Car News That Mattered This Week (Jan 29-Feb 2): New Car Launches And Unveilings, Bharat Mobility Expo 2024, Spy Shots And More
In the intervening week of January and February 2024, there was a lot of buzz in the Indian automotive industry, mainly because of the newly organised Bharat Mobility Global Expo. Apart from the auto show event, we also got three premium car launches, and a few leaked and spy images of two upcoming SUVs. Let’s delve into the highlights of the week.
Wed, 5 Mar 2025
2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA And AMG GLE 53 Coupe: Mercedes-Benz India started 2024 with the launch of the facelifted GLA and AMG GLE 53 Coupe SUVs. The entry-level SUV is still available with both petrol and diesel engines but has received minor styling revisions inside and out. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe, on the other hand, also gets minor design tweaks inside and out with the midlife refresh but the more significant change is in its performance numbers.
During the week of January 29 to February 2, 2025, several notable events occurred in the automotive industry, including new car launches, unveilings, and significant expos. Here's a summary of the key developments:
1. Houston AutoBoative Show 2025
The Houston AutoBoative Show took place from January 29 to February 2, 2025, at the NRG Center. This event combined the Houston Auto Show and Houston Boat Show for the fourth consecutive year, offering attendees a comprehensive experience of land and sea vehicles. The show featured a wide range of vehicles, including electric cars, trucks, luxurious sedans, boats, and marine technology. Visitors had the opportunity to test drive vehicles, explore NASA space rovers, and enjoy attractions like live angling demonstrations and a remote-controlled racecar track.
2. Maserati's Financial Challenges
Maserati, the iconic sports car manufacturer, faced significant financial difficulties during this period. The company reported a substantial drop in sales, leading to the cancellation of three potential new models. Parent company Stellantis withdrew a planned £1.3 billion investment intended to support Maserati's transition to electric vehicles, resulting in the scrapping of the MC20 Folgore and replacements for the Quattroporte and Levante models. Sales declined from 26,600 units in 2023 to 11,300 in 2024, culminating in a loss of £226 million. These challenges have raised concerns about Maserati's future, prompting Italy's trade union FIM to seek urgent discussions regarding the company's strategy.
3. UK Car Production Decline
The UK car industry experienced a challenging start to 2025, with January production falling nearly 18% year-on-year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported that 78,012 units were produced in January, a decline attributed to weak performance in key markets such as the EU, China, and the UK. Factors contributing to this downturn include global trade uncertainty, challenging manufacturing conditions, and a difficult market transition. Additionally, global automakers are contending with rising costs, sluggish demand, competition from Chinese rivals, stringent carbon regulations, and potential tariffs under the new U.S. administration. Luxury car maker Aston Martin announced a 5% workforce reduction and delayed the launch of its first battery electric vehicle due to increased losses and debt. Despite these challenges, production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid vehicles rose by 1.5%, marking the highest monthly performance since December 2022.
4. Tesla's Optimistic Outlook Amid Earnings Miss
Tesla reported lower-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue, with earnings per share at 73 cents and revenue at $25.71 billion, falling short of analyst expectations. Despite this, the company's ambitions in the robotaxi sector and future product timelines, including the introduction of the Optimus robot and Cybercab, provided investor optimism. CEO Elon Musk emphasized the pivotal nature of 2025, forecasting key developments in unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) and robotaxi services in Austin by mid-2025. Musk anticipates over $10 trillion in revenue from Optimus, with mass production of Cybercab starting in 2026. Tesla's stock rose more than 4% post-earnings call, driven by Musk's optimistic outlook for AI, autonomous vehicles, and substantial production advancements in the coming years.
5. Lewis Hamilton's Testing Incident with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton experienced a minor crash during his second outing as a Ferrari driver at a private test session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The seven-time world champion, who recently transitioned from Mercedes in a high-profile move, hit a barrier in the last sector of the track. Ferrari described the incident as a 'normal testing incident.' The crash caused damage to the car's suspension and aerodynamics, necessitating repairs. Hamilton is adjusting to Ferrari's 2023 car alongside teammate Charles Leclerc in preparation for the 2025 season. Despite the setback, Hamilton is scheduled to continue testing in Barcelona and will debut the 2025 car on February 19. Pre-season testing will take place in Bahrain from February 26 to 28, with the season officially starting in Australia on March 14.
6. Indonesia International Motor Show 2025
The 32nd Indonesia International Motor Show was held from February 13 to 23, 2025. Chinese automobile brand Jaecoo made its first appearance at the exhibition, and this edition also marked the return of Chinese automaker Geely since 2012. The show featured various concept car introductions, including the Suzuki eWX.