31/12/2025
Year-Ender 2025 | Industry Leaders on India’s Automotive & Mobility Transformation
As 2025 comes to a close, India’s automotive and mobility sector stands at a pivotal inflection point. The year witnessed accelerated premiumisation in passenger vehicles and tyres, deeper consolidation and maturity in electric mobility, and a growing emphasis on engineering-led, design-driven transformation. Despite global and domestic headwinds, industry leaders highlight how capacity expansion, technology integration, customer-centric innovation and strategic partnerships have strengthened India’s position as a future-ready mobility market heading into 2026.
Mr. Ajinkya Firodia, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts Ltd. said -
“2025 was a defining year for India’s electric-scooter journey. The industry decisively consolidated around leaders who stayed true to core scooter values – strength, reliability, service and quality – while intelligently blending modern electronics and connected features. EV pe*******on in scooters crossed an all-time high of 16%, and the momentum is only accelerating.
“Despite headwinds such as rare-earth magnet shortages, tapering subsidies and rising input costs, India’s EV makers didn’t just survive – they innovated and strengthened. The entry of global players like Tesla and VinFast further reinforced India’s position as a serious long-term EV market with enormous potential. On the broader automobile front, the reduction of GST from 28% to 18% brought renewed energy to the market. The auto industry continued its steady growth trajectory despite global conflicts, tariff uncertainties, and economic and political volatility – a testament to India’s resilience.”
“This year also marked the loss of a true legend, Ratan Tata. A rare business leader who lived in the hearts of people, who dared to acquire iconic global marques and consistently innovated for the common Indian. His passing is not just a personal loss for the industry, but a turning point in India’s automotive history.”
“For me personally, 2025 was a year of completion and action. After four years of relentless effort, we launched the Kinetic DX – a product that brought nostalgia, excitement, and overwhelming love from customers who connected deeply with the legacy it carries. Alongside the DX, we introduced our Range-X batteries, controllers and motors from KCL, unveiled our new identity, new showrooms, and formally re-entered the two-wheeler market. Delivering our first scooter at the feet of Shrimant Dagdusheth Ganpati was a moment of humility and gratitude. Our strategic technology partnership with Jio sets the foundation for scalable and exciting innovations ahead.”
“The journey has truly begun. With 2026 ahead, we look forward to accelerating growth, deepening trust, and shaping the next chapter of India’s electric mobility story.”
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Mr. Harinder Singh, Managing Director & CEO, Yokohama India Pvt. Ltd., said -
“Yokohama India continues to outpace market growth in 2025, delivering double-digit growth as India's passenger vehicle market continued its structural shift toward SUVs, larger tyre fitments, and premium offerings.”
“On the OEM side, the shift has been even more pronounced. 17-inch and above tyres, now account for nearly a quarter of OEM supply, growing rapidly as SUVs and premium vehicles redefine the fitment landscape. Aligned with evolving market needs, Yokohama India introduced 20 inch tyres manufactured in India, and the commercial rollout from our Vizag facility strengthened our manufacturing capacity at exactly the right time. This expansion supports growing replacement-market demand while also enabling our OEM strategy.”
“Consumers are demanding more from their tyres as vehicles and road infrastructure continue to improve, but they remain pragmatic about value and mileage. The strong response to BluEarth-GT Max is a testament to the same – after delivering a 30% improvement in tread life, volumes more than doubled, reinforcing that performance must translate into tangible returns for the customer.”
“While currency volatility continues to exert pressure on costs, the broader direction of the industry is clear. India’s passenger vehicle market is upgrading, led by the continued shift toward SUVs and larger fitments. With expanded capacity, stronger OEM alignment, and a focused SUV strategy anchored by our Geolandar portfolio, Yokohama India is well positioned to grow ahead of the category as these trends accelerate into 2026.”
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Mr. Pratik Malkan, Chairman, Lusso Designs India, says
“As the industry moves forward, vehicle transformation is increasingly being driven by advanced engineering integration, intelligent systems and manufacturing-led innovation. Personalisation today has evolved from cosmetic differentiation to a core engineering principle, influencing vehicle architecture, material choices and feature integration across platforms.”
“At Lusso Designs, transformation is approached as a structured, end-to-end process. Our capabilities span AI-led design modelling, robotics-assisted production, advanced prototyping and lightweight composite engineering, supported by strong process control and craftsmanship. This allows OEMs and mobility partners to enhance existing platforms, accelerate development cycles and deliver differentiated products that command premium positioning while aligning with sustainability objectives.”
“With India’s HNI and UHNI base continuing to expand, demand for bespoke and premium mobility solutions is expected to remain strong. Supported by global OEM collaborations and a focused R&D roadmap across luxury platforms, lifestyle vehicles and sustainable design concepts, Lusso Designs is well-positioned to support the industry’s next phase of growth through scalable, design-led and engineering-driven transformation.”
