Automotive Updates - 16th April 2015

•  Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV), the fully-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG, will inaugurate its bus plant in May. The announcement was made at International fair, Messe, Hannover. Wolfgang Bernhard, Daimler AG Board member responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, said, "On the basis of our strong truck business, we are now pressing ahead on the Indian bus market. For that purpose, we are consistently using existing suppliers, our production site and our sales network in India." (Etauto.com)

• In a shocking piece of news coming from the US, Hero MotoCorp’s technical partner Erik Buell Racing (EBR) has filed for bankruptcy as it closed doors at its East Troy, Wisconsin facility laying off 126 employees (it also shut its website). EBR reportedly has a debt of over $20 million (around Rs. 125 crores) and is seeking Chapter 128 or bankruptcy protection from its creditors. The news surely comes as disappointing as the company had resurrected from the ashes back in 2009 after Harley-Davidson’s closure of Buell Motorcycles.After finding limited funding domestically and with Erik Buell make his own investments into the company, EBR received a major boost when Hero MotoCorp found potential in the American manufacturer and bought a 49.2 percent stake in July 2013, investing $25 million (Rs. 150 crores) that helped keep its operations afloat.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/04/bikes/ebr/hero-motocorps-tech-partner-ebr-ceases-operations-goes-bankrupt/#gATZrdEIC8Qu3uW5.99

• Sumit Mazumder, CMD of Tractor India, has taken over as the new president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Addressing media persons after taking over charge today, he said that CII’s recommendations for 2015-16 are to fast-track sectoral policies including the national steel policy, the national policy on capital goods, national chemical policy and the national textile policy. In addition, taking the ease of doing business to the states is necessary as well as creating a single-window platform for all regulatory issues related to start-ups. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/sumit-mazumder-appointed-president-confederation-indian-industry-8207#sthash.SqSJNgBj.dpuf

•  Hitachi Automotive, part of the Japan-headquartered Hitachi Group, has set up an auto parts manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs 3.13 billion (Rs 313 crore) to cater to domestic and overseas markets, a top company official said today.Hitachi Automotive Systems India will manufacture valve timing control systems and ignition coils from October this year at the facility at Panchanthiruthi village in Tiruporur Taluk in neighbouring Kancheepuram District. (Etauto.com)

• Working towards its intiative to promote safe riding in the country, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) today inaugurated its new traffic-training park in Hyderabad, in collaboration with Hyderabad Traffic Police. This is Honda’s 8th traffic park in India and its 1sttraffic park to promote road safety in South India. The inauguration was graced by chief guest Mr. Mahendar Reddy (IPS, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad), Mr. Jitender (IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Hyderabad); Mr. Tomoaki Nagayama (Deputy Director, South Region, Sales & Marketing, HMSI) and Mr. Ashish Chaudhary (Assistant General Manager – South Region, Sales & Marketing,  HMSI).(motoroids.com)

• Miami-based two-wheeler manufacturer UM Motorcycles had showcased its motorcycles at the 2014 Auto Expo. It has now been reported that the manufacturer will make the debut in the market with a 400 cc motorcycle. It is not yet sure whether the bike will come in the form of a scrambler or a cruiser. However, the chances of it being a cruiser bike are more because of its grand acceptance in the market.(cartrade.com)

• The current Fiat Linea is a pure driver’s delight with its sorted driving dynamics and the really fun T-Jet engine under the hood which makes it a choice for the enthusiasts over the otherwise popular Honda City or Hyundai Verna in the segment. However, the Linea has been on sale since 2007 making it really old now and Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) has commenced work on the next generation model that was recently caught testing in Italy and will hit the showrooms across Europe sometime in 2016.While the heavily camouflaged test mule gives out very little information, the next generation Fiat Linea is said to be based on the automaker’s Small US Wide Architecture and will grow longer and wider than the outgoing version.Read more at http://www.motorbeam.com/2015/04/cars/fiat-linea/next-generation-fiat-linea-spied-in-italy-will-be-called-bravo/#dHMArywcHkOkL10f.99