German luxury car major Mercedes-Benz’s assembly plant in Chakan, Pune, was found to not adhering to the pollution guidelines set by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). The finding came during a routine inspection conducted on 23 August, 2024. 

The MPCB is responsible for implementing various environmental laws and regulations within the state of Maharashtra. The board’s primary objective is to ensure the prevention and control of pollution and to promote sustainable development.

In response to this issue, the MPCB has instructed its regional officer to take immediate action to ensure that the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant complies with all MPCB guidelines. This involves a comprehensive review of the plant’s operations and the implementation of necessary corrective measures. As an immediate action step, MPCB has forfeited Mercedes Benz’s bank guarantee INR 2.5 million.

Siddhesh Kadam, Chairman, MPCB said, “We are committed to upholding high environmental standards and ensuring that all industrial activities within our jurisdiction adhere to pollution control regulations. We expect full cooperation from Mercedes-Benz in addressing these issues promptly.”

In a statement issued by the luxury carmaker, it claimed that it has not received any formal notice. 

“Mercedes Benz is in its 30th year of operations in India, with state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chakan in its 15th year of operations, which is a benchmark in automotive manufacturing in India. The company sets high priority to adhere to the most stringent global standards in production quality, to uphold high environment and sustainability practices and to comply to mandatory regulations and requirements. We are ready to cooperate with the authorities and present all the required processes and documentations and take any corrective actions if required."

The Chakan plant spread over 100 acres was set up in 2009. Since June 2015, Mercedes-Benz India also commenced production from its new expanded production facility located in the same premises. 

The luxury carmaker states its India operations play an important role in the CKD/MVP production network in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

At these locations, Mercedes-Benz produces vehicles in various extension levels for domestic markets. The production facility now carries an investment of INR 22 billion and has the largest installed production capacity for any luxury carmaker in India.

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has introduced the new Kodiaq RS, the first SUV to carry the performance-focused RS badge in the Indian market at INR 6.69 million (ex-showroom).

The company limited the initial release to 50 units, which were sold out within six minutes of launch. This release aligns with the 50th anniversary of the RS badge and the 125th year of the brand’s motorsport history.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “The RS badge represents an iconic performance legacy. Bringing it to our flagship 4x4, all-terrain, 7-seater SUV combines luxury, capability and motorsport DNA in one offering. The overwhelming response, with all units sold out in minutes, reflects the strong enthusiasm among customers.”

The Kodiaq RS features a 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 195 kW (265 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and all-wheel drive. The vehicle accelerates from zero to 100 kmph in 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 231 kmph.

The vehicle is equipped with progressive steering and the latest-generation Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus, which allows drivers to adjust damping characteristics. The Driving Mode Select offers multiple settings, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, Snow and a dedicated Off-Road mode.

The exterior includes black accents on the grille frame, mirrors, window frames, roof rails, and the D-pillar. The front features a bumper with black elements and a horizontal light strip in the grille. The rear includes a full-width reflector, blacked-out lettering, and stainless-steel exhaust tips. The SUV is fitted with 20-inch Elias alloy wheels and is available in Moon White, Magic Black, Velvet Red and Steel Grey.

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Honda Cars India (HCIL), a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced wholesales of 8,788 units in June 2026.

In the domestic market, the company sold 5,243 units and 3,545 units for export, which marks 71.5 percent YoY, when the company sold 4,618 units domestically and exported 506 units.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, "The launch of new City and India Premiere of global SUV Honda ZR-V has generated strong momentum for our overall sales including Amaze and Elevate during June, driven by healthy customer demand and a positive market response. With Monsoon conditions expected to improve during July, we hope to sustain this positive momentum in the months ahead.

“The deliveries of ZR-V are also scheduled to begin from July. It will draw discerning new customers and prospects into Honda showrooms, enhancing our premium brand appeal and unlocking new growth opportunities,” he added.

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French automotive company Renault India has recorded 4,063 domestic wholesale units in June 2026, a 55 percent YoY increase compared to the previous year. This also marks the 10^th consecutive month of double-digit growth for the company.

Interestingly, for H1 CY2026, the company reported sales of 25,844 units, representing 61 percent YoY growth.

During June, Renault India began exports of the Duster, dispatching 750 units to South Africa. The company stated that this performance reflects customer response to its product strategy and demand across its portfolio.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has reported wholesales of 63,083 units in June 2026, which was 69 percent higher than the 37,237 units sold last year. Exports for the month came at 1,007 units, as against 154 units sold last year.

For Q1 FY2026, the total wholesales came at 182,574 units, up 46 percent YoY, as against 124,809 units a year ago. Domestic sales came at 180,166 units, up 45 percent YoY, while exports came at 2,408 units, up 148 percent YoY.

 Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “Q1 FY27 has marked a strong start for Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, delivering industry beating growth with sales of 182,574 cars and SUVs, up 46 percent YoY. This performance was fuelled by robust customer demand and the success of our recent launches. Our leadership in electric mobility further strengthened during the quarter, with EV volumes more than doubling to record 112% growth YoY. Our retail performance was equally encouraging, with Vahan registrations rising around 40 percent YoY, nearly twice the industry growth. We concluded the quarter on a high note, recording June sales of 63,083 cars and SUVs, registering a robust 69 percent growth YoY. In EVs, we achieved our highest-ever monthly sales of 14,800 units, with volumes nearly tripling YoY. The sustained momentum across both wholesale and retail channels reinforces the growing strength of our portfolio and the positive response from customers across segments. The response to the new avatars of Tiago and Punch have been overwhelming with bookings surging across powertrain, reaffirming the strength of our multi-powertrain strategy. We are seeing encouraging growth in EV adoption across segments and the strong momentum in the entry EV category signals rapid mainstreaming of electric mobility across India. While supply constraints impacted Sierra volumes during the quarter, customer interest and booking momentum remain robust. Corrective measures are currently underway to further augment production from select vendors in line with demand and this will progressively enable us to accelerate deliveries from Q2 onward. With a strong order book, exciting products and sustained customer demand, we remain confident about maintaining our growth momentum through the rest of the year.”

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