Automotive Update - 10th June 2015

• With the improvement in its financial performance under the Carlos Tavares-led restructuring plan, French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroën is planning to be back in India to join the race. The OEM could enter the Indian market by 2018-19. Unlike the last time around, the entry will not be through the CBU route. Peugeot had planned to enter the India market with its 508 sedan before financial woes spoilt the company’s India market game-plan. Shashikant Vaidyanathan, director, Peugeot Citroën India, told Autocar Professional that the company is weighing options to assemble/manufacture cars in India. While the plan is to eventually produce cars locally, the entry could be through the assembly or contract manufacturing route. In its earlier attempt, the company had zeroed in on Gujarat to set up a plant. Gujarat could still be the choice but other options are also open, says Vaidyanathan. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/peugeot-enter-india-2018-19-8592#sthash.bPvMSs68.dpuf

• Looking to power its forthcoming models with bigger engines, Maruti Suzuki India is planning to source a 1.6 litre diesel Fiat engine, reported ET Now.According to ET Now sources, the 1.6 litre diesel will be fitted in the carmaker's upcoming S-Cross.Maruti may also introduce a 1.6 litre diesel engine variant of its sedan Ciaz, said ET Now. Currently the Ciaz is powered by a 1.3 litre Fiat diesel engine."Maruti has received feedback from the market that the Ciaz diesel is underpowered," reported ET Now. The 1.3 litre diesel engine is used by Maruti in Swift, Swift Dzire and Ciaz. The same engine is also used by Tata and Fiat in India.(Etauto.com)

• German luxury carmaker BMW today launched an updated version of its 3 Series Gran Turismo Sport Line sedan in India with an introductory price tag of Rs 39.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).The diesel-powered BMW 320d Gran Turismo Sport Line would be locally produced at the company’s plant in Chennai.(financial express)

• US based Automotive solution giant, Visteon Corporation, announced on wednesday the appointment of Sachin Lawande as the president and chief executive officer of Visteon, effective June 29, 2015. Lawande will also join Visteon's Board of Directors. Lawande will succeed Timothy D. Leuliette."After a thorough evaluation of potential candidates, we are confident that we have found in Sachin the perfect individual to lead and transform our company to achieve further success in the rapidly evolving automotive electronics market," said Francis M. Scricco, Chairman of the Board. (Auto-samiksha)

• Johnson Controls, the US based manufacturer of seating and interiors for vehicles, said that it is exploring strategic options for the separation of its automotive business. The company said that it wants to focus on its high-margin heating and cooling businesses.In order for us to become truly multi-industrial, it is getting more and more clear that we need to focus on segments that are going to move us forward as a company and allow the automotive business to have the investment it needs to be successful," said Alex (Etauto.com)

• Qoros, the youngest carmaker in China, has set its eyes on India. The company finds the Indian market “interesting” and plans to tap the Indian market in the next “5-10 years”. The Chinese company is gaining attention from international media for its superior quality of products. Its first product, the Qoros 3 sedan, received a 5-star rating with the second highest score by a car in the Euro NCAP crash test. Qoros has a portfolio of three models – a sedan, a hatchback and a city SUV. It plans to add another SUV model this year. The first priority for Qoros, which sold 7,000 vehicles last year, is to gain a strong foothold in its domestic market. India could play an important role in its ambition to be an international brand. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-international/china-qoros-enter-india-8596#sthash.2W5oQdJJ.dpuf

• Japanese automobile firm Isuzu Motors is aiming at an annual production of 1,20,000 units with an investment of Rs 3,000 crore by 2016 in India, a senior official of the company said today.Once the plant at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh gets operational from 2016, the company will scale up production capacity to 1,20,000 units per year, with the accumulated investment of Rs 3,000 crore, company's EVP and Deputy Managing Director Shigeru Wakabayashi said. (ETauto.com)