The passenger vehicle segment continues to see a steady growth with automakers across segment reporting healthy sales in June. 

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker reported wholesales of 148,915 units, which was 6.6 percent higher over last year. 

Hyundai Motor India clocked a muted growth with 50,202 units, compared to 50,001 units for the same period last year. 

Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said, “We closed H1 of CY2024 with an overall sales growth of 5.68 percent YoY. SUVs have contributed strongly, accounting for 66 percent of our domestic sales. The new Hyundai Creta has been a key driver for domestic H1 sales with 91,348 units sold, a growth of 11 percent over same period last year.”

Tata Motors, reported a decline of 8 percent in its sales, with 43,524 units (including EVs) sold in June, as compared to 47,235 units for the same period last year. The company attributed the slowdown on the back of general elections and heat waves that impacted consumer sentiment.

Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility said, “In Q1 FY2025, after a boost in demand in the first half of April, due to festivities in some parts of country, the passenger vehicle industry saw a decline in retails (registrations) in the months of May and June, influenced by the general elections and heat waves across the country. Tata Motors wholesales of 138,682 cars and SUVs in Q1 FY2025 remained flat compared to Q1 FY2024, as we readjusted our wholesales in line with retails to keep channel inventory under control.”

“The electric vehicle industry was affected by the broader industry trend and the impact of significant preponement fleet sales in Q4FY2024, due to expiry of FAME II subsidy in March 2024. Consequently, while the personal segment retails have grown slightly, there was a sharp decline witnessed in the fleet segment, which is expected to recover in the coming quarters. Going forward, we foresee recovery of demand, as enquiries have remained strong despite low retails in the past two months. This strong enquiry pipeline, in addition to onset of festive season from August, augurs well for the industry. Tata Motors is fully geared up to leverage this growth opportunity on the back of strong demand for its SUV portfolio, especially Punch and Nexon, as well as new launches in the coming months,” added Chandra.

Mumbai-headquartered Mahindra & Mahindra reported a growth of 22.8 percent selling 40,022 vehicles.

Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra stated, “We sold a total of 40,022 SUVs in June, a growth of 23 percent and 69,397 total vehicles, a 11 percent growth over last year. June has been a momentous month, as we rolled out the 200,000th XUV700 from our facility. We also celebrated 25 years of Bolero Pik-Ups, a category creator and a market leader in the LCV segment.”

Toyota Motor Corp continued to ride on the success of its new models. The company sold 27,474 units in June, marking a 40 percent growth. This also marked its best-ever monthly sales.

Sabari Manohar – Vice President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Our product strategy and continued focus on offering a delightful ownership experience across all touchpoints allowed us to maintain a consistently strong performance. Notably, we achieved our highest ever monthly sales of 27,474 units in June, and the overall 47% growth for the Calendar Year highlights the success of our invigorated strategy. Our recently launched Urban Cruiser Taisor continues to perform beyond expectations with order intake doubling compared to the previous month. The model's growing popularity underscores Toyota’s growing presence in the SUV segment. Overall, our SUV and MPV segments continue to lead our impressive sales surge thus reflecting a strong consumer preference for these versatile and reliable vehicles. Beyond our strong presence in major cities, TKM has strategically increased its focus on rural areas, broadening our customer base and driving significant momentum.”

Kia India sold 21,300 units, a growth of 9.8 percent, compared to 19,391 units sold for the same period last year. 

Hardeep Singh Brar – Senior Vice President and National Head Sales & Marketing, Kia India said, "We have observed a healthy month-on-month sales growth in H1 2024, averaging over 21,000 units per month. Our superior product offerings have consistently attracted customers to our showrooms throughout the year, maintaining a strong sales position. We are committed to sustaining this positive trend for the remainder of the year through network expansion and by adding value to our customers' aspirations."

Interestingly, Kia India recently surpassed 250,000 export milestone to over 100 markets from its Anantapur plant. 

Czech automaker Skoda Auto India, which completes its silver jubilee in India, has launched its all-new Kodiaq premium SUV at prices starting INR 4.68 million.

Powered by a 2.0 TSI engine, the Kodiaq produces 150kW and 320Nm of torque, which is distributed to both axles through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic. Based on the MQB37 platform, the Kodiaq SUV is available in the Sportline and Selection L&K in seven-seat configurations. The company shared that the SUV is being assembled in India at the brand’s facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. The Kodiaq comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 14.86 kmpl by ARAI.

The all-new Skoda Kodiaq grows 59mm longer than its predecessor, now measuring 4,758mm in length, 1,864mm in width and 1,679mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,791mm. Its ground clearance increases to 155mm when fully laden. It continues to retain its three-row layout yet manages to offer 281 litres of cargo space with all seats upright, 786 litres with the third row folded, and 1,976 litres with both rear rows stowed. Externally, the SUV boasts a bold redesign, featuring LED Beam Crystallinium headlamps with a Welcome Effect and a front grille integrated with a horizontal light strip.

A red strip connecting the tail lamps accentuates its width, and six exterior colour options are available, including Moon White and Velvet Red, with exclusive Bronx Gold for the L&K and Steel Grey for the Sportline.

On the inside, the Kodiaq elevates luxury with two distinct themes: a sporty all-black interior for the Sportline and premium Cognac leather upholstery for the L&K trim. A 32.77-cm infotainment system and Smart Dials with tactile controls streamline access to HVAC, audio and drive modes. Ergonomic upgrades include a steering wheel-mounted gear selector and a rear tablet holder. The Ergo front seats feature advanced pneumatic massage, while an acoustic package and noise-reducing windows ensure a tranquil cabin.

The Kodiaq is equipped with nine airbags, complemented by a sliding panoramic sunroof and a 725W Canton sound system with 13 speakers.

Skoda Auto India is also offering a standard warranty of five-year/125,000km (whichever earlier), along with a 10-year complimentary Road-Side Assistance on offer.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “In March, we recorded our biggest ever monthly sales in India, driven by the Kylaq launch, and supported by the Kushaq and Slavia. This is one of many new records we aim to set this year. In line with our product offensive strategy, the launch of the all-new Kodiaq showcases the other end of our product spectrum with Škoda’s luxury and technology prowess. The Kodiaq has now grown to be an important legacy name for us like the Octavia and Superb. The Kodiaq offers the ultimate luxury and handling for city roads and also packs in versatile all-terrain capabilities.”

German luxury automotive brand BMW Group India has launched the BMW M Drift Academy, an exclusive performance training platform that brings the thrill of drifting to India like never before.

The two-day event will take place at Raymonds Compound in Thane West, Maharashtra on 26 April 2025.

The BMW M Drift Academy will allow enthusiasts to experience vehicle drifting in a safe environment. The event will feature the BMW M2 and BMW M4 with the course having a mix of theory and hands-on track time. Experienced BMW certified instructors will familiarise participants with the features of BMW M cars and train them on various aspects of the vehicles like controlling a drift, throttle control, maintaining a drift, exiting a drift, half circle drift, exiting a half circle drift with style, full circle drift, maintaining a full circle drift (clockwise and anticlockwise) and transition drifting on a figure 8. 

Vikram Pawah, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “The BMW M Drift Academy is first-of-its-kind experience for car enthusiasts in India. Designed to unlock pure driving exhilaration, the academy offers an unforgettable journey packed with mastering various drifting techniques with utmost safety. Conducted under the watchful eyes of BMW certified instructors, each session promises edge-of-the-seat excitement and skill enhancement behind the wheel of BMW M cars. It’s a perfect place where adrenaline meets precision, and every drift is a symphony of skill, speed and sound.”

Volkswagen India has launched the new Tiguan R-Line at INR 4.89 million (ex-showroom), expanding its SUV portfolio for the Indian market.

Based on the MQB EVO platform, the Tiguan R-Line introduces a new chassis generation focused on driving dynamics and on-road performance.

The Tiguan R-Line is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI EVO petrol engine that produces 204 PS and 320 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and features 4MOTION all-wheel drive. The SUV also includes Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC Pro) and Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which allows wheel-specific braking and damper adjustment.

In terms of safety, the Tiguan R-Line is equipped with 21 Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features. These include adaptive cruise control, lane assist, park assist, and emergency braking, among others. The model carries a 5-star EURO NCAP safety rating and includes 9 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist, hill descent control and disc brakes at both front and rear.

Inside the cabin, the vehicle includes a 26.04 cm digital cockpit and a 38.1 cm infotainment system. A head-up display and multifunction control dial with an integrated TFT display allow for driver interaction with various settings and modes. The voice assistant (IDA) provides access to multiple infotainment features.

Convenience features include wireless charging, Wireless App-Connect and a sound system with eight speakers. The infotainment system integrates navigation data with the digital cockpit display.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said, “With the launch of the all-new Tiguan R-Line today, we are entering an exciting phase for Volkswagen in India, a phase that embodies the future of premium mobility from Volkswagen. This iconic SUV along with being bold and dynamic is also modern, fully equipped and highly capable to handle all terrains. Developed with German–engineered DNA, 5-star safety and fun-to-drive dynamics, the all-new Tiguan R-Line is here to thrill.”

The Tiguan R-Line also comes with a support programme called 4EVER Care, which includes a four-year warranty, four-year roadside assistance, and three free services.

Bookings for the Tiguan R-Line are now open across all Volkswagen dealerships in India, as well as through the company's official website. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on 23 April 2025. The SUV will be offered in six colour variants: Persimmon Red Metallic, Cipressino Green Metallic, Nightshade Blue Metallic, Grenadilla Black Metallic, Oryx White Pearl, and Oyster Silver Metallic.

Italian luxury brand Automobili Lamborghini has appointed Nidhi Kaistha as the new Head of Lamborghini India.

With over two decades of experience across hospitality, aviation and automotive industry, Kaistha will  oversee sales, marketing and aftersales operations for Lamborghini in India, which also is the sixth-largest market for the luxury brand in the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining Lamborghini India, she held the role of Regional Sales & Pre-owned cars manager at Porsche India.

Francesco Scardaoni, Regional Director of Automobili Lamborghini Asia Pacific, said, “We are delighted to welcome Nidhi Kaistha as Head of Lamborghini India. She brings a wealth of experience in the automotive industry, and we are confident that her strategic vision will drive further growth in India. India continues to be a market with immense growth potential for Lamborghini, and we look forward to strengthening our presence and delivering exceptional experiences to our customers in the region.”

At present, Lamborghini operates three dealerships in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.