Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has entered the India Book of Records for the largest convoy of a single-model four-wheeler to reach Leh. A fleet of 60 Nissan Tekton vehicles completed a 5-day expedition covering more than 700 kilometres to achieve the record.

The drive commenced in Chandigarh at an altitude of 1,053 feet, passed through Manali, Zangla and Shinku La Pass at 16,703 feet and concluded in Leh at 11,480 feet. The SUVs were driven by media representatives and automotive industry participants throughout the route across varying terrain and weather conditions.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “Entering the India Book of Records with the all-new Nissan Tekton is a proud moment for Nissan Motor India and a fitting celebration of our 75-year SUV excellence. While the record is significant, what makes the achievement especially meaningful is what it represents. Sixty Tekton SUVs successfully completed a demanding Himalayan drive, demonstrating the vehicle’s capability, durability and engineering strength in real-world conditions. This milestone reflects Nissan’s commitment to delivering premium SUVs that give customers confidence wherever their journeys take them. It also reinforces our belief in the all-new Tekton as a vehicle engineered to perform across India’s diverse driving environments.”

Manufactured at Renault’s plant in Chennai under its ‘One Car, One World’ production framework, the Tekton is sold in India and for export markets, including the Middle East and Africa. The model line-up features turbocharged engines, integrated Google services and design elements derived from the Nissan Patrol.

The prices for Tekton SUV start at INR 1.04 million for the Turbo T160 line and INR 1.49 million for the Turbo T280 line (ex-showroom). Retail bookings are open across digital channels and dealerships, with customer deliveries having commenced on 20 July 2026.

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French auto major Renault Group has secured a 4-star rating for adult occupant protection and a 3-star rating for child occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP Safer Cars for Africa crash tests for its popular Kiger SUV.

The results for the Indian-manufactured Renault Kiger are based on the updated rating following a voluntary submission by Renault after the SUV was initially selected for testing in its previous standard specification.

Global NCAP initially selected the Kiger when the model featured two airbags without ISOFIX anchorages or electronic stability control, resulting in a 2-star rating for adult occupant protection and a 1-star rating for child occupant protection.

Renault subsequently updated the vehicle specification to include six airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX anchorages, and pedestrian protection as standard equipment. In the re-assessment, the SUV demonstrated good protection for the head, abdomen, and pelvis in side impact testing, met UN127 pedestrian protection regulations, and complied with Global NCAP requirements for electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders.

Richard Woods, CEO, Global NCAP, said, “It’s satisfying to see the safety improvements Renault has introduced with the updated Kiger in South Africa. We welcome their positive engagement and hope that this approach now becomes a trend across the industry. It demonstrates what can be achieved when a manufacturer seeks to prioritise safety, and it shows why six airbags must become a standard requirement.”

Bobby Ramagwede, CEO – Automobile Association of South Africa, said, “The Automobile Association of South Africa welcomes this considerable improvement in the Global NCAP safety rating of the Renault Kiger, going from a concerning two-star rating to a commendable four-star result. This updated Indian-built Kiger proves that the #SaferCarsForAfrica program is indeed yielding real change and saving many lives on South African roads. It is also a reminder to both the manufacturer and the consumer that improving safety needn’t cost much nor affect the production of entry-level model ranges. The result, when manufacturers prioritise the safety of their customers, saves many lives and revives the image of the industry. We commend the French brand on voluntarily submitting the Kiger for testing and strongly encourage those local brands with recent poorer results to work with us on improving the safety of their affected entry-level models, ensuring that safety is prioritised over cost and proving that African lives indeed matter.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced that its XUV 3XO ZNG has achieved a 5-star safety rating under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP), making it the first sub-compact CNG vehicle in India to receive the score.

The compact SUV recorded 29.36 out of 32 points for Adult Occupant Protection and 45 out of 49 points for Child Occupant Protection. The model features 35 standard safety items, including six airbags, Electronic Stability Control and ISOFIX child-seat mounts.

Safety provisions specific to the CNG system include an integrated gas-leak detection mechanism that switches the fuel source to petrol mode if a leak occurs. The c-SUV features an underfloor twin-cylinder tank layout that maintains a flat boot floor and 270 litres of cargo space. Power output stands at 82 kW with 200 Nm of torque across petrol and CNG modes, alongside a certified fuel efficiency rating of 24.7 km/kg.

Dr Velusamy R, President of the Automotive Business, Mahindra Group, said, "At Mahindra, safety is a fundamental commitment that guides every stage of vehicle development. The XUV 3XO ZNG was engineered to excel across every aspect of the ownership experience, delivering ‘zero compromise’ in space, technology, performance and driving experience. Its robust architecture is engineered to provide high levels of occupant protection and peace of mind on every journey. The 5- star Bharat NCAP rating is a testament to our engineering excellence and reinforces the XUV 3XO ZNG's position as an SUV that excels across every dimension.”

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Mahindra and Mahindra is preparing to roll out four new products for its SUV portfolio and one light commercial vehicle in the first half of calendar 2027 as the automaker looks to sustain growth through a pipeline of new models and a significant expansion in production capacity.

The five planned launches will comprise a new product based on the company's new NU-IQ platform, an all-new battery electric vehicle, a lifestyle vehicle and one product refresh alongside a new LCV, informed Executive Director and CEO, Auto and Farm Sectors, Rajesh Jejurikar during the company's Q2 FY27 earnings call.

The product pipeline comes as Mahindra continues to face capacity constraints amid strong demand for its SUV portfolio. The company said it was operating at or above its available production capacity with October production exceeding the monthly capacity it had indicated for the end of September.

Mahindra began FY27 with SUV production capacity of around 64,500 units a month. This is expected to increase to 82,000 units a month by the end of the current financial year followed by 92,000 units in the next financial year. The company is targeting capacity of 132,000 units a month by the exit of FY31 as a new plant comes upstream.

Jejurikar also confirmed that the company was progressing with its Nagpur project. “We are on track for setting up the Nagpur project. We got the parcel of land and work is starting very shortly on that,” he said, adding that the facility would support the rollout of new products according to the schedule presented by the company.

Capacity expansion to support SUV growth

Mahindra reported 26 percent year-on-year growth in SUV volumes in the second quarter, while volumes for the first half increased 20 percent. However, the company said its sales performance continued to be constrained by production capacity.

At the end of September, its monthly capacity was around 61,000 units for internal combustion engine products and 8,000 units for electric vehicles. Jejurikar said the company had produced more than this indicated capacity in October reflecting the strength of demand.

The company maintained its expectation of mid-to-high-teen growth in its SUV business during FY27 with additional capacity expected to support volumes.

The company is also expanding its electric vehicle ecosystem. It had established 49 ultra-fast charging stations covering around 12,000 kilometres of highways with charging facilities available approximately every 200 kilometres on the covered routes. Mahindra and Mahindra plans to increase this network to 215 stations by the end of calendar 2027.

Commodity inflation puts pressure on margins

The expansion and product pipeline come against a backdrop of elevated input costs. The company’s earnings presentation highlighted year-on-year increases of 42 percent in copper prices, 40 percent in rubber and 17 percent in steel.

Despite these cost pressures, Mahindra reported 25 percent growth in revenue and profit after tax in Q2 FY27. Revenue stood at INR 575.53 billion, while PAT was INR 45.88 billion.

Managing Director and Group CEO, Dr Anish Shah, said the company had taken proactive measures to manage inflationary pressures including pricing actions, hedging, product-mix improvements and supplier diversification.

Mahindra had implemented price increases of 5 percent in its auto business and 4 percent in its farm business. Dr Shah indicated that the company expected some margin pressure in Q3, while the outlook for Q4 would depend partly on how commodity prices evolved.

Farm business outlook revised

Mahindra has revised its FY27 tractor industry growth outlook from 5 percent to a flat performance, citing deteriorating rainfall conditions, lower reservoir levels and pressure on farmers’ terms of trade.

Company officials noted that Maharashtra and Karnataka had experienced significant industry contraction with drought conditions affecting demand in these important tractor markets. Higher input costs had also weakened farmers’ purchasing power.

The international farm business continued to face difficult market conditions. Mahindra and Mahindra reported industry contractions of 15 percent in the US, 18 percent in Brazil and 36 percent in Turkey.

It has completed its exit from Sampo’s harvesting business in Finland and Arcon Foundry in Turkey, while the restructuring of its Mitsubishi Agricultural Machinery subsidiary in Japan is expected to be completed by Q4 FY27.

LCV business operating at capacity

Mahindra's LCV business recorded 19 percent volume growth in Q2, while first-half volumes increased 20 percent. The company said it was producing around 30,000 LCVs a month covering its pick-up and Supro ranges and was operating at capacity.

Jejurikar said demand in the LCV industry had strengthened following the GST reduction with monthly industry volumes rising from around 20,000–23,000 units to approximately 30,000 units. The company expects double-digit growth in the LCV industry for the entire FY27.

The planned new LCV launch in the first half of 2027 will add to the company's product pipeline as it works to address capacity constraints.

Mahindra's Q2 performance also reflected growth across its wider businesses. The group reported 25 percent year-on-year growth in PAT, while first-half PAT increased 29 percent.

Quarterly snapshot

The company reported SUV volumes of 183,000 units during the quarter, while its SUV revenue market share stood at 24.3 percent. Total automotive volumes increased 26 percent to 331,000 units.

The automotive business recorded consolidated revenue of INR 377.56 billion representing a 39 percent year-on-year increase. Consolidated PAT rose 55 percent to INR 23.88 billion. Standalone PBIT stood at INR 26.14 billion, up 15 percent, while the standalone PBIT margin was 7.7 percent. Excluding e-SUV CMA, the margin stood at 9.1 percent.

In the electric vehicle segment, the company reported an e-SUV revenue market share of 30.1 percent. Its electric SUV portfolio maintained the number-one position in revenue market share during the first half of FY27.

Mahindra and Mahindra also retained its leadership position in the light commercial vehicle segment below 3.5 tonnes with a market share of 52.3 percent. The figure includes the Bolero Max Pickup 2T variant classified under the 2–3.5-tonne LCV category and Jeeto volumes.

The company reported tractor volumes of 116,027 units during Q2 FY27 compared with 122,936 units in the year-ago quarter, marking a decline of 6 percent. Its tractor market share stood at 41.5 percent. Consolidated farm revenue declined 6 percent to INR 95.72 billion, while PAT fell 9 percent to INR 10.53 billion. Standalone PBIT was INR 14.41 billion with the PBIT margin at 16.8 percent, down 300 basis points.

The company also reported a 37 percent year-on-year increase in combined Q2 FY27 volumes across its commercial vehicle businesses as Mahindra Trucks and Buses Division (MTBD) and SML Mahindra together sold 8,416 units. It was also noted that the company is looking to expand manufacturing capacity for its heavy commercial vehicle range after strong fleet demand for the Blazo i-TRK, launched in August, drove plant utilisation to full capacity.

Across its other businesses, Mahindra Finance reported a 15 percent increase in assets under management, while PAT grew 61 percent. Tech Mahindra's PAT increased 33 percent with its EBIT margin improving to 14.8 percent, up 260 basis points.

Mahindra Lifespaces recorded residential pre-sales of INR 11 billion, up 41 percent, while Mahindra Logistics reported revenue of INR 20.95 billion, an increase of 24 percent with PAT growing threefold.

At the group level, Mahindra's standalone revenue increased 26 percent to INR 442.82 billon, while EBITDA rose 4 percent to INR 67.18 crore. Standalone PAT increased 13 percent to INR 51.02 billion. The company reported a return on equity of 21 percent on an annualised basis and year-to-date earnings per share of INR 89.5.

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Universo Ferrari India has concluded its two-week exhibition at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, recording more than 22,000 visitors. The event showcased the automaker's heritage, motorsport involvement, engineering and future product strategy to clients, industry partners and students.

The display featured a range of road cars, including the Ferrari F80, 849 Testarossa Spider, 12Cilindri Spider, Amalfi Spider, Daytona SP3, and F50. Motorsport exhibits included the Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 Formula 1 car, the 499P hypercar, the 296 GT3, and the 296 Challenge. The exhibition also featured Ferrari Luce, the brand's first electric car, alongside heritage models such as the 365 GTB4 and the 612 Scaglietti from the 2008 Magic India Discovery tour, while the Ferrari Hypersail made its debut in Asia. During the event, Ferrari conducted seminars for approximately 1,000 students and held a charity auction supporting Bal Raksha Bharat to assist educational programs.

The event was preceded by a drive featuring 25 Ferraris travelling 1,800 kilometres from Mumbai to New Delhi via Vadodara, Udaipur, Jaipur and Agra.

Ferrari also announced Avelon Luxe as its India-based partner for the Ferrari Hypercar and Ferrari Challenge Middle East series. To support its growth in the market, Ferrari plans to expand its retail footprint in India by opening two new dealerships in Chennai and Ahmedabad by the end of 2026.

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