Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix promoter have agreed a one-year contract extension that will keep Circuit Zandvoort on the Formula 1 calendar until the 2026 season. The promoter has decided not to continue on the schedule after 2026, following extensive thought and debate.

The resumption of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 coincided with an era of dominance for local star Max Verstappen, who has won the race three times and been named World Champion in each of the event's four editions. The event has become well known for its experience, with Dutch and foreign tourists alike converging to see the thrill of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and other teams battle around the circuit's famed banked bends. It has also established itself as a premier sustainable sports event, pioneering technology that are now utilised throughout the Formula One season.

The 2025 edition of the event is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 August. The date for the last race in 2026, which will feature a Sprint for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix, will be confirmed next year. Tickets for the 2025 race are already being sold, and details on the 2026 final event will be released soon.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said, “I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years. They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 Academy series and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being Net Zero by 2030. All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026. I want to thank all the team at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Municipality of Zandvoort who have been fantastic partners to Formula 1.”

Robert van Overdijk, Director, Dutch Grand Prix, said, “The Dutch Grand Prix is the result of a unique collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort, who shared the ambition of bringing the race back to the Netherlands. What we have achieved so far is undoubtedly a huge success. The appreciation from our visitors, drivers and teams has been unprecedented, and we are incredibly proud of that. While today’s announcement signals the end of a monumental era, we are confident there is plenty more for fans to look forward to at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026, including the Sprint in 2026. We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents and the Formula 1 community. I want to thank Stefano Domenicali and all the team at Formula 1 for the hard work that has seen multiple contract extensions realised and the Dutch Grand Prix be such a success.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Japanese automotive major Honda Motor Co., has announced organisational and operational changes effective 1 April 2026. The restructuring aims to enhance the company's ability to respond to market trends and deliver technologies within its automobile, motorcycle and power products divisions.

The research and development functions currently held within Automobile Development Operations and the SDV (Software-Defined Vehicle) Business Development Unit will be transferred to Honda R&D Co.

Since 2020, Honda has operated production model development and future technology research as separate entities. The new structure integrates the process from technology selection to market launch into a single flow. This change is intended to increase speed and flexibility in responding to the business environment.

Honda will disband the SDV Business Development Unit and reorganise its Automobile Business Strategy and Sales Units into two new entities: the Business Strategy Unit and the Regional Business Unit.

These changes are designed to:

• Improve automobile business profitability.
• Enhance product planning and sales based on customer needs.
• Strengthen product competitiveness over the mid-to-long term.

The company will integrate sales, business strategy and product development functions for its electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) businesses. Previously, these were managed separately. As the electrification strategy enters the execution stage, this integration aims to optimise resource allocation and support carbon neutrality goals.

Through these changes, Honda intends to accelerate corporate transformation through electrification and intelligent technologies to maintain a distinctive presence in the global market.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The company is building a 1,000-acre greenfield complex in Nagpur to unlock SUV and tractor capacity as demand across segments begins to outpace supply at its existing plants. The facility will anchor a phased expansion plan even as the company revises tractor growth outlook sharply higher and races to ease production bottlenecks.

Mahindra and Mahindra’s upcoming greenfield complex at Nagpur will be spread across more than 1,000 acres and anchor the automaker’s next phase of capacity expansion with room for 500,000 SUVs and 100,000 tractors annually in a modular, phased build-out starting 2027-28.

The plant, which will also house a dedicated tractor facility within the same campus, is being designed to flex production between new-generation SUVs from Mahindra’s upcoming platforms and rising tractor volumes as the company prepares for sustained demand across segments.

“The Nagpur project gives us the flexibility to scale in a modular way across both SUVs and tractors without overcommitting capacity on day one,” said Chief Executive Officer, Auto and Farm Sector, Rajesh Jejurikar.

The expansion comes amid visible supply constraints at existing facilities in Chakan and Nashik, where strong demand for refreshed models such as the 3XO, Bolero range, Scorpio N and the newly introduced electric SUVs has pushed plants close to their limits.

Mahindra expects de-bottlenecking efforts to unlock an additional 3,000-5,000 units a month in internal combustion models by August-September, alongside 3,000-4,000 units of added EV capacity through the year.

The company said dealer inventory currently stands at 15–20 days, well below its preferred 25–30 day range, reflecting tight supply rather than demand weakness.

Demand momentum has also prompted Mahindra to sharply revise its tractor industry outlook. What was earlier guided as “low double-digit” growth for the year is now expected to land in the 22–24 percent range.

“We had underestimated the strength of the tractor industry. It is likely to be almost twice of what we had originally guided,” Jejurikar said.

On the passenger vehicle side, Mahindra stopped short of offering formal guidance for the next quarter or fiscal year but indicated that industry demand remains robust, with supply rather than orders becoming the limiting factor.

“I think everyone is going to be constrained by capacity because demand right now is stronger than the way supply is able to ramp up,” Jejurikar added.

The automaker is also seeing strong traction for its latest SUV launches. The XUV 7XO is witnessing higher bookings for top-end variants, continuing a trend seen in the XUV700, while the newly introduced electric SUV 9S is drawing customers seeking a more conventional seven-seat SUV format. Diesel continues to account for 70–75 percent of demand for the 7XO.

Jejurikar said there will be no new EV launches in calendar 2026 beyond the already introduced models, with capital expenditure tracking previously announced plans of INR 270 billion over three years, including INR 120 billion earmarked for new electric vehicle platforms.

On the financial side, Mahindra’s standalone results reflected a INR 3.75 billion loss from investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, up fourfold year-on-year. This was primarily due to impairments in Mahindra’s Japanese arm, which is undergoing restructuring, and Arkun Foundry in Turkey, hit by hyper-inflationary conditions.

“The impairment is largely related to the restructuring of our Japan operations and the impact of hyper-inflation in Turkey on Arkun Foundry,” said Group Chief Financial Officer Amarjyoti Barua.

Jejurikar also pointed to external factors driving cost pressures, particularly rising precious metal prices and currency movements, prompting a 1 percent price increase in the auto portfolio.

“Precious metals and the impact of the dollar are the two key areas where we are seeing tangible increases,” Barua said.

Mahindra’s leadership also sees an opportunity emerging from recent trade agreements. While dismissing concerns that European imports could undercut domestic manufacturing, the company believes the new framework opens a pathway for higher exports of India-made vehicles to Europe at zero duty over time.

“There is an opportunity for us to sell meaningfully more into Europe over time at zero duty, and that is something we will take advantage of,” said Jejurikar.

Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Anish Shah added that broader policy changes, such as GST rate cuts, could have a sustained demand impact beyond immediate price benefits.

“A lower upfront cost for customers will continue to stimulate upgrades and first-time purchases over the longer term,” Dr Shah said.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) has released the retail sales data for January 2026, which saw the overall industry report a healthy 17.61 percent growth over January 2025.

Last month, a total of 2.72 million vehicles were sold, as compared to 2.31 million vehicles a year ago, and 2.02 million in December 2025. Barring construction equipment (-21.09 percent YoY), all segments posted a healthy growth.

Two-wheeler sales in the country grew by 20.82 percent YoY to 1.85 million units, which saw rural markets contributed 56 percent of this volume, while urban demand grew by 22.19 percent, indicating a recovery beyond festive periods. The passenger vehicle sales at 513,475 units, up 7.22 percent YoY was primarily driven by rural demand at 14.43 percent, as compared to 2.75 percent growth witnessed in the urban segment.

Commercial Vehicles segment grew 15.07 percent to 107,486 units, which saw Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) grow by 14.94 percent YoY and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) by 14.61 percent YoY, driven by replacement demand and infrastructure projects.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “January’26 has delivered a strong, broad-based start to the calendar year, with overall vehicle retail at 27,22,558 units, registering 17.61 percent YoY. The growth was powered by continued post-GST momentum, healthy rural cashflows on the back of harvest and weddings and sustained demand visibility across mobility and freight.”

Growth to remain positive

The outlook for February 2026 remains positive, with 72.56 percent of dealers expecting continued growth. Market sentiment is supported by the recent Budget’s focus on infrastructure and agriculture, alongside stable interest rates.

For the February-April period, 79.70 percent of dealers anticipate growth. Two-wheeler demand is expected to be sustained by wedding season purchases and EV adoption, while commercial vehicle sales are predicted to benefit from financial year-end buying and infrastructure activity. Potential constraints include model-specific supply shortages and possible disruptions related to upcoming elections in select states.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) held the 20th Styling & Design Conclave and the 18th Automotive Design Challenge (ADC) in Goa on the theme of ‘Collaborative Creativity: Building India’s Mobility Design Ecosystem’.

The event gathered designers, industry experts and academics to discuss vehicle aesthetics, form and consumer expectations. During the event, SIAM launched a white paper titled ‘Evolution of Automotive Design in India.’

The conclave focused on the necessity of building design capabilities through partnerships between the automotive industry and academic institutions.

The 18th edition of the ADC featured 53 students from various design colleges. Participants presented concepts focused on future mobility needs, providing a platform for entry-level designers to showcase innovation in vehicle styling.

Speakers across two sessions addressed the integration of aesthetics with functionality, material innovation and sustainability. Discussions highlighted the shift toward design-led differentiation in the Indian market.

Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “Meaningful mobility solutions emerge from the confluence of sustainability, desirability, and affordability. These three essential pillars that must work together to address local needs while aligning with evolving environmental priorities.”

G Sathiyaseelan, Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group and Design Director, Ashok Leyland, said, “Understanding user experience must go beyond acknowledging problem areas and be rooted in empathy and a solution-driven mindset, with a clear focus on enabling gender-sensitive transportation and strengthening last-mile connectivity to create truly inclusive mobility solutions.”

Andreas Kurbos, Founder & CEO, StudioKurbos, added, “As design continues to evolve globally, India’s story can achieve stronger resonance by drawing from its rich culture and legacy. With design tools becoming increasingly democratised, identity becomes a powerful differentiator, making it essential to deeply understand audiences and co-create distinctive user experiences, while strengthening design education to shape the future of design.”

Saurabh Singh, Co-Chairman, SIAM Styling & Design Group and Senior VP, Maruti Suzuki India, added, “Shaping India through thought-provoking and emotionally engaging dialogue is essential to spark deeper conversations and meaningful action, and the country must set its sights on a bolder, more ambitious vision for its automotive future.”

The sessions included contributions from design leads at Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Stellantis, Royal Enfield, Greaves Electric Mobility and Kiska. Topics included the use of bio-sourced polymers, digital modelling and the development of next-generation styling for electric vehicles.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!