With the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting led by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das leaving the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 6.5 percent and the policy stance ‘Neutral’, the fight against high and stubborn inflation is far from over. 
With the possibility of any reduction in interest rates for car buyers a distant dream yet, the 5.4 percent GDP during the first half of the current financial year – which amounts to a two-year low – and a Rupee that seems to struggle to keep up with the US Dollar are reflective of the challenges the Indian economy has come to face.  
Against these developments that also saw manufacturing moderate considerably, it is not surprising that automakers have announced a price hike, effective 1 January 2025 for their products. 
Citing rising input costs and operating expenses, it is the passenger vehicle (car and SUV) manufacturers that are at the forefront of the price hike announcements. 
Passenger vehicle market leader, Maruti Suzuki India has announced that it will hike the prices of its vehicles by up to four percent. Mahindra & Mahindra has said that it will hike the prices of its SUVs by three percent. 
JSW MG Motor India has decided to increase of the prices of its entire model line-up by up to 3 per cent whereas Hyundai Motor India will be hiking the price of its offerings by up to INR 25,000. 
Luxury automobile manufacturers Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi have announced that they will increase the price of their vehicles by up to three percent each on the back of escalating material costs, fluctuating commodity prices, logistics expenses and inflationary costs. 
Stating that the price increase of passenger vehicles in January 2025 will drive up the already ‘over the roof’ prices, an industry expert mentioned that even the most basic and entry-level car – the Maruti Suzuki Alto – costs no less than INR 470,000 on-road Mumbai. 
Of the opinion that passenger vehicles are already out of the reach of many young earners and those aspiring to move up from a two-wheeler to a decent set of four-wheels, he averred that the growth of the auto industry in India during the last quarter of this financial year and the first half of the next financial year is likely to be muted. 
Any change in the monetary stance by the government and the apex bank, he said further, will take time to percolate into the national economy and its effect would be best felt during the next festive season. 
Another round of hike amid inflationary pressure of automobiles by some manufacturers in April 2025 is another possibility, it seems.  

Image for representative purpose only.
 

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Delhi-NCR-headquartered alternative energy vehicle company Omega Seiki Mobility has successfully secured strategic funding from Securocorp Securities, Sangeeta Pareekh, Saket Aggarwal Family Office and Vanshika Sharma in New Delhi.

The funds will be deployed to expand manufacturing capacity at production facilities in Faridabad and Pune, strengthen research and development, enhance the dealer network and accelerate electric mobility solutions following Delhi's EV Policy 2026.

Dr. Uday Narang, Founder & Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said, "This investment reflects the confidence investors have in our vision, execution, and long-term strategy. Over the last eight years, we have built a company grounded in manufacturing excellence, innovation, and financial discipline. As India's EV market enters its next phase of growth, we remain committed to delivering sustainable mobility solutions while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, and investors."

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European automaker Stellantis has appointed Tianshu Xin to lead its China and Asia-Pacific region, effective 3 August 2026. He will report to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa and join the Stellantis Leadership Team, while continuing to serve as CEO of Leapmotor International.

On the other hand, Gregoire Olivier has been appointed strategic advisor, reporting to Xin.

Furthermore, Pablo Di Si has been named Chief Performance Officer, effective 3 August 2026. Reporting directly to Antonio Filosa, Di Si will lead execution of Stellantis’ ‘Value Creation Program’ to deliver business targets.

Antonio Filosa, CEO, Stellantis, said, “Tianshu Xin and Pablo Di Si bring deep global leadership experience, operational discipline and proven records of building strong teams and driving performance in highly competitive markets. Their appointments strengthen our leadership team as we sharpen execution, accelerate value creation, and continue positioning Stellantis for long-term success across regions and functions. I also want to thank Gregoire for his leadership and look forward to working together as he takes on his new role.”

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  - Rishi pandey July 25, 2026 15:23 PM

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Sona BLW Precision Forgings has signed definitive agreements with DENSO Corporation to establish two joint ventures aimed at developing, manufacturing and marketing electric and hybrid powertrain systems.

The partnership involves two strategic joint ventures tailored to different vehicle segments. The first joint venture focuses on high-voltage liquid-cooled traction inverters, traction motors and generators for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, with DENSO holding a 51 percent equity stake and management control and Sona Comstar holding 49 percent.

The second joint venture targets air-cooled traction inverters, traction motors, generators and e-axles for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, where Sona Comstar retains a 51 percent stake and management control and DENSO acquires 49 percent through a subsidiary structure.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD and Group CEO, Sona Comstar, said, “We have always believed that the future of mobility will be defined by companies that continuously invest in innovation, product development and industrialization of advanced technologies. This partnership marks an historic milestone in Sona Comstar’s journey as a mobility technology company and reflects the capabilities we have built across advanced electric powertrain systems over the years. DENSO is a company we have immense respect for, as they have been at the forefront of automotive innovation globally for decades with deep expertise in electrification technologies. We are honored and delighted to partner with DENSO to bring together the complementary strengths of both companies and build advanced electric and hybrid powertrain solutions for four-wheelers and larger vehicle applications. This partnership will also accelerate the growth of our existing electric powertrain business for two and three-wheelers by strengthening our capabilities across the powertrain value chain and enabling us to serve a broader set of customers.”

Tsuneo Maebara, Head of Powertrain Systems Business Group, DENSO Corporation, said, “The electrification of mobility represents a major transformation that will continue to evolve in response to the diverse needs of customers and society across the world. India, in particular, is an important region where diverse forms of mobility coexist and electrification is advancing at significant scale. Sona Comstar is a mobility technology company with a global business presence, serving a broad range of customers, and having boldly transformed itself alongside the rapid evolution of the mobility market – from conventional vehicle technologies to solutions for both two- and three-wheelers and passenger electric vehicles. Through this partnership, we will bring together the respective strengths that both companies have built over the years to provide electrification solutions that address the diverse needs of customers in India. By harnessing new competitive strengths created through synergies across the two companies’ products, technologies and business foundations, DENSO will further advance and accelerate its electrification business. We will also build on the outcomes achieved in India to deliver value that meets a broader range of customer needs in the future.”

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Mumbai-headquartered JSW Group looks to double down on its ambition to become a formidable player in the Indian automotive industry with plans to acquire a majority stake in Volkswagen for its operations in the country, says a Bloomberg report.

It is no secret that despite investing billions in India, Volkswagen has been struggling to find a strong foothold in the country and has been aiming to attain a 3-5 percent market share without much success.

In FY2026, passenger vehicle sales in India touched 4.64 million units. During the same period, Volkswagen India and Skoda Auto India sold a total of 37,576 units and 75,556 units, respectively, translating to a combined market share of 2.5 percent.

The report further stated that the partners are in advanced discussions, wherein JSW will pick up a significant stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, with the announcement expected in the coming few weeks.

For the unversed, Volkswagen has been scouting for a suitable partner in India, with previous reports indicating a potential partnership with Mahindra Group and Tata Motors, among others.

Interestingly, JSW Group has been aggressively looking to expand its presence and grab a meaningful share in the Indian automotive industry. It already has a presence in the passenger vehicle segment, being the largest shareholder in JSW MG Group India, in addition to its newly established JSW Motors, with the first model set to be introduced in the next few months.

As per media reports, the European automaker has also scaled down its investment plans from the earlier planned EUR 1 billion to EUR 700 million, as it looks to narrow down losses in the country.

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