Murali Gopalan

7 min read Having experienced the “offensive” (business development) and “defensive” (risk management) sides of banking, Kobayashi comes with a “relatively rare and well-balanced skill set” that should hold him in good stead at MBSI.

The company has been working closely with its supply chain and logistic partners to ensure continuity of operations and mitigate potential disruptions.

The company is focusing on re-skilling employees, redeploying talent across functions and using AI to improve quality, customer experience, reach and operational outcomes.

The Japanese automaker plans India-specific car launches with faster development cycles, while scaling its two-wheeler exports and leveraging the country's cost-competitive supplier base for global operations.

In FY26, Chetak crossed the 5-lakh sales milestone, expanding its footprint to over 500 exclusive outlets and nearly 3,000 motorcycle dealerships across 850 cities.

While the oil crisis may be accelerating consumer interest in EVs, Ather believes high commodity inflation and supply chain disruptions remain key industry challenges.

Following the strong response to Magnite and Gravite, Nissan is preparing to launch Tekton as it looks to build a winning portfolio across segments, while reinforcing India's growing role in its global strategy.

The latest collaboration adds another chapter to a partnership that outlived mergers, strategic overhauls and years of transformation in the global auto industry.

As fuel prices rise by over ₹7 per litre in 10 days, Indian consumers and the auto industry may face deeper inflation-led pressure on spending and mobility costs.

The Japanese automaker believes alliances are critical in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape where Chinese rivals are pulling out all the stops to gain global market share.