Automotive updates 13th and 14th September 2015

• Renault has begun the dispatch process of the much-awaited Kwid to its dealerships just ahead of its launch. In fact, dealers have started accepting booking orders for the vehicle from today itself. The Renault Kwid will be made available in four trim levels – Std, RxE, RxL and RxT – all of which are powered by an all-new 799cc, three-cylinder petrol engine. This powertrain is capable to deliver a maximum power of 53bhp at 5,678rpm and 72Nm of torque at 4,386rpm. Renault claims that the Kwid returns a class-leading fuel efficiency of 25.17km/l. Transmission option on offer is a five-speed manual. (cartrade)

• Shares of Amtek Auto jumped 24 per cent in morning trade on Monday on media reports that the company plans to raise about Rs 6,500 crore by selling assets.The proceeds will go towards reducing the company's debt of about Rs 15,000 crore, said media reports.The stock hit a day's high of Rs 57.90, up 23.98 per cent, on the BSE. The scrip gained nearly 43 per cent last week.(Etauto)

• Automaker and multi-brand conglomerate, Mahindra & Mahindra has entered the booming Indian e-commerce space with its own online marketplace named M2ALL.com. With a pan-India reach, the online marketplace will bring a host of Mahindra products and services under one roof, the company said today at the official launch in Mumbai. The e-commerce industry in India has been growing rapidly in the last few years and the Mahindra Group foresees it reaching an estimated $50 billion (Rs 315,850 crore) by 2020. Keeping in mind the tremendous growth potential, M&M has set up a new 100 percent subsidiary company called the Mahindra Emarketplace Pvt Ltd, which will oversee all the operations of the M2ALL portal. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/-logs-booming-commerce-bandwagon-m2all-online-marketplace-9268#sthash.F4osngmL.dpuf

• Skoda Auto India on Monday said it has launched a limited edition of its premium sedan Octavia, priced at Rs 15.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)."The Octavia Anniversary Edition comes with 'smartlink connectivity' for the first time in the Indian market," Skoda Auto India said in a statement.(businesstoday)

•  Honda Cars India will have to wait for the Rs 1,577-crore expansion project at its Tapukara plant in Rajasthan as the Environment Ministry has sought more details before giving its final nod."Honda Cars India's proposal was examined in a recent meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). Based on the presentation made and discussions held, the Committee desired additional information," a senior government official said.(Etauto)

• JK Tyre and JK Asia Pacific Singapore Pte Ltd have entered into an INR 2,200 crore deal with Kesoram Industries Limited for the purchase of 100 percent equity in Cavendish Industries Limited (CIL). Cavendish Industries is the company’s tyre manufacturing plant located at Haridwar from where a range of tyres, tubes and flaps are produced.With this new acquisition, JK Tyre will be able to expand their truck and bus radial segment in the country and enter into a two and three wheeler tyre market that is growing by leaps and bounds. 

• Audi launched the new A6 Matrix in August this year with a 2.0L diesel engine. The luxury sedan has now been launched in its petrol avatar. Priced at Rs. 45.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the A6 35 TFSI is powered by a 1.8L, 4-cylinder petrol engine that makes 188 BHP. The engine comes mated with a seven speed S-Tronic automatic gearbox. The car gets an auto engine start / stop system with energy recovery and the fuel economy figure is rated at 15.26 km/l.(team-bhp)

• Smart electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy today announced the appointment of Ravneet Singh Phokela as its chief business officer. In his new role, Phokela will oversee marketing, sales and customer experience for the company, the Bangalore-based company said in a release. Having worked on leading global and Indian brands such as Nokia, Whirlpool and Flipkart, Phokela brings tremendous consumer marketing experience for the start-up, it said. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/flipkart-vp-joins-ather-energy-chief-business-officer-9272#sthash.vYTQRSVB.dpuf

• Looking to start a new business or expand your existing commercial vehicle business? The answer has just got simpler, MAN Trucks India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Canara Bank in an attempt to offer convenient commercial vehicle loans to its customers. As per the new MOU, the Canara Bank emerges as the preferred financier for MAN Trucks in India.(cartrade)