Weekly News Wrap: Bajaj Gets KTM Go-Ahead, Festive Registrations Surge 19%, Q3 Auto Deals Hit $4.6 Billion

The week of October 20-26, delivered a perfect blend of corporate breakthroughs, festive momentum, and strategic dealmaking for India’s automotive sector.

In a landmark development, Bajaj Auto secured regulatory clearance from Austria’s Takeover Commission to acquire control of Pierer Mobility AG, the parent of KTM. The ruling, granted under Austria’s “restructuring privilege,” allows Bajaj’s arm to assume control without being required to make a mandatory takeover bid to other shareholders.

Meanwhile, India’s vehicle registrations rose 19% year-on-year between September 22 and October 22, touching 3.45 million units, driven by pent-up demand, festive sentiment, and the GST 2.0 price cuts. Two-wheelers led the charge with 2.57 million registrations (+20%), followed by passenger vehicles at 5.86 lakh (+17%). 

On the corporate front, India’s automotive dealmaking reached a new high. The Grant Thornton Bharat Automotive Dealtracker pegged Q3 2025 transaction value at USD 4.6 billion across 30 deals–the strongest in over a year.

The surge was led by Tata Motors’ USD 3.8 billion acquisition of Italy’s Iveco S.p.A., one of India’s largest outbound auto transactions, signaling renewed investor appetite and consolidation momentum.

Globally, Hero MotoCorp entered the UK market with its Hunk 440 motorcycle, while Hyundai revealed the next-generation Venue, slated for launch on November 4. In technology, HONOR and BYD announced a partnership to co-develop AI-driven vehicle connectivity solutions, blending consumer tech and mobility innovation.

Safety and regulation also stayed in focus. Euro NCAP rolled out tougher 2026 norms addressing touchscreen dependence. 

Here’s the detailed round-up of all major developments from this week:

Bajaj Auto Gets Green Light for KTM Takeover

Bajaj Auto Ltd. today said it has secured a regulatory clearance from the Austrian Takeover Commission, paving the way for its acquisition of control in Pierer Mobility AG (PMAG)--the parent company of KTM AG. The ruling allows Bajaj’s wholly-owned Netherlands-based subsidiary, Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV (BAIHBV), to assume control without being required to make a mandatory takeover bid to other shareholders.

The commission confirmed that the acquisition qualifies as a “restructuring privilege” under Austrian law, as the transaction is being carried out to support KTM’s ongoing financial turnaround. This effectively exempts Bajaj from the obligations normally imposed under the Austrian Takeover Act, which typically mandates a public offer when control changes hands.

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Hero MotoCorp Enters UK Market with Hunk 440 Motorcycle

Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer, has launched operations in the United Kingdom through a partnership with distributor MotoGB. The company announced the expansion on October 23, 2025, introducing its Euro 5+ range led by the Hunk 440 model.

The UK entry follows recent expansions into Italy and Spain, establishing Hero MotoCorp's presence in three European markets. The New Delhi-based manufacturer now operates in 51 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, serving a customer base of over 125 million.

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Vehicle Registration Grows 19% to 3.45 Million Units Between Sept 22–Oct 22

Buoyed by strong pent-up demand and a sharp reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST), vehicle registration across India from Navratri is estimated to have grown around 19% to 3.45 million units, compared to the same period last year. Capitalizing on the tax cut during the peak festival season, the auto industry is now among the leading sectors seeing significant gains.

According to estimates from industry sources, registration of two-wheelers on the Vahan portal increased 20% year-on-year to 2.57 million units between September 22 (start of Navratri) and October 22 (Diwali day), compared with the same peak festival period last year. Passenger vehicle registration rose 17% to 586,000 units during the period.

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Tata Motors Delivers Over 1 Lakh Vehicles in 30 Days of Festive Season, Up 33% Year-on-Year

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. (TMPV) reported a strong festive season performance, delivering over 1 lakh vehicles during the 30-day period from Navratri to Diwali, representing a 33% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the company, the growth was driven by sustained demand across its SUV and EV portfolios. The Nexon, which Tata Motors claims was India’s No. 1 selling car in September 2025, recorded over 38,000 retails, a 73% year-on-year increase. The Punch contributed 32,000 units, up 29% from last year.

The company’s electric vehicle portfolio also recorded strong traction, with over 10,000 EVs retailed during the festive period — a 37% increase year-on-year.

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New Hyundai Venue revealed, bookings open ahead of November 4 launch

Hyundai Motor India has officially revealed the all-new, second-generation Venue ahead of its market launch on November 4, 2025, with bookings now open across dealerships and online for ₹25,000. The new Venue gets a completely fresh design, a roomier cabin, and a heavy dose of new-age technology, making it one of Hyundai’s most significant launches of the year.

The new Venue is taller, wider, and features a longer wheelbase than before. Dimensionally, the SUV measures 3,995mm in length, 1,800mm in width, 1,665mm in height, and has a 2,520mm wheelbase, making it 48mm taller, 30mm wider, and 20mm longer in wheelbase than the outgoing model.

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HONOR and BYD Partner to Develop AI-Powered Vehicle Connectivity Solutions

HONOR, a global AI device ecosystem company, and BYD, China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, formalized their strategic partnership on October 24, 2025, in India. The collaboration will integrate HONOR's vehicle connectivity solution with BYD's DiLink smart ecosystem, focusing on developing AI-powered features for connected vehicles.

The partnership represents an expansion of existing cooperation between the two companies. Their collaboration began in 2023 when they introduced smartphone NFC car keys allowing BYD owners to lock and unlock vehicles using HONOR smartphones. The relationship expanded in 2024 to include in-vehicle fast charging capabilities.

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Former Maruti Suzuki Executive Sunil Moolchandani Joins Hyundai Motor India

Hyundai Motor India Limited announced the appointment of Sunil Moolchandani to its senior management team, effective October 23, 2025. The disclosure was made through a regulatory filing with the National Stock Exchange and BSE Limited.

The appointment follows the recent naming of Tarun Garg as the company's first Indian Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in Hyundai's 29-year history in India.

Moolchandani brings over 24 years of extensive experience in the automotive and commercial sectors. Prior to joining Hyundai Motor India, he served as Chief Commercial Officer for the Central Zone at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, where he played a key role in driving strategic growth and operational excellence.

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Euro NCAP Tightens 2026 Safety Norms, Targets Touchscreen Dependence

Vehicle safety testing body Euro NCAP has announced its new set of rules for 2026.  In almost all major car markets globally including Europe, safety ratings influence car buying decisions more than ever before where nearly 90 percent of customers check a vehicle’s Euro NCAP score before signing on the dotted line. For manufacturers, a five-star rating is often non-negotiable. But earning it is about to get a lot harder, thanks to the updated Euro NCAP 2026 rules.  

Essentially an update to its current rule book, the 2026 edition is considered to be the most comprehensive refresh yet to the way new cars are assessed for safety, and the changes are likely to reshape how interiors are designed.

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Renault Group Posts 6.8% Revenue Growth in Q3 2025, Keeps Full-Year Guidance

Renault Group reported revenue of €11.4 billion for the third quarter of 2025, an increase of 6.8 percent from the same period in 2024. The automotive division generated €9.8 billion, up 5 percent year-on-year, while sales financing through Mobilize Financial Services rose 18.4 percent to €1.6 billion. The company sold 529,486 vehicles globally during the quarter, a 9.8 percent increase compared with the previous year.

The group maintained its full-year 2025 guidance, targeting an operating margin of around 6.5 percent and free cash flow between €1 billion and €1.5 billion. For the first nine months of the year, Renault Group’s revenue reached €39.1 billion, up 3.7 percent from 2024, with 1.7 million vehicles sold worldwide.

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India's Automotive Sector Records USD 4.6 Billion in Q3 Deals, Driven by Tata Motors Mega-Acquisition

India's automotive industry experienced its strongest quarter in over a year, with deal activity reaching USD 4.6 billion across 30 transactions in the third quarter of 2025, according to Grant Thornton Bharat's latest Automotive Dealtracker report.

The surge in deal values represents a dramatic shift from the previous quarter, largely propelled by Tata Motors' landmark USD 3.8 billion acquisition of Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer Iveco S.P.A. This transaction stands as one of India's largest outbound automotive acquisitions to date and accounted for the lion's share of the quarter's activity. However, the headline figure masks underlying trends in the sector.

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ZF Appoints Andreas Moser to Board of Management, Reduces Board Size to Five Members

ZF Friedrichshafen AG announced significant changes to its leadership structure on October 23, 2025, with the Supervisory Board appointing Andreas Moser to the Board of Management. Moser, who previously headed the company's Industrial Technology division, will oversee the Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology divisions, as well as the India Region, beginning November 1, 2025.

The appointment comes as ZF reduces its Board of Management from six to five members, a move the company describes as aimed at improving efficiency and focus. Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, Chairman of the ZF Supervisory Board, stated that the changes were designed to create clarity in the group's management structure during a period of organizational challenges.

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Norton Reveals Flagship Superbike Design Sketch with Gerry McGovern as Advisor

Norton Motorcycles has unveiled the first official design sketch of an all-new flagship superbike as part of its Resurgence campaign, marking a new chapter for the British manufacturer.

The sketch, produced by Head of Design Simon Skinner, provides an initial look at the motorcycle that will be built at Norton's Solihull facility. It represents the beginning of a new design direction for the company.

Professor Gerry McGovern OBE has been appointed Chief Creative Advisor to Norton while maintaining his role as Chief Creative Officer at Jaguar Land Rover. McGovern has advised the brand's creative and design teams throughout the Resurgence programme.

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Power Electronics Market Set to Triple by 2036 Despite EV Sales Slowdown

The power electronics industry is experiencing a significant transformation as it navigates evolving market dynamics in the electric vehicle sector. According to IDTechEx's new report, "Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts," the market is projected to triple in size over the next decade, reaching $42 billion by 2036, despite recent moderation in EV sales growth.

IDTechEx's report indicates that silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET technology continues its trajectory toward mainstream adoption, with deployment expanding beyond battery-electric vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Major automotive manufacturers including Toyota and Schaeffler have announced PHEV drivetrains incorporating SiC MOSFETs, signaling growing confidence in the technology even for vehicles with smaller battery capacities and partial electric operation.

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Analysis

Export Demand For Made-in-India Vehicles Jumps 24% in H1 FY2026

While the domestic market saw sales of 1,31,45,677 vehicles and tepid 0.6% growth on a large year-ago base in the past six months (April-September 2025), demand for made-in-India vehicles in export markets rose strongly by 24% YoY to 3.14 million units in first-half FY2026. Importantly, this growth is democratised across all four vehicle sub-segments with each registering high double-digit increases year on year.

Halfway into FY2026, India Auto Inc is well set to achieve best-ever exports for a fiscal year. FY2025 saw export of 5.36 million vehicles, up 19% YoY and the second best after FY2022’s 5.61 million units. With six months left in the current fiscal, the automobile industry has already achieved 59% of the FY2025 total and puts it in line for going past the record FY2022 exports. 

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Creta Commands 52% Share of Hyundai SUV Sales in H1 FY2026, Sole Model to See Growth

With 99,345 units and a 36% contribution, India’s No. 1 midsize SUV provided the bulk of Hyundai Motor India’s 189,751 SUVs wholesales or factory dispatches to dealers in the first-half of the current fiscal year (April-September 2025). The Creta, which clocked its best-ever monthly wholesales of 18,861 units in September, is also the sole model in the company’s six-SUV portfolio to register a YoY sales increase.

Hyundai Motor India’s SUV sales of 189,751 units, down 7% YoY, translate into a 70% share of its total passenger vehicle wholesales of 271,780 units, down 9% YoY (H1 FY2025: 299,094 PVs). As a result of the Creta hitting record sales in September, the SUV share of PV sales rose to a record monthly high of 72% (37,313 SUVs: 51,547 PVs)

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Top 10 MPVs in H1 FY2026: Ertiga and Innova Lead but Kia Carens Shines with 25% Growth

In India’s humungous utility vehicle market where SUVs rule the road, demand for multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) has been on the upswing for the past two years. The calling card of the MPV segment, among a host of factors in a value-conscious market like India, is the high level of practicality, the ability to transport seven people and their luggage in comfort, and the fact that more and more car-owning families are taking the road to their holidays across the country.

In FY2025, MPVs accounted for around 11% of India UV Inc’s record sales of 2.79 million units and even outsold sedans. OEM factory dispatches of MPVs in first-half of FY2026 (April-September 2025) indicate that the momentum will likely be maintained in the current fiscal, albeit the GST 2.0-driven vehicle price cuts could see an accelerated shift to other sub-segments.

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Opinions

Beyond the Car: What Really Decides Your Motor Insurance Premium

When it comes to car insurance premiums, most of us think of it as a straightforward deal. You just buy a car, pay a premium, and get it insured. But in reality, what you pay for your motor insurance depends on far more than just the car itself. There are so many factors that actually shape your premium. These include, but are not limited to, the kind of vehicle you drive, where you live, how you use your car, how responsibly you drive and even how much you drive. 

Most buyers usually focus on discounts on the car or dealer offers. That is just a one-time saving. On the other hand, understanding the underlying factors that shape your insurance premium can help you save money every year resulting in substantial long-term savings. So, let us look at some important facts that decide your motor insurance premium.

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Adaptive Computing Is Fueling Evolution of Automotive Automation & Safety

With the rise of electric vehicles and innovative Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), safety, and infotainment systems — many driven by AI, the automotive industry is experiencing massive changes. In India, OEMs, Tier-1s, and startups are accelerating efforts to integrate technology and data-driven intelligence into automobiles, while managing challenges such as space, power efficiency, cost, and road diversity.

Moreover, as the number of sensors and processors on vehicles continues to increase, demand will grow for embedded technologies with adaptive and versatile architectures. Such solutions must be capable of powering high-reliability systems; processing and networking large amounts of data at low latency, operating at low power; supporting increasingly complex algorithms; meeting evolving automotive technology standards and functional safety requirements. 

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