New Hyundai Venue Launched in India

GRI appoints Ydo Doornbos as Director for North America

Hyundai Motor India Ltd has launched the new Hyundai Venue in India. The company said in a statement that the new Hyundai Venue is geared up to redefine Lit experiences for customers with its bold design, power packed performance, space, comfort, advanced technologies and connectivity.  

Speaking at the launch of the new vehicle, Unsoo Kim, Managing Director and CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The new Hyundai Venue has been developed to personify the aspirations of our beloved customers. With a keen focus on Design, Technology, Functionality and Space, the new Hyundai Venue is here to elevate customer experiences and amplify the Hyundai SUV Life. Being India’s No.1 SUV maker of 2020 and 2021, we are immensely grateful to our customers for placing their love and trust in brand Hyundai. The new Venue will build further on the legacy of this brand and thrill customers with its Bold and Dynamic persona, while enabling the next level of comfort, connectivity and convenience.” 

Crafted on the lines of Hyundai’s Global Design Philosophy of ‘Sensuous Sportiness’, the new Venue will supersede expectations through its Bold and Futuristic design, Spacious interiors, Comfort, Style and Safety, the release said. The vehicle is based on five Key pillars for the Indian market: vibrant design, exceptional comfort and convenience, next level technology and connectivity, uncompromised safety, and exciting performance. 

Based on Hyundai’s Global Design Language of Sensuous Sportiness, the new Venue exhibits confident body forms, delivering the perfect representation of a sporty, dynamic and powerful design, the release said. With big and bold contours, the new Venue creates an unmistakable road presence while also delivering a futuristic appeal. The Dark Chrome Front Grille with a unique design encapsulates the new Venue’s powerful and imposing look, while the body coloured bumpers and front skid plate design enhances the sporty quotient of the SUV. Bold character lines lend the hood a prominent yet dynamic appearance and the innovatively designed LED projector Headlamps with LED DRL and Positioning Lamps retain the distinctive charm of the new Venue. 

To set a new standard for comfort in its segment, the new Venue will feature first in segment Power Drive Seat with four Way seat adjustment and first in segment 2-Step Rear Reclining Seat that offers customers a choice of their preferred seating posture, the release claimed. 

The Venue also features Rear Centre Armrest with Cup Holder and 60:40 Split Rear Seat for added comfort and convenience. The new Venue with Advanced Bluelink technology offers customers 60+ connected features, creating a new dimension of Connected Car experience with heightened convenience and comfort. Customers can utilise multiple functions through Bluelink including Safety & Security (Valet Mode and Advanced Auto Collision Notification); Location based services; Over-the-Air navigation updates; Remote Services; Vehicle Diagnostics; and Voice Assistant.  

The new Venue will also offer customer advanced technologies and features that redefine their aspirations. It has also been equipped with Drive Mode Select for a versatile driving performance with the choice of Normal, Eco and Sport modes. 

It also ensures safety with superior structural strength and an array of safety features. 

Customer can choose from a choice of three engines – Kappa 1.2 MPi Petrol, Kappa 1.0 Turbo GDi Petrol, U2 1.5 CRDi Diesel. 

HMI will offer the new Venue with seven Colour Options (Polar White, Typhoon Silver, Phantom Black, Denim Blue, Titan Grey, Fiery Red), including one Dual Tone (Fiery Red with Black Roof) option. 

It will be available with the widest range of 47 accessories that have been designed and developed keeping in mind customer choices, aesthetics and premiumness of the SUV. (MT)

Mahindra Scorpio-N Z8L Variant Now Gets L2 ADAS Tech, New Z8T Variant Launched At INR 2.02 Million

Mahindra Scorpio-N ADAS

Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

Maruti Suzuki India Clocks New Milestone Of Servicing 2.45 Million Vehicles In A Month

Maruti Suzuki India

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

 

Mercedes-Benz India Appoints Brendon Sissing As New VP Of Sales And Marketing

Brendon Sissing

Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

Honda Launches Sporty New Variant of City Sedan At INR 1.48 Million

Honda City Sport

Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.