Automotive Updates - 9th February 2015

•  Force Motors plans to set up a manufacturing facility at Chakan near Pune to produce a range of parts including engines, gearboxes and axles with annual capacity of 50,000 sets. The company's board has approved, as per the circular dated February 7, establishment of factory, Force Motors Ltd said in a filing to theBSE. (ETauto.com)

 

• Automobile industry body SIAM wants Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to reduce excise duty on automobiles in the upcoming Budget to help the sector combat demand slowdown.Besides, measures towards restarting stalled infra projects to help revive demand particularly of commercial vehicles should also be put high on the agenda, SIAM feels.“We expect reduction of excise duties on automobiles, which is required considering market conditions and demand now,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Deputy Director General Sugato Sen told PTI.(financial express)

• BMW Group's Indian arm on Wednesday said it will partner with seven domestic suppliers to source components for local production of cars at its Chennai plant.With the addition of the partners, which include Force Motors, Tenneco Automotive India and Lear India, the level of localisation at the company's Chennai plant will increase to about 50 per cent, BMW Group India said in a statement.(businesstoday)

• Matt Levatich is scheduled to take over as the next CEO of Harley-Davidson, thus replacing Keith Wandell. Keith had been at the coveted post for the motorcycle manufacturer since the 1st of May, 2009. Matt will take responsibility on the same date, this year.Levatich will have the luxury of inheriting the company at a much better stage than it was during the tenure of Wandell. Incidentally, Harley-Davidson has reported consecutive profits for six years in tandem, which shows how crucial has been the effect of Wandell on the company.(cartrade.com)

• With its India plans not making much headway, China's largest truck manufacturer, Beiqi Foton Motor, has let go of most of its top local executives, multiple sources said.The $400-million investment that Foton promised in 2011 is still the largest foreign direct investment proposal by a Chinese company in India. The Beijing-based company's plan was to bring in its heavy commercial vehicles range that has made it the segment leader in China and one of the largest players globally. (ETauto.com)

• Eider Motors is a new bike manufacturing company based out of Telangana state and the company will be launching its bikes in India in March. The company offers products across various segments and will be introducing scooters, commuter bikes, a higher capacity bike and a cruiser in the market. Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/02/bikes/eider-motors/eider-motors-plans-march-2015-launch-of-bikes-in-india/#PZzTVGvJSChmM8Fi.99

• Ford has become the first auto manufacturer in India to launch a vehicle personalisation centre, enabling customers to customise their favourite vehicles. To start with, Ford India offers customisation of the EcoSport. This centre is also the first such Ford-operated unit in the Asia-Pacific.Located in the vicinity of Ford India’s Chennai factory, the vehicle personalisation centre is spread over 35,000 square feet. (financial express)