Spinny, India's full-stack used car marketplace, has published its Q3 CY24 report highlighting a significant growth in the used-car segment in the last two quarters of CY24. The report also mentions the important trends that have emerged in car buyer preferences, financing options and delivery choices.

One of the most notable trends is Honda's ascent back to the top three most popular auto brands, replacing Tata in the rankings along with Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and City as important models. Furthermore, the Renault Kwid remains a popular vehicle with consumers, ranking in the top three models for the third consecutive quarter alongside the Hyundai Grand i10 and Maruti Suzuki Waggon R. Furthermore, with 12 percent growth over the previous quarter, the compact SUV segment is the category with the fastest rate of growth. Eighty-three percent of buyers indicated that they preferred petrol-powered vehicles, 12 percent diesel and 5 percent compressed natural gas. Red, white and grey are the most popular colours among automobile purchasers.

A 6 percent rise in customers choosing auto financing is indicative of an increasing level of trust in Spinny's financial services, according to its research. Significantly, 60 percent of all purchases were funded by Spinny's easy financing services, highlighting the business's open and customer-focused philosophy. With 65 percent of consumers choosing to buy automobiles online, a 5 percent increase from the previous quarter, the research also shows an increase in digital car purchases. This change reflects India's increasing inclination towards online transactions for auto purchases. Furthermore, there has been a notable increase in hub deliveries; 82 percent of buyers preferred to pick up their vehicles at Spinny Hubs or Spinny Parks, while just 18 percent selected home delivery. The increase in hub deliveries from the previous quarter is 7 percent, with 53 percent of these deliveries taking place at Spinny Parks. 

In line with Spinny's efforts to increase the number of women who own cars, the company's data also reveals a sharp increase in first-time car buyers, who now account for 67 percent of all customers. Of these women, 30 percent are female. Another noteworthy change is the increasing inclination of consumers towards manual transmissions, which now account for 76 percent of purchases, up from 70 percent in the prior quarter. In contrast, automatic transmissions have decreased to 24 percent from 30 percent.

Urban areas have seen strong growth in the used luxury car industry, with Delhi leading the way, followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai. Popular models like the Audi A4 and BMW X1 demonstrate India's preference for high-end German vehicles, and the Jeep Compass is now among the best options.

Over a million people used Spinny every day during its recent Freedom Days event, which ran from 15–18 August. The company reported a 15 percent spike in traffic across the country during this time. During this campaign, Bengaluru, Pune and Delhi NCR were the top car-buying regions and cities. Furthermore, the campaign's average buyer age of 36 years showed a little older client base than the average of 32 years earlier. As the necessity and demand for EVs grows, Nexon EV is now the customer's favourite model thanks to Spinny's collaboration with Tata Motors, followed by Tiago EV in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune.

Niraj Singh, Founder & CEO, Spinny, said, “The trust our customers place in us reflects our commitment to making car buying and selling simple and delightful. The consistent rise in car financing and the increasing number of women buyers are a testament to young India's embrace of Spinny’s efforts to make used car transactions more transparent and customer-focused, fulfilling aspirations of car ownership and its significance for Indian households. It’s interesting how our dynamic nation continues to evolve every quarter with its diverse tastes, keeping us excited and encouraging us to enhance our services.”

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.