746,504 units, with domestic sales at 1,435,945 units and exports at 310,559 units. Net sales for this period increased to INR 1,242 billion, while net profit grew to INR 1,085 billion.

Financial statements for the period have been restated following the amalgamation of Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) with MSIL. This process took effect from 1 April 2025. The company continues to monitor market conditions as it manages its manufacturing and sales operations.

The recovery in the car market was led by the small car segment. Sales growth in this category accounted for 68,328 units of the total domestic increase. The company remains focused on domestic and export markets to maintain its sales volumes.

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Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has showcased the Tayron R-Line, marking the first of five product interventions scheduled for 2026.

The company plans to introduce updates or new models in every quarter to maintain market presence. These interventions will include SUV, Sedan and Hatchback body styles, with each model intended for different segments of the premium market.

For 2026, the company stated it has established objectives focused on products, customer engagement and experiences. The strategy involves using product actions to address various customer sets throughout the year. The brand aims to sustain interest through these quarterly releases across its vehicle portfolio.

The roadmap for the year is designed to cover multiple segments, ensuring a consistent rollout of updates. By addressing three body styles, the manufacturer intends to reach a broad audience within the premium category. The initiative forms part of a wider plan to enhance the ownership experience and interaction with the brand in India.

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “Today, we are glad to showcase the Tayron R-Line for the first time in India. I am also delighted to announce that we have planned four more product interventions throughout the year. This year, every quarter will witness a new product intervention that will cater to a different premium customer set. Our objective is to continue building excitement for customers through smart product actions and introducing models that will continue to build aspirations.”

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