The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released its April 2025 vehicle retail data, revealing a moderate overall growth of 3 percent YoY.

The two-wheeler segment emerged as the primary growth driver, registering a 2.25 percent increase in retail sales compared to April 2024 and a significant 11.84 percent MoM growth. FADA attributes this positive momentum to strong rural demand. However, the sector continues to face headwinds in the form of high financing costs and the pricing impact of OBD-2B emission norms.

The tractor segment demonstrated robust growth, with a 7.5 percent increase in retail sales year-on-year. This strong performance likely reflects the positive sentiment stemming from a strong Rabi harvest, which typically boosts agricultural activity and consequently, tractor demand.

In contrast to the strong performance of two-wheelers and tractors, the passenger vehicle segment experienced a modest 1.55 percent YoY growth, while witnessing a slight dip of 0.19 percent on MoM basis. The auto retail body attributes that deep discounts are prevalent in the market and while the demand for SUVs remains strong, the entry-level segment continues to exhibit sluggishness. FADA also noted that the PV inventory levels are currently around 50 days, significantly higher than their advocated norm of 21 days.

The commercial vehicle segment faced a contraction, with retail sales declining by 1.05 percent YoY and 4.44 percent on MoM basis. FADA suggests that recent price hikes by OEMs and flat freight rates are negatively impacting sales. Within the CV segment, the Small Commercial Vehicle category saw weak demand, while the bus segment remains steady.

Looking ahead to May 2025, FADA anticipates a positive outlook, primarily driven by the strong conclusion of the Rabi harvest. The expectation of a normal monsoon further strengthens this positive sentiment, suggesting continued momentum in rural demand which could positively influence vehicle sales across various segments.

In a significant development, FADA has begun releasing fuel-wise vehicle retail market share data across all key categories. This new initiative aims to provide stakeholders with a granular understanding of evolving energy preferences and the impact of regulatory influences on India's automotive ecosystem.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, said, “The new financial year began on a measured note as overall retails in April managed to grow by 3 percent YoY. All categories except CV closed in the green, with 2W, 3W, PV and Trac up 2.25 percent, 24.5 percent, 1.5 percent and 7.5 percent respectively, while CVs declined by 1 percent. With the tariff war paused, stock markets staged a sharp pullback – alleviating investor concerns – and customers thus leveraged Chaitra Navratri, Akshay Tritiya, Bengali New Year, Baisakhi and Vishu to complete purchases, helping April end on a positive note.”

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ZF Group has taken a prominent position at Prawaas 5.0, India’s premier multimodal transport exhibition, currently underway in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The event, hosted by the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI), runs from 9 to 11 July 2026 at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, gathering industry leaders, government officials and technology providers to deliberate on the future of mobility.

ZF Group is presenting an extensive array of Original Equipment and Aftermarket solutions aimed at accelerating India's shift towards safer roads and cleaner commercial transportation. The company's exhibit spans electrification, braking systems, chassis engineering, advanced safety features and digital connectivity, underscoring its strategic intent to equip the Indian market with innovations that enhance performance and environmental sustainability.

A standout feature is the AxTrax 2, an integrated electric axle for light and medium-duty buses that consolidates the electric motor, inverter, electronic control unit and transmission into a compact housing. This system delivers high efficiency and power output, making it suitable for battery-electric, fuel-cell and trolley bus applications, thereby facilitating local zero-emission public transport.

Complementing this is the RL82A front axle system for city buses, featuring a low-floor design with a wide centre aisle and steering angles up to 55 degrees for improved manoeuvrability in congested settings. The system also incorporates low-maintenance construction and internally ventilated disc brakes, enhancing passenger comfort and active safety in demanding urban environments.

Additional offerings include Door Control Solutions with clamping protection and emergency functions, along with advanced driver assistance systems, electronic braking and stability controls, tyre pressure monitoring and connected technologies like Bus Connect. The Aftermarket division presents fleet-oriented products including 360-degree camera systems, brake components and maintenance essentials to ensure vehicle uptime and lifecycle reliability.

ZF Group India’s leadership is also contributing to industry conversations – Paramjit Singh Chadha, Senior Vice President, ZF Group, will be a lead panellist at the session ‘Electrifying School Bus Transport for a Cleaner Future’, held on 10 July. Through its comprehensive presence at Prawaas 5.0, ZF is reinforcing its dedication to India’s public transport evolution, showcasing safer, cleaner and more connected mobility solutions at Booth 12 A6C.

Akash Passey, President, ZF Group India, said, "India's public transport ecosystem is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by rapid urbanisation, sustainability goals and an increasing focus on road safety and operational efficiency. At ZF, we are enabling this transition by bringing together globally proven technologies and local engineering expertise to support our customers across every stage of their mobility journey. Our participation at Prawaas 5.0 reflects our commitment to delivering integrated solutions that not only address today's transportation challenges but also lay the foundation for a connected, electrified and software-driven future for commercial vehicles in India."

Paramjit Singh Chadha, Senior Vice President, ZF CVS India,  said, "The future of bus mobility will be defined by intelligent systems that seamlessly integrate safety, electrification, connectivity and vehicle control. At ZF, we are developing scalable technologies that help OEMs and fleet operators improve vehicle performance, passenger safety, operational uptime and total cost of ownership while preparing for the next generation of commercial vehicles. Through our comprehensive portfolio showcased at Prawaas 5.0, we continue to support India's transition towards smarter and more sustainable public transportation."

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The Honda India Foundation (HIF) has held a ground-breaking ceremony for a Road Safety Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Viramgam, Gujarat.

The centre is designed to provide road safety education through training and simulation-based learning. It is scheduled to open in 2027 and is expected to provide safety programmes for 5,000 people each year.

The CoE will feature a Road Safety Education & Awareness Wing equipped with training tools for students, youth groups and local communities. Additionally, it will include an Accident Research & Data Analytics Unit to examine traffic patterns, identify risk locations and assist with safety audits.

Vinay Dhingra, Trustee, Honda India Foundation, said, “Road safety requires a combination of awareness, training and data-driven insights. Through this Centre of Excellence, we aim to create a practical platform that supports safer road behaviour, promotes road safety education and contributes to more informed safety interventions. This initiative reflects Honda India Foundation's continued commitment to strengthening road safety awareness and fostering safer road-use practices at the community level.”

Gyanender Singh Malik, Director General of Police, Gujarat State, said, “We appreciate Honda India Foundation’s support in setting up this Road Safety Centre of Excellence in Gujarat. The Centre will help strengthen structured road safety education and support data-led interventions for safer roads. Such collaborations add value to the state’s efforts towards improving road safety awareness and reducing road accident risks.”

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French automotive major Renault India has further deepened its India commitment with strengthening of its design team in the country.

The company has roped in Jean-Philippe Salar as the new Design Director at Renault Design Centre India. He succeeds Julien Sabatier, who is set to take on the role of Head of Design Factory India and UI Management.

Sabatier led the Design Studio for the last three years and, on his part, was instrumental in setting up Renault’s Design Studio in India as part of the French automakers ‘renault. rethink’ strategy. He delivered over 10 projects for Renault for both India and Europe market and played a key role in the introduction of the new Duster SUV in India.

In his new role, he will focus on developing and industrialising future projects and implementing UI (User Interface) functions in India.

Salar is a Renault Group veteran having started his journey with the French automotive brand in 1996, and has extensive design experience across brands such as Renault, Dacia, LADA and Mobilize.

The design centre is part of the company’s ‘design in India’ and ‘make in India’ strategy. It functions as a hub of excellence, particularly due to its proximity to Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India (RNTBCI).

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China’s SAIC Motor-owned British marquee brand MG has unveiled its technology roadmap centred on its next-generation Plug-in Hybrid+ systems, SolidCore battery integration and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) at MG Tech Day at its UK headquarters in London.

The automaker unveiled its new Plug-in Hybrid+ system, which features 1.1-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines. The company states that it achieves thermal efficiencies exceeding 42 percent. The powertrain incorporates a hybrid transmission with two technologies: Power Split and Motor Decoupling. The latter isolates the generator during electric driving to improve energy efficiency.

The first model to feature this system will be the MG ZS Plug-in Hybrid+, scheduled for launch in 2027.

MG also confirmed the introduction of its SolidCore battery across future Plug-in Hybrid+ models. This semi-solid-state technology is designed to provide consistent power delivery and range stability across various temperatures and driving conditions. The battery will debut in three upcoming B, C and D-segment SUVs.

Furthermore, MG is refining its driving assistance technologies using data collected from over 1.2 million kilometres of driving across 24 European countries.

The One Touch iAD system for parking is production-ready, supporting scenarios such as kerbside parking, reverse paths of up to 100 metres and exit manoeuvres in tight spaces.

A highway assistance system capable of managing motorway entry, exit and lane changes is scheduled for a late 2027 debut in a new MG SUV. Urban NOA capabilities are planned for 2028.

Lastly, the company is conducting Level 4 Robotaxi trials across Europe, the Middle East and China to support long-term mobility research.

MG company stated that these developments reflect a focus on ‘making advanced technology more accessible, useful and relevant for everyday drivers.’

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