Automotive Updates - 19th August 2014

• Volkswagen India today said that it will start assembling engines at its manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune (Maharashtra) towards the end of the year. A full-fledged engine testing facility will also come up adjacent to the line. Volkswagen India is investing 30 million euros (INR 240 crore) for the 1.5L engine and its assembly and production. The new engine line will generate over 260 jobs.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Tata AutoComp’s own facility is responsible for all the plastics in the Zest’s interiors and on the outside too. The dual-tone dash, adjustable air vents, controls, glove box, etc., and the body-coloured bumpers are all supplied by Tata AutoComp.(motorbash.com)

• Earlier this month, Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) celebrated its fifth convocation ceremony and conferred academic degrees to 64 students from rural Karnataka for successful completion of its three-year training course (2011-2014). The event was attended by Vikram Kirloskar, vice-chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), Shekar Viswanathan, vice-chairman, TKM, Naomi Ishii, managing director, TKM, and other senior dignitaries from the company. (autocarpro.in)

• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd will seek the approval of minority shareholders in October to enter into a deal with Suzuki Motor Gujarat, a subsidiary of its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corp., that plans to build a plant in Gujarat, a senior executive at India’s largest car maker said. Maruti will buy cars from the subsidiary, according to a plan announced in January that raised the hackles of investors and proxy advisory firms, prompting the vote. (livemint.com)

• As part of development initiatives undertaken by the recently elected central government, Nitin Gadkari, Union minister of road transport and highways said that the government working on a process to implement a new law wherein the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) may be scrapped. Instead, a new and efficient alternative system shall be in place in the coming months.(cartrade.com)

• Showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo in February, and spied testing on various occasions, the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz sedan is now ready for official launch in September, just ahead of the festive season in the country. The Ciaz sedan has entered production at the company plant in Manesar, even as Maruti Suzuki has officially pulled the plug on the SX4 midsized sedan.(rushlane.com)

• The made-in-India Ford EcoSport has surpassed the 1 lakh sales milestone (domestic wholesales and exports combined).The mini SUV was launched in India on June 26, 2013 and due to production constraints the waiting period for some variants exceeded 9 months (a dealership that IAB contacted late last year asked 12 months for an EcoSport AT to be delivered). (indianautoblogs.com)

• Halla Visteon Climate Control (HVCC), the 70-percent owned subsidiary of Visteon Corporation, has opened its first manufacturing facility in South America. The new plant in Atibaia, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, assembles heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) components for automakers in the region. (autocarpro.in)

• The government said Thursday it has made progress in providing financial aid to public sector undertaking (PSU) Scooters India to revive its operations.According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, financial infusion of Rs.31.90 crore out of 70.38 crore as equity and provision of Rs.20 crore as interest free plan loan for working capitalhave already been approved.(ETauto.com)

• What comes as a respite for the two-wheeler owners in the country is the new regulation laid down by Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). According to this rule, two wheeler owners will not have to get their insurance policies every year. Instead of this rule, the owners will have to get the paperwork redone, once every three years.(cartrade.com)

• Olof Persson, president and CEO of the Volvo Group, will take up the position as co-chairman when United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon assembles a high-level advisory group on sustainable transport. The advisory group, consisting of 12 members, is to provide recommendations on sustainable transport actionable at global, national and local levels. (autocarpro.in)

• With an aim to launch a new product every three to four months, Chennai based two wheeler firm TVS Motor Company aspires to increase market share to 14% by the end of this fiscal from a current 12%.

image from volkswagen.co.in and indiancarbikes.in