Unprecedented bribery charges, farewells, separation, failed union, monumental mergers and record-breaking IPOs, along with a healthy dose of online happenings in the form of spat and lessons in customer care, corporate India saw it all in 2024.
Traversing from being just vehicle manufacturers to mobility solutions providers amid a raging debate over which eco-friendly technology must be incentivised, the Indian automobile industry is driving in the new year under the shadow of a slowdown in sales with the post-pandemic pent-up demand in distant memory. The shift in the auto industry -- where advanced technologies like autonomous driving, vehicle intelligence, connected features and electrification are quickly gaining traction -- will be reflected in the upcoming Bharat Mobility Global Expo in which India's flagship Auto Expo has been clubbed to be held from January 17-22, 2025 in Delhi-NCR.
The domestic hospitality industry is looking to 'fly' in 2023 cashing in on India's G20 presidency, having received the 'oxygen' to run in 2022 after being crippled in the past two years by the pandemic. Domestic travel, especially the leisure segment, gave wind to the industry this year and is expected to continue into the next. Industry players believe that as international arrivals are also likely to pick up even further, the outlook for 2023 is buoyant.
Despite the fact that the number of Manipuri women voters at more than 10.57 lakh, outnumber males (9.90 lakh) and are known to take the lead when it comes to civil society movements, women find it difficult to rise in electoral politics against the tradition of male dominance.
When the sun rises in 2022, the Indian hospitality industry will be waking up with prayers for survival, desperately looking forward to some form of support from the government as revival from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic of the last two years will be an arduous journey. Just as the industry was beginning to see a flickering light at the end of a long tunnel towards the end of 2021, the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus and subsequent extension of suspension of scheduled international passenger flights till January 31, 2022, has come as a dampener to those who were looking to have some business in the winter season. With inbound tourist arrivals unlikely amidst the pandemic, the industry wants the government to incentivise domestic travels with income tax benefits for a limited period so as to help the hospitality and tourism sector get up again by tapping the pent up demand for holidays, within the country.
The challenges of transition to stricter emission norm BS-VI from BS-IV and compliance to new safety norms thereby making vehicles costlier are lurking around the sector.
Tata Motors' Nano may be struggling to survive, but Renault Nissan alliance Chairman and chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn is glad the group followed the lead of "visionary" Ratan Tata's dream project
Rolls-Royce is gearing up to tap the country's billionaires with new models, including new convertible and a potential SUV.
Tata Motors is giving a much stronger focus on the design of its cars, from planning product life cycle in a better way to incorporating subtle Indian elements to its future models.
The company which had embarked on a strategy -- One Ford -- taking a single global approach on its overall business, is looking to replicate from what it has done with other markets like Brazil and China.
The most marked development of the year was the Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) Satyam financial scam, disclosed by the founder B Ramalinga Raju, forcing the government to redraft rules for corporate governance and auditing standards.
High interest rates and lack of retail finance, coupled with rising input costs, threw plans out of gear for automakers and in November the industry saw the worst ever monthly vehicle sales with a decline of 17.98 per cent.
High interest rates and lack of retail finance, coupled with rising input costs, threw plans out of gear for automakers and in November the industry saw the worst ever monthly vehicle sales with a decline of 17.98 per cent.
Japanese small car major Suzuki on Thursday launched its fifth global model small car, which will be launched in India under "A-Star" brand by mid-November this year.
German luxury car and bike maker BMW, which has been shying away from re-entering the Indian motorcycle market, is now looking to source parts for engines and chassis for its high-end two-wheelers from the country. BMW has started sourcing from India in a small quantity for cars as well, like software parts and has been closely working with vendors such as Mico Bosch and Conti.The BMW group on Tuesday reported a net profit of 3.13 billion euros in 2007.
Ambani vs Ambani, Tata vs Birla, Ambani vs Mittal, the fights came in all permutations and combinations, making 2007 arguably the most happening as well as a tumultuous period for the Indian industry that stamped its authority overseas with about 250 acquisitions worth over $32 billion.
As an increase in FDI in retail is being opposed, local retailers have a thriving year.
German luxury car major Audi on Wednesday said it plans to increase local production of its models in India, with its sedan A4, which could be the next one to be manufactured there. The company has already started local production of its A6 sedan at the facility of Skoda, which is also a part of the Volkswagen Group
The Indian automobile industry had an action-packed year with big-ticket announcements such as excise duty cut for small cars, entry of German car major Volkswagen and Mahindra's tie-up with Renault.
As part of this drive, the Ministry of Company Affairs has directed the Registrar of Companies to "keep under watch" the IPOs that hit the market since 2004, garnering an estimated Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion).