Tata Motors has announced that its smallest and least costly SUV, the Punch has turned out to be the fastest to cross the four-lakh milestone in its segment. It has achieved the count in just 34 months. 

Launched in October 2021, the Tata Punch kick started the sub compact SUV category which would provide hatchback buyers an alternative in their budget rather than to up their budget with much difficult and go for an SUV that is considerably costlier. 

With its tall stance, high ground clearance and commanding driving position, the Punch as a sub-compact SUV has found success as a sturdy yet fun-to-drive and efficient vehicle. 

Engineered to navigate diverse Indian terrains, the Punch is one of the few front-wheel drive SUVs to conquer the unpredictable peak of Sandakphu. It made its way through the steep gradients and demonstrated its driveability as well as the higher ground clearance.

Bagging the GNCAP 5-star rating with the highest adult occupant protection rating points achieved by any vehicle at that time, Punch became becoming the first SUV to achieve the 100,000 sales milestone in a span of just 10 months. The journey to 200,000 milestone was clocked in the next nine months. The 300,000 milestone has been achieved in seven months after that. 

Besides an ICE variant, the Punch is available in ‘smart ‘CNG version and an electric version. The iCNG version was introduced in 2023 with an innovative twin-cylinder technology that ensures there is no compromise in boot space. The Punch.ev was rolled out in January 2024 and has contributed to the sales of the Punch as a product overall. 

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “Tata Motors has always been known for its deep understanding of the Indian consumer. This attribute enables us to create disruptive yet highly functional products. With the Punch, we not only introduced the Indian market to a new sub-segment but also successfully democratized the SUV attributes by offering a comprehensive package in a compact footprint. We are elated that the Punch has resonated so well with the Indian consumers and has progressively found a loyal customer base, who have become its biggest brand ambassadors. We take great pride in crossing this milestone and are confident that the next 1 Lakh will be achieved even faster.”

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American electric vehicle maker Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former Chief Business Officer of Classic Legends, as its new business head, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The report further stated that Agarwal joined the EV maker a week ago and is tasked to drive sales for Tesla in India, which as per industry observers, has not performed as per the company’s expectations.

Agarwal, an automotive industry veteran, had begun his career with TVS Motor Co as Area Sales Manager in December 2002, before joining Mahindra First Choice Wheels as its Business Head for North and Eastern region in March 2007.

It was in January 2013, he moved to Audi India as the head of Sales, before taking over as the head of Lamborghini India in April 2016, where he spent almost 9 years, before joining Classic Legends.

During his tenure at Lamborghini, the Italian super luxury car maker saw its dealerships across India achieved a Return on Sales (RoS) of more than 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for the automotive business in the country. He also grew India’s ranking for the automaker as the third market globally in terms of PR visibility in 2021.

He also expanded Lamborghini India’s reach to over 60 cities, with sales volumes from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributing more than 25 percent of the total.

Tesla, which formally started deliveries in September 2025 with its first dealership in Mumbai and the second facility in Delhi, has till date delivered 114 vehicles, of the estimated 600-plus bookings.

File photo for representational purposes only.

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Mumbai-headquartered business conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2026 with consolidated Revenue reaching INR 461 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY growth.

The consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 36 billion, a 16 percent increase YoY. The company stated that, excluding specific one-time impacts, PAT growth was 28 percent YoY.

Mahindra’s Auto business reported sales of 262,000 vehicles, up 13 percent, which includes around 146,000 SUV sales. This translated to a revenue of INR 271 billion, up 25 percent YoY, while net profit came at INR 15 billion, up 8 percent YoY.

On the other hand, the farm sector reported its highest ever Q2 market share at 43 percent with sales of 123,000 units, up 32 percent YoY. The revenue came at INR 102 billion, up 25 percent, while consolidated net profit came at INR 11 billion, up 45 percent YoY.

Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “We are pleased with the strong execution and solid performance delivered across the group in Q2 FY2026. Auto and Farm sustained their leadership with consistent gains in market share and profitability. TechM is progressing well on its transformation journey. MMFSL achieved a 45 percent PAT growth and remains committed to quality growth and digital transformation. Our Growth Gems are steadily advancing towards their ambitious goals, reinforcing our long-term value creation potential.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Strong performance of our Auto and Farm businesses continues in Q2 FY2026 reinforcing our leadership position, with a gain of 390 bps YoY in SUV revenue share, and 100 bps YoY in LCV (< 3.5T) market share. In Tractors, we gained 50 bps YoY to reach 43 percent market share. Our Auto Standalone PBIT margin (excl. e-SUV Contract Mfg.) improved by 80 bps to 10.3 percent and core Tractor PBIT margins improved by 190 bps to 20.6 percent.”

Amarjyoti Barua, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, “Our solid Q2 consolidated results reflects the strength of our diversified portfolio. We continue to deliver on our strategic priorities. We had strong cash generation in the first half, delivering over INR 100 billion of operating cash flow. We remain committed to sustainable growth and value creation.”

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Hyundai Motor India Limited has globally launched the all-new Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Venue N Line, revising its popular compact SUV with prices starting INR 789,900 (ex-showroom).

The new Venue SUV is built on Hyundai’s Global K1 enhanced Platform. It has dimensions of 3,995 mm (Length), 1,800 mm (Width), 1,665 mm (Height) and a 2,520 mm Wheelbase.

The vehicle introduces the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) system, which NVIDIA accelerates. Technology includes Dual 62.5 cm (12.3-inch + 12.3-inch) curved panoramic displays and a 31.24 cm (12.3-inch) ccNC Navigation system. Up to 20 controllers are capable of Over-the-Air (OTA) vehicle updates.

Safety features include 6 airbags and Hyundai SmartSense ADAS Level 2 with 16 features. It is available with three powertrain options: Kappa 1.2-litre MPi petrol (5-speed manual transmission), Kappa 1.0-litre Turbo GDi petrol (6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT transmission) and U2 1.5-litre CRDi Diesel (6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission).

The N Line is available in two variants, N6 (MT/DCT) and N10 (DCT). It is powered by the Kappa 1.0-litre Turbo GDi petrol engine. This engine delivers 88.3 kW (120 PS) and 172 Nm of maximum torque. Transmission options are a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. The vehicle includes paddle shifters, traction control modes and drive mode select. Technology features include the 31.24 cm (12.3-inch) ccNC Navigation system accelerated by NVIDIA, and up to 20 vehicle controllers capable of over-the-air (C-OTA) updates. For safety, the N Line is equipped with ADAS Level 2 with 21 features and over 70 advanced safety features. It features disc brakes on both the front and rear axles.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Limited, discussed the company's deep commitment to the Indian market, confirming an investment of over INR 450 billion. He noted that the all-new Hyundai Venue is the first product from the new Pune manufacturing plant and the first of 26 products planned by 2030.

"At HMIL, our commitment to India runs deep. We have recently announced an investment of over INR 450 billion, reaffirming our long-term vision for this vibrant market. The all-new Hyundai Venue marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter and it is the first product to roll out from our state-of-the-art Pune manufacturing plant and the first among the 26 products we plan to introduce by 2030. The launch of the all-new Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Venue N Line represents a significant milestone in our journey of automotive excellence," said Kim.

Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director & COO, Hyundai Motor India, highlighted the Venue's strong market presence, with over 700,000 units sold and a consistent top-three position among compact SUVs in India. He confirmed that the all-new Hyundai Venue will be manufactured exclusively in India for global markets, supporting the 'Make in India for the World' vision.

"Since its debut in 2019, the Hyundai Venue has been one of the most successful nameplates in our SUV lineup, with over 700,000 units sold and a consistent position among the top three compact SUVs in India. Venue has played a pivotal role in strengthening Hyundai's SUV leadership and shaping our identity as a progressive and customer-centric brand. Preferred by young, aspirational working professionals who seek performance, Hyundai Venue has become a symbol of dynamic urban mobility and spirited individuality. With the launch of the all-new Hyundai Venue and Venue N Line, we are taking this success story to the next level. The new Hyundai Venue embodies disruptive design, advanced technology, superior safety and exhilarating performance, setting new benchmarks in the compact SUV segment. It also marks a proud moment for Hyundai Motor India, as the all-new Hyundai Venue will now be exclusively manufactured in India for global markets a true testament to the 'Make in India for the World' vision and the growing role of HMIL in Hyundai Motor Company's global strategy," said Garg.

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French automotive major Renault Group and Chinese automaker Geely have executed agreements to extend their strategic cooperation, focusing on the production and sales of zero and low-emission vehicles by Renault do Brasil for both the Renault and Geely Auto brands in the country.

As part of the agreements, Geely has acquired 26.4 percent stake in Renault do Brasil. Renault Group will remain the majority shareholder and continue to consolidate the entity in its accounts. As a minority shareholder, Geely gains access to the Brazilian industrial and commercial resources, which should accelerate its expansion in the region.

Renault do Brasil will produce Geely Auto-branded vehicles alongside Renault vehicles at the Ayrton Senna plant in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, Parana. This joint production is expected to increase output and sharpen the industrial complex's competitiveness.

Renault will utilise Geely's GEA new energy architecture to expand its zero and low-emission vehicle line-up for the Brazilian market.

Renault do Brasil will distribute Geely Auto's portfolio of zero and low-emission vehicles in Brazil, including the Geely EX5 electric SUV, opening up new growth opportunities in sales, financing, and services.

Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group, said, “The partnership we are announcing today with Geely in Brazil marks a decisive step forward in our international strategy. It establishes an agile cooperation founded on industrial excellence and technological leadership. Once again, combining our strengths will make us more competitive, more innovative and more responsive in a fast-evolving automotive market.”

Eric Li, Chairman, Geely Holding Group, said, “Our continued cooperation with Renault in exploring new markets and new opportunities will make for a win-win scenario as both Renault and Geely are able to leverage technology scales on a global level to bring the best products to market.”

The cooperation aims to enhance both companies' presence in Brazil, a market that accounts for over 40 percent of vehicle registrations in Latin America in H1 2025. The two groups have previously collaborated on projects including joint investment into Renault Korea and the creation of Horse Powertrain.

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