L-R: Venkatram Mamillapalle, MD, Renault India with Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President (Sales & Marketing), Renault India at the launch of the new Triber.

Renault India, a fully-owned subsidiary of  French carmaker Renault Group, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment for the domestic market with the launch of the all-new Renault Triber SUV at prices starting INR 629,995. The launch in India also marks the start of Renault’s new global ‘renault.rethink’ strategy.

While mechanically it remains unchanged, the company’s sub-4-metre 7-seater SUV now gets over 35 new features and is the first to sport the new Renault logo in India.

The vehicle is powered by a 1-litre, 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, which continues to produce 72 PS at 6250 rpm and maximum torque of 96 Nm at 3500 rpm. It can also be had in a company-authorised CNG retrofitment option.

On the outside, it gets a new, completely redesigned front fascia, grille, hood, refreshed bumper, new LED projector headlamps with integrated LED DRLs and new LED fog lamps.

On the inside, the cabin sports a stylish dual-tone dashboard, 8-inch floating touchscreen display that supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The interior also includes new seat upholstery, a LED instrument cluster, LED cabin lighting, and blacked-out door handles.

At the rear, the new Triber showcases a redesigned bumper, updated LED tail lamps, a new skid plate, and stylish taillamp connecting embellisher.

The Triber continues to offer its modular seating with 3rd row Easy-Fix seats configurable as a 5-, 6- or 7-seater, complemented by upto 625-litres of boot space.

In terms of safety, the company claims that of the 24 total safety features available in the Triber, 21 features including 6 Airbags, ESP, TPMS, EBD with Brake Assist among others have been standardised. Further adding on the safety features is Front Parking Sensor, available for the first time in the segment.

Venkatram Mamillapalle, Managing Director, Renault India, said, “India remains a cornerstone of Renault’s global strategy, driven by a strong product pipeline, expanding export operations, and a renewed focus on customer satisfaction – exemplified by the launch of the all-new Triber. This model is also the first in India to proudly feature Renault’s new brand logo, symbolising the company’s bold, modern direction and deep alignment with Indian aspirations.”

He further added that “As a fully integrated operation with a manufacturing plant, R&D centre, and design studio based in India, Renault continues to develop and produce vehicles tailored specifically for Indian customers — truly by India, for India. The new Triber is over 90% localized, underscoring Renault’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.”

Francisco Hidalgo, Vice-President (Sales & Marketing), Renault India, said, “The Triber has always reflected our deep understanding of the evolving needs of Indian families – blending smart engineering, modularity and exceptional premium value. With the all-new Triber, we continue to champion our ‘rethink space’ philosophy, offering India’s most spacious sub-four metre car, now with a fully renewed design and features. This launch brings the spirit of renault. rethink. to life in the most tangible way, and we are confident it will further accelerate our momentum and strengthen Renault’s footprint in India.”

RENAULT TRIBER
Ex-Showroom (INR)	Authentic	Evolution	Techno	Emotion
Manual	629,995	724,995	799,995	864,995
Easy-R AMT	-	-	-	916,995

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported its financial results for Q3 FY2026.

The company reported revenue of INR 475.344 billion, as against INR 368.02 billion last year, net profit came at INR 37.94 billion, as against INR 36.59 billion last year. It is to be noted that the net profit was impacted for Q3 FY2026 was impacted due to a one-time provision of INR 5,939 million relating to new Labour Codes.

During the period, the company achieved its highest quarterly domestic sales of 564,669 units, an increase of 97,676 units over the previous year. Total sales reached 667,769 units, which included 103,100 units in exports. This performance was supported by a recovery in the car market following GST reform, with the small car segment in the 18 percent GST bracket contributing significantly to the volume increase.

For the nine-month period from April to December 2025, the company recorded its highest sales volume, net sales and net profit. Total sales volume reached 1,746,504 units, with domestic sales at 1,435,945 units and exports at 310,559 units. Net sales for this period increased to INR 1,242 billion, while net profit grew to INR 1,085 billion.

Financial statements for the period have been restated following the amalgamation of Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) with MSIL. This process took effect from 1 April 2025. The company continues to monitor market conditions as it manages its manufacturing and sales operations.

The recovery in the car market was led by the small car segment. Sales growth in this category accounted for 68,328 units of the total domestic increase. The company remains focused on domestic and export markets to maintain its sales volumes.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has showcased the Tayron R-Line, marking the first of five product interventions scheduled for 2026.

The company plans to introduce updates or new models in every quarter to maintain market presence. These interventions will include SUV, Sedan and Hatchback body styles, with each model intended for different segments of the premium market.

For 2026, the company stated it has established objectives focused on products, customer engagement and experiences. The strategy involves using product actions to address various customer sets throughout the year. The brand aims to sustain interest through these quarterly releases across its vehicle portfolio.

The roadmap for the year is designed to cover multiple segments, ensuring a consistent rollout of updates. By addressing three body styles, the manufacturer intends to reach a broad audience within the premium category. The initiative forms part of a wider plan to enhance the ownership experience and interaction with the brand in India.

Nitin Kohli, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “Today, we are glad to showcase the Tayron R-Line for the first time in India. I am also delighted to announce that we have planned four more product interventions throughout the year. This year, every quarter will witness a new product intervention that will cater to a different premium customer set. Our objective is to continue building excitement for customers through smart product actions and introducing models that will continue to build aspirations.”

Renault India has revealed the new generation Duster in Chennai, marking the return of the nameplate to the Indian market. The vehicle is the first product launched under the Renault International Game Plan 2027, a strategy positioning India as a hub for the company's operations outside Europe.

The SUV is built on the Renault Group Modular Platform (RGMP), with 90 percent of its components designed specifically for the Indian market. The vehicle features a 2,657 mm wheelbase and 212 mm of ground clearance, with approach and departure angles of 26.9deg and 34.7deg respectively.

The Duster introduces three engine options, including a hybrid variant for the first time in India. The Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 pairs a 1.8L engine with a 1.4 kWh battery, designed to operate in electric mode for a claimed up to 80 percent of city driving.

Two petrol options are also available: the Turbo TCe 160, producing 163 PS and 280 Nm of torque and the Turbo TCe 100. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a wet clutch.

The cabin features a driver-centric layout with a 10.1-inch OpenR Link multimedia system. This system incorporates Google built-in, providing native access to Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store. A second 10.25-inch TFT display serves as the instrument cluster, capable of replicating navigation data.

Additional interior features include:

• Ventilated and electric front seats.
• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning with a PM2.5 air quality filter.
• Panoramic sunroof and electric tailgate.
• 17 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) functions.

Fabrice Cambolive, CEO, Renault Brand, said, “As part of the Renault International Game Plan 2027, we are making India a key pillar of our growth outside Europe. We now have a strong ecosystem in Chennai, bringing together design, engineering, manufacturing, and local operations at the highest level - making India one of the most complete and powerful hubs in Renault’s global network. The new Renault Duster is the first step in Renault’s renewal in India.”

Stephane Deblaise, CEO, Renault Group India, added, “With the new Renault Group Modular Platform, Renault brings an advanced hybrid technology and top-tier safety engineering. With Renault Forever program, we also offer our customers a significantly improved ownership experience. New Renault Duster is the start of a renewed product cycle and for an exciting trajectory for Renault in India. Renault is back.”

The vehicle comes with an industry first 7-year or 150,000 km warranty under the Renault Forever programme. Pre-bookings are open via the 'R Pass', with official pricing expected in mid-March 2026. Deliveries for petrol variants will commence in April 2026, while the Strong Hybrid version is scheduled for release during Diwali 2026.

Stellantis-owned electric vehicle brand Leapmotor recently showcased its new range of product offerings at the Brussels Motor Show.

The OEM utilised the platform to display its latest vehicle technologies and models as part of an expansion strategy within the European market. The lineup featured both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) equipped with range extenders.

The event saw the European debut of the B03X, a model designed to showcase the brand's approach to electric technology. Additionally, Leapmotor provided the first public viewing of the B05 interior, highlighting a design philosophy focused on digital integration and materials.

Leapmotor launched the B10 Hybrid EV, which employs a range extender system. Unlike conventional hybrids where the internal combustion engine frequently powers the wheels directly, this architecture uses the electric motor as the sole source of propulsion. The engine serves as a generator to produce electricity for the battery when required and is never mechanically connected to the drivetrain.

This configuration is intended to provide the torque and noise levels of a pure electric vehicle while addressing infrastructure limitations and range anxiety. The system manages energy automatically, allowing for long-distance travel without a reliance on fast-charging stations. Leapmotor positions this solution as a practical transition for regions with varying levels of electrification readiness.

In a standard HEV, the engine drives the wheels, with the electric motor acting in a supporting role. Conversely, Leapmotor's system maintains a consistent electric driving experience because the engine does not provide mechanical drive.

By removing the mechanical complexity of traditional hybrid drivetrains that switch between multiple modes, the company claims a more refined operation. The range extender is designed to operate only in ideal conditions to optimise efficiency and reduce noise.