BMW India has launched the new BMW 5 Series in India at a starting price of INR 62.9 lakh (ex-showroom). The new 5 Series is available in one petrol (530i M-Sport) and two diesel (520d Luxury line, 530d M-Sport) trim levels.
Exterior:
The updates to the exterior of the new 5 Series that catch the eye include a new perfectly shaped kidney grille flanked by the slim full-LED adaptive headlights and the new L shaped light graphic of taillight that adds a 3D form to the car. BMW has also equipped the M-Sport trim levels with its flagship Laserlight technology that distributes light perfectly for up to 650 metres.
Interior:
On the inside, the driver-focused cabin continues to feel upmarket with the use of high-quality materials, bespoke upholstery and precise artistry. For the first time, BMW has used the perforated Sensatec upholstery on the 5 Series (530i), adding to the luxurious impression of the cabin. The diesel models receive leather treatment with the 520d getting Natural Leather Dakota upholstery while the flagship 530d gets diamond-stitched Nappa leather upholstery
There are two seat options available with the new 5 Series. The 530i gets the Sports seats with leather covers, sports leather steering wheel and specific trim strips augment the sporty feel. In contrast, the 530d model gets Comfort seats for both driver and passenger, helping achieve the perfect driving position.
The new 5 Series also features BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional that includes the large 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster, 7.0-inch central touchscreen system with 3D navigation, gesture control and BMW virtual assistant. The car also features wireless charging along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Harman Kardon supplies the 16 high-end speakers for the new 5 Series. The top of the line 530d M-Sport also receives the BMW head-up display along with the optional BMW Display Key.
Also on offer as standard equipment is a large glass sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control with extended features and SYNC control.
Mechanicals:
The new 5 Series continues to carry forward the familiar 2.0l four-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine and the 2.0l four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine from the previous generation. The petrol engine produces a maximum power of 252 hp with 350 Nm of torque while the diesel produces 190 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
The petrol engine completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 6.1 seconds while the diesel manages it in 7.3 seconds.
BMW has also managed to carry forward the 3.0l in-line six-cylinder diesel with the 530d M-Sport that produces a maximum power of 265 hp and 620 Nm that is sufficient to propel the car from 0-100 km/h in just under 5.7 seconds.
All three engines are mated to an eight-speed Steptronic sport automatic gearbox from ZF. The adaptive suspension coupled with the fast-shifting gearbox offers BMW cars exceptional handling characteristics. BMW has also provided the 5 Series with driving modes to suit the driving conditions.
Safety:
The BMW 5 Series gets best in class driver assistance systems, including Parking Assistant Plus with a surround-view camera, reversing assistant, Comfort Access system that offers access to all doors without using the key and a new tyre pressure monitoring system.
Also on offer are six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobiliser and crash sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounting and emergency spare wheel.
The (ex-showroom) pricing for the new 5 Series is as follows:
530i M-Sport: INR 62.9 lakh
520d Luxury Line: INR 63.9 lakh
530d M-Sport: INR 71.9 lakh (MT)
Maruti Suzuki Celerio Scores 3 Star In Global NCAP Rating, Ciaz Gets 1 Star
- By MT Bureau
- December 22, 2025
Global NCAP, the automotive safety watchdog, has announced the latest results for its #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, with two models from Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, receiving mixed results.
The latest crash test result saw Global NCAP awarding the Maruti Suzuki Celerio a three-star rating for adult occupant protection following the inclusion of six airbags as standard. A previous version of the vehicle, equipped with two airbags, had received two stars for adult occupant safety and one star for child protection.
The technical evaluations of the six-airbag Celerio indicated protection levels ranging from good to marginal. The assessment noted that both the footwell and the bodyshell were unstable. Tests also showed exposure of children’s heads during front and side impacts.
On the other hand, the company’s popular sedan model the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz received a 1-star rating in the same assessment. The report for this model highlighted:
- The absence of side head protection.
- An unstable footwell and bodyshell.
- A lack of three-point seatbelts in all seating positions.
In contrast, Global NCAP reported that the new Dzire and Victoris models achieved five-star ratings.
Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP, said, “We are encouraged that Maruti Suzuki is committed to improving safety with five star performance for new models like the Dzire and Victoris, it remains disappointing however that some legacy models fall short.”
The results follow a commitment from Maruti Suzuki to increase safety standards across its future vehicle range.
CARS24 Appoints Divanshu Saxena As CBO Of Financial Services Arm
- By MT Bureau
- December 22, 2025
CARS24 has announced the promotion of Divanshu Saxena to Chief Business Officer (CBO) of its NBFC arm, CARS24 Financial Services.
In his new role, Saxena will oversee the strategy, growth and execution of the financial services division. His responsibilities include scaling lending operations, managing risk and maintaining profitability as the company develops its financial services platform.
Saxena previously managed the consumer financing business for LOANS24. During his tenure, the division recorded growth in finance penetration and contributions from non-retail lending. The company noted that his work focused on unit economics and portfolio quality.
Ruchit Agarwal, Co-Founder & Group CFO, CARS24, said, “Divanshu has played a pivotal role in building CARS24 Financial Services into a strong and institutionally sound business. His disciplined approach to growth, deep understanding of lending economics, and consistent execution have laid a solid foundation for scale. We are proud to elevate leaders from within, and as CBO, Divanshu will be central to shaping the next phase of growth for LOANS24.”
Before joining CARS24, Saxena served as a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) within the Financial Services and Industrial Goods practice. He is an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, where he graduated with a silver medal, and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi.
Divanshu Saxena said, “Building LOANS24 has been about creating a lending business that balances speed with discipline and growth with resilience. As CBO, my focus will be on scaling responsibly, strengthening our fundamentals, and continuing to build a financial services platform that earns long-term trust from customers and partners.”
Hyundai Motor Group Announces Executive Appointments For 2026
- By MT Bureau
- December 19, 2025
South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Group has announced executive appointments effective from 1st January 2026. The changes focus on the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDV) and the development of manufacturing technology.
In total, 219 executives have been promoted across the Group, comprising four Presidents, 14 Executive Vice Presidents, 25 Senior Vice-Presidents and 176 Vice Presidents. Approximately 30 percent of these promotions are within R&D and technology sectors.
Manfred Harrer has been promoted to President and Head of the R&D Division. Since joining in 2024, Harrer has managed vehicle development. His new role focuses on SDV competitiveness and development projects.
Juncheul Jung is promoted to President. Jung currently manages the Manufacturing Solutions and Procurement Divisions. His remit involves the Group's Software-Defined Factory (SDF) approach and the integration of robotics into production systems.
Yeong Il Choi becomes Executive Vice President and Head of Domestic Production. Choi also takes the role of Chief Safety Officer (CSO) for production facilities in South Korea.
The company also announced revamping leadership positions in its regional business, where it has appointed Seung Kyu Yoon as President of Kia North America Operations, Bo-Ryong Lee as President and CEO of Hyundai Steel Operations, Gang Hyun Seo as Head of Corporate Planning, Affiliate Business Optimisation, Sungwon Jee as Executive Vice-President, Hyundai Brand Marketing and Yongseok Shin as Executive Vice-President of HMG Business Intelligence Institute.
Hyundai Motor Group has internalised technologies including the 'Pleos Connect' infotainment system and 'Atria AI' for autonomous driving. Appointments in engineering include Jeonghun Seo in Battery Engineering and Duckhwan Kim in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Engineering.
Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair, continues to oversee the direction for mobility, hydrogen energy and robotics. Within the financial sector, Chang Hyun Cho (Hyundai Card) and Si Woo Jeon (Hyundai Commercial) have been promoted to Executive Vice-President.
"The appointments are intended to strengthen organisational resilience and expand the leadership pipeline across functions. In addition, the appointments reflect the Group’s commitment to turning global uncertainties into opportunities for renewal and growth. It will continue to advance bold leadership transformation and secure strong competitiveness in the SDV era," the company said.
Maruti Suzuki India’s WagonR Surpasses 3.5 Million Units Production Milestone
- By MT Bureau
- December 18, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India has attained a production milestone of 3.5 million units for the popular hatchback the WagonR.
The model, which spans three generations, was first launched in India in December 1999 and is currently manufactured at the company's facilities in Gurgaon and Manesar, Haryana.
The WagonR joins the Alto and Swift as models within the Maruti Suzuki portfolio to reach this volume. Globally, the Suzuki WagonR was first introduced in Japan in September 1993 and is now sold in over 75 countries. In August 2025, the model reached 100 million units in cumulative global sales.
The current WagonR is built on the fifth-generation Heartect platform. Standard safety features include six airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
On the inside, it comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bluetooth and voice command functionality.
The vehicle has been the highest-selling car in India for the previous four financial years.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This achievement is not just a production milestone, but reflects the enduring love and confidence that generations of customers have shown towards brand WagonR. It is rare for a vehicle to receive such acceptance even after 25 years since its launch. The WagonR kept evolving with the introduction of new technology and features over time, while retaining its original DNA. The WagonR has been highly appreciated for aspects like its iconic tall-boy design, spacious interiors and fuel efficiency, which aptly reflect our customers’ needs and expectations. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and remain committed to providing ‘Joy of Mobility’ for generations to come.”
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