Tata Motors

Mumbai-headquartered commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle major Tata Motors has announced its wholesales for FY2025 and March 2025.

The company sold a total of 912,155 vehicles across the passenger vehicle and commercial vehicles segment, which was 4 percent lower compared to last year. This includes 358,570 commercial vehicles, down 5 percent YoY and 553,585 passenger vehicles, down 3 percent YoY. 

For March 2025, the commercial vehicle sales came at 90,500, a flat decline as compared to 90,822 units last year, while passenger vehicle sales came at 51,616 units, up 3 percent YoY as compared to 50,110 units for the same period last year.

Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “FY2025 ended on a positive note for commercial vehicles industry, post the YoY demand decline witnessed earlier. Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles navigated the headwinds effectively, to record wholesales of 376,903 units, outpacing industry growth in trucks and commercial passenger carriers, thereby strengthening its Vahan registration market share. Reinforcing our commitment to green, future-ready technologies, we launched India's first hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck trials, while our e-bus fleet collectively covered over 30 crore km nationwide. In Q4 FY2025, the sustained YoY improvement in sales volumes over successive quarters gained further momentum with both trucks and passenger carriers registering healthy growth, in line with the annual trend.”

“Looking ahead to FY2026, we anticipate sustained growth despite global headwinds. Demand is expected to rise, driven by higher fleet utilisation, financial support from rate cuts, lower crude oil prices and a renewed focus on large-scale infrastructure projects. At the same time, we remain mindful of the potential impact of new regulations mandating truck cabin air conditioning on vehicle prices. We will continue to closely monitor government infrastructure spending and growth across key end-use segments. With an expansive product portfolio, smart digital solutions and new nameplate launches on the anvil, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles is well-positioned to leverage market opportunities and maintain its growth trajectory,” added Wagh.

Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “Passenger vehicle sales is expected to reach 4.3 million units in FY2025, reflecting a modest 2 percent growth. SUVs continued to dominate the market with double digit growth and accounted for around 55 percent of new car sales. Preference for emission-friendly CNG vehicles surged by around 35 percent and EVs showed renewed promise, with more industry participants enhancing customer choices and strengthening the ecosystem. Amidst a challenging year marked by fluctuating demand, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles achieved wholesales of 556,263 units, including 64,726 units of EVs. We led the industry in SUV growth and outpaced it in CNG sales, recording over 50 percent YoY growth. Across various segments of the PV industry, Punch emerged as the top choice for private buyers to become India’s No. 1 SUV in FY25. Our latest launches and updates – Curvv, Nexon CNG and Tiago – received an enthusiastic response, resonating strongly with customers. We achieved two key milestones in FY25, as we surpassed 6 million cumulative sales for PVs, and 200,000 cumulative sales for EVs.”

“Looking ahead, overall demand growth will be shaped by macroeconomic factors such as consumption growth, inflation, infrastructure spending and global geopolitics. However, industry momentum is expected to be driven by continued innovation in line with evolving customer preferences. SUVs, CNG, and EVs will remain key growth drivers, fuelling the industry's expansion. With a strategically aligned product portfolio, supported by new nameplate launches and our multi-powertrain strategy, Tata Motors is well positioned to seize market opportunities and sustain its momentum,” added Chandra.

Volvo Cars Slovakia Plant To Utilise Durr Tech To Manufacture EVs

Durr

German leading mechanical and plant engineering firm Durr has announced that it has been selected to equip Volvo Cars' manufacturing facility in Košice, Slovakia, with final assembly automation technology.

The plant represents the automaker's dedicated facility for all-electric vehicles and is planned to commence production in 2027 with a maximum annual output capacity of 250,000 units.

As per the understanding, Durr will supply turnkey conveyor, fluid filling and testing infrastructure integrated through its NEXT.assembly framework. The installation features fluid filling equipment configured to handle low-conductivity coolants and updated air conditioning refrigerants designed to comply with European regulatory changes. The vehicle conveyance network spans over three kilometres within the facility, utilising electric monorail systems, skillet platforms and modular chain conveyors to transport vehicle bodies and door components between assembly stations.

For end-of-line testing and quality control, Durr is installing its x-wheel chassis alignment system equipped with x-3Dsurface optical sensors, alongside the x-light camera-based measurement system for inspecting and adjusting headlamp modules in accordance with ECE and SAE standards.

Jorg Neumann, Director of the End of Line Product Line, Durr in Germany, said, “Volvo Cars has exceptionally high standards when it comes to measurement accuracy. We are very familiar with these standards, as Dürr equips all Volvo sites worldwide with vehicle geometry and headlight alignment technology.”

Andreas Hohmann, CEO of Durr Italy and Vice-President of NEXT.assembly, said, “Our fully automated final assembly system represents a significant advancement in automotive manufacturing, combining precision engineering with cutting-edge automation to deliver exceptional quality and efficiency.”

Mahindra Moves Towards Possession Of 800 Acres For Nagpur Manufacturing Facility

Mahindra

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra is moving towards taking possession of an initial package of approximately 800 acres for an automobile and tractor manufacturing facility at Additional Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The site forms part of a planned 1,500-acre development in Vidarbha, which will be accompanied by a 150-acre supplier park in Sambhajinagar.

When fully operational, the site will feature an annual production capacity exceeding 500,000 vehicles and 100,000 tractors. The Sambhajinagar supplier park will provide components to the Nagpur facility and to Mahindra's existing production plants in Chakan and Nashik.

Furthermore, Mahindra is also establishing training frameworks to identify and develop workforce capabilities for manufacturing across powertrains and technologies. Over the next two to three years, existing associates will be considered through a selection process to fill roles at the facility based on technical capability, performance and alignment with company standards.

Mahindra also plans to establish a training centre in Nagpur to build technical skills in areas including mechanical operations, welding and painting. Further operational details regarding workforce requirements and recruitment processes will be released as project development continues.

Skoda Octavia Reaches 30-Year Production Milestone

Skoda Octavia

Czech automaker Skoda Auto is marking the 30th anniversary of the modern-generation Octavia, which first entered production on 3 September 1996. The model has served as the carmaker's core product following its integration into the Volkswagen Group, reaching total production of almost 7.9 million units across four generations. At present, the Skoda Octavia is manufactured in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny in the Czech Republic, as well as Kostanay in Kazakhstan.

Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Skoda Auto, said, "The Octavia has been an icon of the Skoda brand for three decades. As Combi or Liftback, it has consistently delivered what customers prefer: outstanding space, practicality, safety, and features at an exceptional value. In many ways, the Octavia defined the Skoda ambition to offer more than expected. This has resulted in the Octavia powering our international growth by earning the trust of generations of customers. While Skoda continues to evolve and expand into new segments, the Octavia remains a powerful symbol of customer-centric innovation and Simply Clever thinking."

The Skoda Octavia’s development began in 1992 under design chief Dirk van Braeckel, reviving a nameplate originally used by Skoda between 1959 and 1971. The initial liftback variant launched with a 528-litre boot capacity, supported by a production plant in Mlada Boleslav that increased the site's annual vehicle capacity from 90,000 to 350,000 units.

A Combi estate version joined the line-up in 1998, followed by an all-wheel-drive variant in 1999 and the first Octavia RS in 2000. The first generation recorded 1.44 million total unit sales before ending production in 2010.

The second-generation Octavia debuted in 2004, introducing dual-clutch transmission options and expanding boot capacity by 32 litres, achieving 2.6 million sales prior to its replacement in 2013. The third generation, manufactured from 2012 to 2020, incorporated revised driver assistance systems, reduced body weight, and efficiency updates, alongside an exterior facelift in 2017.

The current fourth-generation Octavia launched in November 2019 in liftback and Combi formats. An update introduced in early 2024 added safety equipment, including up to ten airbags and revised driver fatigue monitoring software, as the vehicle continues to serve commercial and private markets globally.

Maruti Suzuki Commences Rail Dispatches To Tamil Nadu’s Pollachi Terminal

Maruti Pollachi

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its automobile rake reached Pollachi Railway Terminal in Tamil Nadu, making it the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to dispatch vehicles by rail to the terminal.

The rake carried 120 vehicles, including Wagon R, Ertiga, Dzire and Celerio models, and departed from the Manesar in-plant railway siding on 18 August 2026.

Maruti Suzuki worked with Indian Railways to operationalise Pollachi Railway Terminal for rail-based vehicle dispatches. The location adds a destination in Southern India alongside Coimbatore.

The terminal enhances the ability of the company to serve customers across the region ahead of the Onam festival in Keralam. The facility can support 70 automobile rakes annually, enabling the delivery of 11,000 vehicles each year through railways.

Interestingly, the manufacturer adopted rail-based vehicle dispatches during FY 2014-15 to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and road congestion. The company increased the share of rail in outbound vehicle dispatches from 5 percent in FY 2014-15 to 26.5 percent in FY 2025-26, dispatching 3.2 million vehicles cumulatively via rail networks to date.

Maruti Suzuki India aims to increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35 percent by FY 2030-31 to reinforce commitments to rail logistics.