Brands
Hyundai shifts gears as sunroof SUVs steer sales past the halfway mark
MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is basking in the glow of rising consumer aspirations, with sunroof-equipped vehicles accounting for 53.2 per cent of total sales in FY2024-25. As open skies meet open roads, the sunroof has become less of a luxury and more of a must-have, showcasing the Indian consumer’s growing appetite for premium features.
That’s not all that’s revving up, SUVs are now Hyundai’s undisputed road royalty, contributing 68.5 per cent to the company’s domestic sales, a sharp rise from 63.2 per cent in the previous fiscal. With a power-packed lineup including the Exter, Venue, Creta, Alcazar, Tuscon, and Ioniq 5, Hyundai’s SUV story is clearly in top gear.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd whole-time director and chief operating officer Tarun Garg said, “FY2024-25 has been a landmark year for Hyundai Motor India. The fact that two out of every third vehicle sold by us in India was an SUV is a testament to our deep understanding of Indian customers and our commitment to delivering innovation, safety and style. The doubling of ADAS variant contribution and growing popularity of sunroof-equipped models reflects the rising aspirations of our customers and their readiness to embrace global technologies. We shall continue to march forward with a focus on customer delight, offering products that are future-ready, feature-rich, and engineered for India.”
Sunroofs, once considered a luxury for high-end models, are now an option in 12 of Hyundai’s 14-model lineup. Meanwhile, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), the tech behind modern-day driving safety saw its share double to 14.3 per cent in FY2024-25, up from 6.7 per cent the previous year. ADAS features are now offered in nine of HMIL’s models, underscoring the brand’s commitment to safety and sophistication.
Hyundai’s portfolio also serves up a smorgasbord of engine and transmission options, including Petrol, Diesel, Turbo Petrol, CNG and Electric, coupled with manual and automatic variants like iVT, AT, AMT, and DCT giving buyers everything from city zippiness to highway muscle.
As Indians look for smarter, safer, and sleeker ways to hit the road, Hyundai is clearly riding the winds of change sunroof open, tech tuned in, and all cylinders firing.
Brands
Rajiv Bajaj quits Bajaj Finance board ahead of July AGM
The managing director of Bajaj Auto will step down as a non-executive director of the private lender, ending a long association with the company
Rajiv Bajaj is clearing his desk at Bajaj Finance. The managing director of Bajaj Auto has told the private lender that he will not seek re-election at its annual general meeting scheduled for July 30, 2026, bringing to a close a board tenure that spanned one of the most eventful chapters in Indian consumer finance.
According to a regulatory filing, Bajaj will cease to be a non-executive director of the company upon completion of the AGM. The board of directors, taking note of his departure at its meeting on Wednesday, placed on record its appreciation for his long association and contribution to the company.
The exit is notable. Bajaj is not merely a board name at Bajaj Finance. He has been part of the broader Bajaj group for over three decades, cutting his teeth across manufacturing, supply chain, research and development, engineering and marketing before rising to lead Bajaj Auto. He also holds directorships across several Bajaj group companies, including Bajaj Holdings and Investment Ltd, Bajaj Auto Credit Ltd, Bajaj Auto Technology Ltd, Bajaj Sevashram Pvt Ltd, Kamalnayan Investment and Trading Pvt Ltd and Rupa Equities Pvt Ltd, among others.
Bajaj holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pune and a master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering from the University of Warwick, and has been credited with steering Bajaj Auto’s global operations through years of aggressive expansion.
His departure from the Bajaj Finance board narrows his formal footprint in the financial services arm of the group, even as he remains the public face of its automotive engine. Whether it signals a broader consolidation of roles within the conglomerate or simply a tidying of board responsibilities, the group has not said.
Bajaj Finance, one of India’s most closely watched non-banking financial companies, will now need to fill the chair he leaves behind. That, at least, should not take long.
