Autocar Professional

The Indian automobile industry showed mixed performance in February 2025, with passenger vehicles hitting record February sales while two-wheelers witnessed a significant decline, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today. Total production of passenger vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers, and quadricycles reached 23,46,258 units in February 2025. Passenger vehicle sales grew by 1.9% compared to February 2024, reaching 3,77,689 units, marking the highest February sales ever for this segment.

Very few of us picture a woman in a saree when we hear the term ‘tractor driver’: Autocar Professional explores the stories of three women who mounted the tractor under different circumstances and drove all the way to success. For Sangeeta Pingale, her father was no less enlightened than any man she had met in her life. Despite having no formal education, he encouraged his daughter to drive the tractor at a time when this was frowned upon, enabling her to master the skill by the time she got married at 18. Gangavva Binhal from Koppal in Karnataka watched her family members struggle to cultivate their land using oxen, dreaming of the day she could help them with a tractor. When the family finally bought a second-hand tractor for Rs 60,000, she wasted no time in learning how to drive it. Rakshitha Thimmashetty from Kabbaligere, Karnataka. Rakshitha dropped out of school at the age of 15, to support her father on their two-acre farm where they grow millets like ragi, kodo, and jowar. https://lnkd.in/d5FmqyFc

Nearly eight years after it was spun out of Bosch, motor maker SEG Automotive is busy finding new avenues of growth in the electric vehicle space. In the throes of World War I, as the clamour of conflict reverberated across Europe, a quieter but no less significant revolution was unfolding in the world of automotive engineering. The demands of the battlefield had elevated the automobile from a novel convenience to a military necessity, spurring a race for innovation in the industry. Engineers across the continent, driven by the exigencies of war, began crafting engines that were smaller, lighter, and faster, prioritising horsepower over heft. Among these trailblazers stood Robert Bosch, a German industrialist with an uncanny eye for the future. In March 1914, Bosch unveiled the first electric starter motor—a device that liberated drivers from the hazardous task of hand-cranking their vehicles into life. A year prior to that, the company introduced alternators and later laid the groundwork for advancements like the now-ubiquitous 'start-stop' system. https://lnkd.in/dn2zAikd

For all the stereotypes she's broken, Madhurisha Vippatoori makes her role look easy. Schaeffler India’s Vice President (R&D) and CTO talks about what it is like being a woman leading such an important function. An industry veteran of 23 years, her advice to women is to stick to your decision, give 100% to your role, and as you grow, let the team grow with you. Vippatoori has made significant contributions to Schaeffler India, especially on the technical side. "I am an electronics and communication graduate but I stuck to the core field of product development and manufacturing industry from day one." She recalls how earlier, the number of women were so few that she could count them on her fingers. "There have been instances where I have had to put in extra effort or have taken that bold decision to prove myself, to show that I can perform equally with my male counterparts if not better. You will end up facing such doubts. Am I doing right, am I in the right field, and all those things? But it's up to us how we stick to our decision and deal with this. https://lnkd.in/dfrr5iqZ

SML ISUZU Limited has announced securing a significant order from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the supply of BS VI, 4-Wheel Drive Troop Carriers. According to the company's disclosure to stock exchanges on March 12, 2025, the contract is valued at ₹24.71 crores for 114 units. The order was awarded by the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence following a standard Government e-Marketplace (GeM) tender process. As per the contract terms, SML ISUZU will deliver troop carriers with 20-seat capacity between March 11 and July 9, 2025. https://lnkd.in/eViAgGth

Ola Electric's daily vehicle registrations have surged dramatically to 860 units by March 10, 2025, following a planned temporary dip that saw numbers fall as low as 16 in mid-February, according to the latest data. The sharp recovery comes after the company had forewarned investors about an expected decrease in February registrations on the VAHAN portal due to ongoing renegotiations with its registration agencies. In a regulatory filing to the NSE and BSE, Ola Electric had disclosed it was revising terms with Rosmerta Digital Services Private Limited and Shimnit India Private Limited to "reduce cost and enhance registration process efficiencies." https://lnkd.in/eK6ihWSX

Ola Electric Mobility said it has successfully completed its Network Transformation and Opex Reduction Program, a company-wide initiative launched in November 2024. The program has delivered a sustainable cost reduction of ₹90 crores per month, positioning the company to achieve Automotive segment EBITDA breakeven in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (April-June 2025). According to the regulatory filing submitted to the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Limited on March 12, 2025, the financial impact of these initiatives will begin to fully reflect from April 2025. https://lnkd.in/eAeVX_bh

In a surprising development that intensifies India's telecom rivalry, Jio Platforms Limited has announced a strategic agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink's satellite internet services to its customers across India. This March 12, 2025 announcement comes as a direct response to Bharti Airtel's earlier partnership with the same satellite provider, setting the stage for a transformation of the Indian wireless internet landscape. The Jio-SpaceX partnership mirrors Airtel's arrangement in key aspects, with Jio planning to offer Starlink equipment through its extensive retail network and online platforms. Like its competitor, Jio will establish support mechanisms for customer service, installation, and activation of Starlink equipment, pending SpaceX receiving necessary regulatory approvals in India. https://lnkd.in/ecpgJr7h

Suman Mishra, the managing director and CEO of Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd, found herself navigating the precarious world of fundraising in late 2022, a course of action that would turn out to be a test of her resilience and resolve. Tasked with securing the company’s first round of external capital, Mishra stepped into uncharted territory, facing the skepticism that often shadows ambitious players in India’s fledgling electric mobility sector. The company’s operations at the time were modest, its potential intriguing, but largely unproven. “No one will invest,” she remembers being told—a refrain tinged with doubt and dismissal. However, Mishra was no stranger to high-stakes decision making. Prior to this role, she had led transformative initiatives across various divisions of the Mahindra Group, focusing on capital allocation, business restructuring, and strategic planning. Before joining Mahindra in 2015, she held key positions at McKinsey, where she served as an Associate Partner, and at Cipla, where she oversaw global product launches. This extensive experience offered her a unique vantage point, one sharpened by years of evaluating companies with a clinical eye. “Why should I invest?” was a question she had asked countless times. Now, on the other side of the table, pitching her own vision, she found the process humbling. https://lnkd.in/dgMJHRaV

Domestic tractor sales saw a 36% year-on-year jump in February, supported by strong rabi sowing, as per data shown by the Tractor and Mechanization Association (TMA). However, total sales dipped 2.9% from January 2025. Despite this, exports continued their upward trend, growng both annually and monthly, maintaining the sector’s overall momentum. As per the TMA, 58,797 units were sold in the wholesale market in February 2025, compared to 43,277 units sold in the same month last year. However, compared to the previous month, February's domestic sales dropped by 5%. Exports maintained a growth trajectory, with a 5.5% year-on-year rise at 8,954 units sold this month, while they increased 14% month-on-month. https://lnkd.in/dkiJy3sV