The Auto Scope

By 2026, Chennai isn’t just talking about being the “EV Capital of India”—it’s living up to the name. Thanks to some bold moves from the Tamil Nadu government, this year stands out as one of the best times to go electric. If you’re in Chennai and thinking about making the switch, here’s how the savings stack up. 1. 100% Road Tax Exemption — The Real Game Changer Here’s the big news: the government has decided to keep the 100% road tax waiver alive until December 31, 2027. This was supposed to end on January 1, 2026, but they pushed it out by two more years. What does that mean for you? Let’s say you’ve got your eye on an electric car worth ₹20 lakh. You’re looking at upfront savings of ₹2 to ₹3 lakh, just in registration costs at the Chennai RTO. Compare that to what you’d pay with a petrol or diesel car—and honestly, the difference is huge. 2. Central Government PM E-DRIVE Incentives By early 2026, the old FAME-II scheme is out, and the PM E-DRIVE scheme is in. It works a bit differen...

 Remember when charging your EV meant wrestling with cables, getting your hands a little grimy, and hoping the connector clicked in just right? In 2026, that hassle’s fading fast. For more and more electric vehicle drivers, plugging in is becoming optional. Wireless charging—a few years ago, it sounded like science fiction—is now rolling out in real-world parking lots, garages, and even city streets. Over the past year or so, wireless charging stations have exploded onto the scene. They're not quite as common as the old-school Level 2 plug-ins yet, but the ease of use is winning people over—at home, at work, and in public spaces. So, how does it all work? Underneath the surface, it’s pretty clever. Wireless EV charging uses something called inductive power transfer. Basically, there’s a charging pad (with an electromagnetic coil) installed in the ground. Your car has a receiving coil underneath. When you park over the pad, the two coils talk—an invisible magnetic handshake. Electri...

 By 2026, the Mahindra XUV700—now wearing the name XUV 7XO—and the Hyundai Creta are locked in a showdown. Sure, they’re technically from different segments, but when you look at their prices (they both land somewhere between ₹14 lakh and ₹24 lakh), most buyers end up choosing between these two. One’s all about tech muscle, the other’s a city-friendly feature machine.                                   Here’s how the two stack up, feature by feature. Technology & Cockpit Experience Mahindra XUV 7XO: Mahindra isn’t holding back—they’ve gone all out with three 12.3-inch screens, standard even on the base model. You get a digital cluster, a big center screen, and a third display just for the front passenger. It feels straight out of a high-end EV. Plus, there’s a built-in AI assistant, and yes, it’s ChatGPT-compatible. Hyundai Creta: Creta keeps things tidy with its dual-screen setup (infotainment ...