The slowdown in sales of electric vehicles in some of the developed markets in the world has brought back the debate about whether hybrids are the intermediate solutions to meet the stringent emission targets and if there is a need to incentivise them as well. 

PB Balaji, CFO, Tata Motors believes that there is no point incentivising the “20-year-old technology”, especially if one actually has to meet the upcoming stringent CAFÉ (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) 3 norms. 

For the unversed the CAFÉ norms CAFE is targeted towards lowering fuel consumption (or improving fuel efficiency) of vehicles. It is achieved by lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As per reports, the CAFÉ 3 norms have proposed a penalty of INR 25,000 per vehicle if the carmaker’s average fuel efficiency exceeds the limit by up to 0.2 litres per 100 km; for anything above the proposed penalty is INR 50,000 per vehicle. It is important to note that this applies to the automaker's entire vehicle output, which means for all vehicles sold in a particular year. 

Balaji spoke at a post-earnings conference about the dip in electric vehicle sales for Tata Motors being a temporary phenomenon and said it was the company’s responsibility as a market leader to grow the electric PV segment. 

He spoke as far as Tata Motors’ alternate fuel strategy is concerned, everything has to be linked to the CAFÉ norms. He claimed that at present, Tata Motors was “well ahead of the curve at 95 grams per kilometre we are amongst the leaders when it comes to CAFÉ norms.”

Balaji believes that things are going to get even more interesting as “CAFÉ 3 comes where if an OEM does not have electric vehicles in its portfolio it will not be able to have a portfolio”. 

He believes that if one even looks at the number of passenger vehicles sold currently, and even if 10 percent of sales have to come by electric vehicles, it comes to over 3,50,000 EVs sold in a year. 

On its part, Tata Motors aims to drive “innovation-based demand” for its electric portfolio rather than be influenced by just a “push or pull strategy”. 

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Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

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Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported wholesales of 66,840 units in November 2025, up 9.1 percent YoY as against 61,252 units last year.

This includes domestic sales of 50,340 units, up 4 percent YoY and exports of 16,500 units, up 27 percent YoY.

Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “Supported by GST 2.0 reforms, we continue to carry forward sales momentum with a year-on-year growth in our monthly domestic sales in November 2025. Further, our commitment to bolstering India’s role as a global manufacturing hub is further solidified with 26.9% year-on-year growth in monthly exports.”

He further added that the all-new Hyundai Venue SUV, the company's first software-defined vehicle in India, has received more than 32,000 bookings within a month of its launch. The new Venue features ccNC infotainment powered by Nvidia.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced its wholesales for November 2025, reporting total sales of 33,752 units, up 28 percent YoY.

This includes 30,085 units sold in the domestic market and 3,667 units exported.

Varinder Wadhwa, Vice-President, Sales–Service–Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Following a positive festive season supported by the government’s progressive GST reforms, we continue to witness a strong momentum, with a growth of 19 percent. The recent introduction of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder Aero Edition and Fortuner Leader Edition has also continued to help us reinforce this growth trajectory, receiving recognition across the country. The innovative initiatives such as the Drum Tao and the launch of the toyota experiential museum (tem) in Bangalore, have been highly appreciated, further strengthening customer engagement and brand connect.”

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