Valeo has announced that its board of directors appointed Christophe Périllat as chief executive officer.

Jacques Aschenbroich will continue to be the chairman until the end of his current term of office as a director, the company said in a statement.

The board thanked Jacques Aschenbroich, expressing its profound gratitude for his exceptional record during his 13 years as head of Valeo Group, during which Valeo doubled in size and its market capitalisation increased more than sevenfold. 

Under Aschenbroich, Valeo has positioned itself amongst the world leaders in the most promising segments of the automotive industry, such as driving assistance systems and electrification.

Périllat has good expertise in the automotive sector and intimate knowledge of Valeo, where he has been working for more than 20 years. 

Aschenbroich said, "This governance evolution is the culmination of a gradual succession plan announced in October 2020, which has been moving forward under excellent conditions. I am delighted with the decision to appoint Christophe Périllat as chief executive officer. I am convinced that with the quality of his career with the Group for over 20 years and his in-depth knowledge of the automotive sector, he will be able to guide Valeo through the ongoing automotive revolution and define the strategic orientations that are necessary to strengthen its leadership and seize all opportunities in the years to come. Along with our 110,300 employees, I will continue to support him in my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors."

Périllat said, "I would like to thank Jacques Aschenbroich and the board of directors for their vote of confidence in appointing me as chief executive officer. I am extremely enthusiastic about taking up this role and I know I can count on all our employees, who are ready to face any challenge. I am fully aware of my responsibility to all our stakeholders, customers, employees, business partners and shareholders, and I want to assure them of my strong will to continue developing the Group and strengthening even more its position at the forefront of the most dynamic segments of the automotive industry, everywhere in the world."

Meanwhile, Valeo has reported a five percent increase in sales at EUR 17.3 billion for full-year 2021 compared to the sale in 2020. The company’s EBITDA margin reached 13.4 per cent of sales in 2021 due to the “robust operational efficiency of its plants and the tight control over its research and development expenditures.”

Perillat said, “In the difficult context of a severe worldwide shortage of electronic components, which drastically limited 2021 automotive production, Valeo demonstrated strong resilience, supplying its customers without disruption, maintaining tight control over its costs and delivering a solid financial performance. The inventory increase implemented to protect our customers will be gradually reversed in 2022, as supply conditions improve. I would like to thank all the Valeo teams that made this performance possible." (MT)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Tata Sierra has entered the India Book of Records for maximum fuel efficiency in 12 hours. In a certified run at NATRAX Indore, the Sierra delivered an exceptional 29.9 kmpl mileage, surpassing the previous national benchmark. The feat was executed by the Pixel Motion team, that drove the 1.5-lire Hyperion-engine powered Sierra continuously from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on 30 November 2025 with brief halts for driver swaps. The record was officially validated the same day.
The new 1.5-litre Hyperion petrol engine, engineered to deliver high efficiency without compromising refinement, performance or drivability, has an advanced combustion system, torque-rich performance band and friction-optimised architecture. 
The compact SUV also achieved a top speed of 222 kmpg at the track under specified test conditions. 
“Setting a national efficiency record so early in the Sierra’s journey is a proud moment for us. The Hyperion engine platform was built to push the boundaries of what petrol powertrains can achieve, and this milestone validates that effort. It strengthens the Sierra’s value proposition for customers and underlines TMPV’s commitment to bringing advanced, efficient and future-ready technologies to the market," said Mohan Savarkar, Chief Product Officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles. 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Matthew Bowden is concluding a successful four-year tenure as Director of Škoda UK, departing to assume the role of Head of International Sales for Škoda Auto. Under his leadership, the UK market achieved significant growth, rising to become the brand's third largest global market and consistently exceeding performance records while maintaining a market share beyond four percent.

His successor, Eric Boutin, will join the Volkswagen Group UK board of management as Director of Škoda UK in the first quarter of 2026. Boutin brings extensive international experience from pivotal markets including Canada, China and United States. He is currently responsible for Škoda Auto's global customer experience programme, with direct oversight of the worldwide retail network and omnichannel integration, and is spearheading the brand's overarching customer centricity transformation.

This strategic leadership transition aims to leverage Bowden's commercial acumen on a global scale while injecting Boutin's specialised customer-focused expertise into the UK operations.

Damien O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group UK, said, “Matthew has made a significant contribution towards Škoda’s evolution and growth over the past four years. I’m grateful for all he’s done for the brand and the Group and wish him well in his new role. I’m looking forward to welcoming Eric to the UK board of management and am sure his global experience and customer focus will support the brand’s future ambitions and Human Touch proposition.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has revealed that it will launch the XUV 7XO, which is based on the XUV 700, on 05 January 2026. A premium SUV segment vehicle, the XUV 7XO, the company claims, will be a gamechanger. Said to have been crafted to inspire and engineered to excite, combining the proven strengths of the XUV700 with superior design, technology, comfort and performance, the XUV 7XO is expected to be a feature a fascia with the new signature grille design and '7'-shape sleeker LED head lamps. 
Claimed to draw an amount of design and styling details from the new seven-seater electric SUV the company introduced recently, the XUV 7XO is expected to built on the technologies that made the XUV 700 a competitively priced tech savvy SUV with monocoque construction and an option of an AWD. As an ICE vehicle the 7XO is expected to further the gamut of features found on the XUV 700, including the ADAS Level 2 suite. 

The XUV 7XO is expected to replace the XUV 700 over a period of time if not immediately. 

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

BMW India has enhanced its top-selling premium electric vehicle, the locally produced iX1 Long Wheelbase, with a new exterior colour and expanded upholstery selections, available for booking nationwide. The model now presents a fresh Night Dusk Blue metallic paint, deepening its sophisticated and commanding aesthetic alongside existing shades like Carbon Black and Mineral White. Inside, the cabin gains two new sustainably sourced vegan leather options: Veganza Smoke White + Atlas Grey dual tone and Veganza Castanea. These are distinguished by a premium 3D stitching pattern, emphasising both craftsmanship and modern, eco-conscious luxury.

A defining interior design philosophy, the 'Cocooning Effect’, extends the chosen upholstery colour cohesively across the cabin. This approach envelops the door panels, dashboard and speaker mesh, creating a harmonious and immersive environment that is both plush and visually continuous. The iX1 LWB’s interior is characterised by a spacious, modern design that merges innovative functionality with superior materials.

As the brand’s highest-selling electric model, the iX1 has been pivotal to BMW’s leadership in India’s luxury EV segment. The company has consistently adapted the vehicle to market preferences, introducing features like the Surround View Camera and now refreshing its colour and trim options. In under a year, it has become the best-selling electric vehicle in its premium category.

The vehicle combines practicality with sustainability, boasting segment-leading dimensions that make it one of the longest five-seater SUVs in India. Its bold exterior stance is matched by advanced fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. This integrated drive unit delivers 204 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, powered by a 66.4 kWh battery capable of up to 531 kilometres on a single charge. Features like adaptive recuperation and one-pedal driving further enhance efficiency and convenience, solidifying its position as a comprehensive premium electric package.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!