Hero MotoCorp has taken a significant step in India’s alternative-fuel journey by launching flex-fuel versions of two of its most important commuter motorcycles — the Splendor+ and HF Deluxe. The move is important not just because it introduces ethanol-ready technology in the two-wheeler space, but because Hero has chosen its highest-volume mass-market nameplates to begin the transition. The Hero Splendor+ Flex Fuel has been priced at ₹82,710, while the Hero HF Deluxe Flex Fu

Mitsubishi has officially confirmed that the Pajero nameplate is coming back, with an all-new cross-country SUV scheduled for a global debut in Autumn 2026. For the 4x4 community, this is not just another SUV announcement — it is the return of one of the most respected off-road names in automotive history. Mitsubishi’s official announcement confirms that the revived model will be positioned as an all-new Pajero cross-country SUV, signalling a serious off-road identity rather

Tata Motors has expanded its small commercial vehicle and pickup portfolio with the launch of the all-new Tata Intra V40, a CNG + petrol bi-fuel pickup aimed at last-mile cargo operators looking for higher payload, lower running costs and fuel flexibility. The launch further strengthens Tata Motors’ alternate fuel leadership in India’s fast-growing small commercial vehicle and pickup segment. The Intra V40 has been positioned as a high-load, high-efficiency cargo solution for

Asia is no longer just the world’s manufacturing base for cars. It is now one of the biggest battlegrounds for automotive valuation, technology leadership, EV scale, battery control and software-led mobility. Toyota leads Asia’s most valuable car companies by market capitalization, while Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra highlight India’s growing presence in the Asian auto valuation race. A ranking of Asia’s most valuable car companies by market capitalization shows

Samarth E-Mobility has unveiled Avore Electric, a new Made-in-India electric mobility brand focused on the mainstream motorcycle segment. The brand is built around an in-house technology stack, over 110 IP filings and a clear ambition to offer a practical electric alternative to 125cc–200cc petrol motorcycles. Ahmedabad-based Samarth E-Mobility Pvt. Ltd. has announced the launch of Avore Electric, a new electric mobility brand developed around the idea of “Intelligence Beyon

India’s EV story is usually told through cars, scooters and battery prices. But the bigger long-term enabler is not only the EV itself — it is the ecosystem that allows EVs to run conveniently every day. That ecosystem includes public fast chargers, home chargers, fleet charging depots, bus charging stations, battery storage, grid upgrades, power electronics, software and reliable after-sales support. This is why companies linked to EV charging infrastructure are getting grea

For years, India’s fuel-efficiency conversation was dominated by small hatchbacks, diesel sedans and CNG cars. But the new range kings are no longer necessarily tiny, underpowered or diesel-powered. A growing number of strong hybrid petrol cars can now comfortably claim a theoretical driving range of over 1,000 km on a full tank, combining the convenience of petrol with electric assistance. This is particularly relevant for India, where public EV charging is still uneven acro

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. reported a strong sales performance in May 2026, with overall auto sales touching 99,636 units, registering a 20% year-on-year growth. The company’s performance was driven by sustained demand for its SUV portfolio, robust commercial vehicle momentum, and a sharp rise in exports. The highlight of the month was Mahindra’s utility vehicle business, where domestic SUV sales stood at 58,021 units, up 11% YoY compared to 52,431 units sold in May 2025. Inclu

You have seen the badges a thousand times. GLE 450d 4MATIC. EQS 580. AMG GT 63 S. Mercedes-Maybach S 680. They roll off the tongue like aircraft part numbers — intimidating, cryptic and impossibly precise. But here is the thing: every letter, every digit and every suffix is deliberate. Mercedes-Benz does not pick names at random. There is a logic buried in every badge, and once you see it, you can never unsee it. This is your decoder guide. By the end, you will be able to rea

Tata Motors Limited reported a strong commercial vehicle sales performance in May 2026, with total domestic and international sales standing at 32,850 units. This marks a healthy 17% year-on-year growth over 28,147 units sold in May 2025. The performance was primarily driven by strong domestic demand, particularly in the SCV cargo and pickup segment, which emerged as the biggest growth contributor for the month. Domestic commercial vehicle sales grew by 19% YoY, while interna

Jeep’s next big India move may not be just another SUV launch. It could become one of the most important examples of India becoming a development and export base for a global automotive brand. At Stellantis’ 2026 Investor Day, the company confirmed that a new Jeep SUV will be developed and manufactured in India using a Tata Motors platform. The SUV is targeted for a 2028 launch and is expected to be exported to over 50 countries across regions such as Asia Pacific, Middle Eas

Europe’s 2025 passenger vehicle market once again proved that affordability, practicality and compact SUVs remain the biggest purchase drivers. The Dacia Sandero retained its position as Europe’s best-selling car for the second consecutive year, ahead of the Renault Clio and Volkswagen T-Roc. According to Best-Selling-Cars.com’s full-year 2025 Europe model ranking, the Dacia Sandero registered 243,676 units in 2025. However, despite holding the No.1 spot, Sandero volumes decl

A fire broke out today at the Hyundai Mobis facility in the Sriperumbudur industrial corridor near Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, triggering an emergency response from fire and rescue teams. Initial reports indicate that the blaze originated in the scrap yard area of the Hyundai Mobis factory premises. As per early updates, fire tenders were rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Local authorities and emergency teams are understood to be working on bringing the si

Download our May'26 Newsletter here: May 2026 was a highly active month for Auto Punditz readers. The month combined strong year-on-year passenger vehicle growth, a sharper electric vehicle discussion, targeted retail offers, and a strong two-wheeler market performance. The first month of FY2026-27 showed that India’s automotive market remains healthy, but also increasingly complex. Auto Punditz’s April 2026 Car Sales - Snapshot reported total passenger vehicle dispatches of

For years, SUVs and crossovers have dominated the American car market. From compact crossovers to full-size family SUVs, the U.S. automotive landscape has steadily moved away from traditional sedans. However, a new study suggests that the next generation of buyers may not be as SUV-obsessed as today’s market would suggest. According to Escalent’s EVForward 2025 Teenagers DeepDive study, American teenagers are showing a surprisingly strong preference for sedans. The study, whi

Revenue is one of the clearest ways to understand the true scale of an automobile company. While sales volumes show how many vehicles a company sells, revenue tells a wider story — vehicle pricing, premium positioning, financing operations, parts, services, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and global market spread. Based on the latest available annual financial results from global automakers, the ranking highlights a list of automobile companies or groups — not individual car

JSW Group is likely to strengthen its control over JSW MG Motor India, with SAIC Motor reportedly planning to sell another 10 percent stake in the joint venture to its Indian partner. The proposed transaction would mark another important shift in MG’s India ownership structure and could make JSW Group the largest individual shareholder in the company. As per reports, SAIC Motor currently holds 49 percent in JSW MG Motor India, while JSW Group owns 35 percent. After the propos

Haryana is aiming to position itself as a global electric vehicle manufacturing and mobility hub, and the move could have a major impact on India’s future automotive landscape. With its already strong automobile ecosystem, proximity to Delhi-NCR, established supplier base and improving logistics infrastructure, the state appears to be preparing for the next phase of mobility growth — electric vehicles, battery systems, clean public transport and advanced automotive technologi

VinFast Auto India has achieved an important early manufacturing milestone by producing its 10,000th electric vehicle at its facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. For a brand that officially inaugurated its Tamil Nadu assembly plant only in August 2025, crossing the 10,000-unit production mark within the first year of local operations is a notable development. VinFast’s Thoothukudi facility is its first manufacturing facility outside Vietnam and was positioned from the start a

JK Tyre & Industries has approved a major ₹4,980 crore phased expansion plan to scale up production capacity for Truck & Bus Radial tyres and Passenger Car Radial tyres. The expansion will be completed by FY2030 and is aimed at supporting rising demand from commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, SUVs and EV-focused applications. The company’s current combined TBR and PCR tyre capacity stands at around 210 lakh tyres per annum, including capacities already under implementati