Automotive Updates -16th , 17th and 18th January 2015

• The Indian bus market which hasn’t seen improvements in overall sales, will witness a growth of 10-12 per cent in the next financial year, SIAM’s Deputy Director General, Sugato Sen, was quoted saying so by PTI.At the ongoing Bus & Special Vehicle Show organized in the NCR, the above mentioned statement was made. The event, which runs from January 15 to January 17 will have a number of commercial vehicle exhibits, while some new launches have been made at the show too.Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2015/01/siam-says-bus-sales-could-grow-by-up-to-12-per-cent-in-2015-16-164717#ixzz3PG5D0Crn 

• Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) today announced the launch of the first electric vehicle pilot project under the government of India’s ambitious National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). As part of the project, four battery-powered Maxximo Electric Vans were handed over to the Agra Development Authority, which will be used along the clean, green Taj Zero Emission Corridor, to help reduce vehicular emissions. The electric vehicle pilot project was flagged off by Rajan Katoch, secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, government of India, in the presence of Chetan Maini, CEO, Mahindra Reva. The vehicles were handed over to the Agra Development Authority in the presence of other senior government dignitaries. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/mahindra-oem-plug-national-electric-mobility-mission-plan-7400#sthash.dQsyrgZq.dpuf

• After the success of their Zest sedan, Tata Motors seems to be on the right path and are now moving back to their roots. It is no secret that the auto giant is developing two brand new 5 & 7-seater SUVs for the global market with inputs from Jaguar Land Rover. However, they haven’t forgotten their old friends at Fiat and according to a report, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Tata are working together to locally develop a 2.0-litre Multijet diesel engine which will power the two new upcoming Tata SUVs and will also find its way in Fiat Chrysler’s new Compact SUV, to be marketed under the Jeep brand. All three vehicles are slated to hit the market around 2017. (motoroid.com)

• On the completion of one year of the TVS Jupiter recently on the Indian market, the company has launched a special edition, which will be made available in limited numbers. The commemorative edition will be available in a special Stallion Brown color with beige panels and would sport a round ‘limited edition’ badge on the front panel.Read more: http://indianautosblog.com/2015/01/tvs-jupiter-special-edition-164940#ixzz3PG4sDo1L 

• Nissan India on Friday said it is in the process of setting up smaller dealerships across the country, particularly in tier II and III cities, to create awareness and promote the Datsun brand .Guillaume Sicard, the president of Nissan India Operations, who was here to launch Datsun Go+ — a compact family wagon and an MPV — said: “Unlike SA, Russia and Indonesia, where it got tremendous response, the brand in India lacks awareness. Only one in 10 people is aware of the Datsun brand. We need to promote the brand in a big way.”(financialexpress)

• Royal Enfield has announced the appointment of Rudratej ‘Rudy’ Singh as president, Royal Enfield. He will be reporting to Siddhartha Lal, managing director and CEO, Eicher Motors, and will be based out of the company’s corporate office in Gurgaon. Announcing the appointment, Siddhartha Lal said, “Rudy joins Royal Enfield after spearheading global brands and businesses for almost two decades across emerging and developed markets. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/royal-enfield-appoints-rudratej-singh-president-7409#sthash.PBUOiwBi.dpuf

• Buoyed by the excellent response for Zest compact sedan, Tata Motors is now aiming to launch a series of all-new cars in the country under its HORIZONEXT umbrella. The company will launch the Bolt hatchback on January 20, 2015, and is preparing a couple of all new compact cars. Codenamed as Kite, the new project comprises of two cars including a compact hatchback and the compact sedan. The Kite hatchback will be launched this year, while the entry level sedan launch likely by year end or early next year. Our sourced revealed that the hatchback is likely to be launched in the second quarter of this year, and will replace the Indica. It is based on the modified Indica platform, and the vehicle has already been spotted several times on Indian roads.(cartrade.com)

• You read it first on MotorBeam. Hero stopped production of the new Karizmas in November 2014, reason being lack of demand for the motorcycle. The company dispatched just 7 units of the motorcycle to dealers in December as dealerships are already sitting on a huge pile of Karizma inventory, not being able to sell them due to lack of demand. Thus the piling inventory made Hero stop production of its flagship motorcycle temporarily. Once dealers exhaust the current stock of the Karizma, production will commence.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/01/bikes/hero-karizma/hero-stops-karizma-production-in-november-due-to-poor-sales/#I9y03e5tBBjUJMJI.99

• Honda's much-awaited premium hatchback, the Jazz, will soon be launched in India. The spy-shots of the vehicle seem to be from the manufacturer's new facility in Rajasthan, hinting that the company has started production of the next-generation Jazz hatchback for India.The Japanese automaker seems to have analysed the demand for the product in India and is planning to create a ready supply of stock before they launch the car for the Indian market. Speculations are that more than 600 cars have already been produced and the manufacturer aims to produce at least 5,000 cars before they put the car on sale in our country.(cartrade.com)