A massive power outage affected nearly 30% of San Francisco as the city plunged into darkness for hours, paralysing the city’s infrastructure and leaving hundreds of Google-owned Waymo self-driving vehicles stranded in the middle of busy roads. People on social media posted videos and photos of Waymo vehicles in the middle of the road, affecting smooth traffic.According to a report by SFGate, Waymo was forced to suspend its operations at approximately 8 p.m. (local time) after the vehicles became unable to safely navigate intersections without functioning traffic signals.“We have temporarily suspended our ride-hailing services given the broad power outage in San Francisco,” a Waymo spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work,” the spokesperson added.

Social media clips show chaos at roads due to Waymo cars

Multiple videos on social media showed at least four Waymo vehicles stopped in the centre of a major intersection with their hazard lights flashing, triggering significant traffic congestion. Reportedly, in one incident, a passenger was trapped inside a stationary vehicle during the blackout until he was manually rescued.

What caused power outage in San Francisco

The blackout affected over 130,000 homes and businesses in neighbourhoods including the Richmond, Sunset, Presidio and Golden Gate Park. Officials traced that a portion of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation caught fire, knocking out critical grid components, leading to “significant transit disruptions.” Not only the autonomous cars, the city’s rail lines were shuttered and municipal buses were forced to bypass multiple stops in the affected zones.PG&E confirmed on Sunday that the grid has since been stabilised and no further outages are expected. Manual traffic control and city buses are returning to standard operations, the report said.

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy laid out his vision of American identity on Friday at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, urging conservatives to embrace ideals over lineage. He rejected what he called the race- and identity-obsessed vision of the “woke left” and certain quarters of the “online right” that link American identity to heritage. “I think the idea of a heritage American is about as loony as anything the woke left has actually put up,” he said at Turning Point’s conference in Phoenix, Arizona. “There is no American who is more American than somebody else. … It is binary. Either you’re an American or you’re not.” Ramaswamy said belief in the ideals of 1776, rather than ancestry, made someone an American, describing himself as the proud son of “legal immigrants.”

He added: “What does it mean to be an American in the year 2026? It means we believe in those ideals of 1776. It means we believe in merit, that the best person gets the job regardless of their skin colour. It means we believe in free speech and open debate. Even for those who disagree with us, from Nick Fuentes to Jimmy Kimmel, you get to speak your mind in the open without the govt censoring you.” Linking far-left and far-right figures, he said there was no room in the conservative movement for progressives who believed in racial quotas or for those who rationalise hatred toward groups of people. He specifically called out far-right White nationalist Nick Fuentes for anti-Indian remarks and urged attendees not to adopt a victim mentality. “Victimhood culture from the left to the right will be the ruin of this country,” he said.Ramaswamy points out anti-Indian comments In a post on X, Ramaswamy pointed out the anti-Indian comments, saying, “If you believe in normalizing hate towards whites, blacks, Indians, or Jews, you have no place in this movement.”Ramaswamy said those who support trans athletes competing in sports consistent with their gender identity, advocate for affirmative action policies, or promote hatred toward any racial or ethnic groups lack “have no place in this movement.”He also rejected admiration for historical authoritarian figures, specifically naming Hitler and Stalin.“If you believe in normalizing hate towards whites, blacks, Indians, or Jews, you have no place in this movement. If you believe Hitler was cool, you have no place in this movement. If you believe Stalin should be admired, you have no place in this movement. If you call Usha Vance a ‘jeet,’ you have no place in this movement.”He concluded, “And if you don’t have the guts to say these things without stuttering, then you have no place as a leader in this movement.”MAGA fans ask to ‘deport’ over Ramaswamy’s postSeveral prominent MAGA supporters on X criticised entrepreneur and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy after he scolded conservatives about their own movement. They posted a series of hostile messages attacking his background, views on immigration and standing within the conservative ranks.X user Ollie Arogundade, who describes himself as an American Christian nationalist, wrote: “You know nothing about this country or how culture works. White men established this nation because White culture from White genetics is based in philosophy, innovation, and exploration. If you honestly think we can replace the all white people in this country with Indians who do not represent philosophy, innovation, and exploration as we all see with the current state of India, then you’re simply a fool, Vivek.” He added: “You and the rest of your tech bros can f— right off, and I’ll personally ensure you guys lose any attempted race in 2028.”Fellow X user Matt DeCata railed: “Racial quotas in terms of immigration are a good and neccesary thing. And we should absolutely kick Vivek out of the ‘consvertive movement’ rather then compromise on that.”Philip Funderburg, a Republican insurance agent running for governor of Ohio, posted: “I believe you don’t have Good Moral Character. Deporting @VivekGRamaswamy 2027@VivekGRamaswamy 2027! Make Ohio Great Again Funderburg for Governor 2026.”Ben Frank mocked Ramaswamy on X with the remark: “‘Let me tell you what an American is’ – Vivek Ramaswamy.”Nicholas J Stelzner simply wrote on X: “Deport him.”

India‘s legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has sparked debate by redefining the modern head coach’s role as more of a “manager” than a traditional coach, specifically commenting on Gautam Gambhir‘s tenure amid recent scrutiny.

Speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce ICC Centenary Session, Kapil emphasized man-management over technical coaching ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 preparations. His views come as Gambhir faces pressure following India’s 0-2 home Test whitewash against South Africa in November 2025.​

Kapil Dev reacts to coaching evolution of Gautam Gambhir

Dev clarified that today’s “coach” label misrepresents the job, drawing from his school and college experiences where coaches handled basics like leg-spin or wicketkeeping skills.

“Gautam Gambhir can’t be a coach. He can be a manager of the team,” Kapil stated, arguing specialists now train players technically, leaving head coaches to boost morale and handle rotations. He stressed backing underperformers, saying captains should dine with strugglers, not centurions, to build confidence: “You need to give them comfort and say ‘you can do better’.”

This philosophy aligns with Gambhir’s criticized player rotations and part-timer reliance during the South Africa series loss, India’s second home Test whitewash in a year after a 0-3 drubbing by New Zealand in 2024.​

Implications for T20 World Cup 2026

Gambhir’s tenure since July 2024 shows mixed results: a 64.70% ODI win rate across 17 matches (11 wins, 5 losses, 1 tie), including the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup triumphs, but Test struggles highlight format-specific challenges. With India set to name its T20 World Cup 2026 squad on December 20, 2025, in Mumbai, upcoming T20Is against South Africa (December 9-19) and New Zealand (January 21-31) serve as key auditions under Gambhir’s aggressive style.

Also WATCH: Gautam Gambhir aggressively handshakes with Indian players after loss in the 2nd T20I against South Africa

Kapil’s endorsement of management-focused leadership could bolster Gambhir, who recently stressed team fitness, honesty, and peaking on time despite admitting India is “not where we want to be” yet. As pressure mounts post-Test failures, Kapil urged unity: captains and managers must prioritize team cohesion over personal glory. This comes amid calls for split coaching, which Kapil sidestepped, favoring whatever suits Indian cricket best.​

Kapil’s insights underscore a shift in cricket dynamics, where head coaches like Gambhir manage star-studded squads navigating T20 leagues and white-ball priorities. With the T20 World Cup looming, his call for encouragement over instruction may guide India’s path to redemption.

Also READ: South Africa veteran Dale Steyn points out Gautam Gambhir’s big mistake in India’s defeat at Mullanpur

Shivraj Singh Chouhan (PTI file photo)

NEW DELHI: Amid mounting attack from opposition parties, rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday in a video message alleged that “once again, a conspiracy is underway to mislead the country in the name of MGNREGA” and said that that “Viksit Bharat – G Ram G scheme is in favour of the poor and development, and that this law provides a complete guarantee of employment to workers”.Meanwhile, the Congress held protests across its district headquarters in the country and accused the Modi government of “effectively dismantled MGNREGA – by converting it from a right to a favour” and “desecration of this groundbreaking law in Parliament over the last week”. Meanwhile, the Left parties have given a call for pan- India protest on Monday, demanding that the government withdraw the Bill passed in Parliament to repeal MGNREGA.

Parliament on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) VB-G RAM G Bill that will replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, or MGNREGA, once it is notified. The passage of the Bill was met with vociferous protests by the opposition in both Houses of Parliament.“Misinformation is being spread, whereas the truth is that Viksit Bharat – G Ram G scheme is the next step forward after MGNREGA,” Chouhan said in a message recorded in Hindi and shared along with a post on X where he addressed the public at large and the rural workers more specifically.Addressing “workers”, he said, “now it’s not 100, but a legal guarantee of 125 days of work. Provisions for unemployment allowance in case work is not provided have been further strengthened. If wages are delayed, provisions have also been made to provide additional amounts.”“For this scheme, a massive amount of more than Rs 1,51, 282 crore has been proposed this year itself, so that there is sufficient money to provide employment, and with that money, comprehensive development of the village can take place,” he added.On the way forward, Chouhan said “for a developed India, developed villages, self-reliant villages, and poverty-free, employment-rich villages will be built by taking up works for water conservation, infrastructure in villages, livelihood enhancing activities, and protection from natural disasters.”He also said that provisions have also been made so that small farmers do not face difficulties during agricultural work. Defending the law, the minister said, “it is in favour of the poor, in favour of development, and this law provides a complete guarantee of employment to workers.”He also highlighted the provision wherein administrative expenses have been increased from 6% to 9%. If we take out 9% from the proposed amount of Rs 1,51, 282 crore, it comes to approximately Rs 13000 crore; with this amount, our all those who get the work done – including panchayat secretaries, employment assistants, and technical staff – will receive timely and adequate salaries, so that they can carry out the work with full capacity.“Let us take the truth to the people,” Chouhan said at the end of his message.On Saturday, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a video message, accused the Modi government of “bulldozing” MGNREGA, and asserted that the “black law” that seeks to repeal it will be defied by lakhs of party workers across the country. She said that she fought for MGNREGA two decades ago, and is as committed to fight for it again. Her statement came a day after Rahul Gandhi said Congress will force the Modi government to withdraw the new law. Slamming the repeal of MGNREGA while addressing the poor, she said, “We are all ready to counter this attack.”Building on that message the Congress on Sunday said that it held nationwide protests in all district headquarters across states, “standing with workers whose livelihoods and dignity are under attack.” The party accused the Modi government of “overturning two decades of progress” and “effectively dismantled MGNREGA – by converting it from a right to a favour” by passing the VB-G RAM G Bill.Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, in a post on X said, “ MGNREGA was a legal right to work, not a welfare handout. By capping funds, centralising control, and altering its demand-driven nature, the BJP has turned this right into a budget-dependent scheme, pushing crores of rural families into insecurity and distress.”He also highlighted that at the Congress Working Committee meeting on December 27 the party will deliberate and decide the future course of action on the issue. Subsequently, on December 28 – the Foundation Day of the Congress – the party workers will hold programs in mandals and panchayats across India, carrying the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi.Sharing an anthology of 145 field studies conducted on MGNREGA between 2008 and 2012 – including one by the CAG, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh accused the government of “overturning” two decades of progress “without consultation and by sidestepping all Parliamentary convention and procedure”.In a post on X Ramesh shared that it was on July 14 2012 that then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had released MGNREGA Sameeksha – an anthology of field studies bought out by the ministry of rural development. “It makes for required reading now, amidst the desecration of this groundbreaking law in Parliament over the last week,” he added.

The combined market capitalisation of six of India’s ten most-valued companies rose by Rs 75,256.97 crore over the past week, even as the broader equity market closed lower. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys led the gains among the top firms. During the week, the BSE benchmark index slipped 338.3 points, or 0.39 per cent. Despite the decline, several heavyweight stocks saw an increase in their valuations. Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Tata Consultancy Services, State Bank of India, Infosys and Larsen & Toubro ended the week with higher market capitalisation. In contrast, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) recorded a fall in their valuations. Tata Consultancy Services saw its market value surge by Rs 22,594.96 crore, taking its total valuation to Rs 11,87,673.41 crore. Infosys followed with an increase of Rs 16,971.64 crore, pushing its market capitalisation to Rs 6,81,192.22 crore. State Bank of India added Rs 15,922.81 crore to reach a valuation of Rs 9,04,738.98 crore, while Reliance Industries’ market capitalisation rose by Rs 12,314.55 crore to Rs 21,17,967.29 crore. Bharti Airtel’s valuation climbed Rs 7,384.23 crore to Rs 11,95,332.34 crore. Larsen & Toubro also saw a marginal increase, with its market capitalisation rising by Rs 68.78 crore to Rs 5,60,439.16 crore. On the other hand, HDFC Bank witnessed the sharpest decline, with its market value falling by Rs 21,920.08 crore to Rs 15,16,638.63 crore. LIC’s valuation slipped by Rs 9,614 crore to Rs 5,39,206.05 crore. ICICI Bank’s market capitalisation declined by Rs 8,427.61 crore to Rs 9,68,240.54 crore, while Bajaj Finance saw its valuation dip by Rs 5,880.25 crore to Rs 6,27,226.44 crore. Reliance Industries continued to hold the position of the most-valued company, followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Tata Consultancy Services, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Larsen & Toubro and LIC.

Pat Cummins of Australia embraces Michael Neser of Australia (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

What began as pre-series bravado has ended in a familiar Ashes reality. The Australian side once labelled the “worst in 15 years” has wrapped up the urn with two Tests to spare, racing to a 3–0 lead over an England team that arrived with heavy hype and high expectations. Stuart Broad, who featured in England’s last Ashes series win in Australia in 2010–11, had set the tone before the series by calling this Australian group the weakest the hosts had fielded in 15 years. Eleven days of cricket later, the scoreboard tells a different story.

“It’s nice to be sitting where we are, 3–0 up,” said Marnus Labuschagne after Australia sealed the third Test at Adelaide. “The job’s not done yet. We want to make sure it’s 5–0 and really take that urn.” Australia completed an 82-run win at the Adelaide Oval, dismissing England for 352 as they chased a world-record target of 435. The series was effectively decided in just 11 days across Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Despite the defeat, the final Test attracted a cumulative crowd of 223,638, with the Barmy Army in full voice deep into the fifth day. Australia’s triumph has come despite constant disruption. Pat Cummins missed the first two Tests with a back issue, Josh Hazlewood was ruled out for the series, and Nathan Lyon was dropped before injuring his hamstring in Adelaide. Mitchell Starc was the only regular bowler available throughout the opening Tests. “We just found a way,” Starc said after taking three of the final four wickets in Adelaide. “Even at times where it’s not going our way, we can find a way to get ourselves over the line.” Starc now has 22 wickets in the series and 51 in the calendar year, leading an attack that has consistently out-thought England. Batting reshuffles followed. Steve Smith captained the side in Cummins’ absence but was ruled out of the third Test with vertigo. Usman Khawaja was rushed back into the XI, while Travis Head was promoted to open after Khawaja’s earlier injury. “You just kind of crack on,” Cummins said. “There’s always things that crop up, but the boys go, ‘OK, that’s happened, what’s next?’” Head, who scored a match-winning century in Perth and 170 in Adelaide, summed up life inside the dressing room simply: “Yeah, it’s bloody amazing.” With Melbourne up next and Cummins and Lyon uncertain, Australia’s depth will be tested again. But for now, the urn is already home — and the pre-series predictions lie in ruins.

A senior Bangladeshi journalist strongly criticised the violence that erupted in parts of Bangladesh following the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi, saying the unrest reflects the serious lapses in law and order and sent a troubling signal ahead of the national election.Speaking to ANI, Dhaka Tribune editor Reaz Ahmad said while public anger and grief over Hadi’s killing were understandable, elements within the crowds exploited the situation to trigger violence. “Taking that as an excuse, some fringe elements within the massive crowd expressing their grief and sympathies turned extremely violent,” he said, adding that the state should not tolerate such acts.Osman Hadi, a young political activist linked to last year’s July uprising, was shot by masked men on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was later airlifted to Singapore for medical treatment. He died on December 18 despite doctors’ efforts. Following his death, protests erupted across the capital as supporters demanded justice. Multiple demonstrations were reported on Friday, coinciding with the arrival of Hadi’s body in Dhaka. While several gatherings remained peaceful, some turned violent, with several media houses’ offices set ablaze and attacks on cultural institutions. Ahmad said the unrest could have been avoided with better planning by authorities. “The government would have done a better job had there been pre-emptive measures; we could definitely avoid such developments,” he told ANI, calling the attacks on two leading newspapers and cultural offices “a really bad example” for the country. The violence drew condemnation from both within Bangladesh and abroad. Ahmad said denunciations alone were insufficient and urged the government to restore full control over the situation. “The state should not tolerate it… the government has to actually take the law and order situation under complete grip,” he said.Hadi’s funeral prayers were held on Saturday and attended by a large crowd. As per his family’s wishes, he was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.With Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12, Ahmad warned that attacks on media outlets at this stage could have wider implications. He said such incidents risk creating fear among journalists and could affect press freedom during the election period.“Our election is just around the corner,” he said. “If such attacks are meant to actually infect fear among the free press advocates, to some extent the attackers thought that they had been successful.” He added that public support for free media must be reinforced by firm action from the government.Ahmad called on authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the violence, saying decisive action would help reassure journalists and ensure they can work freely in the run-up to the polls.

NEW DELHI: The flop show of teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued in the U19 Asia Cup, as the 14-year-old batter was dismissed at the score of 26 in the tournament final against arch-rival Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Sooryavanshi was dismissed in the fifth over of the innings; he was caught behind the stumps by Pakistan keeper Hamza Zahoor off Ali Raza’s bowling. Raza bowled a short of length delivery, angled across. Sooryavanshi looked to loft through the line and got a thick outside edge, Hamza Zahoor took a sharp catch over his head. There was no space to free his hands, and the ball was climbing as well.

With Sooryavanshi’s wicket, India were reduced to 49/3 while chasing a mammoth total of 348. Follow live updatesCaptain Ayush Mhatre (2 off 7 balls) and Aaron George (16 off 9 balls) were also dismissed cheaply, leaving India in deep trouble. Sooryavanshi also failed to score big in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and was dismissed for 9 runs.Earlier, Pakistan opener Sameer Minhas once again gave a glimpse into his precocious talent, striking a brilliant century — his second in the tournament — as Pakistan made a steep 347 for 8 in an engrossing 50-over men’s U19 Asia Cup final here on Sunday.Minhas, one of the standout performers for his side in the event, blazed to 172 off 113 deliveries as he carried the aspirations of his side, which lost the group match to the arch-foes by 90 runs at the same venue.Pakistan, coming into the final on the back of a clinical eight-wicket semifinal win against last edition champions Bangladesh, did not let India, who chose to bowl, settle down.Minhas, whose innings was studded with 17 boundaries and nine sixes, brought up his century off 71 balls with a four in the 29th over off Devendran.This was Minhas’ second hundred in the competition having cracked an unbeaten 177 against Malaysia in the opening group match.

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Sunday said the arrest of a serving army officer in an alleged bribery case reflects the government’s “zero tolerance” approach to corruption.Also Read: CBI nabs army officer and another person in bribery case“The present action has been taken in line with the Government of India’s stated policy of ‘Zero Tolerance Against Corruption.’ The arrest demonstrates the government’s proactive approach to curbing corruption through legal and institutional mechanisms,” a senior defence ministry official told news agency ANI.The statement came a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar Sharma and Vinod Kumar, a private individual and the alleged middleman, in connection with the case linked to defence-related clearances and favours.The premier investigative agency alleged that the duo acted as “conduits” for the delivery of bribes.Lt Col Sharma, who was serving as deputy planning officer in the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence, has been accused of “habitually engaging” in corrupt practices, including accepting bribes from private defence firms in return for undue favours.According to the CBI, the officer was in contact with a Dubai-based defence company through its representatives, Rajiv Yadav and Ravjit Singh, who are reportedly based in Bengaluru and managed the firm’s Indian operations. Investigators allege that Yadav and Singh were in regular touch with Sharma and coordinated with him to secure favourable outcomes for the company through illegal means.The case also names Lt Col Sharma’s wife, who is also a serving army officer. Colonel Kajal Bali is currently posted as the commanding officer of the 16 Infantry Division Ordnance Unit in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The FIR further mentions several unidentified individuals and a Dubai-based company.As per the CBI, on December 18, Kumar allegedly delivered a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to Sharma on behalf of the company.During searches conducted at multiple locations, the agency seized large sums of cash. A search of Lt Col Sharma’s residence in Delhi led to the recovery of Rs 2.23 crore in cash, while Rs 10 lakh was seized from the residence of Colonel Bali.The CBI carried out searches across several locations in Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, Bengaluru and Jammu as part of the probe.The officer and the alleged middleman were produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to police custody until December 23.The CBI said further investigation into the case is underway and additional aspects are being examined.

India’s automobile industry is set to make a strong debut into 2026, after a record year, with industry volumes expected to rise by around 6–8%. This growth is attributed to policy support such as GST rationalisation, easier monetary conditions and income tax relief, which are expected to improve affordability and keep consumption resilient across vehicle categories. The recovery seen this year went beyond a simple post-slowdown bounce. Passenger vehicle sales gathered pace after a weak start to the year, supported by steady rural incomes, firmer urban demand and better access to financing, PTI reported. SUVs remained the clear favourite among buyers, while CNG and electric vehicles continued to gain acceptance, signalling a gradual shift in powertrain preferences rather than a sudden transformation.Outlook for 2026While demand indicators remain encouraging, 2026 is increasingly being viewed as a year of preparation before tougher regulations come into force. Automakers are gearing up for higher compliance costs ahead of CAFE norms from 2027 and future emission standards, developments that could weigh on margins and influence pricing decisions. Safety regulations, including the mandatory adoption of ABS and CBS for two-wheelers, are already pushing up entry-level prices, raising concerns about demand elasticity in price-sensitive segments.Challenges on the supply side also persist. Despite higher localisation, global uncertainties, tariff risks and currency depreciation continue to affect costs, especially for premium models and vehicles with high component intensity. Industry watchers say supply chain stability and pricing discipline by OEMs will be key to sustaining dealer confidence through the first half of 2026.At the same time, investment strategies across the sector are evolving. Carmakers are increasingly channelling capital into electrification, charging infrastructure and platform upgrades, while continuing to scale up conventional powertrains to meet immediate market demand. This parallel approach reflects a market that is transitioning steadily rather than pivoting sharply. Citing the latest Dealer Satisfaction Index for December 2025, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) president CS Vigneshwar said that 74 per cent of dealers expect good to very good growth in the December–February period. He added that momentum could extend into the first half of 2026 if OEMs manage inventory efficiently and avoid sudden price hikes. However, he cautioned that price increases from January and the mandatory rollout of CBS and ABS across two-wheelers could dampen near-term demand, as entry-level prices may rise by at least Rs 5,000. Industry body SIAM also expects the year to close on a positive note. SIAM President Shailesh Chandra said all segments are likely to post growth over the previous calendar year, with exports showing strong double-digit expansion. “In addition, we expect strong double-digit growth in the export volumes across all segments, indicating growing brand acceptance of vehicles made in India,” he said, adding that the outlook for 2026 remains aligned with India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. The component industry shared a similar view. ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta said, “The Indian auto component industry is expected to continue to grow steadily next year, with domestic demand and localisation providing support, even though global uncertainties and supply-chain risks persist.”What are companies expecting: Chandra, who also heads Tata Motors passenger vehicles as MD and CEO, said GST rationalisation, along with repo rate cuts and income tax benefits, will enhance accessibility and stimulate demand. “We are uniquely positioned to lead in high-growth segments, including the continued surge in SUV demand, alongside the accelerating adoption of CNG and EV technologies. Our strong portfolio across these categories places us squarely in the sweet spot of this market transition,” he said. On forthcoming regulations, he added, “While the exact contours of CAFE III have not been finalised, we earnestly believe that the government will articulate it in a manner that supports a directional shift towards sustainable technologies.” Mahindra & Mahindra Auto Division CEO Nalinikanth Gollagunta said the company will focus on operational excellence and innovation in 2026. “On the electric front, our focus is twofold: ramping up operational capacity to 8,000 eSUVs per month and strengthening the public charging ecosystem,” he said, adding that the coming year could be defining for Mahindra’s leadership in SUVs. From a broader perspective, EY-Parthenon Partner and Future of Mobility Leader Som Kapoor expects industry growth of 5–8 per cent in 2026. “With forthcoming regulations, such as BS7 and CAFE 2027 currently under active deliberation, 2026 will reveal long-term transition strategies for PV OEMs,” he said. Automakers across segments echoed confidence in demand conditions. Honda Cars India VP (Sales and Marketing) Kunal Behl said sustained SUV demand and gradual electrification would reinforce India’s status as a key global automotive market. Renault Group India CEO Stephane Deblaise called 2026 a pivotal year, citing the return of the Renault Duster and the impact of GST 2.0 reforms.Luxury cars will see price hikes? Luxury carmakers, while optimistic, flagged ongoing risks. Mercedes-Benz MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said GST 2.0 has had a strong impact on the economy but warned that deteriorating forex could push prices higher over time. BMW Group India president and CEO Hardeep Singh Brar said challenges such as rupee depreciation, tariffs and supply chain constraints could persist into early 2026, even as demand for personal luxury evolves.“We are growing faster than the average luxury car industry growth. I think the focus for 2026 for the luxury car industry should really be on increasing the size of the market. The size of the pie has been the same for far too long,” he added. Overall, the consensus across the sector is that 2026 will deliver continued growth, supported by policy tailwinds and consumption strength, but with outcomes increasingly influenced by regulatory preparedness, cost dynamics and how quickly buyers adapt to higher prices and emerging technologies.