Automotive Updates - 27th February 2015

• Uno Minda, a Delhi-based auto components maker, has formed a joint venture with Kosei Aluminum Co. Ltd, a Japanese alloy wheel maker, to manufacture and sell alloy wheels in India, the Indian firm said in a note on Thursday. The companies have a plant operating in Chennai since 2010. The new project will be set up with a total investment of Rs.200 crore, with Uno Minda holding a 70% stake and Kosei Aluminum 30%. The new company, called Minda Kosei Aluminum Wheel Pvt. Ltd, will be established in Bawal, Haryana, and will manufacture aluminium alloy wheels for car makers in India, including Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/KWoTBYVB2c6mFBRX0lfF9M/Uno-Minda-Kosei-Aluminum-in-JV-to-manufacture-sell-alloy-w.html?utm_source=copy

• Japanese motorcycle giant Yamaha will join the four-wheel market by launching small cars in Europe as early as 2019 to meet rising demand for energy-efficient vehicles, a company official said today.The firm has been mulling manufacturing four-wheel vehicles for years, exhibiting a prototype 1,000 cc engine car and an electric-car battery at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.(financial express)

• Mahindra group's auto component arm, Mahindra CIE Automotive is closing down a manufacturing unit in Germany as part of a turnaround strategy in Europe. Mahindra Forgings Europe (MFE), the Germany-based arm of Mahindra CIE Automotive, has decided to close down its unit Jeco Jellinghaus Gmbh, based in Gevelsberg, in north west of Germany over the next six months, Mahindra CIE Automotive said in a filing to BSE.Jeco Jellinghaus is continuing to face pressure on profitability due to a combination of fluctuating market requirements and some internal inefficiencies.(ETauto)

• German auto component supplier ZF introduced 74 locally made parts in India last year alone. These steering and suspension components for mass market models were introduced under its Lemforder brand. “Along with the growth of local cars, there’s growth in the sales of European cars in the mid- to premium segment where we have our core business in,” says Markus Wittig, regional GM – aftermarket, ZF Asia Pacific. Wittig expects the Indian automotive aftermarket to see strong growth in the next two years as the average age of new-generation cars goes beyond five years or so. ZF, which commissioned a new Rs 150 crore plant in Pune at the beginning of February and has a strong presence in commercial vehicles with its transmissions, also plans to introduce its ‘workshop concept’ in India. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/zf-prepares-growth-indian-automotive-aftermarket-7791#sthash.EHMytG78.dpuf

• Germany-based the supplier of high-quality engine oil and car care products Liqui Moly appoints Anand Group as its new distributor in India, the company said in a press release."This lays the foundation for our future success in India," said Michael Karl, Export Area Manager at Liqui Moly who is responsible for the business in India. Liqui Moly produces motor oils and additives along with car care products, service products, greases and pastes.(ETauto.com)

• Tata is now considering to launch the second generation Nano with a bigger engine, broader appeal, a more upmarket image and higher price tag to help improve its poor sales. They are trying to change its current image from the most cheapest car and re-position it to offer unique features to help make it stand out from its rivals.Ratan Tata feels proud that they were able to fulfill a promise that they made to the nation to offer a car so affordable, that low-income Indian families will be able to have safer transportation alternatives than motorcycles. Tata is looking to sell the vehicle in new markets like Indonesia and a few African nations and still believes that the Nano will be able to live up to its forgotten expectations.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/tata-nano-cars/next-generation-tata-nano-to-get-bigger-engine-higher-appeal/#jQhTML5uw5sARdKM.99

• Ashok Leyland introduced the rebadged version of the Evalia MPV as the Stile in the country. The company aimed to improve its sales, however the car failed to generate volume. Ashok Leyland has managed to sell around 1000 units only of the Stile multi-purpose vehicle in the country since its launch in October 2013. In order to improve its sales, the home-grown commercial vehicle maker is now aiming to launch the facelifted version of the MPV.(cartrade.com)

 images from mahindra.com and businesstoday

Automotive Updates - 26th February 2015

• Amtek Auto has recently bagged fresh orders worth 2,100 crore for delivery spread over two years, which would help the New Delhi-based auto component manufacturer significantly improve utilisation of its local factories, a top company executive said.Amtek Auto, one of the largest integrated component manufacturers in India with $2.7 billion revenue, finalised the deals in the past couple of weeks.The company said it has cumulative orders worth 14,000 crore for execution over the next 18 months.(Etauto.com)

• Leading Indian automotive supplier Anand Group is understood to be likely entering into a joint venture with Federal Mogul Corporation for manufacture of engine components like piston rings and gaskets. The joint venture agreement is slated to be signed in early March. The Group already has one joint venture with the American company – Federal Mogul Bearings India – set up in 2008. The company was originally established as Gabriel Engine Bearings Division in 1978 and manufactures a complete range of bi-metal copper lead and aluminium tin bearings, bushes, flanges and thrust washers. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/scoop-anand-enter-jv-federal-mogul-7779#sthash.8CXEAWV4.dpuf

• Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover is mulling setting up a plant in North America to meet the growing global demand of its vehicles, according to Tata Group’s Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata.“The company (JLR) is indeed looking at North America as a location for another plant,” Tata was quoted by Automotive News as saying at the South Carolina Automotive Summit.(financial express)

• In a bid to achieve environmental friendly manufacturing at the VW Pune Plant, Volkswagen Think Blue. Factory initiative was introduced here in 2012. The company has achieved many 2018 targets four years ahead of plan. Impact on the environment due to production of cars is measured by Energy Consumption, CO2 Emission, Water Consumption, Waste Generation and VOC Emissions. VW Pune Plant has powered on to achieve Volkswagen Think Blue. Factory targets of 2018. The plant has already achieved set targets in Waste Generation, and is close to achieving targets in CO2 Emissions and Energy Consumption as well four years ahead of time.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/volkswagen-think-blue-factory-india-12145723.html#sxXFoIUdMDJXgTUM.99

• China-based digital CDI unit manufacturer Advance Elite Engine Component Industries Ltd will set up a manufacturing facility near Chakan.  The company, which has developed several products suitable for two-wheelers ranging from 100cc to 220cc in the Indian market, has showcased its India-specific products at the four-day ACMA Automechanika New Delhi 2015 aftermarket trade fair which opened at Pragati Maidan today. The products include a digital CDI unit and regulator rectifier (RR) unit developed for vehicles like the TVS Apache, Bajaj Boxer 100, Yamaha FZ16, Bajaj BM100, Discover 100, Honda Unicorn, Honda CD Deluxe, Honda Splendor and Bajaj BM150. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/china-advance-elite-targets-indian-wheeler-oems-set-plant-chakan-7781#sthash.LVZuYcil.dpuf

• Ratan Tata has been honoured with an honorary doctorate by the Clemson University in the US for his contributions to the global automotive industry."He is truly a global leader whose impact reaches far beyond the borders of India. Tata leads with integrity and compassion and is an outstanding role model for our students," said James Clements, president of Clemson University. (Etauto.com)

Automotive updates - 25th February 2015

• Tata Motors, India's largest automaker by revenues is developing quadricycles under a project code named 'Bravo.' It comes after stringent opposition from the automaker to the idea for two years. Quadricycles are basically a four-wheeled small vehicle, that is seen as an upgrade from a three-wheeler.Business Standard, a business daily on Tuesday reported that a project code- named 'Bravo', is underway to develop quadricycle from scratch. It will sport an all-new petrol engine, the newspaper said.(Etauto.com)

image from economics times

• Cooper Corporation, one of India’s leading engine manufacturers, and Ricardo of the UK have underscored their longstanding collaboration by announcing their intention to jointly develop a new line of cutting-edge Cooper engines. As a result of this planned development, Cooper Corporation will expand its range of engines from 3.5 KVA to 1000 KVA. The entire range will be available in both diesel and CNG versions. The new Cooper engines will power applications for diverse sectors including automotive, gensets, marine, defence, construction equipment and agriculture.  - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/cooper-corp-inks-tech-pact-ricardo-engine-series-7764#sthash.2FZwlHtQ.dpuf

• Self-drive car rental service Zoomcar has partnered with automaker Tata Motors to add 50 new Nano cars to its fleet.Commenting on the development, Zoomcar Co-founder, Greg Moran said: "We chose Nano primarily because it is a tremendous city car, which is incredibly manoeuvrable in Indian traffic conditions."The company expects good demand for these cars owing to the convenience of easy parking because of its compact design, he added. (Etauto.com)

• Tata Motors' entry-level car - the Nano - has been called the Most Trusted Brand in the hatchback category in 'The Brand Trust Report, India Study- 2015'. This is for the third time that the Nano hatchback has been crowned as the Most Trusted Brand. The Brand Trust Report, India Study 2015 lists 1000 Most Trusted Brands of the country, picked up from 19,000 unique brands, from 270 different categories.(cartrade.com)

• The world’s largest auto maker by volume, Toyota is making a strategic shift in India deciding to focus on safety and take a premium position in each of the segment it is present rather than chasing numbers.The company which is present in the Indian market through a joint venture with the Kirloskar group — Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) — has started offering airbags as standard across all its models sold in the country since the beginning of 2015.(financial express)

• TVS Srichakra is ramping up production capacity as the TVS Group company aims the top slot among India's two-wheeler tyre manufacturers.The plan is to expand capacity to 2.4 million tyres a month by December from 2.0 million now. It is adding capacity at plants at Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Pant Nagar in Uttrakhand.The company that already ships two-wheeler tyres to Africa and other markets is bullish on export prospects as well. "We see good possibility of serving both domestic and exports market," said director P Vijayaraghavan.(ETauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 24th February 2015

•  Maruti Suzuki that sells every second car in the Indian mass market would start a new range of premium dealerships across India to focus on sale of new niche models as the company aims to double its volume to two million cars in the next five years.Operating under the same Maruti Suzuki brand, these would have a different 'Touch & Feel', making them distinct from the current network of dealership across the country. These would cater to its high-end cars, where Maruti has negligible presence and its earlier attempts have proved to be failures. (ETauto.com)

• Regal Motors, the United States based manufacturer, has announced that they will be launching three motorcycles in the Indian market. This will take place in the coming few weeks and the announcement was made during the Hyderabad International Auto Show 2015. This was also the place where the company showcased its current line-up of motorcycles.(cartrade.com)

• Car market leader Maruti Suzuki today launched refreshed version of its popular compact sedan Dzire with introductory prices ranging from Rs 5.07 lakh to Rs 7.81 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).Besides new styling, comfort and convenience features, the new DZire offers enhanced fuel efficiency, the company said in a statement.The diesel variant offers fuel economy of 26.59 kmpl, up by around 13 per cent (from the previous version), while the petrol version has fuel efficiency of 20.85 kmpl, an improvement of 9 per cent, it added.(financial express)

• The Tata Group is planning a mentoring programme across functions and businesses for women leaders across group companies, in the first half of financial 2015-16.Mentors will include members of the group executive council like Mukund Rajan, NS Rajan, member of the council and chief human resources officer, and Harish Bhat, besides CEOs and CXOs of group companies.(ETauto.com)

• Renault Scala sedan and Pulse hatchback though have been a great offering in the Indian market, it failed to evoke enough customer interest. Based on reports released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in May 2014 Renault India produced about 183 units of Scala whereas in October 2014, about 59 units of Pulse were rolled off from its production line. Since then no new units have been produced and shall continue to sell the existing stock. Reports suggest that the company may launch the face-lifted trim of both the vehicles sometime soon.(cartrade.com)

• Terra Motors joint venture with Dhaka based, Runner Group, noted motorbike manufacturers in Bangladesh will cater to manufacturing and sales of electric vehicles. The deal was sealed on 27th January, 2015. Toru Tokushige, CEO of Terra Motors says the company will begin local production in Bangladesh. Operations will begin with sales of the electric tricycle R6. On full charge, R6 goes a 100 kms. R6 has been tested in India for durability, and is scheduled for launch in 2015.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/terra-motors-jv-bangladesh-runner-group-12145329.html#6qh8hWpGeJAYTgSo.99

• Volkswagen AG sold the 450th and final Bugatti Veyron, marking the end of one of the most exclusive supercars ever built. The last Veyron is an open-top Grand Sport Vitesse variant, which boasts 1,200 horsepower. The car, called La Finale, will be on display next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The 450 Veyrons were sold for an average price of about €2.3 million ($2.6 million) each, Molsheim, France-based Bugatti said on Monday.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/WEyYGkT5Xma9V2WiR0o4eL/Volkswagen-bids-farewell-to-Bugatti-Veyron.html?utm_source=copy

Automotive Updates - 23rd February 2015

• Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), the wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co of Japan, may consider locating its fifth plant in eastern India. Though the company is yet to take a call on the next facility, HMSI president & CEO Keita Muramatsu hinted at venturing next into the east having established manufacturing units in the north, west and south.(ETauto.com)

• Fresh updates from Japan's third largest carmaker Honda Motors has announced that CEO Takanobu Ito has resigned from his services and would end his term sometime by the end of June this year. Ito has served the company for about 6 years and post stepping down from his service, however he shall continue to serve the company as an advisor. 55 year old Takahiro Hachigo would is currently serving as the Managing Officer in the company shall soon take over as new President and Chief executive for the company. (cartrade.com)

• With the Indian automotive industry on the threshold of rebounding after a low-key performance over the past couple of years, auto parts maker Elofic Industries is stepping on the gas in terms of expansion plans. The company has set an ambitious target of crossing a topline of Rs 500 crore in the next couple of years from the existing level of Rs 220 crore. The strategy to drive this growth will be by entering various other segments in the filtration market where Elofic currently supplies oil, air, hydraulic and fuel filters mainly for the passenger car and commercial vehicle market. Now the supplier is spreading its wings by entering the two-wheeler market, as well as the off-highway and construction equipment segments, according to KD Sahni, joint managing director. “In two-wheelers, we have finalised orders with Suzuki for whom supplies have already started; Yamaha’s is in the final stages of negotiation besides which we are working on new projects for Royal Enfield and are in discussions with other manufacturers as well for their new models.” - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/elofic-industries-scouts-acquisitions-europe-7743#sthash.t0mdg3QX.dpuf

• Mahindra & Mahindra on Monday launched a limited edition of its sports utility vehicle XUV500, priced at Rs 14.48 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).The 'XUV500 Xclusive Edition', comes with various features including electric sunroof, reverse camera and voice messaging system.(businesstoday)

• Airbus Helicopters said on Friday it is in talks with Mahindra and Mahindra, Reliance Industries and Tata Group to jointly make military helicopters, to comply with rules aimed at helping the nascent local defence industry.The company, a unit of Airbus Group, is offering to build its light utility AS550 Fennec and the medium lift EC725 for India's armed forces, which are heavily dependent on an ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. (Etauto.com)

• Krisaki two-wheelers will be launching its range of bikes and scooters in India in July 2015. The engine capacity will range from 125cc to 800cc.The Indian two-wheeler market has seen a variety of vehicles being launched in the past decade. Many lesser known brands have also tried venturing into the country but most failed. Some brands which started in India itself also couldn’t make a mark in the market. The reason for this is that most people in India prefer vehicles from known brands. But to prove all this wrong, Krisaki will be launching its vehicles in India soon.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/bikes/krisaki/krisaki-motorcycles-launching-india-july-2015/#cXUbYsCoXaPjGOix.99

•  Germany's Volkswagen has won approval from Thai authorities to build a manufacturing plant for fuel efficient cars near Bangkok after months of delays.A VW spokesman said on Saturday that it had received the go-ahead but the carmaker would now assess the situation and that no decision has been made yet whether to build the factory, confirming a report in German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche.(Etauto.com)

Automobile Updates - 21st and 22nd February 2015

• Swedish luxury carmaker Volvo is in talks with Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Hindustan Motors (HM) and General Motors (GM) to explore the feasibility of utilizing the facilities of one of these auto manufacturers to locally assemble its vehicles in India. According to industry sources, the company, which has been selling luxury cars and SUVs in India through imports, is keen to start assembling its vehicles in the country in order to bring down prices and shore up volumes.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/0ZLzy4TfGA1JkwzLvyUHGJ/Volvo-in-talks-with-MM-GM-and-Hindustan-Motors-for-assembl.html?utm_source=copy

• Fabulous and Beyond Motors India (FAB Motors) today said it is in the process of setting up a Rs 1,000-crore manufacturing facility in Telangana for the US-based Regal Raptor motorcycles.FAB Motors managing director M G Shahriq said the company had entered into an agreement with Regal Raptor to manufacture and distribute its models in India as well as in eight other countries -- Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.The facility will be set up with an investment outlay of Rs 1,000 crore over four years.(Etauto.com)

• The cruiser bike manufacturer, Royal Enfield, has made its intentions clear. Recently, it announced the establishment of a technology development centre in the United Kingdom. Now, the British media is reporting that the company has plans to launch three completely new models based on two totally different and new platforms in 2016. However, there are reports that one will use a 410 cc mono-cylinder, overhead cam engine, while the other is ready to sport a 750 cc parallel-twin unit. It has been reported that one of the three models will be based on this single-cylinder base and will sport a scrambler-style look.(cartrade.com)

• The new generation Ford Endeavour, also known as the Ford Everest in the international market was revealed in its production avatar recently. However, Ford hasn’t put the SUV on sale yet, as it’s still undergoing tests globally. Just two days, back Ford India has also imported the new generation Endeavour for testing. This shows that Ford is betting big on the upcoming SUV to gain significant market share in the lucrative premium SUV space, which is currently being led by the Toyota Fortuner.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/ford-endeavour/2015-ford-endeavour-imported-to-india-for-testing/#HC9iMYJb1CpHxEFM.99

• Toyota has taken the top spot in the motor vehicles sector of Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. The automaker also scored well in a larger pool of peers, No. 24 overall.Fortune’s annual list is widely considered to be the definitive report card on corporate reputation. The survey measures nine attributes considered crucial to a company’s global success, including quality of management, social responsibility, people management and global competitiveness, among others.(autocarpro.in)

• DSK Motowheels is stepping their foot on the accelerator as far as the two-wheeler dream is concerned. The company had launched the brand Hyosung, a few years ago, in the Indian market. The company is now all set to introduce the legendary Italian name, Benelli Motorcycles in March. Interestingly, a company has less chances of surviving in such a high-demand bike market without a manufacturing plant, so the company has decided to establish one in Maharashtra.The factory will manufacture almost all its products that will be marketed in India. It is expected to have a production capacity of 1 lakh units by the year 2020. This will attract an investment of approximately 350 crores INR. The base work for the manufacturing plant has already begun and will be production ready only in 18 months’ time. (cartrade.com)

• The Fiat 500L is a MPV available in  5 and 7 seat configurations. Fiat has imported the 500L with a 1.3 liter Multijet diesel engine. This engine churns out 84 bhp and 200 Nm of twisting force. Other engines on offer include 1.6 liter Multijet diesel and a 0.9 liter Twinair. The 500L is available with manual and dual clutch automatic transmissions.The Fiat 500L is equipped with a host of airbags as standard and a plethora of electronic aids like ABS with EBD, BAS, ESC. Fiat India currently has only three products in its line-up- Avventura, Punto and the Linea. With the 500L, Fiat will be entering the rapidly growing Indian MPV market.If Fiat wants to launch this MPV, it will have to be localised heavily to keep the price in check.(motorids.com)

Automotive Updates - 20th February 2015

• As the commercial vehicle segment gears up to return to growth after two years of a slowdown, JBM Motors, part of the US$ 1.2 billion JBM Group, is all set to roll out its city buses next month. The company, which had showcased its city bus called ‘Citylife’ at the Delhi Auto Expo in February 2014, will start customer deliveries from March 2015. The JBM Group has invested Rs 500 crore to manufacture these buses with its technological partnership with European bus maker BredaMenarininbus (BMB). JBM says it has managed to localise the bus up to 85 percent and designed completely for the Indian road and weather conditions - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/jbm-motors-roll-citylife-bus-7728#sthash.9DSNmUV3.dpuf

• Apple Inc aims to begin producing an electric vehicle as early as 2020, Bloomberg cited people with knowledge of the matter as saying, a seemingly aggressive target for a mobile devices maker with little experience in car manufacture. he iPhone maker is pushing its "car team" of about 200 people to meet that goal, Bloomberg reported. But Apple may decide to scrap its car-making effort, or delay it, if executives grew unhappy with its progress, the news agency cited the people as saying.(Etauto.com)

• DSK has been steadily gaining popularity in the Indian market. The company in an attempt to further strengthen its presence in the domestic market has announced its plans to launch about four more motorbikes in the country in about a year's time. Currently DSK offers TNT 300, TNT 600i, 600 GT, TNT 899 and TNT 1130 in the country. As part of its fresh offering the company plans on launching TNT 25, Keeway Blackster 250, Keeway Superlight 200 and the TRE 1130 K Amazonas sometime by the end of this year.(cartrade.com)

• Nidec Corporation of Japan, which is a supplier of precision motors (brushless / brush DC motors, AC motors, fans, blowers, and electronic and other components) for automotive applications, is all set to launch its Indian production operations in April 2015. The company’s Indian arm, Nidec India, which was established in December 2010 in Gurgaon, is known to have been building a local manufacturing plant in Neemrana, Rajasthan, and the construction work is said to be in its final stages. Two sources closely associated with this development have confirmed the same to Autocar Professional. While the total investment committed by the company in this project is expected to be close to US$ 100 million (Rs 630 crore), the upcoming plant, as sources say, will provide employment to nearly 1500 people under its first phase. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/japan-nidec-corp-start-local-production-april-2015-7734#sthash.ynx9HG9S.dpuf

• On the sidelines of the launch of the 2015 Jetta facelift, Volkswagen India stated that the company will be focusing on increasing the profitability of its existing dealerships and not expand the dealer network this year. The automaker at present has 120 dealers across the country and will be working to increase the profits of these dealers so that they can build ‘brand’ Volkswagen in return. The move comes in addition to the company’s decision of closing down regional offices in Bangalore and Delhi to reduce operational costs.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/volkswagen/volkswagen-wont-expand-dealership-network-2015-focus-profits/#OIp67gfXedrTxxAS.99

• In 2014, Hyundai sold around 70,000 units in rural parts of India. This year the company will work on crossing the 1 lakh sales milestone for the first time. Hyundai will be expanding dealership network in rural regions to help boost sales and service in remoter parts of the country, following the footsteps of the largest carmaker in the country, Maruti Suzuki. Indian passenger vehicle market grew by 3.2 percent in 2014, when Hyundai India recorded 8.3 percent hike in sales. Last year, HMIL sold 4.11 lakh cars in the country and exported accounted for 2.01 lakh units. While Hyundai is the second largest in India, it is leading in exports with 40 percent market share.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/hyundai-rural-sales-2015-12144864.html#i6Iq0ePeMyTSe0Uv.99

• Mahle, the global development partner for the automotive and engine industry, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the wholly-owned thermal business of US automotive supplier Delphi Automotive. In 2014, the division and its approximately 7,600 employees achieved annual sales of around US$ 1.2 billion (Rs 7,580 crore) After approval by the relevant antitrust authorities, a closing of the deal is anticipated for end-2015. Further, the company plans to acquire the joint venture of Delphi Thermal in China. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/mahle-acquires-delphi-thermal-management-division-7741#sthash.u8XGDqkx.dpuf

Automotive Update - 19th February 2015

• Kalyani Group, the owners of Bharat Forge Ltd, will form a joint venture with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd to develop and manufacture high-technology systems for the defence sector. Their joint venture company will include a wide range of technologies and systems, like missile technology, remote weapon systems and advanced armour solutions. Kalyani will hold 51% of the stake in the company while Rafael will hold 49%.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/nIpn3xFKjaZqTkCghkhZSM/Kalyani-Group-ties-up-with-Israels-Rafael.html?utm_source=copy

• In an attempt to deliver more eco-friendlier cars the German carmaker Volkswagen has come up with a plan to invest about $10 million towards electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure developments. The development is indeed a part of recent agreements undertaken by BMW and ChargePoint to develop DC quick charging outlets along both US coasts.(cartrade.com)

• The online shopping space is getting more versatile by the second. While electronics and clothing are among the more popular purchases, Amazon.in has launched the Car and Motorbike store with over 22,000+ automotive parts and accessories from multiple Indian and international brands including 3M, Meguiar’s, Shell, Vega, K&N, Hella and Philips among others. (teambhp.com)

• Royal Enfield sales grew at a phenomenal pace in 2014. But this is still the beginning. The company has the potential to grow miles further. In order to achieve this aim, the company has announced fresh investments for the development of two tech centres. One Royal Enfield tech centre will be setup in India, while the other will be setup in the UK. Investments to the tune of INR 500 crores are set apart for product development of these new technology centres.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/royal-enfield-tech-centres-uk-12144717.html#ORujIZAlMHqFGWAm.99

• Maruti Suzuki India will launch two all-new cars- the S-Cross SX4 crossover and YRA premium hatchback in the country this year. While the S-Cross SX4 crossover will go on sale in second quarter (April/May), the YRA premium hatchback will be introduced ahead of the festive season (September/October). If media reports are to be believed, the hatchback will be powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The turbocharged unit will not be an all-new engine, but it will be a turbocharged version of the popular K10B engine that powers the Celerio and the Alto K10. (cartrade.com)

•  Why shouldn't the government amend the Motor Vehicles Act to make lifetime insurance cover for vehicles mandatory, asked the Madras high court on Wednesday, posing a series of questions to Union and state governments. It said despite the law making it mandatory for vehicles to have a valid insurance policy, there were a large number of accidents involving vehicles without an insurance cover.At present the insurance cover for vehicles comes with a validity of one year, and the policy needs to be renewed every year.(ETauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 18th February 2015

•  DSK Hyosung will set up a plant in Maharashtra and manufacture most of its brands sold in the country, a top official of the company said here on Monday on the sidelines of its first dealership opening in Jaipur."Plans are already in place for a manufacturing facility that will come up in Maharashtra. It will 18 months to build the plant and the rollout of products is likely to happen in two years," Shivapada Ray, chief operating officer of DSK Motowheels.(ETauto.com)

• Royal Enfield, part of the Eicher Group, will invest Rs 500 crore in 2015 towards product development, capex and other development areas, said Siddhartha Lal, MD and CEO, Eicher Motors. In a press release, Eicher said that its motorcycle business posted its best-ever yearly performance in 2014. The company recorded its highest ever total income from operations at Rs 3031.2 crore, an increase of  78 percent from Rs 1,702.5 crore in 2013. The company significantly improved profitability posting an EBIT of 22.5 percent bettering the 16.6 percent in 2013. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/royal-enfield-invest-rs-500-crore-product-development-capex-7726#sthash.3jz4F6B2.dpuf

• Domestic auto firm Mahindra & Mahindra plans to launch its electric car in Europe in next six months as it looks to tap rising demand for eco-friendly vehicles in the continent. “The way electric vehicle technology is growing in Europe, we expect it to play an important role there. We are also looking at the opportunity to launch our electric vehicle there and expect to do so in next six months,” Mahindra & Mahindra chief executive, automotive division, Pravin Shah told PTI.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/ZvGGDos1hvGkiYXG8XwwxI/MM-plans-to-launch-electric-car-in-Europe-in-six-months.html?utm_source=copy

• Czech carmaker Skoda has unveiled the latest version of its flagship model Superb sedan as it looks to enhance position in the mid-class segment and will be launched in India by the second half of 2016.“This car marks the beginning of a new era for Skoda. In recent years, we have renewed and expanded our model range. The new Skoda Superb demonstrates our aspirations in the automotive mid-class segment,” Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland said during the global unveiling of the car here.(financialexpress)

• Europe-based RUAG Aerostructures and Tata group firm TAL Manufacturing Solutions have joined hands for production and supply of aero structural components and sub-assemblies for Airbus 320 programme.The two companies have signed a multi-year contract with a potential value of over $150 million and the new work scope allows RUAG to strengthen and optimise the global supply chain to the advantage of Airbus, said a release today. (ETauto.com)

• BMW India has launched the country’s first hybrid supercar, the i8. It is powered by a 3-cylinder petrol engine coupled with an electric motor, returning a claimed fuel efficiency of 47 km/l. The company has also showcased the i3.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/bmw-i8/bmw-i8-launched-in-india-priced-at-rs-2-29-crores/#9E3kRKiplUCSOFKD.99

• Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, India’s largest utility vehicle maker is recalling the XUV 500, its premier sport utility vehicle, to upgrade the side curtain airbag software on all the models manufactured on or before July 2014, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The upgrade will be carried out free of cost for customers who will be individually contacted by the company. This upgrade will be limited only to a software change and no parts will be replaced, it said.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/D8SGbaIYdRaAuTJEQgqYRP/Mahindra-recalls-XUV5OO-for-upgrading-airbag-software.html?utm_source=copy

• Seeking to regain its lost market share in the mid-sized sedan segment, Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) on Wednesday launched an updated version of Verna, priced between Rs 7.74 lakh and Rs 12.19 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).The model, which competes with Honda City and Maruti Ciaz, will be available in both petrol and diesel options and have ten variants.(businesstoday)

• Controlling shareholders of Hero MotoCorp Ltd, India's biggest maker of motorcycles and scooters, plan to sell $300 million worth of shares later in the day, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters.Brij Mohan Lal Om Prakash would sell nearly 7 million shares in India's biggest maker of motorcycles and scooters in open market transactions on Wednesday, the term sheet for the deal showed. (ETauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 17th February 2015

• The NDA government is looking at a Rs 14,000-crore corpus to develop and support alternate green fuel vehicles, of which Rs 795 crore has already been approved to promote electric and hybrid fuel automobiles, heavy industries minister Anant Geete said on Monday. The minister, , also promised to support the commercial vehicles segment, which he said had been neglected in the past and urged industry players to suggest strategies to boost its output. (Etauto.com)

• General Motors Co.’s (GM) India unit, which has failed to report a profit since it started operations in the country in 1997, on Monday unveiled a radical new plan to turn around the local unit by increasing its focus on selling cars in overseas markets. The company, which exported at least 1,000 vehicles in 2014, aims to sell as many as 19,000 units in the current year and 40,000 in following 12 months, according to Arvind Saxena, president and managing director of General Motors India Pvt. Ltd. In comparison, its car sales in India are expected to either decline or remain at the current level.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/LG9sk2KqLdlRC5rwPOCvqL/GM-India-takes-exports-route-in-quest-of-profits.html?utm_source=copy

• Volkswagen has just launched the facelifted Jetta at a price of Rs 13.87 Lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The new Jetta features a host a cosmetic alterations, along with a few feature updates, while remaining the same mechanically.(teambhp.com)

• Dynaspede, a Karnataka-based, 30-year-old company which specialises in conceptualising, designing and manufacturing electromechanical systems for a wide range of applications in the automotive R&D world, is now planning to expand its portfolio with NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) test equipment. This will include equipment related to acoustics, vibration measurement, prototype model testing and others. This home-grown company is well known for designing and developing tailor-made test rigs (for transmission testing), and has supplied the same to Tata Motors, Renault-Nissan, Mahindra & Mahindra, John Deere, Sona Group, TAFE, Escorts and others so far. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/dynaspede-provide-nvh-solutions-targets-percent-yoy-growth-7705#sthash.mL2rHVd8.dpuf

• Honda is laying out a plan to streamline its product line up to offer minimal variants within the brand. Takanobu Ito , Honda’s Chief Executive Officer, said that this exercise would make the company more efficient and business will not be affected in any way. Once this plan is enforced in the next three to four years, there would be only limited cars for customers to choose from, as the company would have cut down on variety of models and variants, including engine options. Such a strategy would be beneficial for the company to cut down on developmental, production and maintenance costs, but customers would not have much options on their plates with different prices.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/honda-to-discontinue-cars-12144378.html#icaqhZhzb1qaeuqU.99

• Swift Dzire sedan from Maruti Suzuki has been a popular choice amongst competitors like Hyundai, Honda and Tata Motors. As the new Swift Dzire face-lifted trim reaches the dealership outlets in Delhi, some of them have also reportedly begun accepting the bookings for the same. The vehicle is expected to be delivered sometime by the first week of March. Speaking on new features, the vehicle sports single chrome slat grill and Chrome laden fog lamp inserts. The headlamps have also been redesigned and compliments the redesigned bumpers. (cartrade.com)

• German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz will recall more than 127,000 vehicles in China due to a potential fire risk and steering issues, Beijing's quality watchdog said Monday.Mercedes-Benz and one of its joint ventures in China have informed the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine that they will recall 127,071 cars from March 13, the government agency said in a statement.(Etauto.com)

Automotive Updates - 16th February 2015

• Demand for Commercial Vehicle in the domestic market is expected to increase to one million units a year, mainly driven by Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment (M&HCV) segment, says V.G. Ramakrishnan, Managing Director - South Asia, Frost & Sullivan.The research firm believes that lower diesel price will help improve profitability and cash flow of transporters and can kickstart fleet replacement. While the Goods & Service Tax (GST) implementation will provide a long term boost to CV sector.(Etauto.com)

• Tata Marcopolo, a 51:49 JV between Tata Motors and Brazil-based CV giant Marcopolo, is all set to launch a super deluxe fully-built bus, which is aimed at taking on the buses from Swedish commercial vehicle majors Volvo and Scania in the Indian luxury bus market. Christened Magna, the front engine, twin-axle luxury AC coach will have several options at ‘an affordable price’ for the Indian luxury coach operators who always look for cost-effective solutions to strengthen their bottomline. The prototype (concept vehicle) of the bus has been showcased at the Tata Marcopolo’s manufacturing facility in Dharwad in Karnataka. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/tata-marcopolo-volvo-scania-magna-7695#sthash.rAqpBypE.dpuf

• South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor said on Monday that it plans to enter the commercial vehicle market in the United States and Europe in expectation of stronger growth in the sector.It did not spell out the timing of the move.Hyundai Motor also said it plans to invest 400 billion won ($363.13 million) in expanding annual production capacity at its commercial vehicle factory in the southwestern city of Jeonju by 54 percent to 100,000 vehicles by 2020, from the current 65,000. (Etauto.com)

• Renault India is facing a not-so-good innings with only the Duster selling in decent numbers while the Scala, Pulse and Koleos are almost extinct in the market. To counter this, the French automaker is coming up with a new hatchback that will be positioned in the entry-level segment and it will compete with the Maruti Alto 800 and the Datsun GO. The hatchback has been codenamed XBA and a prototype of the same was spotted undergoing testing in Himachal Pradesh. The Renault XBA is based on the India-specific Common Module Family – Affordable which means that the new vehicle will be aimed to provide practicality as well as low cost.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/renault/renault-xba-hatchback-spied-india-launch-follow-soon/#Tf2WPVDsVacu0ib9.99

• The newest trim from Hyundai well known as Elite i20 has been a hot-selling hatchback in the country. The company has been planning on launching the new Elite i20 in the Australian market, but based on ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) crash test standards the vehicle has scored only 3/5 owing to lack of more that two airbags even in its top end trim. The European manufactured trim has however scored an all 5/5.(cartrade.com)

• GM India has announced that it will introduce the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV in 2015 and Spin multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in 2016. The company apparently first shared this news with GM India dealers during their annual meeting in Bangkok on February 13. “GM India’s focus is on significantly expanding its presence in the Indian market by enriching its products, quality and the entire purchasing experience,” said Arvind Saxena, president and managing director, General Motors India. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/gm-india-launch-chevy-trailblazer-suv-spin-mpv-7694#sthash.hjwW6VFu.dpuf

• Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) have plans to invest a chunky 4000 crore rupees, in order to build a massive manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. According to Pawan Goenka, executive director of automotive division at M&M, the investment will be spread across a span of 7 years and will consist of two stages. Goenka said, “In the first phase, we will set up the test track facility. Second will be an automotive plant.” This means that setting up the new manufacturing plant isn’t on top of the company’s list of priorities.(motoroids.com)

Automotive Industry updates - 14th and 15th February 2015

• Auto major Mahindra and Mahindra has proposed to invest Rs 4,000 crore for setting up a large manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu which would roll out the company's future models, a top official said today."Our investment will be Rs 4,000 crore in two stages. It will be spread across seven years."In the first phase, we will set up the test track facility. Second will be an automotive plant," Executive Director of Automobile Division, Pawan Goenka told reporters here.(ETauto.com)

• Apple Inc has a secret lab working on the creation of an Apple-branded electric car, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.The project has designed a vehicle that looks like a minivan, the newspaper quoted one person as saying. It would take years to finish the project, and it is not certain if Apple will eventually build a car, the Journal said. (http://on.wsj.com/1zBD9sL)(financialexpress)

• The Cricket World Cup kicked off on February 14, 2015 and as the official partner for International Cricket Council (ICC), Hyundai Motor India handed over the ‘First Ball’ for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Hyundai holds the exclusive rights for the First Ball Handover before the opening match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. At the ceremony, the set of First Balls were handed over by Sanjay Gupta, Sr. General Manager & Group Head – Marketing, Hyundai Motor India to the Match Umpire Simon Fry at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.(rushlane.com)

• The company, which manufacturers he Mitsubishi range of automobiles, Hindustan Motor Finance Corp Ltd (HMFCL), has announced that it is ready to launch the Mitsubishi Attrage sedan in the country. The company, which has been struggling to keep a pace in the Indian market, will also look forward to launch the Mitsubishi Delica MPV that would be able to compete with the likes of Toyota Innova.The company has systematically withdrawn a number of models from the market like Outlander, Cedia as well as the Lancer, on grounds of poor demand; the Japanese brand has only Pajero Sport as the lone model in the market. The Chennai manufacturing facility of HMFCL is heavily underutilised due to this factor. Apart from the Pajero Sport, the plant also takes care for the assembly of Isuzu MU-7 SUV as well as D-Max pickup truck temporarily. However, once the Isuzu’s Sri City factory is ready, the production will be stopped. HMFCL will be on the lookout for new partners for balancing out the losses incurred due to almost no production.(cartradde.com)

• Your daily ride is likely to cheaper as Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari plans to scrap as many as 125 toll plazas throughout the country by the end of February 2015. Gadkari said that 74 such projects have already been identified 61 have already been shut down. However, to cope up with the financial losses that the government will incur after the closure of these toll plazas, the road ministry has proposed raising the cess on petrol and diesel. The news might not be as joyful for prospective car buyers as the road ministry has also proposed implementing an additional 2 percent surcharge on new vehicles.(rushlane.com)

• Tata Motors was rumored to bedeveloping an SUV based on the Land Rover Freelander 2 (L359). Now, there are reports that this new SUV will be based on the same platform as the new Discovery Sport (L550). The L550 platform is a heavily modified derivative of the L359.This new SUV from Tata (codename: Q501), will be a 5-seater and powered by Fiat's 2.0 litre MultiJet II diesel engine.(team-bhp)

    

Automotive Updates - 13th February 2015

• In a move which helps strengthen its electronics portfolio, Magna International Inc, a leader in cameras, driver assistance systems and related electronics components, has acquired the head-up display and electronic components business units of Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) in Wetzlar, Germany, as well as PLDS' ultrasonic sensor business in Hsinchu, Taiwan. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/magna-acquires-business-units-philips-lite-digital-solutions-7681#sthash.gT6EKngc.dpuf

• The details for the 2016 Auto Expo are out. The biennial event which is India’s largest auto show will take place at Greater Noida’s India Expo mart between 5th and 9th of February. Media days are scheduled for 3rd and 4th of February.In its 13th iteration, the Auto Expo will follow the new template experimented by the 2014 version. The venue was shifted from Pragati Maidan, which was getting increasingly congested for a show of this scale, and required the visitors to walk for kilometres at a stretch, tiring them out in the process, while also making it difficult for the manufacturers to plan their product launches in a streamlined manner.(Motoroids.com)

• UML, which is an equal joint venture between the renowned United Motors Motorcycles and Lohia Auto is on course of developing a cruiser range of motorcycles. It is expected that the launch of these motorcycles will be scheduled during the second quarter of 2015. The bikes are expected to have a capacity of 300 to 500 cc as against the normal 200 to 230 cc, which was announced previously. In the first phase, there will be a total of 50 dealers in the first year, which will be spread across the metropolitan cities in the country.(cartrade.com)

• Federal-Mogul Powertrain, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation, has announced that it has closed on material portions of the previously announced acquisition of TRW’s engine valve business. The acquired business, headquartered in Barsinghausen, Germany, employs nearly 4,000 people globally. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/federal-mogul-powertrain-completes-purchase-trw-engine-valve-business-7674#sthash.0iRIgHCf.dpuf

• First launched in India in October 2007, the i10 succeeded the Hyundai Atos. Soon, i10 became Hyundai’s best selling car in country. Now, the company has revealed that Hyundai i10 global sales have crossed 2 million mark. And, of the 2 million (20 lakh) i10 produced, Hyundai has produced 1.89 million (18.9 lakh) units at their plant in Chennai, India.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/hyundai-i10-global-20-lakh-12143577.html#oMFojp64Fy8JWlls.99

• Multiple reports suggested the launch of the Vios in India and now the vehicle has been spotted for the first time in the country, in Bangalore. Toyota has a plant in Bidadi which is near Bangalore so one can expect the company to launch the Vios in the country later this year. The automaker hasn’t been doing very well with sales mostly coming form its UVs, the Innova and Fortuner while the Corolla also manages good numbers. The Etios twins (or is it triplets with the Etios Cross?) have failed to live up to the company’s expectations, the Camry doesn’t sell either.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/cars/toyota-vios/toyota-vios-spotted-on-test-in-india-launch-likely-in-2015/#lDz6GVakhxW7qJtm.99

• Tata Motors forecasts back-on-track growth in all segments of Commercial Vehicles, following recovery of medium and heavy CV segments over last nine months. Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director of Tata Motors, points out the resurrecting M&HCV sales pace and projects a turnaround in Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) sector that has been sky-diving for the past three years. In Bus segment, Tata Motors expects significant growth, after Bus Body-building Code is enforced in April 2015. Currently customers are buying only the chassis and getting the body built to taste at their local maker’s. This saves them around 10 percent on their pockets. With the Bus Code announced, build quality, dimensions, safety and comfort features will be constrained to specifications and the cost difference will be diminished.Read more at http://www.rushlane.com/bus-body-building-code-tata-motors-12143963.html#ACd28M1uW7rzUVw0.99

Automobile Updates - 12th February 2015

•  Fair trade regulator CCI has rejected allegations against VolkswagenGroup Sales India Pvt Ltd that it abused dominant market position with respect to itsdealership agreements. A complaint filed by Bhasin Motors, a car dealer in Delhi -NCR region, had alleged that Volkswagen by virtue of its dominant position in the market imposed unfair and one sided agreement on its authorised dealers. (Etauto.com)

• Hybrid and electric vehicles may soon become cheaper with the government considering a proposal to give incentives to manufacturers of such vehicles in Budget 2015-16.Pushing Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, the Finance Ministry is likely to allocate Rs 800 crore in the Budget to promote manufacture and sale of electric and hybrid vehicles. The move is expected to bring down the prices and help in substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.5 per cent by 2020, a senior government official told The Indian Express.(financialexpress)

• A lot has changed for tractor makers like Mahindra & Mahindra and Escorts in the past year. Projections of double-digit sales growth have been replaced with estimates of double-digit decline.Key factors that have contributed to this change is last year's below-normal monsoon, lower farm output and a moderation in growth of support prices of wheat and paddy.Tractor sales have declined 8.3 per cent in the nine-month period (April-December) of the current financial year.The drop in the quarter ended December was a steep 22 per cent. In January, market leader Mahindra reported a 26 per cent drop in tractor sales.Tractor sales are a barometer of economic sentiment in rural India.(businesstoday)

• Nissan has become the first manufacturer to apply glow-in-the-dark car paint to showcase how its all-electric Leaf is helping more and more people convert to solar energy at home. The manufacturer worked with inventor, Hamish Scott, creator of Starpath, which is a spray-applied coating that absorbs UV energy during the day so that it glows for between eight and 10 hours when the sun goes down. According to Nissan Motor GB EV manager, Paul O’Neill, “The Nissan Leaf is a shining beacon of sustainability and the future of motoring. Not only is it saving our customers money in running costs but it we are now seeing how it is helping people become more environmentally sensitive by reducing their carbon footprint.” - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/nissan-car-maker-apply-glow-dark-car-paint-7662#sthash.CpfbRGtx.dpuf

• Tata Motors has just celebrated the roll-out of the 100,000th Tata Ace Zip at its Dharwad facility in Karnataka, that has a capacity of 90,000 units per annum. The Ace Zip is the second highest selling variant from the Ace family. The Ace name was created in May 2005, while the Ace Zip arrived in May 2011. According to Tata's official statement, the variant ropes in average sales of 2,500 vehicles per month and enjoys a 78% market share in its segment.(teambhp)

• Honda Cars India has launched its CNG-ready variant of the Amaze sedan. The new variant, which is called Amaze 1.2 S MT Plus (i-VTEC), is a modified petrol Amaze compatible for CNG fuel option. The car costs Rs 599,585 and the CNG kit including installation will cost Rs 54,315. The Amaze has had a successful run in India since its  launch in 2013. For the year ended December 2014, Honda Cars India sold 65,505 units comprising 28,471 petrols and the rest, diesel. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/honda-introduces-cng-compatible-amaze-variant-7666#sthash.WVgZ2cYz.dpuf

 

Automotive Update - 11th February 2015

•  Maruti Suzuki has decided to go slow on launching the 800cc diesel engine powered small car and a small commercial vehicle due to a slowdown in domestic sales of mini-trucks and consumers' preference for petrol as diesel loses its price advantage, people aware of the development said.The car maker could delay these two new launches by about 3-6 months, the persons quoted earlier said, adding that the automaker has told vendors that volumes for the first year will be 70-80 per cent lower than projected.(Etauto.com)

• German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz on Wednesday launched the diesel variant of its C-Class sedan, priced up to Rs 42.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).The company has launched the C-Class diesel in two trims, the 'C 220 CDI Style' variant priced at Rs 39.9 lakh and the 'C 220 CDI Avantgarde' priced at Rs 42.9 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi), Mercedes-Benz said in a statement.(businesstoday)

• Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has introduced a refreshed version of its entry level commuter, the HF Dawn. The entry-level commuter gets few exterior changes and addition features. This bike is priced at Rs. 39,370 (ex-showroom).The Hero HF Dawn is equipped with a metal carrier fixed securely just behind the pillion seat, which further enhances the luggage carrying capability. This entry level commuter provides an upright riding position and an extended saddle for comfort. Its console also features a good side-stand engaged indicator.(cartrade.com)

• Maruti has so far been sourcing diesel engines from Fiat and have been selling them like hot cakes. The company is set to use their first indigenously produced diesel mill on the Celerio. the first pictures of the tiny 0.8 L twin cylinder diesel engine has been captured which will be gracing the heart of not just the Celerio but it will also be equipped on Maruti’s first LCV Y9T!(motorbash.com)

• Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistrytoday launched the centenary celebrations ofTata Power and announced investments for generating a capacity for 450 MW of hydel power from this year and commissioning of 120 MW this year itself. The country's largest integrated power company began its operations on February 9, 1915, by commissioning the country's first large hydroelectric project with a capacity of 12 MW at Khopoli near Mumbai. (Etauto.com)

• India’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki is slowly increasing its export business. The company has started exporting the Ciaz sedan to some international markets including Mexico and Dubai. Both the markets will get petrol versions inthe LHD (left hand drive) form.The Mexican market gets the more powerful variant of the Ciaz saloon. The car is offered in two trim levels- GLS and GLX. Under the bonnet is the same 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that also powers the India-spec Ciaz and Ertiga MPV. This engine is capable of producing 100bhp of top power at 6,000rpm and 132.8Nm of peak torque at 4,000 compared to 91bhp and 130Nm of torque in India. (cartrade.com)

• After tasting success in supplying automotive grade aluminium for the popular Ford F150 pickup truck, Novelis Inc., the US business of India’s Hindalco Industries Ltd, is hoping that the auto aluminium sector will help make up for demand and margins fall in its core business of beverage cans. However, analysts say, the move may not significantly alter the contribution of the $10 billion aluminium rolled product manufacturer to Hindalco’s revenue or profit.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/D2HsESDXsTd9FLmQwNSQrJ/Novelis-targets-auto-aluminium-on-poor-outlook-for-cans.html?utm_source=copy

Automobile Market updates - 10th February 2015

• Domestic passenger car sales increased by 3.14 per cent to 1,69,300 units in January 2015 as compared with 1,64,149 units in the year-ago period.  Two-wheeler sales in January climbed up by 1.07 per cent to 13,27,957 units, ales of commercial vehicles rose 5.30 per cent to 52,481 units in January 2015.(businesstoday)

• Naresh Kumar Rattan, Executive Director, Force Motors Limited has resigned from the post in January, after close to three-year long stint with the Indian off-road and agriculture vehicle manufacturer. He has joined Sonalika Group as Director, Sales & Marketing, for the group's all three business verticals - International Tractors Limited, International Cars & Motors Limited and Sonalika Tractors.(ETauto.com)

• Qlik, a leading global data management firm, announced that Mahindra & Mahindra will be using its resources to transform the way it (Mahindra) manages its data for reporting, analysis and decision making. M&M rolled out the QlikView under less than 12 weeks of its deployment across the departments that include inventory, sales as well as finance teams.(cardekho.com)

• Tata Motors’ subsidiary in Indonesia, Tata Motors Distribusi Indonesia (TMDI), has sold 1,000 vehicles in the archipelago. Tata Motors entered Indonesia in September 2013, and currently sells the Ace EX2, Super Ace, Xenon XT, Vista, Safari Storme and Aria, through the CBU route. Of these, the Super Ace garnered maximum sales in 2014, accounting for 694 units, according to online reports. Last year, Tata Motors showcased future products at IIMS 2014, including the production version of the Super Ace-based Angkot passenger van, and a host of applications including a TipperRead more: http://indianautosblog.com/2015/02/tata-motors-manages-to-sell-1000-vehicles-in-indonesia-167187#ixzz3RNJbPEJX 

• Daimler India Commercial Vehicles has begun exporting bus chassis from India. Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses, and Markus Villinger, head of Daimler Buses India, were present in Cairo to celebrate the delivery of the first bus chassis to the company’s long-time business partner MCV. The products are nine-tonne bus chassis that MCV will equip with bodies in Cairo. Starting immediately, the finished vehicles will be sold as Mercedes-Benz-brand buses through MCV’s nationwide sales network. “The export of bus chassis from India to Egypt is yet another demonstration of how we are successfully leveraging on our global presence,” said Hartmut Schick at the festive handover of the chassis. “Our global production network allows us to offer appropriate and competitive products for every market.” - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/daimler-india-cv-begins-bus-chassis-supplies-egypt-7649#sthash.z5uSYm2W.dpuf

• Tata Motors has introduced a new base variant of the Nano Twist in India. Dubbed XE, the new variant is priced at Rs. 2.06 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).(teambhp.com)

Two wheeler sales analysis - India - January 2015