Automotive Update - 14th January 2015

• Volkswagen India has launched a new Cross Polo 1.2 MPI powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The car will come with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and dual front airbags. As with the rest of the Polo range, the New Cross Polo comes with a 4-star NCAP safety rating, the company said in a statement.  The New Cross Polo 1.2 MPI boasts crossover design flair, outstanding build quality and class-leading safety. With its 16.47kpl mileage, the petrol-engined Cross Polo offers an optimum blend of power and fuel economy, the company added.  - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/volkswagen-india-launches-cross-polo-7366#sthash.i8XiggwK.dpuf

•  Samvardhana Motherson Group(SMG) will inaugurate a $40-million automobile mirror plant in Marysville, Ohio, next week, as part of its greenfield expansion plan for China and the US.  SMG, which has made a string of acquisitions in the past, is now looking at setting up plants in the US instead of buying companies because of "issues" in the country that don't conform with the group's strategy, chairman VC Sehgal told ET over phone from Detroit. (ETauto.com)

• Tata Motors Global Group, including Jaguar Land Rover, sold 85,742 vehicles in December 2014. This shows an 8 per cent boost in sales in comparison to the cars sold in the same month in 2013. However, the cumulative sales for the fiscal stood at 7,13,530 units less by 5 per cent than the previous fiscal.The company sold 55,145 units of all kinds of passenger vehicles in December 2014, registering an 11 per cent increase in sales as against the figures of 2013. For the fiscal, the numbers stood at 4,36,315 units showing a growth of 4 per cent over the last fiscal.(carwale.com)

• Mahindra group owned motor company SsangYong has launched its first compact SUV called Tivoli in South Korea. The SUV has been developed after an extensive research of four years and with it path breaking design and pricing it could be a game changer in the markets it enters. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, said, “The Tivoli marks a significant new milestone in the growing partnership between Mahindra and SsangYong. This new SUV epitomizes the spirit of ‘Korea Can Do’ and reflects Ssangyong’s rich legacy of innovation in product development. We are confident that the Tivoli is poised to drive SsangYong’s growth in the future”.(cardekho.com)

• Macedonia is keen to grow its ties with Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE), India’s leading exporter of tractors. Macedonia, which was part of the former state of Yugoslavia, ranks No. 3 in the World Bank’s report of ease of doing business globally.  The country has among the lowest taxes in the world with a favourable business climate and, thanks to its strategic location, can cater better to markets such as Europe, Russia, Turkey and Africa. Yesterday, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, TAFE chairman, hosted a meeting in honour of the visit of Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski and his delegation to India. The Macedonian delegation explored the possibility of forging an enduring partnership with TAFE to develop the agriculture sector in Macedonia. TAFE has had a strong presence in the Macedonian market for the past two decades. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/macedonia-farm-bigger-ties-tafe-7365#sthash.5tZhepQ0.dpuf

• Italian supercar manufacturer Ferrari has officially re-entered India and announced the appointment of two new dealers.The first one is Select Cars Pvt. Ltd, situated at A 19, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, Mathura Road in New Delhi. The second dealerships is Navnit Motors Pvt. Ltd., located at C Wing, Waterford Building, C. D. Burfiwala Road (Juhu Galli), Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400058.Ferrari has written to all its clients individually to inform them of the new structure.(teambhp.com)

• Nissan India that phased out the X-Trail SUV in 2014 has now discontinued its other slow-selling product - the Teana D-segment sedan. Despite being quite a capable luxury sedan, the Teana failed to generate volumes for the carmaker in India. The company has removed the saloon from its official website, giving a clear indication that the product is no more available in our market.(cartrade.com)

• For the uninitiated, a nation which accounts for the most number of road incident related deaths in the world is observing the time from January 11-17, 2015 as ‘National Road Safety Week. Taking the lead to spread the good word, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has kick-started its nation-wide road safety awareness initiatives to ride home the message of road safety to people across India.Spreading road safety awareness across India, Honda conducted Safety Riding Pledges along with its 815 dealers, 1325 sub dealers, 1150 authorized service centers, 3 manufacturing plants, 11 zonal offices, 5 regional offices to mark the National Road safety week 2015.(motoroids.com)