Toyota Kirloskar Motor is looking to expand its manufacturing footprint in India, with a new facility in Maharashtra. The automaker has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra, to examine the setting-up of a green field manufacturing facility at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) over a multi-year investment. 

The new facility the company believes will enhance its ability to meet business and logistics requirements more efficiently and serve wider markets within India and exports.

Masakazu Yoshimura, MD and CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Regional CEO at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) said, “Toyota Motor Corporation believes that India is well positioned to become a global manufacturing hub for cleaner and greener mobility solutions. This belief was reinforced with the recent regional restructuring which elevated India to play central role by being integrated into the Middle East, East Asia & Oceania Region and acting as the hub of the new ‘India, Middle East, East Asia & Oceania Region’. Today’s MoU signing marks a pivotal point as we stride into the next phase of growth in the country enabling us to contribute to enriching lives with qualitative mobility solutions locally and globally.”

Manasi Tata, Vice-Chairperson, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “For us at the company, the last 25 years of operational excellence from our Bidadi Plant has created the foundation for future direction of Toyota in India. Our strategic focus on ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ will enable us to implement sustainable, long-term growth strategy which will enable us to offer cleaner greener mobility solutions to our customers and act as a catalyst towards Government’s roadmap of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.”

Swapnesh Maru, Deputy MD, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “The State of Karnataka has helped us to firmly establish ourselves as a tested base for manufacturing excellence. Proposal for the Green Field Manufacturing Facility at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar continues our commitment to advancing sustainable mobility in India. This will act as a tipping point to unlock the potential of Marathwada region, unleashing its entrepreneurial capabilities and providing new age skills to its youth so as to bring Marathwada as a key contributor to Maharashtra’s growth.”

At present, Toyota Kirloskar Motor already operate two state-of-the-art manufacturing units located at Bidadi, Karnataka. The company along with its group companies has already invested more than INR 160 billion and created close to 86,000 jobs in the entire value chain (including supplier and dealer partners). Toyota’s cumulative export contributions also stand at around INR 320 billion.

The Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra was exchanged today by Dr. Harshadeep Kamble (IAS), Principal Secretary (Industries), Government of Maharashtra and Sudeep Santram Dalvi, Director & Chief Communications Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor in the august presence of Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and other key dignitaries. Also present at the event from Toyota Kirloskar Motor were Masakazu Yoshimura, MD and CEO of Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Regional CEO at Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC); Manasi Tata, Vice-Chairperson Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Swapnesh R. Maru, Deputy Managing Director Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

It is also important to note that in 2023, Toyota Kirloskar Motor announced fresh investments of about INR 33 billion for a new third plant in Bidadi facility. This expansion, aimed at contributing to Make-in-India, increases TKM’s production capacity by 100,000 units, annually thus further adding to the growth of local ecosystem of suppliers and job creation of over 2,000 direct employment in Karnataka. With this third plant expansion going mainstream in 2026, the company’s annual production capacity at Bidadi is expected to be augmented to 442,000 annually.

Prior to this in the year 2022, Toyota Group of companies that constitutes of Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts (TKAP) had signed and announced their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Karnataka to invest INR 41 billion aimed at making deeper cuts in CO2 emissions and enhance electrification and fast pace shift towards greener technologies.

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JSW MG Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced its wholesales for August.

The company marked a 52 percent growth YoY last month when it sold 6,578 units, as against 4,323 units a year ago.

The OEM attributed the healthy performance to the start of the festive season, which marked the highest deliveries for the automaker this year. The MG Windsor EV and the MG Comet EV saw a 5 percent 21 percent growth over July.

Furthermore, the company has been expanding its dealer network with three new facilities being inaugurated last month. With this the company now has over 543 sales and aftersales touchpoints across 270 cities, which enables to cover 90 percent of India’s geographical footprint.

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BMW India has released the new BMW X5 at prices starting INR 10.03 million (ex-showroom). The cars are produced at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai and come with petrol and diesel engine options.

The ex-showroom prices for the new variants are as follows:

• BMW X5 xDrive30d: INR 10.23 million
• BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport Pro: 11.5 million
• BMW X5 xDrive40i: INR 10.03 million
• BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport Pro: INR 11.3 million

The new X5 models include a BMW Widescreen Curved Display, which combines a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display. The cars also feature Comfort Seats with electric adjustments and lumbar support. Standard equipment includes a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and a 4-zone automatic climate control system.

Both the petrol and diesel engines are equipped with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The 3-litre 6-cylinder in-line petrol engine of the X5 xDrive40i produces 381 hp and 520 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.4 seconds. The 3-litre 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine of the X5 xDrive30d produces 286 hp and 650 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds. Both engines also feature a 48V electrical motor.

The xOffroad package is now available for the X5, providing four driving modes: xSand, xRocks, xGravel and xSnow. The package also includes reinforced underbody protection.

Safety systems on the new X5 include Parking Assistant Professional with Surround View Camera, Reversing Assistant and Drive Recorder. The cars are also equipped with airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and an electronic immobiliser.

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Maruti Suzuki True Value (MSTV), India's leading pre-owned car retail network, has attained a new sales milestone of selling over 6 million cars since its launch in 2001, which includes 492,697 vehicles in FY2024–25 alone.

The milestone, the company shared, highlights the channel's sustained growth and its status as a preferred choice for consumers seeking quality pre-owned vehicles.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, "As we celebrate the 6 million sales milestone, we are deeply grateful to all our valued customers for their trust in True Value cars," he said. "Established over two decades ago, Maruti Suzuki True Value has consistently been a top consideration for a diverse demography of customers as a reliable and safe pre-owned car channel."

Banerjee also noted that MSTV is especially popular with younger buyers, with an average customer age of 31. Eighty-five per cent of True Value customers are first-time car owners. The company's focus on "industry-leading services" is designed to provide customers with "complete peace of mind."

All Maruti Suzuki True Value-certified vehicles undergo a rigorous 376-point quality check and are refurbished with genuine Maruti Suzuki parts. The company stated it verifies each car's service history and documentation before it is offered for sale. To further build customer confidence, certified cars come with a warranty of up to one year and three free services.

At present, the company’s network includes 606 showrooms across 305 cities in India.

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Skoda has released a teaser video offering the first look inside its upcoming Vision O concept car, revealing a new interior design language. The car will be officially unveiled on 8th September in Munich.

The interior showcases the next evolution of the brand’s Modern Solid design philosophy, focusing on a customer-centric and sustainable approach. The design emphasises a spacious layout with clean lines for a harmonious feel.

Oliver Stefani, Head of Skoda Design, said, “The interior design concept of the Vision O showcases our commitment to combining simplicity and sustainability with enhanced comfort. The combination of clean lines and intuitive functionality reflect our efforts to create a harmonious and functional interior. It features materials and design elements that are not only aesthetically an evolution of our Modern Solid design language but also emphasise environmental responsibility.”

The interior features a minimalist, ergonomic design that prioritises practicality and intuitive functionality. It includes unique 3D-printed headrests for a comfortable and airy feel. Following circular economy principles, the materials used throughout the cabin are sustainable, with a focus on plant-based and compostable components to reduce the car’s environmental impact.

The Vision O will be a look at the future of Skoda’s estate segment.

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