Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Concept CLA Class, a new electric iteration of the CLA, alongside the latest Gelandwagen and a Mercedes-Maybach ultra-luxury SUV at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025. Positioned as the electric successor to the CLA, the Concept CLA Class is the first model to feature the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA). It debuts the brand’s latest operating system, alongside fresh design and technological updates.

The Concept CLA Class previews the latest electric-drive technology from Mercedes-Benz, drawn directly from the Vision EQXX concept. With a claimed range exceeding 750 km and an energy consumption of 12 kWh/100 km, it has been dubbed the "one-litre car for the electric age" in reference to hyper-efficient internal combustion vehicles. The 800V electric architecture supports 250 kW DC fast charging, enabling the vehicle to recharge up to 400 km in just 15 minutes. Two battery variants are available: silicon-oxide anode for higher-spec models and lithium-iron phosphate for entry-level variants. Powering the vehicle is a 235 bhp permanently excited synchronous motor coupled with a 2-speed transmission. Weighing only 110 kg, the powertrain delivers an impressive 93% energy efficiency during long-distance driving.

Built on the MMA platform, the Concept CLA Class is designed primarily for electric drivetrains but also accommodates combustion engines. The vehicle is rear-wheel-drive by default, though the modular platform can be configured for all-wheel-drive. The concept also includes bi-directional charging, enabling vehicle-to-home (V2H), vehicle-to-grid (V2G), and vehicle-to-appliance (V2A) functions, underscoring its potential for smart energy integration.

Inside, the MBUX Superscreen delivers a full-width digital dashboard powered by the new MB.OS operating system. It integrates Google Maps and other embedded apps for a seamless user experience. Notable interior features include digitally visualised AC vents with floating effects and physical control interfaces, dynamic ambient lighting in blue and violet, and sustainable nappa leather upholstery in silver and crystal white. The cabin is also designed with advanced Level 3 Lidar-based autonomous driving capabilities, with over-the-air updates enabling future upgrades to higher levels of autonomy.

A standout safety feature is the Child Presence Detection (CPD) system, which uses cameras and sensors to detect breathing patterns. If a child is left unattended, the system triggers air conditioning, sounds the horn, and issues alerts to mitigate risks in hot weather.

Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the Concept CLA Class in India in 2025. The production model will closely resemble the concept and will offer Indian buyers a preview of the future of luxury electric mobility. Pricing details are yet to be announced.

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Skoda Auto India has expanded its retail and service footprint to over 350 customer touchpoints across 193 cities, following the inauguration of its 350th outlet in Imphal on 30 October 2026, which marked the brand's entry into Manipur.

The company claims its network has grown by nearly 85 percent over a five-year period, increasing from 191 touchpoints in 2021 to 325 outlets in 2025 and exceeding 350 touchpoints across 29 States and Union Territories by October 2026.

Supported by 79 dealer partners, the current infrastructure comprises 270 sales touchpoints and 203 aftersales touchpoints. Between January 2025 and October 2026, the carmaker added 58 showrooms across 38 new cities and 45 workshops across 34 new cities.

Outlets established during the expansion period generated over 25 percent of the brand's total sales volume between January and October 2026. In 2026 alone, Skoda entered 11 new cities, including Balasore, Baramati, Bathinda, Bikaner, Guna, Imphal, Jorhat, Kaithal, Khammam, Sri Ganganagar and Vasai.

The brand's dealer partner in Bengaluru secured the top position for dealership customer experience in the CarPhD survey, which evaluated 16 cities, 18 automotive brands, and 88,000 customer reviews. Ownership propositions are further supported by Skoda Super Care, providing a four-year standard warranty, roadside assistance, and complimentary service labour, alongside Skoda Express Care for expedited service turnaround times.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Surpassing 350 Customer Touchpoints across 193 cities demonstrates our commitment to bringing Skoda closer to customers across India. Our dealer partners, both existing and new, are central to this journey, and I thank them for sharing our vision of building a stronger Skoda brand in India. As we enter new markets, our priority is clear - to deliver a consistent, enriching customer experience across sales and aftersales. Together with our expanding product portfolio and customer-first initiatives, this growing network will help us strengthen customer trust and deepen our relevance across the country."

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Nissan Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has recorded domestic wholesale dispatches of 3,600 units in October 2026, marking a 50 percent YoY increase compared to 2,402 units in October 2025.

This also marked the company's eighth consecutive month of YoY domestic volume growth.

For YTD (January to October) 2026, the company registered total wholesales of 85,124 units across domestic and export operations. Export dispatches for October 2026 stood at 4,710 units. Volume performance was driven by customer response to the product lineup, including the Tekton, Magnite, and Gravite models, alongside dealer network expansion.

Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan Motor India, said, "Our 50 percent YoY growth in domestic wholesales in October reflects continued customer confidence in Nissan and the progress we are making in India. With 85,124 units wholesaled across domestic and export markets between January and October, we continue to build on the strength of our expanding portfolio and dealer network. As we approach Dhanteras and Diwali, we remain focused on serving customers through distinctive products and enhanced ownership experiences. We also value the continued support of our international dealers, distributors and customers, who contribute to Nissan’s export performance."

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Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has recorded total sales of 8,082 units in October 2026, supported by domestic dispatches of 7,609 units and export volumes of 473 units.

Domestic sales grew 19 percent YoY compared to 6,394 units recorded in October 2025. Export dispatches for the month stood at 473 units against 4,124 units exported in the corresponding month of the previous year.

The company attributed its domestic volume performance to demand for the updated Honda Elevate SUV alongside its existing passenger vehicle portfolio.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President of Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "We are delighted with our strong sales performance in October, driven by robust festive demand and positive customer sentiment across our model line-up. The highlight of the month has been the outstanding performance of the New Honda Elevate, which has received an overwhelming response from customers following its recent launch. Its bold new styling, enhanced features and strong SUV appeal have translated into excellent market demand, making it a key contributor to our October sales momentum. The encouraging performance across our portfolio reinforces customer confidence in the Honda brand. We look forward to sustaining this positive momentum in the coming months."

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has registered total sales of 30,360 units in October 2026, comprising 29,521 units in domestic sales and 839 units in exports.

For the calendar year-to-date period of January to October 2026, the automaker reported cumulative sales of 325,274 units, marking a 3 percent increase compared to 315,716 units recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Domestic sales during the 10-month period expanded 4 percent to 299,140 units, up from 287,338 units in 2025. Exports for the January to October 2026 period stood at 26,134 units compared to 28,378 units in 2025. The company noted initial customer response following the recent launch of the updated Toyota Glanza.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President of Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "The festive season has continued to generate encouraging customer interest across markets, reflecting the trust in Toyota's products and services. While market conditions continue to evolve, our focus remains firmly on creating value for customers through a diverse product portfolio, enhanced ownership experiences and customer-centric initiatives. We share the joy of festivities with our customers and dealer partners, whose continued confidence in the Toyota brand motivates us to further strengthen our efforts towards delivering reliable, sustainable and accessible mobility solutions."

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