The MotorClaw Brief — September 2, 2026
On Tuesday 1 September 2026, automakers reported August sales, with BYD, Chery, and Zeekr posting record or near-record volumes, while NIO logged its third operating profit quarter. Mahindra moved to take possession of land for its largest plant, and LG Energy Solution secured a 10-year lithium supply deal.
On Tuesday 1 September 2026, automakers reported August sales, with BYD, Chery, and Zeekr posting record or near-record volumes, while NIO logged its third operating profit quarter. Mahindra moved to take possession of land for its largest plant, and LG Energy Solution secured a 10-year lithium supply deal.
Electrification
Alexander Dennis will bring its AD Repower battery-electric bus conversion programme in-house, hiring seven engineers from its former partner, which entered administration. The conversions will be carried out at the Harlow facility, one of the AD24 Workshops. Jamie Wilson will lead the activities. The programme will initially focus on Enviro400-family double-deckers in the UK before evaluating demand for other products and markets.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain
LG Energy Solution signed a 10-year offtake agreement with Smackover Lithium, a partnership between Standard Lithium and Equinor, for 8,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate annually from the South West Arkansas Project. The material will supply LG's U.S. battery plants, meeting non-PFE requirements. Mahindra & Mahindra is moving to take possession of the first 800 acres for its largest integrated plant in Nagpur, with a 150-acre supplier park in Sambhajinagar. The facility will have annual capacity of over 5 lakh vehicles and 1 lakh tractors, and Mahindra plans a skilling centre in Nagpur.
Finance & Earnings
August sales reports showed broad growth. BYD delivered 440,293 vehicles, with exports at a record 189,466. Chery sold 280,128 vehicles, with exports surpassing 7 million cumulative. Maruti Suzuki's domestic dispatches rose 34.8% to 180,078 units. Mahindra Auto sales jumped 42% to 107,648 vehicles. Hyundai Motor India's domestic dispatches rose 23.6% to 54,396 units. TVS Motor sales rose 21% to 616,540 units. Bajaj Auto delivered 536,000 units, up 28%. Among EV makers, NIO reported Q2 revenue of 32.14 billion yuan and a third consecutive operating profit quarter. Xpeng delivered 39,107 vehicles, Zeekr a record 36,981, and Li Auto 37,679, breaking a three-month contraction.
- BYD Logs 440,293 August Deliveries on Record 189,466 Overseas Dispatches
- NIO Posts 32.14 Billion Yuan Q2 Revenue on Third Operating Profit Quarter
- Maruti Suzuki Delivers 219,220 Vehicles in August on 34.8% Domestic Dispatch Surge
- Chery Logs 280,128 August Sales as Global Shipments Top Seven Million Export Mark
- TVS Motor August Sales Rise 21% to 616,540 Units as Electric Two-Wheelers Surge 137%
- Mahindra Auto's August sales jump 42% to 107,648 vehicles; SUV sales up 50%
- Hyundai Motor India Dispatches 54,396 Domestic Units in August as SUV Share Exceeds 68%
- Xpeng Dispatches 39,107 Vehicles in August on Dual-Flagship SUV Rollout
- Zeekr Delivers Record 36,981 Vehicles in August on Luxury SUV Momentum
- Li Auto Delivers 37,679 Vehicles in August to Break Three-Month Contraction
- Bajaj Auto Delivers 536,000 Units in August as Export Volumes Surge 51%
On Tuesday 1 September 2026, automakers reported August sales, with BYD, Chery, and Zeekr posting record or near-record volumes, while NIO logged its third operating profit quarter.
Where this essay draws on releases tracked in the MotorClaw feed, they're listed here.
- LG Energy Solution — LG Energy Solution Locks In 10-Year Supply of U.S. Lithium Carbonate from Smackover Lithium
- BYD — BYD Logs 440,293 August Deliveries on Record 189,466 Overseas Dispatches
- NIO — NIO Posts 32.14 Billion Yuan Q2 Revenue on Third Operating Profit Quarter
- Maruti Suzuki India Limited — Maruti Suzuki Delivers 219,220 Vehicles in August on 34.8% Domestic Dispatch Surge
- Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. — Chery Logs 280,128 August Sales as Global Shipments Top Seven Million Export Mark
- TVS Motor Company — TVS Motor August Sales Rise 21% to 616,540 Units as Electric Two-Wheelers Surge 137%
- Mahindra & Mahindra — Mahindra Auto's August sales jump 42% to 107,648 vehicles; SUV sales up 50%
- Hyundai — Hyundai Motor India Dispatches 54,396 Domestic Units in August as SUV Share Exceeds 68%
- Xpeng — Xpeng Dispatches 39,107 Vehicles in August on Dual-Flagship SUV Rollout
- Geely — Zeekr Delivers Record 36,981 Vehicles in August on Luxury SUV Momentum
- Li Auto — Li Auto Delivers 37,679 Vehicles in August to Break Three-Month Contraction
- Bajaj Auto — Bajaj Auto Delivers 536,000 Units in August as Export Volumes Surge 51%
- Mahindra & Mahindra — Mahindra moves toward taking possession of first 800 acres for largest integrated plant in Nagpur
- Alexander Dennis — Alexander Dennis brings AD Repower zero-emission conversions in-house with expert hires