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August 2026 car sales: Tata widens monthly lead over Mahindra

Posted on September 1, 2026September 1, 2026 by admin

India’s passenger vehicle market remained on a strong growth path in August 2026, with most carmakers reporting higher domestic wholesales compared with the same month last year. Maruti Suzuki retained the top spot, while Tata Motors remained ahead of Mahindra for second place. Hyundai held fourth position, while Kia overtakes Toyota for the fifth spot.

July 2026 carmaker-wise sales in India
Carmaker	Aug 2026 sales	Jul 2026 sales	MoM change	Aug 2025 sales	YoY change
Maruti Suzuki	1,76,971	1,96,203	-9.80%	1,31,278	34.8%
Tata Motors	67,753	62,611	4.22%	43,315	56%
Mahindra	59,257	60,048	-1.32%	39,399	50%
Hyundai	54,396	54,210	0.3%	43,966	23.6%
Kia	29,042	28,200	3%	19,608	48.1%
Toyota	28,410	30,516	-7%	29,302	-3%
MG	7,508	8,158	-8%	6,687	12.3%
Nissan	3,426	3,006	14%	1,384	147%
Renault	2,842	3,293	-14%	3,015	-5.7%

Maruti Suzuki

Sales: 1,76,971 units. Change: 34.8 percent YoY

Maruti Suzuki retained its position as India’s largest carmaker in August, with domestic passenger vehicle sales rising 34.8 percent year on year. Utility vehicless, including the Brezza, Ertiga, e Vitara, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, Victoris and XL6, accounted for 79,045 units, while compact and mid-size segment, led by the Baleno, Swift, Dzire and WagonR, contributed 77,166 units. The mini segment, comprising the Alto and S-Presso, added 8,799 units, while the Eeco contributed 11,961 units.

The carmaker also crossed one million total sales in the first five months of FY2026-27. Its total August sales, including exports and sales to other OEMs, stood at 2,19,220 units.

Tata Motors

Sales: 67,753 units. Change: 56 percent YoY

Tata Motors retained second place with 67,753 domestic passenger vehicle sales in August, up 56 percent from the same month last year. Electric vehicle sales, including domestic and international volumes, stood at 16,549 units, almost doubling from 8,540 units in August 2025. Tata also announced a price hike across its passenger vehicle range from September 1.

Mahindra

Sales: 59,257 units. Change: 50 percent YoY

Mahindra remained in third place, recording domestic SUV sales of 59,257 units in August, a 50 percent increase over the 39,399 units sold in August 2025. Its overall vehicle sales, including exports, stood at 1,07,648 units, up 42 percent year on year.

During the month, Mahindra launched the updated Scorpio-N and BE 6 SporteQ, and also introduced its Battery-as-a-Service option for the XEV 9e and XEV 9S.

Hyundai

Sales: 54,396 units. Change: 23.6 percent YoY

Hyundai recorded 54,396 domestic sales in August, up 23.6 percent year on year. The company said this was its highest-ever domestic sales figure for an August. Hyundai has introduced an assured buyback programme for the Creta Electric, while the carmaker is also set to increase prices from this September 2026.

Kia

Sales: 29,042 units, Change: 48.1 percent YoY

Kia recorded 29,042 units in August, up 48.1 percent from 19,608 units in the same month last year. This was the carmaker’s highest-ever August wholesale volume since entering India. The Seltos and Sonet continued to account for a large share of Kia’s volumes, while the newly launched Syros EV also contributed to the brand’s performance.

Toyota

Sales: 28,410 units, Change: -3 percent YoY

Toyota recorded domestic sales of 28,410 units in August 2026, down 3 percent from 29,302 units in the same month last year. The company remains optimistic about demand during the upcoming festive season, with the Innova Hycross, Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Glanza continuing to drive sales.

JSW MG Motor India

Sales: 7,508 units. Change: 12.3 percent YoY

JSW MG Motor recorded sales of 7,508 units in August, up 14 percent year on year. The company launched the Hector Tomahawk in both EV and PHEV forms during the month. Bookings for both versions are open, while deliveries of the Tomahawk EV are scheduled to begin in September. PHEV test drives and deliveries are scheduled to start in November.

Nissan

Sales: 3,426 units. Change: 147 percent YoY

Nissan recorded domestic wholesale sales of 3,426 units in August, up 147 percent year on year. The company attributed the performance to demand for the Magnite and Gravite, along with the response to the recently launched Tekton. Nissan also began exporting the Tekton to South Africa, Bhutan and Nepal during the month, with the first batch comprising more than 1,300 units.

Renault

Sales: 2,842 units, Change: -5.7 percent YoY

Renault recorded sales of 2,842 units in August 2026, down 5.7 percent from 3,015 units in August 2025. The carmaker’s cumulative domestic wholesales for January-August 2026 stood at 31,979 units, up 47.9 percent from 21,621 units in the same period last year. The company will add another powertrain option to the Triber range with the Triber Turbo, which is scheduled to arrive in late September 2026.

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Smaller EVs will arrive as soon as charging network is ready: Maruti MD Takeuchi

Posted on September 1, 2026September 1, 2026 by admin

Maruti Suzuki plans to add smaller EVs to its India line-up once it has developed the charging infrastructure needed to support them. At the company’s annual general meeting, Managing director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said, “As soon as our EV charging will be ready in India, we will add smaller EVs in our portfolio.”

More than 2,000 exclusive chargers installed across 1,100-plus cities
Claims around 90 percent share of India’s EV exports
Plans to build EVs, hybrids, CNG and ICE cars on the same line

Maruti Suzuki’s charging network plans

Maruti Suzuki has partnered with 13 charge-point operators and has already installed more than 2,000 exclusive charging points across over 1,100 cities. The company is also working to improve charging coverage on highways and expressways, while its plan for the top 100 cities calls for chargers at key locations around 5-10km apart.

The carmaker has set a larger target of more than 1,00,000 charging points across India by the end of this decade. The company has linked the introduction of smaller EVs to the expansion of this charging network.

Maruti currently sells the e Vitara as its only EV in India, while competitors Tata Motors and JSW MG Motor India already have smaller electric models on sale.

Maruti Suzuki expands EV exports

Maruti Suzuki is also expanding its electric vehicle exports. “We have started our EV exports to Europe first. Now, we are the largest exporter of EVs from India, with about 90 percent share in total EV exports from India,” he said. Takeuchi said the company exports vehicles to nearly 120 countries and shipped more than 4.4 lakh vehicles last year, a 34 percent increase overall.

Japan has become Maruti’s second-largest market, according to Takeuchi, while the company expects trade agreements to create further export opportunities in markets including the UK, Germany and France.

ICE, hybrid and CNG investments to continue

Maruti Suzuki will continue investing in internal-combustion engine, hybrid and CNG vehicles alongside EVs. Takeuchi said ICE vehicles would remain an important part of the company’s business, with compressed biogas also expected to support their continued demand.

“Investment in ICE facilities will continue to be an integral part of our manufacturing process,” he said. The company is designing its new manufacturing facilities to build different types of vehicles on the same production line, allowing production to be adjusted as demand changes. “In our new plants, we can make EVs, hybrid vehicles, CNG and ICE vehicles on the same line,” Takeuchi said.

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Bajaj becomes second Indian EV maker to cross 3 lakh sales this year

Posted on August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 by admin

Outside shot showing the rear three quarter of the Chetak C2501

Bajaj has become the second electric vehicle manufacturer in India to cross the 3 lakh sales mark. As per Vahan data, the Pune-based manufacturer of the Chetak e-scooter and Yulu e-bikes has delivered a total of 3.02 lakh units between January and August 2026. This is a first for the brand, and marks a 68 percent growth compared to last year. It also makes Bajaj the second e-2W OEM to do so, after market leader TVS, which crossed the same milestone last month.

Bajaj currently sells five EV scooter models via the Chetak brand
August sales have increased by 210 percent compared to last year

TVS stays ahead of Bajaj by about 50,000 units

Ather is about 75,000 units behind, with the Konarc expected to help

Bajaj Auto retail sales data, Vahan (as of August 30, 2026)
Year	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August (1-30)
2026	26,575	26,344	47,753	34,600	39,542	43,529	45,860	37,976
2025	22,137	22,242	36,582	19,818	22,641	23,986	20,557	12,246
Percentage increase	20	18	31	75	75	81	123	210

At present, TVS is 51,063 units ahead of Bajaj, having sold 3.53 lakh units till August end. Ather, third in sales at 2.27 lakh units, and has just launched the mass-market Konarc, is also expected to surpass 3 lakh sales close to November this year. The number of units sold so far gives Bajaj a 22 percent share of the market, putting it ahead of Ather Energy (17 percent) and behind TVS (26 percent).

Bajaj currently has a five-variant Chetak portfolio comprising the Chetak C2501 as the entry-level offering and the C3501 as the brand’s current flagship EV. As the monthly retail sales data table above indicates, Bajaj’s highest single-month sales were in March 2026 which was the first time that sales crossed the 40,000 sales mark. Since then, it has crossed that figure two more times, in June and in July.

Upcoming festival season expected to help increase sales

Bajaj is expected to sell up to 4.5 lakh units by year end

With the festive season to kick off soon, expect Bajaj to add another 1.25-1.50 lakh units in the next four months. This will take the company’s total e-2W retail sales to a record 4.25-4.50 lakh sales for the year. The topper, TVS is on track to be the first Indian EV manufacturer to sell 5 lakh units this year. Bajaj will also be well ahead of Ather, which is expected to register record retail sales of an estimated 3.50 lakh units.

Nevertheless, both Bajaj and TVS, will be keenly watching the market response to the Ather Konarc. The Konarc’s base variant has been priced at Rs 99,999, about Rs 4,000-5,000 more than both Bajaj and TVS’ entry level offerings. Vida, fourth in sales, also thus has the incentive to watch the customer response to the Ather Konarc.

With inputs from Stephen Raj Antony.

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Parth Jindal appointed JSW MG Motor India chairman

Posted on August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 by admin

JSW MG Motor India has appointed Parth Jindal as chairman with immediate effect. Jindal has been a board member of the company – a joint venture between JSW Group and SAIC Motor – since its formation and has been involved in its product strategy, manufacturing expansion and localisation programme.

Parth Jindal’s role at JSW

Jindal holds several senior positions across the JSW Group. He is managing director of JSW Cement and JSW Paints, chairman of JSW Dulux and a director on the board of JSW Energy. He is also the founder of JSW Sports and chairman and co-owner of the Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals.

JSW MG Motor India is a joint venture between JSW Group and SAIC Motor. The company says it has sold more than 1.5 lakh electric vehicles since its first EV launch, with the MG Windsor being its bestselling EV in India.

The appointment comes as JSW MG expands its electric vehicle portfolio and manufacturing operations in India.

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Mahindra XEV 9e and XEV 9S now available with BaaS

Posted on August 28, 2026August 28, 2026 by admin

Mahindra has extended its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership programme to the XEV 9S and the XEV 9e. Under BaaS, prices start at Rs 12.65 lakh for the XEV 9S and at Rs 13.90 lakh for the XEV 9e (all ex-showroom), and an additional Rs 3.75 per km will be charged for the battery. All of Mahindra’s born EVs are now available under the BaaS programme.

XEV 9S and XEV 9e starting price reduced by Rs 8 lakh with BaaS
Rs 3.75 to be charged additionally for each kilometre driven

The BaaS program essentially brings down the entry price of both the XEV 9e and the XEV 9S by Rs 8 lakh, which is significant saving on the upfront cost of the vehicle. For reference, prices for the XE 9S start from Rs 20.65 lakh, while the XEV 9e is priced from Rs 21.90 lakh (ex-showroom, without charger)

Additionally, Mahindra has also extended the BaaS program to all variants of the BE 6 Sporteq – until now, it was only available on the Pack One and Pack Two trims with the smaller 59kWh battery. Mahindra, however, hasn’t revealed the exact variant-wise break up of BaaS prices for each of three EVs.

The separate battery financing model carries an effective running cost calculated at Rs 3.75 per kilometre, based on an initial monthly battery EMI of Rs 6,975 assuming a daily running average of 60 kilometres alongside a specified down payment.

What is BaaS?

BaaS is a pricing structure that excludes the cost of an EV’s battery pack from its ex-showroom price, affording the buyer a substantially lower upfront cost. The battery cost is then financed per kilometre of usage for a certain tenure and interest rate, depending on the financier. It’s worth noting, though, that charging expenditures are not included in the battery usage costs.

JSW-MG Motor India was the first carmaker to offer BaaS with the Windsor. Since then, several other electric carmakers such as Tata Motors, Maruti, Toyota, Hyundai and Citroen have adopted this pricing strategy to advance electric vehicle adoption. Mahindra is now the latest carmaker to adopt the BaaS model, although acceptance of BaaS among EV buyers is still very limited.

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Tata Motors adopts Tata.cars as new identity for PV business

Posted on August 27, 2026August 27, 2026 by admin

Tata Motors adopts Tata.cars identity for passenger vehicle business

Tata Motors announced Tata.cars as the new retail name for its passenger vehicle (PV) division on Thursday. Both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) models will now come under Tata.cars umbrella brand. Tata.ev will continue as a sub-brand under the wider Tata.cars brand. This new identity will progressively appear across showrooms, digital touch points, after-sales and service operations, and marketing communications.

Tata.ev to continue as a sub-brand under Tata.cars
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles to remain as the registered legal entity
New principal colour and typeface are a part of the new identity

That said, the company’s legal identity and corporate structure remain unchanged. Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles will continue to be the registered legal entity for statutory filings, manufacturing plants, official contracts and regulatory obligations.

Tata Motors adopts Tata.cars as new identity for PV business

Tata Motors said the new identity formalises how Indian customers already refer to its passenger vehicles as “Tata cars”. “In many ways, Tata.cars is an identity that India has given us. Today, we formally embrace it,” said Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility. “The Tata name carries our heritage, our values and the trust earned over generations, while Tata.cars gives our passenger vehicle business a distinct, modern and future-facing expression,” he added.

Vivek Srivatsa, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility, said the transition would also introduce a new visual and sensory system built around a design philosophy called Parallel Pathways. It includes Ambition Blue as the principal colour, a bespoke typeface called Parallel Display and a new sonic identity. Tata Motors will also begin updating its dealerships over the next few months with redesigned interiors and a new stainless-steel facade featuring louvred panels.

The new brand system has been designed to work across products, technologies, customer experiences and markets. While customers will increasingly encounter Tata.cars across sales and service channels, corporate and regulatory references will continue under Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.

With inputs from Ketan Thakkar.

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Hyundai to debut new compact electric SUV by Q4 FY27

Posted on August 27, 2026August 27, 2026 by admin

Hyundai to debut new compact electric SUV by Q4 FY27

Hyundai has announced a new compact electric SUV for India at its 2026 CEO Investor Day. The new EV will be designed and manufactured in India and is slated to debut in the country by the last quarter of FY 2027 (by March 2027). Jose Munoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said, “A brand-new compact SUV is coming, designed and localised in India.”

A ‘next-gen infotainment’ and Level-2 ADAS are confirmed features
Will be built on the E-GMP (K) platform and manufactured in Tamil Nadu
Will compete with the Tata Nexon EV and Mahindra XUV 3XO EV

Upcoming Hyundai compact EV: All we know so far

It will be built on the E-GMP (K) platform and will be a rival to the Nexon EV

The upcoming EV, codenamed HE1i, was first announced at Hyundai’s Investor Day 2025. Later, we got to know it will be a born-electric vehicle built on the E-GMP (K) platform, which also underpins the Inster EV offered abroad. It will be manufactured at Hyundai’s Sriperumbudur facility in Tamil Nadu.

The HE1i EV will use localised Exide-sourced batteries and will be offered in two versions: standard range and long range, the exact specifications of which are unknown. For context, the Euro-spec Inster is offered with a 42kWh battery with 300km WLTP-claimed range and a long-range 49kWh battery with 355km claimed range.

Image source: @joonsun_erin on Instagram

The new compact EV is confirmed to have a “next-generation infotainment system”, which could be the Pleos Connect infotainment system also expected on the upcoming third-generation Creta, and “Level 2 assisted driving technology”.

The upcoming Hyundai compact EV will be positioned as a rival to the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Kia Syros EV. Being a localised offering, it could have a lower price tag than the Syros EV, which is currently the most expensive option in the segment.

Hyundai confirms next-gen Creta and i10 for India

Hyundai expects electrified vehicles to account for 50 percent of India sales by 2030. Currently, it sells two EVs in the country: the Creta Electric and Ioniq 5, and the upcoming compact eSUV will give the carmaker a share in the more accessible segment of India’s EV market.

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All Mahindra born EVs to get Google Gemini by January 2027

Posted on August 27, 2026August 27, 2026 by admin

Mahindra has announced that its electric vehicle line-up will get Google’s Gemini AI assistant by January 2027. “From 1st January 2027, Google Gemini will go live on all other cars, including the original BE 6. That’s the advantage of MAIA architecture,” said R Velusamy, president, Automotive Business, Mahindra and Mahindra, in an interview with Autocar India. Additionally, other software-defined features that debuted on the BE 6 Sporteq will roll out to its existing portfolio in phases from January 2027.

Which software-defined features will the existing line-up get?

The recently introduced BE 6 Sporteq gets Google Gemini from day one, and all upcoming models will also have this feature. Meanwhile, Mahindra’s existing line-up – the XEV 9e, XEV 9S and the older BE 6 – will receive it via an over-the-air (OTA) update by January 2027. Essentially, these vehicles will now get the BE 6 Sporteq’s ‘TEQ’ suite of features, and below is a list of them.

1. TEQ_Talk (Google Gemini)

Mahindra’s in-car MAIA assistant is now powered by Google Gemini, enabling conversational AI features. The brand says it uses 17 specialised AI agents to facilitate natural interactions and supports over 100 core functions and 48 applications, including navigation, entertainment, vehicle controls, general knowledge and more.

2. TEQ_Secure

This suite brings Secure 360 Pro, which basically lets you keep an eye on your car through its 360-degree camera system and dashcam. With Mahindra’s Me4U app, users can check live footage and recordings, activate audio relay and track their vehicle. There’s also a digital car key ecosystem across smartphones, smartwatches and NFC key cards. Additionally, cars with a passenger display also come equipped with a parental lock feature.

3. TEQ_Me

TEQ_Me brings the user profile with an auto-detection feature that instantly adjusts your vehicle settings, including seat and mirror position, climate control and infotainment preferences, head-up display and drive modes, according to the selected user profile.

4. TEQ_Drive

The TEQ_Drive suite brings several driving features to Mahindra electric SUVs. A custom mode allows users to select and individually fine-tune the drive, suspension and steering modes. There’s also a drift mode that allows “controlled drifting in suitable conditions” by disabling the vehicle’s ESP completely, which wasn’t possible before.

Moreover, users can now get additional range at zero percent charge with the Revive mode to reach the nearest charger. It essentially adds up to 13km of range, with the Revive SOS mode further adding up to 11km of range during emergencies. The latter can be used only five times in the vehicle’s lifetime. Lastly, Tribe Drive lets you track the locations of your friends and family who also own Mahindra electric SUVs on road trips.

5. TEQ_Play

This mainly covers in-car entertainment features such as gaming, with support for up to four Bluetooth-enabled controllers along with a karaoke mode. Meanwhile, users can privately stream in-car audio with compatible Bluetooth devices via the private audio feature. Additionally, the ‘GrooveMe Party’ feature syncs the vehicle’s interior and exterior lights with the music playing, which is a cool party trick.

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MG Hector Tomahawk EV launched at Rs 19.49 lakh

Posted on August 26, 2026August 26, 2026 by admin

JSW MG Motor India has launched the Hector Tomahawk EV at a starting price of Rs 19.49 lakh (ex-showroom), while prices under its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme start at Rs 13.99 lakh. The electric SUV gets a 69.2kWh battery and is available in five and seven-seat configurations. The Tomahawk EV is the first MG model in India based on the brand’s ADAPT architecture.

Deliveries to commence in September
Gets a 15.6-inch touchscreen and 8.8-inch digital driver’s display
204hp electric motor develops 310Nm
90kW DC charging; 30-80 percent in 35 minutes

MG Hector Tomahawk EV: price and variants

Variant	Seating	Ex-showroom price
Excite	7-seat	Rs 19.49 lakh
Exclusive	7-seat	Rs 21.99 lakh
Essence	7-seat	Rs 23.49 lakh
Essence	5-seat	Rs 22.99 lakh

The Hector Tomahawk EV is priced from Rs 19.49 lakh to Rs 23.49 lakh (ex-showroom). The five-seat version is offered only in the Essence variant and is priced at Rs 22.99 lakh, while the seven-seat version is available in Excite, Exclusive and Essence trims.

MG is also offering the Hector Tomahawk EV under its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme, with prices starting at Rs 13.99 lakh. Buyers opting for BaaS pay a separate battery rental of Rs 4.90 per km. MG has not disclosed variant-wise BaaS prices.

The prices are introductory and applicable to limited units only.

In terms of rivals, the Hector Tomahawk EV will primarily face the Mahindra XEV 9S and Kia Carens Clavis EV, both of which are available with three-row seating. The Tomahawk EV’s five-seat version also broadens its competition to other electric SUVs in this price range.

MG Hector Tomahawk EV: exterior

The Hector Tomahawk EV gets LED projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights with an illuminated MG logo positioned between them. The front bumper has a blacked out, closed-off lower front fascia, while the SUV rides on 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. It also gets roof rails, black cladding around the wheel arches and lower doors and an automatic powered tailgate.

At the rear, the Tomahawk EV features wraparound LED tail-lamps and a sculpted rear bumper. The SUV measures 4,745mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,770mm tall, with a 2,810mm wheelbase and 230mm ground clearance. The Hector Tomahawk EV gets a 610-litre boot for the five-seat version, while the seven-seat version offers 192 litres with all three rows in use and 528 litres with the third row folded.

MG Hector Tomahawk EV: interior and features

The Hector Tomahawk EV gets a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 8.8-inch digital drivers display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging and gesture controls for functions such as the air-conditioning and audio system.

Other features include a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, 256-colour ambient lighting, a 10-speaker Infinity sound system, a powered tailgate, connected car tech, rear window sunshades and a driver’s seat with memory and auto-retract functionality. The SUV also gets several cabin modes, including Nap, Camp, Energise, Pro Pet, Valet and Quiet modes.

The Hector Tomahawk EV is available with five or seven seats. The five-seat version has 610 litres of boot space, which increases to 1,053 litres with the second row folded. The seven-seat version offers 192 litres with all three rows in use and 528 litres with the third row folded.

MG Hector Tomahawk EV: battery and range

The Tomahawk EV gets a 69.2kWh battery paired with a permanent-magnet synchronous motor producing 204hp and 310Nm. MG claims a 517km MIDC range and a 0-100kph time of 8.2sec.

The EV uses a CCS2 charging connection and supports DC fast charging at up to 90kW. MG claims a 30-80 percent charge in around 35 minutes using a 90kW DC charger. With a 7.4kW AC charger, a 10-100 percent charge takes around 12.5 hours. A portable charger that plugs into a 15A socket is also offered.

The Tomahawk EV also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) functions. MG says V2L can power compatible external devices and appliances, while V2V allows the SUV to charge another electric vehicle. It also claims the Tomahawk EV is India’s first vehicle-to-home (V2H) vehicle, allowing its battery to supply power to household appliances through two-way charging.

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Kia confirms Sonet, Carens Clavis hybrids by 2029

Posted on August 19, 2026August 19, 2026 by admin

Kia confirms Sonet, Carens Clavis hybrids by 2029

At its 2026 CEO Investor Day event, Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed that the Sonet and Carens Clavis will have hybrid powertrains in India by 2029. Additionally, the Korean carmaker also announced that it will introduce a locally developed B-segment electric SUV. “From 2027 onward, we will extend hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) offerings to key local models such as the Sonet, Carens and Seltos, while introducing a locally developed B-SUV EV,” said Song.

Sonet and Carens Clavis hybrids to arrive on next-gen versions.
Locally developed and made B-segment SUV to be all-electric.
Carnival and Sorento hybrids to arrive this year.

Kia Sonet, Carens Clavis hybrid: Additional details

Kia’s most affordable model, the Sonet, is due for a next-generation update in 2027, and it will receive a hybrid powertrain by 2028 or 2029. Exact technical details are unknown at the moment, but the carmaker has been working on a strong-hybrid powertrain for the Sonet, as we previously reported.

The second-generation Sonet will move to the K1 platform, which underpins the Venue and Syros currently. This platform will not only be hybrid-compatible but also support the latest electrical and electronics (E&E) architecture, enabling over-the-air updates and remote diagnostics, while also addressing the lack of rear seat space in the current version.

Current Kia Carens Clavis used for representation.

The Kia Carens Clavis MPV will also get a hybrid powertrain in its next-generation version by 2029. Currently, the MPV is offered in naturally aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol, diesel, and all-electric powertrains. However, it is expected to utilise the Seltos’ hybrid setup, which is due in 2027. Our sources suggest that the Seltos hybrid is expected to be based on the existing 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.

Kia B-segment electric SUV: Additional details

Previously, we reported that Kia has been evaluating a B-segment SUV, and we have now learnt that it will be electric. Secondly, the SUV will be developed and made locally. Specifications of this model are yet to be finalised. We expect this model to slot in between the Syros and Seltos, likely measuring around 4.2 metres in length. It will be Kia’s contender in the growing midsize electric SUV space.

Kia Carnival hybrid: Additional details

Global-spec Carnival hybrid used for representation

Kia has also confirmed that the Carnival hybrid is set for a launch sometime this year. While exact technical details remain unknown, the global-spec Carnival strong-hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a hybrid system. It develops a combined output of 242hp and 367Nm, while power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

By 2030, the Korean carmaker plans to expand its lineup to ten models comprising ICE, hybrid and EV-powered models. Out of these, eight models will be electrified, Song stated.