Automotive Updates - 6th and 7th January 2016

• Bajaj Auto Ltd, India’s largest exporter of motorcycles and three wheelers, will enter a dozen new export markets by end of March, a top company official said in an interview on Tuesday.The maker of Pulsar and Avenger motorcycle brands has reported a decline in exports volume in the last few months because of political and economic uncertainties in some of its export markets, particularly in oil-producing emerging markets. Bajaj plans to maintain its leadership in the export market by expanding into newer markets— a plan that some analysts are skeptical about given the current stress on emerging market economies and their currencies.(livemint)

• As India gears up to leapfrog to BS VI auto fuel emission norms by April 2020 to check pollution, Maruti Suzuki on Thursday said this will not bring any perceptible change in air quality but may push car prices by anywhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh.Stating that cars contribute only 2 per cent to the overall pollution, Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava said it will be a challenge to upgrade technologies to meet BS VI norms in just four years and prices could go up by anywhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 2 lakh depending on the vehicles.(businesstoday)

• Mahindra has launched the new Imperio, its new single and double cab pick-up. This new pick-up is also based on the Ingenio platform that it shares with the Xylo, Genio and the Quanto. The Genio pick-up will be replaced by this new pick-up truck for the Indian car market. Talking of the engine, it has a 2,5-litre diesel engine that churns about 75bhp of power and 220Nm of torque. This pick-up has a payload of 1240 kilograms and it has a fuel efficiency of 13.55km/l. The other features on this vehicle are power and fuel economy mode and brakes with LSPV for effective braking. Mahindra is offering three years and 1 lakh km warranty on this pick-up.(cartrade)

• Swedish commercial vehicles major Volvo on Monday announced consolidation of its bus business in India into a group company, Volvo India Pvt. Ltd, which is also responsible for manufacturing of Volvo trucks.“With effect from 31 December 2015, Volvo Buses India has merged into the joint company of Volvo Group in India, namely Volvo India Pvt. Ltd (VIPL),” the group said in a statement on Monday.(livemint)

• To be displayed at the 2016 Auto Expo in February, the new Hyundai Tucson will be launched later in 2016 in India. It will be brought in as a CBU. The Indian version will be powered by a 2.0 liter CRDi diesel engine offering peak power of 182 hp and peak torque of 400 Nm mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission.(rushlane)

• Tata's much awaited hatchback - Zica, might be launched in India on January 20, 2016, according to our sources.This car measures 3,746 mm in length, 1,647 mm in width and 1,535 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a ground clearance of 170 mm. The car boasts of a boot space of 242L, which is bigger than the Bolt (210L).(team-bhp)

•  Madison OOH, the outdoor unit of Madison World, has won the outdoor mandate of Tata Motors. The agency's specialist unit, Platinum Outdoor, bagged the business following a multi-agency pitch."Tata Motors is at a defining juncture in its evolution as it gears up to disrupt the passenger vehicles industry. With the combination of our campaigns and the immense expertise at Madison OOH, we are sure to present some interesting visual branding displays," said Delna Avari, head of marketing communication and services, passenger vehicle business unit, Tata Motors.(ETauto)