Automotive Updates - 11th December 2014

• Audi India today launched the A3 Cabriolet at Rs 44.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Cabriolet carries a higher price-tag than its sedan counterpart because it will be fully imported by the carmaker as a CBU. This soft-top iteration of the A3 was first showcased at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2014. In terms of design, the Cabriolet looks similar to the sedan. The fabric roof of this two-door, four-seater can be retracted in less than 18 seconds, and till speeds of up to 50kph. It retains the bi-xenon headlamps with daytime running LEDs and LED tail-lamps. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/audi-launches-a3-cabriolet-india-rs-4475-lakh-7085#sthash.wMXdbjxh.dpuf

• Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest car manufacturer has firmed up a deal with Indian Army for the supply of 4,000 Gypsy SUVs, bidding through a Government tender. Although the company has not revealed the value of the order, logically speaking, if we calculate the Ex-Showroom price of each unit of Maruti Gypsy, this should work out Rs.5.42 lakh apiece and the total worth of the order should be in the range of Rs.240 crore.(indianautoblogs.com)

• German luxury car maker Audi plans to launch around 10 new models next year in India as it looks to further consolidate its position in the country. "Next year we plan to launch around ten products in the Indian market. It is going to be an exciting and busy year for us," Audi India Head Joe King told PTI. (ETauto.com)

• Ceat Tyres today announced its plans to invest Rs 400 crore in a state-of-the-art tyre plant in Butibori, Nagpur. In an event organised to commemorate the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new plant, the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis laid the cornerstone for the plant that will be set up in three phases. In the first phase (2014- 2016), Rs 400 crore will be invested. The completion of the phase one of the plant and the first tyre rollout from the plant is slated for April 2016. This state-of-the-art tyre plant will be spread across 60 acres of land and is expected to manufacture 1.2 million tyres. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/ceat-tyres-set-rs-400-crore-plant-butibori-nagpur-7084#sthash.zfSMTQBW.dpuf

• Tata-owned car manufacturer Jaguar on Monday launched new edition of Jaguar XF priced at Rs.45.12 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai)."We are excited to introduce Jaguar XF 2.2L diesel executive edition, at an attractive price point," said Rohit Suri, vice president, Jaguar Land Rover India.(businesstoday.in)

• Central public sector units (CPSUs) must procure 20% of products and services from micro and small enterprises (MSEs), the government said on Monday, giving what could be a significant boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make In India campaign. The policy will come into effect on 1 April, minister for medium and small scale industries (MSMEs) Kalraj Mishra said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.Read more At: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/jiNYAWihktbimvNWkeVL6O/Procurement-from-MSEs-made-mandatory-for-central-PSUs.html?utm_source=copy

• Fiat, the Italian carmaker is gearing up for the launch of highly rated Abarth 500 Competizione in the Indian car market this month. Set to rival the new MINI range, the Abarth 500 is expected to be launched in the third week of December, 2014.(cartrade.com)

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