Automotive updates - 28th July 2014

• Globally, India is the largest consumer and exporter of three wheelers, having registered growth in both domestic sales and exports in the last decade. India exports three wheelers to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Guatemala, Sudan, Botswana and Nepa. While not rampant, three wheelers market in India is faced with increased competition from light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Electric Rickshaws and Quadricycles, such as Bajaj RE. (rushlane.com)

• Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) which successfully made inroads in the Indian trucking segment with the BharatBenz brand is not resting on its laurels. The Hindu reports that DICV is working on a new truck platform which is codenamed Project Thunderbolt. (indianautoblog.com)

• Mercedes-Benz India has reported a 25 per cent growth in its sales for the first half of 2014 at 4,717 units.Significant contributor to this growth has been the flagship S-Class sedan and the ML-Class SUV and the NGC (new generation cars) portfolio comprising the A-Class and B-Class, the company said in a statement.( http://businesstoday.intoday.in/)

• Dealer Council of BMW Group India has objected to Managing Director, BMW Financial Services India, Dr. Stefan Schlipf’s arrest. He is closely associated with BMW India Dealers since his appointment in his current position since 14 April 2013, and has now has been released on bail.(rushlane.com)

• Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the 100% wholly owned subsidiary of auto major Daimler AG, on Monday announced senior level changes in the light of progress of its Asian Business Model. Satyakam Arya, who was hitherto VP, procurement DICV, will move to MFTBC, Japan, as the VP, procurement, Daimler Trucks Asia, where he will also assume the role as the global commodity head of mechatronics for Daimler Trucks, effective September 1, 2014.Yasuhiko Kondo hitherto GM, life cycle management and governance & operations management procurement, MFTBC, will take over the role of vice-president, procurement at DICV.(Etauto.com)

• Ashok Leyland has recorded a 4.8 percent increase in turnover to Rs 2,477.80 crores for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, as against Rs 2,363.81 crores of the corresponding quarter in 2013. Sale of M&HCV in the quarter stood at 14,949 numbers (14,900 in the year-earlier quarter). Sales of LCVs stood at 5,032 units (as against 6,824 in the year-earlier period); the drop was primarily due to a correction in pipeline inventory.(autocarpro.in)

• Luxury car maker, Bentley Motors has become the first automotive manufacturer to be awarded the triple Carbon Trust Standard for carbon, water and waste reduction. The certification was completed by the Carbon Trust, one of the world’s leading independent authorities on delivering carbon reduction and achieving greater resource efficiency. (motoroids.com)

• Nissan Motor Co Ltd expects Takata Corp to pay back to the automaker all costs related to the recent air bag recall, Corporate Vice President Joji Tagawa said.Nissan, Japan's second-biggest automaker by global sales, recalled 755,500 vehicles globally in June over potentially explosive air bags, supplied by Takata. He declined to give the cost related to the recall. (Etauto.com)

• Jaguar Land Rover seems to be on a spending spree as the British luxury car maker has announced that it has purchased the largest privately owned collection of British cars. The collection assembled by British enthusiast James Hull, includes 543 cars, most of which are British classics and features many significant Jaguar models including XK SS, C, D and E-types. The cars in the collection will be actively used to support brand and experiential marketing to develop the brands and business in existing and emerging markets.(motoroids.com)

• Xavier Chardon has been appointed the new Head of Marketing at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. He succeeds Simon Thomas, who will leave the company. Wolf-Stefan Specht takes over from Chardon as Head of Sales Europe at Volkswagen Passenger Cars. (Etauto.com)

• A report from Zig Wheels states that Suzuki India will launch the Gixxer on August 10. The 150 cc motorcycle had its world premiere in India a few days prior to the Auto Expo this year. Suzuki unveiled the Gixxer along with the Let’s scooter, which was launched in India in early May.(indianautoblog.com)

• India's steel production grew at nearly half the world's average in the first six months of this year, but the country still maintains the fourth position among top steel producers.From January-June, India produced 41.28 million tonne steel, up 1.4 per cent over 40.72 MT in the year-ago period, as per the World Steel Association data.In comparison, global production of the alloy stood at 821.34 MT in the first half of 2014, over 801.23 MT during H1 of last year, clocking a growth of 2.5 per cent. (Etauto.com)

• To be used as feeders to Transjakarta busway and as regular buses, a series of medium sized buses are being developed by Tata Motors for Kopaja. This has been confirmed by Biswadev Sengupta, President Director of PT Tata Motors Distribusi Indonesia, the sole agents of Tata Motors in Indonesia.(rushlane.com)

•  images from rushlane.com and thehindubusinessline.com