In a major milestone for vehicle safety in India, Maruti Suzuki India’s all-new Dzire has become the first compact sedan in the country to secure a 5-star rating under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP). The safety certification was formally presented by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, during a ceremony held in New Delhi.

The same round of crash testing also saw Maruti Suzuki’s New Age Baleno receive a 4-star rating, further strengthening the company’s credentials in vehicle safety.

The country’s largest carmaker announced that by end-2025, all its passenger vehicles will come equipped with six airbags as standard. Currently, 10 models – including the Alto K10, Celerio, WagonR, Eeco, Swift, Dzire, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Jimny and Invicto –already feature this across all variants.

Additionally, the automaker confirmed that all 18 models in its portfolio now come with Electronic Stability Program+ (ESP) as standard. This the OEM states is the widest deployment of ESP across a passenger vehicle lineup in India, ahead of any regulatory requirement.

Minister Nitin Gadkari lauded the progress made in enhancing vehicle safety across India. He noted that Bharat NCAP now follows globally benchmarked testing protocols and commended Maruti Suzuki for incorporating advanced safety features even in entry-level models. Gadkari also encouraged other OEMs to adopt similar initiatives and stressed the need for road users to follow traffic laws, wear seat belts, and prioritise safety as a collective responsibility.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Bharat NCAP empowers Indian consumers to make well-informed decisions. We remain committed to making six airbags standard across our portfolio by the end of this year.”

Both the new Dzire and Baleno are built on Suzuki’s fifth-generation HEARTECT platform, designed for enhanced crash safety and structural rigidity. Standard safety features across both vehicles include:

• Six airbags (front, side, and curtain)
• Electronic Stability Program+ (ESP) with Hill Hold Assist
• ABS with EBD
• 360-degree HD camera
• Rear parking camera and sensors
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Seatbelt reminders with audio-visual alerts for all passengers
• 3-point seat belts for every occupant
• Speed-sensitive auto door locking
• High-speed alert system

Additionally, the Dzire features a manual day/night IRVM and tyre pressure monitoring system, while the Baleno offers an auto-dimming IRVM for added driving convenience.

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Kia India, a leading mass premium carmaker in the country, has reported strong domestic sales in September 2025, reaching 22,700 units, up 15.8 percent compared to August 2025.

The company attributes the sales surge to a combination of market factors, specifically the recent GST reforms and the start of the festive season. The streamlined taxation framework is noted for having enhanced affordability and strengthened overall customer sentiment.

Kia India stated that its entire product portfolio, including the Sonet, Carens, Carens Clavis, Seltos, Syros and Carnival, continued to resonate with customers during the month.

Atul Sood, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “September 2025 marks a significant milestone for Kia India, driven by the positive impact of GST reforms and the festive season demand. The streamlined taxation framework has enhanced affordability and encouraged stronger customer engagement across our product portfolio. This robust growth reflects the enduring trust customers place in our brand, the strength of our innovative and feature-rich lineup, and our commitment to delivering superior mobility solutions.”

Kia India also reported strong year-to-date (YTD) sales, with 206,582 units sold in 2025 so far. This represents a 7.2 percent growth compared to the 192,690 units sold during the same period last year.

In addition the company exported 2,606 units in September 2025.

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Japanese automaker Nissan Motor India (NMIPL) has recorded consolidated sales of 10,500 units in September 2025, reflecting a 9.3 percent YoY growth over September 2024.

Domestic wholesale sales totalled 1,652 units, while exports reached 8,872 units, including 1,120 units to South Asia, marking Nissan's highest-ever sales in the region.

During Q2 FY2026, the company also launched a segment-first 10-year warranty for the New Nissan Magnite, which drove sales for the month.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “September was an exciting month for Nissan Motor India. The GNCAP 5-Star rated new Nissan Magnite with a segment-first 10-year extended warranty continues to resonate strongly with our customers and the recent GST-driven price benefit helped accelerate deliveries."

"We would like to thank our customers for an over-whelming response to the recently introduced Kuro Special Edition and the exciting new Metallic Grey colour brought to market on strong customer demand,” he added.

The company is aggressively expanding its dealership network, targeting 180 dealerships by end-FY2026 and 250 by end-FY2027. Nissan is preparing for new launches, including the upcoming all-new 7-seater B-MPV, 5-seater C-SUV and 7-seater C-SUV.

"With our dealership expansion now rapidly underway, we are focused on enhancing customer accessibility and delivering an exciting product portfolio, including the upcoming all-new 7-seater B-MPV, 5-seater C-SUV & 7-seater C-SUV,” concluded Vatsa.

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Skoda Auto India has reported exceptional growth for the Q3 CY2025, registering a 110 percent YoY increase in sales over the same period last year. The brand sold a total of 17,161 cars between July and September, marking a record-breaking performance.

The company said its momentum was highlighted by robust monthly sales in September, where Skoda Auto India sold 6,636 cars, marking 110 percent YoY growth.

The company stated that the sales surge was ‘fuelled by the sustained demand for the Kylaq, along with steady contributions from the Kushaq, Slavia and Kodiaq.’

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The festive season, coupled with the simplified GST framework, has created a strong tailwind across the industry. Our September and Q3 results reflect the strong customer response to our product portfolio, particularly the Kylaq, which has become a true growth driver for us. With our growing network and value-driven ownership experience, we remain focused on building deeper connections with customers while accelerating Skoda’s growth journey in India.”

The company stated that its success in 2025 is largely anchored by its product offensive and network expansion including the Kylaq, which crossed 34,500 units in sales since launch. Year to date sales, the company achieved total sales of 53,355 units. Furthermore, to celebrate 25 years in India, Skoda has expanded its customer touchpoints to over 315 locations across 177 cities.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its wholesales for September 2025 and Q2 FY2026.  

The company sold 132,820 vehicles in September, which was down 8 percent, as compared to 144,962 units sold for the same period last year. The major decline in sales was witnessed in its mini (-30%) and SUV portfolio (-21%), while the compact segment grew by 11 percent.

Maruti Suzuki India attributed the decline in sales to ‘logistical constraints towards the last part of the month.’

In terms of exports, the company clocked its highest-ever monthly sales with 42,204 units last month, as compared to 27,728 units a year ago.

The automaker stated that with the revision in GST rates, the company has seen positive consumer sentiment, which reflected in its highest-ever deliveries of 165,000 units in the first 8 days of the ongoing Navratri festivals.

On the other hand, for Q2 FY2026, the company reported sales of 795,556 units, down 6 percent YoY, as compared to 844,614 units last year. Barring the compact vehicle segment, all segments reported a decline in sales.

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