Automotive Updates - 7th June 2014

• India's oldest car maker Hindustan Motors which declared suspension of work at its Uttarpara plant on May 24, has terminated the services of around 240 managerial staff.The company, however, retained some staff in disciplines such as finance and HR.Company sources told PTI that the termination notices on the staff were served yesterday. 

• Maruti Suzuki India, which agreed to let parent Suzuki Motor Corporation own an upcoming plant in Gujarat, expects to save about Rs 10,500 crore in the first 15 years by not investing in the facility. 

• Tata Bolt AMT to be India's cheapest diesel automatic

• General Motors Co on Friday announced four more recalls covering 105,688 cars and trucks globally, raising the number of recalls to 34 including the high-profile for defective ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths.

• Volkswagen had taken the wraps off its facelifted Polo hatch at the 2014 Geneva motor Show in March this year and announced that it intended to bring the model to India by mid-year.

• According to ET, the German car manufacturer is looking to bring the refreshed model in July.

• GM CEO Mary Barra said 15 employees have been fired and five others have been disciplined over the company's failure to disclose a defect with ignition switches that is now linked to at least 13 deaths.

• The Government of India has announced that it will take steps to improve road safety in the country by re-drafting the Motor Vehicle Bill. Safety norms of developed countries like USA, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Japan and UK will be studied and incorporated in the new bill. The bill is expected to be drafted in a month's time and presented in Parliament.

• General Motors to initiate a program to compensate crash victims or their families, victimised by faulty ignition switch in their cars. So far at least 13 fatalities have been associated with said defect. GM would start receiving claims from 1st of August 2014, and issue compensation upon investigation. 

Image from rediff.com