Automobile Updates- 5th June 2014

• Mercedes-Benz India today launched the diesel variant of their flagship luxury car, the S Class. The 2014 Mercedes S Class diesel is available in India in its S 350 CDI specification, and is priced at INR 1.07 crores, ex-Showroom, Pune.

• Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a limited edition of its XUV500, the XUV500 Sportz built on its W8 model. Priced at Rs 13.68 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai), the SUV comes with a slew of premium features and plush interiors, the company said. These features include new decals, alloys with signature red inserts, a rearview camera and leather-fabric seats as well as stylised roof rails in red.         

• Volvo Buses in India has announced the start of registrations for the Volvo Sustainable Mobility Awards 2014. The CV maker is inviting stakeholders from among citizen groups/NGOs, organisations/ consultancies, and institutions among others, to participate in the fourth edition of the awards. The Volvo Sustainable Mobility Awards aim to reward progressive and practical action in the area of promoting sustainable solutions in urban mobility.

• Indian tyre major Apollo Tyres has introduced its Endurance and 4G range of tyres in Oman. Represented by Mohammad Assulaimy Auto Parts Centre in the Sultanate of Oman, Apollo’s 4G range includes Aspire 4G, Alnac 4G and Amazer 4G. While the 4G range caters to cars, the Endurance range is meant for commercial vehicles and buses.

• Magna International Inc has announced that its Magna Powertrain operating unit is supplying an innovative all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for the new Mercedes-Benz GLA compact SUV as well as the A45 AMG and the CLA. The AWD system, called ProActive Rear Drive Module, is specifically designed as a platform solution for C-segment vehicles and achieves a high level of integration for an AWD coupling and rear axle drive.  This fully integrated system is claimed to significantly improve vehicle performance in terms of drag, torque, system efficiency and weight.

• Declining sales, negative customer sentiments and unclear future growth has made the business climate more difficult not only for the vehicle manufacturers but also for the auto dealers, according to a study. "Sales volumes per manufacturer have declined by 8.6 per cent in the span of last three years; this trend of declining sales per manufacturer has been observed for the first time in last decade," a study by consultancy firm Frost and Sullivan conducted on behalf of FADA. 

• In a bid to reduce transit time and ensure prompt delivery of vehicles, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is planning to set up a stockyard in Jharkhand. According to the top officials in the state industries department, Maruti Suzuki had approached the state government for a piece of land to build the yard. "They had approached us for land a couple of weeks ago and the matter will be looked into," said a top official of the department. "However, further details cannot be divulged at the moment," the official added.

• Honda, the Japanese manufacturer is now looking forward to double its export of auto components  and engine parts to over Rs 800 crore from the present Rs 420 crore, during 2014-15. The company is also planning to double its vehicle exports in other countries too. HCIL Senior Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Jnaneswar Sen told PTI, "We are targeting to increase our component exports and it will be nearly doubled. It will cross Rs 800 crore during the current fiscal."

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