Automotive Updates - 28th November 2014

• Lumax Industries, one of India’s leading suppliers of auto lighting equipment, plans to invest Rs 300 crore over a five-year period that includes investment in technology and for expansion at its existing plants and a likely future Gujarat facility, said Deepak Jain, managing director. He was speaking at the 25th anniversary of the company’s listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Jain said investments in technology will be about Rs 100 crore and the company has made a start with Rs 25 crore. Over the past two years, the company has invested Rs 160 crore in its Bawal and Bangalore plants and is geared up for increased business from Maruti Suzuki, Honda Cars India and two-wheeler business. In the South, the company has added Toyota Kirloskar Motor as one of its newest customers. The company has a strong order book for commercial vehicles, added Jain. (autocarpro.in)

• Triumph, the legendary UK super premium motorcycles brand is betting big on Indian market after starting operations in the country 11 months ago.“India is a strategic market for Triumph. Since the last 11 months, more than 1000 motorcycles have been sold which is beyond expectations,” Vimal Sumbly, Triumph Motorcycles India managing director said today. (financial express)

• The Honda Gold Wing GL1800 has been launched in India to mark the iconic tourer’s 40th anniversary. The mighty two-wheeler starts at a whopping price of INR 28.50 lakhs (40th Anniversary Audio Comfort variant) while the range-topping Airbag variant would set you back by INR 31.50 lakhs (both are ex-showroom New Delhi).(indianautoblogs.com)

• Following the recent recall of its Camry sedan, Toyota has now issued a recall of its Corolla Altis sedan. A part of the global recall, the affected cars in India comprise only the diesel variants. The recall covers 5,834 Corolla Altis diesels manufactured between June 15, 2010 and May 23, 2011. Although no complaints have been received yet, the recall is being carried out to rectify a problem that leads to the engine oil entering the air-intake system. (Autocarpro.in)

• Isuzu Motors is keen on establishing a 107 acre truck manufacturing base at Sri City SEZ in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with their Thailand facility. The Japanese automaker currently has ten truck making plants around the world, and this new production house in AP will help them make India one of its export hubs to distribute passenger utility vehicles and pickup trucks to up and coming markets in Southeast Asia, West Asia and Africa.(rushlane.com)

• On a roll after its recent spate of launches, Honda Cars India (HCIL) is targeting a sales number of three lakh in the financial year 2016-17. This estimated sales figure is more than twice the numbers they did in 2013-14 wherein they sold 1,34,000 units. Also, starting this fiscal, until October the company has already sold about one lakh units. "We have focused on expanding our business in the country and would like to raise the sale of cars to cross the 3,00,000 mark in financial year 2016-17," HCIL Vice President (Marketing and Sales) Janeshwar Sen told reporters.(carwale.com)

• Hyundai Xcent made its forte in the Indian sedan segment earlier this year, and since then there has been no looking back for the brand in India. Hyundai Xcent a sub-4 meter sedan is stated to be based on the popular Grand i10 hatchback platform. In Mexican markets, the vehicle is known as Grand i10 sedan. The top end GLS trim retails at 168,900 MXN, whereas the GL MID is offered at 1,54,900 MXN and the base trim i.e GL is offered at 134,900 MXN Pesos.(cartrade.com)

• Making its debut as brand ‘Hero’ in Columbia, the Indian two-wheeler giant has launched six of its best selling models and will be sold through the company’s 120 outlets spread across the Latin American country. The launch in Columbia is in-sync with the company’s objective of clocking 1.2 million unit sales from its global business by the year 2020. Further expanding its presence in Columbia, Hero will be increasing its dealerships to 150 outlets in a year’s time.(motorbeam.com)