SUVs continue their dominant streak as the vehicle of choice across demographics. They have come to account for a 43 percent year-on-year traffic increase across all sub-segments, according to a statement by CarDekho.com.  
Released with an eye on the festive season of 2024, the statement takes a look at the pre-festive season traffic trends across various sub-segments of the four-wheel passenger vehicle industry during the period April-September. 
With SUVs dominating, the statement reads that 58 models are available in the respective segment. Stating that more models are scheduled to be launched in FY2024-25, it underlines the broad range of fuel and engine type combinations, catering to diverse consumer needs and providing tailored options to suit varying preferences.
In the April-September 2024 period, the mass SUV segment led the growth in the automotive market, registering a strong 43 percent year-over-year (YoY) increase in traffic. Its contribution to overall traffic on the platform rose from 50 percent to 63 percent, making it the most dominant body type. 
While all SUV sub-segments displayed significant growth, the compact SUVs (sub-four-metre) sub-segment led the charge in the SUV segment with 37 percent year-on-year growth, increasing their traffic contribution from 32 percent to 38 percent. 
Interesting is the rise in prices of hatchbacks in the Indian market with their average selling price getting close to the average selling price of SUVs. 
This is said to be one of the factors that is leading to a switch to SUVs. With executive SUVs witnessing the highest growth within the SUV category at 47 percent year-on-year increase (their share is rising from 15 percent to 19 percent respectively), the demand for SUVs is expected to rise steadily over the short and mid-term as existing as well as new infrastructure quality continues to be a matter of concern. The quality of infrastructure looks inversely proportional to the rise in toll tax ironically across highways and city roads. 
The midsize SUV sub-segment also performed well with a 31 percent year-on-year increase, as per the CarDekho.com statement.

Mass hatchback segment
In the mass hatchback segment, traffic grew by 28 percent year-on-year, driven largely by premium hatchbacks that make up 86 percent of the total traffic in the respective category. 
Premium hatchbacks experienced a 31 percent year-on-year growth, while mini hatchbacks grew by 20 percent. The micro hatchbacks saw a 22 percent decline in traffic (this includes cars like the Marut Alto).
With a shift in consumer interest away from smaller, ultra-compact vehicles evident, it is the SUVs that seem to benefit from rather than sedans. 
The sedans showed the lowest growth among all body types with an 18 percent year-on-year increase, maintaining a consistent 15 percent share of overall traffic. Despite this, the premium sedan segment saw a significant 65 percent year-on-year growth even though it is driven by just one model. The sub-segment’s contribution remains at only one percent of total site traffic.
“The continued growth of the SUV segment reflects a strong and evolving consumer preference within the automotive industry. SUVs have become the vehicle of choice for a wide range of buyers due to their versatility, enhanced driving comfort, and ability to meet the diverse needs of Indian consumers. Compact SUVs, in particular, have gained significant traction, offering the perfect combination of practicality and performance. As we see this segment expand, it's driving healthy competition, promoting innovation, and ultimately offering a wider range of choices to the Indian consumer. This surge signals a maturing market where consumers are increasingly discerning, pushing the industry to elevate its game across design, features, and value proposition,” said Mayank Jain, CEO, New Auto (CarDekho Group).

Luxury autos
On the luxury brand side, the CarDekho.com statement reads, that traffic rose by 17 percent year-on-year across all model pages. Although luxury vehicles continue to garner interest, their share of total traffic remains relatively low compared to mass market segments, it mentioned.

Image for representative purpose only
 

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Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has announced the official launch of the Volkswagen brand in Sri Lanka. The expansion is being executed in partnership with local automotive distributor Continental Cars and Commercials.

The brand has entered the market with two initial passenger vehicle models: the Taigun SUV and the Virtus sedan. Both product lines are manufactured at SAVWIPL’s Chakan production facility in Pune, India, and are exported to Sri Lanka as part of the company's regional manufacturing and export hub strategy.

To anchor the brand's retail presence, SAVWIPL and Continental Cars and Commercials have inaugurated an integrated 3S (Sales, Service, and Spares) dealership facility in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Colombo.

The facility features a built-up footprint of 18,713 square feet positioned across nearly one acre of land, and houses more than 20 active workshop service bays to manage customer after-sales requirements under a single roof.

The market entry aligns with stabilization trends within Sri Lanka's automotive retail sector and an increasing consumer demand for premium passenger vehicles.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director and CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Sri Lanka is a market with strong automotive passion and a deep appreciation for quality engineering. Volkswagen’s entry in the country marks not just the expansion of our footprint, but our long term strategy to leverage our scale, localisation and engineering capabilities to build sustainable growth beyond India. With our partner Continental Cars and Commercials Ltd, we are proud to introduce Volkswagen in Sri Lanka, beginning with the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan. Our focus is to build trust through reliability, customer centricity, and a premium ownership experience backed by strong service support.”

Jan Bures, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Digital, SAVWIPL, added, “With the Taigun and Virtus, we are introducing two products that address clear customer preferences in Sri Lanka’s premium passenger vehicle market. Our focus is to build the Volkswagen brand with the right product mix, a strong retail presence, and a dependable after-sales experience that gives customers confidence from day one. This is not just about expanding our horizons in South Asia, but also about creating a solid foundation for sustainable growth over the long term.”

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In a definitive strategic move to defend and expand its footprint in the entry-level passenger vehicle market, Tata Motors has launched its highly anticipated next-gen Tiago portfolio. The prices for the Tiago hatchback starts at INR 469,000 for the petrol variant and INR 579,000 for the CNG variant.

On the other hand, the Tiago.ev can also be had in a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model for INR 469,000 with a running cost of INR 2.6 per km, or an outright starting price of INR 699,000.

The popular hatchback portfolio spanning across conventional internal combustion engines (ICE), innovative Twin-Cylinder iCNG technology and battery-electric derivatives, is part of Tata Motors’ multi-powertrain offensive targeting a vital segment that continues to command a meaningful 20 percent volume share of the Indian automotive landscape.

Interestingly, since its introduction in 2016, the Tiago hatchback has gone on to sell over 700,000 customers.

To counter structural segment shifts toward compact utility vehicles, the next-gen Tiago features a more substantial stance on the road, engineered to feel wider, taller and more planted. Exterior styling upgrades include premium Lux Beam LED headlamps, LED DRLs, Halo Lightbar connected tail lamps and R15 diamond-cut dynamic alloy wheels.

Inside, Tata Motors has standardised high-end interfaces, led by a freestanding ‘Ultra View’ 26.03cm HD touchscreen infotainment console and a digital island cluster. Highlighting the shift toward standalone displays,

As Anand Kulkarni, Product Line Head for Electric Passenger Vehicles, Tata Motors, explained, "Larger screens with smaller bezels and exuding modernity is something that people see around them and they expect that in their car also."

He further noted that with rising production scales, "The costs are no longer as prohibitive as they were at a certain point of time, we should allow customers to benefit from that."

Managing a unified architecture that accommodates Petrol, CNG cylinders and high-voltage battery packs introduces significant manufacturing and development complexity.

Kulkarni pointed out that varying mass distributions across fuel types require precise tuning to maintain segment-best driving dynamics. "Fortunately, in the electric vehicle, I get a great setup because of the battery being spread underneath and sort of balancing itself out," Kulkarni shared, adding that for conventional formats, "We work on spring rates. We work on damping. We work on elastomer stiffnesses in order to create the differences that we expect out of the vehicle."

Tata Motors is doubling down on safety by establishing a protective ‘Safety Dome’ framework constructed from ultra-high-strength steel. The safety package features 6 airbags as standard across all personas, alongside a 360-degree high-definition surround-view camera system and a segment-first Blind View Monitor.

On the green mobility front, the Tiago.ev consolidates its established first-mover advantage of over 75,000 units on Indian roads. The next-generation EV incorporates an updated fast-charging architecture capable of adding 100 km of range in just 18 minutes via a 30 kW DC fast charger.

To maximise customer retention and transition confidence, Tata Motors is backing the private, first-owner 24 kWh long-range variant with a Lifetime high-voltage battery and motor warranty, setting a definitive benchmark for long-term ownership security in urban electric mobility.

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JSW MG Motor India has officially launched the MG Majestor as its D+ segment sport utility vehicle (SUV) at prices starting INR 4.09 million (ex-showroom) for the 4x2 top trim variant.

The MG Majestor replaces the outgoing Gloster as the flagship IC-powered vehicle in the carmaker's domestic lineup. The SUV is available in two drivetrain configurations. The 4x2 Automatic Top Trim is available in 6-seater and 7-seater layouts, while the 4x4 Automatic Top Trim, priced at INR 4.49 million (ex-showroom), can be had only in a 7-seater layout.

It measures 5,046 mm in length, 2,016 mm in width and 1,870 mm in height, with a total wheelbase of 2,950 mm. The SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic torque-converter transmission, generating an output of 215.5 PS and 478.5 Nm of torque.

For off-road application, the 4x4 variant incorporates an all-terrain management system featuring 10 terrain-specific drive modes, a dedicated Crawl Control function, a 219 mm ground clearance and an 810 mm water-wading depth threshold. It is claimed to be the first vehicle in its segment to feature triple differential locks across the front, centre and rear axles to manage power delivery over low-traction surfaces.

The MG Majestor features Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to manage steering assist, adaptive deceleration, collision warning and automated emergency braking. Standard structural safety systems include six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking (ABS), traction control, roll movement intervention (RMI) and a 360-degree high-definition camera network.

The cabin architecture features a black upholstery layout paired with a panoramic sunroof and 64-colour ambient lighting.

In terms of creature comforts, it gets a 12-way electrically adjustable driver's seat and 8-way passenger seat equipped with heating, cooling and localised massage programs. A dual-screen interface linking a 12.3-inch infotainment unit with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Integrated iSMART system supporting over 75 connected-car features alongside wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  A 12-speaker JBL surround-sound system, dual wireless smartphone charging docks, a three-zone automatic climate control module and a 220V auxiliary power outlet.

MG Majestor customers will also a unique ownership program under ‘MG Shield’, which includes a three-year unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, three years of roadside assistance and three labour-free periodic maintenance services.

Furthermore, JSW MG Motor India is also offering an assured buyback program guaranteeing of up to 70 percent of the MG Majestor’s residual value over a specified operational tenure.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “The MG Majestor marks a bold addition to our portfolio as India’s first D+ SUV, delivering a powerful blend of performance, premium comfort, advanced technology and superior reliability. With its unmatched dimension, off-road mastery and multiple segment-first features, the Majestor sets new benchmarks and offers a truly differentiated value proposition in the Indian SUV landscape."

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Chinese automotive major Changan Automobile and Brazil-based Kawa Group (CAOA Group) have opened an automated manufacturing line in Annapolis, Brazil and commenced production of the first locally built Changan Uni-T sport utility vehicle (SUV).

The launch event was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, Zhou Qingqiao.

The vehicle assembly line represents the beginning of a USD 950 million investment cycle spanning 2026 to 2028. This capital follows USD 570 million deployed between 2023 and 2025, bringing the total joint allocation to USD 1.52 billion.

The funding is intended to establish an annual production capacity of 90,000 vehicles. The expansion project aligns with Changan's global growth initiative, known as the ‘Vast Ocean Plan.’

The Uni-T was developed over three years by a team of 200 Chinese and Brazilian engineers. The model is powered by a 1.5-litre Blue Core Flex turbocharged engine featuring direct fuel injection. The powertrain was modified by Kawa Group to operate on flexible-fuel configurations, allowing the use of ethanol-petrol blends.

To validate durability and thermal efficiency across different climates, the SUV underwent a 200,000-kilometre testing program prior to standard production.

Following the introduction of the flexible-fuel model, Changan plans to expand its local production network to include hybrid and electric powertrains. The Chinese automaker also intends to establish more than 60 commercial dealerships across the region by the end of 2026 to support its broader distribution network.

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