Shally Mohile

Mahindra Last Mile Mobility has achieved unicorn status after a substantial funding round. This investment solidifies their leadership in India's electric commercial vehicle market. The company plans an initial public offering in the second half of this financial year. Their electric three-wheelers have seen significant sales growth and market penetration. Mahindra aims to deploy one million electric vehicles on Indian roads by 2031.

Mahindra & Mahindra announced a thirty-four percent profit increase for the fiscal first quarter. Robust demand for sport utility vehicles and tractors fueled this significant financial growth. Higher commodity costs, however, did impact the company's profit margins during this period. Group companies also provided strong financial contributions to the overall results. The company maintained its full-year financial guidance despite these challenges.

Indian carmakers are absorbing rising commodity costs to sustain production levels. Demand for vehicles remains robust, driving sales growth since last October. Companies are controlling costs and expanding capacity to meet customer needs. This approach prioritizes production over short-term profit margins. Price increases are being implemented cautiously to offset cost pressures.

Electric vehicle sales nearly doubled in July, showing robust growth momentum. Sharply higher fuel prices are pushing consumers towards more affordable personal transportation options. This strong performance boosted electrics' share in new car sales to 7.8% last month. Major carmakers are ramping up production capacity to meet increasing demand.

JSW Group plans a new entity for its Volkswagen alliance talks. This partnership will focus on mass-market VW and Skoda vehicles. Manufacturing assets and operations will transfer to the new standalone company. JSW aims for majority economic interest and leadership in the joint venture. Both companies target signing an agreement in the coming weeks.

As per the agreement, currently under negotiations, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India's manufacturing plant in Chakan in Maharashtra, employees, vehicle

Goods and services tax cuts offer carmakers a crucial buffer against rising commodity prices. Companies are employing various strategies to minimize product price increases and sustain demand. Internal cost reductions and selective price adjustments help absorb commodity shocks. Automakers are working to further reduce production costs for future resilience. Industry growth is expected to moderate from October onwards.

Volkswagen Group is open to ceding majority control in its Indian operations to a local partner as Skoda Auto moves closer to signing an MoU within weeks. Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said majority ownership “is not an issue”, stressing that a partnership could deliver greater scale, local decision-making and investment capacity.

Volkswagen plans to enter Indias sub-four-metre SUV segment next year with a compact SUV, aiming to expand beyond its limited portfolio and reach the mass market. CEO Thomas Schafer said the company also wants to clearly differentiate Volkswagen from Skoda and Cupra while using shared technology. The new model could also become an export product from India.

JSW MG Motor India is pushing for lower taxes on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The company targets 70% localization for its Windsor and Hector Tomahawk models. Discussions are underway for the next investment phase with Chinese partner SAIC. JSW MG plans to increase its annual vehicle sales significantly in the coming years. The automaker aims to expand its production capacity beyond current plans.