JLR Develops Smart City Hub To Test Autonomous Vehicles

Saurabh Kumar Joins Evera To Accelerate Electric Fleet Growth

To create a smart city hub that can allow real-world testing of connected technology where self-driving vehicles share the streets with cars, pedestrians and cyclists, Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with global software, mobility and telecoms companies.

Jaguar Land Rover is a lead partner of the FMCI and will collaborate with a host of other global technology companies to develop the facility, including Cisco, Seagate, Renovo, Red Hat, Valeo and Mergon. Traditionally such testing sites have been established overseas. The FMCI provides Jaguar Land Rover with a key research site next to an existing facility: its Shannon software hub.

The Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) will be a collaborative testbed spread across 12km of public roads, providing the facilities and expertise to harness valuable sensor data, simulate a variety of road environments and traffic scenarios and trial new technologies. As part of the trials, the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE will be deployed for testing.

The testbed will advance Jaguar Land Rover’s research into autonomous, connected, electrified and shared vehicles – a key part of the company’s commitment to making societies safer and healthier with pioneering technology.

The real-world facility will be equipped with sensors throughout the site, along with high-accuracy location systems, a data management and control centre and self-driving prototype vehicles. It will feature smart junctions, connected roads, autonomous parking and electric vehicle charging as well as links to a 450km stretch of connected highway and a managed air traffic corridor for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Shannon airport along the Shannon Estuary in Ireland.

John Cormican, General Manager for Shannon Ireland Jaguar Land Rover, said, "This partnership with FMCI provides us with a real-world facility to trial our emerging autonomous, connected, electrified and shared technology in a strategic location. Collaborating with top-tier software companies will allow us to develop our future systems more efficiently.”

Russell Vickers, CEO of FMCI, said, “The smart city zone provides a first-class facility for global companies to work together and develop world-leading technology, from autonomous vehicles to connected infrastructure. The testbed provides an opportunity to test in the real world and help answer some of the questions posed by the future of mobility in a collaborative and efficient way.” (END)

Tata Motors Returns To South Africa With Motus Partnership

Tata Motors - Motus Holdings

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV), a subsidiary of Tata Motors, has re-entered the South African market. The company has partnered Motus Holdings, a South African automotive group, to oversee the sale and service of Tata Motors passenger vehicles across the country.

The launch, held at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, included the reveal of four models: the Harrier, Curvv, Punch and Tiago. These vehicles are designed for the local market.

The automaker shared that its return to South Africa follows a period of growth in India, with vehicle sales increasing from 170,000 units in 2020 to over 560,000 units in 2025.

Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle, said, “Our return to South Africa marks a significant milestone in Tata Motors’ global journey. We are excited to bring our new-generation of vehicles engineered with cutting-edge technology, uncompromising safety and modern design to a market that values safety, quality and innovation. With Motus as our preferred partner, we are confident in delivering a superior ownership experience that resonates with South African consumers and contributes meaningfully to the local economy.”

Ockert Janse Van Rensburg, Group CEO of Motus Holdings, said, “We are proud to partner with Tata Motors in reintroducing their acclaimed passenger vehicle range to South Africa. With our deep-rooted expertise in distribution, retail and aftersales, and Tata’s proven track record in engineering and innovation, we are poised to offer customers choice of new age vehicles with a compelling value proposition. This collaboration is not just about vehicles – it’s about building trust, delivering excellence and shaping the future of mobility in South Africa."

The new partnership will operate through an initial network of 40 dealerships, with plans to expand to 60 by 2026. This expansion will contribute to the local economy through job creation and training programmes for technicians and sales staff.

Future plans include expanding the model line-up and introducing alternative energy powertrains to the South African market. The company states that vehicles from India have been successful in South Africa due to their build quality and reliability.

Maruti Suzuki India’s Fronx C-SUV Crosses 500,000 Production Milestone

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new production milestone for its Fronx compact SUV.

Launched in 2023, the Front has surpassed the 500,000-unit production milestone. The company shared that the Fronx was the highest exported passenger vehicle in the industry in FY 2024-25 and was among the top 10 selling vehicles in the domestic market during the period.

In fact, the compact SUV was able to garner 100,000 units sales within 10 months of its launch, while the 200,000 unit and 300,000 unit milestones were also achieved in record time. The Fronx attained its peak sales of 21,400 units in February 2025.  

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “We are deeply grateful to our customers for choosing FRONX as their vehicle of choice and making it one of the most sold Compact SUVs in India. This milestone reflects India’s manufacturing excellence and customer acceptance for vehicles with futuristic design. With its bold styling, best-in-class fuel efficiency, and advanced technology features, FRONX quickly gained popularity in domestic as well as international markets. As we move forward, we remain committed to deliver exciting and value-packed products that exceed the expectations of our customers.”

The Fronx was first globally unveiled at the Auto Expo 2023 and was also the first ‘Made in India’ SUV from Maruti Suzuki India to be exported to Japan. In addition, the model is currently exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets.

Toyota Launches Carmy Sprint Edition At INR 4.85 Million In India

Toyota Camry

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has introduced the Camry Sprint Edition, a new, more dynamic version of its luxury hybrid sedan at prices starting INR 4.85 million.

The new variant offers a sportier exterior, while maintaining the comfort, safety and hybrid efficiency. The company said that the Camry has been a benchmark in the premium sedan segment in India since its launch in 2002. Globally, the Camry debuted in 1982 and has become a symbol of success among sedan enthusiasts worldwide.

The Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle – Sprint Edition features a dual-tone exterior with a matte finish black-out tape on the engine hood, roof and trunk for a sporty look. It comes with new matte black alloy wheels, an exclusive Sports Kit (optional) that includes a front body kit, rear body kit and a rear spoiler, giving the vehicle an assertive and aerodynamic stance. Door warning lamps and ambient lighting as options for enhanced safety and interior refinement.

Varinder Wadhwa, Vice-President – Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, our customer-centricity continues to guide our evolution, in line with the changing aspirations of today’s consumers. The Camry Sprint Edition reflects this approach – with a refreshed sporty character, highlighted by eye-catching dual-tone styling, bold black matte alloy wheels and an exclusive Sports Kit that lends the vehicle an agile stance and commanding road presence. With this new variant, we are confident that the Sprint Edition will resonate with modern consumers and fortify Toyota’s commitment to sustainable mobility.”

Under the hood, the Sprint Edition is powered by a 2.5L Dynamic Force Engine paired with an e-CVT transmission and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. This system delivers 169 kW (230 PS) of total output and has a claimed fuel efficiency of 25.49 kmpl. The vehicle also includes a suite of advanced safety features with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, such as a Pre-Collision System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and 9 SRS airbags. The hybrid battery comes with an eight year or 160,000 km warranty.

The Camry Sprint Edition is available in 5 dual-tone colours, including Emotional Red & Matte Black and Platinum White Pearl & Matte Black.

Mahindra Unveils 4 New Concepts On NU_IQ Platform, Targets Global Play Starting 2027

Mahindra NU_IQ

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled its new modular, multi-energy NU_IQ platform, which it shared will serve as the foundation for a new generation of SUVs set to enter production from 2027.

The company has previewed the platform’s capabilities through four concept vehicles – Vision.S, Vision.T, Vision.SXT and Vision.X – which it claims will ‘disrupt’ the premium SUV space in both domestic and international markets.

The NU_IQ platform has been engineered to deliver flexibility across multiple vehicle types and markets. It can accommodate a range of body styles (top hats), different powertrains including internal combustion engines and electrified systems, as well as both front- and all-wheel-drive layouts. It is also designed for global deployment, supporting both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive configurations.

Whilst, the complete product specifications are set to be announced closer to the launch, Mahindra has given a glimpse of what one can expect from the platform. These includes–

  • Command seating paired with optimised driving dynamics for comfort and control
  • Flat-floor architecture, enabling what Mahindra says will be the first production flat-floor ICE SUV
  • Lightweight structure meeting stringent safety standards
  • Generous cabin space with class-leading boot capacity
  • Next-generation integrated domain electronics architecture (NU_UX) for advanced connectivity and user experience

The company shared that the platform has been developed to remove compromises typically faced by SUV buyers, offering premium features in a wider range of models.

R Velusamy, President – Automotive Business (Designate), Mahindra & Mahindra, and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile said, “NU_IQ is a strategic blueprint for the future of Mahindra SUVs globally. With its modular, multi-energy architecture, it gives us the flexibility to innovate across multiple top hats and powertrains whilst staying true to our SUV DNA. Designed to resolve paradoxes, NU_IQ forms the foundation for our next generation of SUVs. It marks a bold step and the start of a new era that frees customers from compromises and puts truly desirable, premium core SUVs squarely in the mainstream.”

The four concept models also mark the evolution of Mahindra’s ‘HEARTCORE’ design philosophy, created jointly at the Mahindra India Design Studio (MIDS) in Mumbai and Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE) in Banbury, UK.

Pratap Bose, Chief Design & Creative Officer – Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The NU_IQ SUVs, designed at our Global Design studios in Mumbai and Banbury, represent the start of a new chapter of our HEARTCORE design philosophy. They build on the central tenet that great design should create an emotional bond between people and their vehicles while re-imagining it for a new future. Based on the theme ‘Opposites Attract’, where the juxtaposition of contrasting elements creates an expressive new design language, these concepts promise to shape experiences that inspire adventure, confidence, and connection on any terrain, anywhere in the world.”

Each concept reflects a distinct personality – from the ‘Born Iconic’ ethos of the Vision.T and Vision.SXT to the ‘Sporty Solidity’ of the Vision.S and the ‘Sculptural Athleticism’ of the Vision.X. All four have been engineered at Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai.

Global Play

Mahindra plans to introduce production versions of these vehicles starting in 2027, with a strategy to target both domestic and export markets. The company is positioning these SUVs in the premium segment, aiming to redefine the customer experience in India while also expanding into left-hand-drive markets overseas.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Executive Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile, said, “NU_IQ blends innovation, global design and advanced technology to disrupt the white spaces in the automotive industry in India and internationally across Right-and-Left-Hand-Drive markets. The four concepts we are showcasing here offer a bold preview of what’s to come. They usher in a new no-compromise era of mobility and give freedom a new meaning.”

With the NU_IQ platform, Mahindra is signalling a significant shift in its approach to product development, combining modular engineering, scalable technology and a global design language to address evolving consumer demands. The company’s 2027 roll-out is expected to be one of its most ambitious launches yet, marking its intent to strengthen its standing both at home and abroad.