Force Motors, the largest van manufacturer in India, has released an updated version of its popular premium van, the Urbania, named Urbania Deluxe.
According to the company, the new model will provide a more comfortable, safe, and premium travel experience. The Urbania Deluxe will replace the existing model and set a new standard in the premium shared mobility segment. The starting price for this new model is set at 28.7 lakhs (excluding taxes).
The interior of the Urbania Deluxe has been completely redesigned. It features eco-leather seats, premium upholstery, and wooden-finished flooring, giving the cabin a more luxurious look. The main focus has been on improving the passenger travel experience.
Each passenger is provided with a three-point seat belt. Furthermore, the van incorporates a range of advanced safety systems, including driver and co-driver airbags, disc brakes on all wheels, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and Engine Torque Control (ETDC).
The new Force Urbania Deluxe is equipped with a 2.6-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz. This engine is capable of generating 134 hp and 350 Nm of torque. According to the company, the new engine provides smoother operation, better acceleration, and more powerful performance, making journeys both in the city and on the highway more comfortable.
The driver is provided with a new TFT instrument cluster displaying necessary information in real-time. A 9-inch touchscreen multimedia system is also available. This system supports smartphone connectivity, online and offline navigation, an HD rearview camera, voice prompts, and wireless headset connectivity.
The van also integrates an 8-channel DTS theater sound system, USB Type A and C charging ports next to each seat, new 16-inch wheels, and electric running boards that facilitate entry and exit. The Urbania Deluxe will be available in the Indian market in three different wheelbases and eight seating configurations, from 9+D to 16+D. Force Motors offers the Force Care package, which includes the i-Pulse telematics system, a 5-year or 500,000 km warranty, a three-year warranty on all sensors, and three years of Roadside Assistance (RSA).
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) confirmed that the economy remains resilient, supported by strong demand and active activity in the industrial and service sectors. However, the bank warns about risks associated with the war in Iran and insufficient monsoon rainfall.
In its monthly economic survey for July, published on Wednesday, the Reserve Bank of India stated that the domestic economy has successfully navigated external uncertainty. This resilience is underpinned by healthy demand conditions and steady performance in the industrial and service sectors. High-frequency indicators also pointed to robust industrial performance and the viability of the service sector.
The RBI is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at the August 5 meeting, making it one of the few central banks in the region not to alter policy in response to the Middle East conflict. Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted that the policy rate is likely to remain at 5.25 percent unless price pressures become broader.
Despite existing challenges, the central bank forecasts economic growth of 6.6 percent for the fiscal year ending March. It also anticipates inflation to average 5.1 percent, factoring in risks related to rising oil prices and uneven monsoons, which have delayed the sowing of some key crops.
The southwest monsoon, which provides about 70 percent of India's annual rainfall, is critical for the $300 billion agricultural economy and significantly influences food prices, rural demand, and overall economic output. The war in Iran adds another risk, as India imports over 85 percent of its crude oil needs, increasing the probability of imported inflation.
The latest RBI report indicated that while the agricultural sector faces an uneven southwest monsoon, the impact of this on food inflation may be mitigated by adequate grain stocks.
Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, reported second-quarter profits of $1.1 billion, representing a decrease of approximately 5% compared to the same period last year. Despite an increase in car sales, the report showed weaker than expected quarterly revenues, leading to a decline in off-exchange stock value amid questions regarding large-scale capital expenditure plans.
The company's profit was $0.33 per share, which was below analysts' forecasts of $0.53. Meanwhile, revenue increased by 26%, reaching $28.2 billion. Earlier this month, the company impressed market observers by presenting higher-than-expected car sales figures for the second quarter, aided by the recovery in European markets.
However, the earnings press release noted that profitability suffered due to lower car prices, reduced regulatory credit income, and uncertain 'energy guarantee-related expenses.'
Another significant factor was more than doubling capital expenditures to $5.8 billion over the three-month period compared to the previous year. Tesla is actively engaged in large-scale construction, which Musk called during a conference as possibly 'the fastest industrial growth in the United States since World War II.'
Tesla is involved, along with other Musk projects such as SpaceX and xAI, in a $20 billion Terabab project in Austin, positioned as 'the most epic attempt to create chips in history.' The company reported that expansion initiatives are on track: production of the 'Cybercab' vehicle has begun in Texas, and the launch of the Tesla Semi truck 'remains on schedule' for 2026.
Furthermore, Tesla reported an increase in subscribers to the 'FSD' driver assistance program, contributing to increased revenue. Musk answered analysts' questions about scaling the robotaxi enterprise, expressing confidence that the product would have high consumer demand, and that Tesla is working towards achieving ideal or near-ideal reliability. He noted: 'How many nines of reliability do you need to scale? Ideally, you want 99.99999 percent reliability.'
Like other major technology companies such as Google and Amazon, Tesla faced questions about the return on its ambitious and costly technological developments. CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson expressed concerns about the spending, calling it a drag on Tesla's stock, stating: 'They were simply not very transparent with Wall Street regarding the expected return on the money spent.'
CFO Vaibhav Taneja stated that Tesla expects operating expenses related to research and development to 'continue growing in 2026 and beyond.' Musk emphasized that capital efficiency is not the only priority, saying: 'We must spend on capital expenditures as fast as we can... without it being too wasteful. It is better to be slightly less capital efficient if we achieve results sooner.'
This Wednesday's report was the first earnings announcement from Tesla since SpaceX's successful launch as a public company in June, which temporarily pushed Musk's net worth above $1 trillion after the rocket and satellite company's stock soared in early sessions. Although SpaceX's stock value declined in subsequent weeks, its valuation of around $1.5 trillion was viewed as a potential tool for a deal between SpaceX and Tesla, sparking significant speculation among Wall Street investors.
Musk mentioned 'many collaborations' between Tesla and SpaceX, noting that 'more and more overlaps are happening.' He added that they obviously cannot discuss mergers and similar matters during an earnings call, as it must proceed according to proper procedure. Consequently, Tesla's shares fell by 4.1% in off-exchange trading.
