Automotive Updates - 27th March 2015

• Japanese auto major Honda’s cars and two-wheelers subsidiaries in India will invest a total of Rs 965 crore to increase their respective production capacities at two existing plants in India by 2016.The company’s wholly-owned arm, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) will invest Rs 380 crore in its second plant at Tapukara in Rajasthan to expand production capacity to 1.80 lakh units from the current 1.20 lakh units.At the same time, Honda’s 100 per cent subsidiary Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) will also invest Rs 585 crore to hike production capacity at its third plant at Narsapura in Karnataka by setting up a new line to take overall annual capacity of the facility to 24 lakh units.(livemint.com)

• Malaysian carmaker Proton Holdings Berhad, whose plan to enter the India market has been on the backburner for quite some time now, may be mulling local assembly operation through an Indian partner or even taking on board a local distributor to market its cars in India. Abdul Rashid Bin Musa, chief technical officer, Group Engineering, who spoke exclusively to Autocar Professional at the Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2015 earlier this month, said that Proton is still undertaking a feasibility study to understand the Indian market and the right product for it. He said  Proton is exploring a local partnership to either assemble or distribute Proton cars as an option. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/proton-look-bring-iriz-hatchback-india-8054#sthash.YJVU5XBu.dpuf

• Country's popular bike-maker Bajaj Auto has finally launched the much awaited Pulsar RS 200 in the domestic market at a starting price tag of about Rs. 1.18 lakh (Ex-showroom Delhi), whereas the ABS trim is offered at a price tag of Rs. 1.3 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Powered by a 199.5cc liquid-cooled engine and mated to a six-speed gearbox the vehicle is capable of generating about 24.4 PS of power at 9,500 rpm and a peak torque of 18.6 Nm at 8,000 rpm. The bike is capable of attaining a top speed of about 141 km/hr.(cartrade.com)

•  Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rejected charges that Suzuki Motorcycle India abused its dominant position in the market for manufacturing and sale of two-wheeler vehicles.A complaint filed by an individual had alleged that Suzuki was imposing unfair and discriminatory conditions in the sale of its two-wheeler ACCESS 125cc.In a recent order, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said that "no prima facie case of contravention of the provisions of...the (Competition) Act is made out against the opposite party (Suzuki Motorcycle) in the instant matter.(ETauto.com)

• American auto major Ford aims to triple exports from India over the next five years with its new USD 1 billion plant here becoming operational. The plant, the company's second in the country, which was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel here today, will also double its production capacity in India. "With manufacturing facilities in Chennai and Sanand, we expect to triple our exports from India in the next five years," Ford Motor President and CEO Mark Fields told reporters here.(cartrade.com)

• Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL), today announced that it will invest Rs. 380 crore in its Tapukara plant in Distt. Alwar, Rajasthan to expand the annual production capacity of the plant from the current 1,20,000 units per annum to 1,80,000 units per annum.The additional capacity is scheduled to be ready by middle of 2016. This capacity expansion will generate a fresh employment of about 600 people in Tapukara plant.This expansion of the 2nd plant will increase HCIL's overall annual production capacity from the current 240,000 units to 300,000 units including the 120,000-unit capacity of the 1st plant in Greater Noida. (ETauto.com)