Mercedes-Benz India, the leading German luxury car manufacturer in the country, has achieved new milestones. In 2024, the company reported its best-ever sales performance in three decades with sales of 19,565 new vehicles in the country, up 12.4 percent YoY. With this, Mercedes-Benz India becomes the first luxury brand to have crossed the 200,000 units sales milestone in the country.

In 2024, the German luxury brand launched 14 new products, including 9 top-end The company attributed the performance to a combination of new launches, existing models and an enhanced retail customer experience.

Last year, Mercedes-Benz launched 14 new products including 9 ultra-premium models in the Indian market. The year also marked the company increasing sales of its EV models consisting of the – EQA 250+, EQB SUV, EQS SUV 580 and the Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV - to over six percent, registering a growth of 94 percent YoY.

Crossing milestones

Mercedes-Benz was amongst the first luxury car brands to have entered the Indian automotive market. This commitment has been rewarded by the Indian consumers who have shown their preference towards Mercedes-Benz, and helped it cross the sales milestone of 200,000 units in the country.

The company shared that of the 200,000 Mercedes-Benz sold since 1994, 100,000 vehicles were sold in the last six years alone (2019-2024). The first 50,000 units sales milestone took 20 years (1994-2013), following the next 50,000 units in five years (2014-2018).

On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, the finance arm of the luxury car maker, has achieved INR 100 billion portfolio in India. Interestingly, every second Mercedes-Benz sold in the country was financed by the company.

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz continues to lead with its BEV roadmap, strengthening our commitment to sustainability. Our product offensive in 2025 begins with the debut of two eagerly awaited BEVs: the iconic G580 with EQ technology and the 'Made-in-India' EQS SUV 450. The G580 brings the iconic off-road capabilities of the G-Class into the electric age, setting new standards and unlocking unparalleled possibilities in luxury, performance, and sustainability. Following the success of the EQS SUV in India, we are happy to introduce its second variant, EQS SUV 450 in a 5-seater configuration. The EQS SUV 450 combines progressive technology, unparalleled luxury, and ample space with sustainability at its heart.

Expansion and new model launches

As part of its growth strategy for India, the company also marked the launch of two new EVs in the country – the 5-seater made-in-India EQS 450 SUV and the G 580 with EQ Technology.

Mercedes-Benz India also announced its 2025 roadmap for the country ‘Desire to Exceed’, which will see 8 new product launches in addition to facelifts and 20 new luxury touchpoints including expanding to new markets.

It expects its franchise partners will make investment of over INR 4.5 billion towards over the course of next three years.

Mercedes-Benz India has also pledged INR 75 million towards road safety initiatives in the country.

"At Mercedes-Benz, we will continue to shape the future of mobility in the digital era —pushing the boundaries of customer experience, service offerings, innovative products, and sustainability. Our commitment remains unwavering in providing excellence through tailored solutions crafted specifically for India, ensuring the best possible ownership experience for our customers,” concluded Iyer.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicles manufacturers in the country, has announced its financial results for FY2025.

The company reported revenue of INR 691 billion for FY2025, which was flat as compared to INR 698 billion last year. The EBITDA came at INR 89.53 billion, down 2 percent as compared to INR 91.32 billion last year. The profit after tax  came at INR 56 billion, down 7 percent YoY.

For Q4 FY2025, the revenue grew by 2 percent at INR 179 billion, as against INR 176 billion last year. The EBITDA was flat at INR 25.32 billion, as compared to INR 25.21 billion for the same period last year, while EBITDA came at 14.1 percent and net profit at INR 16.14 billion, down 4 percent YoY.

The company stated that despite a turbulent market situation, it was able to sustain growth with SUVs now contributing almost 68.5 percent of its total sales across urban and rural markets. The Hyundai Creta continued to hold over 30 percent market share in the mid-size segment.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, “FY2025 business performance demonstrates our ability to navigate the tides by responding quickly to the ever-changing customer aspirations. Launch of products like Creta Electric and Alcazar FL along with seamless product refreshments across segments helped us in maintaining our competitive edge. Hyundai’s strong brand presence in key global emerging markets enabled us to endure headwinds and sustain export volumes during the year. The year gone by signifies our resilience in the financial performance by way of sustained revenues and healthy operating margins attributable to improved realisation and cost control measures.”

Amidst macroeconomic headwinds, the automaker stated its domestic strategy centered around premiumisation and the surging popularity of SUVs. The company’s focus on advanced safety and comfort features, like ADAS and sunroofs, is part of its ongoing effort to meet evolving consumer aspirations.

On the exports front, Kim stated that “We aspire to become Hyundai’s largest export hub outside South Korea. For FY2026, we anticipate the growth in export volumes to be around 7 to 8 percent, supported by robust demand for our products in the emerging markets.”

As part of its long-term strategy, Hyundai Motor India is investing in expanding manufacturing capacity and preparing for the future of mobility. “FY2026 will mark a significant milestone in our growth journey, with the commencement of our third plant at Talegaon. Designed with flexibility at its core, the facility will be capable of producing both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles, enabling us to respond dynamically to market demand.”

“We also intend to deepen our localized supplier network by adopting an indigenisation strategy at the Pune plant, further reinforcing our ‘Make in India’ vision,” said Kim.

The company has also outlined an aggressive roadmap with 26 product launches planned by FY2030 – including 20 ICE, 6 EVs and new hybrid technologies.

On the other hand, he mentioned a cautious, optimistic outlook for domestic demand in near term amid prevailing macro-turbulences and weakening customer sentiments.

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Citroen India, part of Europe’s Stellantis brand, has introduced CNG retrofit kit for the Citroen C3 hatchback in the country.

The C3 CNG will now be available across Citroen dealerships with a certified retrofitment programme at INR 93,000, which will enable customers to lower the vehicle running costs and emissions, while still benefitting from C3’s signature comfort, performance and design.

The factory-tested CNG kit offers a claimed mileage of up to 28.1 km per kg and a running cost of INR 2.66 per km. It is engineered exclusively for Citroen C3 1.2 NA variants (Live, Feel, Feel (O) & Shine) and comes with a 3-year/100,000 km vehicle warranty.

Citroen states that the CNG system is integrated without compromising the boot space, and the spare wheel remains accessible. The CNG nozzle also gets integrated within the petrol filler port, ensuring ease of access during refueling.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head & Director - Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “We are pleased to introduce the CNG retrofitment option for the Citroen C3, reinforcing our commitment to provide accessible, economical, and eco-conscious mobility solutions. This initiative will enable our customers to experience Citroen comfort and design while benefitting from the cost-efficiency and environmental advantages of CNG. As CNG infrastructure rapidly expands across India – with more than 7,400 stations expected nationwide by FY2025 – Citroen India is proud to offer solutions aligned with the country's evolving fuel ecosystem and environmental goals.”

Shishir Mishra, Business Head & Director - Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Business, Stellantis India, added, “The CNG-enabled C3 is a strategic step forward for institutional customers, especially fleet operators, ride-share drivers, and last-mile mobility providers who value operational savings without compromising on quality and reliability. With Citroën’s comfort DNA and dual fuel flexibility, this variant is tailor-made for high-usage applications.”

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Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has announced its aggressive recovery strategy ‘Re:Nissan’, which aims for JPY 500 billion in total cost savings and a return to profitability by fiscal year 2026. The plan, led by new management, includes a sharp focus on cost reduction, manufacturing efficiency and a redefined global product and market strategy.

The urgency of the Re:Nissan plan follows a difficult fiscal year 2024, in which global sales stagnated at 3.346 million units amid intense competition. Consolidated net revenue stood at JPY 12.63 trillion, while operating profit plunged to JPY 69.8 billion – an operating margin of just 0.6 percent. The company reported a net loss of JPY 670.9 billion, with both free cash flow and operating profit in the automotive business turning negative. Compared to FY2023, operating profit dropped by JPY 498.9 billion, underscoring the scale of the turnaround challenge.

Going forward, the company is targeting JPY 250 billion in variable cost reductions through engineering efficiencies and supplier consolidation, alongside another JPY 250 billion in fixed cost cuts by FY2026.

Nissan will reduce its global vehicle plants from 17 to 10 by FY2027, along with cancelling a planned LFP battery plant in Kyushu and streamline powertrain operations.

The automaker also plans to cut 20,000 jobs globally by FY2027, including 9,000 already announced, covering manufacturing, R&D and SG&A functions.

By cutting parts complexity by 70 percent and halving vehicle platforms to 7 by 2035, Nissan aims to slash development lead times. Upcoming models include the all-new Skyline and INFINITI compact SUV.

Nissan will focus on key markets – U.S., Japan, China, Europe, Middle East and Mexico – with localised product approaches. For instance, in the U.S., the company will expand its hybrid lineup and refresh the INFINITI brand.

The Japanese automaker will also deepen alliances with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors and pursue ongoing collaboration with Honda Motor Co in electrification and vehicle intelligence.

Ivan Espinosa, CEO, Nissan Motor Co, said, "In the face of challenging FY24 performance and rising variable costs, compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan clearly outlines what we need to do now. All employees are committed to working together as a team to implement this plan, with the goal of returning to profitability by fiscal year 2026.”

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Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automotive manufacturers, has unveiled all-new Tata Altroz, ahead of its launch on 22 May 2025.

The Altroz hatchback is built on the Tata Motors’ advanced ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) architecture. It also was available with innovative twin-cylinder CNG technology in 2023. 

Now the company has further upgraded the model with sculpted lines and a bold 3D front grille. It gets all-new Luminate LED Lamps, Infinity connected LED Tail lamps and flush door handles. On the inside, the Altroz gets a new Grand Prestigia dashboard and UltraView twin HD screens.

The Altroz will be available in five colour options – Dune Glow, Ember Glow, Pure Grey, Royal Blue and Pristine White – each with distinct personas: Smart, Pure, Creative, Accomplished S, and Accomplished+ S.

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