Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) in New Delhi for vehicles up to 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight on 22 August 2023. The regulation will be effective from 01 October 2023 in the interest of pushing the safety and quality of vehicles in India. 

The new regulation, which will apply majorly to passenger vehicles, is expected to promote healthy competition among OEMs to manufacture safer vehicles. The motoring public is expected to tangibly benefit from the same.  

With Euro NCAP and other NCAP safety ratings being cited to promote the safety of their vehicles by Indian manufacturers lately, the Bharat NCAP regulation – AIS 197 – is expected to safeguard the lives of the Indian citizens and push the auto industry in the country towards becoming a key automotive manufacturing hub in the world.  

Applicable to type approved motor vehicles of M1 category and voluntary in the sense that the base variants of a given model shall be tested, the new regulation should help the vehicle buyers to make an informed decision, thereby presenting an opportunity to OEMs to manufacture vehicles of global safety standards. 
The programme will be anchored by Pune-based Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) and has been engineered through stakeholder consultations. 

Gadkari spoke at the launch of the new regulation that it would empower consumers to be able to make a better choice for buying safer cars. “The new safety regime under BHARAT NCAP and AIS-197 is a mutual win-win for manufacturers and consumers,” the union minister added.  

The jury is out there to welcome the new, much awaited safety regulations by the Indian Government in the wake of the fatal accidents being reported by various news organisations recently – some of them having taken place on key, modern highways of the country such as the Samruddhi Marg and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.  

It would be worth watching out if the Bharat NCAP norms match some of the most stringent safety norms in the world such as the Euro NCAP, expressed an industry observer. On par with some of the most stringent safety norms found in other countries of the world such as the European Union will ensure a much-needed uplift in road safety in India and help the Indian auto industry take yet another big step towards aligning with some of the finest manufacturing practices in the world,” he added. 

Welcoming the launch of Bharat NCAP regulation by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India. Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA said, “The launch of BNCAP protocol is indeed historic. It will lead to the integration of advanced safety features in vehicles thus minimising the risk of road accidents and fatalities. This initiative will not only bolster the auto component industry’s value chain but will also stimulate the production of cutting-edge components, encourage innovation and create global excellence. We anticipate a safer automotive landscape and a future where Indian auto component manufacturers thrive on the global stage, while also contributing to responsible driving practices, reduced healthcare burdens and potential incentives from the insurance sector. The Indian auto component industry embraces this initiative wholeheartedly, recognising its pivotal role in driving growth and global competitiveness”. 

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Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

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Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

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Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.

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