Automotive Updates - 25th July 2014

•  Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) has introduced a new 35hp tractor – the Mahindra 275 DI ECO – in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The 275 DI ECO is powered by the Mahindra MKM engine which develops torque of 118.6 NM at 1900rpm, which makes it amongst the most powerful and fuel efficient tractors in its category. (autocarpro.in)
  

• After being spied for countless times in the recent past, Fiat has now officially announced that 2014 facelifted Punto aka Punto Evo will be launched on 5th August.The Punto Evo will be offered in total seven trims, with three engine options. The petrol variants will be powered by 67 bhp-1.2-litre and 90 bhp-1.4-litre petrol powerplants, while the same 75 bhp-1.3-litre diesel mill will be doing its duty under the hood of diesel variants. All engines, irrespective of petrol or diesel, will come with a 5-speed manual transmission.(cardekho.com)

• Hero Passion Pro TR, which Hero MotoCorp claims is built for both on and off road facilities is launched in India. A spiced up iteration of Passion Pro, the Passion Pro TR comes in with added features and a host of accessories, not seen on the Passion Pro, with a price tag of INR 53,531, almost INR 6,000 over the price of Passion Pro.(rushlane.com)

• As it works to reposition itself in the car market at home by launching new products, Tata Motors is not ignoring the overseas territory. In a first, the company is setting up a full-fledged car assembly plant overseas — in Venezuela — to penetrate the 4.5-million-unit South American market. Though Tata Motors has nine commercial vehicle (CV) plants overseas, so far it has none for the passenger cars.(financialexpress.com)

• Tractor maker Escorts has tied up with L&T Finance to provide loan for buying tractors. The company has inked a preferred financier agreement with L&T Finance to provide loans to tractor customers across the country, Escorts Ltd said in a statement. (economics times)

• Japan's Mazda Motor Corp will broaden a recall of cars sold in the United States because an air-bag inflator, supplied by Japan's Takata Corp, could rupture and seriously injure occupants.(ETauto.com)

• ZF Friedrichshafen AG is betting big on China and the Asia-Pacific market. From Shanghai, ZF coordinates business in China and APAC. Over the past few years, Asia-Pacific with China being the main market has developed into one of the most important market regions for the component supplier. In order to further extend research and development there and to reinforce its market presence in the Far East, the technology company is considerably expanding its headquarters for China and Asia-Pacific in Shanghai: the space for offices, laboratories, and test benches will almost be quadrupled from 11,000 to 54,000 square metres. - (autocarpro.in)

• Pune’s Shivang Technocrats has signed a strategic alliance with Sweden based Lareda Mekan AB to manufacture automotive products (pedal assemblies, Fuel filler necks, sheet metal components, integrated seat frames and more). Key focus will be on development of wide ranging products for automotive OEMs and other European clients present in India and overseas. (rushlane.com)

• BASF Shanghai Coatings Co has opened a new facility for automotive OEM coatings in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Shanghai. The chemical major has invested around 50 million euros (Rs 404 crore) in expanding production capacity for automotive OEM coatings. (autocarpro.in)

• Apollo Tyres today said it has appointed Seshu Bhagavathula as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the company.Bhagavathula, who will be based out of the company's Global R&D Centre in the Netherlands, will spearhead the global initiatives for the company for product development in both passenger and commercial vehicle tyres.(ETauto.com)

•  image from autocarpro.in and topgears.com