Automotive Updates - 26th august 2015

• The fledgling truck and bus business of Mahindra and Mahindra has committed fresh Rs 700 crore investment in the business to expand its footprint in the Light and Intermediate Commercial Vehicle segment and become a full range player in the Indian market. With the demand scenario improving, the company is also fast approaching operation profitability, say people close to the company. The announcement was made by the company at the roll out of 15,000th heavy truck from the Chakan plant in Pune on Wednesday . (Etauto)

• Ashok Leyland Ltd, the country’s second largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, expects to double its revenue from exports in the next five years.A week ago, soon after the company announced better-than-expected earnings in the June quarter, Gopal Mahadevan, its chief financial officer, said the firm will improve its revenue from exports to one-third of total revenue from the current 15% in the next three-five years.Analysts, however, foresee challenges, given that earlier attempts fell short of expectations.(livemint)

• Global New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has written to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) urging the Indian automobile industry to adopt standards set by the United Nations for the front and side impact for new cars. Global NCAP has appealed to automakers to take voluntary steps to improve the safety of their vehicles before the Government of India implements new safety norms under Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP). According to the London-based agency, in terms of safety Indian automobile industry is at a position where Europe was twenty years ago.(team-bhp)

• With the festive season approaching, the domestic automobile industry was looking to accelerate sales of passenger car models across the country. However, the state of Assam is proving to be a dampener as sales of small passenger cars have dropped by up to 60 percent in the past month, mostly in the state capital of Guwahati. The drop in sales comes following the recent interim order by the Gauhati High Court in which it has asked the Central government ‘not to permit’ auto manufacturers to release and sell four-wheelers weighing up to 1,500kg  and quadricycles in the state without putting them to crash-stage and emission tests. The HC order came in response of two PILs which sought the court’s intervention in upgrading the safety system in four- wheelers and quadricycles. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/car-sales-assam-fall-percent-gauhati-hc-9138#sthash.BGXbfJ3d.dpuf

• Tata Motors' multi-utility vehicle Hexa is due to be launched this year and already has been spotted testing on roads. This new MPV was showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show along with a sportier version of the Tata Bolt.The Hexa is based on the Aria and is complete re-do of the existing MPV. The platform remains the same, apart from that, there are several major changes in the underpinnings, sheet metal and even interiors of the new MPV. (Etauto)

• Apollo Tyres Ltd on Wednesday said it has closed a €300 million financing for its upcoming manufacturing plant in Hungary.The company has closed financing for its greenfield plant in Hungary, Apollo Tyres said in a statement. An international consortium of banks comprising ABN AMRO Bank NV, Magyar Export-Import Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and UniCredit Bank Hungary, supported the company and provided the debt financing, it added.(livemint)

• Yamaha has discontinued five motorcycle models from its India line-up. These models had been slow-sellers and had reached the end of their product cycles.The discontinued bikes include the SS 125, SZ-RR, SZ-S, YBR 110 and YBR 125. These models have been taken off the company's official website.(team-bhp)

• It’s no secret that Suzuki is working on an iM-4 concept based compact SUV, which was showcased at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show. Now, the patent images of the iM-4’s production version have emerged online. The leaked images suggest that the final production model of the compact SUV will share resemblance with its concept. Though, the overall styling will be toned down. The company claims that the Suzuki iM-4 has SUV DNA, coupled with advanced technology and uniqueness.(cartrade)