Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz has commenced the local production of its highly-anticipated all-new Long Wheelbase (LWB) E-Class. Touted as the most advanced E-Class till date in India, the sixth generation LWB E-Class will roll out from the company’s production facility in Chakan, Pune, in line with the company’s commitment to ‘Make in India, for India’. The new luxury sedan is slated for its India debut on 9 October 2024.

The local production of the new LWB E-Class demonstrates the growing trend towards digitisation and customisation. This is made possible by the constant and smooth knowledge transfer between the Indian operations in Pune and the 'E-Class production competence centre' in Sindelfingen, Germany. The new LWB E-Class has successfully passed extensive testing covering a range of criteria, including BS 6-2 emission tests, crash tests, pedestrian protection tests and equipment tests, and has been awarded the CMVR Type Approval (Homologation) Certificate by ARAI.

The new LWB E-Class is equipped with the MBUX super-screen with 2-stage blocking system for the passenger screen, allowing the driver a hassle-free driving experience while the front passengers enjoy their entertainment. It also features a centre airbag – installed in the seat cushion on the driver's seat – designed to protect the driver and front passenger from colliding in the unfortunate event of a side collision.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Long Wheelbase (LWB) new E-Class is the most successful luxury business saloon in India, and we are excited to commence its local production. Mercedes-Benz continues to offer world-class products for Indian customers with local value addition, and the LWB E-Class strongly underscores our pioneering spirit of making in India. We are confident the ‘Made in India, for India’ new LWB E-Class will continue its popularity with discerning customers, setting new standards in luxury, intuitive technology and safety in the Indian automotive landscape.”

Vyankatesh Kulkarni, Executive Director and Head of Operations, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz started its India journey with the E-Class in 1995, and till date, it remains a key product in our local production portfolio. The start of local production of the new Long Wheelbase E-Class is an important milestone, reiterating Mercedes-Benz India’s world-class manufacturing capabilities, flexibility and digitalisation. With this new LWB E-Class, we have further deepened and expanded our localisation footprint by sourcing various commodities from India, emphasising our dedication to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. We are immensely proud of our expert team who are highly skilled, motivated and agile in manufacturing both world-class ICE and BEV products as per market requirements.”

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Force Motors Limited has announced record-breaking financial results for the second quarter and first half of the fiscal year 2025-26, marking its highest-ever performance for these periods. The company, India's leading van manufacturer, achieved significant growth in profitability and operational metrics.

Financially, the company reported a standalone total income of INR 21.06 billion for Q2, an eight percent year-on-year increase, and INR 44.28 billion for H1, up 15 percent. Earnings saw an even more substantial rise, with EBITDA growing 33 percent YoY to INR 3.87 billion in Q2 and 34 percent for H1 to INR 7.44 billion. Profit After Tax surged remarkably by 148 percent in Q2 to INR 3.50 billion, a jump attributed to the shift to the New Tax Regime. The company also maintains a strong, zero-debt financial position.

This performance was propelled by robust operational success. Domestic sales volume grew by 16 percent in the first half, fuelled by strong demand for its Urbania, Traveller, Gurkha, Monobus and Trax vehicle ranges. The company also saw a 77 percent surge in export volumes. The Traveller platform continues to dominate its segment with a market share exceeding 70 percent.

The landmark results are credited to the strength of the company's product portfolio, operational excellence and a customer-centric strategy. By focusing on its core capabilities in shared passenger mobility, Force Motors has unlocked new growth opportunities. Looking forward, the company remains committed to sustainable growth by enhancing customer satisfaction, strengthening its product portfolio and expanding its international presence in a calibrated manner.

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has announced it will present the Indian Women’s Cricket Team with the first lot of the soon-to-be-launched Tata Sierra SUV following their victory at the ICC Women's World Cup. The Tata Sierra is slated to be launched on 25^th November.

The company will gift the top-end model of the Sierra to each team member as part of its salute to the team’s journey and contribution to the country.

Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has made the entire nation proud with their extraordinary performance and remarkable win. Their journey stands as a true testament to determination and the power of belief, qualities that inspire every Indian. At Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, we are privileged to present these legends with another legend, The Tata Sierra. This is our salute to their spirit and the pride they have brought to the nation – Two legends, One spirit, Infinite inspiration.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new milestone by crossing the 30-million-unit sales milestone in the domestic market.

The new benchmark was attained by the company over a course of 42 years, with the first 10 million unit sales taking 28 years and 2 months to achieve.

The 20 million unit sales took 7 years and 5 months, while the recent milestone took just 6 years and 4 months.

Interestingly, the entry-level hatchback Alto was the most preferred model in the country, with over 4.7 million units sold, followed by Wagon R with 3.4 million units and the sporty Swift with 3.2 million units.

The Brezza and Fronx SUVs also played an instrumental role in contributing to the sales milestone, being featured among the top 10 models sold in the country.

It was on 14^th December 1983, Maruti Suzuki India delivered its first model, the iconic Maruti 800, to its first customer.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “When I look at the length and breadth of India and think that 3 crore customers have placed their trust in Maruti Suzuki to realise their dream of mobility, it fills me with humility and gratitude. Yet, with car penetration at approximately 33 vehicles per 1,000 people, we know our journey is far from over. We will continue to make every possible effort to bring the joy of mobility to as many people as we can, while also be an asset to both the economy and the environment at the same time.”

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American electric vehicle maker Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former Chief Business Officer of Classic Legends, as its new business head, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The report further stated that Agarwal joined the EV maker a week ago and is tasked to drive sales for Tesla in India, which as per industry observers, has not performed as per the company’s expectations.

Agarwal, an automotive industry veteran, had begun his career with TVS Motor Co as Area Sales Manager in December 2002, before joining Mahindra First Choice Wheels as its Business Head for North and Eastern region in March 2007.

It was in January 2013, he moved to Audi India as the head of Sales, before taking over as the head of Lamborghini India in April 2016, where he spent almost 9 years, before joining Classic Legends.

During his tenure at Lamborghini, the Italian super luxury car maker saw its dealerships across India achieved a Return on Sales (RoS) of more than 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for the automotive business in the country. He also grew India’s ranking for the automaker as the third market globally in terms of PR visibility in 2021.

He also expanded Lamborghini India’s reach to over 60 cities, with sales volumes from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributing more than 25 percent of the total.

Tesla, which formally started deliveries in September 2025 with its first dealership in Mumbai and the second facility in Delhi, has till date delivered 114 vehicles, of the estimated 600-plus bookings.

File photo for representational purposes only.

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