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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Ultraviolette has entered the record books as the first Indian production motorcycle to tackle and finish the gruelling Isle of Man TT Mountain Circuit. This world-famous course, stretching 37.72 miles (60.72 kilometres), is widely considered one of the most punishing tracks in global motorsports.

The feat occurred on 6 June 2026, when several F77 MACH 2 machines from Ultraviolette successfully navigated the full 60.72 kilometres of demanding tarmac. A trio of skilled riders – former TT winner James Hillier, actor and biking enthusiast Ranvijay Singha and national champion Abhishek Vasudev – piloted the electric motorcycles. Official recognition for the accomplishment has come from both the Asia Books of Records and India Books of Records.

This success represents a turning point for the nation’s expanding electric vehicle sector. The F77’s ability to master one of motorcycling’s most revered circuits highlights the advanced performance potential of Indian-designed electric motorcycles on an international stage. Ultraviolette views the achievement as a major step in its ongoing effort to redefine electric mobility and position India as a frontrunner in future transportation solutions.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, "Completing a lap of the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course with the F77s is a significant milestone for Ultraviolette and a proud moment for Indian design and engineering. It demonstrates how far electric motorcycle technology has evolved and reinforces our belief that high-performance electric mobility can compete on the world's most demanding stages.

“For decades, the Isle of Man TT has been where motorcycle technology is tested, proven and celebrated. The TT Zero class was ahead of its time and showed the world that electric motorcycles could be more than an alternative; that they could be genuinely exciting, competitive and capable. Today, electric motorcycles have reached an entirely new level of capability and we would love to see electric racing return to the Isle of Man TT and continue driving the next chapter of motorcycle innovation."

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Spiro, an electric mobility company operating in Africa, has announced the appointment of Anant Badjatya as its new Group Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment follows a USD 215 million financing round for the company. Badjatya joins the business from Indofast Energy, a joint venture between IndianOil and SUN Mobility, where he oversaw the development of a network comprising more than 1,800 battery-swapping stations serving nearly 90,000 vehicles daily.

In his new role, Badjatya will manage the group's initiatives across battery swapping, leasing, logistics, energy, and vehicle manufacturing. Concurrently, Kaushik Burman will remain with the company as CEO of Mobility to manage the fleet across Spiro's seven existing markets.

Under Badjatya's management, Spiro plans to expand its technology hubs in India. The tech centre in Pune, which focuses on electric vehicle powertrain design and battery management systems, currently employs more than 100 people and is scheduled for expansion. The Bengaluru hub, which has a staff of over 50 people, will focus on the development of Internet of Things (IoT) cloud platforms and support research and development localisation initiatives in Kenya and Nigeria.

Gagan Gupta, Founder and Chairman, Spiro, said, "As Spiro is accelerating on its mission to transform mobility across Africa through clean, affordable and accessible electric transportation solutions, Anant will consolidate the Group’s strategic initiatives and guide the company through its next chapter of growth and execution in mobility, energy and tech.”

Anant Badjatya added, "Africa represents the most exciting frontier for electric mobility. Spiro has built a unique platform and is exceptionally well positioned to accelerate the transition to cleaner and more accessible mobility across the continent. I look forward to working with our teams, partners and stakeholders to drive the next phase of growth and impact."

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TVS Motor Company (TVSM), part of TVS VENU, partnered with the UN Global Compact Network India to host a World Environment Day 2026 workshop at the TVS Institute for Quality and Leadership in Anekal, Bengaluru. The event – held under the theme ‘Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future’ – also saw the release of a white paper titled ‘Nature Capital as a Strategic Business Imperative in India’, jointly developed with PwC and TERI School of Advanced Studies, focusing on ecosystem services and nature-related risk management.

Attendees included Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Eshwar B Khandre; UN Global Compact Network India’s Ratnesh Jha; TERI’s Dr Vibha Dhawan and senior sustainability leaders from industry, academia and civil society.

TVS also launched its inaugural TNFD report, ‘Mobility in Harmony with Nature’, becoming one of the first Indian automotive firms to align with Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures recommendations. The framework helps assess nature-related dependencies, risks and opportunities amid growing water stress and biodiversity loss.

Three TVS Indian facilities are Net Water Positive and Zero Waste to Landfill, with Hosur holding GreenCo Platinum certification. Six products earned the GreenPro Ecolabel. With nearly 97 percent renewable energy in Indian operations, TVS is advancing circular economy initiatives and has established a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility for responsible dismantling and recycling.

Thakur Pherwani, Chief Sustainability Officer, TVS Motor Company, said, "Nature is central to economic resilience, community well-being and the future of mobility. At TVS Motor Company, sustainability is embedded into how we think about products, operations, supply chains and partnerships. The release of our inaugural Task Force on Nature Related Disclosure (TNFD)-aligned report is an important step in assessing our nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities with greater discipline. Through the white paper and today's workshop, we hope to support a more informed conversation on how Indian businesses can protect natural capital while enabling long-term growth and value creation."

Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network India, said, "The conversation around sustainability is rapidly evolving from compliance to competitiveness. Through initiatives such as this workshop, we are witnessing businesses recognise that biodiversity, ecosystem health and climate resilience are directly linked to long-term enterprise value. As UN Global Compact Network India completes 25 years of advancing responsible business practices, collaborations like these reaffirm the importance of collective action in shaping India’s sustainable future.”

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The Supreme Court of India has issued an order affirming the protection of the red appearance and packaging used by Exide Industries for its automotive batteries.

The legal dispute commenced after Amara Raja began manufacturing and selling automobile batteries under the brand name Elito using red colouring and packaging, whilst promoting the products across its website and social media channels. Exide initiated legal proceedings on the grounds that the product and packaging resembled its own long-established trade dress.

The Supreme Court affirmed the interim orders previously passed by the Calcutta High Court. The directive requires Amara Raja to cease the manufacturing and sale of red Elito batteries to its channel partners, and restrains the company from promoting the items on media platforms.

Prior to this decision, a Single Bench of the Calcutta High Court had issued an interim order restraining Amara Raja from manufacturing or selling batteries in red or in packaging resembling Exide's products, a position subsequently upheld by a Division Bench of the High Court.

The Supreme Court order permits Amara Raja’s channel partners to liquidate only the red Elito products that were already present in the market and manufactured prior to the Division Bench order dated 2 April 2026. The main lawsuit remains pending.

"For generations, customers have associated Exide's red-coloured batteries and packaging with quality, reliability, and trust. The Supreme Court's order reinforces the value of our intellectual property and safeguards the market identity that Exide has built over decades," said Exide in a statement.

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