Automotive Updates - 6th April 2015

• Auto component major Bosch has declared a lockout at its Jaipur plant due to the ongoing worker unrest in the facility.The plant, which has a history of labour issues, was shut for a day last month also on account of a day-long strike by the labour union over wage settlement."The company's management has taken a considered decision in declaring a lockout against the labour union and workmen of the company's Jaipur plant indulging in a go-slow action, effective April 5," Bosch Ltd said in a filing to the BSE.(ETauto)

• Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), betting big on the country's rural market, is targeting to increase its penetration in rural areas by over 20 per cent to have presence in 1.5 lakh villages.Maruti 's rural sales had increased by 23 per cent to 4,15,380 units in 2014-15, when it posted its highest ever total sales in a financial year. The car manufacturer had posted total sales of 12,92,415 units in 2014-15 beating previous best in 2010-11. "In FY15 we established presence in 1.25 lakh villages. Target going forward will be to enhance presence in 1.5 lakh villages," MSI Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, RS Kalsi told PTI.(businesstoday)

• French carmaker is all set to launch its first MPV in India,Renault Lodgy in April. The bookings have begun for the car and Renault hopes that it can recreate the same magic as it did with compact SUV Duster. The price of Renault Lodgy could fall in between Rs 8 and 12 lakh and is expected to be released for the Indian market in second week of April 2015.The upfront booking amount of the MPV is Rs 50,000. It will come in 7 as well as 8 seater variants and will take head on with Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Honda Mobilio, Toyota Innova and Chevrolet Enjoy in the segment. Lodgy is being manufactured by the same Romanian subsidiary Dacia which has made Duster.         (financial express)

• Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd plans to introduce at least two models and is banking on an economic recovery in the current fiscal year to spur demand for its utility vehicles to stave off a challenge from the Indian unit of Honda Motor Co. for the number three position in the Indian passenger vehicle market. Mahindra and Mahindra, the current holder of the third position, has already been twice surpassed by Honda Cars India Ltd in monthly sales during the year ended 31 March, and the Indian company now runs into the risk of losing out to Honda in annual sales too.     Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Industry/tRk7ff23QNTeeyLT6VeARL/Mahindra-plans-new-models-in-fight-with-Honda-for-No-3-slot.html?utm_source=copy

• Autocar Professional has learnt that technocrat Dr Arun Jaura has been inducted as project director (research & development) on the board of Michelin India. He has stepped down as an independent director from the board of Gabriel India, part of the Anand Group, which had undertaken restructuring of its Board of Directors in September last year. It is  Dr Jaura’s appointment assumes significance considering that the French tyremaker plans to set up an R&D centre in India. The facility is to come up in Gurgaon and will be Michelin's first such unit in a developing country. Michelin India had last opened a truck tyre plant in Chennai with an investment of around Rs 4,000 crore. The plant manufactures truck radials designed and developed for the Indian market. The company is optimistic about growth in India, particularly in view of the government’s focus on building roadways and infrastructure, in turn generating demand for premium passenger car tyres. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/dr-arun-jaura-joins-michelin-india-director-8121#sthash.ZhMS3UV4.dpuf

• TVS Electronics, manufacturer of dot matrix printers, is mulling partnership with mobile manufacturing companies as part of expanding its business."With a view to broadbase its product business, the company has decided to enter into agreements and appropriate business arrangements with mobile manufacturing companies or whole sale distributors for order fulfillment services whenever such opportunities arise," TVS Electronics said in a BSE filing.The Tamil Nadu-based company said such opportunities would provide "good collateral business" benefits for repair and warranty management services for these products in the medium to long term. (ETauto)