Automotive Updates - 20 and 21st October 2015

• As rivals open new flanks to nibble away market share in its bastions, Mahindra & Mahindra, India's largest utility vehicle maker, is winning unexpectedly in the small commercial vehicle space (SCV), a space where Tata Motors, was till recently, the undisputed leader. Mahindra & Mahindra overtookTata Motors as the largest mini-truck seller (0.5-3.5 tonne) in the country. Led by its pickup trucks, it has crossed a market share of 50% in SCV cargo space for the first time, with Tata Motors share almost falling to 36.55% in the first six months of FY-16.  (ETauto)

• Royalty payments by India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd to its parent Suzuki Motor Corp. have grown by 6.6 times in the last 15 years to Rs.21,415 per vehicle sold in India, raising concerns among investors in India’s largest car maker.According to Maruti’s latest annual report, royalty payments accounted for 5.7% of net sales and 36% of profits before tax and royalty in 2014-15.This is in sharp contrast with Suzuki’s consolidated expenditure on its research and development on each vehicle, including its motorcycle business—4% during the period.(livemint)

• Being produced exclusively at Maruti Suzuki Manesar plant, the new Baleno is slated for launch in India on October 26. To be sold exclusively through NEXA outlets, Maruti’s premium dealership chain, Baleno production target for the first year are at 80,000 units.Following its successful launch in India, Maruti Suzuki Baleno hatchback will be shipped to 100 markets globally, which also includes Japan and many European countries. To meet the demand from 100 export markets, most of the Baleno produced in India will be exported (as exports have a better profit margin).(rushlane)

• With a growing demand and long waiting period for AMT cars in India, this comes as great news as Italian component maker Magneti Marelli inaugurated a new plant at Manesar near Gurgaon. The company will initially start manufacturing 10,000 units and then will gradually increase production to a full capacity of 2,80,000 units by the end of 2016. Presently, the cars that benefit from the AMT transmission include Tata Nano AMT, Tata Zest and Maruti Suzuki Celerio. The futuristic plant is spread across 7,500 square metres and is made with an investment of Rs 150 Crores. The company maintains that the plat was setup to satisfy the growing demands for AMT units in the country.(cartrade)

• Bajaj Auto is set to launch four new motorcycles in the market soon as part of its plans to capture over 22 per cent share by the end of this fiscal.The company will be expanding its Avenger range of cruiser bikes through introduction of three new models this month. "Besides, in the fourth quarter of this fiscal, we will launch a completely new model that will be in the mid-segment of the motorcycle market," Bajaj Auto President (Business Development & Assurance) S Ravikumar told PTI.(businesstoday)

• Mahindra & Mahindra today announced the launch of SmartShift, a technology enabled load exchange platform. SmartShift will act as an exchange platform for cargo owners and transporters, enabling them to work with each other. Cargo owners (both businesses and individual users) can access the SmartShift service through a mobile app (available on Android), the website or the dedicated call centre. M&M says it is launching SmartShift following over 2,000 hours of consumer research done over a year. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/mahindra-logs-digital-marketplace-intra-city-logistics-9524#sthash.ewQvmngK.dpuf

• India's largest refiner and fuel retailer Indian Oil is expanding its portfolio of co-branded lubricants under the Servo tag as leading automakers change their sales pitch by aggressively pushing extended warranty.In its latest endeavour, the state-run company has tied up with Tata Motors, one of the largest diesel vehicle makers in the country, to jointly launch a range of high-performance co-branded diesel engine oils for commercial vehicles from the Tata stable.(ETauto)