Automotive updates - 12th June 2014

• VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), the joint venture between the Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, hopes to gain a double-digit market share in the M&HCV segment in India with the launch of its new Pro 6000 and 8000 series of trucks. This comment was made by Shyam Maller, senior vice-president (sales and marketing), VECV, at the recent launch of the Pro 1000 and 3000 series in Chennai.

• Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover is planning to expand its China operations with a new engine- making plant - its first ever outside the UK - alongside its car assembly factory in Shanghai.

• Mercedes-Benz India is continuing their aggressive move of launching new car every month. Apart from the GLA compact SUV and CLA 45 AMG which have already been confirmed for launch this year, MB India has now added three more cars for launch – special edition of A Class and B Class and 2014 E-Class Cabriolet.

• Mitsubishi Motors Corp is recalling about 920,000 vehicles globally for a glitch in the light switch that could prevent headlights and blinkers from working, the car maker said on Thursday.No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the glitch, Mitsubishi said.

• BMW India has introduced its armoured sedan based on the BMW 7 Series. The carmaker says the 760Li High Security is certified to the international standard guideline BRV 2009 and meets the highest requirements of ballistic protection.

• Bosch has developed a combiner head-up display that presents key information –information on speed, navigation recommendations or warning – directly in front of the driver. The product, offering the highest image quality and precision, is used in various vehicles of the BMW Group. Initially available for the new Mini hatchback, the head-up display is characterised among other things by a full-colour presentation, and can be integrated completely into the instrument panel. 

• Two-wheeler major Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) plans to sell 45 lakh units in 2014-15, a jump of 21 per cent over the previous fiscal.

• The value of the country's exports of automobile and auto parts, including passenger cars, two and three-wheelers grew 25 per cent in April, according to data compiled by engineering exporters body EEPC India.

• The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) plans to take up with the new government a proposal to incorporate aftermarket standards in the Motor Vehicles Act. This move is aimed at preventing spurious and counterfeit products from finding their way into on-road vehicles, making them susceptible to accidents. Moreover, these aftermarket standards are expected to ensure safe and emission-free auto components for the sector.

• American bike maker Erik Buell Racing, the technical partner of Hero Motocorp, has unveiled its new 1190SX naked superbike in the presence of select media in Indianapolis, US.

•  image from gaadi.com