Category: Auto

TENS of thousands of Volkswagen vehicles have been recalled in the US after some engines began coming loose – risking starting a blaze.

The company is ordering the return of some crossover SUVs, including certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport cars made in 2024 and 2025.

VW Atlas 2024 is one of the models being recalledCredit: YouTube @Consumer ReportsA total of 177,493 have been recalled over fears they could have loose engine covers.

The manufacturer wants to check whether the covers were installed incorrectly after the cars were serviced.

Loose covers could make contact hot engine surfaces, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And officials warned this hot contact posed a risk of fire.

Customers with the affected cars are being urged to bring them to a Volkswagen dealership.

There, the engine cover will be removed free of charge to remedy the issue.

The problem is understood to only affect Volkswagen models based in the United States.

Owners can check if they need to visit a VW dealership by searching online with a few details.

They need to input their licence plate number, model and year of manufacture into the NHTSA portal.

That will immediately tell the owner whether their particular model is affected by any recall orders.

It comes after another huge car name recalled 9,000 motors over fears they pose a fire risk.

Hyundai bosses are concerned that brake fluid could leak into the affected cars, potentially sparking engine fires.

The company is urging drivers to park vehicles in open spaces and away from flammable materials.

And thousands of cars have been recalled over a faulty display feature that could cause serious danger to drivers.

Drivers of these vehicles should look out for a missing detail which could prompt a trip to the auto shop.

According to the latest recall, Volkswagen and Audi electric vehicles were missing the gear “N.”

This mistake could confuse drivers, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle rolling away, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/motors/13726462/thousands-volkswagen-recalled-engines-loose-fire/

China’s electric vehicles are around three to five years ahead of the competition in terms of products, technology and the industrial chain, BYD’s CEO Wang Chuanfu said in an interview with China’s national television broadcaster.
Wang was interviewed on Monday after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s symposium with some of the biggest names in China’s technology sector. Wang was among the business leaders who spoke at the meeting.

China overtook Japan in 2023 as the world’s largest auto exporter, but its electric vehicle exports face tariffs from the United States and the European Union, with the EU imposing 17.0% tariff on BYD’s EVs.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-electric-vehicles-are-around-3-5-years-ahead-byd-ceo-says-2025-02-18/

The discussions unravelled after Honda proposed to have Nissan as a subsidiary instead of the plan, to integrate under a new holding company.

Tokyo, Japan: Japanese auto giants Honda and Nissan on Thursday confirmed they had scrapped merger talks announced in December, bringing an end to a tie-up that would have created the world’s third-largest automaker.

The firms said in a joint statement that they “agreed to terminate the MOU (memorandum of understanding) signed on December 23 last year for consideration of a business integration between the two companies”.

The firms’ intention to join forces had been seen as a bid to catch up with US titan Tesla and Chinese firms in the electric vehicle market.

Honda’s CEO insisted in December that it was not a bailout for Nissan, which last year announced thousands of job cuts after reporting a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit.

Local media reports have said the discussions unravelled after Honda proposed to make its struggling rival a subsidiary instead of the plan, announced in December, to integrate under a new holding company.

In the joint statement, the automakers confirmed Honda “proposed changing the structure from establishing a joint holding company… to a structure where Honda would be the parent company and Nissan the subsidiary through a share exchange”.

“As a result of these discussions, both companies concluded that, to prioritise speed of decision-making and execution of management measures in an increasingly volatile market environment heading into the era of electrification, it would be most appropriate to cease discussions and terminate the MOU,” the statement said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/auto/honda-and-nissan-terminate-merger-heres-why-the-talks-fell-through-7707500#pfrom-movies-topstories

THE US government is reportedly planning to buy buffed-up “Armoured” Tesla EVs worth $400million from Donald Trump’s best pal Elon Musk.

The Department of State released a procurement forecast list which mentions a five-year contract – reportedly the biggest of 2025 – that could fall into Musk’s lap.

The initial version of the document released in December included an item called “Armored Tesla” with a five-year contract starting in 2025.

However, the document was revised to remove the mention of Tesla Inc. after reports emerged about it on Wednesday.

It now simply says $400 million worth of “armoured electric vehicles”.

The contract is due to be finalized by the end of the year and is currently in the “planning” phase.

However, given Trump and Musk’s newly forged bromance, one can expect Tesla to land the deal.

While no specific car model has been announced yet, the huge government order is most likely to be for Tesla Cybertrucks, which can cost almost $100,000 with full specifications.

Musk, who is known to be a huge fan of military and defence equipment, said in 2020: “I just wanted to make a futuristic battle tank, something that looked like it came out of Blade Runner or Aliens.”

Although, Musk replied to a post on X saying: “I’m pretty sure Tesla isn’t getting $400M. No one mentioned it to me, at least.”

Many state police departments have already added the futuristic truck to their fleet, some even splashing up to $150,000 to upgrade it into a “Robocop”.

Musk also deployed Cybertrucks across Los Angeles to act as power hubs and battery banks during the ongoing wildfire mayhem.

Billionaire tech tycoon Musk is leading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as the “secretary of cost-cutting”.

He has been tasked by the US president to gut federal government spending across all departments.

However, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office this week, the Tesla boss insisted there would be no “conflict of interest” if his billion-dollar companies received government contracts from the same agencies where he is looking to axe spending.

He said: “You have to look at the individual contract.

“If you see any contract where it was awarded to SpaceX and it wasn’t by far the best value for the taxpayer, let me know – because every one of them was.”

Musk’s SpaceX was awarded a $39 million defense contract just days ago.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/motors/13532812/us-400million-armored-tesla/

Skoda India recently launched its most affordable vehicle in the Indian market, the Kylaq. The sub-4m SUV is the flag-bearer of the brand in its segment and hence carries a lot of hopes for the brand. It has already received over 20,000 bookings within 2 months of launch and now the brand hopes to increase the numbers further via a partnership with the quick-commerce company, Zepto.

The Bengaluru-based company, Zepto is known for its promise of delivering groceries among other items within 10 minutes. Now, the company has partnered with Skoda Auto to deliver the car to the doorstep of interested customers for a test drive. Zepto will add a new tab for its consumers saying ‘Test drives in 10 minutes’.

Zepto recently released a video showing an executive delivering a Skoda Kylaq to customers after they pick it up from a dealership. The advertisement went viral, and while gaining traction on social media, the ad also got people thinking about the possibility of a 10-minute delivery of a car. However, that’s not the case.

Clarifying the situation, Zepto CEO and Co-Founder, Aadit Palicha said, “No, We’re Not Delivering Cars in 10 Minutes…yet.” He further added, “We’ve seen the headlines—Skoda & Zepto delivering cars in 10 minutes?! We love the energy, but let’s clear things up: you won’t be ordering a Škoda Kylaq from the Zepto app (as tempting as that sounds).”

He then said, for now, the consumers can only get a test drive of the Skoda Kylaq within 10 minutes. But he still left out the possibility of delivery of cars via Zepto, saying “But…who knows what the future holds?”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/auto/skoda-kylaq-delivery-in-just-10-minutes-via-zepto-really-true-7646800#pfrom-movies-topstories

Nissan (7201.T), CEO Makoto Uchida met with his Honda (7267.T),  counterpart Toshihiro Mibe on Thursday to say he wanted to end their merger talks after the larger automaker proposed making Nissan a subsidiary, said a source with knowledge of the matter.
The Japanese automakers in December signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss an integration under a holding company to create the world’s No.3 automaker and compete in an increasingly tough industry.

But the talks have been complicated by growing differences, multiple people familiar with the matter have told Reuters, and hit a wall after Honda said it wanted to turn Nissan into a subsidiary.
“A consensus was reached (on Nissan’s side) that the talks cannot proceed under that proposal,” said the source with knowledge of the discussions, declining to be identified because the information is not public.

Nissan will formalise the decision to withdraw from the MOU at a board meeting to be held before the company’s third-quarter earnings announcement next week, the source added.
Honda’s current stance is that it would not accept an integration unless Nissan agrees to become a subsidiary, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.
Honda is Japan’s second-largest car maker behind Toyota (7203.T), and Nissan is the third-largest.

Nissan and Honda spokespeople declined to comment on the status of their talks, repeating earlier statements that they aimed to finalise a future direction by mid-February.
A scrapping of the talks raises questions about how Nissan, which is in the middle of a turnaround plan, can ride out its latest crisis without external help. Nissan has already announced plans to cut 9,000 workers and 20% of global capacity.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/nissan-ceo-uchida-tells-honda-ceo-mibe-he-wants-terminate-merger-talks-asahi-2025-02-06/

Volkswagen has sued Indian authorities to quash an “impossibly enormous” tax demand of $1.4 billion, arguing the ask is contradictory to New Delhi’s import taxation rules for car parts and will hamper the company’s business plans, court papers show.
Volkswagen’s unit, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, also told the High Court in Mumbai the tax dispute puts at risk its investments of $1.5 billion in India, and is detrimental to the foreign investment climate, according to the 105-page filing which is not public but was reviewed by Reuters.

In the biggest ever import tax demand, India in September slapped a $1.4 billion tax notice on Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), opens new tab for using a strategy to break down imports of some VW, Skoda and Audi cars into many individual parts to pay a lower duty.
Indian authorities alleged Volkswagen imported “almost the entire” car in unassembled condition – which attract a 30-35% tax applicable on CKDs, or completely knocked down units, but evaded the levies by mis-classifying them as “individual parts” coming in separate shipments, paying just a 5-15% levy.

Volkswagen India had kept the Indian government informed of its “part-by-part import” model and received clarifications in its support in 2011, the company says in the court challenge.
The tax notice is “in complete contradiction of the position held by the government … (and) places at peril the very foundation of faith and trust that foreign investors would desire to have in the actions and assurances” of the administration, the Jan. 29 court filing states.

The Indian finance ministry and the customs official who issued the demand order did not respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
Volkswagen’s India unit said in a statement it is using all legal remedies as it cooperates with authorities and remains committed to ensuring “full compliance” with all global and local laws.
A Volkswagen spokesperson in Germany did not respond to a request for a comment.

The German carmaker is a tiny player in India’s 4 million units a year car market, the world’s third biggest, where its Audi brand also lags competitors in the luxury segment like Mercedes (MBGn.DE), opens new tab and BMW.
A government source earlier told Reuters that with penalties, Volkswagen India may have to pay about $2.8 billion if it loses the dispute. In 2023-24, VW India reported sales of $2.19 billion, and a net profit of $11 million.
The tax dispute comes at a time when Volkswagen is battling to cut costs to better compete with Chinese rivals and cope with weak demand in Europe. In December it announced 35,000 future job cuts in Germany. In its biggest market, China, the carmaker has said it will sell some of its operations.
‘BODY BLOW’ FOR INVESTOR SENTIMENT
Volkswagen argues it is not liable to pay higher taxes as it did not import car parts together as a single “kit”, but instead shipped them separately, combining them with some local components to make a car.
To explain what a “kit” is, it refers to a “practical analogy” of buying a chair online from Amazon, which is then delivered in one shipment with all parts and fixtures needed to assemble the piece of furniture.
In the case, authorities alleged Volkswagen’s local unit regularly placed bulk orders for cars through internal software which connected it to suppliers in Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico and other nations.
And after the order was placed, the software broke it down into “main components/parts”, roughly 700-1,500 for each vehicle depending on the model, which were shipped separately over time.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-sues-india-quash-enormous-14-bln-tax-demand-legal-filing-shows-2025-02-02/

Hyundai Creta Electric offers a maximum range of up to 473 km on a single charge using a 51.4 kWh battery pack.

Hyundai India has launched the Creta Electric in the Indian market. The electric SUV has been introduced at a starting price of Rs 17.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to Rs 23.50 lakh (ex-showroom). Carrying forward the name of the brand’s most popular model in the Indian market, it is also the most affordable electric vehicle in the brand’s current lineup. The EV is poised to compete against models like Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE 6, and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara in the country.

The design of the Hyundai Creta Electric draws significant inspiration from its internal combustion engine (ICE) version, particularly in terms of aesthetics. It features similar headlamp designs and daytime running lights (DRLs). It gets some unique elements like a sealed grille and a charging port adorned with the Hyundai emblem. Additionally, it gets a newly designed bumper is to accommodate active air flaps that manage airflow for battery cooling. The overall shape of the vehicle remains unchanged, but it includes a redesigned 17-inch alloy wheel. Buyers can choose from eight monotone colors and two dual-tone variations.

Inside the Hyundai Creta Electric, the layout closely mirrors that of the ICE model, with some revisions. It includes a revamped three-spoke steering wheel that displays a pattern with dots instead of the standard Hyundai logo. The vehicle also features a completely digital instrument panel and an updated touchscreen infotainment system equipped with new software and other elements, all presented with light-colored upholstery.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/auto/auto-expo-2025-hyundai-creta-electric-launched-in-india-priced-at-rs-17-99-lakh-7495392#pfrom-auto-topstories\

Brazilian authorities have halted the construction of a factory for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, saying workers lived in conditions comparable to “slavery”.

More than 160 workers have been rescued in Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, according to a statement from the Public Labour Prosecutor’s Office (MPT).

They were allegedly put in a “degrading” environment and had their passports and salaries withheld by a building company.

BYD said in a statement that it had cut ties with the firm involved and remained committed to a “full compliance with Brazilian legislation”.

The factory was scheduled to be operational by March 2025, and was set to be BYD’s first EV plant outside of Asia.

The workers, hired by Jinjiang Construction Brazil, lived in four facilities in Camaçari city.

At one such facility, workers were made to sleep on beds without mattresses, according to prosecutors.

Each bathroom was also shared among 31 workers, forcing them to get up extremely early in order to be ready for work.

“The conditions found in the lodgings revealed an alarming picture of precariousness and degradation,” the MPT said.

“Slavery-like conditions”, as defined by Brazilian law, include debt bondage and work that violates human dignity.

The MPT added that the situation also constitutes “forced labour”, as many workers had their wages withheld and faced excessive costs for terminating their contracts.

BYD said affected workers had been moved to hotels.

It added that it had conducted a “detailed review” of the working and living conditions for subcontracted employees, and asked on “several occasions” for the construction firm to make improvements.

BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, is one of the world’s largest EV makers.

It sold more electric vehicles than Elon Musk’s Tesla in the last three months of 2023, as the two battled for top spot in the sector.

The company has also been expanding its foothold in Brazil, which is its largest overseas market by a wide margin.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xj9jp57r2o

Honda (7267.T), and Nissan (7201.T), are in talks to merge by 2026, they said on Monday, a historic pivot for Japan’s auto industry that underlines the threat Chinese EV makers now pose to the world’s long-dominant legacy car makers.
The tie-up would create the world’s third-largest auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota (7203.T), and Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE).
It would also give the two companies scale and a chance to share resources in the face of intense competition from Tesla (TSLA.O), and more nimble Chinese rivals, such as BYD.

The merger of Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker, with Nissan, its No. 3, would be the biggest reshaping in the global auto industry since Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA merged in 2021 to create Stellantis (STLAM.MI) in a $52-billion deal.

Smaller Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T), in which Nissan is top shareholder, was also considering joining and would make a decision by the end of January, the companies said.

The chief executives of all three held a joint press conference in Tokyo.
“The rise of Chinese automakers and new players has changed the car industry quite a lot,” said Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe, citing technological trends of electrification and autonomous driving.
“We have to build up capabilities to fight with them by 2030, otherwise we’ll be beaten.”
The two companies would aim for combined sales of 30 trillion yen ($191 billion) and operating profit of more than 3 trillion yen through the potential merger, they said.

They aimed to wrap up talks around June 2025 before setting up a holding company by August 2026, when shares of both companies would be delisted.
Honda, which has a market capitalisation of more than $40 billion, roughly four times that of Nissan, will appoint the majority of the company’s board, they said.
Combining with Mitsubishi Motors would take the Japanese group’s global sales to more than 8 million cars. The current No. 3 is South Korea’s Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS).

Honda and Nissan have been exploring ways to bolster their partnership, including a merger, Reuters reported last week.

In March, both said they were considering co-operation on electrification and software development. They widened the collaboration to Mitsubishi Motors in August.
Last month, Nissan announced a plan to cut 9,000 jobs and 20% of its global production capacity after sales plunged in the key China and U.S. markets.
Honda also reported worse-than-expected earnings due to a China sales slump, although solid motorcycle and hybrid car businesses helped it secure a relatively stable financial base.
“This is not a rescue of Nissan,” however, Honda’s Mibe said, adding that Nissan’s business turnaround was a “prerequisite” for the merger.

Like other foreign carmakers, Honda and Nissan have lost ground in the world’s biggest market China to BYD (002594.SZ) and other domestic makers of electric and hybrid cars loaded with innovative software.
In a separate online press conference on Monday, former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, now wanted in Japan as a fugitive for jumping bail and fleeing to Lebanon, said he did not believe the Honda-Nissan alliance would be successful, as the two were automakers were not complementary.

French automaker Renault (RENA.PA), Nissan’s largest shareholder, said it would “discuss with Nissan and consider all possible options”. Sources have said Renault is open in principle to a Honda-Nissan tie-up.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/honda-nissan-set-announce-launch-integration-talks-media-reports-say-2024-12-22/

The BMW M2 comes to our shores as a completely built up unit (CBU)

BMW India has launched the updated M2 in India at an ex-showroom price of ₹ 1.03 crore. Bookings for the 2-door, 4-seater coupe are now open on the official website and through their brick and mortar stores. The M2 was introduced in mid-2023 and has received its first mid-life update in one and a half years. The update includes uprated power and torque output, new features and an updated exterior design. Let’s take a quick look at all the changes.
2025 BMW M2 Mechanical Updates
The facelift retains the 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine but sees a power boost from 460 hp and 550 Nm of torque to 480 hp and 600 Nm. Gearbox options include an 8-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual. The 0-100 kmph sprint is achieved in 4 seconds with the automatic and 4.2 seconds with the manual transmission. The increased output shaves off 0.1 seconds from the 0-100 kmph time and an even more impressive 0.6 seconds from the 0-200 kmph time.

2025 BMW M2 Exteriors
The BMW M2 now comes in four new shades: Portimao Blue, Fire Red, Sao Paulo Yellow, and Skyscraper Grey. Exterior changes are subtle, including an optional tint for the headlamps, updated alloy wheels, blacked-out badges, and black exhaust pipes.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/auto/2025-bmw-m2-launched-with-more-power-priced-at-rs-1-03-crore-7126473

Tesla car have branded as having the highest fatal crash rate of any car brand in the US, a new study claims.

Tesla vehicles have the highest fatal crash rate of any car brand in the United States, according to a new car study.

The study, conducted by iSeeCars, analyzed data from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System covering crashes between 2017 and 2022.

It comes at a bad time for Tesla, with California police struggling with ‘unusable’ Tesla patrol cars and the self-driving mode being described as stressful with a ‘false sense of complacency.’

According to the study, Tesla cars have a fatal crash rate of 5.6 per billion miles driven. That’s higher than Kia at 5.5 and Buick at 4.8.

The national average fatal crash rate for all cars in the U.S. is 2.8 per billion miles.

Hyundai’s Venue model was found to have the highest fatal crash rate, with 13.9 per billion miles.

The study’s authors emphasized that the results do not suggest that Tesla cars are unsafe.

“Tesla vehicles are loaded with safety technology,” the study noted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2024 Tesla Model Y a Top Safety Pick+ award.

Source: https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/155039/tesla-labled-as-having-highest

Awareness has not only prompted OEMs to make safer cars, but also motivated users to follow the safety protocols

Global NCAP had updated their safety assessment protocols in July 2022, which are valid up to December 2025. Under the new assessment protocols, cars have to comply with stricter safety norms. Only 9 cars in India currently have 5-star safety rating, as per the new Global NCAP safety assessment protocol.

India’s safest cars as per Adult Safety rating

Tata Safari / Harrier received 5-star rating, with a total of 33.05 / 34 points in Adult Safety. Global NCAP had tested Safari / Harrier in 2023, as per the new assessment protocol. The model tested had safety features such as front airbags, side head curtain airbag, side chest airbag, belt pretensioner, belt load limiter and seat belt reminder (SBR). Safari / Harrier also tested for ESC and GTR 9 – UN 127 Pedestrian protection.

Although Global NCAP has updated safety assessment protocols for India, advanced test criteria such as driver assistance systems are still optional. It includes features such as AEB pedestrian, AEB city, AEB inter-urban, speed assist system and lane assist system. These are likely to be included in the next update for the assessment protocols.

Talking about rankings, Tata Nexon is second in Adult Safety ratings. It has received a 5-star rating, with a total Adult Safety score of 32.22 / 34 points. Nexon was tested in 2018 and 2024. The latest 2024 results are an improvement over the model tested in 2018. The Nexon model tested in 2024 has safety features largely similar to that of Safari / Harrier.

Dzire – Maruti’s safest car

India’s third safest car in terms of Adult Safety is the all new Maruti Dzire. It is a pleasant surprise and a significant milestone because Dzire is the first Maruti car to receive a 5-star safety rating. New Dzire scored 31.24 / 34 points in Adult Safety. For comparison, Global NCAP has also tested the old Dzire as per the new assessment protocol. The old model has received a 2-star rating in Adult Safety.

Dzire’s rival Honda Amaze has also been tested by Global NCAP. It has received a 2-star rating in Adult Safety. Other cars with 5-star rating in Adult Safety include Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Mahindra Scorpio N and Hyundai Verna.

India’s safest cars rated for Child Safety

Safari / Harrier tops the list with 5-star rating and a score of 45/49 in Child Safety. Other cars with 5-star rating in Child Safety include Taigun, Kushaq, Virtus, Slavia and Verna. Kia Carens also has 5-star Child Safety rating, although it gets only 3-star rating in Adult Safety.

Source: https://www.rushlane.com/maruti-dzire-scored-more-adult-safety-points-than-virtus-slavia-verna-scorpio-n-12511201.html

LOCALS are furious at being kept all night by a car park of confused driverless AI taxis that continually beep at each other.

Residents captured the moment driverless cars began driving around in circles with their lights on in the middle of the night.

The driverless taxis, operated by Waymo, have reportedly been causing disturbances throughout the day as well.

When the AI cars were first introduced to the neighborhood, locals were excited to see the new technology in practice.

But the novelty has quickly worn off for many residents who “don’t find it funny anymore”.

Randol White, resident, told the Los Angeles Times: “I was happy to see the Waymos coming in, but this aspect of it, I’m not a fan.”

The 57-year-old said he first noticed the disturbance two weeks ago when the AI cars began going off at 4am.

Despite reaching out to the company, he feels powerless to stop the disturbances.

The AI cars are left in the parking lot and residents have no one to speak to once the cars start malfunctioning.

“That’s the most frustrating thing, you’re just yelling into the void,'” Randol added.

Waymo has noted the problem and said they are working on a fix.

The company said: “We have identified the cause and are in the process of implementing a fix.”

Russel Pofsky, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said he’s never experienced anything like this.

The longtime resident claimed the loss of sleep has made him “more cranky” than ever before.

Other neighbors echo the sentiment.

Christopher Cherry, who was initially excited about the technology, now finds the constant beeping a major distraction, affecting both his work and sleep.

As residents wait for a fix, their patience is wearing thin, with many simply wishing the honking would stop.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/motors/12208352/watch-confused-driverless-ai-taxis-causes-misery-for-locals

Mahindra Thar Roxx is arguably one of the most awaited cars in India in 2024 and the homegrown auto major has finally launched the five-door SUV. Available at an introductory starting price of ₹12.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Thar Roxx commands a ₹1.64 lakh premium over its three-door sibling. The Mahindra Thar Roxx is available in both petrol and diesel engine options. While the petrol variants’ pricing starts at ₹12.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the diesel version of the SUV is available at an introductory starting price of ₹13.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Bookings for the Mahindra Thar Roxx start from October 3rd, while deliveries for the SUV will commence from Dussehra. The test drives for the Thar Roxx will start from September 14. Here is the variant-wise ex-showroom price list and feature list for the Thar Roxx. However, it is important to note that the full price list has not been revealed as of now.

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Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1

Petrol MT RWD: 12.99 lakh

Diesel MT RWD: 13.99 lakh

The base variant of the Thar Roxx is called MX1 and it packs in a decent amount of features. It gets LED projector headlamps along and LED tail lamps. There are 18-inch steel wheels, electronic parking steering, a push button to start/stop the engine, rear AC vents and a USB C port for charging mobile devices. Mahindra is also offering a 26.03 cm touchscreen infotainment system and 60:40 split seats. For safety, there is Electronic Stability Control, 6 airbags and 3 point seatbelts for all occupants.

Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3

Petrol AT RWD: 14.99 lakh

Diesel MT RWD: 15.99 lakh

Then there is the MX3 trim which adds a rear armrest with cup holders, driving modes, Terrain modes, Adventure statistics and a rear parking camera. There is also wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, auto-dimming IRVM, wireless charger and a one-touch power window. For safety, this variant adds traction control, hill hold control, hill descent control and 4 disc brakes on the Petrol AT variant.

Source: https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/cars/2024-mahindra-thar-roxx-launched-variant-wise-price-feature-list-explained-41723694664316.html

Tiago NRG is a more rugged version of the Tiago. It comes with a host of cosmetic changes to the exterior.

Tata Motors has teased a new variant of the Tiago NRG. It is expected that the new variant will be the XT variant. As of now, the Tiago NRG is only offered with the top-spec XZ. The upcoming XT variant of Tiago NRG will be more affordable than the top-spec variant and will sit below it. We are expecting Tata Motors to launch the Tiago NRG in the coming weeks.

The NRG version of the Tiago gets only cosmetic changes. The additional body cladding does give a rugged stance to the Tiago NRG. When compared, the Tiago NRG is 37 mm longer than the regular Tiago. There are no changes to the underpinnings, the additional length comes from the added body cladding in the front and back.

Source: https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/renault-to-carry-on-with-separating-electric-and-combustion-engine-businesses-41659248180135.html