Zee Media hosted the Auto Summit 2025 driven by DNAIndia.com in New Delhi, with Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, gracing the summit as the Chief Guest. The event brought together policymakers, global auto leaders, mobility innovators, and creators to discuss the next phase of India’s mobility transition cleaner energy adoption, the rise of luxury ownership and the need for safer road infrastructure.
The evening opened with “Drive Like a Woman”, a lively panel anchored by Chayan Rastogi, featuring well-known women creators Supriya Nagpal, Brinda Sharma, Mia Lakra, Tarini Mukherjee and Nupur Kalra. The panel candidly discussed the biases women encounter on Indian roads and the misconceptions around their awareness of automobile technology. They highlighted the rise of confident, informed women drivers who are reshaping consumer expectations, pushing brands to rethink product design and communication.
This was followed by a fireside session on “India’s Luxury Car Boom”, anchored by Meraj Shah Show Producer, WION, featuring Hardeep S. Brar, President & CEO of BMW Group India. Mr. Brar highlighted rapid urbanization, shifting aspirations among millennials and Gen Z, and the growing role of leasing, subscription, and buyback models. He also noted that luxury sales are growing over 10% ahead of mass-market growth, driven by performance, driving pleasure, and emotional value.
The summit also featured a Road Safety Panel anchored by Dinesh Sharma, Editor Techlusive, bringing together Vikram Kasbekar, ED & CTO and Acting CEO, Hero MotoCorp; Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India; and Vikram Gulati, Country Head & EVP, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. The discussion addressed India’s alarming rise in road accidents and highlighted technology-led safety interventions, improved road engineering, stricter traffic rule enforcement, and fostering a culture of responsible driving.
The highlight of the summit was a fireside conversation with Shri Nitin Gadkari, moderated by Shobhna Yadav, Anchor, Zee News. Shri Nitin Gadkari outlined India’s push towards cleaner and more efficient transport systems, including highway expansions like the Dehradun–Delhi corridor and Kanpur–Lucknow expressway. He emphasized reducing logistics costs from about 16% toward single digits, improving EV infrastructure, and decongesting major urban corridors such as Pune, Chennai, and Bengaluru–Chennai. He stated, “India’s goal is clear, to become the world’s No. 1 economy, powered by efficient, clean, and safe transportation.”
The summit provided a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas on the future of mobility.
Speaking on the occasion, Raktim Das, CEO, Zee Media Corporation Limited said, “Mobility is no longer just about vehicles; it is about technology enabled intelligence, sustainability, and experience. The Zee Media Auto Summit reflects our commitment to driving the national dialogue on technologies and policies that can redefine the future of mobility. We are happy that the initiative brought together some of the brightest minds from India’s auto ecosystem who sparked and led conversations to chart a path for an empowered transportation future.”
The evening culminated with the prestigious Zee Auto Awards 2025, honouring excellence and innovation across India’s automotive landscape.
● Luxury Brand of the Year: BMW
● Sustainable Mobility Champion: Toyota Kirloskar Motor
● Scooter of the Year: Hero Destini 125
● Best 350cc Motorcycle: Yezdi Roadster
● Design of the Year: VinFast VF7
● Iconic Car of the Year: Tata Sierra
● Innovation in Mobility: Qualcomm
● Electric Car of the Year: Hyundai Creta Electric
● Bike of the Year: Hero Glamour X
● Disruptor EV of the Year: Mahindra XEV 9e
● SUV of the Year: Hyundai Venue
● Manufacturer of the Year: Maruti Suzuki
The summit was streamed across Zee Media’s leading digital platforms — Zee News, Zee Business, WION, DNAIndia.com, India.com, and Techlusive enabling nationwide reach and real-time engagement.