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      in Electric Cars

      New India EV Policy Reduces Import Duty From 110% To 15%

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      Mercedes EQS 450 SUVWhile reducing import duty, India’s EV policy has special provisions to encourage investment and local manufacturing
      Last year, the Ministry of Heavy Industries released its proposal to promote the manufacturing of electric passenger cars in India. And now, that initiative has been finalized and introduced as the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI). Let’s explore some of the key highlights of this scheme.
      Investment necessary to avail import duty concessions
      As per this scheme, eligible carmakers will enjoy a reduced import duties from 110% to 15%. To access the reduced import duty of 15%, carmakers need to commit to manufacture EVs in India. This commitment will come via a mandated investment of USD 500 million (approx Rs 4,150 crore), which has to be made within three years. Carmakers are free to use any of their existing facilities.
      However, any investments made earlier cannot be included in the mandated fresh investment of Rs 4,150 crore. If these conditions are met, a carmaker can access the reduced import duty for five years. Participants in India’s new EV scheme will also need to achieve annual turnover milestones. For example, the turnover should be Rs 2,500 crore by the second year.
      Similarly, the turnover milestones of fourth and fifth year are Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 7,500 crore, respectively. Manufacturers also need to increase localization in a progressive manner. By the third year, local value addition via local manufacturing should be 25%. And by the end of the 5th year, the localization value should increase to 50%.
      BMW i7 M70 xDrive
      Reduced import duty applicable on EVs priced above Rs 30 lakh
      To safeguard the interests of existing EV manufacturers in India, the reduced import duty of 15% will be applicable only on EVs priced above USD 35,000 or approx. Rs 30 lakh. This limit will help ensure that the current set of EVs available in the mainstream market remain protected from unfair trade practices such as dumping. This group includes locally manufactured electric cars such as Mahindra XEV 9e, BE 6, Tata Harrier EV, Punch EV, Nexon EV, Curvv EV, MG Windsor, Hyundai Creta Electric, etc. Also, upcoming options such as Maruti e-Vitara, Sierra EV, etc.
      There is also a cap of 8,000 units per annum for accessing the reduced import duty. Beyond this number, the standard import duty of 110% will be applicable. SPMPCI also mentions that total savings cannot be more than Rs 6,484 crore or the actual investment made, whichever is lower. If there are any unused annual quotas, these can be carried over to the next year.
      Details of expenses that can be counted under the initial investment have also been mentioned in the SPMPCI document. It includes expenses related to research and development facilities, machinery and manufacturing equipment. For expenses linked to charging infrastructure, up to 5% of total investment will be considered. For land and buildings that are part of the primary manufacturing facility, up to 10% will be considered as part of total initial investment.
      Tesla Model Y
      As per the SPMPCI policy document, the eligibility criteria for carmakers includes annual revenue of Rs 10,000 crore directly linked to automotive manufacturing. Also, the eligible company should have annual global assets investment of at least Rs 3,000 crore.
      Tesla reluctant to manufacture locally
      It is expected that the government will soon launch an online portal to facilitate participation in the SPMPCI scheme. Eligible carmakers will be able to apply for the scheme and get the approval letters.
      Tesla can benefit from this scheme, but it appears that the company is not interested in manufacturing in India at this point of time, given the political stance of Trump administration. In that case, Tesla will likely choose the 110% tariff route to sell its cars in India. However, other carmakers such as Skoda, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Kia have expressed interest to benefit from the SPMPCI policy. More

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      in Bike

      Ather Rizta Crosses 1 Lakh Unit Sales Milestone Within a Year of Launch

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      Ather RiztaAther Energy, one of India’s leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, has announced that its family-focused electric scooter, the Rizta, has surpassed the 1 lakh unit retail sales milestone. This achievement comes less than a year after the Rizta was unveiled in April 2024 and retail sales began in June 2024.
      Ather Rizta 1 Lakh Milestone
      Built specifically for Indian families, the Rizta has been instrumental in expanding Ather’s customer base and boosting its market share across key states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The scooter now accounts for nearly 60% of Ather’s total sales volume.
      Commenting on the milestone, Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Hitting the 1 lakh milestone with the Rizta is a big moment for us. The Rizta, which was built from the ground up with a focus on addressing the needs of Indian families, has played a key role in expanding our reach and connecting with a much wider set of customers.
      It combines practically everything a family scooter needs: a spacious and comfortable seat, ample storage, safety features, and reliability to make everyday commuting effortless; all that packaged in great design that Ather has come to be known for. In less than a year since its launch, the Rizta has helped us grow our market share significantly across multiple states, broadened our consumer profile, and accelerated adoption in states where our presence was earlier limited.”
      Family-Friendly, Feature-Rich
      Key to its popularity is the Rizta’s strong feature set that combines utility, technology and comfort. Highlights include a large 56-litre under-seat storage, wide seat, spacious floorboard, and a range of smart features. These include SkidControl™ (a traction control system for low-grip surfaces), Tow & Theft Alerts, Emergency Stop Signal, live location sharing via AtherStack 6, and onboard Google Maps navigation.
      The Rizta’s success has also contributed to Ather becoming the top-selling EV brand in South India during Q4 FY25, as per Vahan data. The company has also seen expansion in its charging infrastructure, with 3,611 fast and neighbourhood chargers installed globally as of March 2025. Ather Energy currently offers two main product lines – the performance-oriented Ather 450 series and the family-friendly Rizta lineup. More

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      in Electric Cars

      Tata Harrier EV Launch Price Rs 21.49 L – 627 km Range, QWD

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      Tata Harrier EV LaunchTata Motors is on a mission to offer a comprehensive electric vehicle portfolio in India to continue exerting dominance in India’s electric car segment. This means offering a flagship electric SUV that is also no slouch in terms of performance and off-road prowess. That’s where Tata Harrier EV comes into the action, which was just launched in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
      Tata Harrier EV Launch Price
      Tata Harrier EV Launch
      Harrier EV has been one of the most anticipated car launches in India for a long time. The wait is finally over as Tata just launched Harrier EV for a starting price of Rs 21.49 lakh (Ex-sh). There are 4 colours to choose from – Nainital Nocturne, Empowered Oxide, Pure Grey and Pristine White. There will be a Stealth Edition with all-Black theme soon after. Bookings for Harrier EV start from 2nd July, 2025 and deliveries are likely to commence soon after.
      Tata Harrier EV Colours
      Where design is concerned, Harrier EV follows the same ethos as other Tata EVs with minimal changes in their fascia to establish visual distinction. Harrier EV gets a closed grille along with unique bumper designs and new alloy wheels. Massive road presence of ICE models continues to be a flex point with Harrier EV as well.
      Tata Harrier EV Stealth Edition
      On the inside, there is similar equipment on offer. Which means similar 14.53-inch QLED infotainment screen from Samsung with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, streaming apps and games, 10.2-inch instrument cluster with full screen Maps support, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charger, ventilated seats, powered front seats with memory function for driver’s seat, rear AC vents, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, electric Boss Mode, rear sun shades, Digital Key, JBL Black premium audio, Smart IRVM and more.
      Tata Harrier EV
      Where safety is concerned, Tata Harrier EV will come with reinforced monocoque chassis based on Acti.ev+ platform. The comprehensive Level-2 ADAS features include 22 features like auto-emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist and more. 6 airbags, ESP and ABS are standard and Tata is offering 360-degree cameras, blindspot monitoring are notable too. The most notable feature is its Summon Mode that unlocks automatic driverless parking.
      Tata Harrier EV
      Specs & Performance
      What’s new with Harrier EV is that it is an electric vehicle. It offers an option between a 65 kWh and 75 kWh battery packs, promising range of up to 627 km on a single charge and 505 km C75 range. RWD variant offers 238 PS of peak power and dual-motor config adds a 158 PS motor at the front with 504 Nm of peak combined torque, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. Charging is pretty fast with 7.2 kW AC charger and 20% to 80% SOC in 25 minutes with a 125 KW DC charger. With Tata Mega chargers, Tata promises 250 km in just 15 minutes.
      Tata Harrier EV
      This is the first Tata Motors vehicle to get RWD and QWD after Hexa and Safari Storme were discontinued. Tata calls dual-motor variants QWD (Quad Wheel Drive) and are seen with higher trims with one motor on each axle. After the Nano, Harrier EV is the first Tata vehicle to get rear independent suspension, promising a level of comfort not matched by non-independent setups.
      Tata Harrier EV
      With dual-motor QWD variants, Tata is offering upgraded Terrain Modes that will help it tackle tricky terrains. There are 6 Terrain Modes – Normal, Sand, Mud Ruts, Snow / Grass, Rock Crawl and Custom. Also helping in off-road endeavours is the Transparent Mode that offers video feed even of underbody. More

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      in Bike

      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Gets More Hardcore With Fuel Fury 650 Build

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      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Modified To Fuel Fury 650Fury 650 custom scrambler gets a range of off-road focused equipment upgrades, but retains the core hardware including the engine and chassis
      While Royal Enfield bikes are hugely popular in their stock form, custom jobs have opened up many exciting new possibilities for enthusiasts. In the latest custom project, A Royal Enfield Bear 650 has been transformed into Fury 650, primed for desert races. Let’s check out the details.
      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Gets More Hardcore
      This modification project is led by Fuel Motorcycles, a Barcelona-based customization shop. It is in collaboration with Royal Enfield, with assistance provided from Spain-based Bandarra Motorcycles. As evident in the images, Fury 650 has received a larger 21-inch wheel at the front. It replaces the 19-inch wheel in use with the stock Bear 650. At the rear, the 17-inch wheel size has been retained. However, the Fury 650 gets Mitas Dakar 6 tires to ensure optimal off-road traction across desert environments.
      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Gets More Hardcore
      At the front, Fury 650 gets dual headlights with a rugged tubular protector. The bike uses modified enduro forks at front, which have been specially designed for desert needs. At the rear, the bike gets Bitubo shock absorbers with gas canister. These are fully adjustable and extended. While the fuel tank has been retained in its stock form, it gets grip pads. Fury 650 gets a custom foam seat with waterproof Alcantara top layer and contrasting red stitching.
      While the Bear 650 uses the Tripper Dash, the Fury 650 has been fitted with a retro-styled instrument console. It has an integrated navigation system with GPS roadbook, tachometer, odometer, speedometer and rally controls. There’s a Motogadget unit as well for essential data readout.
      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Modified To Fuel Fury 650
      An off-road focused exhaust has been used, although the sleek design seems familiar to the stock unit. At the rear, Fury 650 gets a beautifully crafted rear fender, handmade from fiberglass material. Other customizations include a raised front fender, rally pegs, skid plate, foam grips and handguards.
      Tribute to Fury 500 and Eddie Mulder
      Royal Enfield Bear 650 gets its name from Eddie Mulder’s 1960 Big Bear Run victory. It was a historic event, as Mulder, just 16 at that time, had won the gruelling 150-mile desert race against 765 competitors. Only 197 riders were able to complete the race. Eddie Mulder won the race, even after facing events like a crash that damaged the bike’s shock absorber, handlebar and exhaust.
      Royal Enfield Bear 650 Modified To Fuel Fury 650
      The bike Mulder used in the race was a 500cc Royal Enfield Fury, the primary inspiration for customized Fury 650. Eddie Mulder’s Fury 500 had the ‘249’ number plate, which has been used in this customization project. Even Royal Enfield offers a ‘Two Four Nine’ variant, which is the top variant priced at Rs 3.59 lakh. This variant also has the 249 number on the side panels. The modified Fury 650 has a chequered flag livery, something similar to that of the ‘Two Four Nine’ variant. However, the format is different and the custom bike comes with additional Big Bear Run graphics. More

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      in Bike

      Honda 2W Sales May 2025 Faced YoY and MoM Decline – Activa, Shine, Dio

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      Honda ActivaHonda 2W domestic sales suffered a severe setback with 4.17 lakh unit sales last month while exports improved significantly
      Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) have announced their sales performance for the month of May 2025. With a total of 4,65,115 unit sales last month, the company has suffered a steep 5.55% YoY decline. There had been 4,92,447 units sold in May 2024. This related to a volume de-growth of 27,332 units.
      Honda 2W YoY and MoM Sales May 2025
      Breaking up the company’s YoY sales further, we see that the company’s has seen a 7.40% decline in its domestic sales. Sales which had stood at 4,50,589 units in May 2024, declined by 33,333 units to 4,17,256 units in the past month.
      The company’s domestic sales contributed to an 89.71% share while exports hold a 10.29% share. On the other hand, exports have improved sizably by 14.34%. There were 47,859 units shipped in May 2025, up from 41,858 unit sales in May 2024.
      From the MoM point of view, sales declined both in domestic and global markets. Domestic sales dipped by 1.34% from 4,22,931 units sold in April 2025 while exports suffered a severe 17.43% de-growth from 4,80,896 units shipped in the previous month. This took MoM sales down by 3.28% to 4,65,115 units from 4,80,896 units, relating to a volume decline of 15,781 units.
      Honda 2W Sales May 2025
      Honda 2W YTD Sales May 2025
      During the months of April and May 2025, Honda 2W domestic and global sales fell by 8.54% to 9,46,011 units. This was a volume de-growth of 88,382 units when compared to 10,34,393 units sold in the same two months of 2024.
      Sales in domestic markets declined by 9.82% to 8,40,187 units from 9,31,635 units YTD. There was a 2.98% improvement in total exports to 1,05,824 units in the April-May 2025 period from 1,02,758 units sold in the same months in 2024.
      During April 2025, the company expanded its portfolio to include a range of premium motorcycles. The all-new Rebel 500, X-ADV, CB750 Hornet, CB1000 Hornet SP, and flagship 50th Anniversary edition of Gold Wing Tour will all be on sale via the company’s BigWing dealerships.
      In May 2025, HMSI also reached a milestone of 500 millionth motorcycle globally marking 76 years since the first Dream motorcycle was produced. The company also expanded its production capacities be adding a new production line at its Vithalapur plant in India. More

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      in Bike

      Hero Sales May 2025 – YoY and MoM Growth, YTD Decline

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      Hero Xtreme 160R 4VWith dispatches of 5.08 lakh units during May 2025, the company witnessed outstanding YoY and MoM growth while YTD sales declined sharply
      Hero MotoCorp has reported strong sales performance for May 2025. During the past month, the company sold a total of 5,07,701 units both in domestic and global markets. It was Hero MotoCorp’s electric vehicle brand, VIDA, which efficiently contributed to this growth along with new product launches both in the scooter and motorcycle segments. To compete both with Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor in the electric two wheeler segment, Hero will launch the Vida Z Electric Scooter on July 1.
      Hero Sales May 2025 – YoY
      On a YoY basis, Hero MotoCorp has seen total sales of 5,07,701 units. This included both motorcycle and scooter sales in domestic and global markets. It related to a 1.92% YoY growth form 4,98,123 unit sales of April 2024, a volume increase of 9,5,78 units.
      Hero Sales May 2025 – YoY
      Motorcycle sales were up 0.84% to 4,75,164 units from 4,71,186 units sold in April 2024 to command a 93.59% share on the company portfolio. Scooter sales grew proportionately higher by 20.79% to 32,537 units in April 2025 over 26,937 unit sales of the same month last year. Scooters command a 6.41% share on this list.
      While domestic sales increased by 1.99% to 4,88,997 units, it was the company’s exports that witnessed marginal growth by 0.17% to 18,704 units. This was just a 31 unit improvement from 18,673 units shipped in May 2024. Demand for Hero products saw a surge in markets of Bangladesh and Columbia.
      Hero Sales May 2025 – MoM
      Hero Sales May 2025 – MoM
      On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, Hero MotoCorp witnessed improved sales. Total sales were up 66.24% to 5,07,701 units from 3,05,406 units sold in April 2025, relating to a 2,02,295 unit volume increase. Motorcycle sales and scooter sales grew to 4,75,164 units and 32,537 units, marking 66.09% and 68.44% MoM growth respectively.
      Total domestic sales were up 69.48% to 4,88,997 units from 2,88,524 units, a significantly higher volume increase by 2,00,473 units. Exports also showed off double-digit improvement by 10.79% to 18,704 units whereas there had been 16,882 units shipped in the previous month.
      Hero Sales May 2025 – YTD
      Hero Sales May 2025 – YTD
      Taking into account Hero MotoCorp sales in the months of April and May 2025, the company has witnessed severe decline. Motorcycle sales fell by 21.34% to 7,61,253 units in the past 2 months, down by 2,06,475 units from 9,67,728 units sold in the April and May 2024 period. Scooter sales too dived 18.95% to 51,854 units from 63,980 units taking total domestic sales down 21.68% to 7,77521 units whereas there had been 9,92,746 units sold in the same 2 months of the previous year.
      Exports, which have seen a marked YoY and MoM growth in May 2025 suffered an 8.66% setback on a YTD basis. The company shipped 35,586 units during April and May 2025, down by 3,376 units over 38,962 units exported in the same period last year. More

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      in Bike

      Royal Enfield Sales May 2025 Mostly Green – Classic, Bullet, Himalayan, Hunter

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      2025 Royal Enfield Hunter 350The most popular classic bike manufacturer of India, and probably the world, Royal Enfield, has closed the sales account for the month of May 2025 in style. The company’s sales fell mostly in the green with just one exception. Which is the MoM domestic aspect, that registered a negligible 0.24% decline. Let’s see what’s what.
      Royal Enfield Sales May 2025
      For the month of May 2025, Royal Enfield registered a total sales of 89,429 units. When compared to the 71,010 units from May 2024 and 86,559 units from April 2025, Royal Enfield’s total sales fell completely into the green with 25.94% YoY growth with a volume gain of 18,419 units and 3.32% MoM growth with a volume gain of 2,870 units.
      Breaking out these numbers with respect to displacement classes, we can see that the 350cc offerings constitute 85.53% market share in total sales with 76,492 units. The 350cc bikes witnessed 27.60% YoY and 2.98% MoM growth with 16,640 units and 2,210 units gained in volume YoY and MoM respectively.
      Royal Enfield Sales May 2025 – YoY, MoM
      The larger bikes from Royal Enfield consisting of 440cc, 450cc and 650cc offerings accounted for 14.47% of total sales with 12,937 units last month. When compared to 11,158 units from last year and 12,277 units from a month before, this category witnessed 15.94% YoY growth and 5.38% MoM growth, gaining 1,779 units YoY and 660 units MoM.
      Breaking down the sales with respect to domestic and export markets, we can see that Royal Enfield’s domestic sales accounted for 84.78% of total sales. The company sold 75,820 units in the domestic market with 19.34% YoY growth and 0.24% MoM decline and shipped 13,609 units to global markets with 81.96% YoY growth and 28.91% MoM growth.
      YTD analysis
      Royal Enfield’s YTD sales analysis reveals that the company sold a total of 1,75,988 units in total with 15.12% YoY growth, gaining 23,108 units in volume. The 350cc offering accounted for 85.67% of the market share with 1,50,774 units and 13.6% YoY growth, while the larger offerings accounted for 25,314 units with 25.55% YoY growth.
      Royal Enfield Sales May 2025 – YTD
      Domestic sales performance YTD stood at 1,51,822 units with 86.27% of the total sales, while exports constituted 24,166 units with 68.86% YoY growth. Volume growth stood at 13,253 units in the domestic market and 9,855 units in export markets.
      Statement from Royal Enfield
      Speaking about the performance for the month of May 2025, B Govindarajan, Managing Director, Eicher Motors, and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Enfield, said, “This month, we’ve continued to build on our momentum with steady growth in India and international markets.
      What’s even more exciting is the way our community continues to expand, in spirit and in size. From iconic rides like the Himalayan Odyssey to partnerships with like-minded brands, we’re committed to creating spaces where riders come together to explore, connect, and celebrate the journey. It’s this blend of passion, community and craftsmanship that keeps us moving forward.” More

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      in Bike

      Bajaj Auto Sales Up 8% YoY in May 2025 – Exports Register Double-Digit Growth

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      New Bajaj Pulsar 400Bajaj Auto recorded total sales of 3,84,621 units in May 2025, an 8% YoY Growth, boosted primarily by increased global demand
      Bajaj Auto Limited, a leading two wheeler and CV maker in India, has released their sales results for May 2025. As we break down these sales figures across its 2W and CV segments, we find that the company has recorded a marginal increase in 2W domestic sales while its CV sales suffered a negative impact. Where the company has shown outstanding performance is in global markets.
      Bajaj Auto YoY Sales May 2025
      For the month of May 2025, Bajaj Auto has sold 3,84,621 units. This includes both its 2W and CV sales in domestic and global markets. This was an 8% YoY growth from 3,55,323 unit sales of May 2024. It was also a substantial improvement from a total of 3,65,810 units sold in April 2025.
      Bajaj Auto Sales May 2025
      In the 2W range, the company continued to witness strong demand for its Pulsar lineup, Platina and more specifically for its Chetak range. Sales in domestic markets improved by 2% to 1,91,412 units in May 2025, up from 1,88,340 unit sales in May 2024. Exports surged 20% to 1,40,958 units, which was a dramatic improvement from 1,17,142 units shipped in the same month last year. This took total 2W sales to 3,32,370 units, a 9% YoY growth from 3,05,482 units sold in May 2024.
      Demand for the company’s commercial vehicle lineup dipped by 7% in domestic markets. Sales which had grown to 36,747 units in May 2024 fell to 34,321 units last month. Again it was exports that saw a marked increase by 37% to 17,930 units from 13,094 units on a YoY basis. Boosted by increased exports, total CV sales showed off a 5% YoY growth to 52,251 units from 49,841 units.
      Total 2W + CV sales remained flat at 2,25,733 units in May 2025 from 2,25,087 units in May 2024, a marginal increase of 646 units. Exports, on the other hand, grew by 22% to 1,58,888 units from 1,30,236 units on a YoY basis.
      Bajaj Auto Sales YTD FY 2025/26
      Bajaj Auto YTD Sales May 2025
      On a year to date (YTD) basis, that is taking into account sales during the months of April and May 2025, Bajaj Auto sold a total of 7,50,431 units. This included both 2W and CV sales, both in domestic and global markets. It was a minimal increase from 7,43,579 unit sales experienced in the same two month period of last year.
      A decline was seen in 2W domestic sales by 6% to 3,80,027 units in April-May 2025 from 4,05,290 units sold in the same period of 2024. Exports were up 12% to 2,70,280 units from 2,41,981 units thus taking total 2W sales to 6,50,307 units. CV sales also saw lower domestic demand by 4% to 66,321 units from 68,880 units while exports saw double-digit growth of 23% with 33,803 units shipped in the April-May 2025 period from 27,428 units exported in the same period last year.
      This increased global demand took total CV sales up by 4% to 1,00,124 units from 96,308 units. Total 2W + CV sales in domestic markets showed off a 6% decline to 4,46,348 units while total exports were up 13% to 3,04,083 units. More