Seeking details on how the Passenger Vehicle Business Unit of Tata Motors, like many other vehicle makers, faced several challenges from the aftermarket perspective during the lockdown and COVID-19 induced New Normal, the company spokesperson said, there were not many challenges as everything had been planned from their end well in time. However, during the initial days of lockdown, getting special permission from local authorities in certain markets was one challenge the company faced which was eventually resolved.

Tata Motors ensured that its customers and COVID frontline workers received seamless customer experience. As a part of its initiative, the company introduced tips to take care of their vehicles during lockdown along with breakdown assistance and hotline service, that was attending calls 24x7 to provide the necessary support. It also introduced an exclusive helpline for frontline COVID workers and healthcare professionals during the lockdown. Customers could dial the dedicated numbers for assistance in case of any emergency needs. The company has taken necessary approvals from local authorities to attend to vehicles safely and efficiently with all precautionary measures. It serviced 200 plus vehicles of COVID fighters such as doctors/police during the lockdown period across the country. To further support, it also extended the warranty and scheduled service period.

For all pending service appointments, the team called customers to ensure them that their vehicle was in safe hands. Given the relaxation in curbs, restarting of service appointments will be planned in a staggered manner to ensure sanitisation and social distancing to maintain utmost customer safety, the spokesperson said.

However, the average time to respond to customers’ call for repair/ service varied depending upon various factors. For service requests, customers could call the customer care number, where specialists were available to answer queries 24x7, he said. In the case of emergency roadside assistance, the company made arrangements that the services team reaches the location within 60 minutes under city limits and within 120 minutes on ghat roads and other places. The average time per service appointment depends on the type of job that needs to be done on the vehicle. For regular paid service it takes around three to four hours, and free services or minor check-ups are taken care of within 90 minutes, he said. “We have 633 workshops across the country, 444 dealer workshops and 189 TASCs (Tata Authorised Service Centres),” he added.

While these initiative are taken to cater to the requirements of the customers, the vehicle makers also face specific issues about increasing number of stock-keeping units, triggered by more models and variants being introduced. However, Tata Motors has been using a very sophisticated analytical tool to predict the consumption and stock accordingly. The planning for spare parts inventory is done at the dealerships to ensure that sufficient stock is available for all the models based on consumption pattern.

Skilling

Talking on the need to upskill the workforce at authorised service centres, the spokesperson said, upskilling is a continuous process to keep all the dealer workforce updated on the latest technological introductions in the new range of vehicles. “We have seven training centres across the country and are currently conducting regular online training sessions to ensure that our dealer manpower is well acquainted with the same,” he said.

With technological advancements in the cars increasing with every new model, the challenge is to match the service centres to cater to the emerging requirements. From a customer’s perspective, it is more convenient to operate any function with the click of a button or a touch screen. Therefore, from a service perspective, it has become easy to identify service requirements in the vehicle through the medium of a laptop, thereby resulting in faster repairs. “Tata Motors Passenger dealerships have a separate profile of DET (Diagnostic Expert cum trainer) who is skilled in identifying such service requirements and ensures that repairs take place faster and with accuracy. We do not see any challenges from a security perspective, as all technology and electronics in the vehicles undergo multiple tests before being launched,” he said.

Talking on sustainable initiatives, he said, “Earlier in September, the Tata Nexon became the first Indian car to be published on the prestigious International Dismantling Information System (IDIS) platform for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV). With this achievement, Tata Motors reiterated its holistic commitment towards making the entire life cycle of its products sustainable, i.e. from the development of ultra-low/zero-emission vehicles to responsible dismantling and recycling of the vehicle at the final ELV stage. This milestone on the Nexon signifies the increasing commitment of Tata Motors to ‘End of Life’ across its range of vehicles and the beginning of sustained declaration of dismantling procedures across its entire range of vehicles that are complex with increasing technological content, though over the years commercial vehicles have achieved good levels of recyclability where dismantling procedures are better understood.” (MT)

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Road safety crusader Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO, of SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), has been named a winner of the 2026 Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum.

Tewari is the sole awardee from India this year and will be honoured at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on 20 January 2026.

Since 2008, SaveLIFE Foundation has operated as a scientific organisation focused on road safety and trauma care. The Schwab Foundation’s recognition endorses the foundation’s systemic approach to road safety, which addresses a leading cause of death globally. The foundation’s work supports the State’s obligation to provide safe transport systems, a right interpreted by Indian courts under Article 21 of the Constitution.

SaveLIFE Foundation has collaborated with governments and industry to implement science-based solutions. Its advocacy contributed to the Good Samaritan Law (2016) and the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019. Since 2015, the organisation has deployed Zero-Fatality programmes in ‘Corridors’ and ‘Districts’ across India.

These programmes utilise data analytics for ambulance deployment and engineering fixes, such as closing median gaps and installing crash barriers. The not-for-profit also applies tactical urbanism to redesign intersections for the protection of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. These interventions have resulted in a 30 percent to 60 percent reduction in road crash fatalities on target stretches. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has recently directed states to implement these solutions nationally.

The foundation also focuses on the ‘chain of survival’ in post-crash response. At present, delays in medical attention contribute to 30 percent of road victim deaths. SavLIFE Foundation proposes a national framework for trauma care that includes standalone funding for the maintenance of emergency facilities and mechanisms for free, timely treatment to enable early stabilisation.

Piyush Tewari holds an MPA from Harvard University and received the Skoll Award for Social Innovation in 2024. He was appointed to the National Road Safety Council by the Government of India in 2019. Prior to founding SaveLIFE, Tewari was the Managing Director (India) of the Calibrated Group, a private equity fund.

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The Indian automotive landscape is witnessing a sustained period of robust growth as the industry enters the latter half of FY2026. This momentum is being fuelled by a strategic double engine of favourable fiscal policy and aggressive corporate manoeuvring.

Industry analysts point to the recent reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a primary catalyst, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for consumers across multiple segments. Coupled with a feverish pace of new product launches, automakers are successfully stimulating replacement demand and capturing new market share. This synergy has resulted in a marked uptick in wholesale volumes, signalling a high-octane finish for the fiscal year.

As per the latest sales data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body representing the automotive industry in the country, more than 2 million vehicles were sold in the last month of 2025, which marked a 36 percent YoY growth. During the period, passenger vehicle sales came at 399,216 units, up 27 percent YoY, three-wheelers at 61,924 units, up 17 percent YoY and two-wheelers at 1.54 million units, up 39 percent YoY.

Furthermore, for Q3 FY2026, a total of 7.47 million vehicles were sold in the country, which was 18 percent higher compared to same period last year. The passenger vehicle segment led by SUV demand saw over 1.2 million units sold, up 21 percent YoY. Three-wheeler segment registered 14 percent YoY growth with 215,211 units wholesales.

The commercial vehicle segment witnessed 22 percent growth with a total of 290,085 units sold, as compared to 238,666 units sold a year ago. Two-wheeler sales at 5.69 million units, registered a 17 percent YoY growth, as compared to 4.87 million units for the same period last year.

Shailesh Chandra, President, SIAM, said, “2025 has been a landmark year for the Indian Auto industry. The year began with a subdued first half, and the industry continued to navigate supply side challenges. With multiple structural policy reforms including the income tax relief, successive repo rate cuts and the rollout of GST 2.0 laid the foundation for a positive demand environment. The reduction of GST rates made vehicles more affordable and injected fresh momentum into the sector. Growth during the year has been broad-based across segments, with passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and three-wheelers recording their highest ever sales and two-wheelers posting the 2nd highest sales ever, in a calendar-year.”

He further mentioned that two-wheeler sales crossed the 20-million-mark for the 2nd time in a calendar year with more than 20.50 million units wholesales, clocking 4.9 percent YoY growth in 2025.

“This was still behind the peak it had achieved in 2018. In addition, exports witnessed double-digit growth across vehicle segments in 2025, compared to calendar year 2024. Looking ahead, the industry expects the positive momentum to continue well into 2026, supported by stable macro-economic conditions, improving affordability and continued policy support. The industry will also continue to monitor geopolitical developments to ensure resilience in supply chain and export volumes,” said Chandra.

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German motion technology company Schaeffler has appointed Maximilian Fiedler as its new Regional CEO for Asia/Pacific, effective 1 January 2026. In this capacity, Fiedler also joins the Executive Board of the Schaeffler Group as the regional representative.

Since 2022, Fiedler has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Asia/Pacific region. In June 2025, he took on the role of Regional CEO on a temporary basis while maintaining his responsibilities as CFO.

He had joined Schaeffler in 2012 and has held several leadership positions, including Head of External Reporting for the Schaeffler Group and CFO for Schaeffler Mexico. Prior to his tenure at Schaeffler, he served as Treasury Manager for HeidelbergCement.

Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO, Schaeffler, said, “We are delighted to appoint Maximilian to drive our business in the Asia Pacific region. Maximilian has continuously demonstrated exceptional commitment to Schaeffler. We are confident, he will continue to inspire and steer our company towards sustained success.”

Maximilian Fiedler, added, “I am honoured to be entrusted with this position, and I look forward to working with our talented team to build on our achievements in the region, drive deeper engagement with our customers and deliver lasting value to all our stakeholders.”

The appointment follows a period of transition and is intended to oversee the company's operations and customer engagement strategies across the Asia/Pacific markets.

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BMW Group India has recorded its highest annual sales to date, delivering 18,001 cars in CY2025, which marks a 14 percent YoY growth.

Within the car portfolio, BMW delivered 17,271 units, while the MINI brand accounted for 730 units. Additionally, BMW Motorrad delivered 5,841 motorcycles.

The company maintained double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year, with the fourth quarter (October – December) reaching a peak of 6,023 units, a 17 percent increase. During the year, the group launched 20 products across its three brands, including the BMW iX1 Long Wheelbase, the new X3 and the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure motorcycle.

Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “2025 has been a record-breaking year for BMW Group India with highest-ever sales till date. We crossed the 18,000 units mark in car sales and the fact that we are growing very strongly at 14 percent, above the average growth rate of luxury segment, reflects the strong aspiration and trust that our valued customers have in our brands. Sales are growing across segments, whether it is internal combustion engines or electric vehicles, SAVs or sedan or long wheelbase models. Our lead in luxury electric segment is not only progressing sustainable mobility but also unlocking the potential for increasing the size of luxury car market in India. Going forward, we will keep our focus on what differentiates us – sheer driving pleasure, unparalleled customer centricity and a robust dealer network which delivers JOY at each step of interaction with our customers.”

Electric vehicle (EV) sales saw a 200 percent increase, with 3,753 units delivered. EVs now represent 21 percent of the company's total sales, up from 8 percent in the previous year. The BMW iX1 was the best-selling model in the premium EV segment. To support this growth, the company provides access to over 6,000 charging points through various partnerships and has implemented infrastructure initiatives such as ‘Smart E-Routing’ and ‘Charging Concierge.’

Long Wheelbase (LWB) models grew by 162 percent, totalling 8,608 units, and now comprise 50 percent of BMW’s car sales. The BMW 3 Series remained the highest-selling sedan in its category. In the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) segment, sales rose by 22 percent to 10,748 units, with the BMW X1 and X5 leading the volume.

BMW Motorrad's performance was led by the G 310 RR, which saw a 24 percent increase in deliveries. The high-performance motorcycle segment also grew by 7 percent, with demand concentrated on the S 1000 RR and the GS series.

The group currently operates 97 touchpoints across 40 cities under its ‘Retail.NEXT’ concept. Plans for 2026 include the addition of 19 outlets in 18 cities to expand the retail network. Financing for these vehicles is managed through BMW India Financial Services, which offers buy-back schemes and flexible instalment options to facilitate ownership.

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