Brands
Nippon Paint India sharpens India-first push under new leadership
CHENNAI: Nippon Paint India has drawn a bold line under its leadership transition, rolling out a tightly focused, India-first growth playbook under managing director Sharad Malhotra. Unveiled in Chennai on January 09, 2026, the strategy is the company’s clearest articulation yet of how it plans to scale in one of its most contested markets.
The roadmap centres on three levers: a sharper India-centric operating model, faster pan-India expansion and selective inorganic growth to bulk up its local portfolio. With seven manufacturing plants already in place and a strong ‘Make in India’ backbone, the company is doubling down on local relevance while tapping Japanese technology and process discipline.
The immediate thrust is expansion beyond its southern stronghold. Nippon Paint India plans to deepen penetration across high-growth urban and semi-urban centres, refine market segmentation and widen its dealer and distribution footprint, even as it defends share in core regions.
Malhotra called India a long-term priority, signalling a shift from opportunistic growth to deliberate scale. As the first Indian managing director of Nippon Paint India, his brief is to build an India-specific model that meets global standards but plays to local realities.
The push is mirrored in the decorative business, where president Mark Titus sees headroom driven by premiumisation, brand building and stronger channel and influencer partnerships. The emphasis: thoughtful scale, global best practice and brands that travel across regions.
Operationally, the company will bring all its paints and coatings businesses under a unified operating structure, designed to unlock manufacturing flexibility, operational leverage and a single, cohesive pan-India engine.
Backed by six decades of Asia-Pacific leadership and a balance across decorative, industrial, automotive, OEM, refinish and wood coatings, Nippon Paint is betting on technology-led growth, disciplined execution and selective M&A. The message is clear: India is no longer a market to test—it is a market to win.
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
