Automotive Updates -9th January 2015

• Car sales rose 15.26% in December as customers advanced purchases in anticipation that the government would withdraw an excise duty cut, delivering a boost to vehicle sales in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Sales rose to 152,743 units last month from 132,524 units in December 2013, said the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), which warned that sales may decline in January and February.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/5JZfMYO6UIyuYo9j0rJ04M/Car-sales-up-246-in-2014-SIAM-sees-FY15-growth-at-1.html?utm_source=copy

• Farm equipment and engineering firm Escorts Ltd today launched 'Anti-Lift Tractor', targeting commercial haulage operators, priced up to Rs 5.6 lakh. Commenting on the launch, Escorts Agri Machinery CEO S Sridhar said the new product has been designed to haulage customers and making it user friendly by focusing on safety and savings. The tractor will be available in two variants of 37 horse power (HP) and 41 HP priced at Rs 5.3 lakh and Rs 5.6 lakh respectively. (ETauto.com)

• Continental Engines has announced the appointment to its board of Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia, one of the well-known figures in the European automotive aftermarket.  Continental Engines is the automotive business segment of the Baxy Group and was set up in 1983. Headquartered in Gurgaon, it is a major OEM supplier of engines and engine components to customers in India, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/sukhpal-singh-ahluwalia-appointed-executive-director-continental-engines-india-7308#sthash.m3z2ZyGB.dpuf

• Mercedes-Benz India furthers operations here with additional investment for Chakan Plant capacity expansion as total investment exceeds Rs 1000 crore. Chakan plant extended facility has secured necessary clearances and begins production by June of 2015. Production capacity will stand at 20,000 units per year, the largest for a luxury car manufacturer here. The future ready facility will be a key mover of the auto manufacturer’s ’15 in 15′ initiative.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/mercedes-india-increase-production-2015-12141159.html#Ry86lgFEpPD5mSUo.99

• The Chevrolet Cruze was recently in the news for a recall that involved replacement of the PVC bracket that holds the wiring in the engine bay. Within a short span of time, the sedan has been recalled again, this time to replace faulty drive shafts. The recall applies to cars manufactured between, June 2009 and March 2011. Affected owners are being contacted by the company through individual communication.(motorid.com)

• Hyundai might launch the facelifted Verna next month. The company plans to bring in this new model to compete with the new Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz that snatched the best-seller title from the C-segment car.This facelifted model is similar to the one showcased at the Beijing Auto Show in China last year. The revised Verna will sport new headlamps which are bigger than the current ones. The front bumper is tweaked and gets new fog lamps, while the bonnet is redesigned as well. (carwale.com)

• Japanese carmaker Honda Motor company had been undergoing trial for failing to report injuries, deaths and other consumer claims involving its cars. The US government has indeed found the charges to be true and has fined the company with about $70 Million in fine over 1,700 injuries and deaths that were linked to potential defects in its vehicles. The 14-year-old US law clearly states that Automakers are required to report such information which clearly Honda had failed to do so. This has resulted in hampering the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) ability that would allow in quickly identifying the vehicle flaw.(cartrade.com)