IAC GLOBAL EXPANSION CONTINUES WITH NEW INDIA ENGINEERING CENTER OPENING

With the ability to accommodate up to 150 employees, the dedicated engineering facility will provide design engineering and application development support to domestic vehicle manufacturing programs for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Mahindra and Tata, as well as to IAC locations worldwide.“The newest IAC facility in Pune will further enhance our global integrated engineering solutions focused on the development of exceptional automotive interiors,” said IAC Senior Vice President of Asia Operations, Gajanan Gandhe.

Leading automotive interior components supplier International Automotive Components (IAC) continues its consistent global expansion and dedication to delivering innovative vehicle interiors with the opening of a new regional and global engineering center in Pune, India. Marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the 2,415-square-meter (25,569-square-foot) facility officially opened today and will focus on application development engineering to support the vehicle interior needs of domestic and global customer programs. This opening increases IAC’s presence in India to six locations throughout the country and 28 design, technical, and commercial centers around the world.

The facility opening frees up approximately 650 square meters (7,000 square feet) of space at IAC’s existing Chaklan II, India facility, which will be repurposed to expand its manufacturing operations providing additional production capacity and product offerings.(

“IAC’s efforts in India align with our global strategy of providing customers with the regional program support needed, but also allows our North American, European and Asian engineering teams to work around the clock on customer projects,” said IAC Chief Operating Officer, Terry Gohl, during the facility’s ribbon cutting event.

IAC is driven by a culture of relentless continuous improvement and over the past 12 months has executed steady growth around the world. In addition to the new engineering facility in Pune, IAC broke ground on a manufacturing plant in Poland in February 2017, began production at a new Czech Republic plant in July 2016, and entered the South American market with a new plant in Brazil in June 2016.

CCI imposes penalty of Rs. 87 crore against Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL)

 The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) to be in contravention of the provisions of Section 3(4)(e) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 for imposing arrangements upon its dealers which resulted into Resale Price Maintenance in sale of passenger cars manufactured by  it. Such arrangements also included monitoring of the maximum permissible discount levels through a Discount Control Mechanism. Further, HMIL was found to have contravened the provisions of Section 3(4)(a) read with Section 3(1) of the Act for mandating its dealers to use recommended lubricants/ oils and penalising them for use of non-recommended lubricants and oils.

The final order has been passed today on informations filed by the dealers of HMIL viz. Fx Enterprise Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. and St. Antony’s Cars Pvt. Ltd.

Apart from issuing a cease and desist order against HMIL, CCI has imposed a penalty of Rs. 87 crore upon HMIL for the anti-competitive conduct. The penalty has been levied @ 0.3% of the average relevant turnover of HMIL of preceding three years. CCI noted in its order that for the purposes of determining the relevant turnover for the impugned infringement, revenue from sale of motor vehicles alone have been taken into account.

A copy of the CCI’s order passed in Case Nos. 36 & 82 of 2014 has been uploaded on the website of CCI at www.cci.gov.in.

Tata Motors Electric bus commences pilot-runs in Chandigarh

Tata Motors has commenced trials of its 9 meters electric bus in Chandigarh. With a capacity to seat 31 passengers, the Tata Ultra ELECTRIC 9m bus will run for over 15-day, with the trial jointly carried out with Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) and the State Transport Department, with the Chandigarh administration having started the process of introducing electric buses in the city under its Smart City plan.

This is in continuation to the successful trial of the 9 meters electric bus trial from Parwanoo to Shimla a few weeks ago, where the bus performed exceedingly well covering a distance of 160 kms in one full charge. The initial trials in Chandigarh also show very encouraging results in a running of 143 kms, covering approximately 70% of the charge. The trials are part of the Ministry of Road Transport’s agenda for the electrification of public transport, for which Tata Motors is getting ready with its range of electric vehicles from 9 meters and 12 meters with various seating configurations, as well as its last mile passenger transport vehicle, the Tata Magic Iris.

Dr. AK Jindal, Head, Engineering Research Centre, Tata Motors said, “Tata Motors is participating in similar trials currently under way in Nagpur, where these buses were flagged off very recently by Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Government of Maharashtra. These trials are part of Tata Motors larger strategy to be present with its electric vehicle offerings, with best-in-class value proposition, helping the company better understand its customer requirements under different operating conditions, to suitably optimize its offerings. Tata Motors is also working with various study groups formed by the central government to work out various business models for operating electric vehicles and to optimize the overall economics of these buses, for a truly MAKE IN INDIA solution.”

Tata Motors has been at the forefront of Hybridization and electrification of passenger transportation and has developed technologies of Hybrid and Electrification. The first set of Ultra-modern, full low floor Hybrid buses are soon going to be delivered to MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority), for which the approval for commencement of supplies was recently received from them for 25 such buses. This was the single largest order awarded for Hybrid Electric vehicle technology in India.

Tata Motors, among the top 10 truck and bus manufacturers globally recently launched and showcased a range of mass public transportation vehicles in India, reiterating the company’s commitment towards smart and green technologies and mobility solutions. Among these the company launched the 9 meter and 12 meter STARBUS ELECTRIC bus, 12 meters STARBUS HYBRID bus and showcased a futuristic 12m HYDROGEN FUEL-CELL, along with a range of Electric small commercial vehicle, including the articulated bus, all designed, developed and powered by alternate fuels, to meet the current and future passenger transportation needs of Smart Cities.

Ambassador Ziegler inaugurates Michelin India R&D Laboratory in Manesar

H.E. Mr Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, today formally inaugurated Michelin India’s Research and Development Laboratory in Manesar, Haryana. This new state-of-the-art facility expands Michelin India’s research and innovation capacity and strengthens its commitment to the mobility industry in the region.

During the inauguration, Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler said: “Our vibrant economic partnership with India is boosted by France’s leading companies such as Michelin which actively contribute to “Make in India” and bring research and development technology expertise here. Along with providing innovative products to India and other emerging markets in the region, this technology center will also help augment skilling, thus contributing to the Indian government’s National Skill Development Mission, a key parameter for global competitiveness for India.”

With an annual R&D budget of more than €700 million, Michelin has over 6,000 employees engaged in research, development and process engineering at Technology Centers in Europe, North America and Asia. The sprawling 3800-square-meter Materials test laboratory at Manesar is an essential resource, providing support to the Michelin Technology Center in Gurgaon. This Technology Center is focused on radial truck and bus tyre R&D and provides technical support to the company’s manufacturing facilities in Chennai, China and Thailand.

Speaking at this momentous occasion, Philippe Verneuil, President of Michelin Africa, India and Middle East said: “Michelin Group is committed to bringing innovation quicker to our markets and better delivering on our customers’ expectations. Establishing a Technology Center supported by a materials testing laboratory is a demonstration of the high level of confidence that Michelin Group has for India and the business growth opportunities in the region. This laboratory will provide impetus to our established innovation capabilities in India and will assist with material research for more robust and fuel efficient truck and bus tires."

Serge Godefroid, Managing Director, Michelin India Technology Center said: “We have a dynamic team of highly skilled technical experts who have been selected from premier institutes in India. All of them followed intense training at our research and development facilities in France and the US prior to taking their roles in India. Michelin India’s R&D teams are now completely operational to offer our customers across emerging markets more adapted and innovative solutions.”

BMW Plant Chennai starts production of the all-new BMW 5 Series.

The all-new BMW 5 Series to be launched in India on 29 June 2017.

Chennai. The BMW Plant Chennai has started the production for the all-new BMW 5 Series that will be launched later this month in India.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “For many years, BMW 5 Series has been the undisputed leader of its segment and is an absolute success story. The all-new BMW 5 Series that will be launched this month has everything that is needed to take the Indian luxury car segment by storm. I would like to congratulate the Plant Chennai team for achieving this important milestone and we are extremely proud for the smooth start of production of the all-new BMW 5 Series.”

Dr. Jochen Stallkamp, Managing Director, BMW Plant Chennai said, “BMW Plant Chennai takes pride in producing cars for the last ten years that have the same international quality standards as any BMW Group production and assembly facilities worldwide. Today, BMW Plant Chennai is proud to start the roll out the all-the new 5 Series with highest standards of quality, distinguished workmanship and uncompromising engineering. We are confident that the all-new BMW 5 Series produced in Chennai will further increase our momentum in the Indian luxury car segment.”

Piaggio Group: important new developments on the Indian market

Under its strategy to strengthen its commercial vehicle offer, both for passenger transport, and for goods transport where Piaggio is the leader in India with a market share of 50.7% (at 31 December 2016), the Group is presenting the new Piaggio Porter 700. The modern versatile vehicle is a revolution for India, developed as a result of continuous interaction between the company and its customers. The Piaggio Porter 700 is ideal for last-mile deliveries but may also be used for intercity journeys. It is the first of many new entries planned by the Piaggio Group in this segment.

Furthermore, next Wednesday in Mumbai, Ravi Chopra, the Chairman of the Indian subsidiary PVPL (Piaggio Vehicles PVT Ltd.), a highly experienced manager who has contributed to the consolidation of the Piaggio Group’s leadership in commercial vehicles in India, the development of manufacturing facilities and the return of the Vespa scooter to India in 2012, will introduce Diego Graffi, the newly appointed CEO of PVPL, to the market. The first official act of the new management will be the presentation of the new Porter 700.

“I am delighted with the appointment of Diego Graffi, a highly competent manager with wide international experience both inside and outside the Group, who has already achieved excellent results in building up our position on India’s domestic market,” said Piaggio Group Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno. “India is a constantly growing region with great potential, where we already offer motorcycles, scooters and commercial vehicles. The new Piaggio Porter 700 is the ideal vehicle for last-mile deliveries and for intercity deliveries, and will help strengthen our leadership in the Cargo segment.”

Diego Graffi holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Padua University and has extensive experience in the automotive sector, having worked with leading international companies before joining the Piaggio Group in 2005. A key figure in the Piaggio Group, he has worked in India for about two years and thanks to his global business vision is making a significant contribution to the Group’s international expansion program.

Mr Graffi’s appointment is part of the plan for the re-organisation and consolidation of the Piaggio Group on Asian markets, which began in April with the appointment of Gianluca Fiume (previously Group VP for the European two-wheeler market) as President and General Manager of Piaggio Vietnam, with responsibility for all the markets in South East Asia.

Greaves to enter Petrol-CNG market with breakthrough technology from Pinnacle Engines

Greaves Cotton Limited and Pinnacle Engines Inc. US, announced a technology partnership for the launch of a revolutionary Opposed Piston Petrol/CNG lean burn BSVI-compliant engine for 3-wheelers in India.

This will make India one of the lead markets to adopt this technology. This move is seen as an important milestone for Greaves to establish itself as a leading fuel agnostic powertrain solutions & services company.

This also allows Greaves access to export markets with large 3-wheeler population. With this advanced horizontal opposed piston design engines, Greaves aims to offer BS VI compliant high power and fuel efficiency engines with lower maintenance cost that results in higher savings to the end customer.

This partnership enables Greaves, currently the market leader in the 3-Wheeler diesel engine space, to enter the larger 3-wheeler petrol/CNG space, with a powerful customer value proposition. The partnership leverages strengths on both sides, provides opportunities to enter new markets and customer segments.

The innovative technology offering from Pinnacle Engines, coupled with the vast experience of Greaves in world class manufacturing, will create a superior value package for the end customer in the Indian and overseas markets.

 The agreement between the two companies was signed in California, US. Pinnacle Engines is a US based mobility technologies company.

 A pioneer in the field of Opposed Piston Engine architecture, utilizing a proprietary hardware design and electronic control, Pinnacle’s unique lean-burn four stroke engine is protected by over 170 patents.

The technology is now ready to be taken into the Indian 3-wheeler market, providing a highly differentiated customer value proposition. Commenting on this landmark step, Mr. Nagesh Basavanhalli, MD & CEO, Greaves Cotton Limited, said: “Greaves has been a dominant player in the last mile transport segment with our range of diesel engines for a large number of Automotive OEMs.

The opposed piston technology has been designed, developed and evolved by the Pinnacle Engines team to give class leading fuel economy at the right cost, enabling best-in-class total cost of ownership for the end customer.

With this introduction, we will be able to offer an extremely competitive engine in the Petrol-CNG segment of the market”. Mr. David Moll, CEO, Pinnacle Engines Inc., commented: “We value the opportunity to partner with an established market leader like Greaves, and expect that our combined strengths will provide great advantage to the market. OEMs face great pressures on fuel economy, and ever-tightening emissions norms, and our cooperation provides a great answer to these challenges.”

Bosch India to invest INR 900 crores for the financial year 2017-18

Bosch India is driving the transition to the internet of things (IoT) era by drawing on its innovations and over a century’s legacy. With technologi-cal supremacy being built on the foundation of connectivity, Bosch has been developing local solutions that specifically cater to the needs of the Indian cus-tomer. “The journey towards ‘connected’ began years ago at Bosch India. We have been investing in the region consistently and for the financial year 2017-18 we will invest over INR 900 crores,” mentioned, Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya, president, Bosch Group India, and managing director, Bosch Limited. Elaborat-ing on the need to invest today in future technologies, he further commented, “Roughly 15 percent of our yearly investment is directed towards R&D activities. The region accounts for over 30 percent of the Group’s R&D engineer pool, making Bosch India the largest center outside Germany with 18,500 engi-neers.”

Bosch creates cutting-edge services to gather intelligence and deliver meaning-ful insights. Speaking in this regard, Mr. Vijay Ratnaparkhe, managing director and president, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, announced the launch of a locally developed Micro Climate Monitoring System (MCMS) in New Delhi. “Climate risk is pertinent irrespective of where you are located. When mostly all aspects of daily life are connected and compatible, it only makes sense to have an accurate indicator of environmental quality levels to devise the best living and working conditions,” said Mr. Ratnaparkhe. MCMS can aid in relaying critical information such as Particulate Matter, NOx, Carbon Monoxide, and other important environmental parameters, by which the quality of life for citizens can be enhanced. Elaborating further he said, “In the age of IoT when all devices are interconnected and can speak with each other, air quality monitoring is just one of the many technologies that enables this connectivity and better decision making even for industries.”

Across all regions, Bosch roughly files 18 patents per working day. In India, drawing on the strength of its vast R&D base, since 2006 the Group has filed over 1,000 patents. “Bosch India’s R&D journey will gain momentum as India is one of the three locations identified by the global team to set up an artificial in-telligence center,” further commented Mr. Ratnaparkhe. Globally for Bosch, within just five years, products featuring artificial intelligence is expected to ac-count for 10 percent of Bosch Group’s sales. Among other solutions showcased at the event, Bosch India launched MCMS at the Group’s flagship event in Delhi on June 14, 2017, called: Future Connected: Bosch for a smarter India.

Connected solutions helps you know your vehicle better

In February 2017, Bosch launched locally developed connected vehicle solu-tions for commercial vehicles and passenger vehicle fleets The product allows the owner to track, trace, geofence and get custom alerts in case of any devia-tions. It is connected directly to the vehicle’s battery and does not rely on emis-sion norms and therefore all vehicles under BS-II, BS-III and BS-IV can also reap the benefit of this solution. In addition to the device, Bosch provides exter-nal interfaces, such as the panic button and fuel sensor to offer an integrated connected solution. Bosch India now provides answers pertaining to questions relating to a car’s health, safety and comfort of passengers at the tip of one’s finger.

Doubling farmer income by implementing digital agriculture methods

By offering IoT-enabled digital agriculture solutions, Bosch India is working to-wards improving cop yields. Solutions from the Group can help optimize the uti-lization of resources such as water, electricity, fertilizers, crop-protection to re-duce post-harvest losses in the food supply chain. Given the constraint on the size of operational land holdings of the farmer, the solutions allow scalability of deployment towards better results, optimize operational costs and in-turn en-hance their livelihoods.

When IoT Becomes the internet of ‘my’ things

Bosch is turning things into partners, and its worldwide leadership in Microelec-tromechanical Sensors (MEMS) is aiding this cause. The retail industry, in par-ticular, is benefitting from the personalization of IoT based on insights gained from studying the behavior and preferences of users. It enables the personali-zation of products/services, enhancement of existing offerings, and the de-ployment of virtual personal assistants. Bosch’s one-stop smart retail solutions range from asset monitoring and fleet management, to energy monitoring and in-store analytics. These bridge the retail gap between physical and digital stores and improve customer offerings. Bosch’s personalized IoT solutions de-liver benefits of reduced costs, increased revenues, efficient operations and improved customer experience.

Improving business continuity of the start-up ecosystem

Bosch India is building synergies and expanding the activities of its start-up ac-celerator program Discover, Nurture, Accelerate (D.N.A.). From its first cohort, 13 start-ups have graduated. After 18 weeks of intense development, mentor-ing and piloting, Bosch will partner and collaborate with these technology start-ups that work in the areas of, aerospace, mobility, social impact, healthcare and agriculture, apart from others.

Mercedes-Benz launches its most luxurious performance SUVs in India

 India’s largest luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz today further strengthened its performance SUV segment, with the launch of two powerful SUVs - Mercedes-AMG G 63 ‘Edition 463’ and Mercedes-AMG GLS 63. The launch of these SUVs now expands Mercedes-Benz’s dominant SUV portfolio to eight, the highest in the luxury segment and also consolidates its leading position in the luxury performance segment, spearheaded by the AMG sub-brand.

‘G’ is one of the most sought after letters in the automobile world, especially when it comes to performance SUVs. Globally, the ‘G Wagen’ has been scintillating its valued patrons for almost four decades, since 1979 to be precise. Even after 37 years of technological evolution, every G is still crafted by hand in Graz, Austria. Every intricate detail of this 3 ton plus SUV is meticulously tested and handcrafted to perfection by the immaculate AMG engineers. There’s a reason no other SUV feels like a G. No other SUV is built like one. The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 also shows strength of character with its updated design featuring the AMG brand look and high-quality interior. The brand's hallmark superior 'Driving Performance' and the generous space for passengers and luggage characterise the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63. The Mercedes-AMG G 63 limited ‘Edition 463’ and the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 was launched by Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. 

Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said: “Our AMG portfolio has witnessed overwhelming success and we are thrilled to introduce two new performance SUVs– Mercedes-AMG G 63 ‘Edition 463’ and Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 to our performance luxury SUV range in India. Launched in India, for the first time in 2013, this iconic beast has been the vehicle of choice for our elite clientele and its timeless design remains fascinating till date. “One man, one engine” is more than a guiding philosophy for Mercedes-AMG, it’s a pedigree of performance. It is a testament brought to life during several years of gruesome off-roading and seamless track testing, that this particular engine – the 5.5 Litre, bi-turbo V8 engine has sublimely mastered. Both the Mercedes-AMG G 63 and the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 have uniquely fulfilled the desires of those ardent enthusiasts, who believe in scintillating performance regardless of the terrain, time, temperature or topography. With the launch of these supreme performance SUVs, we now offer 9 AMG models in India.”

Roland Folger added, “It’s an exciting time for Mercedes-Benz as we are steadfastly pursuing our objective of achieving the ‘Best Customer Experience’. The success of our customer centric approach reiterates that our strategy to focus on top of the pyramid is paying off. We are on the right track and we will continue to focus on delivering our brand promise for our patrons. With today’s launch we further strengthen our AMG portfolio in India and are confident of leading the performance segment with fascinating product interventions.”

Mercedes-AMG G 63: True Blue off-roader with the heart of an AMG sports car

The new Mercedes-AMG G 63 is equipped with a supercharged 5.5-litre V8-engine developing 420 kW @ 5500 rpm and a maximum torque of 760 Nm @ 5000 rpm These figures ensure a decidedly superior performance: the Mercedes-AMG G 63 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, and has an (electronically limited) top speed of 210 km/h. The combination of three 100% differential locks, an off-road reduction gear and the Electronic Traction System 4ETS is unique in this segment, and makes for outstanding off-roading capabilities. The Mercedes-AMG G 63 has a load capacity of up to 2250 litres and a massive towing capacity up to 3500 kg.

Interiors:
• Single-tone dashboard in black designo leather
• 2-tone seats designo black leather or designo light brown leather with side bolsters in black carbon leather
• 2-tone centre console | Colour-coordinated topstitching on dashboard, front and rear door handles, armrest, handbrake, seat covers and head restraints front and rear (matching the selected seat colour)
• AMG carbon-fibre trim
• designo Exclusive package
• Door centre panels in designo leather (in designo colour) with diamond quilting

Exteriors:
• Stainless-steel underride guard
• AMG Sport strips on flanks
• Inserts in exterior protective strips in dark aluminium look
• 53.3 cm (21-inch) 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels in matt black with high-sheen rim flange

Mercedes-AMG GLS 63: The quickest performance SUV in the segment
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 AMG has a 5.5-litre V8 BITURBO engine, which develops a peak output of 430 kW and maximum torque of 760 Nm. The unique AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM roll stabilisation provides high-level driving dynamics and the comfort that Mercedes-Benz has become synonymous with. The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 packs the perfect blend of style, luxury, sportiness and performance driving which are associated with the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands.

All-wheel drive with rear-biased power split
The permanent AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system is equipped with a discrete transfer case: in the interests of higher agility, the torque has a rear-biased split of 40:60 between the front and rear axle.

Interior Features
• AMG Performance steering wheel in black nappa leather
• Temperature-controlled cup holder
• Multicontour front seats including massage function, luxury head restraints and seat cushion depth adjustment"
• THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control
• Memory package | Heated rear seats |Heated front seats | Double sunblind
• Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system
• EASY-ENTRY system power release (2nd row electrically foldable seats)
• 3rd SEAT ROW ELECTRICAL FOLDABLE

Exteriors:
• Collapsible spare wheel
• Chrome fins
• Red paint brake callipers
• Panoramic sliding sunroof
• Mirror package including brand logo projection
• Anti-theft protection package
• LED Intelligent Light System with integrated LED DRLs
• Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus
• AMG Bodystyling
• EASY-PACK tailgate with electrically operated opening and closing functions

50,000 BharatBenz trucks on Indian roads

BharatBenz celebrates an important milestone with the customer handover of its 50,000^thtruck, which marks an unprecedented ramp-up in the Indian commercial vehicle industry. The vehicle, a 4928 TT tractor from the all-new BharatBenz heavy-duty range, was presented at a regional brand event in Hyderabad.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Erich Nesselhauf, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said: “50,000 truck sales in less than five years - no other new market entrant in India has achieved this before. BharatBenz is today firmly established in the world’s toughest CV market and will continue to push the industry limits in terms of safety features, environmental friendliness and fuel economy.”

Mr. Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President of Sales & Marketing added: “We have seen a very positive growth momentum following the introduction of the new BS-IV standard, and we aim to further capitalize on this. Customers understand our superior BS-IV solution based on proven SCR technology. They also clearly appreciate the host of additional features that our new BharatBenz heavy-duty range offers, true to our ‘Profit Technology’ tagline.”

BharatBenz – made in India, made for India

The BharatBenz brand is customer-tailored for the Indian market and its demanding customer requirements by Daimler AG, the world’s leading CV manufacturer with a global reach. First unveiled in February 2011, it celebrated its market launch in September 2012. Soon featuring a full-fledged product portfolio in the medium- and heavy-duty segments, the brand crossed the first major milestone of 10,000 units in April 2014 and has further accelerated its growth from there. With the refresh of the medium-duty range in 2016 and the all-new heavy-duty range in 2017, BharatBenz updated its entire truck portfolio within a short span to give customers even more value for their money. BharatBenz products are sold and serviced through a pan-Indian network of more than 130 touchpoints which is continuously expanded further also beyond the tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Siemens signs MOU to establish Centers of Excellence across Karnataka

Bengaluru, 2017-Jun-09

Memorandum of Understanding with Government Tool Room and Training Center (GTTC), Government of Karnataka and DesignTech Systems Limited. Partnership paves way for a world-class integrated skill development infrastructure and  benchmarked technical education curriculum.

Siemens Industry Software India Pvt. Ltd, 100% owned subsidiary of Siemens PLM Software, USA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Government Tool Room and Training Center (Government of Karnataka) and DesignTech Systems Limited to establish four Centers of Excellence across Karnataka. Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software offerings form crucial components of the integrated technology solutions provided by Siemens in India in the space of automation and digitalization.

The partnership paves the way for a world-class integrated skill development infrastructure and benchmarked technical education curriculum with core focus on Industry 4.0, Automation, Mechatronics and Internet of Things (IOT) infrastructure. The four COEs will address diverse industry segments like Automotive, Industrial machinery, Industrial automation, Renewable Energy and Aerospace and Defense.

DesignTech Systems Limited is the execution partner for the four Centers of Excellence and will run the centers for the first two years and continue to provide support for the third year.​

“With Indian industry increasingly adopting automation and digitalization, it also requires a highly-skilled workforce trained in future-ready technologies and processes. Siemens is committed to supporting the Indian economy to enable it to gain competitive advantage by improving its efficiency, productivity, quality and speed. The MoU is yet another step in this journey of modernization,” said Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited.

Suman Bose, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Industry Software India Pvt. Ltd, present on the day of agreement signing, said, “We aim to build sustainable communities by leveraging Siemens’ competencies and solutions. The collaboration aims to train students on relevant industry processes and help create industry-ready trained personnel. This industry-readiness and relevance of skills is expected to foster further industrial development in the state of Karnataka.”

The COEs are unique in their ability as they anticipate being able to stitch together the virtual world of engineering and manufacturing simulation with the physical world of product development, manufacturing and the Internet of things (IoT). The COEs will be equipped with the latest PLM software solutions from Siemens, such as NX™ software for digital product design and engineering, Teamcenter® software for digital lifecycle management and the Tecnomatix® portfolio for digital manufacturing. They will also feature state-of-the-art industrial automation equipment from Siemens, as well as the latest computer numerical controllers (CNC), programmable logic controllers (PLC), and state of the art manufacturing machinery including CNC milling and turning machines, industrial application robotics cells, Renewable (Solar/Wind) Energy Training System, Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), Quality Assurance Tools and Gages, and rapid prototyping machines. Each of the COEs will have ten fully equipped laboratories staffed with instructors trained and certified by Siemens.

NISSAN’S INNOVATIVE CAR FOAM WASH SAVES 6.1 MILLION LITRES OF WATER IN INDIA

Nissan in India has conserved 6.1 million litres of water over the past three years by using an innovative car wash technique. The substantial water savings were achieved thanks to Nissan’s advanced Foam Wash technique to clean cars at its service centres across India, and underlines the company’s commitment to deliver sustainable mobility to customers and society. 

Car washes at service centres are a major component of after sales and servicing of customers’ vehicles which require a large amount of water. Traditional car washes generally require around 160 litres of water to clean one car. The Foam Wash technique, introduced in 2014 at Nissan service centres, uses only 90 litres of water per car which reduces water consumption by 45 percent. The amount of water saved by the company is equivalent to the water consumption of around 25,000 households in India for one day. 

Commenting on this eco-friendly achievement, Sanjeev Aggarwal, VP- After Sales, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Nissan always aims to deliver innovative and best-in-class sales and after sales service to its customers. Using the foam wash technique for our customers’ cars saves their time and a significant amount of water. That’s a winning combination for both Nissan and Datsun customers and for the environment.”

International Experts Congratulate Indian Government On Key Road Safety Bill

Indian and International experts came together to applaud the progress the government of India has made in improving road safety and collaborate on ideas for the best way forward, based on lessons learned from around the world following the monumental passage of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2017 in Lok Sabha in the April session of Parliament.

During the Round Table discussion held in Mumbai, international experts lauded the Government’s commitment to passage of strong road safety legislation in the Parliament, while encouraging continued efforts towards passage and implementation of the Bill. Kelly Larson, Program Director at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said, “The passage of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha is a big step forward for road safety in India. The international road safety community congratulates the Government and calls for immediate passage of this life saving bill in Rajya Sabha.”

The participants universally agreed that the Bill represents a significant accomplishment towards safer Indian roads across various aspects of road safety, while also highlighting specific policy gaps that still needed to be addressed to bring it in line with international best practices. The CEO of the Global Road Safety Partnership, David Cliff, stated, “The Global Road Safety Partnership applauds the passage of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill by the Lok Sabha and hopes that the Rajya Sabha will also pass the Bill in the next session of the Parliament.  The Bill reflects significant improvements to the provisions of road safety in the existing law.  Strengthening the provisions for regulating road users’ behaviors will contribute to the reduction of road traffic deaths and injuries in India.”

Members of the international community in attendance also commended the Indian government’s innovation in addressing the problem of road traffic injuries and fatalities. “It is very encouraging to see the Indian Government apply UN crash test standards to new models in October this year and all cars in production by October 2018. This is a huge step forward in passenger car safety in India. It is impressive also to see the Government mandating anti-lock brakes in motorcycles. More progress is needed and we hope that India will now plan to make electronic stability control mandatory for new cars, buses and lorries by 2020,” said Jess Truong, Programmes Director & Asia Pacific Coordinator at Global New Car Assessment Programme.

Global Road Safety Lead, Soames Job of the World Bank also recognized the government’s ownership and multi-sectoral approach to the safety of its citizens on the road, adding, “The World Bank believes that the passing of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 by the Lok Sabha is an important step towards addressing the enormous challenge of the road safety being faced by India. The effort from the government has been enormous. In order to achieve the intended outcomes of this effort to reduce fatalities on Indian roads, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and State Governments need to develop a joint strategy and implement a time bound action plan.”

Given that Indian roads witness over 5 lakh road accidents each year resulting in 1.46 lakh fatalities, The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2017 is an important step towards strengthening the legal framework for improving road safety in India. In addition to the staggering loss of life and enormous trauma for injury victims and their families, road accidents also result in an estimated 3% loss in the GDP. The Bill closes major gaps in the legislative framework that governs road safety in the country by amending the 28-year-old Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MVA). The next step in the legislative process is passage of the amended Bill in the Rajya Sabha during the upcoming August session. As a signatory to the Brasilia Declaration, this is also a huge step forward for India in working towards its commitments to halving the injuries and fatalities in India by 2020.

The roundtable was jointly organized by the Road Safety Network consisting of organizations working on road safety, and committed to continued partnership with the government in the implementation phase.

Tata Motors resolves Long-Term Wage Settlement issue in Sanand

The long-term wage settlement (LTS) between the Tata Motors Sanand Union and Tata Motors was amicably agreed upon and has been signed today for a period of 5 years, w.e.f October 2015 to September 2020.

The total wage package allotted is Rs. 16,000/- and will be spread across the LTS term uniformly. In addition to the amount, the company has also introduced a performance linked payment, which is accounted as 10% of total salary and will be linked to productivity, quality & safety. This new measurement of performance has been well received by workmen. The Annual Bonus linked to performance covering all permanent workers was also agreed upon.

Additionally, other benefits like Transport and Canteen facilities and various other facilities, like rationalization of leave rules and block closure days up to 24 days per year were mutually agreed.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gajendra Chandel, Chief Human Resource Officer, "Tata Motors shares cordial working relationships with workers and members of its internal Union. We have strived to resolve the LTS issue and today are delighted to have resolved the matter for a long term, ensuring our business operations’ competitiveness on one hand and taking care of the well-being of our shop-floor colleagues on the other. I would like to thank all the workers for their incessant support. They have been very co-operative and have supported the Company at all times. Moreover, the Union which has been recently formed, is very supportive in ensuring workmen derive maximum benefits through this wage settlement. In the true spirit of the Tata culture, I personally urge all the workers to follow suit."

Honda Cars India Ltd. grow 13% in May 2017

New Delhi, June 1^st, 2017 Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of passenger cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 11,278 units in May 2017 against 9,954 units in corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 13.3%. The company continues to receive strong demand for the new City and WR-V. 
Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, President and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said “We are happy to have achieved positive growth in May sales. We continue to receive strong demand for New City and Honda WR-V. The government’s plan for timely rollout of GST & a better monsoon forecast will aid in sales growth in coming months.” 
HCIL also exported a total of 498 units during May 2017.

Model wise sales break-up for May 2017:
Brio	378
Jazz	1,818
Amaze	1,323
City	4,046
WR-V	2,814
BR-V	870
CR-V	29
Domestic Total	11,278
Exports	498
Grand Total	11,776