Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has stepped down due to differences with the board, a news report in the CNN.com (Business) has mentioned. It has also mentioned that Tavares faced criticism for the lack lustre performance of the Group brands – formed with the coming together of FCA and PSA Groups – during the nine months of the current calendar year in the US. 
The announcement of Tavares’ departure comes at a time when popular group brands such as Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge have seen sales drop as the ‘affordable’ models are discontinued under the wake of a ‘lean’ strategy and in what looks like an attempt to elevate the brands to offer premium luxury vehicles. 
In India too, the Jeep vehicles are priced much higher than they may be worthy of. It is no surprise therefore that they are being undercut by Jeep-like vehicles from brands like Mahindra, which costs many million Rupees less. 
Beginning its journey in Mumbai after Independence by assembling Willys CJ3 Jeep under license from Willys Corporation, Mahindra has grown to be a leading utility and SUV vehicles manufacture in India. It has also found a strong footing in export markets of US, Australia and South Africa with its 4x4 vehicles. 
Also failing to extensively refresh or introduce next generation models such as the Compass in India, Jeep is not doing great in India either, the figures indicate. The other brand, Citroen seems to be better positioned and more agile in its ability to learn and adapt to the market requirements in the country. It too is yet to show its prowess to set the sales charts on fire in India.   
Criticised to have taken the lean strategy a bit too far to come back and bite the group where it hurts the most, Tavares’ stepping down comes at a time when dealers across many parts of the world struggle to move the inventory on their lots. 
Several workers laid off at several plants of the group – particularly in the US – have also criticised Tavares for the situation Stellantis got into in that market. 
The situation in other markets is claimed to be not very different either. 
The process to appoint the new permanent CEO is underway with a Special Committee of the Board expected to announce one in the first half of 2025 calendar year, as per the report. A new Interim Executive Committee, chaired by John Elkann, will be established, the report further mentions. 
Global sales volume for the first half of this year fell 10 percent in the case of Stellantis. In the third quarter, it plunged 20 percent. 
With many loyal buyers of Dodge and Jeep vehicles keeping away as the prices have risen way beyond, sales in US have been down by 17 percent in the first nine months of the year. 

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Iron Mountain, a global leader in information management services, has become an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team, kickstarting a new multi-year partnership that will commence at the 2025 United States Grand Prix. The collaboration will leverage Iron Mountain’s expertise to spearhead a digital transformation of McLaren Racing’s legendary heritage archive.

Utilising an advanced AI-powered platform, the project will convert priceless historical materials, including vintage photography, film and technical blueprints, into an intelligent and dynamic digital resource. This initiative is designed to unlock new value from these assets, enabling McLaren to share its iconic history with a global audience. By creating new and immersive stories, the team aims to connect fans and partners more deeply to its legacy and the sport.

Furthermore, McLaren will utilise Iron Mountain’s global leadership in the secure and efficient management of end-of-life IT assets. As part of the agreement, Iron Mountain branding will be featured on the team’s race cars beginning in Austin, with additional visibility planned throughout the 2025 season and beyond.

Nick Martin, Co-Chief Commercial Officer, McLaren Racing, said, “Our fans are at the centre of what we do, and we are passionate about sharing our storied past with them. With the integration of Iron Mountain, we will be able to bring to life more of the team’s rich history for our fans and partners as we look to shine a light on the McLaren Racing brand.”

Greg McIntosh, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Iron Mountain, said, “We are proud to partner with the McLaren Formula 1 Team, which embodies the spirit of innovation and high performance at Iron Mountain. Our AI-enabled digital platform will help to fuel new opportunities for success and transform McLaren Racing’s iconic heritage media – protecting these timeless assets for future generations, connecting them to fans and partners and activating them to unlock value like never before.”

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The latest wholesales data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association (SIAM) for Q2 FY 2025–26 shows mixed domestic performance across segments, but strong growth in exports.

During Q2, passenger vehicle sales stood at 1.04 million units, down 2 percent compared to 1.05 million units last year. However, sales in September 2025 were up by 4 percent, with SUV segment with 204,938 units, down 1 percent YoY, accounting for around two-thirds of sales.

Two-wheelers posted sales of 5.56 million units, a growth of 7 percent YoY, supported by higher economic activity and the positive impact of a GST rate reduction. The scooter segment grew by 12 percent, compared to 5 percent YoY growth in motorcycles.

Three-wheelers recorded their highest-ever Q2 sales of 229,239 units, with a growth of 8 percent YoY, driven by the Passenger Carrier sub-segment’s 12 percent growth YoY.

Commercial vehicles sales stood at 239,781 lakh units, reflecting a growth of 8 percent YoY. Growth was broad-based, with Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles (MHCVs) and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) both showing improvement.

The industry enters the second half of FY 2025–26 with renewed cheer, supported by the festive season momentum, stable macroeconomic conditions and GST 2.0 reforms. The extended festive and wedding season is expected to sustain growth momentum through Q3.

Shailesh Chandra, President, SIAM, said, "The GST 2.0 reform is a landmark decision of the Government of India, which apart from catapulting the Indian auto industry to the next level, would bring in vibrancy in the entire economy, as this industry is closely intertwined with strong forward and backward linkages. Inspite of the new GST rates coming into effect from of September, i.e. only for 9 days of the month, Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers have already posted their highest ever sales of September. In addition, very strong exports growth, in all segments in Q2, indicates the growing brand acceptance on Indian made vehicles. Looking ahead, the outlook for the sector remains encouraging on the back of key tailw

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Bengaluru-based Micelio Mobility, which calls itself a catalyst for India’s clean mobility ecosystem, fostering innovation and collaboration across startups, corporates and academia successfully hosted its Global Clean Mobility Summit 2025.

The event saw discussions on the future of electric vehicles (EVs) in India with participation from leaders from industry, policy and academia.

Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of Ather Energy, received the ‘Individual Contributor of the Year 2025 Award’ for his work in India’s clean mobility sector.

Shreyas Shibulal, Founder & Director, Micelio Mobility, said, “India stands at a decisive point where clean mobility must evolve from aspiration to acceleration. The collaborations and innovations we witnessed today reaffirm Micelio’s belief that sustainable transport will define not just the next decade of growth but the next era of progress. Micelio remains deeply committed to nurturing ideas that can power a cleaner, more connected and equitable mobility ecosystem for all.”

C V Raman, Member of Executive Committee, Maruti Suzuki India, spoke on the country’s journey toward self-reliance. He stressed that mobility will be a catalyst for the economy to become a developed economy by 2047.

Jan Kuenne, of Grundig Akademie fur Wirtschaft & Technik, highlighted the importance of integrated design, data and investment for infrastructure.

Kuenne said, “Every visit to Bengaluru reminds me why this city is so special; the innovation here is unlike anywhere else. The ideas coming out of India are shaping the future of clean mobility for the world. We’re not just talking about electric vehicles; we’re talking about reimagining how cities move. From digital twins to new mobility systems, India is showing that sustainability and progress can go hand in hand. Together, we can create a world where clean, smart and responsible movement becomes the new normal.”

The summit released Micelio’s report, 'Closing the Loop: Building a Roadmap for Battery Circularity in India'. A Knowledge Roundtable agreed that upskilling and reskilling are required to make India industry ready for EV scaling.

The event also highlighted the collaboration between Micelio Mobility and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on the Digital Twin Lab for EV testing.

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Fery Rides, an Indian mobility start-up focussing on women's transportation led by women, has raised INR 20.75 million in a seed funding round led by IAN Angel Fund, part of IAN Group, with participation from Hari Balasubramanian, Uday Chatterjee and Sri Prakash.

The funding will be used to strengthen the technology platform, expand operations beyond the NCR region and onboard more women drivers, which the start-up refers to as Sister Partners.

The start-up aims to provide safe and reliable transport for women passengers, with every ride operated by trained and verified women drivers. The platform is developed by Ajay Kumar, alongside Vindhya Mehrotra and Himanshu Chaubey, with a key focus on women's safety.

The all EV service uses an app for onboarding, real-time tracking with SOS alerts and WhatsApp-enabled customer support.

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