Automotive Updates - 7th October 2014

• Homegrown auto majorMahindra & Mahindra today said its two-wheeler arm has made an offer to acquire 51 per cent stake in Peugeot Motocycles, part of the 54 billion euro PSA Group based in France. In a statement, M&M said under the "binding offer" made by Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd (MTWL), there would be an "infusion of 15 million euro into Peugeot Motocycles (PMTC) to finance projects implemented through strategic partnership, and further sale of shares by PSA, which would allow MTWL to take 51 per cent stake in PMTC." (ETauto.com)

• Close on the heels of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US of the A, the world’s largest largest motorcycle manufacturer in terms of sales, Hero MotoCorp is about to launch their motorcycles and scooters in America. Hero has already started filing trademarks for eight models with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Amongst the models which have been filed for trademark on August 19th include the Hero Splendor, Pleasure, Karizma, Hunk and Eco Deluxe. On August the 29th, the largest two-wheeler manufacturer in the world filed additional trademarks for the Xtreme Sports, Splendor Pro Classic and the HX250R.(motorids.com)

• JCB India Limited furthers the Government of India’s endeavour to promote Make-in-India campaign. The company has introduced concept of Telehandler called Loadall 530-70 and Loadall 530-110 in India beside Indian built Skid Steer Loaders SSL 135 and SSL 155. Both these models are made in India. Loadall is to be used across all industries such as Agricultural Logistics, Construction and Process Industry. It promises efficient handling of material and mechanized handling processes. SSL is also known as the Robot and regarded as the safest in the world.(rushlane.com)

• Car market leader Maruti Suzuki is aiming to sell initially 60,000 to 70,000 units of its newly launched mid-size premium SedanCiaz in the country."The initial plan was to sell about 60,000 to 70,000 units in the country. About 10,000 customers have already made their bookings of which 60 per cent are for diesel cars and 40 per cent for petrol vehicles", Ram Suresh Akella, Commercial Business Head (Southern Region), told reporters here today.(ETauto.com)

• Tata Safari Storme will undergo a minor facelift; the company is believed to have started testing the facelift version of the SUV. Launched in 2012, Safari Storme could not garner the kind of response company had expected it would. Hence this is a much needed makeover Storme is going through to survive amid fierce competition it has around it.(cartrade.com)

• Toyota is looking to enter small car segment in India to compete with Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. The company is planning a sub-compact car under Rs. 7 lakh mark where the company has least presence. News about a new Toyota small car for India was revealed in an interview by Economic Times with Naomi Ishii, one of the youngest Managing Directors at Toyota. According to Naomi Ishii, Toyota is weak in under-7-lakh segment which accounts for 70% – 80% of the car market.(rushlane.com)

• Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd (GOLIL), which manufactures and markets long drain engine oils , and Mahindra & Mahindra, the world’s biggest tractor maker (by volume), have announced their partnership for the tractor segment in India. Under the agreement, Gulf Oil will manufacture and supply ‘Mahindra Genuine Oil’ under the ‘Mahindra M-Star Super’ brand name for its dealer workshop network along with Mahindra-Gulf Co-branded lubricant line for the ‘Bazaar segment’ under the ‘Gulf XHD M Tractor’ brand name based on M&M’s ‘MKM’ (Mileage ka Master) platform, giving an extended drain interval of 350 hours. (autocarpro.in)

• Autocar Professional reports that Pune-based DSK MotoWheels, a company which assembles and sells the Hyosung motorcycles in India, is looking to expand its horizon by entering into a partnership with Italian sportsbike maker Benelli. According to the publication’s sources, DSK MotoWheels is on schedule with the partnership arrangement and would bring the century old sportsbike brand to the country sooner than later.(indianautoblogs.com)

•  Toyota Kirloskar Motor, in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation and its nationwide dealer network, has announced the launch of its advanced training model for Automotive Service Advisor under the Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP), at Government CPC Polytechnic, Mysore. T-TEP, a special training module in which Toyota has tied up with industrial training institutes, was launched in 2006 in India. After a span of eight years, T-TEP is now associated with more than 36 Institutes (Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnics) under the program. (autocarpro.in)