Automotive Updates - 11th March 2015

• Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, is fixing its India strategy to turn around operations after posting lower sales in each of the past three years. The plans include introduction of new models, giving more incentives to dealers and improving after-sales services to address some of the main complaints it has been facing. The automaker is also looking at reducing cost, such as through using more locally-sourced components and tightening sales and marketing operations, to make its cars more affordable in India's price-sensitive market. To utilise capacity at the Pune plant even as it works on the turnaround, Volkswagen (VW) has increased exports from India. (ETauto.com)

• India’s largest two-wheeler manufactuer, Hero MotoCorp (HMCL), has started producing the 110cc Dash scooter model at its facility in Gurgaon, three sources associated with the development told Autocar Professional. According to the specifications revealed by the company last year at the 2014 Auto Expo where the Dash scooter was first unveiled, the upcoming model will be powered by a new four-stroke, force-air-cooled, single-cylinder, 111cc petrol engine, which will generate a maximum power output of 8.5bhp. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/hero-motocorp-begins-production-110cc-dash-scooter-7905#sthash.89yUuBUr.dpuf

• Mahindra Two Wheelers and mobile commerce platform Paytm have entered into a partnership for online retailing of Mahindra Centuro motorcycles and Mahindra Rodeo UZO range of scooters.Consumers can now buy both models on the Paytm marketplace, Mahindra Two Wheelers said in a statement.Commenting on the partnership, Mahindra Two Wheelers Vice President (Sales and Customer Care) Dharmendra Mishra said: "Mahindra's association with Paytm is yet another innovative expression of our commitment to reach to our potential customers. (ETauto.com)

• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the nation’s biggest car maker by volume, plans to start sales of small trucks to challenge Tata Motors Ltd’s dominance in a vehicle segment that has shrunk in demand for two years. The local unit of Suzuki Motor Corp. will introduce in the next four months vehicles with a payload of about one tonne and sell them through separate showrooms, chairman R.C. Bhargava said in an interview in New Delhi on Wednesday. The vehicles, to be initially sold in big cities, will come with gasoline, diesel and natural gas engine options, he said.Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Companies/NJyWibsQ4bNOnUHAYfob7N/Maruti-set-to-challenge-Tatas-dominance-with-smalltruck-pu.html?utm_source=copy

• German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes Benz today launched facelift of its compact car B-class in two variants - B 180 Sport (petrol) and B 200 CDI Sport (diesel) priced at Rs. 27.95 lakhs, and Rs. 28.95 lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai) respectively.The launch of the new B-Class is intrinsic to Mercedes-Benz India's '15 in 15' product strategy. (ETauto.com)

• Bajaj Auto has unveiled a café racer version of the Boxer 150 at the 2015 Turkey Motor Show. The Boxer cafe racer sports a combination of blue and matt black paint, a round headlight, round turn-indicators, a small windshield, underbelly exhaust and 17-inch alloy wheels.(teambhp)