India’s leading automobile manufacturer, Tata Motors organised the first ‘Millage Challenge Rally’ for its Nexon EV customers. The rally flagged off in Pune on Sunday, 17th of January, aimed to bust the electric vehicle range anxiety myths.

The rally covered a distance of 100kms in around two hours. As many as 50 Nexon EV customers participated in the rally, Mukund Mavalankar of Baner was declared the winner for achieving the highest range of 376 km.

The Mileage Challenge Rally gave owners a chance to get better acquainted with their electric car, learn new driving techniques, calculate the mileage per charge and also get recognised in the process.

The Nexon EV was launched in January 2020 and today is the most preferred EV in the country. The car is equipped with a powerful and high-efficiency 129 PS permanent-magnet AC motor, powered by a high capacity 30.2 kWh lithium-ion battery that is both dust and waterproof, up to IP67 standards. Furthermore, it offers 35 Mobile Apps based connected features, ranging from remote commands, vehicle tracking to driving behaviour analytics, navigation and remote diagnostics.

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Japanese luxury carmaker Lexus India has announced a performance update for its LM 350h luxury MPV, recording a 40 percent growth in November 2025. Cumulatively, the model saw a 15 percent increase in sales from January to November 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.

The LM 350h is positioned in the luxury mobility segment, targeting high-net-worth individuals. The vehicle is available in four-seater and seven-seater configurations and is designed as a mobile lounge.

The vehicle utilises hybrid technology to provide a silent ride and handling characteristics tailored for rear-seat comfort. The design follows the Lexus philosophy of Omotenashi (hospitality), focusing on the cabin environment.

Lexus India provides a service suite for owners, which includes:

• Lexus Luxury Care: Service packages available in Comfort, Relax, and Premiere tiers.
• Warranty: An 8-year vehicle warranty.
• Support: 5-year Roadside Assistance.

Demand for the LM 350h has been recorded across major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, “We are deeply grateful to our guests for the confidence they place in Lexus and for their continued support and enthusiasm for the Lexus LM 350h. The vehicle represents the ultimate in grandeur and refinement, where space, quietness, and the assurance of advanced hybrid technology come together, allowing guests to discover a new benchmark in luxury mobility. This sustained pan-India demand, from cities such as Delhi and Mumbai as well as Hyderabad, and Chennai, reflects a growing preference for thoughtfully designed private luxury lounges on wheels. As we look ahead, our priority remains to strengthen this connection through innovations that further enrich the Lexus journey in India.”

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Global NCAP, the automotive safety watchdog, has announced the latest results for its #SaferCarsForIndia campaign, with two models from Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, receiving mixed results.

The latest crash test result saw Global NCAP awarding the Maruti Suzuki Celerio a three-star rating for adult occupant protection following the inclusion of six airbags as standard. A previous version of the vehicle, equipped with two airbags, had received two stars for adult occupant safety and one star for child protection.

The technical evaluations of the six-airbag Celerio indicated protection levels ranging from good to marginal. The assessment noted that both the footwell and the bodyshell were unstable. Tests also showed exposure of children’s heads during front and side impacts.

On the other hand, the company’s popular sedan model the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz received a 1-star rating in the same assessment. The report for this model highlighted:

• The absence of side head protection.
• An unstable footwell and bodyshell.
• A lack of three-point seatbelts in all seating positions.

In contrast, Global NCAP reported that the new Dzire and Victoris models achieved five-star ratings.

Richard Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Global NCAP, said, “We are encouraged that Maruti Suzuki is committed to improving safety with five star performance for new models like the Dzire and Victoris, it remains disappointing however that some legacy models fall short.”

The results follow a commitment from Maruti Suzuki to increase safety standards across its future vehicle range.

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CARS24 has announced the promotion of Divanshu Saxena to Chief Business Officer (CBO) of its NBFC arm, CARS24 Financial Services.

In his new role, Saxena will oversee the strategy, growth and execution of the financial services division. His responsibilities include scaling lending operations, managing risk and maintaining profitability as the company develops its financial services platform.

Saxena previously managed the consumer financing business for LOANS24. During his tenure, the division recorded growth in finance penetration and contributions from non-retail lending. The company noted that his work focused on unit economics and portfolio quality.

Ruchit Agarwal, Co-Founder & Group CFO, CARS24, said, “Divanshu has played a pivotal role in building CARS24 Financial Services into a strong and institutionally sound business. His disciplined approach to growth, deep understanding of lending economics, and consistent execution have laid a solid foundation for scale. We are proud to elevate leaders from within, and as CBO, Divanshu will be central to shaping the next phase of growth for LOANS24.”

Before joining CARS24, Saxena served as a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) within the Financial Services and Industrial Goods practice. He is an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, where he graduated with a silver medal, and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), University of Delhi.

Divanshu Saxena said, “Building LOANS24 has been about creating a lending business that balances speed with discipline and growth with resilience. As CBO, my focus will be on scaling responsibly, strengthening our fundamentals, and continuing to build a financial services platform that earns long-term trust from customers and partners.”

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South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Group has announced executive appointments effective from 1st January 2026. The changes focus on the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDV) and the development of manufacturing technology.

In total, 219 executives have been promoted across the Group, comprising four Presidents, 14 Executive Vice Presidents, 25 Senior Vice-Presidents and 176 Vice Presidents. Approximately 30 percent of these promotions are within R&D and technology sectors.

Manfred Harrer has been promoted to President and Head of the R&D Division. Since joining in 2024, Harrer has managed vehicle development. His new role focuses on SDV competitiveness and development projects.

Juncheul Jung is promoted to President. Jung currently manages the Manufacturing Solutions and Procurement Divisions. His remit involves the Group's Software-Defined Factory (SDF) approach and the integration of robotics into production systems.

Yeong Il Choi becomes Executive Vice President and Head of Domestic Production. Choi also takes the role of Chief Safety Officer (CSO) for production facilities in South Korea.

The company also announced revamping leadership positions in its regional business, where it has appointed Seung Kyu Yoon as President of Kia North America Operations, Bo-Ryong Lee as President and CEO of Hyundai Steel Operations, Gang Hyun Seo as Head of Corporate Planning, Affiliate Business Optimisation, Sungwon Jee as Executive Vice-President, Hyundai Brand Marketing and Yongseok Shin as Executive Vice-President of HMG Business Intelligence Institute.

Hyundai Motor Group has internalised technologies including the 'Pleos Connect' infotainment system and 'Atria AI' for autonomous driving. Appointments in engineering include Jeonghun Seo in Battery Engineering and Duckhwan Kim in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Engineering.

Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair, continues to oversee the direction for mobility, hydrogen energy and robotics. Within the financial sector, Chang Hyun Cho (Hyundai Card) and Si Woo Jeon (Hyundai Commercial) have been promoted to Executive Vice-President.

"The appointments are intended to strengthen organisational resilience and expand the leadership pipeline across functions. In addition, the appointments reflect the Group’s commitment to turning global uncertainties into opportunities for renewal and growth. It will continue to advance bold leadership transformation and secure strong competitiveness in the SDV era," the company said.

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