Automotive Updates - 25th May 2014

 Tata Motors is giving a much stronger focus on the design of its cars, from planning product life cycle in a better way to incorporating subtle Indian elements to its future models, to woo back customers. "Basically our cars are very good products, well engineered, very relevant for the segment they play in. It is just, somewhere I feel, we have now started to, also, focus much stronger on design," Tata Motors Head of Design Pratap Bose told PTI. 

• Keshub Mahindra, Chairman Emeritus, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Assocham(The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) in recognition of his stellar contribution to Indian industry over the past five decades.

• Chennai based TVS Motors is India’s fourth largest two wheeler maker after Hero, Honda and Bajaj. TVS has revealed plans to increase their sales to 22 lakh units this financial year, after the company sold about 17.52 lakh units last year. This figure include both two wheelers and their commercial vehicles.

• It has been close to four months since the Celerio was launched, the car went on to become a runaway success for the company. Maruti has now confirmed that it has delivered about 28,000 units of the car which is close to 7,000 units a month (counting the date of its launch). The total bookings for the car stands at 58,000 as confirmed by senior executive officer, Maruti Suzuki, Mayank Pareek.

• India’s leading car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has no crossover in its current line up. Maruti showcased the S-Cross at the Auto Expo 2014 this year along with the concept avatar of the upcoming Ciaz sedan. Now, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is preparing itslef to launch the S-Cross in India early next year. 

• Volvo Auto India opens its new dealership in Chandigarh. The showroom is spread over an area of 2200 sqft. The new dealership is owned by Sumit Passi from Krishna Group. The group have dealerships of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, JCB Earth Moving Equipment, Honda 2-wheelers, Skoda Auto Passenger Cars, BMW Passenger Cars and other premium passenger cars. 

• According to a warning issued by the European Environment Agency, "Particulate matter is the air pollutant that poses the greatest health risk to people in Europe." The latest findings by the German Federal Environmental Agency on particulate pollution in Germany and the associated hazards are also alarming. When it comes to road traffic, the priority is therefore to protect occupants of cars and commercial vehicles as well as bus passengers from polluted outside air.

• As per a company report, filter manufacturer Mann+Hummel has consequently developed a new generation of cabin filters which ensures almost 100pc removal of even the tiniest particles, which are particularly hazardous to health. The company also supplies modern particulate filters to the independent aftermarket under the Mann-Filter brand name.

• Hyundai Motor India Ltd has issued a voluntary recall for the older generation Hyundai Santa Fe. The recall affects 2,437 units of the vehicle manufactured between 26 June 2011 to 26 September 2013. The recall is to replace the stop lamp switch that could malfunction. The potentially defective component will be replaced free of charge at any of the Hyundai authorized service centers.