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.”

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European automotive group Stellantis has announced an investment of approximately INR 40 billion (EUR 400 million) to scale its Indian operations under its FaSTLAne 2030 strategy. The commitment brings the manufacturer's cumulative capital deployment in India to INR 150 billion by 2030.

The roadmap outlines 12 vehicle introductions over the next three years across its Jeep and Citroen brands, comprising 7 new models and 5 major product upgrades. The releases will span the B, C and D SUV segments, alongside a multi-purpose vehicle, an A-segment car and a pickup truck.

The initial product under the expanded plan is scheduled for commercial launch in Q2 of 2027. Powertrain options will include internal combustion engines, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric platforms, supported by a target local component sourcing level of 90 percent across its manufacturing plants in Ranjangaon, Thiruvallur and Hosur.

Tianshu Xin, COO, Stellantis Asia-Pacific Region, said, "India has a dual role for Stellantis: it is an important market that we intend to grow in, and an increasingly significant capability base for the region and the wider Group. India is a long-term commitment for us, not just a volume chase. Under FaSTLAne 2030, our region-led model gives the India team greater ownership of decisions, and the roadmap we are announcing today reflects our long-term conviction in this market. A stronger product cadence, a multi-energy technology approach and India’s capabilities across manufacturing, engineering, software and sourcing give us the foundation to build a larger and more competitive business here through 2030."

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & MD, Stellantis India, said, "Our commitment to India will be measured by what we put on the road. Having built a strong foundation over the years, our focus now shifts to scaling the business. Twelve launches across Jeep and Citroën over the next three years will significantly broaden our market participation and give Indian customers more choice across segments and powertrains, supported by deeper localisation and a stronger sales and service network. With fresh investment of approximately ₹5,000 crore, we are building greater scale, relevance and competitiveness in this market, while strengthening India’s role in Stellantis’ global operations."

The investment phase expands on the INR 110 billion previously deployed by Stellantis in India for manufacturing facilities, software development centres in Bengaluru, ICT hubs in Hyderabad and regional component export channels.

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The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, the apex body representing automakers across segments in the country, has released the wholesales data for Q2 FY2027, which saw record performance across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers and two-wheelers.

In Q2 FY2027, the passenger vehicle segment domestic sales reached 1.36 million units, up 30.7 percent YoY. Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) accounted for 68 percent of total passenger vehicle sales, recording a growth of 34.2 percent, while passenger car sales increased by 24.9 percent. Passenger vehicle exports declined by 5.2 percent to 229,087 units, impacted by logistics constraints in West Asia and higher baseline comparison figures.

The two-wheeler segment posted domestic sales of 6.43 million units, registering a growth of 15.2 percent YoY. Scooter sales increased by 27.7 percent, while motorcycle sales rose by 7.4 percent. Two-wheeler exports reached a record Q2 total of 1.65 million units, marking an increase of 27.7 percent over the same period last year.

In the three-wheeler category, domestic sales grew by 23.6 percent to 285,342 units, driven by demand for cargo configurations and electric L5 vehicles. Three-wheeler exports reached a record Q2 total of 161,060 units, representing a 30.4 percent increase. The commercial vehicle segment recorded domestic sales of 309,063 units, marking a growth of 28.7 percent, while commercial vehicle exports rose by 72.5 percent to exceed 41,416 units, supported by infrastructure spending and fleet replacement demand.

Shenu Agarwal, President, SIAM, said, "The Indian automotive industry delivered a strong performance in the first half of FY2026-27, following a robust second quarter and a strong September 2026. This stellar performance across all segments of the automobile industry has been supported by improved affordability following GST 2.0, resilient rural and urban demand, healthy freight movement, infrastructure-led economic activity, and a gradual replacement cycle across vehicle segments. The electric vehicle ecosystem also continues to mature with multiple offerings, improving charging infrastructure and supportive policy measures. At the same time, alternative fuel technologies are witnessing increasing acceptance and are expected to play an important role in India's sustainable mobility transition. Industry looks forward to the festive season for the continued momentum while remaining cautiously optimistic due to prevailing geo-economic uncertainties. Continued investments in infrastructure, sustained economic growth, and rising adoption of cleaner and more efficient mobility solutions are expected to support industry growth through the second half of 2026-27."

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FADA Academy, in collaboration with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), has inaugurated its first joint skill development centre in Agra.

Located within the dealership facilities of Ashok Auto Sales and Manoram Bajaj Group, the Autograd Regional Skill Development Centre establishes a training framework situated directly inside automotive retail operations.

The facility aims to address workforce gaps in automotive retail by providing candidates with training matched to dealership job roles. The initial cohort at the centre consists of candidates undergoing instruction for the Service Advisor role, supported by participating dealerships representing brands including Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Co, India Yamaha Motor and Tata Motors.

C S Vigneshwar, Chairman of FADA Academy & Research, said, "FADA Academy is committed to strengthening the capabilities of India's automotive retail workforce through industry-relevant education and training. The establishment of our first joint training centre with ASDC at Agra is an important milestone in this journey. By bringing training into the dealership environment, we can create a stronger connection between learning and actual workplace requirements. Our vision is to create local employment opportunities, support the talent requirements of dealerships and provide aspiring professionals with a foundation for long-term career progression within the automotive sector. We also want to ensure that candidates are not merely trained to secure a job, but are equipped to perform with confidence, deliver value to their employers and build long-term careers in the automotive industry. We hope this initiative will serve as a replicable model for dealership-led skill development across the country. The automotive sector is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies, changing customer expectations and increasingly sophisticated dealership operations. This makes industry-aligned skill development more important than ever. The FADA Academy–ASDC joint training centre at Agra is a progressive initiative that brings structured training closer to the workplace and enables candidates to develop competencies relevant to their designated job roles."

The inauguration event was attended by Union Minister of State Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, ASDC Chief Executive Officer Prasanna Pahade, FADA Uttar Pradesh Chairperson Sandeep Narain and leadership representatives from local dealer groups. The initiative forms part of a broader framework intended to be replicated across other regions to train dealership personnel.

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Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TuTr Hyperloop, an IIT Madras-incubated deep-tech startup, to develop and deploy next-generation mobility infrastructure in India.

The agreement creates a framework for L&T and TuTr Hyperloop to collaborate on Linear Induction Motor-based propulsion systems, vacuum tube structures, pressure management systems, civil engineering works, electrical infrastructure, signalling and telecommunications integration.

Project-specific agreements will follow to define execution terms across freight logistics, port connectivity and industrial transit applications. The technical roadmap aims to progress from linear induction systems toward magnetic levitation and vacuum-based transportation networks.

The partnership combines L&T's engineering, procurement and construction capabilities with TuTr Hyperloop's electromagnetic propulsion research to assess commercial viability, conduct technical feasibility studies and engage prospective customers for hyperloop transit projects in India.

S V Desai, Whole-Time Director and Senior Executive VP of Infrastructure, L&T, said, "Hyperloop represents an exciting frontier in next-generation mobility, with the potential to redefine the movement of people and goods. Its innovative propulsion technology and low-friction environment enable faster transit, improved logistics efficiency, reduced energy consumption and lower emissions. Translating such technological innovation into practical deployment requires robust engineering, scalable infrastructure and close collaboration across the ecosystem. Our partnership with TuTr Hyperloop is a step in that direction."

Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, Professor, IIT Madras, said, "The transition of advanced mobility technologies from research and development to real-world deployment requires strong collaboration between academia, technology developers and industry. This partnership between TuTr Hyperloop and L&T brings together complementary strengths that can help address the engineering and infrastructure challenges involved in scaling next-generation transportation systems. It is an encouraging step towards translating indigenous innovation into practical, deployable solutions for India."

Dr Aravind S Bharadwaj, Co-Founder and CEO, TuTr Hyperloop, said, "At TuTr Hyperloop, our focus is on developing indigenous mobility technologies that can address real-world transportation and logistics challenges. Our collaboration with L&T brings together our capabilities in electromagnetic propulsion, advanced mobility systems and technology development with L&T’s extensive engineering and infrastructure execution expertise. Together, we aim to work on commercialisation these technologies."

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