Tata Motors to Hike Commercial Vehicle Prices Up to 1.5% Tata Motors has announced a price increase for its commercial vehicles, with the hike ranging up to 1.5%, effective from April 1. The decision aims to counter the rising costs of commodities and other inputs, which have placed significant pressure on the company’s cost structure. This move follows similar adjustments previously announced for the passenger vehicle segment, where sustained increases in raw material expenses had already prompted price revisions. The company cited escalating commodity prices, particularly for precious metals and copper, as a key driver of the cost pressures. During a quarterly earnings call, Tata Motors’ executive emphasized that the impact of rising commodity prices has amounted to approximately 2% of the company’s revenues. “We have been facing pressure on the commodity side for nearly a year now,” the executive noted, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by fluctuating input costs. This price adjustment is part of a broader trend among automakers globally. Major players such as Audi and Hyundai have already implemented similar measures, with Audi announcing a 2% increase across its model range to offset rising input costs and currency fluctuations. In India, Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest carmaker, is also reviewing potential price hikes amid rising input costs, despite robust demand fueled by recent reductions in GST rates. Tata Motors’ Vice President and Business Head for Trucks, Rajesh Kaul, confirmed the pricing changes during a launch event for the company’s truck models. He stated that the adjustment is necessary to maintain profitability in the face of persistent inflationary pressures.#tata_motors #maruti_suzuki #rajesh_kaul #partho_banerjee #audi
ISL on Sony Sports: Will a poor response affect future plans? Sony’s Rajesh Kaul explains the league’s value Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) initially opted not to bid for the media rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26, leading to concerns about the league’s television broadcast. However, the rights were eventually acquired by online streaming platform FanCode for Rs 8.62 crore. To ensure the ISL remains accessible to TV audiences, Sony Sports sublicensed the linear television rights from FanCode, allowing matches to be broadcast on Sony Sports Ten 2. This arrangement ensures fans can continue to watch the league on television while expanding its reach. Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer and business head for sports and international at Sony Pictures Networks India, explained the decision to Firstpost. He emphasized that ISL is a valuable asset for India’s football ecosystem and that the partnership with FanCode provided a strategic and commercial framework to bring the league to Sony Sports. The move strengthens Sony Sports’ position as the “Home of Football in India” and complements its existing portfolio, which includes UEFA competitions and domestic football properties. Kaul addressed concerns about potential low viewership for the ISL on Sony Sports. He highlighted that the league has a strong and loyal fan base, and football viewership in India has been growing steadily. Sony Sports Ten 2 has already established itself as a preferred destination for football fans, and the network is confident that ISL will benefit from its strong distribution, production quality, and marketing support. The focus, he said, is on scaling up fan engagement rather than short-term benchmarks.#indian_super_league #fancode #all_india_football_federation #sony_pictures_networks_india #rajesh_kaul
