Japanese automotive major Honda Motor Co has appointed Takashi Nakajima as the new President and CEO of Honda Cars India (HCIL) effective 1 April 2025.

He will succeed Takuya Tsumura, who is set to move to Japan at Honda head office after completing his India tenure.

The carmaker shared that Tsumura played a key role in strengthening Honda Cars India’s brand positioning in the country, along with driving profitability and customer centric solutions. He played a key role in introducing new models including the Honda City e:HEV, Honda Elevate SUV, 3rd Gen Amaze.

Tsumura is also credited for laying a strong foundation for future model launches including Honda’s first electric vehicle for India.

On the other hand, Nakajima joined Honda in 1994 and has been associated with Honda Motor Co. for more than three decades. He comes with vast experience working in several international markets such as Japan, China, Spain, Czech Republic and Russia. He has held different roles across Business Planning, Product Planning, Marketing and Sales Promotion. He last severed as the President of Honda Motor Russia since 2021.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has introduced the ‘Vibe’ edition to the Grand i10 NIOS model range with prices starting INR 709,400 for the manual transmission version.

The update targets a customer base that has exceeded 500,000 buyers since the model's inception. This edition includes the Sportz Vibe and Sportz (O) Vibe variants, featuring design and hardware changes alongside the addition of a dashcam.

The interior of the Vibe edition is finished in black with red inserts, while the exterior features black painted alloy wheels. Further upgrades include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen audio system with smartphone integration, automatic air conditioning and cruise control.

The Sportz (O) Vibe variant also incorporates a smart key with push-button start. Safety features across the range include six airbags and a highline tyre pressure monitoring system.

A primary addition to the Vibe and Asta trims is a dashcam that provides multiple recording modes, such as driving, emergency and vacation recording. The system allows users to download video and capture photos via a mobile application. The Vibe edition is powered by a 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine and is available with either a five-speed manual or an automated manual transmission (AMT).

The Sportz Vibe edition is priced from INR 709,400 for the manual version and INR 761,400 for the AMT. The Sportz (O) Vibe AMT is available at INR 773,400, while the updated Asta variant ranges from INR 750,700 to INR 8,02,600. Hyundai has also introduced a Titan Grey Matte colour option to the Grand i10 NIOS line-up.

Amit Dhaundiyal, Head of Product Strategy & Planning, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At Hyundai Motor India Limited, we are constantly evolving our product offerings to align with the aspirations of our customers. The introduction of the Vibe edition in the Grand i10 NIOS reflects our commitment to delivering enhanced value, style and convenience to new-age buyers. Alongside the Vibe edition, the addition of Dashcam in both the Vibe edition and Asta variant addresses the growing focus on road safety while also adding engaging features like photo capture and more. Further, the introduction of the new Titan Grey Matte colour resonates with the lifestyle and aspirations of our customers.”

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JSW MG Motor India has announced that its recently introduced MG Majestor has established a Guinness World Records title for the heaviest train pulled by a sports utility vehicle on rail. The vehicle towed a 406.4 tonne train over a distance of 300 feet on a railway section between Kakapora and Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir. This performance exceeded the qualifying benchmarks of 400 tonnes and 100 feet.

The attempt used a production vehicle without modifications to the engine, drivetrain, or traction systems. The train consisted of a WAG-9HC locomotive, passenger coaches and a guard coach.

Independent experts monitored the event to confirm that the movement was powered solely by the SUV and that no external propulsion was used. The vehicle is equipped with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine producing 215.5 PS and 478.5 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The SUV features triple differential locks, a four-wheel-drive system with 10 modes and Level 2 ADAS technology. JSW MG Motor India has opened pre-reservations for the model at INR 41,000. The initial 3,000 customers are eligible for an ownership package including a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five services without labour charges.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, “This achievement is a powerful demonstration of what the MG Majestor is engineered to deliver. It reflects our focus on building vehicles that combine strength, precision and control, even in the most demanding conditions. With the Majestor, we are setting new benchmarks for capability while staying committed to delivering meaningful innovation and confidence to our customers.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced that cumulative sales of the Innova HyCross in India have surpassed 200,000 units. The milestone was achieved within 41 months of the model's launch in November 2022. The Innova HyCross is priced from INR 1.95 million (ex-showroom).

The Innova HyCross is built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The flagship powertrain features a 5th Generation Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric System, which combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an e-drive sequential shift.

The hybrid tech has a claimed power output of 137 kW (186 PS), which allows the vehicle to operate in electric (EV) mode for approximately 60 percent of the time during typical driving cycles. A 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine option is also available, delivering 129 kW (174 PS).

The Innova HyCross scored a 5-Star safety rating in the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).

It comes equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which includes active safety technologies to assist driver awareness. Interior features include powered Ottoman second-row seating, ventilated front seats, and over 65 connected vehicle functions.

Toyota provides an 8-year warranty on the hybrid battery for select variants. Ownership is supported by the T CARE ecosystem, a service framework covering the vehicle lifecycle from pre-sales to repurchase, including roadside assistance and periodic maintenance packages.

The achievement of this sales volume reinforces the model's position in the premium MPV segment and supports Toyota’s ‘multi-pathway’ strategy for carbon reduction through hybrid technology.

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are proud to celebrate a significant achievement of over 2 lakh Innova HyCross sales, highlighting the model’s strong legacy and enduring appeal among customers. This milestone also reflects growing customer trust in Toyota’s self-charging hybrid technology, along with the brand’s commitment to design, performance, comfort, and reliability. It further motivates us to continue delivering market-relevant products, advanced technologies, and a seamless ownership experience aligned with evolving customer expectations. We extend our sincere gratitude to our customers and remain confident that the Innova HyCross will continue to inspire confidence and set new benchmarks in the mobility ecosystem.”

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Mercedes-Benz India, one of the leading luxury carmakers in the country, has recorded its highest-ever fiscal sales, retailing 19,363 units during the April 2025 to March 2026 period.

The company marked an uptick of 7 percent in the Q1 2026, where the company delivered 5,131 units compared to 4,775 in Q1 2025.

The German luxury brand’s growth was primarily driven by the Top-End Luxury segment, which grew by 16 percent in FY2026 and now accounts for 27 percent of total sales. This category includes the S-Class, Mercedes-Maybach and the AMG range. Demand for certain models, such as the AMG G 63 and Maybach S-Class, has resulted in waiting periods of up to 12 months.

In contrast, the Entry Luxury segment saw an 18 percent decline. The company stated it would maintain a ‘value over volume’ strategy, prioritising feature-rich content and brand desirability over price-led volume incentives.

For Mercedes-Benz India, the Long Wheelbase (LWB) E-Class remains the highest-selling luxury car in the country. It continued to see robust demand for the C-Class, GLC and GLE SUVs.

Furthermore, contribution of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) now comprise 20 percent of all Top-End models sold. Within the luxury BEV segment (priced above INR 14 million), the company recorded 85 percent growth. The EQS SUV has emerged as the highest-selling luxury electric model for the brand. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the electric CLA on 24 April 2026 as its first ‘software-defined’ electric vehicle.

Under its ‘Go to Customer’ strategy, the company plans to open more than 20 luxury outlets in 2026. This expansion involves a INR 4.50 billion investment from franchise partners. New facilities are scheduled for Q2 2026 in emerging markets, including Visakhapatnam, Varanasi and Goa, alongside reinforcements in Mumbai and Pune.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Mercedes-Benz remains the most desirable luxury brand in India buoyed by strong customer loyalty for both our new and existing products. We are thrilled with the strong demand for our top-end luxury portfolio that set new benchmarks in the luxury segment with exclusivity and personalization. Similarly, a sustained demand for the ‘core’ segment underlines unwavering customer trust for winning products like the C-Class, LWB E-Class sedans and GLC and GLE SUVs.”

“Our product fireworks for 2026 will continue as we introduce two new AMGs for performance enthusiasts. We are enthused by the overwhelming response to new products like GLS Maybach, the V-Class and the CLA BEV, and customers can expect more desirable products planned across segments for the remaining quarters. Mercedes-Benz will maintain a sharp focus on superior product content and customer aspirations, reinforcing our strategy of value-led growth over volume aspirations,” he concluded.

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