Automotive Update - 27th July 2014

• Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki IndiaBSE 0.28 % (MSI) is looking to increase the supply of auto gear shift version of its latest compact hatchback Celerio to reduce the waiting period that currently stands at about four months. (economicstimes.com)

• Since its launch in February, the company has so far received bookings for over 57,800 units of Celerio, out of which 43 per cent (25,000) are units with automated manual transmission (AMT) technology."We continue to try and increase the supply of the auto gear shift (Celerio) cars," a spokesperson of MSI told PTI.  (economicstimes.com)

• A local court today granted bail to the Managing Director of BMW Financial Services, Stefan Schlipf, arrested in connection with a court-referred case filed against the German car-maker in 2010."Dr. Stefan Schlipf was arrested by Hyderabad Police in connection with a law suit filed by Delta Cars. He has been released on bail. As one of the most reputed global companies, the BMW Group has very strict compliance guidelines and processes.(ETauto.com)

• Ashok Leyland June quarter earnings were slightly better than expected. Revenue was marginally higher than Bloomberg’s forecast, while net loss narrowed. The commercial vehicle maker reported a 4.8% operating margin—about 80 basis points (bps) wider than analysts’ estimates. One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. Though the firm posted a drop in sales volume, price hikes improved realization to aid revenue growth. Segments like the intermediate commercial vehicle (CV) range and the tippers and tractors segment fared well to post a net revenue of Rs.2,477.8 crore, 4.8% higher than the year-ago period.(fianancialexpress.com)

• Pune-based Shivang Technocrats today said it has entered into a strategic alliance with Swedish firm Lareda Mekan AB to manufacture a wide range of sophisticated automotive products.The major focus of the tie-up will be to develop and offer a broad portfolio of quality products to major automotive OEMs and other European clients present in the country and abroad as well, a release said here. (ETauto.com)

• Suzuki is all set to bring its flagship mass market motorcycle for the Indian market and has scheduled to launch the Gixxer 155 in the country on 10th August. First unveiled in January this year along with the Let’s scooter, the Gixxer is a very important product for the Japanese manufacturer and is expected to be priced around Rs. 75,000/- (ex-showroom). Suzuki claims that the engine and chassis have been developed by the engineers who designed the GSX-R series of motorcycles and going by the looks.(motorbeam.com)

• Mahindra may introduce a power steering variant for their electric car, the e2o in the next few months. The introduction of this new variant has come after few of its owners complained about the steering feeling heavy at low speeds.(car\wale.com)

• Ford launches the next-gen Ford Figo (known as 'KA' globally) in Brazil; The Ford KA starts at 35,390 BRL (INR 9.53 lakh) in the soccer crazy nation. But in India prices are expected to remain similar to the outgoing model. The next-gen Ford Figo will come along with a compact sedan that was showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. The duo will come early next year.(CARDEKHO.COM)

• After withdrawing the Chevrolet brand from Europe due to poor acceptance, American auto giant GM is planning to approach the old continent with an array of low-cost cars, reports Financial Times.The Euro crisis has left the automakers scrambling for a strategy to turnaround sales. The crisis also influenced the customers to resort to the low-cost cars. Renault’s Romanian subsidiary Dacia hit the jackpot with its affordable range of vehicles that include the Dacia Sandero, Logan and the Duster. The brand sold 430,000 vehicles worldwide and secured a market share of 31.6 percent.(indianautoblog.com)

• Steelbird, one of the most popular helmet manufacturers in the country, had introduced a new range of professional gear, which will be called as ARES. Now, adding further, another range of professional helmets has been launched, which is called “ARES- Flip up Helmet”. In a revolutionary design introduced by the firm, it is a one-of-a-kind product that has been made using technology from NASA. The manufacturer aims at taking the experience of bikers in India along with ensuring that all safety measures(cartrade.com)

• Maruti's powerful Gurgaon labour union has taken up the cudgels for workers arrested in 2012 for the unrest at the company's Manesar plant, which had resulted in the death of a senior manager and arrest of several workers. The July 2012 incident had seen the Haryana government ordering a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) even as the company went ahead and sacked nearly 500 of the 1,500-odd permanent workers at the Manesar plant.(carkhabri.com)

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•  image from financialexpress.com