Kia India has released sketched of the first SUV from Kia 2.0, aimed at creating a unique, new species of SUVs in India. 
It is about transformation in design, technology, space and safety from a point of view of positively disrupting the evolution of SUVs in terms of the market regulations as well as buyer demand. 
Underlining futuristic mobility and modern design aesthetics with inspiration from the EV9 and the Carnival Limousine, the new SUV will push the boundaries of conventional SUV design to the next level. It will invite customers to ‘experience a new species of SUV’ with its purposeful design and cutting-edge technology, combined with class-leading convenience features and an ultra-spacious, comfortable cabin.
Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, mentioned, “The all-new Kia 2.0 SUV embodies our perennial commitment to break conventions with innovation, design excellence, and customer-centricity with our products. This SUV has been indigenously designed grounds up with inspiration from unrealized needs of Indian customers. It has a unique, progressive SUV design language that doesn’t follow the conventional SUV design anymore. This SUV is designed to delight customers with its segment-first features, exceptional performance, and unparalleled comfort. We are confident that it will resonate with discerning Indian buyers who demand the best.”
 

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Iconic British sports car brand Marcos is roaring back to life. Marcos Motor Company, the current owner of the brand's original assets dating back to 1959, has announced ambitious plans to launch the first new Marcos cars in approximately 20 years.

Three distinct vehicle programs are currently underway, with physical prototypes already in advanced development. These projects aim to span both classic Marcos models and entirely new vehicles, catering to both road and track enthusiasts.

Project Spotlights: A Glimpse into the Future

Project #1 is a modern interpretation of a beloved classic Marcos model. While retaining its recognizable silhouette, this vehicle will feature a contemporary platform and drivetrain. It's being used to test new in-house capabilities and is being developed with potential track use in mind, with its first prototype already having undergone testing.

Project #2 is an entirely new vehicle designed for both road and track. A crash-tested and homologated rolling chassis has already been engineered and built and is currently undergoing further evaluation. This new car will forge its own path, drawing no direct inspiration from legacy Marcos models, but will staunchly uphold the brand's core principles of lightweight construction, simplicity and an engaging, 'seat-of-the-pants' handling experience.

Project #3 focuses on continuation cars. With ownership of the original body molds, manufacturing tooling and jigs for almost every Marcos model produced since its inception over 65 years ago, Marcos Motor Company is uniquely positioned to produce authentic, contemporary versions of these beloved classics. Crucially, as the owner of the manufacturing and brand rights, any continuation car will be officially and authentically a Marcos, complete with its iconic logo.

Marcos Motor Company will continue to provide its dedicated Marcos Heritage Spares service, offering genuine parts, servicing, maintenance and repairs to existing customers. This offering will benefit from the broader expertise and facilities of the entire Marcos Motor Company group. The company also plans to develop its own performance upgrades, leveraging the tuning capabilities of the group's existing engine specialist unit.

Howard Nash, Owner and Chairman, Marcos Motor Company, “Marcos is a much-loved British sports car brand. It has a wonderful history but also an ethos of simplicity for raw, driver-focused handling. It’s an analogue experience you can’t get from large car manufacturers and supercar brands and one which I think enthusiasts hanker after today. We want to honour that original ethos while being forward-looking too, giving Marcos a new, younger audience, as well as bringing the brand back for those who grew up with it.”

Nash, a businessman with a background in automotive and motorsport engineering, acquired Marcos in 2022, having served as a director since 2021. He also chairs Automotive Vision, the umbrella company that includes Marcos Motor Company, Marcos Engineering, Marcos Sales and Marcos Heritage Spares, the latter of which has been a continuous resource for existing owners for over 25 years. The group further encompasses a century-old automotive business specialising in body and paint and a long-established engine restoration and tuning operation.

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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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