By T Murrali

MG Motors, owned by SAIC (formerly Shanghai Auto Industrial Corporation), has launched its pure Electric Vehicle (EV) MG ZS in the international market to recreate a ‘new hot spot’ for its global strategy. This strategy is based on the success of its first new energy vehicle MG 6 that has won good market feedback and reputation. As part of its plan to target those who would like to have all the benefits of a zero emission vehicle without compromising on style MG Motors India has unveiled MG ZS EV, its global SUV.

Under the guidance of SAIC Group’s new four-fold strategies of ‘electrification, intelligent networking, sharing, and internationalization,’ MG has been leading the trend in the field of fuel vehicles, and its new energy vehicles to attract young people. Equipped with the world-class ‘Net Green’ power and SAIC’s leading system of electric drive, battery, and electric control, MG ZS pure electric vehicle boasts of a constant velocity range of up to 428km. 

Moreover, the latest generation of ‘intelligent interconnection’ system and the exclusive colour of new energy will provide a better and trendier choice for the global market where the demand for pure electric vehicles is increasing. The new EV uses MG’s new kansei (emotional) design to make its shape more modern; it has also introduced the exclusive colour of new energy, making it more attractive. The vehicle is equipped with a panoramic sunroof, luggage rack and other configurations.

Not compromising on aesthetics the vehicle has an appreciable build quality that can thrill with its performance and is powered by i-Smart. Assembled at its plant in Halol, Gujarat, the new electric SUV is 4,314 mm long, 1,809 mm wide and stands 1,620 mm tall while the wheelbase is 2,579 mm. It is touted to be the first pure electric internet SUV with a clean, efficient and fast powertrain.

“As an enabler and catalyst for India’s EV revolution, MG Motor India is creating a strong, end-to-end electric vehicle ecosystem in association with leading players in the sustainable energy domain. A truly global and best-in-class EV SUV, the ZS EV has already registered significant success in more than 10 international markets such as the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. It has also been extensively tested for India-specific requirements. We hope that it will recreate its success in India, thanks to the strong EV ecosystem that we are putting in place. We will evaluate opportunities to further expand this ecosystem to more markets across India, based on customer response,” Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said.

The Collaborators

Understanding the importance of leveraging expertise of global majors to offer cost competitive solution to customers, MG Motors has collaborated with world leaders such as CATL, UAES, Bosch, Infineon, Exicom, Umicore and Fortum.  

The China-based battery and technology company CATL, specializes in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries for EVs, energy storage systems, and battery management systems. UAES is the power electronics solutions provider, and Bosch and Infineon offer software and other support. Exicom helps in second-life use of batteries, and Umicore ensures safe and sustainable recycling of end-of-life batteries.

The collaboration with Fortum India is to set up a 50 kW DC fast charging infrastructure. It has installed such fast public charging stations for EVs across MG’s showrooms in Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. Over the next 5 years Fortum plans to have one charging facility every 5 km in major metro cities and every 25 km on the highways.

Exterior And Interior

Inspired by the majestic London Eye, true to its British genes, the headlamps give the MG ZS EV a powerful persona, the kind which makes the EV stand out in the crowd. It complements the aesthetics of the grille, which connotes the magnetic fields between celestial bodies, and brings out the glam quotient. The deep concave grille is supplemented with enough chrome to get the bling on.

The tail lights depict the plough, also called the big dipper. They are inspired by the seven brightest stars of the constellation, Ursa Major, which is the largest northern constellation and third largest constellation in the sky. The side design depicts the phantom that flies through the corners. The panoramic sky roof covers 90 percent of the roof bringing in natural light. It’s like having the sky as a companion on every journey.

In the interior, the ZS comes with an updated version of the Hector’s infotainment system dubbed, iSmart EV 2.0. It has an embedded SIM card for internet connectivity and also has the ability to connect to an external home Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot. The iSmart EV 2.0 features real-time maps with charging station locator from TomTom, music from Gaana app and weather by Accuweather. The updated system also gets a new graphic interface and improved hardware over the Hector’s iSmart system. 

The system offers over 60 connected car features including Range alerts, Battery status, Eco-friendly updates, Remote vehicle control (for AC on/off, door lock/unlock, light flashing and honking) E-Call (self-initiated emergency call sends a message and location to the 24/7 pulse hub if airbags are deployed), I-Call (get a call from the MG pulse hub for general assistance or road side assistance at the touch of the i-Call button), Geofencing, Navigation, Smart Drive (driver analytics-harsh braking, running idle, routes taken etc. to improve driving skills) and Security Alert (get alerts on the app in case of abnormal door opening, over speed etc.)

The vehicle has a CO2 saver feature which displays the amount of carbon-dioxide the owners save in real-time. MG ZS air-conditioning unit comes fitted with particulate matter 2.5 air filters to provide fresh and healthy air inside the cabin, thus maintaining healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). It can bring bad air quality level of up to 300 AQI down to regular levels in just 35 minutes.

The vehicle is equipped with 3D surround effect, which enhances the driving experience with audible navigation assistance and provides close-to-ear experience.  

The MG ZS EV gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It is equipped with a visually delightful screen that gives all the information at a single glance and allows the driver to manage complete vehicle settings with just a touch. MG ZS can get new software over the air.

Safety

As safety is key, the MG ZS comes with European Standards such as European E-MARK, European REACH (environmental standards in the car) and European E-NCAP (safety standard design). In terms of safety the vehicle has 6 airbags, which include dual front airbags, front-seat side-impact airbags, and side-curtain airbags that work together with the seatbelts. It is adequately armoured to save the lives of the occupants.

The EV has auto headlamps to mitigate heavy overcast skies or an enclosure, such as a parking garage. In the case of cruise control, it doesn’t let the driver lose control over the speed. Instead it lets the driver to set a speed limit, and it will handle the throttle accordingly.

The SUV is equipped with an electric parking brake to ensure it is held safely when brakes are suddenly pressed. The electronic gear shift knob gives a complete sense of control over gear shifts. The reverse parking-assist system helps the driver to sense when objects are in the vehicle’s blind spot, thus help prevent accidents which may be caused due to difficulty in reverse parking. The hill descent control system helps the user enjoy the mountains as much as the highways. It prevents rollback on a slope when the brake is released and switched to the accelerator pedal. Besides, it had TPMS to get real-time information about the tyre pressure through a pictogram display. Heated OVRM is part of the standard equipment to clear the fog and ice on the side view mirror, thereby ensuring visibility at all times.

The Battery

The ultra-high density 44.5 kWh battery makes the vehicle to zip 0-100 kmph in 8.5 seconds. It helps deliver maximum power of 142.7 PS, maximum torque of 353 Nm. The liquid-cooled NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery from CATL, gives the car a travel range of 340 km on a full charge. It comes with a kinetic energy reverse system, which stores the extra generated power for later use.

The battery of ZS complies with IP67 and UL 2580 - standards for safety that cover waterproof, dustproof, collision monitoring, electromagnetic shielding, insulation monitoring, high voltage interlock, overload protection, short circuit, intrusion, smoke, soaks, fire and fall.

Charging System

The MG ZS EV is equipped with CCS Type-2 European standard connector and is able to rapid charge from public chargers and also comes equipped with an AC slow charger. The lithium-ion battery can be charged through four options. AC Fast Charger that is provided and installed by MG Motor India at home or office, free of cost. With this 80 percent of charging is done in 6-8 hours. The portable charger that comes with every car can be plugged into any 15A socket. The batteries can be charged up to 80 percent n 16-18 hours. DC superfast chargers that are available at MG dealerships 24x7 can charge the batteries up to 80 percent within 50 minutes. Besides, the vehicle maker is also planning to set up AC Fast Chargers at MG dealerships along key routes in satellite cities. In an emergency, road side assistance for mobile charging support is offered 24x7. The MG logo in the vehicle glows to indicate that the SUV is getting charged. Glowing stops, once the charging is complete.

MG ZS EV comes with three driving modes: Sport, for accelerated driving and a thrilling drive experience; Normal, for balanced range and driving performance; and Eco, for efficient driving to maximize range. (MT)

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Skoda Auto India has inaugurated a new sales facility in Raidurgam, Hyderabad, in partnership with Mody India Cars. The move strengthens the brand’s presence in Telangana, a key market for its growth strategy in India.

The new facility covers 3,200 sqft and is designed according to Skoda’s global ‘Modern Solid’ design philosophy, with space to display four vehicles. With this addition, Skoda now operates 15 customer touchpoints in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and a total of 19 touchpoints across Telangana, including Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal.

With this, Skoda’s network has now expanded to over 330 touchpoints across 182 cities, up from 120 outlets in 2021. This growth follows a record-breaking Q1 2026, where the company sold 20,028 units, a 17 percent increase YoY, driven largely by the success of the Kylaq sub-compact SUV.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “With the inauguration of this new sales facility in Hyderabad, we continue to strengthen Skoda Auto India’s presence across Telangana. This city is a key market for us, and with over 15 Customer Touchpoints now operational, we are bringing our complete product range closer to customers while ensuring they experience the highest standards of service and care. Telangana remains a vital pillar of our growth in India, and with the Kylaq, new Kushaq, Kodiaq and Slavia, we are confident of growing the Skoda brand in this important market.”

Nihar Mody, Dealer Principal, Mody India Cars, said, “We are delighted to partner with Skoda Auto India and bring the brand’s premium experience closer to customers in Hyderabad. This new facility is designed to deliver a premium customer experience, from display to delivery. Our commitment is to provide the customers of this city with the very best of Skoda Auto’s product range and ownership journey.”

The expansion aligns with the company's ‘Skoda Super Care’ initiative, which provides a standard 4-year warranty and roadside assistance to enhance the long-term ownership experience.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) has expanded its popular compact SUV offering the Nexon with the Pure+ PS variant at INR 959,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi). This introduction makes the Nexon the first vehicle in India to offer a panoramic sunroof at a price point below INR 1 million. The launch coincides with the milestone of one million Nexon units on Indian roads.

The Pure+ PS variant is available across multiple powertrain options, including a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, Twin Cylinder iCNG and a diesel engine, with both manual (MT) and automated manual (AMT) transmissions. The Nexon remains the only SUV in India to offer petrol, diesel, CNG and electric powertrains.

The tech-loaded Nexon Pure+ PS variant gets a voice-assisted panoramic sunroof, a 26.03-cm Harman infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It features a 6-speaker sound system and HD rear-view camera, auto LED headlamps & rain-sensing wipers, and cruise control and electric ORVMs with auto-fold functionality

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said, “As India’s #1 selling car in H2FY26 and India’s #1 SUV in FY26, the Nexon continues to remain as the preferred choice for customers across the country. With a 1 million+ strong family, Nexon has always stood for offering a superior all round package to its buyers at every price point. The introduction of the Pure+ PS variant with India’s first panoramic sunroof under INR 1 million further strengthens its proposition.”

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its highest-ever CAPEX of INR 75 billion — its highest ever —to fund a product offensive and manufacturing upgrades in FY2027.

The company also plans to introduce two brand new SUVs, including a localised electric SUV in the compact segment and an ICE SUV in the mass market segment. Interestingly, the South Korean automotive major has forecasted a 8-10 percent growth in sales across domestic and export markets for FY2027.

In FY2026, Hyundai Motor India saw its profit after tax decline by 4 percent to INR 54,315 million, as against INR 56,402 million a year ago. The revenue came at INR 707,633 million, up 2 percent, as against INR 691,929 million, EBITDA at INR 85,985 million, as against INR 89,538 million a year ago.

Despite a dip in profit after tax in FY2026 and commodity price pressures that impacted Q4 margins by 120 basis points, the leadership has issued a margin guidance of 11-14 percent for FY2027. Hyundai Motor India management noted that approximately half of the Q4 margin impact was a one-off occurrence. To counter unstable commodity costs, a calibrated price increase is scheduled for May 2026.

Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “FY2026 was a year where we demonstrated our ability to effectively navigate a challenging environment. Looking ahead to FY2027, we have started the year on a strong footing. We expect this positive momentum to continue, backed by new product launches in high-demand segments.”

He further expressed confidence in a domestic volume growth target of 8-10 percent for the coming year. This outlook is supported by a strong start in April 2026, which saw domestic volumes grow by 17 percent.

The company expects that shifting the production of the Venue to the Pune plant will allow the Chennai facility to maximise capacity utilisation for these upcoming launches.

The CAPEX roadmap allocates nearly half of the funds to new product development, with 30 percent dedicated to plant infrastructure. This includes the Phase 2 expansion of the Pune facility and the modernisation of the Chennai plant. By FY2027, the Pune plant is expected to reach a capacity of 250,000 units, contributing to a group-wide goal of 1.14 million units by 2030.

The upcoming dedicated, localised electric vehicle in the compact SUV category, marking a significant step towards increasing its EV penetration, which stood at 2 percent in FY2026.

Furthermore, Hyundai Motor India is positioning itself as a primary global export hub for Hyundai Motor Company. The company’s target of 8-10 percent growth in export volumes, specifically leveraging its status as the exclusive global manufacturer for the Exter SUV. Future plans include the introduction of Left-Hand Drive (LHD) variants of the Exter and Verna for international markets.

The company also confirmed its commitment to meeting CAFE 3 standards through a diversified powertrain mix, including its CNG portfolio, which reached a record 18 percent contribution in the final quarter of FY2026.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has marked its 30th Foundation Day today.

Established on 6 May 1996, the South Korean automaker has sold 13.5 million units to date, which includes 9.6 million vehicles sold in India and 3.9 million units exported to 150 countries.

Since its inception, Hyundai Motor India has invested around INR 4,070 billion in its Indian operations. The company has outlined a plan to invest an additional INR 4,500 billion between FY2026 and FY2030. This investment will focus on manufacturing, electrification and the introduction of 26 products and variants by 2030.

Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, "Hyundai Motor India’s 30-year journey is defined by trust earned over time and the pride of our teams delivering consistently for customers across India. It is also marked by Progress - our collective contribution to advancing the mobility journey of India. We are proud to have served over 13.5 million customers since inception - including 9.6 million+ in India and 3.9 million+ exported to 150 countries across the globe - a testament to India’s role at the heart of Hyundai’s global success. As we celebrate this milestone, we look ahead with youthful energy and unwavering commitment, shaping mobility for India and the world. Guided by our global vision of Progress for Humanity, we remain deeply connected to India’s aspirations, driving innovation, sustainability and shared prosperity for generations to come."

The automaker operates manufacturing facilities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Talegaon, Pune, with a combined capacity to produce around 994,000 units per annum, with plans to reach 1.07 million units per annum by 2028. Hyundai Motor India is currently the largest cumulative exporter of passenger vehicles from India.

In India, the automaker has established a robust sales network of 1,500 outlets across 1,100 cities, covering 78 percent of the country’s districts. The service network includes 1,675 touchpoints and 162 mobile service vans. It employs 50,000 professionals across its dealerships. Digital systems are used for 91 percent of repair orders and 632 workshops offer live streaming of vehicle services.

Hyundai Motor India has achieved the RE100 benchmark, with all offices and plants powered by renewable energy. At the Chennai plant, 80 percent of water requirements are met through rainwater harvesting and recycling. The facility also maintains zero liquid discharge.

Through the Hyundai Motor India Foundation, the company has invested over INR 8.03 billion in social initiatives since 2014. These programmes include the planting of 1.29 million trees and the support of 2,300 schools. The company provides 15,000 to 18,000 direct jobs and supports approximately 350,000 to 450,000 indirect roles through its suppliers and partners.

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