Automotive Updates - 9th July 2014

• On the occasion of second anniversary of Renault Duster compact SUV in domestic market, the company has rolled out second anniversary edition of the vehicle. Renault has also doled out a lucrative offer for the prospective buyers under which they can buy the anniversary edition Duster at Rs 8.8 lakh, however this offer is confined only until July 20th. Lately the company had launched special edition of Duster to celebrate milestone of ’1 lakh unit sale’ of SUV in India.

• The Mahindra Scorpio EX entry level variant which is powered by the 2.5-litre 75 bhp m2DiCR diesel engine has been recalled for preventive inspection.The recall covers 23,519 units of the base model which are manufactured between May 2012 to November 2013. Mahindra has announced that the recall is to check a potential fault in the pressure regulating valves.

• Car sales in India grew nearly 15% in June, the fastest pace in 10 months, but the industry lobby—Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam)—warned acceleration was spurred by “speculative demand”. Consumers advanced their car purchases fearing a withdrawal of excise duty cuts.

• Global electronic component supplier Visteon Corporation recently completed the acquisition of the automotive electronics business of Johnson Controls, creating one of the world's three largest suppliers of vehicle cockpit electronics. The two companies announced plans for the $265 million cash transaction on January 13 this. 

• Nissan Motor Company will bring in its Infiniti brand into India and may even consider launching the Q30 luxury compact car – first displayed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show – here after its global launch in 2015. In an exclusive interview to Autocar Professional, Andy Palmer, chief planning officer, Nissan Motor Company, suggested that it is ‘inevitable’ that the Infiniti brand would come to India, and for which it would have to be backed by a manufacturing plan.

• Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced a host of new models for launch in India so as to augment their position in the auto sector. Though no details of what one can expect where these new launches are concerned, it is revealed that a new sedan is amongst those planned for launch.

•  As natural rubber imports to the country vault 65% during the April-June period in the current year, the demand from growers to check imports by raising duty has become stronger.The Kerala State Cooperative Rubber Marketing Federation (Rubbermark) on Tuesday called for increasing the import duty of rubber from the current 20%. Rubbermark president TH Musthafa said though the tyre makers have benefitted immensely from the slump in rubber prices, it has not reflected in the tyre prices.

• Honda UK has taken the covers off a new special version of its popular hatchback – the Civic. Called the Civic Black Edition, this new version sports a mean look with its all-black exterior design. The Japanese carmaker has also launched similar versions of the CRV and the Jazz. 

• The Grand i10 LPG has been launched at Rs.4.92 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi. The Grand i10 LPG will be available with a 1.0 Litre Dual VTVT, DOHC engine producing 69 ps and 96 Nm of torque, mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. This is the same motor powering the Eon.

• Toyota may launch a new C-segment sedan for the Indian market within the next year and a half. It will be a vehicle positioned to take on the Honda City and is expected to bridge the gap between the Etios and the recently launched Corolla Altis.

image from thehindu.com