automotive Updates - 28th and 29th September 2015

•  Mercedes Benz has Rs 2,000 crore decided to invest in upgrading its factory at Chakan in Pune, which the Maharashtra government says is an endorsement of its commitment to the ease of doing business in the state. Earlier the government was successful in luring Foxconn to set up manufacturing units in the state.(Etauto)

• Audi said 2.1 million cars worldwide were fitted with the software that allowed parent Volkswagen to cheat US emission tests.Some 1.42 million Audi vehicles with so-called EU5 engines are affected in Western Europe, with 577,000 in Germany and almost 13,000 in the United States, a spokesman for Ingolstadt-based Audi said on Monday.Affected model lines include the A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5, the spokesman said.(businesstoday)

• Tata Motors Ltd plans to launch the Magic Mantra, an upgraded eight-seater passenger carrier based on the existing Magic platform, in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru next month, as it seeks to compete in the auto rickshaw, and black and yellow cabs market.While the Magic has been running in smaller towns and cities for nearly eight years now, this is the first time that the company is targeting the big metros, said Ravi Pisharody, is executive director, commercial vehicles business at Tata Motors, in an interview on Monday.(livemint)

• Hero MotoCorp has unveiled the Maestro Edge scooter in India. The company will launch the product on October 13.The Maestro Edge is available in seven colours – Pearl Silver White, Panther Black, Shooting Night Star, Candy Blazing Red, Techno Blue, Matte Vernier Grey and Matte Blue. It has a telescopic fork suspension at the front and rides on 12-inch alloy wheels. (teambhp)

• GNA Axles, the Punjab-based manufacturer of rear axle shafts for commercial and agricultural vehicles, has filed a red herring prospectus with stock market regulator for an IPO of up to 6.3 million shares, it said in a release today.The breakdown for the issue is 61,00,000 equity shares for the public along with a reservation of 2,00,000 shares for subscription by eligible employees, with a face value of Rs 10 per share.The net proceeds from the issue will be utilised for the purchase of plant and machinery, and to meet the working capital requirements along with general corporate purposes. The company proposes to utilise Rs 80 crore towards purchase of plant and machinery and Rs 35 crore towards meeting working capital requirements.(autocarpro)

• Mahindra has rolled out the 7,00,000th vehicle from its plant in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The plant has achieved this milestone in less than 10 years since it became operational.Inaugurated in December 2005, the Haridwar plant currently manufacturers the Bolero, Scorpio S2, Gio (passenger & load), Alfa (passenger & load) and Champion range. For the past two years, the plant has had one of the highest production capacities among other automotive plants of Mahindra. It is the company's sole automotive plant in North India. (teambhp)

• Sonalika International Tractors has launched a new series of tractors - HDM (Heavy Duty Mileage) at the Punjab Agricultural University Mela (PAU Mela).Under this new series, the company has launched the new DI 750III tractor, which is designed to operate in all types of soil conditions.The DI 750III falls in the 55 HP segment and has a lift capacity of 2,000 kg.(teambhp)