Mercedes-Benz Expands Southern Footprint With New State-of-the-Art Facilities In Bengaluru and Hyderabad

Mercedes-Benz Mahavir Motors

German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has expanded its footprint in the southern market with the inauguration of three new state-of-the-art facilities across Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reinforcing its customer-centric ‘Go to Customer’ strategy.

In Bengaluru, the luxury carmaker opened a sprawling 2S (Sales & Service) facility with a Delivery Bay by long-standing partner Sundaram Motors on International Airport Road. The 47,000 sqft facility, built to Mercedes-Benz’s global MAR20X luxury retail standards, features 10 dedicated service bays, a Premium Aero Hub and a Mercedes Cafe. It also offers fast EV charging and quick repair zones, enhancing convenience and sustainability.

Hyderabad saw the addition of two new 2S facilities. Mahavir Motors inaugurated a 39,000 sqft outlet in a high-net-worth residential area near the city’s growing IT corridor. The facility, equipped with 19 service bays, combines digital interfaces with personalised service zones and eco-friendly features.

Landmark Cars also launched a new 12,000 sqft service centre in Hyderabad with six service bays. The facility offers specialised vehicle servicing, body paint work and Premier Express service for priority customers.

These openings mark a significant investment in customer engagement and service infrastructure in key southern metros, aligning with rising aspirations and demand for luxury vehicles in India.

Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “We are delighted to inaugurate 3 state-of-the-art luxury facilities in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, reaffirming our commitment to delivering the best customer experience and deepening our presence in these key markets. These modern facilities reflect Mercedes-Benz’s vision of offering a world-class luxury retail experience, backed by digital innovation, modern luxury design and personalised customer consultation. We continue to invest in our luxury retail experience, with sharp focus on elevating customer experiences by creating new standards in luxury automotive retail. We are creating desire for the brand not only in emerging markets, but also in key metropolises like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where Mercedes-Benz has a strong brand presence.”

Renault Triber 100PS

French automotive major Renault India has launched the new Triber 100PS, with a turbocharged engine option and updated chassis architecture, marking the Indian debut of the Renault Group Entry Platform (RGEP). The sub-four-metre seven-seater lineup is available for prices ranging between INR 784,900 and INR 899,000 ex-showroom.

It is the first vehicle in India constructed on the RGEP platform, designed to support multiple powertrain solutions and vehicle configurations.

The Triber 100PS incorporates a 1.0-litre TCe 100 turbocharged petrol engine producing 100 PS of power and 180 Nm of torque, managed by the new Renault Engine Management System (R-EMS). Engineering modifications include a Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) cooling fan within the thermal management system, revised suspension geometry with front and rear anti-roll bars, MTV damper technology, updated braking system calibration and structural reinforcements for crash performance. The company claims a certified fuel efficiency of 21 km per litre.

Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Renault India, said, “The Triber 100PS is an important step in Renault India’s product roadmap and a strong expression of what our brand stands for: innovation that is practical, accessible and relevant to Indian customers. Following the recent introductions of the Kwid and Duster Adventure, it marks another milestone in our programme of 12 product interventions over 18 months, demonstrating the pace and intent behind Renault’s renewed momentum in India. With 100 PS of power, 180 Nm of torque, flexible seven-seat modularity, certified fuel efficiency of 21 kmpl and prices starting at INR 784,000, the Triber 100PS brings together the qualities Indian families value in one car: performance that gives confidence, practicality, efficiency and value. We believe it will strengthen the Triber’s position and broaden the appeal of the Renault brand.”

Dr. Vikraman Vellandi, Head - Renault Engineering, Renault Group India, said, “Developing the Triber 100PS required much more than integrating a new powertrain. Delivering 100 PS and 180 Nm of torque while retaining the Triber’s modularity, comfort and efficiency required the engine, thermal-management, structural, suspension, braking and vehicle-dynamics systems to work together as one package. The result is a responsive, stable and refined driving experience that preserves the practicality and accessibility customers value in the Triber.”

The Triber maintains its modular interior configuration, offering five, six, or seven-seat arrangements with removable third-row seats, sliding and reclining second-row seats and 625 litres of luggage capacity in five-seat mode.

Ground clearance stands at 182 mm, while roof rails support a load capacity of up to 50kg. Available features across variants include six standard airbags, 21 safety systems, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control with second and third-row air-conditioning vents, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Triber 100PS turbo manual range opens with the Evolution variant at INR 784,900, progressing to INR 853,900 for the Techno trim and topping out at INR 899,900 for the Emotion variant. The naturally aspirated Energy engine line-up continues alongside, priced from INR 580,875 for the Authentic trim to INR 852,950 for the Emotion AMT model. Till date, the company has sold over 250,000 units of the Triber in India since its initial release.

Honda Cars India Partners CSB Bank For Vehicle Financing Schemes

Honda Cars India - CSB Bank

Honda Cars India has partnered with CSB Bank to provide vehicle financing schemes for customers across India. The agreement enables buyers to access car loans with interest rate options on purchases of the Honda City, Honda Amaze, Honda Elevate and Honda ZR-V through participating Honda dealerships and CSB Bank branches.

The partnership encompasses financial products including loans for new vehicles, pre-owned car financing, refinancing options and future electric vehicle financing support, subject to lending criteria and customer eligibility. The initiative targets buyers in semi-urban and rural markets ahead of the festive season.

As per the agreement, CSB Bank has been empanelled as a preferred financing partner for Honda Cars India. The two organisations will execute joint promotional campaigns across dealership locations, bank branches, and digital platforms, overseen by a joint coordination team.

Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “With this partnership, we aim to make vehicle ownership more accessible and affordable for our customers right from day one. By combining Honda’s strong dealership network with CSB Bank’s convenient financing solutions, we can offer a simple, quick and hassle-free car-buying experience. This collaboration is an extension of our efforts to provide easy and accessible finance options while enhancing the overall purchase and ownership experience for our customers. We look forward to enabling more customers to bring home their dream Honda this festive season, while expanding access to finance across semi-urban and rural markets.”

Narendra Dixit, Head - Retail Banking, CSB Bank, said, “Finance plays a critical role in enabling customers to turn their aspiration of owning a vehicle into reality. As an important component of the automotive ecosystem, financing needs to be convenient, accessible and tailored to the diverse needs of customers. At CSB Bank, we see significant potential in building strong partnerships across the automotive value chain and leveraging our financing capabilities to make vehicle ownership more accessible. Our partnership with Honda Cars India is an important step in that direction, enabling us to bring our customer-centric financing solutions closer to customers across markets, including semi-urban and rural India.”

Tata Motors Launches Aeris Compact Sedan At INR 529,000

Tata Aeris

Tata Motors, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched the Aeris, a replacement for its Tigor sub-four-metre compact sedan, with introductory prices starting from INR 529,000 for petrol variants and INR 629,000 for CNG variants. The Aeris will be available in five trim levels comprising Smart, Pure, Pure+, Creative and Accomplished.

Tata Motors stated that the Aeris will be sold to retail consumers, while fleet operators will continue to receive the older Tigor model under the Xpres brand name.

The exterior of the Aeris maintains a notchback roofline, accompanied by a lower grille, LED headlamps with integrated daytime running lights, LED tail-lamps, wheel arch cladding, chrome door handles, a dual-tone roof and a shark fin antenna. The car is available in six paint options: Nitro Crimson, Dandeli Drizzle, Pure Grey, Daytona Grey, Dune Glow, and Pristine White.

The sedan retains a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Revotron engine in petrol and CNG formats. In petrol specification, the engine generates 86 PS of power and 113 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual or a five-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). The CNG variant produces 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm of torque, offered with the same transmission options. The CNG configuration employs a twin-cylinder tank design to preserve 419 litres of boot space. The petrol tank capacity measures 35 litres, while the CNG system features a 70-litre water-capacity tank.

Cabin equipment includes ventilated front leatherette seats, a digital video recorder dashcam, a blind-view monitor, a dual smartphone deck with wireless charging, and an AMT rotary gear selector with paddle shifters. Infotainment is delivered through a 26.03 cm touchscreen paired with a 12.7 cm digital instrument display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker audio setup. Additional interior features consist of automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning vents, and 65-watt USB Type-C charging ports.

The Aeris measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,684 mm in width, and 1,532 mm in height, with a 2,450 mm wheelbase. The chassis uses an independent MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and a semi-independent closed-profile twist beam with dual-path struts at the rear. Braking systems consist of front discs and rear drums, with wheel sizes ranging from 14-inch steel wheels on base models to 15-inch alloy wheels on higher trims.

Safety equipment fitted across all variants includes six airbags, an Electronic Stability Program suite, ABS, hill-hold assist, a 360-degree camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system and Isofix child-seat anchors. The CNG variants incorporate an electronic control unit, direct CNG ignition startup, leak detection sensors, and reinforced rear crash structures around the fuel cylinders.

Lucid Group Announces French Pricing For Gravity SUV And Air Sedan Ahead Of Paris Motor Show

Lucid

American electric vehicle and software company Lucid Group has announced French market pricing for its Gravity SUV and Air sedan models prior to their debut at the Paris Motor Show, scheduled for 12–18 October in Hall 7.1.

The company outlines four trim configurations for the Lucid Gravity SUV in France. The entry-level Gravity Touring features a 568 PS powertrain, an 89 kWh battery pack providing a WLTP range of up to 545 kilometres, and a starting price of EUR 95,900 including VAT.

The Gravity Touring Plus incorporates seven-seat capacity along with soft-close doors and acoustic glazing, priced from EUR 99,900 including VAT. The Gravity Grand Touring, priced from EUR 120,900 including VAT, utilises a 123 kWh battery pack and an 839 PS output, reaching 100 kmph in 3.6 seconds with a WLTP range of up to 739 kilometres.

The flagship Gravity Grand Touring Ultimate trim includes three-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering, a 22-speaker audio system, and driver assistance features, priced from EUR 148,900 including VAT.

The Lucid Air sedan range in France comprises four variants. The Air Pure model, priced from EUR 86,900 including VAT, uses an 88 kWh battery pack delivering up to 831 kilometres of WLTP range with energy consumption rated at 11.8 kWh per 100 km. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Air Touring offers up to 780 kilometres of range and starts at EUR 100,900 including VAT. The Air Grand Touring model provides a range of up to 960 kilometres, with pricing starting at EUR 131,900 including VAT. The range-topping Air Sapphire features a three-motor powertrain producing 1,251 PS, reaching 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds with a top speed of 330 kmph and a range of up to 694 kilometres, priced from EUR 252,900 including VAT.

Lawrence Hamilton, President of Europe, Lucid, said, "Lucid prioritises the customer journey as it enters the French market at the Paris Motor Show. French customers will be able to experience Lucid Gravity and Lucid Air firsthand and see how our technology delivers exceptional range, efficiency, performance and space."

Lucid plans to display the Gravity Grand Touring and Air Grand Touring models at the trade show, with ordering and availability details to be released separately. The company will conduct a press conference on 12 October with Lawrence Hamilton and Pierre Guignot, General Manager of the Emil Frey France Import Division, following a partnership agreement with Emil Frey France to manage import and operational activities across the country.