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    eCar Import Duty To Reduce From 110% to 15% – Govt to Notify New EV Policy

    Image – Supercars Of IndiaThe Indian government is set to notify its new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy, which aims to lower import duties and attract global players like Tesla. The policy is expected to mandate a minimum turnover of Rs 2,500 crore by the second year and require an investment of Rs 4,150 crore from interested manufacturers.
    Lower Duties to Attract Investment
    The proposed policy will allow companies to set up assembly operations in existing factories but will exclude past investments and land or building costs from the required investment amount. Manufacturers meeting the criteria will qualify for a 15% import duty—a significant reduction from the current 110% tariff, reports Economic Times.
    Past investments will not count
    Companies will have 120 days to apply, with the policy allowing annual imports of up to 8,000 premium EVs (priced above $35,000) at reduced duties. Approved applicants must establish manufacturing facilities within three years and achieve 25% local value addition, which must rise to 50% within five years.
    Progressive Turnover Targets
    The policy also outlines progressive turnover milestones, requiring:
    – Rs 2,500 crore by the second year– Rs 5,000 crore by the fourth year– Rs 7,500 crore by the fifth year
    Approval letters could be issued by July-August, paving the way for imported EVs to enter India soon after. Tesla is widely seen as a key beneficiary of this policy. Reports suggest that Tesla is planning to enter India in April 2025, with an affordable EV priced at Rs 21-22 lakh.
    The company has reportedly chosen Mumbai and Delhi as its initial showroom locations. Tesla Inc. will be shipping a few thousand cars to a port near Mumbai in the coming months, reports Bloomberg. The US automaker plans to begin sales in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore around the third quarter of 2025.
    Other Automakers Show Interest
    Hyundai and Volkswagen have also expressed interest in the policy during government discussions, but their investment plans remain uncertain. With the government fast-tracking EV adoption, this policy could open doors for global EV players, boost local manufacturing, and make premium EVs more accessible to Indian buyers.
    Source 1, Source 2 More

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    2026 Volvo ES90 Electric Sedan Teased Ahead of March Reveal

    Volvo released a new teaser for the electric ES90 mid-size luxury sedan ahead of its full reveal on March 5.The teaser highlights the ES90’s software and details how the SPA2 architecture it is built on will allow continuous updates. When it arrives, the ES90 will be built on the same platform as the EX90 SUV and will sit alongside the current S90 sedan. Volvo has released a new teaser for the electric ES90 as it prepares to reveal the car in full next month. The mid-size luxury sedan was first teased during an investor-relations meeting last September, but the full reveal is scheduled to be livestreamed on March 5. VolvoThe new info from the automaker focuses on the “Superset tech stack” set of software and hardware modules underpinning the ES90. The sedan is Volvo’s next step in working towards software-defined vehicles. The hope is that the technology will allow for faster and more frequent over-the-air updates that improve the overall customer experience as well as safety. Volvo says that additional connectivity features and improved range are two potential upsides of the technology. The sedan will be the second Volvo built on the brand’s SPA2 architecture, which it shares with the EX90 flagship SUV. Volvo says that another benefit of the Superset stack is that improvements to one car can be concurrent with another. VolvoAs they’ll share a platform, the ES90 will likely use the same 111.0-kWh battery pack as the EX90 SUV, though the sedan will likely edge out the SUV’s 300- to 310-mile range estimate thanks to its smaller size. Previous plans from Volvo will position the ES90 alongside the gas-burning S90 sedan, with the brand selling both models while it transitions to an electric-only future. More information surrounding the pricing, powertrain, and technology should become available when the car is revealed next month. Related StoriesJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

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    Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2025 – Classic, Hunter, Bullet, Himalayan

    Royal Enfield Meteor 350In recent times, Royal Enfield has not shown any major signs of sales decline. That was true with January 2025 as well, as the company registered a total sales of 81,052 units. When compared to 70,556 units sold in January 2024 and 67,891 units sold in December 2024, Royal Enfield gained 14.88% YoY and 19.39% MoM, with volume growth of 10,496 units YoY and 13,161 units MoM.
    Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2025
    The company’s best-seller continues to be Classic 350, which sold 30,582 units last month and accounted for 37.73% of RE’s total sales, down from 43.65% in December 2024. When compared to 28,013 units sold last year and 29,637 units sold a month before, Classic 350 registered 9.17% YoY growth and 3.19% MoM growth. Volume growth was 2,569 units YoY and 945 units MoM.
    2nd best-seller from Royal Enfield stables was the iconic and evergreen Bullet 350 which sold 19,163 units last month. Sales grew by 22.92% YoY over 15,590 units sold last year and 36.40% MoM over 14,049 units sold a month before. Bullet 350 accounted for 23.64% of RE’s total sales and garnered a volume growth of 3,573 units YoY and 5,114 units MoM.
    Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2025 – YoY
    Royal Enfield’s 3rd best-seller was also its most affordable offering, Hunter 350. With 15,914 units sold, Hunter 350 accounted for 19.63% of company’s total sales along with a 17.57% YoY growth and 15.79% MoM growth. Hunter 350 witnessed 2,378 units volume gain YoY and 2,170 units volume gain MoM.
    Himalayan sales doubled MoM
    Royal Enfield’s most expensive 350cc motorcycle, Meteor 350, was the company’s 4th highest-selling offering. With 8,373 units sold, Meteor 350 registered 12.86% YoY and 31.53% MoM growth. Meteor 350 accounted for 10.33% of total Royal Enfield sales, up from 9.38% in December 2024.
    The 650 Twins emerged as the company’s best-selling multi-cylinder motorcycles. With 3,130 units sold 650 Twins (Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650) 38.99% YoY growth and more than doubled its sales MoM with 113.8% MoM growth. Volume gain was 878 units YoY and 1,666 units MoM.
    Royal Enfield Sales Breakup Jan 2025 – MoM
    In 6th place, we have Royal Enfield Himalayan at 2,715 units sold last month. This is the first RE to register a negative growth YoY with 18.47% decline. MoM, there was a 111.28% growth. Super Meteor 650 took 7th place on this list and registered 80.05% YoY growth and 160% MoM growth by selling 749 units.
    Newer and much-hyped Guerrilla 450 sold 349 units with 57.13% MoM decline, when compared to 814 units sold in December 2024. Lastly, we have Shotgun 650 with 77 units sold and 68.44% MoM decline over 244 units sold a month before. More

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    Top 10 Scooters Jan 2025 – Activa, Jupiter, Access, iQube, Ola, Chetak

    New TVS JupiterBeing among the top 10 scooters in India is a big thing, considering India is the world’s largest motorcycle and scooter market. The top position in January 2025 was held by Honda Activa, like clockwork. Together, these top 10 scooters accounted for 4,89,038 units with 9.69% YoY growth and 29.3% MoM growth over 4,45,848 units and 3,78,211 units respectively. Volume growth stood at 43,190 units YoY and 1,10,827 units MoM.
    Top 10 Scooters Jan 2025
    The country’s highest-selling scooter position is firmly held by Honda Activa for a very long time. January 2025 was no different. With 1,66,739 units, Activa registered a 4.04% YoY decline over 1,73,760 units sold last year and 37.82% MoM growth over 1,20,981 units sold a month before. Activa alone accounted for 34.10% of the sales on this list, up from 31.99% in December 2024.
    In 2nd position, we have TVS Jupiter which accounted for 22.05% of the sales on this list. TVS sold 1,07,847 Jupiters last month, which led to a 45.30% YoY growth when compared to 74,225 units from last year and 21.63% MoM growth as opposed to 88,668 units from a month before. This resulted in volume growth of 33,622 units YoY and 19,179 units MoM.
    Top 10 Scooters Jan 2025 – YoY
    Suzuki took both 3rd and 4th positions on this list with Access 125 and Burgman Street 125 with 54,587 and 25,607 units sold last month. Access registered a 1.44% YoY decline, losing 799 units in volume and 4.61% MoM growth, gaining 2,407 units in volume. In contrast, Burgman saw 61.36% YoY and 25.29% MoM growth with volume gain of 9,738 units YoY and 5,169 units MoM.
    Ola sales fell by 24.94% YoY
    In 5th place, we have India’s best-selling electric scooter in January 2025, which is TVS iQube. With 24,991 units sold, iQube accounted for 5.11% of total sales of this list with 59.67% YoY and 24.94% MoM growth. Volume gain stood at 9,339 units YoY and 4,988 units MoM. Honda Dio took 6th position on this list with 0.92% YoY growth and a massive 75.63% MoM growth.
    The highest MoM sales growth on this list was recorded by Ola S1 at 76.72%, which just entered its Gen 3 Phase. Selling 24,336 units last month, Ola S1 range of scooters registered a 24.94% YoY decline, when compared to 32,424 units sold last year and 13,771 units sold a month before.
    Top 10 Scooters Jan 2025 – MoM
    TVS’ third scooter on this list was Ntorq 125, which took 8th place on this list with 23,795 units sold. Ntorq witnessed a 12.61% YoY drop in sales, while MoM sales went up by 58.83%. Bajaj’s Chetak sold 21,045 units in 9th place with 48.79% YoY and 0.12% MoM growth. Lastly, we have Yamaha RayZR with 15,209 units sold and registered 26.25% YoY and 26.72% MoM growth. More

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    Kia PV5 Electric Van Debuts – Cargo and Passenger Variants

    Kia PV5 CargoTaking its EV game to the next level, Kia has just unveiled its first-ever electric van. Called PV5, it is Kia’s first PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle), which is destined to break cover at Kia EV Day on February 27th in Tarragona, Spain. Ahead of Kia EV Day, the company has shared first official pictures of PV5. Let’s take a closer look.
    ?Kia PV5 Electric Van Debuted
    As seen in the official pictures, only exteriors have been revealed, while interiors are likely to be shown at Kia EV Day on 27th February in Tarragona, Spain. PV5 is offered in both Passenger and Cargo versions, as seen in these pictures. Kia PV5 was first previewed at CES 2024 and is Kia’s first offering under their PBV business strategy.
    Kia PV5 Passenger
    With PV5 Passenger and Cargo, Kia aims to redefine the concepts of space and mobility by leveraging Kia’s renowned EV technology and fulfilling diverse needs of buyers. PV5 also aims to provide flexibility and customization via modularity. PV5 will be offered in several configurations along with specialised conversion options.
    Where design is concerned, PV5 has a unique design which stands out against other light commercial vehicles as it features a fresh aesthetic. Kia PV5 Passenger has a lot of glass area, improving visibility and letting in a lot of natural light. This is accentuated by a low belt line. Surrounding this glass area is Gloss Black graphics that lend a contrasty look.
    Kia PV5 Passenger
    Passenger & Cargo Variants
    Lower part of PV5’s body looks very rugged as it has chunky claddings and geometrical shape for wheel arches. PV5 has striking lighting with swanky LED signatures at the front and rear. PV5 Passenger has a single lift-up type tailgate and sliding rear doors. The main rival for Kia PV5 is VW ID. Buzz along with a few more.
    In contrast, PV5 Cargo is slightly boxier in silhouette, sans the massive glass area and has twin door tailgate. Making loading and unloading in tight spaces easy on PV5 Cargo. Interiors of both the PV5 Passenger and PV5 Cargo are not revealed yet. Which is likely to happen at Kia EV Day on 27th February in Tarragona, Spain.
    Kia PV5 Cargo
    Statement by Kia Corporation
    “While the PV5 is offered in three different body styles to provide innovative solutions for a diverse range of customer needs, they all embody the same consistent design values inspired by Kia’s design philosophy, ‘Opposites United,’” said Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design. “Each model confidently expresses a solid, bold, futuristic character and a highly capable attitude.”
    Also read – Kia Carens Facelift Spied More

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    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke, Thruxton 400 Spied Together

    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke & Thruxton 400Aligning with consumer needs and preferences, Triumph continues to update its 400cc range with new features and body styles
    Following the successful market reception of the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X, Triumph expanded its lineup with Speed T4 and is testing a Scrambler T4. Triumph is testing a Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke variant as seen with the new spy shots. Additionally, Triumph is working on a new cafe racer model based on the Speed 400. Speculated to be called Thruxton 400, both these vehicles have been spied together. Let’s take a look.
    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke Wheels
    It is possible that cross-spoke wheels for Triumph Scrambler 400 X could be offered as an accessory option. It could be accessible to existing users as well, a strategy similar to Royal Enfield. Cross-spoke wheels are gaining popularity as they combine the off-road-ability of wire-spoke wheels with convenience of tubeless tyres.
    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke
    Spoke wheels perform better on off-road tracks, while tubeless tyres reduce the risk of flats. Managing a flat can be quite stressful, especially when one is exploring remote locations. Many enthusiasts go for tubed-to-tubeless conversions, but reliability can be an issue.
    With cross-spoke wheels, Triumph has effectively addressed its customers’ pain points. Earlier, Royal Enfield had followed a similar approach for the Himalayan 450. Along with the cross-spoke wheels, Scrambler 400 X can also be seen with a front beak. Most other visual details are largely the same as the current model.
    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke
    Triumph 400 Cafe Racer – Key features
    Expanding the accessible 400cc platform for enthusiasts, Triumph is working on a new cafe racer model based on the Speed 400. Latest spy shots reveal the bike in near-production-ready form. Some of the key highlights include a bikini fairing, round headlamp and a retro curved windscreen.
    Triumph Scrambler 400X Cross Spoke
    The bike has bar-end rear-view mirrors, clip-on handlebars, a sculpted fuel tank and a single-piece seat. Tail section design appears distinctive in comparison to that of Speed 400. Riding stance of Triumph’s new 400cc bike has a mix of traditional cafe-racer ergonomics and sport-touring.
    Triumph Thruxton 400
    A noticeable forward-leaning position is needed to reach the low-set clip-ons. Foot pegs are only slightly rear-set, something that balances control and comfort. These features make the cafe racer suitable for both everyday fun riding as well as longer journeys across highways.
    Triumph Thruxton 400
    Powertrain Details
    Talking about performance, both these motorcycles will be using the same 398.15 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, single-cylinder engine. It generates 40 PS and 37.5 Nm of torque and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike has USD forks at front and a gas mono-shock setup at the rear. Both ends have 17-inch alloy wheels, with 300 mm front and 230 mm rear disc brakes. Dual-channel ABS will be offered as standard.
    Triumph Thruxton 400
    Similar to Speed 400, the cafe racer is likely to use an analogue speedometer with an integrated multi-function LCD screen. Upcoming Triumph cafe racer is expected to be positioned between the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X. These are priced at Rs 2.40 lakh and Rs 2.65 lakh, respectively. The most affordable Triumph one can buy in India is the Speed T4 (Rs 1.99 lakh).
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    2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Backcountry Is a Tech-Focused Off-Roader

    The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is a new limited-edition trim that prioritizes standard tech and off-road-focused features.The Backcountry features the same plug-in-hybrid powertrain as the 4xe Sahara, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.The new Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and costs $66,185.If just having a plug-in-hybrid Jeep Wrangler wasn’t high-tech enough for your off-road excursions, Jeep is introducing a new limited-edition Wrangler 4xe Backcountry trim that is meant to better serve trail-loving technophiles.The New Backcountry WranglerBuilding on the upscale and comfort-oriented plug-in-hybrid 4xe Sahara trim, which comes standard with leather upholstery, heated seats, and an available 12.3-inch touchscreen, the 4xe Backcountry ups its tech quotient while also adding new accessories to make it more capable off-road. JeepAs far as tech goes, the 4xe Backcountry’s new additions include a nine-speaker Alpine audio system and the inclusion of a portable Jeep power box that can draw energy from the Backcountry’s hybrid battery pack and be used to charge devices or power small appliances. Like the 4xe Sahara, the 4xe Backcountry features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with built-in navigation. To encourage adventure, the infotainment system includes off-road trail guides for 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails as well as an integrated geocaching app. While some Jeep owners use their Wranglers to get off the grid, the 4xe Backcountry comes with onboard Wi-Fi if you aren’t part of that camp.Outside of the new tech goodies, the Backcountry also gets some significant off-road bits. It wears steel bumpers at both ends, a Mopar grille guard, and rock rails along its door sills to limit damage from any boulder bashing. To prevent bashing from happening in the first place, the Backcountry comes standard with a front trail camera to survey the path ahead. JeepJeepIt also comes standard with unique matte-black 20-inch wheels wrapped in 275/55R-20 General Grabber all-terrain tires for supreme traction on any surface. To help it look the part, it has Backcountry decals on its hood, fenders, and rear swing gate and comes with a removable three-piece body-colored hardtop. A towing package is also included, which adds seven- and four-pin wiring harnesses, auxiliary switches, and a receiver hitch. The Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and retails for $66,185, which is $6595 more than the 4xe Sahara. If you want to hear what an Alpine audio system sounds like echoing through a dense forest, now’s your time to find out.Related StoriesAustin’s car fixation began at a young age and at 1:64 scale. Eventually, Hot Wheels weren’t cutting it anymore, so he developed an obsession with his father’s full-sized 1965 Ford Mustang instead. Desperate to break into the automotive industry, he bartered his way into a job at a local BMW dealership by promising to stop hurling nerdy technical facts at the salesmen who came into the neighboring coffee shop where he worked.

    That was also around the time when he started writing automotive reviews, news articles, and technical guides for a number of local and international publications. Now at Car and Driver, Austin brings more than 10 years of experience in the automotive industry and an all-so-common love-hate relationship with German engineering to the table. More

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    2025 Rivian R1T and R1S California Dune Editions Look Fit for the Desert

    Rivian has launched its first special-edition models, the R1T and R1S California Dune Edition.Their exteriors wear a tan paint job, with the option to match the same hue on the 20-inch wheels that come as part of the standard All-Terrain package.The cabin features a two-tone look, with a Black Mountain upper section and a Sandstone lower section.The Rivian R1T truck and R1S SUV received comprehensive updates for the 2025 model year, bringing tweaked exterior styling, a lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry in the standard battery, and a new drive unit in the Tri-Motor and Quad-Motor powertrains. Now, Rivian is enhancing the R1 duo even further with the California Dune Edition, a special version of the R1T and R1S that gets a desert-inspired paint job and standard off-road gear. This marks the first time Rivian has launched a limited-edition variant of its R1 line of vehicles.The special-edition model is differentiated from standard Rivians by an all-new paint color called, unsurprisingly, California Dune. The color was inspired by Southern California’s beautiful dunes. The vehicles also wear an exterior Darkout package to accentuate the contrast between the badging and the tan paint job.Inside, each California Dune Edition sports a hue called Sandstone on the lower section of the cabin with a Black Mountain upper half. The interior also features flooring material that’s supposed to be easy to clean, with Sandstone floor mats to match the seats, center console, and door panels.The California Dune Edition is based around the R1 models’ Tri-Motor setup, which packs three electric motors spitting out a whopping 850 horsepower and 1103 pound-feet of torque. This allows the electric SUV and electric truck to rip from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 2.9 seconds. The Tri-Motor powertrain also features a Soft Sand drive mode, which ties in nicely with the California Dune theme.RivianThe special Rivians also come fitted with the All-Terrain package as standard. Normally a $3700 add-on, the package adds 20-inch wheels, a spare tire, and a reinforced underbody shield. The wheels are offered here with two finishes, either a darkened look or a California Dune paint that matches the rest of the body. The inclusion of the All-Terrain package does knock the Tri-Motor powertrain’s EPA-rated range from 371 miles to 329 miles.The California Dune models also feature a couple of unique accessories. There are black MAXTRAX traction boards that live atop the roof rack, which also get a darkened appearance. On the R1T pickup truck, there is also a standard powered tonneau cover, which got a revised design for 2025.Rivian didn’t say how many examples of the California Dune models will be built, but it did describe the model as limited editions. The special Rivians are available to order now, with the R1T California Dune Edition starting at $99,900 and the R1S California Dune Edition starting at $105,900.Related StoriesCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More