Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan India

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Corporation, which has been sailing through troubled waters globally, is optimistic about Indian market.

Laying to rest speculation on Nissan’s exit from India, Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan Motor India, reiterated that there is “No change in plans for India, everything is secure, people, production, partners and employees. Nissan is staying in India. While we have divested in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), the Alliance partnership benefits us to secure capacity. This means we will continue to produce, sell in India and even drive exports.”

He further explained that despite being just one product – Magnite SUV – the company for last several years but continued to sustain volumes of around 2,000-2,200 units per month.

“We are in the 5^th-6^th year of Magnite in India. Despite being a single product unit, we have been averaging 30,000 units per annum. When you have higher equity than share, the new product portfolio always tends to benefit faster and can help drive volumes easily.  With the upcoming product launches planned, we are looking at 100,000 units for domestic and exports each for FY2026- 27,” he shared.

It may be recollected that it was in March 2025, Nissan India announced its plans to launch an all-new 7-seater B-MPV and a 5-seater C-SUV in Q1 of CY2026 and mid of CY2026, respectively. This would be followed by a 7-seater model in CY2027.

Vatsa also revealed that the company continues to explore all potential options for India, including hybrid and electric vehicles, especially with the upcoming CAFE3 norms set to kick in from 2027.

Responding to new investments, he stated that Nissan is committed to the EUR 700 million in the country, towards new product development and other commitments.

Despite being a one-product company, at present it has 159 dealers in the country and 125 workshops. Going forward, it aims to scale this up to 180 touchpoints by end-2025.

Furthermore, with the new products already in pre-production, it has also started receiving dealer enquiries, who too are optimistic about Nissan India’s growth story.

“We clearly have a path to profitability. If Nissan did not see a future in India, we would not have stayed. Whether it is dealerships, teams or capacities, we are well equipped and committed to India,” concluded Vatsa.  

Cars24 has announced a collaboration with Tesla India to introduce a trade-in programme designed to facilitate the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). The initiative integrates the sale of an existing car with the purchase of a new Tesla into a single process.

The programme provides a combined exchange benefit of INR 325,000 for customers switching to a Tesla Model Y. This is comprised of an exchange bonus of INR 300,000 to the value of the petrol or diesel vehicle for Tesla. Furthermore, an additional INR 25,000 Cars24 bonus credited to the customer’s bank account upon delivery of the new vehicle.

Tesla has introduced financing structures for the Model Y, including a down payment of INR 600,000 and monthly instalments starting from INR 49,000.

The trade-in process can be initiated at Tesla Experience Centres, or via the Cars24 website and mobile application.

The partnership utilises the digital platform and nationwide reach of Cars24 to manage price discovery and paperwork. The initiative aims to reduce the logistical challenges typically associated with disposing of a conventional vehicle while acquiring an electric model. Tesla’s Model Y, which supports home charging, is the primary focus of this accessibility campaign.

Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder and CMO, Cars24, said, “At Cars24, our focus has always been on simplifying car transactions. Partnering Collaborating with Tesla allows us to extend that convenience to customers transitioning to electric vehicles, managing everything from price discovery to payment and ownership transfer.”

Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has recorded its highest-ever monthly wholesale volume for March, reaching 29,112 units, which marks a 14.5 percent YoY growth compared to the 25,525 units sold in March 2025.

The company also achieved its strongest quarterly performance to date, with Q1 2026 sales totalling 84,316 units, an 11.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Kia India attributed the robust growth led by the Seltos SUV, which has maintained monthly sales of over 10,000 units since its launch. The model is the highest-scoring internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle in India to date, following a 5-star BNCAP safety rating.

At present, Kia India has a network of 862 touchpoints across 390 cities. The company’s infrastructure includes 124 Certified Pre-Owned outlets to facilitate vehicle exchanges and secondary market sales. Future strategy focuses on a mix of product interventions and market expansion to maintain current momentum.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “We delivered our best-ever March sales and strongest-ever quarterly performance, driven by sustained demand across our portfolio. The new Seltos, backed by its 5-star BNCAP rating, continues to lead momentum, while Sonet and Carens line-up remain steady volume drivers with continuous enhancements aligned to evolving customer needs.”

Czech automaker Skoda Auto India has recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales, with 20,028 units sold in Q1 CY2026, which marks a 17 percent increase compared to 17,138 vehicles sold a year ago.

The sales growth was supported by the Kylaq, which recently surpassed the 50,000-unit sales milestone. Other contributors to the quarterly volume include the recently updated Kushaq, the Slavia sedan and the Kodiaq in the premium SUV segment.

The company has expanded its domestic presence to 330 customer touchpoints across more than 180 cities. This infrastructure growth is intended to support both established urban centres and emerging regional markets.

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “Continuing our growth surge into 2026 with our biggest-ever quarter is a strong validation of the momentum we have built over the past year. After achieving a record in 2025, it is encouraging to see that we are sustaining this trajectory while also setting new benchmarks for ourselves. This growth is driven by a combination of a stronger and more accessible product portfolio, deeper market reach, and a sharper focus on customer-centric initiatives. The Kylaq continues to take the brand to newer customers and regions, and the new Kushaq that was recently introduced has made its mark. Meanwhile, the Slavia and Kodiaq continue to drive consistent demand in their segments. As we move ahead, we remain focused on maintaining this momentum with consistent execution by launching relevant products, expanding our network, and enhancing the overall ownership experience.”

JSW MG Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported a 19 percent YoY uptick in its wholesales for March 2026.

The company sold a total of 6,528 passenger vehicles, including electric vehicles, in comparison to 5,500 units a year ago.

Furthermore, JSW MG Motor India has announced a price adjustment across its entire product range, effective 1 April 2026. The company stated that the revision is intended to partially offset the impact of rising input costs.

The price increases vary across the different segments with prices for the standard MG line-up to increase by up to 2 percent, while the premium MG SELECT range will see a higher adjustment of up to 7 percent. This includes flagship models such as the MG Cyberster and the MG M9.