Ferrari enters India

Ferrari today formally announced its entry into Indian market.  Ferrari today appointed shreyans group as their official importer in India. Ferrari will open in two dealerships imminently in Delhi and Mumbai. “We are proud to announce the partnership with Ferrari today. This brand represents for us the epitome of success and we are proud to partner with one of the world’s most desired brand. We will establish a highly qualified network of Ferrari dealers across India to cater to the discerning needs of our customer” said Ashish Chordia, Chairman of Shreyans Group.

Ferrari will sell 8 cylinders Ferrari California and 458 Italia, and the 12 cylinders 599GTB Fiorano and its latest model FF in India. The first dealership in New Delhi will carry the Ferrari Corporate Identity with elegant, timeless and authentic design and a personalization area to support the client in choosing the many options to uniquely configure their new Ferrari. It will also be sided by the official Ferrari Service, and their combination will guarantee a top-level experience enhanced by the customer best in class service.

Bajaj to launch Discover 125cc

Bajaj to launch discover 125cc in April. This is not April fools’ joke. But Discover 125cc will be reinvented next month.  “The idea was to first cover both extremes of the commuter market. The Discover 100 fulfilled the aspiration of owning the brand and getting the mileage. The 150 had the power and awe-inspiring features at a killer price,” according to Bajaj thinktanks.

Bajaj Discover 125cc will lookalike 100cc discover with few distinguishing features and unique colour options. The 125cc discover will give best of both worlds – 100cc mileage and 150cc performance.  Bajaj will launch the discover 125cc in two variants and it will be priced Rs 44,000 (drum brakes) and Rs 47,000 (with disc brakes). Bajaj hopes the 125cc discover will expand its base for the discover family. Remember, discover 125cc sold by Bajaj few years back is the only bike to taste success in the 125cc segment. There is no clear in the 125cc segment unlike 100cc or 150cc.

Yamaha to launch electric bike in india

In a surprising move, Yamaha today said that it would launch electric bike in India. Yamaha also plans to launch two new bikes and few variants of its existing bikes.  It is surprising to see top sporty bike maker plans electric bike to break into the mileage category bikes. TVS indian bike major which launched scooty teenz pulled out the product earlier due to lack of demand.  “For rising fuel prices, electric bike is a good option. Currently we are selling electric bikes in Japan and Europe. There is a possibility for the Indian market for introducing these products,” India Yamaha Motor Director (Sales and Marketing) Jun Nakata said.

Taking about its plans for the current year, India Yamaha Motor National Business Head Roy Kurian said: “Every year we launch new products. This year we will introduce two new bikes and some variants of the existing models.”  Yamaha also plans to enter the scooter segment. Yamaha is said to be producing india specific scooter which may be launched soon.  “We are preparing to enter the scooter market. The product is under development in Japan and it will be an India-specific product” Nakata added

Etios orders delays liva launch

Problem of plenty! huge backlogs of etios delays the liva launch. Toyota which faces huge backlogs for its etios sedan. Etios currently has a waiting period of 4-6 months.   “We have received very good response for the Etios. We are doubling the production of the car by starting the second shift from April,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh said. “Hence, to clear the order backlog, we have decided to postpone the launch of Liva by about two months,” Singh added.

With the increased production and deferment of liva launch will help the Toyota to fasten the deliveries of Etios to the customers. Toyoa will produce 5000 units of etios from 2500 units from now.  However, this move by Toyota will affect the liva prospects especially since Honda is said to have advanced its Brio launch to march. Etios may finally hit the showroom only by June.

Tata to assemble freelander in India

In a first move to strengthen the arms of JLR in India, Tata plans to locally assemble the freelander SUV in India. Jaguar and Landrover vehicles are imported as CBU in India. CBU units of jaguar and land rover makes them costlier over their german counterparts. However this is set to change.Tata plans to locally assemble the freelander suv in its pune plant.

Mercedes facility at Tata motors was recently vacated by the former in lieu of its new plant, Tata will use that facility to assemble freelander. Tata plans to locally assemble 2000 units of freelander in India. The local assembly will start later this year, where we will produce all available variant of the Freelander,” said Tata Motors MD and CEO Carl Peter Foster.

Renault to launch two small cars in India

Renault plans to come back strongly in to the indian market. Renault plans series of models to offset its late entry in India. Reanult which plans fluence and koleos in 2011  will launch the duster suv in 2012. Renault will then enter into the competitive small car market to rub shoulders with biggies like Maruti and Hyundai.

Renault will launch a small car based on Nissan’s  V-platform (Micra’s platform) and a small car based on its global A-platform. While small car based on V-platform will compete with premium hatchbacks like Ritz, Polo and i20, the small car based on A- platform will be pitted against the Maruti Wagon-R, Chevrolet Beat and Hyundai i10. Renault plans to setup 70 dealerships by 2013-14 in India

Tata shows Pixel

Tata Motors today unveiled the PIxel concept car at the geneva auto show. Pixel based on tata nano platform is a two door four seater and jsut over three metres in length. “Tata Motors holds true to its belief that there is an opportunity in Europe for a city car . The Tata Pixel is a reflection of Tata Motors’ idea of what such a car should be,” Tata Motors Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Carl-Peter Forster said in a statement.

The Tata Pixel’s ability to manoeuvre and park in the tightest of spaces is made possible by its zero turn toroidal traction-drive Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT), which assists rotation of the outer rear wheel forwards and the inner rear wheel backwards, while the front wheels turn at acute angles, it said. Pixel will be powered by a 1.2 litre diesel engine and the company claims that it will give a mileage of about 29 km per litre and CO2 emission of 89 grams in every kilometre.

Tata pixel pictures