Automotive Update - 24th , 25th and 26th January

• Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) has announced the commencement of work on its Gujarat plant starting January 28. The 4,000 crore car manufacturing plant will be ready by 2017. On January 28, the foundation laying function will take place at the 700 acre plant near Hansalpur, Gujarat. The ceremony will be attended by Gujarat CM Anandi Patel, finance minister Saurabh Patel and Japan’s ambassador to India, Takeshi Yagi. (carwale.com)

• Tata Motors, an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company who has badly affected from the slowdown in the auto market for the past few years has come up with a new Variant Tata Bolt.The price of Tata Bolt hatchback starts from Rs. 5.49 lakhs and goes high to Rs. 6.99 lakhs for diesel and Rs. 4.44 lakhs to Rs. 6.05 lakhs for petrol variants.  Is is reported that before announcing the 1,500 bookings were made for the new hatchback. It is expected that the new hatchback will help the company to get back in the game as the other company were managed to come back from the slowdown in the market in India like Mahindra & Mahindra, Hyundai Motor India, Maruti Suzuki, Honda Cars India.(carkhabri.com)

• After displaying the PCX 150 cc scooted at the 2014 Auto Expo, Japanese two-wheeler major Honda has brought it to India for research and development purposes. This has led to speculation the bike could be launched in India soon.The PCX 150 is bulky in appearance compared to other scooters in the Indian market. It has a telescopic front suspension, wide headlamp on the front panel, a wind deflector above it, a long contoured seat and a floor carved out for the rider's footrest. The scooter rides on alloy wheels and has an analogue instrument cluster with a small digital display.(teambhp.com)

•  Uniparts Group, a global manufacturer of engineered systems and solutions for the off highway vehicle market, will invest Rs 100 crore to set up a facility in Ludhania and expand its Visakhapatnam plant, according to a top executive of the Noida-headquartered entity. Uniparts, which operates six manufacturing facilities -five in India and one in the US -plans to expand into the fast-growing agri business and focus on construction, forestry and mining sectors to benefit from expected higher government investment in infrastructure.(ETauto.com)

• In a country where Honda dominates over the scooter market, another leading automobile manufacturer Mahindra has decided to launch its new model. The company expects to taste the same success it got after the launch of its recent product – Gusto, a 110 cc scooter, with this one too. The new model will be based on Gusto but will have completely new body panels. However, some features like flip-key, follow-me lamps, seat height adjustment and front kick-starter will be present in the upcoming model.(cartrade.com)

• Honda launched their Mobilio MPV last year, the vehicle was made to look attractive enough with good interior room so that it would please to a big family. Now news has emerged that Honda is preparing a new MPV at a price cheaper than the Mobilio. Currently Honda’s cheapest car is the Brio which was launched with the motive to take on other hatchbacks. Meanwhile the current MPV car at a bargain price is the Datsun GO+ which was launched earlier this month and immediately got a positive response for its attractive price.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/01/cars/honda-cars/honda-plans-to-launch-low-cost-mpv-below-mobilio/#z6DiShUkrxxSuHug.99

• Ford Happy Schools Programme will now take into its fold another ten schools in the vicinity of its upcoming plant in Sanand, Gujarat. Ford’s community outreach initiative in Sanand is committed to provide safe drinking water to 30 government sponsored kindergartens in 18 villages. Ford Happy Schools programme has been introduced in twenty schools in Chennai.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/ford-happy-schools-expansion-sanand-12142508.html#tc4O8lb08g2m48dm.99