Automotive Updates - 29th September 2014

• Tata Motors Ltd, India's No. 1 automaker by revenue, has poached a top executive from rival Maruti Suzuki Ltd as it looks to strengthen its passenger vehicle business and regain market share.Mayank Pareek will join on Oct. 1 as president of the passenger vehicles business unit, Tata Motors said on Monday. Pareek was formerly head of sales and marketing for Maruti, the nation's top carmaker by volume.(financialexpress.com)

• Toyota Motor has revived plans to launch its Lexus luxury brand in India where sales of high-end vehicles have bucked the trend in an otherwise weak auto market by growing at a double-digit pace for three straight years. Toyota sells Lexus across all major markets, with US being the largest. It deferred the plan to bring Lexus here in 2012 because of high import duty and a sluggish local auto market. (economicstimes.com)

• Entering the lucrative 110 cc automatic scooter segment today, Mahindra announced the launch of their all-new scooter Gusto. This is a global scooter, which has now been launched in India, export to overseas markets will soon follow. Available for an aggressive price tag of Rs 43,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), Mahindra Gusto competes with the likes of Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter, Hero Maestro and TVS Scooty Zest. (rushlane.com)

• Dunlop India's West Bengal plant at Sahaganj, which had remained closed since 2011, reopened  and both the state government and management headed by Pawan K Ruia are optimistic on sustained phase-wise revival of the plant.The reopening of the plant at Sahagung in Hooghly district just before the Durga puja is seen as a major achievement by the state government and Rs 5,000 as part payment of one-time settlement due comes as a great relief to the workers in distress.(ETauto.com)

• Steel Strips Wheels Ltd (SSWL), the Punjab-based automotive steel wheel manufacturer, has decided to expand its capacity following increasing demand from OEMs, particularly for passenger cars, and the aftermarket, both from the domestic and international market. The company will increase its annual production capacity by 1,500,000 wheels. The wheelmaker will invest Rs 5 crore to expand capacity and the additional capacity will see fruition by April 2015. (autocarpro.in)

• Nissan has announced the appointment of Guillaume Sicard as president, Nissan India operations, effective October 1, 2014. Sicard has been serving as Nissan’s deputy president in India since July, 2014.Sicard takes over from Kenichiro Yomura, current president of Nissan India operations, who is returning to Japan where he has been appointed general manager, Africa Business Management Department, Nissan Motor Co. Sicard will report to Takashi Hata, senior VP of Nissan Motor Co, in charge of Africa, Middle East and India region.(autocarpro.in)

• General Motors India has commenced vehicle exports to Chile. The first 140 left-hand-drive Chevrolet Beatswere shipped from the Mumbai Port Trust of Maharashtra on September 25 and are expected to reach Chile in the next few weeks. The Beat is manufactured at GM’s facility in Talegaon, Maharashtra and is one of the most popular products in their line-up as it is a fuel-efficient hatchback. As part of GM CEO Mary Barra’s recent trip to India, she participated in the rollout of the first Beat for export on September 10. The Talegaon manufacturing facility has an annual production capacity of 170,000 vehicles and 160,000 engines.(carwale.com)

• Japanese auto electronics parts maker Rohm Semiconductor has set up its new R&D Centre in Bangalore. With this, the company has chalked out plans to play a major role in the Indian automotive electronics market. Talking to Autocar Professional, Akihito Tomii, managing director, Rohm Semiconductors India, said the company is considering India as one of its potential markets. The company manufactures auto electronic parts in the areas like integrated circuits (ICs), discrete semiconductor and passive electronic components. Currently the company has a workforce of around 35 employees in India, of which 25 engineers will work in the R&D Centre, which commenced is operations in May this year.   (autocarpro.in)

Automotive Updates - 27th and 28th September 2014

• American bike maker UM Motorcycles has agreed to form an equal joint venture with electric two-wheeler maker Lohia Auto to manufacture and market its products, starting with cruiser motorcycles."We have finalised our terms with the Indian company to start a joint facility and roll out the American bikes in the domestic market," Rajeev Mishra, director at UM Motorcycles India, told ET.He said a definitive agreement for the 50-50 venture with an initial investment of Rs 120 crore will be signed shorty. (ETauto.com)

• Mark Exhaust Systems Limited (MESL), a joint venture between Rattan Kapur & Associates and Maruti Suzuki India made two acquisitions in the past few months and looks at taking its Group turnover (Rattan Kapur & Associates) from Rs 1,400 crore in FY14 to Rs 2,000 crore by next fiscal year. The company, a couple of weeks ago, acquired 100% stake in Haryana-based BWI Shock Absorbers for $ 1.5 million. (economicstimes.com)

• Czech carmaker Skoda has been chalking out plans in recent times to gain a good amount of popularity in the local market. Recently, Skoda India has launched the new Rapid sedan with 1.5 Liter TDI engine and 7 speed DSG automatic transmissions. The new Rapid is available at a starting price tag of Rs. 7,22,230 (Ex-Showroom Delhi). As for colours, the new Rapid features options like Brilliant Silver, Candy White, Cappuccino Beige, Deep Black Pearl, Flash Red and the new Toffee Brown colour.(cartrade.com)

• Global commercial vehicle major Daimler is looking to replicate the success of its trucks business in India in the bus segment as well with its new bus plant in the country slated to be operational by second half of next year. "In the second half of next year, we will launch buses under the Mercedes Benz and Bharat Benz brands. Indian bus market is huge. (Bus operations) will be fully comparable to what we have achieved in trucks in India," Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) Managing Director and CEO Erich Nesselhauf said. (economicstimes.com)

• Mahindra will launch the Quanto with an automated manual transmission (AMT) by end of the financial year. The Indian carmaker expressed its intention of launching an AMT on the Quanto at the Auto Expo this year, and had also showcased the car. Mahindra referred to the technology as ‘autoSHIFT’.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Volkswagen AG is planning to deploy SEAT into India aiming at budget car segment dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. If the plan works well on paper, SEAT could be introduced in the country by 2018. Right now SEAT is the only brand left to be established in India from Volkswagen AG’s stable.(rushlane.com)

• Ford has decided to phase out its best-seller Figo hatchback from India and will replace the model with a new-generation car — also to be badged as Figo — by late next year. The company will also phase out Classic' entry sedan to make way for the new mid-size car that was showcased at the Delhi Motor Show in February this year. (economicstimes.com)

• Maruti Suzuki has launched a limited edition of the Celerio hatchback called the VXi+. Based on the VXi variant, it features some cosmetic changes and additional accessories. Maruti claims that these changes cost Rs. 20,000, but will be available for customers at a reduced price of Rs. 13,990.(team-bhp.com)

• In its first month of launch, Honda Motor's Mobilio has captured the second spot in India's utility vehicles market, outselling Toyota Motor's Innova and Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga. Honda sold 5,539 units of the multi-purpose seven-seat vehicle in August, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. The data indicate the Mobilio eating into the market share of similarly sized Innova and Ertiga as well as Ford Motor's compact sportutility vehicle EcoSport. The Ford vehicle kept its fourth place intact as the Ertiga fell two places down to the fifth spot on the list led by Mahindra & Mahindra's Bolero, which still sees strong demand, especially from rural and semi-urban buyers, despite being in the market for many years. (economicstimes.com)

• Skoda has said that it has put its Indian investments on hold due to uncertainties with regard to policy framework. The Czech automaker in an interview with ET has said that it has put its small car project on hold and will invest on facilitating existing projects. Sudhir Rao, chairman and MD of Skoda Auto India, said that various issues like technology transfer agreement; fine by the CCI on several automakers as well as several other issues has prompted it to put its plan on hold. He added that they would reconsider the decision if the uncertainties with regard to policy is cleared. (carwale.com)

Automotive Updates - 26th September 2014

• Automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra would continue to focus on utility vehicles segment with the launch of fresh products on new platforms, a top company official has said. "The utility vehicles (UV) segment is the core focus area of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) where concentration will revolve around this segment," Jyoti Malhotra, VP (Sales) of the company said today. (economicstimes.com)

• Indian car major Maruti Suzuki wants to utilise the festive season to maximise its sales as the manufacturer has introduced the limited edition Maruti Celerio VXi+ to attract more consumers towards the brand.This limited edition Celerio VXi+ comes with cosmetic upgrades like body coloured ORVMs with integrated turn indicator and body coloured door handles. (ETauto.com)

•  American bike maker UM Motorcycles has agreed to form an equal joint venture with electric two-wheeler maker Lohia Auto to manufacture and market its products, starting with cruiser motorcycles."We have finalised our terms with the Indian company to start a joint facility and roll out the American bikes in the domestic market," Rajeev Mishra, director at UM Motorcycles India, told ET.(ETauto.com)

• According to Nikkei, Isuzu Motors and General Motors will jointly develop a pickup truck for emerging markets. The new pickup will be manufactured in Southeast Asia and India, and sales will start in Thailand and Indonesia as early as 2015. Nikkei did not reveal the source of this information, but said that a formal announcement will be made by the companies on Friday.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Volkswagen AG is planning to deploy SEAT into India aiming at budget car segment dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. If the plan works well on paper, SEAT could be introduced in the country by 2018. Right now SEAT is the only brand left to be established in India from Volkswagen AG’s stable.(rushlane.com)

• Ford Motor on Friday announced that it was recalling 850,000 vehicles in North America due to a systems glitch that can stop air bags from deploying in a crash. Ford issued the recall following problems in the restraints control module, a key part of its safety system that takes information from front crash sensors and other sensors and activates air bags and seat-belt pretensioners.(livemint.com)

• Japanese auto parts maker FCC Company has purchased its Indian partner Rico Auto's 50% stake in their equal joint venture FCC Rico for Rs 495 crore, signalling continued interest among Japanese companies to invest in India's automobile sector. The transaction, valuing the two-decade old company at.Rs 990 crore, is the result of a strategic decision taken by both entities to focus on their individual strengths and capabilities to create value and drive growth, two people with direct knowledge of the deal said. (economicstimes.com)

• Ford has decided to phase out its best-seller Figo hatchback from India and will replace the model with a new-generation car also to be badged as Figo by late next year.The company will also phase out Classic' entry sedan to make way for the new mid-size car that was showcased at the Delhi Motor Show in February this year. (ETauto.com)

• COMSOL Multiphysics, a provider of simulation software for product design and research to the automotive OEMs, has setup its office in Pune in order to be closer to its customers. Pune branch being the firm’s third branch in India will work towards strengthening its support services in the western region via software sales, technical support, training sessions, workshops, user conferences and customer events. (autocarpro.in)

• Ford India, in an official communication, has informed about the change of organisational structure in the company. Mr Vinay Piparsania will now be the Director Marketing, Sales and Service operations at Ford Global Business Services.Ford’s Global Business Services (GBS) division provides support to nearly every Ford location around the world in the areas of IT, Engineering, Finance and Accounting, Automotive Financing, Marketing, Sales and Service, Analytics and Purchasing.(motorbeam.com)

Automotive Updates - 25th September 2014

• Gearing up to meet an increasing competition in the SUV segment, Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday launched the new Scorpio priced between Rs 7.98 lakh-Rs 11.46 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The new Scorpio will take on the likes of Renault Duster and Tata Safari Storme. (economicstimes.com)

image from zigwheeles.com

• Skoda has launched the 2014 Rapid at Rs 7.22 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. The Rapid doesn't get a facelift although it does get a mechanical update that has the potential to be a gamechanger in this segment.The changes are in line with the Volkswagen Vento that was launched a day before. Skoda will take on the new Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Maruti Ciaz in this refreshed battle. (ETauto.com)

• Stating India has the potential to become the biggest car manufacturer of the world, country's top car maker Maruti Suzuki today hoped factors adversely affecting competitiveness of manufacturing will be removed quickly, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to make India a manufacturing hub."Costs of production in India increase because of various government policies, procedures, regulations and the way some of the laws are implemented," said Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. at the 'Make in India' campaign. (economicstimes.com)

• Exports are an important part of Volkswagen India’s strategy to make its India operations more cost-effective going forward, and the company is keen to use more capacity at its Chakan manufacturing plant. The facility has a  130,000 unit capacity and currently runs two shifts. Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, made these comments at a round-table meet on the sidelines of the launch of the Vento 1.5 TDI turbo-diesel automatic. (autocarpro.in)

•  Mahindra & Mahindra today launched Yuvraj 215 NXT, a 15-HP tractor, in the Capital."...the Yuvraj 215 NXT is part of our vision to deliver FarmTech prosperity to farmers in Delhi through its multiple application features," Mahindra & Mahindra, Vice President, Marketing, Tractor and Farm Mechanisation Business, Ravindra Shahane said in a statement.(ETauto.com)

• Scania’s club-class luxury bus was spotted doing rounds in Bangalore and is one of the most luxurious buses available with amenities on par with airplanes. With presence only in the western part of the country, the company could launch its services in the Southern region soon.(motorbeam.com)

• Just as India has become a global hub for the manufacture of cheaper copycat medicines, the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) ruling in August requiring car makers to supply parts more widely could encourage the production and sale of non-certified generic components in the domestic auto market, which is also the world's sixth largest."We have the ability to make good quality products, we have our techniques and this is our chance to prove it," said trader Umesh Seth, sitting in a poky store where hundreds of sheet metal parts wrapped in transparent plastic are piled on racks. "It is about time we get an equal opportunity."(businesstoday.in)

image from cnbc.com

• Mahindra and Mahindra Limited is trying their best to revive their two-wheeler business at the earliest. For this purpose, they have come up with a smart strategy that will boost their chances of marketing the two wheelers. It has planned that it will sell its scooters and motorcycles through its passenger vehicle outlets in the main metropolitan cities. It is expected that business for this brand will increase faster, banking on this strategy. Rajesh Jejurikar, who is the chief executive of the tractor and two-wheeler wing of Mahindra and Mahindra, said, “The added effect of the synergy, which we were not leveraging earlier, needs to kick in.” (cartrade.com)

•  Panasonic Corp is in talks about taking a stake in Spanish auto parts maker Ficosa International SA, sources with knowledge of the matter said, part of its big push into the automotive field as it seeks more stable profits.Ficosa's products include advanced driver assistance systems with safety features such as blind spot detection, assisted parking and lane departure warnings. Panasonic is looking at the joint development of such systems, the sources said.(Etauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 24th September 2014

• Renault India on Wednesday launched the Duster All Wheel Drive (AWD) compact SUV between Rs 11.89 lakh to Rs 12.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The AWD will enable the SUV to intuitively access the road and constantly engage all wheels. It will come in shift-by-fly options of 2WD, Auto and 4WD. The car is mated to a six speed transmission. (economicstimes.com)

• General Motors India has refreshed the Chevrolet Sail hatchback and sedan. The updated models have been launched at a starting price of Rs 4.41 lakh and the Sail sedan is priced starting at Rs 5.19 lakh (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Sail models get slight cosmetic tweaks inside and out. The exterior gets subtle changes and some extra usage of chrome. The headlamp and tail-lamp assemblies are also slightly redesigned. (Autocarpro.in)

• German auto major Volkswagen today launched a facelift model of its mid-sized sedan Vento in diesel version, priced in the range of Rs 7.44-10.49 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).The new offering comes with additional features such as advanced 7-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic and dual-front airbags, among others.(financialexpress.com)

• Vespa showcased its newest offering for India last week. The new inspired Vespa Elegante upholds the brands values of style and premium, and is offered as a premium limited edition Vespa for a price of Rs. 78,999 (es Delhi). Presented as a differentiated premium product, Vespa Elegante take premium scooter style to a new level. Available in 2 new attractive metallic colours, Marrone crete Senesi, and Bianco Perla aren’t only limited to bikes, but even the matched helmets.(rushlane.com)

• Mahindra Tractors, a part of Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) rolled out its new Yuvraj 215 NXT tractor in Delhi today. Mahindra’s Yuvraj 215 NXT is a 15 HP tractor with compact dimensions and is easy to operate with low operating costs, which makes it ideal for small landholdings and inter-culture operations.(motorids.com)

• French auto major Renault is eyeing 5 per cent market share in India within 24-36 months as it gears up to enter volume segments with the launch of a multi-purpose vehicle and a sub Rs 4 lakh car next year."We plan to launch two new models in the volume segment next year -- an MPV and a sub 4 lakh car. With these new products and the existing portfolio we are confident of crossing 5 per cent market share," Renault India Country CEO and Managing Director Sumit Sawhney told reporters here.(ETauto.com)

• German Commercial vehicle major Daimler AG is eyeing double-digit market share in the Indian truck segment in the next five years as it expects the sector to recover after a prolonged slump, with a stable government at the Center.The company, which unveiled two made-in-India trucks at the international commercial vehicles show here, had 4.8 per cent market share in the first half of 2014 in trucks segment. (economicstimes.com)

• Manfred Kantner (48), currently managing director of SEAT Deutschland GmbH, has been appointed head of Sales India/Far East at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective October 1. He succeeds Dr. Wolf-Stefan Specht (45), who already took over as head of Sales Europe at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on September 1. In their new functions, both managers report to Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. Bernhard Bauer (49) will succeed Manfred Kantner as Managing Director of SEAT Deutschland GmbH effective October 1. (Autocarpro.in)

• China is known to be a strong automobile market for global automakers, whereas India though a potentially strong market fails to attract numbers like its neighbors. Ratan Tata, Chairman for Tata Motors is of the belief that India deserves to be a bigger car market and needs the automobile manufacturers to find out reasons why lesser cars are sold here. The point was put across at Frost & Sullivan Growth Innovation Leadership (GIL) 2014 Summit.(cartrade.com)

• BMW today announced that Franciscus van Meel will take over the reins at BMW M, when current boss Dr. Friedrich Nitschke retires by this year's end. Nitschke, 59, has worked for BMW for the past 36 years and has been leading BMW M division since 2011. He also lead MINI before this, and was influential in the development of the latest generation M3 and M4 models.Meel was last active as Managing Directory of Audi's quattro division. Since 1996 he has held various management positions in chassis development and the technical steering of vehicle projects at Audi AG, before heading quattro in 2012.(cardekho.com)

•  Ford India today announced the appointment of Vinay Piparsania as Director Marketing, Sales and Service operations at Ford Global Business Services (GBS).  While, Anurag Mehrotra will take over from Vinay as Ford India's executive director for Marketing, Sales and Service. In this role, Anurag will lead the responsibility for all aspects of MS&S operations of Ford India including revenue, sales volume, market share, marketing strategy & launches as well as dealer development, after sales service and overall customer satisfaction. (ETauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 23rd September 2014

• The Delhi High Court today dismissed Haryana's plea challenging its order restraining the state from prosecuting car maker Maruti for not having prior environment clearance (EC) for its unit in Rohtak. While rejecting the plea of Haryana State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw observed that the matter was being pursued "to satisfy the ego of some officers" and hoped it will not be pressed further.(economicstimes.com)

• In a bid to expand its global footprint, Magna International Inc, the leading global automotive supplier with 317 manufacturing operations and 83 product development, engineering and sales centres in 29 countries, has announced the establishment of two new manufacturing facilities in Sanand Gujarat.  Of the two new plants, one is expected to manufacture complete seating systems for an upcoming model. This 215,000-square- -foot plant is expected to employ around 200 people and will begin volume production next year. Sources tell us this will be done for Ford India for the carmaker’s future offerings for India as well as international markets.(Autocarpeo.in)

• Mahindra has updated  the Xylo MPV and has revised the prices of only the BS4 variants. The changes are both external as well as internal. On the mechanical front, it is believed that the suspension has been updated.(carwale.com)

• Group companies of Japanese multinational, Honda Motor Company, in India (Honda Cars India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Honda Siel Power Products, Honda R&D (India) and Honda Motor India), have announced a contribution of Rs 3 crore towards the relief and recovery efforts in Jammu & Kashmir. The contribution is aimed at providing relief and rehabilitation for affected people and reconstruction of areas devastated by the floods and landslides that hit the state this month. (autocarpro.in)

•  Toyota has been working on a new mid-sized sedan for India that shall compete against Honda's popular City sedan in India. The project is kept under wraps for now and reportedly the new vehicle is expected to be launched in the market by 2016. Spokesperson from Indian partners Toyota Kirloskar said, “the company "would like to refrain from commenting on any future products or plans.”(cartrade.com)

•  In the 271st Council Meeting held immediately after the 50th AGM held here yesterday, K V S Prakash Rao was unanimously elected as the President of Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) for the year 2014-15.(ETauto.com)

• Mercedes Benz India has announced launch of their new GLA Class on September 30, 2014 which will be immediately followed by an AMG variant sometime in October. GLA Class will not be offered in four wheel drive while a 4MATIC system will be available on the AMG variant.(rushlane.com)

• Hot hatch lovers have the option to buy a different kind of firecracker this festive season, as the new 2014 Volkswagen Polo GT TDI and TSI have been launched by the German car manufacturer. The new Polo GT TDI gets a 1.5 litre TDI motor this time, instead of the 1.6 litre mill which propelled the outgoing fast hatch. It still makes an identical 105PS of power and 250Nm of torque though. The new Polo GT TSI, with its four-cylinder 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine packs a 105PS punch, which is backed up by 175Nm of torque and it essentially is the same car, except for a few styling updates.(motoroids.com)

• Just a day after announcing its plans for festive season, country’s leading car manufacturing company MSIL has launched the limited edition of its hatchback Wagon R in Indian car market named as Wagon R Krest. As reported earlier yesterday the car maker had announced to launch limited editions of Swift and Swift Dzire as Silver Plus and Regalia during the upcoming festive season.(carkhabri.in)

• Launched in India two months ago, Honda’s first MPV for Indian market, Mobilio has garnered an overwhelming response from customers. In its short stint in domestic market so far, the vehicle has roped in 20,000 bookings till date. Rivalling primarily Maruti Ertiga in its segment, Mobilio in its first month outnumbered the former. With as many as 5530 units sold in August, Mobilio accounted for almost one third of HCIL’s sales last month in domestic market. (cartrade.com)

•  United States-based automotive component supplier, Magna International has signed a 50/50 joint venture agreement with Tata AutoComp Systems. This joint venture, which will be set up in Pune, will provide seating systems to future Tata Marcopolo products and other Tata commercial vehicles. Magna International is a leading global automotive supplier with 317 manufacturing operations and 83 product development, engineering and sales centres in 29 countries. (autocarpro.in)

• Delphi Automotive PLC has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Antaya Technologies Corp. enhancing the company's portfolio in the rapidly growing automotive electrical connectors business.Antaya manufactures on-glass connectors for the automotive glass industry in North America, with a growing customer base in China and Europe. Antaya also supplies lead-free connectors, another area of growth, as global automakers seek more lead-free content in their vehicles.(ETauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 22nd September 2014

• Lamborghini’s newest offering the Huracan LP 610-4 has been launched in India, priced at Rs. 3.43 crores (ex-showroom, Delhi). Taking the baton from the legendary Gallardo in the Italian automaker’s lineup, the Huracan gets the same quintessential Italian DNA in design coupled with state-of-the-art features and driving dynamics offering superlative levels of performance. Contesting in the rev friendly supercar space, the 2-seater Huracan competes against the Ferrari 458, Porsche 911 and the likes in the segment.(motorbeam.com)

• Taiwanese tyre major Kenda Rubber has begun making inroads into the Indian OEM tyre market. According to sources close to the development, Kenda Tires has bagged a major tyre order from Hero MotoCorp, The Taiwanese company has bagged an order for the supply 120,000 units of tyres a month to India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer. The supply, it is understood, has commenced from May this year. (Autocarpro.in)

• Maruti Suzuki Wagon R has been a hotselling hatchback in the budget friendly segment. With the festive season just round the corner Maruti Suzuki has launched the limited edition rechristened as 'Wagon R Krest'. The company is offering 10 Smart features valued at about Rs. 32,500 at just an additional cost of about Rs. 22,500. Maruti Suzuki Limited Edition Krest brings out a sense of style, dynamism and energy from the Wagon R family.(cartrade.com)

• Maruti Suzuki  is working on a low-cost hybrid technology to make its cheap-to-own cars even more frugal.Maruti is aiming to make hybrids affordable and wants to offer the technology on cars right from the Alto, the cheapest in its product portfolio, to the Swift premium hatchback over the next three to four years, said people with knowledge of the carmaker's plans. In the process, it is taking the 'Kitna Deti Hai' (how many miles does it give) slogan to the next level. (economicstimes.com)

• Baba N Kalyani, the chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge, has been conferred with the ‘Bharatratna Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Award – 2014’ award by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry at a function organized in Bengaluru, on the occasion of Founder’s Day Celebrations on September 20.  (Autocarpro.in)

• Production of the RHD Dacia Duster has been shifted to the brand’s Pitesti plant in Romania since this year’s summer. While Dacia says that the production shift has been in the pipeline for a long time due to economic and logistical reasons, the numerous rust issues reported by the UK customers of the India-made Duster is also considered to be one of the reasons.It’s to be noted that earlier this year Dacia UK offered Duster customers free inspection and repair pertaining to the corrosion problem.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Suzuki Motorcycle India Ltd is planning to export at least 10% of bikes and scooters manufactured in India in three years.The company hopes to export 30,000 units this fiscal, followed by 50,000 units the next fiscal as the company targets markets in Latin America, Africa, Gulf and neighbouring markets in South Asia.(ETauto.com)

• SUVs are powering the growth of Mercedes-Benz in India as the company's expensive off-roaders take the fancy of buyers looking to add muscle to their wheels. As much as a quarter of the company's sales in India are through SUVs, prompting the German car major to drive in its contemporary and entry-level GLA model. (economicstimes.com)

• Global automotive supplier Continental presented and launched the new VDO EFB and AGM starter batteries to industry professionals for the first time at Automechanika 2014 last week. The batteries, the company says, have proven their outstanding performance in extensive tests conducted by VDE Prüf- und Zertifizierungsinstitut GmbH. Continental provides a two-year warranty for the new VDO EFB and AGM batteries. With nine different items, the portfolio optimally covers the relevant sectors of the central European vehicle market. The VDO starter batteries are listed on TecDoc and can be ordered through specialist retailers.  (Autocarpro.in)

• Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt Ltd., the Indian arm of Sweden based commercial vehicle and engine makers has handed over Scania Metrolink Coaches to Thirumal Alaghu Travels (TAT) in Thiurvananthapuram and National Travels in Karnataka.(rushlane.com)

• Audi, the German automaker has launched its new 2015 Autumn Collection that consists of sporty and sophisticated line-up of its popular cars. The impressive range of luxury cars sets the perfect background for the exclusive Audi collection presented by Varun Bahl, the renowned designer. And what made the event more exhilarating was the joining of Bollywood actress and the proud owner of Audi car, Katrina Kaif, who walked up on the ramp with Mr. Joe King, the head of Audi India.(cardekho.com)

Automobile Updates - 20th and 21st September 2014

• Car rental firm Avis India plans to invest Rs 200 crore over the next 12-18 months to take its fleet size to over 5,000 units by March 2016. The company, which is a joint venture between the Avis Budget Group Inc and The Oberoi Group, currently has a fleet of 2,800 cars which serve two broad segments - renting car for short durations and long-term operating lease to corporates. (economicstimes.com)

• The first round of tripartite talks pertaining to the five-day old strike at Bosch's Adugodi plant here remained inconclusive today, with Additional Labour Commissioner directing contending parties to solve all issues before next hearing on September 26."I have directed the contending parties - Bosch management and workers union - to sort out all pending issues among themselves before the next hearing scheduled on September 26," Additional Labour Commissioner Narasimha Murthy told PTI here.(ETauto.com)

• India's largest car maker - Maruti Suzuki, is taking steps to build a premium brand image in India. Earlier it was reported, that the company would be investing Rs.1000 crores to set up 'Brand Centres' at several upmarket locations across India to showcase its new products and technology. This time around, The Times of India has reported that the company would be upgrading its sales force to offer buyers a premium sales experience. Maruti Suzuki is looking to recruit sales personnel from the hospitality industry such as five star hotels and also from other luxury brands; as well as hire employees specialising in soft skills; with a plan to develop a core team of 1800 sales staff to begin operations across 20 cities.(Teambhp.com)

• General Motors India might launch the facelifted Chevrolet Sail sedan and hatchback on September 24. This has been a good year for car manufacturers in India in terms of sales and in order to capitalise the start of this festive season, Chevrolet will also bring in some updates to their existing vehicles in form of facelifts.(carwale.com)

• Renault India will be launching its two major products next year which include the new entry-level hatchback as well as the Lodgy MPV that will be locking horns with the Honda Mobilio, Maruti Ertiga and the likes in the segment. With the launch still some time away, the French manufacturer has commenced testing the model in India as test mules were spotted while doing rounds in Chennai. Covered in heavy blue camouflage, the exteriors have been cleverly hidden. However if the Duster is anything to go by, the Lodgy will not be too different from the international version.(motorbeam.com)

• Honda Mobilio, the seven seater MPV has attracted more than 20,000 bookings in a span of two months of its launch. While according to the company’s sales report, the Japanese manufacturer already sold more than 8890 units in July and August, with September sales figures still to come. Honda MPV being a 7 seater family MPV is put against the likes Toyota Innova and Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. It is priced at Rs 6.49 lakh for the base petrol while the diesel model starts at Rs 7.89 lakh (Ex-Showroom, New Delhi).(cardekho.com)

• For this festive season, Maruti Suzuki has introduced limited edition variants, rather packages for best selling B-segment hatchback Swift and most preferred compact sedan Dzire, badged Swift Silver Plus and DZire Regalia respectively.(rushlane.com)

• Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha is doing its part to give upcoming designers a chance to present their designs. Yamaha Motor Japan, together with Yamaha Corporation, has announced the launch of their Graphic Design Award by Yamaha (GDAY) competition. This is a new international design award which invites innovative graphic communication ideas from both established and emerging visual communication designers or design collectives from across the world.(motoroids.com)

• With an aim to accelerate sales in the Indian market, luxury carmaker Automobili Lamborghini is all set to launch its technology-packed supercar, Huracan. The Huracan LP 610-4, which attracted over 1,000 buyers within two months of taking orders, debuts in India on September 22.Lamborghini, which is owned by Audi AG, thinks India's super-rich have an appetite for super cars, despite the high taxes. (financial express)

Automobile Updates - 19th September 2014

•  E-commerce firm Snapdeal on Thursday started accepting prebookings for the new variant of Mahindra & Mahindra's (M&M) mainstaySUV Scorpio, making it the first time automobile bookings have debuted on a third-party electronic marketplace in India and marking another maturity milestone for the country's fledgling e-retail sector.(Economicstimes.com)

• Post the resignation of Mayank Pareek last week, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. today announced the appointment of R S Kalsi as their new lead. Kalsi will take over as Executive Director for Sales and Marketing operations for Maruti Suzuki's domestic business.(cardekho.com)

• Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV), a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, Stuttgart, Germany along with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, Japan (MFTBC), a Daimler Company, under Daimler Trucks Asia, commercially launched the new FUSO FJ 25T and FI 12T trucks at the 22nd Indonesia International Motor Show, one of the Southeast Asia’s largest automobile exhibitions and the manufacturer’s largest export market. The new FUSO trucks are rolled out from the DICV manufacturing facility in Oragadam, near Chennai.(motoroids.com)

•  Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Fiat Group Automobile said on Friday they have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a possible deal under which the Japanese automaker would develop and manufacture a mid-sized pickup truck for Fiat.The truck would be based on the next generation L200 model, they said in a joint statement.(ETauto.com)

• After a month of production halt of Honda City, the saloon now attracts a waiting period of 3 to 4 month on its top-end variants while to a surprise the base E and S models are readily available. The manufacturer stopped the production of City for a month long to shift the facility from Greater Noida plant to newly opened manufacturing plant in Tapukara Alwar. (cardekho.com)

• Italian automaker Piaggio recently unveiled a limited edition version of the much-acclaimed scooter Vespa VX, which is being called the Vespa Elegante. Though no mechanical changes have been made to the two-wheeler, the scooter has been given some cosmetic upgrades to make it an attractive and new package in the festive season. According to reports, after unveiling the model in Pune, the firm is expected to launch the model by 20th September, just a little before the festive season begins.(cartrade.com)

• Leading battery manufacturer Base, has launched three new automobile batteries, which the company states are designed using hybrid technology, capable of withstanding Indian weather conditions and sturdy enough to tackle complex road conditions in the country.(rushlane.com)

• Triumph Motorcycles India is developing India as an assembly hub and is all set to kick off exports of its range of premium luxury motorcycles from India to its Himalayan neighbour, Nepal. Expected to start by end- March 2015, volumes of 100-120 premium motorcycles will be exported during 2015-16. The CKD units will be assembled at its assembly unit in Manesar, Haryana and sent to Nepal which has a large market for motorcycles. (Autocarpro.in)

• The Government of India has launched FASTag, a new Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme which will enable road users to pay the necessary toll electronically without needing to stop at toll plazas.(team-bhp.com)

• Gabriel India, part of the Anand Group, has undertaken restructuring of its Board of Directors. In addition to the induction of Anjali Anand Singh as the new chairperson of the Board of Gabriel India, which manufactures shock absorbers and other ride control products in India, the company has also announced various changes to its Board of Directors to strengthen corporate governance, to bring in a global perspective and an enhanced focus on technology. Pradipta Sen and Dr Arun Jaura have been inducted as new Independent Directors in Gabriel India. Pradipta Sen is the president for India, Middle East and Africa region of Emerson, a Fortune 500 conglomerate involved in manufacturing products and engineering services for multiple industry sectors including power, oil and gas, engineering and automotive. (Autocarpro.in)

• Swift DZire models. Retaining the same mechanicals and aesthetics, both the models get a host of accessories for the cabin as a part of a clubbed package that is being offered at a discounted price than available individually. Hence, customers end up a saving a significant amount over accessories. With several special and limited editions for its range of models under the belt, Maruti certainly comes up with new names to add every time.(motorbeam.com)

• UK-based Triumph Motorcycles is targeting 15 per cent market share in the 500cc and above bike category in India as it aims to sell 1,500 units this year.The company, which today expanded product portfolio here with the launch of 1,700-cc cruiser bike Thunderbird LT, at Rs 15.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), expects the market for 500cc and above to grow to 10,000 units in 2014.(finaancialexpress.com)

•  National Instruments (NI), the US-based global test and measurement solution provider, expects its business in the Indian automotive industry to grow on various positive factors including a fast-growing interest in obtaining and using the latest technologies. The company has its 100 percent Indian subsidiary headquartered in Bangalore catering to various industries with its software and hardware solutions to test, measurement, control, design and simulation in multiple sectors including of automotive. (Autocarpro.in)

• German car maker Volkswagen is going to launch the facelift version of its sedan Vento in Indian car market on September 24, 2014. The major features offered in facelift Vento would new outlook followed by integration of DSG automatic transmission system in diesel version. (carkhabri.com)

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Automotive Updates - 18th September 2014

• Maruti Suzuki  India today said voting by minority shareholders over its move to let parent Suzuki Motor Corp own and invest in Gujarat plant will likely happen in November instead of October as earlier envisaged. "It is a long procedure and we have not been able to put all the things in place. So we won't be able to do it in October. It is highly probable that the voting will be in November," Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava said on the sidelines of a conference on Public Affairs here.(economicstimes.com)

• Following the resignation of Mr. Mayank Pareek, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited today announced that Mr R S Kalsi will take over as head of Domestic Marketing & Sales.Mr Kalsi is currently Executive Director, heading the Parts, Accessories and Outbound Logistics divisions of the Company. Mr Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director, will continue to head International Marketing for the Company. Both, Mr Kalsi and Mr Srivastava, will report to Managing Director.(motoroids.com)

• Triumph Motorcycles India Private Limited today launched the Thunderbird LT (light-touring) at Rs 15,75 Lakh (ex-showroom). The company expects Thunderbird LT will further strengthen the product portfolio. (ETauto.com)

• Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), India’s second largest two-wheeler maker, has confirmed its plan of rolling out the 160cc premium commuter motorcycle by the end of the ongoing calendar year. The said commuter bike is expected to play a crucial role for Honda in terms of finding a hold in the 150cc segment, wherein it will compete with segment bestsellers such as Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTS-i and Yamaha’s FZ bikes. (Autocarpro.in)

• India Made Duster Has Corrosion Issues But Renault Won’t Recall . Dacia has admitted to having inconsistencies in the paint process at the Renault-Nissan plant in Chennai that could cause surface corrosion on the Duster’s door sills and bonnet. This is one of the reasons as to why the Duster is no longer exported from India to the UK.(Motorbeam.com)   

• The local unit of Toyota Motor is planning to expand marketing focus on rural India to shore up sales of its sluggish compact models, following the successful strategy of rivals Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor which sell a sizeable number of their small cars in the hinterlands.(ETauto.com)

• Apollo Tyres will set up its first international Greenfield facility in Hungary. The confirmation has come after receiving the necessary approval from its Board of Directors. Hungary was chosen after a consideration of various factors over some of the neighbouring Central Eastern European and Asian countries. (motoroids.com)

•  China and India will sign a $6.8 billion deal to establish two industrial parks aimed at reducing trade imbalances, Wang Hejun, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in India said on Wednesday. (ETauto.com)

• Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Punjab National Bank for attractive retail finance to its customers. Mr. S. S Bhatia (General Manager – Retail Assets Division) and Mr. Yadvinder S. Guleria (Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd.) were present to sign the MoU.(rushlane.com)

• To further reinstate its hold in the compact-SUV segment, Renault India is preparing to launch a 4x4 version of the popular Renault Duster.The Duster, till now was only available in front wheel drive version, and to make it more versatile Renault is introducing an all-wheel-drive variant of the SUV called 'Renault Duster AWD' on September 24. (ETauto.com)

• Magna International announced today that it is supplying two innovative, industry-first systems on the BMW i8 plug-in electric sports car: outside mirrors with hidden turn signals and SmartLatch an electronic side-door latch system. The unique design of the outside mirrors includes a hidden turn signal that is fully integrated so that the mirror housing and turn-signal lens are one and the same. The signal is invisible when not in operation, which allows for styling improvements and improved aerodynamics with no additional gaps or incremental wind noise. (Autocarpro.in)

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Automotive Updates - 17th September 2014

• Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt. Ltd., today launched FAZER FI Version 2.0 at Rs 83,850 (ex-showroom Delhi).The new FAZER FI Version 2.0 comes with a newly designed air-cooled 149cc 4-stroke, SOHC, single-cylinder fuel-injected engine on a lightweight frame to realize the product concept of a "Sharpened & Power-packed New FZ." and comes in three colour variants Red Dawn, Black Hawk and White Cloud . (ETauto.com)

• Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) is weighing its options to come out with a Sport Utility Vehicle, which is a 'growing and potential' segment, a top company official said here today. "Yes, we are studying it, as SUV is a potential and growing segment," Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, HCIL, told reporters in reply to a question on plans to launch a compact SUV in the Indian market. (economicstimes.com)

• The Munjal family-controlled scooter and motorcycle maker Hero MotoCorp Ltd plans to offer stock options to its employees and directors in an effort to retain talent and hire top executives to drive its global aspirations. The offer of 4.99 million employee stock options (ESOPs) will result in a less than 2.5% dilution of the paid-up equity share capital of the company as on 30 June. At Tuesday’s closing price of Rs.2,791.30 per share, the 4.99 million shares are worth Rs.1,393 crore, according to a Mint calculation.(livemint.com)

• After being pursued by both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and opting for the latter, Hero MotoCorp announced on Tuesday that its manufacturing plant near Sri City in Chittoor district will start rolling out motorcycles in 18 months time.(ETauto.com)

• Just ahead of the festive season in India, automakers in the country are keen to introduce new and facelifted models, while Mitsubishi rolls out its Pajero Sport Limited Edition priced at INR 23.99 lakhs, ex-showroom.(rushlane.com)

• Country’s leading car manufacturing company MSIL dispatched its 25th lakh car from its production plant located at Manesar in Haryana. The 25th lakh unit to roll out from plant was ZXi trim of its popular hatchback Swift. The production plant of company at Manesar covers an area about 600 acres and production facility divided into three lines A, B and C. It has production capacity of 8 lakh units and at present company’s three popular products namely Swift, Dzire and Celerio are produced in this plant. It would be interested to know that this MSIL is the first car manufacturer company in country to achieve this landmark.(carkhabri.in)

• Workers at auto component major Bosch Ltd’s Bangalore manufacturing facility in Adugodi have gone on an indefinite strike. The plant manufactures fuel injection pumps as well as some crucial parts for the company’s common-rail systems. According to S Prasanna Kumar, president of the company’s workers union called Mico Employees Association (MEA), the workers declared a strike since the first shift on Tuesday as their charter of demands, which is pending before the management for the past 22 months, has not been positively met by the management. (autocarpro.in)

• India has emerged to become the largest market for Japanese two-wheeler giant, Honda. For the last couple of months, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) managed to sell more units than the company's subsidiaries in other large markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam.(team-bhp.com)

• Mayank Pareek, the sales chief of India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has put in his papers after serving the company for more than two decades. Known among the automobile fraternity as the face of Maruti Suzuki, Pareek has served the carmaker for more than two decades at a time when its market share peaked to its highest for the past five years. According to people in the knowledge of he is likely to remain part of the automotive industry and may reveal his plans shortly .. (economicstimes.com)

• Bajaj Auto has announced a contribution of Rs 20 crore for the Prime Minister National Relief Fund to assist relief efforts in the flood-ravaged areas in Jammu & Kashmir. Over 200 persons have been killed in the worst floods to have devastated the northern state in a century. (autocarpro.in)

• Renault India have outlined two major launches next year, and the second launch, which will be the small car codenamed ‘XBA’, is expected to contribute significantly to volumes. Based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-A modular platform, the XBA will roll out of the Alliance’s Chennai factory with a high level of localization.(indianautoblogs.com)

• The Norma Group, a global market leader for engineered joining technology, has received recognitions for its production facility in Qingdao, China, by General Motors Company (GM) and Ford Motor Company. The GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for the assessment year 2013/2014 and the Ford Q1 certification were granted for Norma Group's outstanding performance in China.  (autocarpro.in)

•  The local unit of Toyota Motor is planning to expand marketing focus on rural India to shore up sales of its sluggish compact models, following the successful strategy of rivals Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor which sell a sizeable number of their small cars in the hinterlands.The Japanese carmaker, which is present in the country through a joint-venture with the Bangalore-based Kirloskar Group, is putting up a rural sales division to reinforce its marketing plan for the Indian automotive market that is gradually showing signs of improvement after shrinking for two consecutive years.(ETauto.com)

• The Honda Foundation, a public-interest incorporated foundation created by Honda Motor’s founder Soichiro Honda and his younger brother Benjiro Honda, has announced that the Honda Prize 2014 will be awarded to Dr. Helmut Clemens for his outstanding contributions and eminent achievements in the development of light-weight structural intermetallic titanium aluminides, so-called γ-TiAl based alloys. (Autocarpro.in)

Automotive Updates - 16th September 2014

• India's largest twowheeler maker Hero MotoCorp plans to invest Rs 2,200 crore to set up a manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh, according to a senior official. The state Cabinet on Monday cleared allotment of 600 acres near Sri Cityintegrated business city in Chittoor district to Hero Moto-Corp, steeling a march over neighbouring states to host the factory. (economicstimes.com)

• Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, India’s largest maker of tractors and sport-utility vehicles, is in advanced talks to buy PSA Peugeot Citroen’s scooter business, according to three people familiar with the matter. An announcement may be made soon, two of the people said, declining to be identified because the discussions are private. Ruzbeh Irani, head of group communications at Mahindra, declined to comment, as did Jean-Baptiste Thomas, a spokesman for Paris-based Peugeot.(livemint.com)

• Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).The MoU was signed to reinforce the friendly and cooperative relationship between both the organizations and help both them officially provide opportunities to continue the exchange of information. (ETauto.com)

• It’s raining limited editions in India due on the onset of the festive season. Now Mitsubishi India joined the limited edition bandwagon and has launched the limited edition of the Pajero Sport. The limited edition of the Pajero Sport has been price at INR 23.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The limited edition Pajero Sport gets some equipment additions and a couple of cosmetic changes.(motorids.com)

• Piaggio India has launched another limited edition variant based on Vespa VX with ‘Elegante’ badge. Launch price of Vespa Elegante is not revealed officially, but expect it to be in the Rs 80,000 range. Here are specs, features and photo gallery of the new fashion in town.(rushlane.com)

• Jaguar has launched a locally manufactured petrol powered version of its flagship saloon - XJ, priced at Rs.93.24 lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai, pre-octroi). (team-bhp.com)

• The Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Mr. Anant Geete, has confirmed that the excise duty cuts that was announced during the Union Budget earlier this year is set to continue at least till March 2015.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Maruti Suzuki has reportedly garnered 5,000 bookings for its premium sedan, the Ciaz, bookings for which opened on September 3, says sources. This is a good figure for a company that has not been able to make a mark for itself in the sedan space with the SX4, launched in 2006 being withdrawn after lacklustre sales.(autocarpro.in)

• Hero MotoCorp annual report revealed that the company is working on setting up a fourth plant in the state of Gujarat. Now, Reuters reveals that the world’s largest two wheeler manufacturer has already started preparing for the setup of their fifth plant in India, even when the construction of their fourth plant is yet to commence.(rushlane,com)

• ZF Friedrichshafen AG and TRW Automotive Holdings Corp have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which ZF will acquire TRW. Under the terms of the agreement, ZF will acquire TRW in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately US$ 12.4 billion based on equity value. The transaction is subject to several customary closing conditions, including antitrust and US foreign investment clearance and the approval of TRW’s stockholders representing more than 50 percent of TRW’s outstanding shares. ZF expects the transaction to close in the first half of 2015 .(autocarpro.in)

•  Shelby Davis and Anand Mahindra jointly committed scholarship funding amounting to $12.5 million over the next 5 years which will have a significant impact on the UWC movement. The Mahindra Group has committed to donate Rs. 6 crore or Rs. 60 million each year for the next five years to fund scholarships for students at UWC Mahindra College. (ETauto.com)

• Mahindra Scorpio facelift  is one of the highly awaited vehicles of the year and with each passing as the date of its speculated launch on September 25, 2014 is coming closer we are getting new updates associated with facelift Scorpio, despite of its being caught going under test drives. According to recent reports the dealers of Mahindra across the country have started bookings for facelift Scorpio from September 15, 2014.(carkhabri.com)

Automotive Updates - 15th September 2015

• Ford Figo with a Blue interior trim launched at INR 3.87 lakhs it Has no mechanical or drastic cosmetic changes.Ford India has launched a mildly revised Figo with cosmetic revisions. With this refresh, the company hopes to increase sales of the hatchback during the oncoming festive season.(indianautoblogs.com)

• Hero MotoCorp, India's top maker of motorcycles and scooters , plans to invest Rs 1,600 crore ($262 million) to set up a new manufacturing plant in southern India, a source directly involved in the matter said.Hero has signed a preliminary agreement with the Andhra Pradesh state government to set up the plant, to be spread across 600 acres, which can produce upto 1.8 million vehicles annually, the source said.( businesstoday.in)

•  Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) today said the operationalisation of its fourth plant in Gujarat will be delayed by about a quarter and will start production in the beginning of 2016."Due to the elections earlier this year, there has been a delay in the start of work at the Gujarat plant. We expect to start production at the plant in first quarter of 2016 instead of last quarter of 2015 as planned earlier," HMSI Keita Muramatsu told PTI here on the sidelines of SIAM annual convention.(ETauto.com)

• World’s largest two wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp is upbeat about the festive season as the company has placed an optimistic sales target of 6 lakh units till Diwali. The company recently refreshed its product portfolio with the updated Karizma ZMR, Karizma R and CBZ.The company has increased its output with the commissioning of its Rajasthan plant.It further plans to expand the output with two upcoming production facilities. Pawan Munjal, vice-chairman and managing director of Hero MotoCorp, in an interview to ET Auto, said, “Our new plant based in Gujarat will start operating from the third quarter of the next financial year, while we have reached advanced stage of talks over the finalization of a new plant in south India.”(motroids.com)

• Renault’s upcoming small car will be launched below the Rs. 4 lakh mark and will help the company realise its dream of becoming a mass market player in the country. Underpinned by the low cost CMF-A platform, Nissan will also use the platform for its I2 small car to be sold under the Datsun brand. (motorbeam.com)

• Stefan Jacoby, GM executive vice-president & president, GM International, addressed a gathering of captains of industry from the global automotive space, Indian ministers and industry captains at SIAM’s 54th Annual Convention 2014 held in New Delhi on 12 September, 2014.Speaking on the topic ‘Auto Industry and its Economic Linkages’, Jacoby was joined by other automotive leaders such as Fumihiko Ike, chairman of JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association) and chairman of Honda Motor Co Japan apart from Ravi Pisharody, executive director – Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors and Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India. (Autocarpro.in)

• The Uno Minda Group plans to invest Rs 700-800 crore over the next three years and is working on an acquisition worth Rs 200 crore in Europe, as the component manufacturer expands capacity to cash in on a turnaround in the automotive market. "We cannot divulge details of the acquisition right now," Chairman and Managing Director NK Minda said. (ETauto.com)

• The Indian automobile industry is set to miss the ambitious targets set forth by the Automotive Mission Plan 2016. The unexpected recent slowdown, coupled with almost 3 years of demand slump, will eventually result in the industry failing to achieve the targets.(indianautoblogs.com)

• he Suzuki Gixxer is off to a good start with dealers having received more than 1000 bookings for this 150cc bike. The Gixxer rivals the FZ and CB Trigger in the domestic market.(motorbeam.com)

• Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company (DFL-PV) has launched its first pure-electric vehicle model, called ‘e30’, from its local Venucia brand. With a five million kilometre pilot run across China completed prior to launch, the e30 is trusted to bring Chinese consumers an enjoyable EV experience at affordable running costs. Its starting price is set at RMB 267,800 (Rs  26.56 lakh). (Autocarpro.in)

Automotive Updates - 13th and 14th September 2014

• The domestic Indian automobile industry is most likely to miss the target set 10 years ago in the Automotive Mission Plan 2016 (AMP). It will fall short by as much as 20-25 percent, mainly due to the economic slowdown over the past three years that resulted in subdued market sentiments and in turn sluggish demand for vehicle sales. In 2006, the auto industry had set an ambitious target under the AMP 2016 to take its annual turnover to $ 145 billion (Rs with special emphasis on export of small cars, MUVs, two- and three-wheelers and auto components. (autocarpro.in)

• Tata Motors today signed Bonus and Permanency Agreement with Telco Workers Union here.It was mutually agreed that all permanent workmen would be getting an amount equivalent to 10.5 per cent of the annual salary/wages, consisting of Basic + Personal Pay + Dearness Allowance earned by them during 2013-14, a Tata Motors press release said. (economicstimes.com)

• Suzuki Motorcycle India is developing four new products which would be launched in the next two years, says a report in ET Auto.The product pipeline is reported to have a 100 cc commuter and also a possible 155 cc commuter based on the recently launched Suzuki Gixxer. The remaining two will be scooters.(indianautoblogs.com)

• German car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen agreed to sell its steering systems business to Robert Bosch, a deal that paves the way for ZF to buy US-based TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.Bosch on Monday said it increased its stake in ZF Lenksysteme Gmbh to 100 per cent, from 50 per cent previously. Bosch did not disclose financial terms of the deal.ZF Lenksysteme has approximately 4.1 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in sales.(ETauto.com)

• Japanese car giant Toyota plans to increase operations in India's North Eastern region, where its sales have grown at double the national average of 3 per cent annually. The company, which is present in India through a joint venture with Kirloskar group, is looking to set up an area office in the North East considering its rising importance. (economicstimes.com)

• Mahindra and Mahindra, India's largest utility vehicle maker, is conducting early-stage studies on selling cars in the United States made by its wholly owned South Korean unit Ssangyong Motor Co, a senior executive said.(businesstoday.in)

• Mercedes-Benz India is gearing up to launch the GLA entry-level crossover on September 30. Following the GLA, the company has confirmed the launch of its entry-level CLA sedan by early next year. A report on Autocar Professional states that both these models will be assembled at the company’s Chakan plant in Pune, Maharashtra. The plant is currently undergoing capacity expansion. (indianautoblogs.com)

• Hero MotoCorp is planning to launch three new products by the end of 2014-15 fiscal, which will be comprised of two new scooters and one new motorcycle. The largest two-wheeler maker has a good portfolio of bikes from entry level commuter segment to basic sports models. It seems the company is intending to strengthen the scooter segment, currently dominated by Honda Activa.(rushlane.com)

• Fiat Avventura Contemporary Urban Vehicle (CUV) will be launched with two engines only; renowned 1.3 liter MultiJet diesel engine delivering 93 PS maximum power and 209 Nm peak torque, and 1.4 litre PDA petrol unit producing 90 PS max. power and 115 Nm peak torque. Both power houses are already doing duty in Fiat Punto EVO. Fiat Avventura crossover will get three diesel variants, base version Active, mid-level Dynamic and top end Emotion, whereas petrol Avventura will be available in two trims, entry and mid-variant.(rushlane.com)

•  India's third largest carmaker Honda CarsIndia is planning to set up its third manufacturing plant of the country in Gujarat, with the aim of making India a major export hub in future. The fully-owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company of Japan has two manufacturing plants at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Tapukara in Rajasthan with a cumulative installed capacity of 2.4 lakh per annum. (economicstimes.com)