Renault Appoints Josep Maria Recasens As Chief Strategy, Product & Program Management Officer

TVS Motor Co - Aegis Rider

In a move designed to enhance organisational agility, Renault Group has appointed Josep Maria Recasens to the newly consolidated role of Chief Strategy, Product & Program Management Officer with immediate effect. This promotion is a key part of the company's broader initiative to streamline its structure and accelerate decision-making. Recasens will now report directly to CEO François Provost and will join the Group’s Leadership Team, positioning him to shape the company's future direction.

His expanded responsibilities will encompass defining Renault’s overarching strategy, guiding critical product choices for the coming years and coordinating the implementation of future vehicle lineups to ensure their market success. While assuming these central corporate duties, Recasens will maintain his current position as CEO for the Iberian Peninsula countries. He will also continue as the CEO of Ampere, Renault's electric vehicle and software entity, until its ongoing transformation is fully complete.

Recasens brings a wealth of automotive industry expertise to this role. An engineer with an MBA, his career began at SEAT S.A. in 2002, where he progressed through roles in research and development, product planning, and international project management, eventually rising to Director of Strategy. He joined Renault in June 2021 as Director of Strategy and Business Development, playing a central role in the Renaulution plan and partnership deployments. His trajectory at Renault has been rapid, including his appointment as Chief Strategy Officer in 2023 and his leadership of Ampere, where he has been instrumental in steering its evolution into an electric and software-focused enterprise.

Provost said, “Since my arrival, I have focused on implementing a simpler, more effective and faster organisation to adapt to the current challenges. Bringing together the strategy, which sets the course, and the Product and Planning, which guides product choices and program directions, is an essential lever for greater coherence and agility. Josep Maria will be in charge of this scope and will take over from Guido Haak, whom I warmly thank for his dedication and years with us. Ampere's ambition remains at the heart of our strategy to provide our customers with innovative electrical and software technologies that are accessible to all.”

Recasens said, "I am very happy to take on this new challenge and grateful for the trust the Group has placed in me. My first priority will be to extend to the entire company a few principles that have made Ampere successful: a strong focus on the product, disciplined programme management and a holistic view of investments. With the support of the Leadership Team, we will adapt, accelerate and deploy these fundamentals to consolidate and amplify the renewed product momentum, and embed this dynamic in a sustainable way at the heart of the Renault Group's strategy.”

Nissan Motor India Sells 4,408 Units In March 2026, Clocks Best Monthly Sales In 5-Years

Nissan Motor India

Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has recorded its best-ever monthly sale in March 2026, its highest in the last five years.

The company sold a total of 10,388 units in March 2026, which includes 4,408 units in the domestic market, while exports came at 5,980 units. This marks a 98 percent growth in domestic wholesales compared to February 2026.

The company attributed the smart uptick on the back of beginning of customer deliveries for the Nissan Gravite SUV, while the Nissan Magnite maintained its sales momentum. The expansion of its network presence also supported increasing customer traction.

The start of Gravite deliveries is identified as a milestone in the company’s growth phase in India. Nissan intends to sustain this trajectory by strengthening sales and service experiences and further expanding its network footprint across the country.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “March has been a defining month for Nissan in India, the strong growth in domestic sales reflects the positive customer response to our product portfolio. With the commencement of customer deliveries of the all-new Nissan GRAVITE, we would like to thank our customers for their love and appreciation for the Nissan Brand. The over-whelming response to the product reinforces our confidence in the opportunities ahead. Together with the continued momentum of the Nissan Magnite, the dedication of our Network Partners and support of Nissan Finance & other Banking partners, we remain focused on strengthening our Sales & Service experience, while further expanding our network footprint for sustaining long-term growth in the Indian market.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reports 20 percent uptick in its wholesales for FY2026 with 406,081 units sold, as compared to 337,148 units last year.

The company recorded growth across both domestic and export markets during the financial year. Domestic sales rose by 19 percent to 367,107 units, while exports grew by 41 percent to 38,974 units.

In March 2026, Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported a 24 percent increase in total sales, with 37,194 units sold compared to 30,043 units a year ago.

Period

FY 2024-25

FY 2025-26

Growth

Domestic

309,508

367,107

19 percent

Export

27,640

38,974

41 percent

Total

337,148

406,081

20 percent

The company attributes a robust demand for its product portfolio, which was supported by the introduction of the Land Cruiser 300, as well as new grades and special editions for the Innova Hycross, Fortuner, Camry Hybrid and Hilux. Technical updates included a new six-speed automatic transmission for the Urban Cruiser Hyryder AWD variant.

The company also standardised six airbags across the Rumion, Glanza, Urban Cruiser Taisor, and Urban Cruiser Hyryder models. The Innova Hycross achieved a five-star Bharat NCAP rating during this period.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor expanded its market reach through customer-centric initiatives and brand engagement activities, including the Toyota Experiential Museum (TEM) and a tour by brand ambassadors Drum Tao. These efforts were intended to increase reach among younger audiences and reinforce the brand's mobility positioning.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We delivered a positive performance this financial year, driven by sustained demand across our SUV, MPV and compact segments. The introduction of new products and customer centric initiatives during the year further helped position Toyota as a dynamic, technology driven and youth‑oriented brand. This momentum reflects the continued trust in Toyota’s quality, reliability and overall ownership experience. In a rapidly evolving market, such consistency underscores the strength of our fundamentals and positions us well for long‑term sustainable growth. We sincerely thank our customers, dealer partner, Government and other stakeholders for their trust & unwavering support. We remain focused on strengthening our product and technology offerings in line with our multi‑pathway approach of hybrid & electrified vehicle technologies in the mobility space. Looking ahead, we remain committed to creating long‑term value while continuously improving every touchpoint across the customer ownership journey.”

Maruti Suzuki India Reports Record Wholesales Of 2.42 Million In FY 2025-26

Maruti Suzuki India

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its wholesales for FY2026 with a total of 2.42 million units sold. This figure represents the highest-ever annual total sales for the company and marks the third consecutive year surpassing the 2-million units threshold.

In terms of domestic sales, the company sold 1.86 million vehicles, while exports came at 447,774 units, marking a growth of 12 percent YoY and 35 percent YoY, respectively.

The SUV segment witnessed the highest growth of 6 percent YoY with sales at 760,987 units, while compact segment grew by 5 percent YoY and Vans at 3 percent YoY, respectively. The wholesales for mini (11 percent YoY) and sedan segment (76 percent YoY) were negative.

For March 2026, the sales came at 225,251 units, up 17 percent YoY, as compared to 192,984 units last year.

Renault India Clocks 11% Wholesales Growth In FY2026

Renault Duster

Renault India, a subsidiary of the Renault Group, has announced its domestic wholesales of 5,046 units in March 2026, which marks a 77 percent growth compared to the 2,846 units sold last year.

Interestingly, the Kiger and Triber SUVs accounted for 63 percent of the company’s sales last month. Since their launch in the second quarter, the updated Kiger and Triber have contributed to a 27 percent growth rate through the end of the fiscal year.

For FY2026, the company reported total wholesales of 42,018 units, an 11 percent growth over the 37,900 units recorded in FY2025.

The performance follows a product strategy focused on updated vehicle line-ups and value propositions for the Indian market. The dispatch of the Duster signifies the re-entry of the nameplate into the competitive SUV segment, intended to support further volume growth in the 2026-27 financial year.