Expected to go on sale ahead of the festive season, the Tata Curvv coupe-SUV will not be positioned as a niche product. As a cross between a coupe, sedan (because it is a four door whereas coupes are usually two door) and an SUV, the vehicle is expected to be positioned as the one that would present superior addressability in terms of aspiration, style and performance. 

About attracting more customers by seeking their attention over other products – sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs – with its stylish demeanour, the Curvv is expected to create a position for itself in a highly competitive market place like the Punch ultra-compact SUV did after its introduction. 

Ironically, the Punch is not the first ultra-compact SUV to enter the Indian market. A few years ago, Mahindra explored this space with the XUV100. The market wasn’t open to such a vehicle then perhaps. Also the XUV100 could have been more appealing with a superior styling language. 

Mahindra & Mahindra could look at relaunching the next generation XUV100 once again with a superior styling and platform attributes. 

Back to the Curvv and it not be the only one of its kind to enter the market. Not even if it will be presented with an electric drivetrain, a petrol powertrain and at a later date, a diesel powertrain as well. The Citroen Basalt – a four-door compact sedan with coupe-SUV styling – is also expected to be launched at roughly the same time. 

The advantage Tata Motors may have over Citroen is the presence it has earned in the Indian passenger vehicle market with the likes of Nexon, Harrier and Safari. Despite the ‘right’ fundamentals, Citroen does not have the sales numbers or brand recall on its side yet.  

In terms of practicality, the coupe-SUV styling of the Curvv and Basalt is expected to signal some loss. But then, whether the buyers warm up to the styling and live with some loss of practically will be clear only after the two find their way to the showrooms and into the garages of the end users. 

Competitively pricing the Curvv in a market where automobiles are terribly expensive will be the key. It will be the same with the Basalt. 

Tata Motors' focus on democratising features is expected to provide an additional advantage to the Curvv. Numerous variants will be presented to cover various price points. 

In case of Basalt, Citroen is also expected to put its learnings in India to good practice.  

With cross over styled sedans like the Maruti SX4 doing well in the Indian market, there is reason to believe that the Curvv and Basalt will be well received. Practicality and price positioning will however matter most. 

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Jeep India has unveiled the rugged Trail Editions of its popular SUVs – the Jeep Compass and Jeep Meridian – combining bold styling with exclusive ownership benefits under the new ‘Jeep Trust’ programme. Available from 15 July 2025, these special editions cater to adventure enthusiasts seeking distinctive design and enhanced value.

The Jeep Compass Trail Edition features striking exterior upgrades, including Trail Edition decals, a matte black grille and Neutral Grey accents on key elements like the roof rails, ORVMs and badges. It rides on 18-inch Granite Metallic alloy wheels, while the interior sports black leatherette upholstery with red contrast stitching, a dark camouflage motif and Trail Edition-branded floor mats.

Meanwhile, the Jeep Meridian Trail Edition exudes premium ruggedness with a high-gloss black roof, signature hood decals and Neutral Grey highlights on the grille and cladding. Piano Black accents and red front fascia details complete its bold stance. Inside, it offers a black vinyl cabin with ruby red accents, camouflage appliques and skid plates for an adventurous touch.

The ‘Jeep Trust’ programme enhances ownership with added benefits. Compass Trail buyers receive a 3-year maintenance package, a 5-year warranty and an INR 20,000 cash benefit, while Meridian Trail owners get a complimentary 3-year maintenance plan.

Priced between INR 2,541,000 and INR 3,727,000 (ex-showroom), the Trail Editions are based on the Compass Longitude (O) and Meridian Limited (O) variants, retaining their core features while adding exclusive styling and value-packed ownership perks. Available for a limited time, these models can be booked at Jeep dealerships across India.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head and Director – Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “The Trail Editions reflect the Jeep brand’s core values of freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion. These bold new editions provide a differentiated ownership experience for customers who want to stand out — both on and off the road. With the addition of the Jeep Trust programme, we are reaffirming our commitment to offering value beyond the drive.”

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 India’s automobile industry delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2025-26, with passenger vehicle exports reaching an all-time high even as domestic sales remained largely flat, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.

Passenger vehicle sales crossed the one million mark for the second consecutive year in Q1, reaching 1.01 million units, though this represented a 1.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The segment’s performance was buoyed by utility vehicles, which now account for 66 percent of passenger vehicle sales and posted 3.8 percent growth, whilst passenger cars declined 11.2 percent.

The standout performer was exports, with passenger vehicles achieving record Q1 exports of 204,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase. This surge was driven by stable demand across most markets, with particularly strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America, alongside recovery in neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.

"The performance of the Auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1," said Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM.

The two-wheeler segment faced headwinds with wholesale sales declining 6.2 percent to 4.67 million units due to inventory correction across the industry. However, retail registrations increased 5 percent during the quarter, driven by the marriage season and positive demand sentiments. Two-wheeler exports showed robust growth of 23.2 percent to 1.14 million units.

Three-wheelers achieved their highest-ever Q1 sales of 165,000 units, representing marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The segment benefited from increased economic activity supporting urban transportation demand and easier financing options. Exports in this category surged 34.4 percent to 96,000 units.

Commercial vehicles posted a marginal decline of 0.6 percent to 223,000 units, though exports grew strongly by 23.4 percent to around 20,000 units.

Looking ahead to Q2, SIAM expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges. The upcoming festive season is expected to drive demand, particularly for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, whilst an above-normal monsoon could aid rural income recovery.

"With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve," Chandra added.

The Reserve Bank of India's cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points over the past six months are expected to gradually ease borrowing costs, potentially boosting consumer sentiment and affordability.

However, supply-side challenges persist, particularly the recent export licensing requirement from China on rare earth magnets, which has raised concerns for original equipment manufacturers across all categories.

"Sales of Passenger Vehicles in Q1 of 2025-26 de-grew by (-) 1.4 percent, posting sales of 1.01 million units as compared to Q1 of previous year," said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.

In June alone, passenger vehicle sales declined 7.4 percent to 312,849 units, whilst two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 percent to 1.56 million units. Three-wheeler sales bucked the trend with 3.8 percent growth to 61,828 units.

The industry's overall domestic sales fell 5.1 percent in Q1 to 60.75 million units, reflecting the challenging operating environment facing India's automotive sector.

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Czech automotive brand Skoda Auto India has announced that it has achieved a new milestone by surpassing 300 customer touchpoints in the country. With this, the OEM has a network of touchpoints in 172 cities across the country and is rapidly expanding its presence in not just tier 1 cities, but also tier 2 and tier 3 markets.

Interestingly, 86 percent of the recent expansion have happened in these geographies and 75 percent of the 300 touchpoints are directly servicing customers in the same cities.

The Czech automaker is marking its 25th anniversary in the country and 130 years globally. It was just recently, Skoda Auto India reported its highest-ever half-yearly sales in the first half of 2025.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Our growing network makes our product range more accessible to customers, while enabling smarter, faster service with consistent quality, across the country. With a strong emphasis on ‘growing together and getting closer to customers’, a large part of our expansion has been undertaken with Skoda Auto’s long-term dealer partners in India, while also bringing new partners with a proven track record of customer centricity into the fold. This expansion is a step forward in strengthening Skoda Auto’s legacy in India and delivering on our promise of safety, value, and a truly rewarding ownership experience."

The expansion the company shared perfectly complements its product strategy, which has been significantly boosted by the Kylaq SUV, joining the Kushaq and Kodiaq to offer an ‘SUV For Everyone.’ The Slavia continues the brand's sedan legacy, with a new global icon expected to launch in India soon.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched a new variant – S AMT – for the Hyundai Aura sedan at INR 807,700 (ex-showroom).

Powered by 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine, the Hyundai Aura AMT variant is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill start assist control (HAC), LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), 6 airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in the highline version and outside rear view mirror with electric folding and turn indicators, thus making the popular offering more attractive.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we are committed to making smart mobility accessible to a wider set of customers. The introduction of advanced AMT transmission in Hyundai AURA S AMT reflects our continuous efforts to democratise technology and enhance convenience for customers. With this introduction, we aim to redefine the value proposition in the entry segment by offering superior comfort, safety, performance and convenience at an affordable price.”

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