Team MRF Tyres has won the final round of European Rally Championship 2024 at the Rally of Silesia, Poland. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (ITA) steered the team to victory, participating in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and became the eighth different winner of the eight round 2024 FIA European Rally Championship.

Mabellini's maiden European career triumph was made possible by the exceptional performance of the Italian crew, who was placed second in the last championship round at the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion. As the first Italian to win a European rally outside of Italy in 13 years, this is a noteworthy outcome. With this outcome, Mabellini concluded the season in fourth position, just a few points below third place, and made a substantial contribution to Team MRF Tyres' second-place finish in the rankings.

As the only driver to fight two-time European champion and former WRC driver Hayden Paddon, Mabellini was in the running from the beginning, finishing second in the opening show stage. After a fierce duel that lasted down to the tenths of a second, Mabellini's triumph on SS11 on Day 2 marked a turning point and put him in the lead. The pivotal moment came three stages from the finish: following a largely dry rally, the rain and shifting weather conditions made tyre selection extremely important. Mabellini showed maturity by driving with both speed and precision while Team MRF Tyres made no mistakes. By the finish, he had increased his advantage from a slim 1.9-second cushion to 18.3 seconds.

Amaury Molle (B) and Alex Dubois (FRA) of Team MRF Tyres also finished in Katowice with their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. After an accident at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín two months ago, the Belgian driver returned and showed steady performance. Molle fought hard to restore confidence and consistency, achieving outstanding times, including sixth on SS11, despite the extremely unpredictable circumstances.

Mabellini said, “I’m extremely happy. I want to thank Team MRF Tyres for believing in me from the start. We’ve worked hard together, and achieving this result is a huge satisfaction for all of us. A big thanks also to Virginia, who understands me perfectly, guides me, and without whom I wouldn’t be able to give my best, and to everyone who supported us from Italy. It’s been an incredible weekend, a season finale to remember. We’re enjoying this moment.”

Molle said, “It’s been a weekend full of positives. I know it will take time to fully regain my rhythm and the confidence to push at 100 percent, but I felt a great connection with the car, and Alex and I did a good job, improving stage by stage. We made a small mistake on the final stage but that doesn’t change our outlook on the weekend’s result. Thanks to Team MRF Tyres for this opportunity; now we have the winter to prepare and focus on our 2025 season.”

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Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has reported its wholesales for September 2026 and H1 of FY2027.

Last month, the company sold a total of 706,266 units, up 24 percent YoY, as compared to 568,164 units a year ago. In the domestic market, sales grew 26 percent from 505,693 units, to 636,768 units, while exports grew 11 percent to 69,498 units, as compared to 62,471 units last year.

For H1 FY2027, sales grew 15 percent YoY to 3.44 million units, as compared to 2.99 million units.  Domestic volumes grew 13 percent YoY to 3.04 million units, compared to 2.68 million units a year ago, while exports grew 27 percent YoY to 396,000 units, compared to 311,517 units a year ago.

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Italian two-wheeler maker Aprilia India has launched its all-new SXR GT range of scooters, introducing a new model lineup engineered for urban commuting and longer-distance travel.

The scooter range is available in two air-cooled powertrain configurations: the 175cc hp-e and the 125cc hp-e. The 175cc hp-e engine generates 9.76 kW at 7,200 rpm and 14.14 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. The 125cc hp-e engine produces 7.8 kW at 7,400 rpm and 10.4 Nm of torque at 6,200 rpm. Both engines comply with BSVI OBD II Stage B regulations and are compatible with E20 fuel blends.

Diego Graffi, Chairman and MD of Piaggio Vehicles, said: "We see significant headroom for premiumisation in India’s scooter market as customers increasingly seek products that deliver a richer and more differentiated ownership experience. The future of premium urban mobility will be defined not by getting from one point to another, but by how people experience the journey. Today’s riders expect performance, comfort, technology and individuality in equal measure. The new Aprilia SXR GT range embodies that shift, bringing Aprilia’s performance DNA and Italian design together with the versatility demanded by modern Indian lifestyles. Our 2-wheeler ambition is clear: to keep challenging established conventions and introduce products that expand what consumers can expect from the premium scooter segment."

The SXR GT features 14-inch wheels and a front LED headlight assembly. The SXR GT 125 is offered in Matte Black, Glossy Azzurro, and Glossy White, while the SXR GT 175 is available in Metallic Blue, Matte Black, and Matte Green.

Instrumentation varies by model variant. The SXR GT 175 features a 5-inch TFT screen with integrated handlebar controls, Bluetooth connectivity, music management, call management, and turn-by-turn navigation, alongside single-channel front-wheel ABS. The SXR GT 125 is fitted with a 5-inch LCD cluster, a 220 mm front disc brake, and a 140 mm rear drum brake. Optional factory accessories for the range include a manually adjustable windshield, a perimeter protection kit, and a rear top box.

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Chennai-headquartered mid-sized motorcycle maker Royal Enfield has reported its wholesales of 133,958 units in September 2026, representing an 8 percent YoY growth, compared to 124,328 units sold last year.

In the domestic market, sales grew 7 percent YoY to 121,326 units from 113,573 units last year. Exports grew 17 percent to 12,632 units compared to 10,755 units a year ago.

B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors and CEO, Royal Enfield, said, "Building on our momentum this year, we achieved our highest-ever monthly dispatches in September 2026. As we enter the festive period, we are continuing solid business performance supported by key product interventions. Celebrating a decade of the Himalayan brand, we launched the Himalayan 440 earlier this month and witnessed overwhelming response from the community far exceeding our expectations. Our electric journey also saw a major milestone as the Flying Flea C6 entered Europe and the UK, starting with five major cities. On the culture front, our global community came together like never before, with a record 150,000+ riders joining One Ride across the world in support of snow leopard conservation. Furthermore, being recognized as the winner in the Two-Wheeler OEM category at the FADA Dealer Satisfaction Survey 2026 for the second consecutive year is a true testament to the strength of our partner ecosystem. With positive customer sentiment and a strong booking pipeline across our networks, we are scaling up production, inventory and channel readiness to cater to the festive season."

The company introduced the Himalayan 440 in Sela Black, Mustang Brown and Nelong White, equipped with a 443cc engine and a six-speed gearbox. For European markets, Royal Enfield launched its electric motorcycle line, the Flying Flea C6, establishing retail points and service infrastructure across Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin and London, with deliveries scheduled for October 2026.

Royal Enfield also updated the Classic 350 with a Signature White variant featuring an assist and slipper clutch, adjustable levers, USB Type-C charging and navigation hardware as standard equipment.

In international markets, the company launched the Guerrilla 450 Apex and Goan Classic 350 in the Philippines, while introducing the Bullet 650 and Guerrilla Apex 450 in Cambodia.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto recorded total wholesales of 538,443 units in September 2026, representing a 5 percent increase compared to 510,504 units sold last year.

The company sold a total of 294,456 units in the domestic market, down 9 percent YoY, while total exports rose 32 percent YoY to 243,987 units.

Two-wheeler sales for September 2026, reached 451,494 units, reflecting a 5 percent YoY as against 430,853 units last year. In the domestic market sales declined 12 percent to 239,771 units, down from 273,188 units a year ago.

On the other hand exports grew 34 percent to 211,723 units compared to 157,665 units in September 2025.

Three-wheeler sales witnessed growth across both domestic and international markets. Total wholesales rose 9 percent to 86,949 units from 79,651 units last year. In the domestic market 5 percent to 54,685 units, while exports grew 17 per cent to 32,264 units.

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