Nissan India Appoints Abhishek Arora As Director For Dealer Network Development and Customer Training
- By MT Bureau
- November 28, 2024
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor India (NMIPL) has given additional responsibility of Director - Dealer Network Development and Customer Quality Training (DND-CQT) to Abhishek Arora effective 14 November 2024.
Arora will continue to focus on his current role as Director – Transformation & New Projects. In his new role, he will be responsible to lead channel development and management for the brand as well as drive strategic initiatives linked to network development and business to ensure Nissan’s future readiness.
The company said he has deep expertise in managing premium automotive networks and is set to bring significant value to Nissan’s India CBU business, further strengthening its market presence.
Arora had joined Nissan in September 2024 as Director - Transformation and New Projects and was given interim charge of Director - DNDCQT in October 2024. He is now set to lead the DND-CQT function full time and continue to manage transformation projects.
Prior to joining Nissan India, he led key functions such as network development, business management, sales training and others at Audi India. He has also worked with General Motors, Tata Motors, and Honda Motorcycles in various roles.
Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), said, “We are delighted to welcome Abhishek Arora at Nissan as Director – DND-CQT in addition to his current responsibilities in driving Transformation Projects. We are confident that his extensive experience and strategic leadership in the premium automotive space will play an important role in strengthening our network capabilities. His leadership will ensure that we are well-positioned to execute our upcoming product launches and further enhance customer experience as we work towards long-term growth and success in this dynamic market with a mix of localized and CBU products.”
India’s Auto Industry Posts Mixed Q1 Performance as Passenger Vehicle Exports Hit Record High
- By MT Bureau
- July 15, 2025
India’s automobile industry delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2025-26, with passenger vehicle exports reaching an all-time high even as domestic sales remained largely flat, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.
Passenger vehicle sales crossed the one million mark for the second consecutive year in Q1, reaching 1.01 million units, though this represented a 1.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The segment’s performance was buoyed by utility vehicles, which now account for 66 percent of passenger vehicle sales and posted 3.8 percent growth, whilst passenger cars declined 11.2 percent.
The standout performer was exports, with passenger vehicles achieving record Q1 exports of 204,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase. This surge was driven by stable demand across most markets, with particularly strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America, alongside recovery in neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.
"The performance of the Auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1," said Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM.
The two-wheeler segment faced headwinds with wholesale sales declining 6.2 percent to 4.67 million units due to inventory correction across the industry. However, retail registrations increased 5 percent during the quarter, driven by the marriage season and positive demand sentiments. Two-wheeler exports showed robust growth of 23.2 percent to 1.14 million units.
Three-wheelers achieved their highest-ever Q1 sales of 165,000 units, representing marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The segment benefited from increased economic activity supporting urban transportation demand and easier financing options. Exports in this category surged 34.4 percent to 96,000 units.
Commercial vehicles posted a marginal decline of 0.6 percent to 223,000 units, though exports grew strongly by 23.4 percent to around 20,000 units.
Looking ahead to Q2, SIAM expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges. The upcoming festive season is expected to drive demand, particularly for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, whilst an above-normal monsoon could aid rural income recovery.
"With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve," Chandra added.
The Reserve Bank of India's cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points over the past six months are expected to gradually ease borrowing costs, potentially boosting consumer sentiment and affordability.
However, supply-side challenges persist, particularly the recent export licensing requirement from China on rare earth magnets, which has raised concerns for original equipment manufacturers across all categories.
"Sales of Passenger Vehicles in Q1 of 2025-26 de-grew by (-) 1.4 percent, posting sales of 1.01 million units as compared to Q1 of previous year," said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.
In June alone, passenger vehicle sales declined 7.4 percent to 312,849 units, whilst two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 percent to 1.56 million units. Three-wheeler sales bucked the trend with 3.8 percent growth to 61,828 units.
The industry's overall domestic sales fell 5.1 percent in Q1 to 60.75 million units, reflecting the challenging operating environment facing India's automotive sector.
Skoda Auto India Surpasses 300 Touchpoint Across 172 Cities
- By MT Bureau
- July 14, 2025
Czech automotive brand Skoda Auto India has announced that it has achieved a new milestone by surpassing 300 customer touchpoints in the country. With this, the OEM has a network of touchpoints in 172 cities across the country and is rapidly expanding its presence in not just tier 1 cities, but also tier 2 and tier 3 markets.
Interestingly, 86 percent of the recent expansion have happened in these geographies and 75 percent of the 300 touchpoints are directly servicing customers in the same cities.
The Czech automaker is marking its 25th anniversary in the country and 130 years globally. It was just recently, Skoda Auto India reported its highest-ever half-yearly sales in the first half of 2025.
Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, "Our growing network makes our product range more accessible to customers, while enabling smarter, faster service with consistent quality, across the country. With a strong emphasis on ‘growing together and getting closer to customers’, a large part of our expansion has been undertaken with Skoda Auto’s long-term dealer partners in India, while also bringing new partners with a proven track record of customer centricity into the fold. This expansion is a step forward in strengthening Skoda Auto’s legacy in India and delivering on our promise of safety, value, and a truly rewarding ownership experience."
The expansion the company shared perfectly complements its product strategy, which has been significantly boosted by the Kylaq SUV, joining the Kushaq and Kodiaq to offer an ‘SUV For Everyone.’ The Slavia continues the brand's sedan legacy, with a new global icon expected to launch in India soon.
Hyundai Aura Sedan Gets New S AMT Variant Priced At INR 807,700
- By MT Bureau
- July 14, 2025
Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched a new variant – S AMT – for the Hyundai Aura sedan at INR 807,700 (ex-showroom).
Powered by 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine, the Hyundai Aura AMT variant is equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill start assist control (HAC), LED daytime running lamps (DRLs), 6 airbags, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in the highline version and outside rear view mirror with electric folding and turn indicators, thus making the popular offering more attractive.
Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we are committed to making smart mobility accessible to a wider set of customers. The introduction of advanced AMT transmission in Hyundai AURA S AMT reflects our continuous efforts to democratise technology and enhance convenience for customers. With this introduction, we aim to redefine the value proposition in the entry segment by offering superior comfort, safety, performance and convenience at an affordable price.”
Nissan Secures $6 Billion Through Bond Issuance
- By MT Bureau
- July 14, 2025
Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co has secured around USD 6 billion through long-term bonds, which will support its medium to long-term strategies.
The company shared that the funding raised through bond issuance was oversubscribed, which confirms investor confidence in the Re:Nissan recovery plan. The funds have been raised for longer tenors (4-year to 10-year tenors).
Nissan shared that it intends to use the net proceeds raised through the US dollar and euro offerings for general corporate purposes and upcoming bond maturities, including those in fiscal 2025.
Furthermore, the net proceeds from the convertible bonds are intended to be used by fiscal year 2030 for investments in new products and technologies such as electrification and software defined vehicles (SDV).
The Japanese automaker aims to strengthen its financing capabilities and maintain strong liquidity in its automotive business to support the goals in Re:Nissan.
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