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
 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the return of the BE 6 Batman Edition, a themed electric SUV developed in association with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The decision to reopen bookings follows the initial launch, where 999 units were sold in 135 seconds.

The EV available at INR 2.84 million is based on the top-end Pack Three 79 kWh variant of the BE 6. This second release provides a window for customers who missed the previous allocation. Priority for deliveries will be granted to new bookings referred by existing owners of the original 999 units.

The BE 6 Batman Edition incorporates design motifs from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. The exterior features a satin black colour with alchemy gold accents on the suspension and brake callipers. It sits on R20 alloy wheels.

External features include:

• Badging: BE 6 × The Dark Knight rear badging and signature stickers on door cladding.
• Emblems: The Bat emblem is placed on hub caps, quarter panels, bumpers, and windows.
• Lighting: Carpet lamps projecting the Bat emblem.
• Roof: An Infinity Roof featuring trilogy-inspired graphics.

On the inside, it gets a brushed alchemy gold Batman Edition plaque and pinstripe graphics on the dashboard. Suede and leather seating with gold sepia stitching and embossed emblems upholstery. Emblems on the ‘Boost’ button and custom detailing on the steering wheel and key fob. A digital themed welcome animation on the infotainment system and custom exterior engine sounds.

For customers interested in purchasing the limited-edition model, Mahindra has outlined the specific schedule for the procurement process:

• 6 March 2026: "Add Your Preference" window opens on the official website.
• 10 March 2026: Bookings commence at 11:00 AM for a 24-hour period.
• 10 April 2026: Commencement of vehicle deliveries.

Mahindra stated that the reopening of bookings is a response to demand across social media platforms. The technical architecture remains identical to the high-performance BE 6 electric platform, utilising the 79 kWh battery system for range and power delivery.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the commencement of Phase II of its ‘Buckle Up’ road safety initiative. The project is conducted in partnership with The Social Lab Foundation (TSL) and is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The second phase was inaugurated by Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, at Transport Bhawan. As part of the launch, Kia India and TSL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the programme’s geographic reach into Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand over the next two years.

Phase I, which ran from February 2024 to February 2026, focused on Gurugram in collaboration with local traffic police. Key outcomes included the installation of 750 crash barriers at high-risk locations and road safety education for 32,000 students across 100 schools.

Phase II (April 2026 – March 2028) shifts focus toward older students and expanded infrastructure. The programme aims to engage 20,000 students across 100 colleges using driving simulators and experiential modules to demonstrate real-world risks.

The initiative combines physical safety installations with behavioural training. Future infrastructure work includes placing additional crash barriers along the Delhi-Uttarakhand highway and in Gurgaon.

Key programme components for Phase II include:

• Simulated Training: Use of advanced driving simulators to teach safer driving behaviours to college students.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Continued installation of safety barriers in high-risk zones.
• Awareness Campaigns: Integrated on-ground and digital engagement programmes.
• Geographic Expansion: Operations extending across Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand.

Ajay Tamta, said, “Securing CMVR Type Approval for the Urbanova KE9 is a defining milestone for Keto Motors. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering dependable, high-performance electric mobility solutions designed specifically for Indian roads and fleet operators. With approvals in place, we are now focused on accelerating customer deployments and supporting India’s transition toward clean, zero-emission public transport.”

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, safety is a fundamental pillar of our mobility vision, extending beyond our vehicles to the communities we serve. ‘Buckle Up’ reflects our long-term commitment to creating safer mobility ecosystems through infrastructure enhancement and sustained behavioural change initiatives. With Phase II, we are scaling our efforts to reach young and first-time drivers while strengthening on-ground safety interventions. Through this initiative, we are proud to support the Government of India’s vision of safer roads and contribute meaningfully towards building a stronger culture of road safety across communities.”

Apoorva Sharma, Executive Director, TSL Foundation, added, “Our collaboration with Kia India in Phase I laid a strong operational foundation through targeted infrastructure and school-level engagement. With Phase II, we are building on these learnings to scale the programme across new geographies and age groups, further strengthening its impact through structured, experiential road safety interventions.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Zenvo Automotive, a manufacturer of limited-edition hypercars based in Præstø, Denmark, has appointed Mark Harrison as its new Chief Commercial Officer, bringing in a seasoned expert from the premium and performance car sector. His arrival marks a significant step in the company’s ambitious growth strategy as it prepares for the final development phase of its highly anticipated V12 Aurora hypercar. Harrison will oversee all commercial operations, including sales, marketing, public relations, global events and the expansion of the dealer network, working closely with the established leadership team comprising Chairman Jens Sverdrup, Chief Technical Officer Jon Gunner and Design Director Christian Brandt.

With three decades of industry experience, Harrison joins Zenvo from Praga Cars, having previously held influential management roles at McLaren Automotive and BMW Group, including its MINI division. His comprehensive understanding of the luxury automotive landscape is expected to be instrumental as the company moves towards the Aurora’s launch. Harrison’s appointment reinforces the management structure during this critical period, ensuring the commercial strategy aligns with the final engineering and design efforts to bring the new hypercar to market.

Jens Sverdrup, Chairman, Zenvo Automotive, said, “It is great to welcome Mark to the team, and to benefit from his experience and insight of the industry. We have known each other for many years, and our professional paths have crossed on several occasions, so I know first-hand what an impact he will be able to make. We are at an exciting part of the programme, and this appointment also highlights, once again, the talent that this project is attracting as we gear up for the launch of Aurora.”

Harrison said, “It’s really exciting to join Zenvo’s team and help bring to market a truly exceptional car in both its design and technical specification. I have admired the brand since the Aurora was announced and especially how the programme is pushing the boundaries in such a competitive sector. I have shared offices, showrooms, show stands and factories with great teams wherever I have worked, but this will be my first V12. I feel privileged to now have an opportunity to work together with this strong and passionate team helping bring this stunning car to market later this year.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Renault has unveiled the name of its latest show-car, the Bridger Concept, as part of its continued international expansion. This model serves as a precursor to a forthcoming production vehicle, specifically an urban SUV designed with new dimensions to accommodate the evolving needs of city-dwelling families.

The Bridger Concept stands out with its bold and robust design, featuring surprisingly compact proportions. Measuring under four metres in length, it maximises interior space, demonstrating that a smaller footprint does not necessitate a compromise on roominess. The name itself, derived from the English word ‘bridge’, was chosen for its connotations of strength, connection and linkage. This choice highlights the vehicle's assertive styling and reinforces the brand's commitment to fostering human connections within the cabin, a core aspect of its ‘voitures à vivre’ philosophy.

A comprehensive reveal of the Bridger Concept is scheduled for 10 March 2026. This unveiling will occur during the presentation of Renault Group's futuREady strategic plan, with the entire event being streamed live from the company's official events platform.

Explaining the thinking behind the name of the new show-car, Sylvia dos Santos, Head of Naming Strategy with Renault's Global Marketing Division, said, “With Renault Bridger, we are adding to our family of names based on English words.  This one comes from the word 'bridge', with the letters 'ER' added for identification. The name Renault Bridger is part of the same approach as the name of Renault Duster. It’s a powerful, robust and versatile name, ideal to identify our new urban SUV show-car and open a new page in our international offensive!”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!