Maruti Suzuki India Crosses 30 Million Unit Sales Milestone

Maruti Suzuki India

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new milestone by crossing the 30-million-unit sales milestone in the domestic market.

The new benchmark was attained by the company over a course of 42 years, with the first 10 million unit sales taking 28 years and 2 months to achieve.

The 20 million unit sales took 7 years and 5 months, while the recent milestone took just 6 years and 4 months.

Interestingly, the entry-level hatchback Alto was the most preferred model in the country, with over 4.7 million units sold, followed by Wagon R with 3.4 million units and the sporty Swift with 3.2 million units.

The Brezza and Fronx SUVs also played an instrumental role in contributing to the sales milestone, being featured among the top 10 models sold in the country.

It was on 14th December 1983, Maruti Suzuki India delivered its first model, the iconic Maruti 800, to its first customer.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “When I look at the length and breadth of India and think that 3 crore customers have placed their trust in Maruti Suzuki to realise their dream of mobility, it fills me with humility and gratitude. Yet, with car penetration at approximately 33 vehicles per 1,000 people, we know our journey is far from over. We will continue to make every possible effort to bring the joy of mobility to as many people as we can, while also be an asset to both the economy and the environment at the same time.”

Tesla Launches Six-Seater Model Y L Launched At INR 6.19 Million In India

Tesla Model Y L

US-based electric vehicle maker Tesla India has launched the Model Y L, an all-new 6-seater SUV, at the Ballard Pier Downtown Experience Centre in Mumbai at prices starting INR 6.19 million.

Positioned as a versatile family vehicle, the Model Y L features an extended wheelbase and a three-row configuration. Online orders are open as of 22 April 2026, with the first deliveries scheduled to commence in June 2026.

The Model Y L is designed to maximise utility, offering a unique 2+2+2 seating layout.

  • Second Row: Features individual captain seats with powered armrests, one-touch folding, ventilation and heating.
  • Third Row: Equipped with power recline, one-touch folding and dedicated vented climate control.
  • Cargo Space: Provides a massive storage capacity of up to 2,539 litres with seats folded.

The Model Y L is integrated into the broader Model Y lineup, offering a balance of range and acceleration. The Premium RWD (5-seater) with 500km range came at INR 5.98 million, L Premium AWD (6-seater) at INR 6.19 million and the Premium LR RWD (5-seater) at INR 6.78 million.

The EV features a refined chassis with adaptive suspension and electronic damping to filter road vibrations. For a premium cabin experience, it includes acoustic glass and an 18-speaker immersive Tesla Audio system.

Furthermore, as part of its focus on driving adoption of the green vehicles, Tesla continues to build its ecosystem in India to support new and existing owners:

At present, Tesla operates 5 Supercharger stations (20 Superchargers) and plans to add 7 more along major highways connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other key cities.

Existing service centres in Mumbai, Gurugram, Delhi and Pune are being augmented this quarter with new locations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

The Model Y L will be available for public viewing from 23 April 2026 at Tesla locations in BKC (Mumbai), Aerocity (Delhi) and Orchid Business Park (Gurugram).

Monthly financing for the Model Y L starts at INR 49,000, and the EV supports the full suite of Tesla connected features, including live traffic visualisation and integrated streaming services like Spotify and Netflix.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reaffirms Carbon-Neutral Goals On Earth Day 2026

Toyota Kirloskar Motor

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has marked Earth Day 2026 by providing an update on its progress toward the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050.

The company has reported significant milestones in manufacturing decarbonisation, water stewardship, and logistics efficiency, aiming to achieve carbon-neutral manufacturing operations by 2035.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has focused on eliminating its environmental footprint across its production and supply chain through several key initiatives:

Renewable Energy: For the 5th consecutive year, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s manufacturing facilities have utilised 100 percent renewable grid electricity, effectively eliminating all Scope 2 emissions.

Logistics Decarbonisation: The company has shifted 24 percent of its vehicle logistics to rail transport, reducing emissions per vehicle from 185 kg to 175 kg. Additionally, the pilot of electric trucks for short-distance transport has resulted in an annual reduction of approximately 950 CO2 emission.

Water & Waste Management: Approximately 89 percent of water requirements are currently met through recycling and rainwater harvesting. The company also maintains a Zero Waste-to-Landfill status, with a recycling rate of over 96 percent.

Aligned with India’s energy landscape, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is pursuing a multi-pathway approach to clean mobility. This includes active pilot projects for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) and Electrified Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) to reduce dependence on energy imports and leverage domestic resources.

On-site, TKM’s Green Wave Project has successfully sequestered 8,118 CO2-emission through afforestation, supporting over 650 plant species. The company's Ecozone, a 25-acre experiential learning centre, has trained over 62,000 students to date, fostering environmental awareness in the next generation.

B Padmanabha, Executive Vice-President of Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “On Earth Day 2026, Toyota Kirloskar Motor proudly reinforces its commitment to ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ advancing a carbon‑neutral future by embedding sustainability into every aspect of our products, operations, and partnerships. Since 2021, our manufacturing facilities have been powered entirely by renewable grid electricity, eliminating Scope 2 emissions for five consecutive years and demonstrating that industrial growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Renault Duster Bags 5-Star BNCAP Rating For Adult And Child Occupant Protection

Renault Duster - BNCAP

European automaker Renault India has announced that its all-new Renault Duster SUV has achieved a 5-star safety rating from the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).

The results apply across the vehicle's entire range, including the 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol variants. The SUV scored 30.49 out of 32 for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 45 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection (COP).

The rating is based on crash tests conducted on the Evolution, Techno and Iconic trims.

Built on the new RGMP platform, the Duster was engineered to meet structural integrity targets for various crash scenarios. Standard safety equipment across all variants includes six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The vehicle also features Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing 17 active safety functions such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist.

The Duster, which launched in the Indian market last month with a starting price of INR 1.04 million (ex-showroom), is the first Renault model in India to offer this level of automated safety technology. The SUV is backed by a 7-year warranty, positioning it as a highly competitive entry in the mid-size segment against rivals like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

Francisco Hidalgo-Marques, VP, Sales & Marketing, Renault Group India, said, “Since the moment of its reveal, the Duster has appealed to Indian customers with its strong SUV design, outstanding ride and handling, and confident performance. With this latest achievement, the Duster now also makes a compelling case for rational buyers combining one of the best fuel efficiency figures in the segment with a 5-star BNCAP safety rating for adult and child occupant protection, and the added reassurance of a best in-market 7-year warranty.”

Dr. V Vikraman, Chief of Renault Engineering, India, added, “This result is rooted in engineering execution on the ground. The Duster was subjected to extensive simulations, physical crash tests, and system-level validations, with a strong focus on real-world Indian driving conditions. From body structure performance to restraint calibration and electronic safety systems, every element was engineered, tested and refined to work together. The 5-star BNCAP rating reflects the rigour of that end-to-end engineering and validation process.”

Hyundai Motor India Launches Venue Knight Edition At INR 969,800

Hyundai Venue Knight Compact SUV

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the launch of the Hyundai Venue Knight compact SUV featuring a black-themed design.

The Knight edition is intended to provide a distinct visual identity through exclusive exterior and interior enhancements, with prices for the Venue Knight starting at INR 969,800 (ex-showroom).

The exterior of the Venue Knight includes a black painted front radiator grille, matte black front and rear logos & black skid plates. It also gets black painted roof rails, wing mirrors and 16-inch alloy wheels, complemented by red brake callipers and a Knight emblem. The interior features an all-black cabin with brass-coloured inserts and exclusive seat upholstery.

The Venue Knight is available with multiple powertrain options, including the Kappa 1.2-litre petrol, Kappa 1.0-litre Turbo petrol and the U2 1.5-litre diesel engine, with both manual and automatic transmissions offered.

Alongside this launch, Hyundai has introduced a dashcam with multiple recording modes on the HX6T, HX10 and N10 variants. This system allows for video downloads to mobile devices via a dedicated application.

The company has also expanded the standard Venue colour palette with the introduction of Hazel Blue Matte and Mystic Sapphire Matte.

Amit Dhaundiyal, Head of Product Strategy & Planning, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai, we continuously strive to bring products that resonate with the evolving aspirations of Indian customers. The Hyundai Venue Knight represents a bold expression of style and individuality, specially crafted for customers who want their car to reflect their personality. With this launch, we are taking the distinctive black-themed Knight philosophy to one of our most popular compact SUVs. Every element of the Hyundai Venue Knight, from its blacked-out exteriors to its premium interiors with brass inserts, has been thoughtfully curated to create a strong visual identity that stands apart on the road. Alongside the Knight, the introduction of dashcam on select Hyundai Venue variants and the addition of new matte colours further enhance the overall line-up, addressing evolving customer expectations.”