Automotive Updates - 28th and 29th December 2015

• Some of the past presidents of automotive industry body SIAM have come together to consult with heads of other carmakers to figure out a way forward after the Supreme Court banned registration of all diesel SUVs and cars with engines above 2,000 cc in Delhi/NCR.According to industry sources, the informal group was to take inputs from the CEOs of the auto companies on how to deal with the issue. (ETauto)

• Hyundai India has been growing steadily since its inception in 1997 but the progress during the past few years had been faster than before. The extremely impressive success enjoyed by the Creta further boosted the South Korean automaker’s confidence in the market.The Hindu BusinessLine reports that Hyundai India is gearing up to launch at least one new or refurbished product every year till 2020. The company has reportedly earmarked an investment of INR 1,000 cr for every new product.(rushlane)

• Canadian auto components manufacturer – Magna International – plans to supply manual transmissions to Ford India for its Figo hatchback and Figo Aspire sedan models from its plant at the supplier park at Sanand. According to Jim Tobin, chief marketing officer and president of Magna Asia, the auto parts maker will supply transmissions to Ford India through the recently acquired German transmission maker Getrag Systems. Magna International acquired the transmission maker Getrag for a whopping $1.9 billion (Rs 1.2 lakh crore) and the latest acquisition will make Magna a major transmission competitor to ZF Friedrichshafen, Japan's Aisin and several other smaller transmission suppliers. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/magna-int-supply-manual-transmissions-india-figo-aspire-sanand-9987#sthash.udxBj2kW.dpuf

• Japanese automobile manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation is going to reduce its domestic production output between January and March 2016, the company announced in a press statement. The move is due to ongoing sales decrease of mini vehicles and motorcycles. However, there will be no change in the number of production workforce in relation to this output reduction. (ETauto)

• Renault will showcase a more powerful 1.0-litre version of its small car the Kwid at the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo. The Renault Kwid with an AMT might also be shown at the show. The new 1.0-litre engine has been codenamed B4D and it will produce around 68bhp of power and close to 95Nm of peak torque. This new four-cylinder engine has been developed by Renault and Nissan, and shall also be seen on the Datsun Redi-Go.(cartrade)

• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is planning to advance the introduction of its new-generation Swift Dzire sedan by almost a year as it seeks to protect its turf in the face of competition, said two people familiar with the company’s plans.The company is also planning to launch a Dzire Tour model, aimed at taxi operators, with a petrol engine. Maruti currently has only the diesel version of the Dzire Tour running in the cab market. The petrol model can be retrofitted with a CNG kit to meet the new norms in Delhi.(livemint)

• OK Play India, a plastics auto component company, has launched e-Raaja which is claimed to be the first designed, developed and manufactured e-rickshaw in the country. The ICAT-certified rickshaw, which has a plastic body, is priced at Rs 1.15 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakh (including taxes). The vehicle is designed to carry four passengers plus a driver. - See more at: http://www.autocarpro.in/news-national/ok-play-launches-india-rickshaw-9996#sthash.B13rIm1W.dpuf

•  French car maker Renault, which has seen strong response to its small car Kwid, is set to take the battle further on to market leader Maruti Suzuki's turf by taking the covers off the 1-litre and automated manual transmission (AMT) versions of the model at the auto show in February.Renault launched the Kwid just before the festival season with a 799cc engine at an aggressive price of Rs 2.57 to Rs 3.53 lakh, excluding insurance and local levies in Delhi, taking Maruti head on.(Etauto)