India’s Auto Market Heats Up for 2026: New MPVs, EV Milestones, Petrol SUVs, and Price Changes Explained

The Indian automobile industry is entering a busy phase as brands prepare for 2026 with new launches, fresh powertrains, electric vehicle growth and pricing updates. Carmakers are aligning products to suit changing buyer needs, rising fuel costs and stricter regulations

TEvery update below focuses on what matters most to buyers including launch timelines, expected features, pricing direction and segment impact

Nissan Gravite MPV Deliveries Confirmed For 2026

Nissan has shared a clear timeline for its upcoming compact MPV, the Nissan Gravite which is aimed at budget conscious families

Key Details You Should Know

• Launch timeline: January 2026
• Deliveries begin: March 2026
• Production ramp-up: February 2026

The Gravite will enter the compact MPV space where space, mileage and price matter the most. Nissan plans to open bookings soon after launch, followed by dealer-level test drives by March

Segment Positioning

• Expected rivals: Renault Triber and Maruti Ertiga
• Platform: Renault-Nissan CMF-A+ architecture
• Focus: Cost efficiency, practical features and family comfort

With this model, Nissan is aiming to grow its footprint in India’s family car segment and improve overall volumes

2025 Tata Harrier And Safari Petrol Lineup Revealed

Tata Motors has officially revealed petrol-powered versions of the 2025 Tata Harrier and Tata Safari, expanding choices beyond diesel

What’s New In The Petrol SUVs

• Engine: 1.5-liter TGDi turbo-petrol
• Power output: 170 hp and 280 Nm
• Gearbox options: 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT automatic

Launch And Pricing

• Launch date: December 9, 2025
• Expected starting price: Around Rs 14 lakh
• Petrol variants are expected to be priced slightly lower than diesel models

The new engine uses a lightweight aluminum block, improving performance and efficiency. This move helps Tata appeal to buyers who prefer petrol SUVs for city use and smoother highway driving

Tata Safari Petrol Introduces Premium ‘Ultra’ Variant

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Tata has also added a new top-end Ultra variant to the Safari petrol lineup, aimed at buyers looking for comfort and advanced technology

Key Features In The Ultra Variant

• Level 2 ADAS for added safety
• Harman infotainment system with Samsung Neo QLED display
• Dolby Atmos audio system
• Digital IRVM with built-in dashcam

Power And Performance

• Engine: Hyperion turbo-petrol
• Output: 168 hp and 280 Nm
• Transmission: Manual and automatic options

This variant helps the Safari compete more strongly with petrol-powered rivals like the Mahindra XUV700 and Hyundai Alcazar in the three-row SUV category

Tata Nexon.ev Achieves Major Electric Vehicle Milestone

Tata Motors reached a major achievement in electric mobility this week

Sales Milestones

• Tata Nexon.ev crosses 1 lakh units sold
• Tata EV brand crosses 2.5 lakh total sales since 2020

The Nexon.ev became the first electric car in India to cross the one lakh sales mark.

Why Nexon.ev Sells Strongly

• Facelift in 2023 improved design and features
• Current price range: Rs 12.49 lakh to Rs 17.49 lakh
• Strong charging network and growing buyer trust

The Nexon.ev alone contributes nearly 40 percent of Tata’s total EV sales, highlighting its importance in the electric car space

Tata EV Portfolio Strengthens India’s EV Market

Tata’s electric lineup now covers a wide price range, helping EV adoption across segments

EV Portfolio Snapshot

• Price range: Rs 8 lakh to Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom)
• Popular models include Tiago.ev, Tigor.ev, Punch.ev and Nexon.ev
• Tata reached 50,000 EV sales by June 2023 and doubled that pace later

This growth shows that charging infrastructure, product reliability and pricing are no longer major barriers for many Indian buyers

Tata Avinya Series Confirmed For Late 2026 Debut

Tata Motors has confirmed that its premium Avinya series will debut in late 2026

Avinya Strategy Explained

• Positioned above current Tata EVs
• Focus on long range, premium design and advanced tech
• Built on Gen 3 electric architecture

Launch Plan

• First Avinya model will be a sportback
• SUV body styles will follow later

Tata Avinya Sportback To Use Jaguar Land Rover Platform

The first Avinya model will be developed on the Jaguar Land Rover EMA platform

Platform Benefits

• Born-electric architecture
• Flexible design for multiple body styles
• Shared technology with global JLR models

Sales Approach

• Separate premium sales channels
• Phygital retail experience combining online and showroom interaction

Tata plans to introduce five new EVs by FY2030, with models like Sierra EV and Punch EV arriving before Avinya

Honda Cars To Get Costlier From January 2026

Honda Cars India has announced a price increase across its lineup starting January 2026

Key Points For Buyers

• Applies to Amaze, City, Elevate and City Hybrid
• No feature changes announced
• Price hike due to higher raw material and logistics costs

Honda stated that it absorbed costs for months, but continued pressure made the revision necessary. Buyers can still purchase existing stock at current prices until inventories clear

Renault Teases India-Spec 2026 Duster

Renault has released a teaser for the upcoming 2026 Renault Duster, ahead of its January 26 debut

Design Highlights From Teaser

• Sculpted bonnet
• Functional roof rails
• LED light bar
• Blue exterior shade

Expected Details

• Platform: CMF-B, localized at Oragadam plant
• Features: 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity
• Engine: 1.3-liter turbo-petrol

The Duster will first launch as a petrol-only SUV, with a three-row version expected later

New Mahindra XUV 7XO Teaser Reveals Feature Upgrades

Mahindra has shared a teaser for the XUV 7XO, set to debut on January 5, 2026

What The Teaser Shows

• Sharper grille and LED lighting
• Updated alloy wheels and bumpers
• Refreshed tail lamps

Interior And Tech Expectations

• Triple-screen layout
• Digital instrument cluster
• Panoramic sunroof
• Advanced driver assistance systems

Powertrain Options

• 2.0-liter turbo-petrol
• 2.2-liter diesel
• AWD option likely

The XUV 7XO targets buyers who want technology-rich SUVs with strong road presence