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Automobile | Product Launch | Investments | Automotive Components | Small cars | Two Wheelers | Commercial Vehicle
TKM hoping to increase share to 10%
06 August 2008
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is hoping to increase the market share in the country to 10% by 2015 from the existing 3% with the launch of company's strategic small car, which is scheduled to be unveiled by 2010.
GM to start operations in 2nd plant in Sept
04 August 2008
General Motors Corp is planning to start production at a second plant in India in the first week of September 2008 to increase its capacity in the fast-growing market. The new plants of General Motors in Talegaon in western Maharashtra state will have an initial annual capacity of 140,000 units.
BMW ties up with ORIX for leasing cars
31 July 2008
Luxury carmaker BMW India has inked a co-operation agreement with ORIX Auto Infrastructure Services (OAIS) to lease out its cars in India. As per the deal, OAIS is planning to offer leasing solutions to assist the sale of BMW group products in the country. These services will be offered to the customers through BMW dealership network across the country. In addition to this, OAIS is also planning to support BMW through its existing business network.
Chrysler looking at JV with Tata
31 July 2008
Automobile giant Chrysler LLC is looking at the ways to cut costs and also looking for JVs with foreign auto makers including India's Tata Motors to prop up its finances.
Renault-Nissan plans to sell cars through M&M JV
29 July 2008
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and French car producer Renault are in advanced talks to sell the cars produced in Renault-Nissan’s manufacturing unit in Chennai through Mahindra-Renault 51:49 JV. Both the companies had invested US$ 175 million at Mahindras’ Nashik facility to manufacture Logan with a target of selling 50,000 cars per annum.
Skoda increases prices for all its car models
28 July 2008
Czech auto maker Skoda Auto's Indian subsidiary Skoda India has increased the prices in the range of US$ 250 to US$ 625 of all its models in India. As per Mr. Thomas Kuehl, Skoda India Member of Board of Director for Sales and Marketing, "The price hike has been necessitated by a variety of cost push factors like surge in freight costs and in the prices of raw materials.”
Toyota to launch hybrid sedan in India
05 August 2008
Global auto giant Toyota Motor Corp is planning to launch its hybrid sedan Prius in India as an answer to soaring fuel prices and growing concerns over emissions. The company is also planning to set up its second manufacturing facility with an investment of US$ 329 million at Bidadi to manufacture a range of models, including its long-awaited compact car to take on dominant players like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors.
Ashok Leyland about to introduce a new array of trucks
28 July 2008
Hinduja Group's heavy vehicle giant Ashok Leyland has announced that the Company was working on developing an all-new full range truck platform, which would be unveiled by 2010.
VW about to launch 'Beetle' in India
24 July 2008
German carmaker Volkswagen is inspired to launch its iconic car 'Beetle' in India as the Company is considering this time as the most opportune moment.
Audi about to launch R8 in India
22 July 2008
German luxury carmaker Audi is planning to launch its acclaimed sports car R8 in India in October – November 2008 to build the brand in this market.
BMW to launch hybrid car in India by 2010
18 July 2008
After the global launch of its hybrid cars, the Company is planning to introduce it in India by the next two years
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Toyota set to invest US$ 659.40 million
01 August 2008
According to Mr. Akira Okabe, Senior Managing Director of Toyota Motors, the Company is planning to invest US$ 659.40 million as part of its plan to introduce a 'strategic small car' in India by 2010. The Company is planning to increase the investment to US$ 330.10 million from US$ 659.40 million to lay the foundation of its second plant in Bangalore and it is expected to be functional by 2010.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), a JV of the Japanese entity in India, is planning to set up a second manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 1, 00,000 units, close to its existing plant. Toyota Motor Company owns 89% equity stake and the Kirloskar Group holds the residual 11%. Its annual production stood at 60,000 vehicles in 2007 by showing an increase of 18% per year.
Renault invites Bajaj Auto to join manufacturing alliance with Nissan
31 July 2008
Renault has asked India’s Bajaj Auto Ltd to join a US$1 billion manufacturing alliance with partner Nissan Motor Co. Renault and Nissan are manufacturing a US$ 2,500 car with motorbike maker Bajaj and also negotiating with the Indian company to expand their endeavor to distribute the Renault and Nissan vehicles that will be made in Chennai.
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Baramati plant set to power Piaggio's global engine ambitions
06 August 2008
Italian auto major Piaggio is a fully owned Indian subsidiary Piaggio Vehicles (PVPL). It is the market leader in the three-wheeler segment and is planning to make its upcoming engine shop at the existing Baramati plant, the global hub for sourcing power trains. The company is investing US$ 112.5 million in the engine shop and is planning to make twin cylinder turbocharged diesel engines of up to 1.2 litre in technical collaboration with Japanese major Diahatsu Motors.
Piaggio has a share of 47% in the three-wheeler market. PVPL is also conducting a feasibility study to foray into the two-wheeler segment. The Company has intentions to launch scooters from its global platform by 2010.
India ranks 12th in the list of top 15 automakers
05 August 2008
According to the UNIDO International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2008 report, India ranks 12th in the list of the world’s top 15 automakers, and 4th in the leading developing countries category. Japan, US and Germany led the list of world's top 15 automakers, while Mexico, France, Korea, UK, Canada, Spain, Iran, Sweden, Brazil, Italy and Indonesia are the other countries that has made it to the list. The leading developing countries category list had Mexico right at the top, followed by Korea, Iran, Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, Argentina, Thailand, Singapore, China, China (Taiwan Province), Malaysia, UAE and Columbia.
Kinetic to enter into producing auto parts
01 August 2008
The Pune-based Kinetic Motor Company, which sold its business assets to Mahindra and Mahindra for US$ 27.5 million, is now thinking to get into the auto components business. A sister concern of Kinetic Motor Company - Kinetic Auto Components- is already into auto components business and makes engines, gears, starter motors and other such products for two-wheelers. The company owned the 20% stake in the new JV with Mahindra, which is valued at US$ 6.875 million at the current valuation.
Bosch set to manufacture ABS in India by 2009
16 July 2008
With the aim of 20% growth every year in the country, German auto component major is planning to expand its product offerings with the plans to start manufacturing of anti-lock braking systems and supplies to its existing global customers such as Toyota, Honda and Hyundai would be routed through the Indian operations. The company is also planning to launch other products like navigation systems and ultra quiet alternators as a part of its India growth strategy. The company has decided to invest US$b vf 575 million between 2006 and 2010 for its overall Indian expansion.
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Indian small car market flooded with a dozen of players by 2010
01 August 2008
The Indian small car market is all set to hit fourth gear by 2010. A dozen new small cars from big names, including Maruti-Suzuki, Volkswagen, Honda, Ford, Fiat and Toyota, are expected to hit the road, revitalizing a market, which accounts for as much as 75% of car sales. In small car segment, competition is heating up. While Maruti-Suzuki is planning to introduce Splash and A Star by year-end, Hyundai is also planning to bring in i20 by the same time.
Many other players are also planning to enter into the small car segment. Some of them include Honda with much awaited 'Jazz' and Volkswagen, the European numero uno, who will also join the bandwagon, as it will roll out an Indianized-version of its popular Polo compact in 2010. Toyota is also on the way.
Toyota to tap Daihatsu in India
01 August 2008
With the aim of rolling out small cars in India by 2010, Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to tap affiliate mini-vehicle maker Daihatsu Motor to help in achieving its target of 10% of the Indian market. Toyota is already making Corolla and the Innova multi-utility in a plant near Bangalore and it would be planning to start construction of a new manufacturing facility with an annual capacity of 100,000 units to make a new compact car and other vehicles.
Increasing Interest rate to affect small car segment
30 July 2008
After the tightened monetary policy by RBI, the India’s automobile industry, which is already facing a rough ride, will suffer more and may perhaps go through a severe slowdown in small car segment. RBI hiked the short-term inter-bank lending rates (repo rate) and mandatory cash reserve (CRR) by 0.50 per cent and 0.25 per cent, respectively. The automobile market is witnessing growth only in small car segment so the possible interest rate increase would affect this segment as people who are buying small cars are very cost conscious.
India – a global hub for Hyundai Motors
28 July 2008
According to the Hyundai Motor's Chief Executive, the Company is planning to make India its global hub for manufacturing and export small cars. The company is planning to launch its i20 model in the Paris Motor Show in September, which will be solely manufactured in India. Hyundai has already launched the i10 model in November 2007 and this car is also manufactured only in India. The Hyundai Motors worth US$ 75 billion is globally 5th largest car producer. The Company is selling its car in 193 countries and in India it is on number 2 after Maruti Suzuki.
Ford about to change its focus to small cars
22 July 2008
US-based car Company Ford Motor Co. is set to change its focus drastically to build small cars. The company is expected to convert three of its North American assembly plants from trucks to cars. Ford is planning to realign factories to make more fuel-efficient engines and produce six of its next European car models for the US market. The company will also make its Mercury brand an integral part of its new small-car strategy.
Tata to roll out its wonder car & Beef-up the dealer network
Tata Motors has announced that the Company is planning to roll out its wonder car Nano during October- December at Singur where the Company manufactures the US$ 2500 car. The position of Singur is bad but it is not so bad that the company should shift out.
Apart from this, the Company is also working with a Norway-based company to produce an electric car. The new car is expected to hit the Indian roads this financial year. Global auto giant like GM, Honda, and Nissan all are putting greater focus on e-vehicles while cutting down on the production of fuel-guzzling light trucks and SUVs.
Tata is also looking to expand its dealership network for passenger cars. Tata’s passenger car brands currently include Indica, Indigo, Sumo and Safari and would be joined by Nano before the year-end.
Tata Motors is planning to make partnership with Fiat to sell Nano internationally as Fiat has a strong presence at the different locations.
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M&M to start two-wheeler biz
06 August 2008
The India’s largest utility and tractor producer Mahindra & Mahindra is planning to kick start its two-wheeler business with automatic scooters. This segment constitutes of 15% of the total market. On the other side Kinetic Motors has a 3% share of the automatic scooter market. The top three key players in the automatic scooter segments are Honda, TVS Motors and Hero Honda.
Ultra Motors launches its new electric scooter in India
30 July 2008
UK based global electric vehicle Company, Ultra Motor Company has introduced its high-end range electric scooter called 'Marathon' in India. The scooter is expected to travel 100 km on a single charge. The Company is planning to invest US$ 32.95 million in the next three years, in the areas of product development, marketing and distribution. In 2007, the company sold 22,000 ultra-powered electric two-wheelers in partnership with Hero Exports and expected to sale around 60,000 units in the present fiscal.
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HM to introduce small commercial vehicle in October 2008
05 August 2008
Hindustan Motors Limited is planning to launch small commercial vehicles from its Uttarpara plant in West Bengal in October 2008. The company’s other brand, Mitsubishi Outlander, would be introduced from its Chennai plant at the price of US$ 50,000 and would be placed in the premium category.
Volkswagen set to enter the Indian CV market
26 July 2008
Buoyed by the success of its passenger cars, the Volkswagen Group is planning to enter the US$ 10 billion Indian commercial vehicle (CV) market, fourth largest CV market. The VW group, with Audi and Skoda under its belt, has recorded the sales growth of 69% to 10, 366 cars in the first half of 2008 against 6,131 cars last year in India. The Company has also increased its annual target to 20,000 cars in 2008 on the basis of popular response to its business vans at the Auto Expo.
Govt. approves Volvo’s investment in JV with Eicher
24 July 2008
Swedish truck maker Volvo got the approval from Indian cabinet to make the investment of US$ 275 million in a JV with commercial vehicle maker Eicher Motors Ltd. Volvo will hold the stake of 45.6% in this JV Company.
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