Andreas Mindt has been appointed as Director of Design at Bentley Motors, effective March 2021. 

He succeeds Stefan Sielaff, who has left the company after nearly six years to pursue other opportunities.

With over 25 years of automotive design experience, all within the Volkswagen Group, Mindt was most recently Head of Exterior Design for Audi. In this six-year period, he oversaw the exterior design evolution of the breadth of the Audi model range, and the launch of the premium SUV coupé, the Audi Q8, and the e-tron, Audi's very first full-electric production model.

Mindt will report to Dr Matthias Rabe, Bentley's Board Member for Engineering. Rabe comments:

"I am pleased to welcome Andreas to Bentley and look forward to working closely with him at such a critical, yet exciting time for the business. The hard work starts now as we accelerate our journey to full electrification by 2030. With Andreas' creative experience in progressive electric car design delivery and passion for Bentley and the Volkswagen Group, he is perfectly placed to help us achieve our ambitions as the leader in sustainable luxury mobility.

"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Stefan for the significant contribution he has made to the business in his near six-year period, and wish him all the very best for the future."

Klaus Zyciora, Head of Volkswagen Group Design, said: "Bentley is a global brand with a long history and a strong design presence. We want to continue this history in the age of automotive change visibly. Stefan Sielaff set the course by evolving the design language. I would like to thank him for that. Andreas Mindt is the ideal person to be the new Director of Bentley Design. He has been responsible for the exterior design of Audi's showcars and production models, including the new luxury class and the first fully electric models. Andreas Mindt will now play a critical role in shaping the future of Bentley."

Sielaff's successor has a long and established Volkswagen Group history. Before Mindt's time with Audi, he spent over 15 years as a key part of the Volkswagen design department at the company's headquarters in Wolfsburg. Here, he worked on leading projects for a number of Group brands and a first experience of Bentley designing the exterior of the iconic 1999 showcar, the Bentley Hunaudières.

Working at Bentley's headquarters in Crewe, UK, Mindt will lead a team of approximately 50 design experts with responsibility for the exterior, interior and colour and trim design for the full current and future Bentley product portfolio, concept and showcars. Commenting on his new role, Andreas Mindt, said:

"Bentley is a jewel within the Volkswagen Group. Designing a car, and a future, is always a process based on the performance of many, not one, and so I look forward to working with my colleagues to help define the next phase for Bentley, into an electrified future."

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AU Small Finance Bank has partnered with Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, to introduce 'Suhana Safar', a scheme that links Recurring Deposits (RD) to auto loans. The initiative is aimed at first-time car buyers and applies to the Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio and WagonR models.

Under the programme, customers open an RD account with AU Small Finance Bank and deposit a monthly amount equivalent to the future car EMI for 3 to 6 months. Upon maturity, the accumulated funds, which have earned interest, are used as the down payment for the vehicle, after which the bank provides the auto loan.

The scheme allows customers to save and earn interest while demonstrating repayment capacity before committing to a loan. The bank also uses this process to evaluate creditworthiness.

AU Small Finance Bank offers RD interest rates of 4.75 percent to 7.40 percent per annum for the general public, and 5.25 percent to 7.90 percent per annum for senior citizens.

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has introduced the new Kodiaq RS, the first SUV to carry the performance-focused RS badge in the Indian market at INR 6.69 million (ex-showroom).

The company limited the initial release to 50 units, which were sold out within six minutes of launch. This release aligns with the 50th anniversary of the RS badge and the 125th year of the brand’s motorsport history.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The RS badge represents an iconic performance legacy. Bringing it to our flagship 4x4, all-terrain, 7-seater SUV combines luxury, capability and motorsport DNA in one offering. The overwhelming response, with all units sold out in minutes, reflects the strong enthusiasm among customers.”

The Kodiaq RS features a 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 195 kW (265 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive. The vehicle accelerates from zero to 100 kmph in 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 231 kmph.

The vehicle is equipped with progressive steering and the latest-generation Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus, which allows drivers to adjust damping characteristics. The Driving Mode Select offers multiple settings, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, Snow and a dedicated Off-Road mode.

The exterior includes black accents on the grille frame, mirrors, window frames, roof rails, and the D-pillar. The front features a bumper with black elements and a horizontal light strip in the grille. The rear includes a full-width reflector, blacked-out lettering, and stainless-steel exhaust tips. The SUV is fitted with 20-inch Elias alloy wheels and is available in Moon White, Magic Black, Velvet Red and Steel Grey.

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Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced wholesales of 8,788 units in June 2026.

In the domestic market, the company sold 5,243 units and 3,545 units for export, which marks 71.5 percent YoY, when the company sold 4,618 units domestically and exported 506 units.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "The launch of new City and India Premiere of global SUV Honda ZR-V has generated strong momentum for our overall sales including Amaze and Elevate during June, driven by healthy customer demand and a positive market response. With Monsoon conditions expected to improve during July, we hope to sustain this positive momentum in the months ahead.

“The deliveries of ZR-V are also scheduled to begin from July. It will draw discerning new customers and prospects into Honda showrooms, enhancing our premium brand appeal and unlocking new growth opportunities,” he added.

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French automotive company Renault India has recorded 4,063 domestic wholesale units in June 2026, a 55 percent YoY increase compared to the previous year. This also marks the 10^th consecutive month of double-digit growth for the company.

Interestingly, for H1 CY2026, the company reported sales of 25,844 units, representing 61 percent YoY growth.

During June, Renault India began exports of the Duster, dispatching 750 units to South Africa. The company stated that this performance reflects customer response to its product strategy and demand across its portfolio.

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