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. 

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL), a leading passenger vehicles manufacturer, has begun local production of the Skoda Kylaq compact SUV at its Chakan facility in Pune.

The Skoda Kylaq is the company’s fifth model on the MQB-A0-IN platform and is the most affordable model in its portfolio. Powered by Skoda's 1.0-litre TSI engine that produces 115bhp and 178Nm the Skoda Kylaq can be had in either a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed AT torque converter. The SUV can accelerate from zero to 100kmph in 10.5 seconds and attain a claimed top speed of 188kmph. It is launched at starting price of INR 789,000. The Czech carmaker stated it has expanded its local supplier base by 10 percent that will help bring down the cost of ownership and also enable faster turnaround time.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “We’re thrilled to begin production of Skoda Auto India’s first sub-4-meter SUV. Congratulations to the entire team on the successful start of production. Kylaq is engineered and developed in India to cater to the evolving requirements of Indian customers. By manufacturing Kylaq locally, we proudly support the Make-in-India initiative, maintaining Group’s DNA of delivering safety, comfort and driving dynamics.”

Furthermore, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has increased production at its Chakan facility by 30 percent, which now can produce 255,000 vehicles per year.

Andreas Dick, Member of the Board of Management of Skoda Auto for Production and Logistics, said, “The successful start of production for Skoda Kylaq reflects the incredible teamwork and collaboration between our teams in India and the Czech Republic. Every detail has been meticulously planned and executed, from design to the implementation of advanced manufacturing processes, ensuring we meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. These efforts have created the ideal prerequisites for Kylaq to become a cornerstone of our success in India, setting new benchmarks in the compact SUV segment and strengthening our commitment to this dynamic market.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has unveiled the all-new Camry hybrid electric vehicle, further strengthening its commitment towards realising the company’s carbon neutral goals.

Developed under the concept of ‘Sedan to the Core’, the new Camry hybrid is powered by a 2.5L Dynamic Force Engine and delivers 221 Nm of torque at 3,200 rpm. The sedan comes with electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) and offers multiple driving modes – Sport, Eco and Normal – to accommodate a variety of driving situations and styles. A high-capacity Li-ion battery is another component of Toyota's 5th Generation Hybrid Technology System that boosts output to an amazing 169 kW (230 PS) maximum power. This advanced hybrid system is the ideal option for the luxury sedan enthusiast who cares about the environment since it combines performance with an amazing fuel efficiency of 25.49 km/l.

Among the many active and passive cutting-edge safety features available on the luxury sedan are the best-in-class nine SRS airbags, Electronic Parking Brake with Brake Hold Function, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Clearance & Back Sonar, Parking Assist with Back Guide Monitor and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. The hybrid battery in the new Camry is covered for eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.

Masakazu Yoshimura, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The Launch of All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle is a testament to our vision of developing ever-better, sustainable mobility options in line with the Toyota’s Global Environmental Challenge 2050. India remains a crucial market, and our product strategy aligns with India’s national priorities to lower the carbon emissions and achieve energy security goals. Towards this, we have embraced the adoption of multiple-pathway approach to drive clean mobility and promote mass electrification with greater agility and speed. The introduction of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle, being a green mobility offering, will continue to further strengthens our contributions toward building a futuristic carbon-free, happy society.”

Tadashi Asazuma, Deputy Managing Director – Sales-Service-Used Car, Toyota Kirloskar Motor & Lexus, said, "The all-new Camry exemplifies our unwavering commitment to crafting vehicles that blend performance, sustainability and cutting-edge innovation. Developed under the concept of ‘Sedan to the Core’, the all-new Camry delivers an unmatched driving experience thanks to its advanced 5th generation hybrid system, offering enhanced performance and exceptional responsiveness. I believe that our new offering will bring the pride of ownership with its sporty design, tech-loaded features and advanced safety systems offering peace of mind to our customers thus reinforcing our vision to offer mobility that is both aspirational and responsible for the Indian market.”

Sabari Manohar, Vice President – Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The launch of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle is an exciting milestone for us in India. This new model with its 5th Gen Hybrid Technology, striking design and luxurious specs, is crafted for those who seek contemporary elements – sleek, spacious, safe and seamless driving experience. Equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and a suite of connectivity features, it offers our valued customers not just elevated style but also peace of mind, comfort and convenience at every turn. We sincerely thank our customers for their trust in the brand and appreciation for our sustainable mobility offerings that gave us the confidence to introduce this new and advanced model, aimed at fulfilling their eco-friendly vehicle choices.”

The luxury sedan is priced at INR 4.8 million ex-showroom and is available in four stunning new colours – Precious Metal, Dark Blue, Cement Grey and Emotional Red – along with the existing options of Attitude Black and Platinum White Pearl. Bookings for the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle are now open.

South Korean passenger vehicle manufacturer Kia has announced that it has delivered 400 units of its all-new Carnival Limousine within two months of delivery commencements in India.

Priced at INR 6.39 million, the new Carnival Limousine was launched on 3 October 2024 in India. Available in a single top loaded variant the Carnival has got over 3,350 bookings and sees a waiting period of six months at present.

Hardeep Singh Brar, Senior Vice-President and Head of Sales and Marketing, Kia India, stated, "We are thrilled to announce that we have achieved the milestone of delivering 400 Kia Carnival Limousines to our esteemed customers within 2 months of delivery commencement. This milestone is a testament to the unwavering trust of our customers in the Kia brand. The Carnival has a rich legacy, and we were confident that its latest iteration, with its unparalleled blend of luxury, advanced technology, and premium features, would resonate with our discerning customers."

The company is also gearing up to expand its product portfolio in the compact SUV segment with the Syros SUV set to be unveiled on 19 December.

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co, which has been under pressure on the back of dwindling sales, is set to restructure its leadership team to create a lean, flat structure, which it believes will enable to respond flexibly and quickly to changes in the business environment.

From 1 January 2025, Stephen Ma, currently CFO, will take over the role of Chairperson of Management Committee for China. He will continue to report to Makoto Uchida, CEO, Nissan Motor Co.

Jeremie Papin will succeed Ma, from his current role as the Chairperson of the Management Committee for Americas.

Christian Meunier will join Nissan as chairperson of the Management Committee for Americas. He will report to Guillaume Cartier, chief performance officer (CPO).

Asako Hoshino, who currently serves as Chief Brand & Customer Officer (CBCO) and Chairperson of the Management Committee for Japan/ASEAN, is set to retire from her role overseeing Japan/ASEAN operations.

Shohei Yamazaki will take over as the Chairperson of the Management Committee for Japan/ASEAN from her current role as chairperson of the Management Committee for China.

Makoto Uchida, President and CEO, Nissan, said: “These leadership appointments will bring the necessary experience and urgency to the countermeasures we are taking to get the company back on track. With the support of our leadership team, we will carefully execute our turnaround actions to secure sustainable profits while focusing on future growth."