Latest news with #MSIL
Time of India
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki marks 10 years of Nexa with Grand Vitara Phantom BLAQ edition
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has launched the Grand Vitara Phantom BLAQ Edition to celebrate a decade of its premium retail channel, Nexa . The limited-run SUV comes in an exclusive matte black wrap, designed to appeal to buyers seeking refined style and understated elegance. Available only in the Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant, the Phantom BLAQ edition retains the Grand Vitara's all-black interior with perforated faux leather upholstery and champagne gold accents. Key features include a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Clarion premium sound system, 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display, wireless charging, and Suzuki Connect for remote access. Safety is addressed through the Nexa Safety Shield, offering six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control, reverse parking sensors, and three-point seat belts with reminders. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, MSIL, said the edition embodies Nexa 's philosophy of 'refined sophistication' and builds on the Grand Vitara's success, which has sold 300,000 units in just 32 months. The model's powertrain range, including Strong Hybrid, ALLGRIP Select, and S-CNG options, has helped it cater to diverse customer needs. MSIL expects the Phantom BLAQ edition to further boost the SUV's desirability in India's competitive mid-size SUV segment.
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt may amend rules to auction excise licences, wine merchants up in arms
Bengaluru: Industry stakeholders and the excise department are again at loggerheads, this time over the department's move to amend rules to facilitate auctioning of certain licences. Excise minister RB Timmapur said preparations are under way for the auction and that it is likely be completed in Sept. But industry stakeholders are sceptical. They say the number of licences that can be auctioned is significantly lower than the number listed by the department. The Federation of Wine Merchants' Associations of Karnataka says licences that the excise department considers unrenewed for about 30-35 years, and those that are pending approval, have been listed for auction. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The federation said the list has a total 241 licences, including 136 under the CL-2 category (retail liquor shops) and 105 under CL-9 (bars). However, 463 unrenewed licences were reportedly allotted to Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) in 2009 and hence cannot be auctioned now. Additionally, the federation contented that a total of 260 CL-2 and 216 CL-9 licences were validated following the allocation to MSIL till March 31. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like With temperatures hitting 95°F, this is the mini air conditioner everyone's buying in the U.S News of the Discovery Undo It maintained that only 42 licences of the 241 listed licences are pending renewal as 199 were from before 2008-09 when unrenewed licences were given to MSIL. Office-bearers of the federation met chief minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to Delhi last week and submitted an appeal against the department's decision to auction licences. Timmapur has said that he has asked officials to consider legal issues raised by the federation. "The rules may have to be amended to auction licences," he said, adding that merchants may be worried about the effect of new licence approvals on their businesses. A senior official told TOI that details of the auctioning process are yet to be decided. "The available licences will be auctioned only after legal hurdles are cleared," the official said, adding that the merchants' interpretation is inaccurate. The decision to auction licences comes in the backdrop of low liquor sales in the state compared to last year. The excise department said sales of beer fell by 20.4% between April 1 and July 30 this year, compared to the same period last year. Sales of Indian-made liquor (IML) also fell, but at 2% the decrease wasn't as dramatic. Interestingly, revenue for the period rose by 12.2% in 2025 compared to 2024. The department had increased additional excise duty on IML in May and excise duty on beer in Jan. Excise duty on beer now stands at 200% from the earlier 195%. However, the other component of paying Rs 130 per bulk litre (whichever is higher) was dropped. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Maruti Suzuki equips 97.5% of car variants with six airbags; prepares for first EV launch this fiscal
Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) has equipped 140 out of its 147 passenger vehicle (PV) variants with six airbags as a standard feature, setting itself apart from competitors who often offer only two airbags in base trims, said a company top executive. The country's largest carmaker stated that only six to seven variants, primarily the Espresso and Ignis models, are yet to receive the upgrade. "We've implemented six airbags in 140 variants, covering 97.5% of our portfolio," said Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) at Maruti Suzuki India. Banerjee emphasized that while safety is a key priority for buyers, a 5-star crash test rating isn't the sole deciding factor. "A 5-star rating is welcome, but it shouldn't be the only benchmark. Many OEMs have 5-star cars, but you can see their volume (low sales). What matters is offering the best you have. Maruti Suzuki is also introducing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) despite no regulatory mandate. Even six airbags aren't compulsory yet, but we've proactively adopted them," Banerjee added. Talking about electric vehicles (EVs), Banerjee said that customers are still reluctant to have EVs as their primary car. He added that concerns still remain large about public charging infrastructure, especially on highways. Despite the looming concerns, EVs continue to gain popularity in the domestic market. According to FADA sales data, electric passenger vehicle retail sales grew 93% in July 2025 to 15,528 units when compared to 8,037 units in the year-ago period. Benerjee said that all vehicular technologies are going to come in the domestic market and it should be left to the consumer to select as per the requirement. "It is a discretion of the customer based on his need, what he wants that's going to happen. But yes, one technology should not be given more weightage than the other technologies. It should be the customer selecting, actually," he said. Maruti Suzuki is set to introduce its first electric model - e-VITARA this fiscal. Banerjee also spoke about Nexa sales network completing one decade of operations and how it helped the premiumisation of the company and the overall car market. 'In 2011-12, the average vehicle price for the industry (and for us) was around 4 lakhs. When we launched Nexa, we took it to Rs 8 lakhs. Now it is around Rs 15-16 lakhs. This is the upgrade happening in the industry. That is what Nexa has done,' he said. To commemorate one decade of Nexa, MSIL unveiled the Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ edition. Available exclusively in the Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant, the PHANTOM BLAQ Edition carries forward the premium all-black interior of the standard Grand Vitara with perforated faux leather upholstery and champagne gold accents. Grand Vitara comes equipped with the NEXA Safety Shield - a comprehensive suite of advanced safety features.
Business Upturn
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Maruti Suzuki unveils Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ Edition to mark 10 years of NEXA
By Aman Shukla Published on August 10, 2025, 12:41 IST Marking a decade of NEXA, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has introduced the Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ Edition, a premium SUV finished in a striking matte black colour wrap. Designed to reflect NEXA's signature philosophy of refined sophistication and understated elegance, this special edition caters to drivers who value style, exclusivity, and premium craftsmanship. The Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ Edition builds on the SUV's strong legacy of performance and premium appeal. Its bold matte black exterior gives it a unique road presence, combining strength with subtlety. This edition is available exclusively in the Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant and retains the all-black interior theme with perforated faux leather upholstery and champagne gold accents, enhancing its luxury quotient. Inside, the SUV offers a premium driving experience with a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and the 22.86 cm (9') SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A Clarion premium sound system, 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display (HUD), wireless charging dock, and Suzuki Connect ensure both convenience and advanced connectivity on the go. Safety remains a priority with the NEXA Safety Shield, featuring six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control, reverse parking sensors, and 3-point seat belts with reminders. These features make the Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ Edition not only stylish but also secure for every journey. With its blend of modern technology, enhanced safety, and exclusive styling, the Grand Vitara PHANTOM BLAQ Edition stands out as a true celebration of NEXA's 10-year milestone. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
India Today
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Maruti Suzuki marks 10 years of Nexa, unveils Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq edition
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) is celebrating a decade of its premium retail channel, Nexa, with the launch of the Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq edition. Finished in an exclusive matte black wrap, as per the company, this limited-edition model embodies Nexa's philosophy of refined sophistication and understated exclusively in the Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant, the Phantom Blaq Edition retains the Grand Vitara's all-black cabin with perforated faux leather upholstery and champagne gold accents. The exterior's matte black finish gives the SUV a distinctive, commanding presence while maintaining a subtle elegance. advertisementThe Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant is powered by a Toyota-sourced 1.5-litre, three-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine producing 92hp, paired with an electric motor. Together, the hybrid system generates a combined output of 115bhp and 141Nm of peak torque, mated to an e-CVT transmission. Maruti Suzuki claims this setup delivers a fuel efficiency of 27.97kmpl. Speaking on the launch, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, MSIL, said, "As we celebrate a decade of Nexa, the Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq edition reflects our ongoing commitment to inspire customers with specially curated innovations. This limited edition captures the essence of indulgence, offering an SUV that not only performs exceptionally but also aligns perfectly with the refined lifestyles of our discerning buyers."Since its debut, the Grand Vitara has achieved 300,000 sales in just 32 months, setting new benchmarks in the mid-size SUV segment. Its versatile powertrain line-up includes Strong Hybrid, ALLGRIP Select, and S-CNG Phantom Blaq edition comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Clarion sound system, a 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display, wireless charging, and Suzuki Connect smart car is bolstered by the Nexa Safety Shield, which offers six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control, reverse parking sensors, and three-point seatbelts with this launch, Maruti Suzuki aims to further elevate the desirability of its flagship SUV while celebrating NEXA's decade-long journey in redefining premium automotive retail in to Auto Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
