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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