By T Murrali

MG Motors, owned by SAIC (formerly Shanghai Auto Industrial Corporation), has launched its pure Electric Vehicle (EV) MG ZS in the international market to recreate a ‘new hot spot’ for its global strategy. This strategy is based on the success of its first new energy vehicle MG 6 that has won good market feedback and reputation. As part of its plan to target those who would like to have all the benefits of a zero emission vehicle without compromising on style MG Motors India has unveiled MG ZS EV, its global SUV.

Under the guidance of SAIC Group’s new four-fold strategies of ‘electrification, intelligent networking, sharing, and internationalization,’ MG has been leading the trend in the field of fuel vehicles, and its new energy vehicles to attract young people. Equipped with the world-class ‘Net Green’ power and SAIC’s leading system of electric drive, battery, and electric control, MG ZS pure electric vehicle boasts of a constant velocity range of up to 428km. 

Moreover, the latest generation of ‘intelligent interconnection’ system and the exclusive colour of new energy will provide a better and trendier choice for the global market where the demand for pure electric vehicles is increasing. The new EV uses MG’s new kansei (emotional) design to make its shape more modern; it has also introduced the exclusive colour of new energy, making it more attractive. The vehicle is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, luggage rack and other configurations.

Not compromising on aesthetics the vehicle has an appreciable build quality that can thrill with its performance and is powered by i-Smart. Assembled at its plant in Halol, Gujarat, the new electric SUV is 4,314 mm long, 1,809 mm wide and stands 1,620 mm tall while the wheelbase is 2,579 mm. It is touted to be the first pure electric internet SUV with a clean, efficient and fast powertrain.

“As an enabler and catalyst for India’s EV revolution, MG Motor India is creating a strong, end-to-end electric vehicle ecosystem in association with leading players in the sustainable energy domain. A truly global and best-in-class EV SUV, the ZS EV has already registered significant success in more than 10 international markets such as the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. It has also been extensively tested for India-specific requirements. We hope that it will recreate its success in India, thanks to the strong EV ecosystem that we are putting in place. We will evaluate opportunities to further expand this ecosystem to more markets across India, based on customer response,” Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said.

The Collaborators

Understanding the importance of leveraging expertise of global majors to offer cost competitive solution to customers, MG Motors has collaborated with world leaders such as CATL, UAES, Bosch, Infineon, Exicom, Umicore and Fortum.  

The China-based battery and technology company CATL, specializes in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for EVs, energy storage systems, and battery management systems. UAES is the power electronics solutions provider, and Bosch and Infineon offer software and other support. Exicom helps in second-life use of batteries, and Umicore ensures safe and sustainable recycling of end-of-life batteries.

The collaboration with Fortum India is to set up a 50 kW DC fast charging infrastructure. It has installed such fast public charging stations for EVs across MG’s showrooms in Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Over the next 5 years Fortum plans to have one charging facility every 5 km in major metro cities and every 25 km on the highways.

Exterior And Interior

Inspired by the majestic London Eye, true to its British genes, the headlamps give the MG ZS EV a powerful persona, the kind which makes the EV stand out in the crowd. It complements the aesthetics of the grille, which connotes the magnetic fields between celestial bodies, and brings out the glam quotient. The deep concave grille is supplemented with enough chrome to get the bling on.

The tail lights depict the plough, also called the big dipper. They are inspired by the seven brightest stars of the constellation, Ursa Major, which is the largest northern constellation and third largest constellation in the sky. The side design depicts the phantom that flies through the corners. The panoramic sky roof covers 90 percent of the roof bringing in natural light. It’s like having the sky as a companion on every journey.

In the interior, the ZS comes with an updated version of the Hector’s infotainment system dubbed, iSmart EV 2.0. It has an embedded SIM card for internet connectivity and also has the ability to connect to an external home Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot. The iSmart EV 2.0 features real-time maps with charging station locator from TomTom, music from Gaana app and weather by Accuweather. The updated system also gets a new graphic interface and improved hardware over the Hector’s iSmart system. 

The system offers over 60 connected car features including Range alerts, Battery status, Eco-friendly updates, Remote vehicle control (for AC on/off, door lock/unlock, light flashing and honking) E-Call (self-initiated emergency call sends a message and location to the 24/7 pulse hub if airbags are deployed), I-Call (get a call from the MG pulse hub for general assistance or road side assistance at the touch of the i-Call button), Geofencing, Navigation, Smart Drive (driver analytics-harsh braking, running idle, routes taken etc. to improve driving skills) and Security Alert (get alerts on the app in case of abnormal door opening, over speed etc.)

The vehicle has a CO2 saver feature which displays the amount of carbon-dioxide the owners save in real-time. MG ZS air-conditioning unit comes fitted with particulate matter 2.5 air filters to provide fresh and healthy air inside the cabin, thus maintaining healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). It can bring bad air quality level of up to 300 AQI down to regular levels in just 35 minutes.

The vehicle is equipped with 3D surround effect, which enhances the driving experience with audible navigation assistance and provides close-to-ear experience.  

The MG ZS EV gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It is equipped with a visually delightful screen that gives all the information at a single glance and allows the driver to manage complete vehicle settings with just a touch. MG ZS can get new software over the air.

Safety

As safety is key, the MG ZS comes with European Standards such as European E-MARK, European REACH (environmental standards in the car) and European E-NCAP (safety standard design). In terms of safety the vehicle has 6 airbags, which include dual front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, and side-curtain airbags that work together with the seatbelts. It is adequately armoured to save the lives of the occupants.

The EV has auto headlamps to mitigate heavy overcast skies or an enclosure, such as a parking garage. In the case of cruise control, it doesn’t let the driver lose control over the speed. Instead it lets the driver to set a speed limit, and it will handle the throttle accordingly.

The SUV is equipped with an electric parking brake to ensure it is held safely when brakes are suddenly pressed. The electronic gear shift knob gives a complete sense of control over gear shifts. The reverse parking-assist system helps the driver to sense when objects are in the vehicle’s blind spot, thus help prevent accidents which may be caused due to difficulty in reverse parking. The hill descent control system helps the user enjoy the mountains as much as the highways. It prevents rollback on a slope when the brake is released and switched to the accelerator pedal. Besides, it had TPMS to get real-time information about the tyre pressure through a pictogram display. Heated OVRM is part of the standard equipment to clear the fog and ice on the side view mirror, thereby ensuring visibility at all times.

The Battery

The ultra-high density 44.5 kWh battery makes the vehicle to zip 0-100 kmph in 8.5 seconds. It helps deliver maximum power of 142.7 PS, maximum torque of 353 Nm. The liquid-cooled NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery from CATL, gives the car a travel range of 340 km on a full charge. It comes with a kinetic energy reverse system, which stores the extra generated power for later use.

The battery of ZS complies with IP67 and UL 2580 - standards for safety that cover waterproof, dustproof, collision monitoring, electromagnetic shielding, insulation monitoring, high voltage interlock, overload protection, short circuit, intrusion, smoke, soaks, fire and fall.

Charging System

The MG ZS EV is equipped with CCS Type-2 European standard connector and is able to rapid charge from public chargers and also comes equipped with an AC slow charger. The lithium-ion battery can be charged through four options. AC Fast Charger that is provided and installed by MG Motor India at home or office, free of cost. With this 80 percent of charging is done in 6-8 hours. The portable charger that comes with every car can be plugged into any 15A socket. The batteries can be charged up to 80 percent n 16-18 hours. DC superfast chargers that are available at MG dealerships 24x7 can charge the batteries up to 80 percent within 50 minutes. Besides, the vehicle maker is also planning to set up AC Fast Chargers at MG dealerships along key routes in satellite cities. In an emergency, road side assistance for mobile charging support is offered 24x7. The MG logo in the vehicle glows to indicate that the SUV is getting charged. Glowing stops, once the charging is complete.

MG ZS EV comes with three driving modes: Sport, for accelerated driving and a thrilling drive experience; Normal, for balanced range and driving performance; and Eco, for efficient driving to maximize range. (MT)

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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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