Jeep India has introduced the MY2025 Meridian with an aggressive pricing strategy and new features. A facelift, its prices start at INR 2,500,000 ex-showroom and climb up to INR 3,649,000 ex-showroom for the top trim ‘Overland’ variant.    
Available in four – Longitudinal, Longitude Plus, Limited (O) and Overland – trims, the new luxury SUV offers sophistication, cutting-edge safety, advanced technology and unparalleled comfort, according to the company. 
It repositioning in the seven-seat SUV segment that has the Toyota Fortuner commanding the space with roughly 96 percent of the market, the new Meridian isn’t a far cry in terms of appearance when compared to the one it replaces. 
Along with the familiar exterior comes a familiar interior that is spacious, comfortable and adorned with vegan leather (vinyl fabric in Longitude) and suede/vegan leather accents. There’s visible copper stitching that adds a touch of craftsmanship. 
Available with a seven-seat or five-seat configuration, the luxury SUV offers 824-litre of boot space with the middle and third row seats folded; 481-litre of storage space with the third-row seat folded, and 170-litre with all three seat rows in place. 
Based on the extended Compass SUV platform with an appearance that seems to have been inspired by the Cherokee rather than the Compass, the Meridian in its MY2025 avatar comes with ‘Uconnect’ connected services with GSDP 2.0 connectivity protocol. The key features of this include Automatic SOS Call, Remote Engine Start/Stop with AC Preconditioning, Alexa Home to Vehicle, Smartwatch Extension, Vehicle Health Report with alert, Connected One-Box Navigation Search with live traffic, weather and incident updates, and over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates
Equipped with a customisable 10.25-inch fully digital cluster and a 10.1-inch fully HD touchscreen media centre (with built-in navigation and wireless mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), the vehicle also comes with wireless smartphone charging and multiple USB ports across the cabin, dual-zone automatic climate control, electric-adjustable front seats, panoramic sunroof and ADAS Level 2 system. 
This system – found on the top-spec Overland variant – is tuned to 
Indian road and traffic conditions. It includes a front radar and camera and offers adaptive cruise control with stop and go, intelligent speed assist, full speed forward collision warning with collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, surround view monitor, smart beam assist, blind spot detection and driver attention alert among others.
Powered by a 174 bhp 2-litre turbodiesel engine, the Meridian could be had with a six-speed manual or a nine-speed auto transmission. 
“The Jeep Meridian was born from our understanding of the growing demand for a premium model for customers who have progressed through Jeep’s lineup. The Meridian will usher in a new phase for Jeep in India, offering a distinctive personality with imposing and sophisticated design, premium finishes, and cutting-edge technology, all while retaining the legendary adventure capabilities expected from a Jeep. With the additional variants, we’re excited to cater to a diverse audience, staying true to our commitment to making Jeep more accessible to enthusiasts in India,” said Kumar Priyesh, Brand Director, Jeep India.
The first Jeep model that was developed specifically for India with a global vision, the Meridian is exported to markets like Japan among others as the Jeep Commander. It is necessary to note, that Jeep India has not explained if these prices are relevant for 2WD or 4Wd models in its statement. From a brand point of view, the omission about a model's off-roading capability is very surprising. 

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Japanese automaker Nissan has announced senior management changes within its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region to support its ‘Re:Nissan’ transformation plan.

Effective 1 January 2026, Thierry Sabbagh has assumed the role of Divisional Vice-President and President for the Middle East, KSA, CIS and India for both Nissan and Infiniti.

The expansion of Sabbagh’s remit marks India as a priority for the manufacturer. The company plans to launch three models in the Indian market over the next 14 to 16 months. These include the Gravite, the Tekton and a seven-seater C-SUV. To support these launches, Nissan is expanding its retail presence to 250 touchpoints across the country.

Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson AMIEO, Nissan, said, “The Re:Nissan plan is about transformation and customer-centricity. By empowering regional leadership, we are creating a more agile organization that can respond quickly to market dynamics and deliver competitive, compelling products. I am confident these changes will strengthen our performance and supercharge our progress in 2026 and I wish Thierry every success in his new role.”

Sabbagh added, “I am honoured to take on this expanded role at a pivotal time for Nissan. The Middle East and India are dynamic, fast-growing and continuously evolving markets, with significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and partners across the region to build on our strong foundations, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our customers.”

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “This is a significant moment for Nissan in India as we enter a new phase of growth. Having Thierry on board reinforces our confidence in the path ahead, and his experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market presence and delivering even greater value to our customers. This appointment further strengthens our leadership as we move from transformation to execution, with a clear focus on products, customers and sustainable growth.”

The restructure also follows the departure of Leon Dorssers, Senior Vice-President and Chief of Commercial Operations for Nissan AMIEO, who had been with the company since 1992. The new leadership team will oversee the rollout of new technologies and products, with the Gravite and Tekton scheduled for release in early 2026.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that it has exceeded 500,000 connected cars in the Indian market.

The OEM said its connected car variants now account for approximately 40 percent of the company’s domestic wholesale volumes. This growth is supported by the Kia Connect 2.0 platform and the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC).

The Kia Seltos is the main contributor to this total, representing about 70 percent of the connected vehicle sales, followed by the Sonet and Carens models. Data from the company indicates a trend of customers renewing their connectivity subscriptions after the initial complimentary period.

Technical features within the Kia ecosystem include:

• OTA Software Updates: Remote vehicle diagnostics and software installations to reduce dealership visits.
• Digital Key 2.0: Vehicle access and operation via smartphone or smartwatch using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) or NFC technology.
• Surround View Monitor (SVM): A 360-degree camera feed accessible through the Kia Connect app.
• Voice Recognition: Multilingual support for vehicle functions in English, Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, "Kia India has consistently differentiated itself through its vehicle design excellence and technology leadership. Our continued focus on enhancing connected features and customer engagement initiatives such as Kia Drive Green has strengthened adoption and interaction across our connected ecosystem. The strong customer retention beyond the complimentary subscription period underscores the sustained relevance and long-term value of Kia Connect.”

The company also utilises Plant Over-The-Air (P-OTA) updates, a system that ensures vehicles are programmed with the most recent software versions before they leave the manufacturing facility.

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The Sriperumbudur facility of Hyundai Motor India Limited has been honoured with the Tamil Nadu State Level Safety Award for 2022 by the state’s Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH). The prestigious award was presented by Minister for Labour Welfare & Skill Development C V Ganesan and DISH Director Anand to senior company executives Mukundan M S and Senthil Kumar R M. This accolade, granted in the Large-Scale Industry category, acknowledges Hyundai’s ongoing dedication to exceptional safety performance, marked by a notable decline in incident rates and a systematic focus on risk mitigation.

Operating in India for over 30 years, the plant has consistently fostered a robust safety culture through comprehensive initiatives. This includes implementing widespread safety campaigns, establishing diligent monitoring protocols and driving continuous improvement programmes. The company’s approach integrates rigorous processes, proactive assessments and regular training aligned with international benchmarks, all underpinned by strong safety governance. Hyundai Motor India reiterates that the well-being of its employees is a primary concern, and it remains steadfast in its mission to advance its safety systems and sustain an environment where a culture of excellence is paramount.

Gopalakrishnan C S, Whole-time Director & Chief Manufacturing Officer, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “Safety at Hyundai is not a standalone initiative – it is a deeply embedded culture practiced at every level of our operations. Our goal is simple: a safe, secure working environment for every employee, every day. This award affirms the collective commitment of our teams and motivates us to strengthen our safety excellence even further.”

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Volkswagen India has confirmed that its new flagship SUV, the Tayron R-Line, will launch in the first quarter of 2026. The vehicle is aimed at the seven-seater SUV segment and will be locally assembled at the company’s plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to ensure market competitiveness.

The Tayron R-Line occupies the top position in the brand’s SUV range in India. It features the 'R-Line' trim, which includes specific design enhancements to its silhouette. The model is intended for customers requiring a seven-seat capacity alongside a focus on road presence and lifestyle versatility.

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said: “As we build a premium portfolio of products, we continue catering to the evolving aspirations of Indian car buyers. The all-new Tayron R-Line is the authentic flag-bearer that will drive this vision for Indian consumers. Ensuring competitiveness, we will be locally assembling this SUV at our plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.”

The introduction of the Tayron R-Line follows Volkswagen's strategy to expand its portfolio in the Indian market with vehicles that offer higher passenger capacity and updated design aesthetics.

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