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The Supreme Court of India has ordered the extension of mandatory third-party insurance for new cars and two-wheelers. The decision comes after the court observed that numerous vehicles on Indian roads continue to operate without valid insurance. Under the new directive, third-party insurance for newly registered cars will now be valid for four years, while new two-wheelers will require six years of coverage.
"While the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the General Insurance Council (GIC) have recommended that this period not be enhanced, we are of the view that it is in the interest of road safety that the period be enhanced by one year. Therefore, it is directed that henceforth, third-party insurance for four years for new cars and six years for new two-wheelers be required to be purchased. IRDAI shall immediately issue the necessary directions," a Bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra said.
No Insurance, No Fuel
In addition to extending the insurance period, the Supreme Court has directed the installation of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras outside fuel stations to monitor vehicle number plates.
The system will identify vehicles without valid insurance, and, through integration with the VAHAN portal, e-challans will be issued automatically. Alongside this, the court has directed that vehicles without valid insurance should not be supplied with fuel.
"This is to monitor the real-time insurance status of vehicles and impose challans for violations, ensuring compliance with mandatory insurance on the ground," the court said.
With these measures, the Supreme Court aims to strengthen road safety standards in India. Vehicle insurance plays a major role in improving road safety, as it protects not only vehicle owners but also other road users.
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JSW MG Motor India will be launching a new electric SUV under the Hector brand soon. The SUV is globally sold as the Wuling Starlight 560, and in some markets as the Eksion, but in India it will be called the MG Hector Hawk. And it will be launched on August 26. Now, globally the SUV is offered in both powertrain choices – Electric Vehicle (EV) as well as plug-in hybrid. However, India will only get the EV version as of now; the PHEV is likely to follow later.
Now, the upcoming Hector Hawk has been spotted in India on multiple occasions. Now, globally, the SUV is offered as a 3-row 7-seater SUV; India will surely get it. However, as we had earlier reported, JSW MG Motor India has trademarked the Hector Hawk Plus name. This means India might also get a 5-seater version, which will be called Hector Hawk, while the 7-seater version will be called Hector Hawk Plus.
The global model packs a 69.2 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery that is paired with a single electric motor attached to the front axle. The motor makes 201 bhp and 310 Nm of peak torque, and offers a maximum range of up to 530 km on a single charge. The PHEV version, on the other hand, gets a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 20.5 kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor. In global markets, this set-up develops a peak of 194 bhp and 230 Nm, offering an EV-only range of 100 km. Cumulative range is claimed to be over 1,000 km.
Visually, MG will restyle the SUV for the Indian market, so we will have to wait and see the level of cosmetic changes. However, the global SUV has a boxy design with an imposing face, beefy cladding and wheel arches, and roof rails. The SUV also gets sleek LED DRLs and headlights, matching taillights, and a spoiler.
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KTM India has increased the prices of its 390 Adventure range, with both the Adventure S and Adventure R receiving a price hike of Rs 8,000. Following the revision, the 390 Adventure S is priced at Rs 4.05 lakh, while the 390 Adventure R now retails at Rs 3.86 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom). Apart from the updated pricing, there are no changes to either motorcycle.
The 390 Adventure S continues to be the more road-focused offering in the lineup. It comes equipped with 21-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless spoke wheels, along with revised suspension settings that help keep the seat height at a relatively accessible 830 mm.
The Adventure R, meanwhile, is designed with a greater focus on off-road riding. It features 230 mm of suspension travel at both ends, firmer suspension tuning and a significantly taller 880 mm seat height to maximise off-road capability.
Powering both motorcycles is KTM's 398.6cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that produces 45.3 bhp and 39 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox featuring a slipper clutch and bi-directional quickshifter.
Both models continue to offer an extensive electronics package, including cruise control, switchable cornering traction control, cornering ABS, Off-road ABS and three riding modes—Street, Rain and Off-road. These functions are accessed via a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity.
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India’s leading car brand Maruti Suzuki has created a new sales record in the month of July by dispatching more than 2 lakh vehicles in the domestic market. This is the first time ever that a brand has sold more than 2 lakh vehicles in the Indian market in a single month. In all the company dispatched 2,00,123 units in the previous month which also included sales of 3,920 commercial vehicles. Overall Maruti Suzuki dispatched 2,41,421 vehicles in July which also included exports of 30,056 units. This was 33% more than the total number vehicle sold by the brand in July 2025.
Dzire was once again the highest selling car in the country in July.
Talking about retail numbers the brand sold a total of 1,78,000 vehicles which was the highest ever for the month of July. The company also witnessed its highest ever CNG sales (83,000 units) and highest ever sales for its MPV, the Ertiga (21,606) in the previous month. Overall top 4 cars sold in the market in July were from Maruti Suzuki and apart from Ertiga these included the Dzire (23,791 units), Swift (21,538 units) and Fronx (19,473 units). Maruti Suzuki also created a new production record in July by making 2,48,845 vehicles last month.
Talking to the media, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki revealed that currently the brand is sitting on around 1.60 lakh pending bookings. He also shared that the company’s latest launch in the market, the Brezza facelift is getting close to 2,000 bookings every day and all 3 powertrains (Turbo, NA Petrol and CNG) are getting an almost equal share in demand. According to the brand, its first ever electric vehicle e Vitara is now getting around 4,000 bookings each month.
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Aston Martin has become the latest British luxury carmaker to revise its prices in India following the implementation of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Alongside the updated prices, the brand has refreshed its lineup by introducing the new Vantage S, DB12 S, and DBX S, and has also announced the prices of their open-top counterparts: the Vantage S Roadster, DB12 S Volante, and Vanquish Volante.
Models
Old Price
New Price
Difference
Vantage S Coupe
Rs 4.99 crore
Rs 3.15 crore
-Rs 1.84 crore
Vantage S Roadster
Rs 5.26 crore
Rs 3.35 crore
-Rs 1.91 crore
DB12 S Coupe
Rs 6.62 crore
Rs 4.10 crore
-Rs 2.52 crore
DB12 S Volante
Rs 7 crore
Rs 4.35 crore
-Rs 2.65 crore
DBX S
Rs 6.80 crore
Rs 4.15 crore
-Rs 2.65 crore
Vanquish Coupe
Rs 10.11 crore
Rs 6.40 crore
-Rs 3.71 crore
Vanquish Volante
Rs 10.92 crore
Rs 6.90 crore
-Rs 4.02 crore
All prices ex-showroom
The revised price brings sizeable reductions across Aston Martin's India portfolio. The entry point into the brand is now considerably lower, with the Vantage S Coupe becoming Rs 1.84 crore more affordable than before. At the other end of the spectrum, the flagship Vanquish Volante sees the biggest price correction, with its sticker price dropping by over Rs 4 crore.
Aston Martin Vantage S
The Vantage S receives a series of styling tweaks to distinguish it from the standard model. Up front, it gets a redesigned bonnet with a new blade element, while the rear features a full-width spoiler that generates 111kg of additional downforce. New 21-inch alloy wheels and subtle 'S' badging complete the exterior updates.
Under the hood is a reworked 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 680 bhp and 800 Nm. Aston Martin claims a 0-100kmph time of 3.3 seconds, making it a tenth quicker than the standard Vantage, while top speed remains unchanged at 303 kmph.
Inside, the cabin gets an optional sportier treatment with Alcantara and leather upholstery, satin carbon fibre trim and an anodised drive mode selector finished in either red or silver.
Aston Martin DB12 S
The DB12 S follows a similar recipe, with visual updates including a redesigned front splitter, bonnet louvres, gloss-black detailing, new alloy wheels and red 'S' badges on the front fenders. At the rear, the grand tourer gains a quad-exhaust setup and a subtle ducktail spoiler.
Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, although output has been increased to 700 bhp, up by 20 bhp. Torque remains unchanged at 800 Nm, paired with the same 8-speed automatic transmission. The extra power trims the 0-100kmph sprint to 3.4 seconds, while top speed stays at 325kmph.
The cabin remains largely familiar but adds red accents across the drive mode selector, seatbelts and contrast stitching to set it apart from the standard DB12.
Aston Martin DBX S
The performance SUV has also received the 'S' treatment. Exterior revisions include a more aggressive front bumper, new wheel designs, a redesigned rear bumper and diffuser, and vertically stacked twin exhaust outlets.
Mechanically, the DBX S continues with the Mercedes-AMG-derived 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, now producing 717 bhp. Peak torque has also been recalibrated to remain available across a broader rev range, although the SUV's 0-100kmph time remains unchanged at 3.3 seconds. The DBX S also carries over the active suspension and carbon-ceramic braking system from the DBX 707.
Like before, Aston Martin continues to offer an extensive range of personalisation options, including bespoke paint finishes, upholstery choices, wheel designs and trim packages.
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Rounding off the updates is the Vanquish Volante, Aston Martin's open-top flagship grand tourer. Compared to the coupe, the convertible weighs 95kg more due to the additional structural reinforcement required after replacing the fixed roof with a fabric soft-top. The K-fold roof can be lowered in 14 seconds and raised in 16 seconds and can even be operated while driving at speeds of up to 50 kmph.
Power comes from the same 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 found in the coupe, producing 823 bhp and 1,000 Nm. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. It goes from 0-100kmph in 3.4 seconds before going on to a claimed top speed of 345 kmph.
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July 2026 turned out to be a positive month for the passenger vehicle industry, with most manufacturers reporting strong year-on-year growth. While Hyundai celebrated its best-ever monthly sales, Tata Motors saw electric vehicle volumes more than double. Mahindra continued its strong run in the SUV space, MG recorded another sales milestone, and Nissan posted triple-digit domestic growth following the launch of the new Tekton.
Tata Motors reported total passenger vehicle sales of 63,760 units in July 2026, up 59 per cent from 40,175 units sold during the same month last year. Domestic sales stood at 62,611 units, while exports contributed 1,149 units.
The biggest highlight came from Tata's electric vehicle business. The company sold 15,217 EVs during the month, more than double the 7,124 units recorded in July 2025, translating to a 114 per cent year-on-year increase.
Mahindra continued its momentum in the SUV segment, retailing 60,048 models in the domestic market during July, a 20 per cent increase over the same period last year. Including exports, SUV sales stood at 60,887 units.
Across all vehicle categories, Mahindra recorded total sales of 1,03,860 units, registering a 26 per cent year-on-year growth. The company also shipped 4,070 vehicles to overseas markets, with exports rising 47 per cent compared to July 2025.
Hyundai Motor India had its best month yet, recording 75,360 units in combined domestic and export sales, the highest monthly total in the company's history. The figure represents a 25.4 per cent increase over July last year.
Domestic sales grew to 54,210 units, up 23.3 per cent, while exports touched 21,150 units. With this, Hyundai states that this is its highest monthly export performance in more than eight years. The Creta remained the company's strongest performer with 18,088 units, while the i20 also registered its best monthly sales of the calendar year at 6,738 units.
Kia India recorded its best-ever July wholesale performance since entering the Indian market, with 28,200 units sold in July 2026. That's a 27.4 per cent increase over the 22,135 units sold during the same month last year.
The strong monthly showing also helped Kia's year-to-date wholesales climb to 1,91,949 units between January and July 2026, up 16.8 per cent from 1,64,274 units during the corresponding period in 2025.
The 2026 Seltos continued to be the brand's biggest volume contributor, consistently averaging over 10,000 units a month since its latest generation was introduced earlier this year. Kia also credited the Sonet, Carens Clavis, Carens Clavis EV and the recently launched Syros EV for contributing to the company's growth momentum.
JSW MG Motor India continued its recent growth streak, posting its highest-ever monthly wholesale volumes for the second consecutive month. The company dispatched 8,158 units in July, up 22 per cent year-on-year.
As has been the case in the past, MG said that its electric vehicle portfolio accounted for more than 80 per cent of total wholesales during the month.
Nissan was among the fastest-growing manufacturers in July, recording 4,518 domestic wholesales, a 218 per cent jump over the same month last year. Exports stood at 4,821 units, taking total wholesales to 9,339 units.
The sharp rise follows the launch of the Nissan Tekton, with deliveries beginning on July 20, just days after the model made its global debut in India. The Tekton now joins the Magnite and Gravite, giving Nissan a three-model portfolio for the Indian market.
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Honda named Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as the next President and CEO of Honda Cars India. Yanagisawa will take charge on October 1, 2026, succeeding Takashi Nakajima, who will move to Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. after completing his tenure as the head of the company's Indian operations.
Yanagisawa currently heads the India Strategic Development Office and also serves as the CEO of Honda Digital Innovation India Pvt. Ltd. (HDII). He will continue to lead HDII alongside his new role at Honda Cars India. His appointment comes as Honda prepares for its next phase of growth in India. The Japanese carmaker states that India is one of its key global markets and is developing a new India-focused vehicle expected to arrive in 2028.
Honda's India portfolio currently comprises Amaze, City and Elevate, all of which are manufactured locally. The company recently expanded its offerings with the launch of the ZR-V, the brand’s first Hybrid SUV, which is brought to India as a completely built unit (CBU).
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Kia India has released a cryptic teaser announcing the imminent arrival of its three-row SUV – Kia Sorento. The SUV, which is already quite popular in global markets, is finally coming to India, and the launch is slated for the upcoming festive season. In its new teaser, the company has posted a photo of the Italian coastal town Sorrento – the source of the SUV’s name. Now, test mules of the upcoming Kia Sorento have already been spotted in India on several occasions.
It’s one of the three new Kia models slated to arrive this year in India, after the already launched Kia Syros EV, and the upcoming Carnival Hybrid (right now only offered with a diesel engine).
Speaking of hybrids, the soon-to-arrive Kia Sorento is also likely to be a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). Globally, the SUV comes with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 224 bhp. The setup is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, with all-wheel drive available in select international markets. It’s unclear whether India will get the AWD version of the hybrid powertrain, which is most likely to be on offer.
The Kia Sorento gets vertically oriented LED tail-lamps and an upright tailgate
At the front, the Sorento features Kia's signature wide grille, flanked by vertically stacked LED headlamps and signature Star Map LED DRLs. The profile is defined by a long roofline, large glass area and pronounced wheel arches, while the rear gets vertically oriented LED tail-lamps and an upright tailgate. The SUV also rides on 19-inch alloy wheels, in line with the global-spec model.
The Sorento will feature a modern and well-appointed cabin with a host of premium features
On the inside, the Sorento features a clean, modern cabin centred around a dual-screen layout for the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster. Depending on the variant, it also gets ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and a suite of ADAS features, along with the latest connected car technology.
In India, the Sorento will sit above the Seltos in Kia’s portfolio and will likely be positioned to rival models like the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari.
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Electric two-wheeler start-up Avore has launched its maiden offering, the EX electric motorcycle in India, with prices starting from Rs 1.25 lakh (ex-showroom, introductory). The motorcycle is being offered in three variants - EX1, EX2 and EX2 S, with the main differences coming down to the battery and motor specifications and features offered. The EX1 is priced at Rs 1.25 lakh for the first 10,000 buyers, with prices to subsequently be hiked by Rs 10,000. The EX2 is priced at Rs 1.50 lakh while the EX2 S is priced at Rs 1.70 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom).
On the design front, the EX follows the same design theme as a naked street bike with angular styling elements to give it a sportier appearance. The battery pack takes up the place which would traditionally house the motorcycle’s engine. The electric motor is positioned within the rear swingarm, with the motorcycle featuring a belt drive system to send power to the rear wheel.
The EX1 features a 3.24 kWh battery offering a claimed range of up to 160 km on the indian driving cycle. The electric motor develops a peak 7.5 kW of power, with Avore claiming a 0-40 kmph time of 3.2 seconds. Top speed stands at 100 kmph.
The EX2 uses the same electric motor, though it's now paired with a larger 5 kWh battery, bumping up the claimed range to 255 km. Performance numbers are identical to the EX1. The EX2 S ups the power to 10.5 kW, which sees the motorcycle lower its claimed 0-40 kmph time to 2.8 seconds and top speed to 114 kmph. Range too is marginally improved at 260 km. Avore claims a wheel torque of 250 Nm for all three variants.
In terms of charging, the EX2 and EX2 S feature a 1500W charger capable of charging the motorcycle’s battery from 20 to 80 per cent in 2 hours. The EX1 features a standard 5A charger.
On the feature front, all three variants get disc brakes at the front and rear with a combi-braking system as standard. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster is also common to all three variants, though the unit in the EX2 S is a TFT unit and features integrated AI-enabled features. Common features include built-in GPS, embedded 4G SIM, Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi support.
Avore says that deliveries of the EX series are set to commence in the next two months. The company plans to open dealerships in Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India as part of its initial sales plans. Bookings for the motorcycle are currently open on Avore’s website.
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The Honda CB500 made its global debut at Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India’s showcase of the brand’s upcoming products in India on July 24, 2026. The CB500 is Honda’s attempt to capture the premium modern classic segment and will also fill a gap in the market left by Royal Enfield’s 500 cc range. It will sit above the Honda CB350 in HMSI’s India line-up and will be manufactured in India.
The new CB500 combines classic styling with modern technology and features. Prices of the Honda CB500 will be announced later this year, and here’s what we know about this new modern classic single-cylinder thumper from Honda.
The Honda CB500 has a design and silhouette which takes inspiration from the iconic 1969 Honda CB750, the bike that is generally regarded as the first “superbike.” The new CB500 has a design with the stance and proportions which make it look more substantial than the Honda CB350.
The overall design is definitely modern classic, with a retro silhouette underscored by modern elements like the round LED headlight, a single-pod analogue speedometer console with a small LCD screen.
The finish on the engine block, crank cases are premium as is the single, slightly upswept exhaust, finished in brushed aluminium. The bike runs on tubeless tyres – with the choice of modern alloy wheels, or authentic wire-spoke tubeless wheels.
In terms of tech, the CB500 features the Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity system, traction control (Honda Selectable Torque Control), and disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS.
Honda CB500: Engine & Performance
The CB500 is powered by an all-new 501 cc, single-cylinder, air and oil-cooled engine with an output of 27.76 bhp and 43.3 Nm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed gearbox, and gets a slip and assist clutch which is expected to offer a light lever feel, as well as smoother shifts, preventing wheel hop and skip, even under aggressive downshifting. Although the 27.76 bhp output feels modest, the 43.3 Nm of meaty torque from the long stroke motor is expected to offer strong pull, particularly in the low- and mid-range of the engine.
Honda CB500: Chassis & Cycle Parts
Honda has not revealed the CB500’s full specifications but we do know that the motorcycle will have a single downtube, dual-cradle frame, which is essentially a single main tube extending down from the neck of the motorcycle and splitting into two parallel frame tubes below the engine area.
The wheel sizes appear to be 19-inch front and 17-inch rear and with choices of both alloy wheels (with tubeless tyres) as well as wire-spoke tubeless wheels. The suspension set-up consists of a conventional telescopic front fork (with gaiters) and twin rear shocks. Braking is handled by disc set-ups at both ends, with standard dual-channel ABS.
Honda CB500: Prices & Variants
Prices for the Honda CB500 are expected to begin around Rs. 3 lakh (Ex-showroom) for the base alloy wheel variant, going up to approximately Rs. 3.35 lakh (Ex-showroom) for the top-spec variant with wire-spoke tubeless wheels and graphics on the fuel tank. Each variant will also be offered on both gloss and matte finish colour options which include gloss black, matte silver, gloss silver, maroon and gloss black with yellow pinstripes.
Variant
Expected Ex-showroom Price
CB500 Alloy Wheel Tubeless Gloss
Rs. 2.90 Lakh
Wire-spoke Tubeless
Rs. 3.25 Lakh
Wire-spoke Tubeless with Graphics
Rs. 3.35 Lakh
At those prices, the CB500 will offer not just an alternative to the Harley-Davidson X440T (Rs. 2.84 lakh) but also take on other modern classic rivals in the 650 cc segment, like the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 (Rs. 3.37-3.69 lakh) and the BSA Gold Star 650 (Rs. 3.34 – 3.59 lakh).
Honda CB500: Launch Date & Availability
The Honda CB500 is expected to be launched very soon, sometime in the upcoming festive season. We expect Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India to launch the new CB500 by September 2026, with deliveries expected to begin by October 2026.
Honda CB500: First Look Video - Details, Colour Options, Engine & Variants
Honda CB500: Image Gallery
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Maruti Suzuki will launch the 2026 Brezza in India tomorrow, July 24, 2026. While the updated model has already made headlines by picking up a five-star Bharat NCAP safety rating, the bigger story lies under the skin. For the first time since the Brezza went on sale nearly a decade ago, buyers will get a choice of engines, including a turbo-petrol unit paired with a new gearbox option.
2026 Maruti Brezza: Turbo-petrol finally makes its way
The headline change is the addition of Maruti's 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine. Although the three-cylinder motor already does duties on the Fronx, this will be the first time for it in the Brezza. It's expected to produce 110 bhp and 170 Nm, and will be exclusively offered with a six-speed manual.
2026 Maruti Brezza: First Maruti with a 6-speed manual
The new turbo engine also brings something Maruti has never offered before: a 6-speed manual gearbox. Until now, every manual passenger vehicle from the brand has made do with five gears. Interestingly, the Fronx continues with a 5-speed manual despite using the same engine, making the Brezza the first Maruti passenger vehicle to receive the new transmission.
2026 Maruti Brezza: First time with engine options
Engine options are another first for the nameplate. The original Brezza arrived with only the 1.3-litre diesel, before switching exclusively to the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol after Maruti exited the diesel passenger car market. The updated model changes that formula by offering two petrol engines, giving buyers the option of sticking with the tried-and-tested 1.5-litre unit or moving to the new turbocharged motor.
2026 Maruti Brezza: Variants
Bharat NCAP documents have also confirmed how the engine options will be split across the range. The 1.5-litre petrol with a 6-speed manual will be available in LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi+ trims, while the 6-speed automatic will be offered on the VXi, ZXi and ZXi+.
The new 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol, paired exclusively with the 6-speed manual, will also be available in LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi+ grades.
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