Jaguar Land Rover India has launched the New Land Rover Defender in two distinct body styles. In India, the company had thus far the Discovery product pillar and Range Rover product pillar. With this launch, the third product pillar - Defender, is also available, completing the Land Rover brand story. 

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 221 kW (300 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, the off-roader is available in sporty 90 (3-door) priced from INR 73.98 Lakh and the versatile 110 (5-door) priced from 79.94 Lakh ex-showroom India. 

Elements such as the solid shoulder line, minimal front and rear overhangs, Alpine light windows, round headlights, side-hinged rear tailgate and externally mounted spare wheel are typical characteristics that are retained from the original model. However, the new Defender has been designed to be a highly customisable vehicle. It comes in seven exterior colour options including Fuji White, Eiger Grey, Santorini Black, Indus Silver as well as options such as Tasman Blue, Pangea Green, and Gondwana Stone that are exclusive to the vehicle. A range of nine wheel designs from 45. 72 cm (18) pressed steel rims to 50.8 cm (20) alloys are also provided on the New Defender.

Retaining practicality and functionality at its core, the Defender’s cabin has an ergonomic design that offers 5 + 2 seating configurations with an innovative optional front row centre seat also known as a jump seat. The rear load space delivers maximum practicality with the 110 providing load-carrying capacity from 231 litres for the 5+2 seater with all rows up, to 2,380 litres for the five seater with the second row folded down. The second-row seatbacks are split 40:20:40 for maximum flexibility, while load space rails on the floor of the luggage space come with a range of load retention accessories to prevent smaller items from moving around inside.

For off-roading, the New Defender has an impressive maximum approach angle of 38 degrees, maximum break-over angle of 28 degrees (31 degrees on 90) and maximum departure angle of 40 degrees. With Wade Sensing screen on the infotainment system, the Defender has a water wading depth of 900 mm. The New Defender delivers a maximum towing capacity of 3,720 kg coupled with a roof load capacity of 168 kg.

Allowing customers to explore unlimited possibilities, the New Defender offers a choice from among 170 unique accessories and four distinct Accessory packs, including: 

●       Explorer Pack: It’s equipped with features such as the Expedition Roof Rack, a Raised Air Intake to wade through the deepest of waters, Exterior Side-mounted Gear Carrier to store items, Wheel Arch Protection, Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Spare Wheel Cover, and Matte Black Bonnet detail that makes it ideal for those who want to defy conventions and conquer uncharted landscapes.

●       Adventure Pack: Designed to equip you for the wild, the pack features an Integrated Air Compressor to inflate tyres on the go, Portable Rinse System to wash off while you are on the trail, an Exterior Side Mounted Gear Carrier and a Seat Backpack to store items, Front and Rear Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff plate and a Spare Wheel cover.

●       Country Pack: With Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff Plate, Portable Rinse System, Wheel Arch Protection and Loadspace Partition, it equips you when you decide to embrace the elements and make every journey truly memorable.

●       Urban Pack: It lends touches of individuality for your vehicle with the use of Bright Metal Pedals and Rear Scuff Plate, Front Undershield and a Spare Wheel Cover.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd. (JLRIL) said, “The New Defender will make its place in the hearts of many people with a curious mind, love for authentic adventures, passion for travel and who dare & wish to go above and beyond in life. Such individuals transcend barriers of age, gender, profession, with their free-spirited nature and fearlessness, just like the New Defender.” (MT)

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German luxury brand BMW Group-owned MINI India has launched Mod My MINI, a vehicle customisation programme for Cooper and Countryman models. The initiative enables owners to alter both new and existing vehicles through factory-supported upgrades.

The programme provides options to modify components, including the roof, mirror caps, spoilers and brake calipers. Customers can select from a catalogue featuring over 100 paint shades, thematic decals and original accessories, yielding up to 2.5 million potential configurations.

Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “MINI has never been just a mode of transport; it is a declaration of personal style. We firmly believe that no two MINIs on the road should look the same, which is why the 'Mod My MINI' programme puts the design canvas directly into the hands of our owners. True luxury is defined by the freedom to choose, and by offering this unprecedented tier of factory-backed customisation, we ensure that every driver can define their vehicle's identity entirely on their own terms. Ultimately, small changes drive a big personality, making your driving experience as completely unmatched as your fingerprint.”

Decals applied through the programme carry a 24-month warranty from the installation date. The service is available across MINI India’s 17 sales touchpoints in 16 cities, with vehicle servicing integrated into the broader BMW Group India network spanning 51 locations.

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South Korean automotive major Hyundai Motor Company has announced plans to achieve 5.55 million annual global vehicle sales by 2030, targeting a 6 percent global market share. The OEM intends to increase the share of electrified vehicles in its sales mix to 60 percent by 2030, up from 23 percent in 2025.

Interestingly, the company’s ambitious strategy includes launching or refreshing more than 100 models by 2030 across major markets, including 58 in North America, 49 in South Korea, 41 in Europe, 26 in India and 22 in China.

The product offensive features Extended Range Electric Vehicles offering over 600 miles of range, with the Santa Fe EREV set to begin production at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in the first half of 2027.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Our fundamentals have never been stronger. Hyundai Motor Group is the third-largest automotive group and the second-most profitable, which gives us the ability to invest while others are pulling back. We are bringing more than 100 new models to market by 2030 with multiple powertrain options and raising our operating margin above 9 percent. We are leveraging partnerships to scale new technologies and opportunities and becoming a physical AI company which will produce and deploy robots and robotaxis.”

Hyundai Motor plans to add 1.27 million units of global manufacturing capacity by 2030. The expansion allocates 500,000 units to North America, 320,000 to India, 250,000 across complete knock-down sites and 200,000 to South Korea, including a facility at its Ulsan operations.

In North America, Hyundai aims to raise its local parts sourcing target to 80 percent by 2030. The brand plans to offer more than 10 hybrid models in the region, targeting a 50 percent hybrid sales mix produced at its Alabama and Georgia facilities.

The Genesis luxury brand aims to achieve 350,000 annual sales across more than 40 markets by 2030. Genesis will launch the GV80 Hybrid in the fourth quarter, followed by the GV90 flagship SUV and an EREV variant targeting a range of over 640 miles in early 2027.

The group will begin deliveries of IONIQ 5 Waymo robotaxis in the fourth quarter of 2026 from its Georgia plant, ahead of commercial driverless services later in the year. Hyundai is also collaborating with Boston Dynamics to commercialise manufacturing robotics, planning to deploy the industrial humanoid robot Atlas at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America from 2028.

Autonomous driving development includes testing Atria AI in South Korea this year, followed by Level 2+ autonomous integration on mass-produced vehicles in 2028 through a collaboration with NVIDIA. To support computing requirements, Hyundai plans to open the 100-megawatt Saemangeum AI Data Center in 2029.

In-house battery developments feature cells delivering higher output and 40 percent faster charging speeds, alongside cloud-based battery management systems aimed at extending cell life by 20 per cent by 2028. The company is introducing Thermal Runaway Protection technology on the Genesis GV90 to prevent heat transfer between battery cells.

Financial targets for 2030 include raising the consolidated operating profit margin target to above 9 percent, supported by a 3 percentage point reduction in the cost of sales ratio. For the first half of 2026, Hyundai reported revenue of 95.2 trillion won (USD 70 billion) and an operating profit margin of 5.6 percent.

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Maruti Suzuki India has announced that cumulative exports of its Fronx model have passed 200,000 units in under 38 months following the commencement of overseas shipments in June 2023.

Manufactured at the company's Hansalpur plant in Gujarat, the SUV is exported to nearly 90 markets, including Japan. The Fronx reached its initial 100,000 export milestone within 25 months, with the subsequent 100,000 units shipped over the following 13 months.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Every vehicle exported by Maruti Suzuki carries the hard work and pride of our people. Together, these vehicles take a piece of Indian manufacturing to nearly 120 countries. Fronx has been a key contributor to Maruti Suzuki’s success in exports. Since FY 24-25, it has been India's No. 1 exported passenger vehicle* and is now shipped to nearly 90 countries. After crossing the milestone of 100,000 exports in record time, Fronx reached its second lakh significantly faster, underlining its growing demand in the international markets.”

“Aligned with ‘Make in India, Make for the World’, Maruti Suzuki continues to showcase the prowess of India’s manufacturing ecosystem. Sustained focus on exports has earned the Company the number one position in passenger vehicle exports from India*. Illustrating this leadership, all three of India’s top exported passenger vehicles in Q1 FY 26-27^ were from Maruti Suzuki. The growing export volumes year-on-year are a strong endorsement of the reliability and appeal of the Company’s products across global markets,” added Takeuchi.

The Fronx remains the company's primary export model within its passenger vehicle lineup, supporting its total export volume across international regions.

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Stellantis-owned Jeep India has launched the Jeep Compass 85th Anniversary Edition, limited to 85 units at prices starting at INR 2.67 million (ex-showroom).

The anniversary edition incorporates visual updates to the exterior and interior of the vehicle platform. External changes include 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black alongside anniversary badging. The interior cabin features a black colour scheme paired with gold accents and contrast trim detailing.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head and Director of Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, "The Jeep Compass has always been central to the Jeep story in India, bringing the brand's legendary capability, design and authenticity to customers who expect more from their SUV. As Jeep celebrates 85 years globally, the Compass 85th Anniversary Edition gives this iconic nameplate a distinctive new expression. With exclusive anniversary-inspired styling, curated accessories and safety technologies, this special edition has been crafted for customers who seek a Compass that feels even more personal, intelligent and exclusive."

The vehicle is offered with optional accessory packages under the brand's personalisation options. These packages add functional and cabin features, including sunroof illumination, ambient lighting, a digital inner rear-view mirror and integrated front and rear dashcams. Bookings for the limited-run vehicle have opened across the company's dealership network and online sales platform.

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