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Kushan Mitra

Kushan Mitra

The Pioneer

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Automotive influencer warns people against buying EVs. His grouse lies with charging ports

There are underlying issues regarding chargers and charging installations in all high-rise societies across India, from Worli to Indiranagar and...

03.05.2026 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Why Tesla, Mercedes and BMW are all playing by China’s rules now

Tata and Mahindra have also understood that Indian and Chinese consumers like the same things. We like three-row SUVs because family is important.

26.04.2026 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

MG Cyberster, another EV in town that redefines performance. But I miss the drama of ICE

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is the only EV I have driven where the fake engine sounds have been done decently.

19.04.2026 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

India’s EV shift isn’t about policies anymore. Now, it’s driven by cost

In March, sales of electric passenger vehicles touched an all-time high of 22,490 units of 4,40,144 passenger vehicles sold, thus crossing the...

12.04.2026 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

VinFast MPV7 can be price warrior against Kia, Ertiga. It’s the features list that’s worrying

MPV7 can be a price warrior. But a lack of features means that customers will not come into your showrooms.

06.04.2026 20

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Kushan Mitra

More gears, less effort—how your car is undergoing a quiet transmission shift

For many years, many folks did not buy automatics in India because they were less fuel-efficient than manuals. Today, with highly complex automatic...

29.03.2026 20

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Kushan Mitra

Duster is back and brilliant on the road, but Renault has ground to make up in India

It is rare for a manufacturer to chart a nearly 200 kilometre drive through narrow and twisty mountain roads. To do so is brave because putting a new...

21.03.2026 60

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

From CNG queues to EVs—how energy crunch can reshape India’s automotive market

Iran war-driven gas shortages can do what policies could not—push India toward EVs.

15.03.2026 20

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Kushan Mitra

Mercedes CLA 250+ is how future EVs should be. Here is why

With an 85.5 kWh battery, the sedan has an incredible tested range of 792 km, which has been possible due to its extremely slippery shape and a very...

10.03.2026 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

The case for more high-speed rail

One of Nirmala Sitharaman’s most interesting announcements during her Budget speech was the proposal to build several more high-speed rail (HSR)...

13.02.2026 20

The Pioneer

Kushan Mitra

The three German SUVs are here. It’s the features list that has puzzled me

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATiC, BMW X3 30 XDrive M-Sport Pro & Volkswagen Tayron R-Line 4MOTION are assembled in India, so upcoming FTA with the EU will...

08.02.2026 20

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Kushan Mitra

India-EU FTA doesn’t mean cars will get cheaper. Read the fine print

A manufacturer can’t just ship kits from the US or China, assemble them in Germany, France or Belgium, and then claim lower duties.

01.02.2026 20

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

F1 2026 is doubling down on hybrid vehicles. It’s not ‘yesterday’s technology’ anymore

The new version of Formula 1 will involve a lot of energy management, bringing up a whole different skillset in drivers. One could argue that it’s...

25.01.2026 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

BMW’s record 2025 sales show India’s young professionals are moving into luxury cars

Mercedes-Benz launched its first ‘assembled in India’ Maybach GLS for Rs 2.75 crore. Can India be a savior for big carmakers?

18.01.2026 30

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Kushan Mitra

XUV 7XO shows Mahindra’s engineering prowess. DAVINCI suspension makes a world of difference

The old XUV 700 was an indication that the Indian manufacturer had begun to up their game. But 7XO is world-class in terms of fit, finish, and...

11.01.2026 30

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

More automation, more screens—what Indian cars will look like in 2026

Automakers this year are expected to roll out cars in India that are smarter, safer, and electric.

04.01.2026 40

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Kushan Mitra

What to expect from cars and carmakers in 2026—strong hybrids, flex fuel

Domestic majors Tata and Mahindra, which have previously questioned hybrid vehicles, might bite the bullet with hybrid powertrains in 2026.

28.12.2025 30

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Kushan Mitra

Can new Kia Seltos keep up in a crowded CSUV market? Size matters

While the first-generation Seltos looked smart, it looked typical. The new one stands out with its unique head and tail light patterns.

23.12.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

I’ve been driving an EV for 2 years—Indian roads are ready to switch to electric

Driving an electric vehicle for months, the Hyundai IONIQ5, BMW iX and now the Kia Carens Clavis electric, has convinced me of the viability of EVs...

14.12.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

Boxy sharp edges, 1.5-litre turbo engine—Tata Sierra is back to turn heads again

Sierra has to stand out in an extremely crowded market. There are more than 30 vehicles in the CSUV market right now.

08.12.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Mahindra aims for premium EV status with the XEV9s. Will it work?

Mahindra is so confident about the XEV9s and its ‘conventional’ design and tech appeal that it’s doubling production at its Chakan EV plant to...

30.11.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Victoris to Grand Vitara—what defines a ‘new’ car in the age of shared platforms?

Mahindra’s BE6 and XEV 9e look very different from both inside and outside, even when they share the same INGLO platform.

23.11.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Maruti-Suzuki’s eVitara is ready to hit the Indian roads—country’s EV ecosystem isn’t

Maruti-Suzuki eVitara is a well-packaged car, it will compete against the likes of Hyundai Creta electric and Tata Curvv.

16.11.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Skoda Octavia RS combines performance with practicality—without breaking the bank

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director for Skoda India, said while performance cars like the Octavia RS are not too cheap, ‘car buyers who know and love their...

09.11.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

From old and boring to bold and electric — Honda is finally rediscovering its Indian spark

When Honda join the diesel bandwagon with the CR-V and Civic the Supreme Court soon instituted the ‘10 year’ rule for diesel vehicles.

02.11.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

After losing no.2 carmaker spot, Hyundai is betting big on the new Venue

Indian car buyers are just as tech-obsessed as their Chinese counterparts, and that obsession has taken precedence over handling and performance.

26.10.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Why CAFE 3 norms are fuelling the case for hybrids

A recent study showed that Indian car buyers would prefer to bring home a hybrid vehicle over an EV or a petrol car this festive season.

19.10.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

China has left Germany behind in in automotive sector

China is weaponising its control of the automotive industry, especially as the industry undergoes a tectonic shift toward electric vehicles.

12.10.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Rahul Gandhi loves the EV ‘decentralised’ power analogy. Too bad it’s wrong

According to Gandhi, power becomes decentralised when each wheel is independent. But the last thing you want in a car is a wheel doing its own thing,...

05.10.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Ultraviolette is small in sales, big in ambition. Tech sets this electric motorcycle apart

Within 48 hours of bookings opening for Ultraviolette’s X-47 Crossover, reservations had crossed the 3,000 mark. Nothing quite explains the hype...

28.09.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

Maruti-Suzuki’s Victoris is full of bells and whistles — 21 trims, 64 ambient lights, ADAS

Maruti-Suzuki has shed every iota of conservatism with Victoris SUV. I drove the top ZXi model with the optional panoramic sunroof, priced at Rs...

19.09.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Mercedes G-Wagon is now India’s billionaire toy

This is no soft-roader—it’s a fully loaded off-road machine. With massage and ventilated seats, plus three levels of differential axle locking,...

14.09.2025 90

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Kushan Mitra

What vehicles become cheaper with new GST slabs—small cars, hybrids, tractors

Every car, whether it is an entry-level Maruti-Suzuki Alto, all the way to a luxury Mercedes-Benz SUV, will see price cuts, effective 22 September.

07.09.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

The world’s most sophisticated human-trafficking scam

04.09.2025 30

The Pioneer

Kushan Mitra

Volvo EX30 isn’t solving the information overload problem in Indian cars

Even in China, where the instrument cluster screen has become smaller than the infotainment screen, manufacturers haven’t completely removed the...

31.08.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

Cars will talk to each other in the future. Question is whether AI can handle Indian roads

A V2X system in Mahindra’s new BE6 and XEV 9E electric SUVs uses the cameras to read road signs, communicate with other vehicles, and even...

24.08.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Mahindra is gearing up for future buyers. Unveils limited edition ‘Bat’ BE6, 4 new concepts

This is the first time Mahindra is making an ‘all-in-one’ platform like global carmakers. However, it will most likely skip hybrid vehicles.

17.08.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

I’ve changed my mind on ethanol blending. It’s a win India can’t afford to slow down

A senior auto industry executive told me the ideal scenario for India would be a 'baseline' of E20 petrol, with consumers free to choose higher or...

10.08.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

UK FTA means cheaper Rolls-Royce, Bentley. Though it matters little to India’s auto market

Unlike India-UK FTA, the India–EU FTA could be a different kettle of fish. Because the European Union is still an automotive manufacturing powerhouse.

03.08.2025 10

ThePrint

Kushan Mitra

Space, comfort, practicality—MPVs are the growing choice for Indian families

The growth of the Indian car market over the past decade has been largely driven by young, first-time car owners. Now as those buyers grow older and...

27.07.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Dear Tesla buyers, Don’t crib about high tariffs. They have helped Indian auto industry

Since BMW assembles at its Chennai factory, it’s able to price the iX1 at Rs 49 lakh. It's much more affordable and practical than Tesla.

20.07.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

MG M9 is all about comfort—the most impressive of new EVs in Indian market

The M9 is the first vehicle from MG Motor India’s new ‘MG Select’ network, where the carmaker will sell premium vehicles.

13.07.2025 30

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Kushan Mitra

2 Series Gran Coupe may be BMW’s best bet yet to win India’s luxury war

India might not yet offset BMW’s losses in China, but Munich knows its future lies here. And the 2 Series Gran Coupe shows they know what they’re...

09.07.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Delhi’s new fuel policy is forcing people to buy new cars. It won’t reduce pollution

Residents of NCR will now have to junk their perfectly functional and maintained vehicles because of the Delhi government's new fuel policy. This is a...

29.06.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra

Maruti, Kia to Hyundai – why automakers are turning to trains to transport cars

India’s largest carmaker, Maruti-Suzuki, opened a massive railway siding inside its Manesar factory, which will transport vehicles from this plant...

22.06.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

India’s EV dreams need freedom from China’s stranglehold on rare-earth metals. Start mining

Beijing's export restrictions on rare-earth metals like neodymium reveal how China controls the building blocks of India's electric vehicle future.

15.06.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Tata Motors’ Altroz make hatchbacks cool again? It’s got a new look and more features

I found a twisty hill road with freshly laid tarmac, and the Altroz came to life. Because the car sits lower to the ground, it takes corners better...

08.06.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

Your SUV isn’t monsoon-proof. Here’s how to protect from water damage

While swerving to avoid a child on the highway in my BMW 3-series, I landed in a flooded ditch. The car looked fine from the outside, but BMW India...

01.06.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

EVs can take their own sweet time. I’m more excited about hybrids—Kia, MG to Hyundai

In China, the world’s largest EV market, various Chinese carmakers, including BYD, are offering an improved line-up of hybrids, particularly plug-in...

25.05.2025 10

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Kushan Mitra

My plea to automakers—I really want some buttons, it makes driving easier

The MG Windsor takes the lack of buttons to another level. For example, there is no dedicated button to control the outside rear-view mirrors.

18.05.2025 20

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Kushan Mitra