Automotive Updates - 23rd January 2015

• 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)

• TVS Motor Co’s 109.7cc Wego scooter has come out tops in quality levels, as per the findings of the inaugural J.D. Power 2015 India Two-Wheeler Initial Quality Study (2WIQS) Study. With 84 problems per 100 vehicles (84 PP100), it not only ranks the highest among executive models but also across the entire two-wheeler spectrum in India. The Wego races ahead of its sibling, the Jupiter (115 PP100) and the Yamaha Alpha (117 PP100).   Among motorcycles, the 100cc Hero Splendor iSmart commuter, with its i3S stop-start technology, ranks highest among economy models with 101 PP100, and the 124.7cc Hero Super Splendor tops among executive models with 137 PP100. The 153cc Yamaha Fazer ranks highest among upper executive models (109 PP100) and the 220cc Bajaj Avenger ranks highest among premium models (88 PP100). - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/tvs-wego-tops-jd-powers-2015-initial-quality-study-7477#sthash.KS833mjJ.dpuf

• Tata Motors announced during the launch that 1,500 bookings were received for the Bolt before price was revealed, signalling that the hatchback is going to fuel the company’s growth big time. On the launch day, Tata Motors’ shares outpaced the market. The company closed the day at 2.7 percent higher share price (Rs. 566.30), whereas the market gained only 0.4 percent.(rushlane.com)

•  Mahindra & Mahindra today inked a pact with Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) to offerskill development training program in the auto sector.The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ASDC, under which the partners will deploy their core competencies to offer skill development training program, to generate employment in the automotive sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd said in a statement.(ETauto.com)

• Isuzu Motors India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Isuzu Motors, Japan, one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers and a leader in pick-up trucks, today inaugurated a new dealership in Ahmedabad, marking its entry into Gujarat. The new dealership – Torque ISUZU, is conveniently located at the Ground Floor, Shree Panchdhara Complex, Near Hotel Grand Bhagwati, Sarkhej Gandhinagar Highway, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, to offer best-in-class sales and service for Isuzu customers.(motoroid.com)

• TVS Srichakra Ltd, one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of two- and three- wheeler tyres, is looking to record double-digit growth in the current financial year and cross the Rs 1,900 crore turnover mark.  The company, which manufactures nearly two million tyres a month, posted revenues of Rs 1,700 crore revenue in 2013-14 on the back of good growth in the Indian two- wheeler and aftermarket segment. Unveiling the company’s new logo in Chennai today, P Vijayaraghavan, director, TVS Srichakra, said: “TVS Tyres is poised for bigger growth as the two-wheeler OEM segments is witnessing healthy double-digit growth in India. Being the largest suppliers to OEMs, we are doing extremely well and similarly our aftermarket share has achieved growth this year.“ - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/tvs-tyres-targets-rs-crore-turnover-2017-plans-motorcycle-radials-7481#sthash.Atxn8ECU.dpuf

• Honda Motor Co has chosen a competitor of embattled Takata Corp to supply air bags for the next North American version of its Accord sedan, the automaker's best-selling vehicle, two people with knowledge of the decision said.In the first major defection by a carmaker since Takata's safety crisis began, Honda, Takata's largest customer, will use air bags made by Toyoda Gosei for the all-new Accord, scheduled to go on sale in August 2017, the people told. Read more at:

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45996499.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst