GM

The hatchback and sedan versions of General Motors are to be upgraded on electric variants. This will be akin to e-Spark and the introduction of electric variants depend on the feedback of e-Spark, said the MD of GM India. Other models too will undergo the electric platform later. GM likes to dominate the electric version once e-Spark comes out. The success of electric version relies much on the customer response in India and in overseas. However, affordability and utility value are the key factors for the success.

e-Spark is an experimental vehicle for the other models and GM intends to break the ice with this e-Spark. Expected for an official launch in the end of 2010, it will be first seen in New Delhi NCR and Karnataka. This is due to the assistance extended by the respective governments, to the electric cars. This further makes the car affordable. The Delhi government has announced a subsidy of 15% on the price, exemption of VAT by 12.5%, exemption of road tax and registration fee. Similar relief was offered by the Chandigarh government last year.

GM is in a pact with Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car company for producing and developing electric cars in India. This will facilitate the two companies to make India the hub for enviro-friendly cars for the world.

Indian-born Yamaha bikes for Australian roads

Japan’s premier auto company Yamaha is hitting the headlines with its export venture to Australia. The models bracketed for the export are FZ-16 and YZF- R15. Further there is a proposal to hike its market share to 20% in deluxe and premium segment. Currently it has 12%. According to the national business Head of Yamaha Motor, the apex body is very keen on transforming the Indian base as a strong one- the Indian part is receiving huge orders from the apex company for export market.

The Indian firm is too wiling to meet the demand for the export market since the said models are exclusively manufactured in India only. As a result there will be an increase in the internal strength and explorations are on for exporting these models to Australia. Such markets feed a lot of high-end bikes but there is no too much of production and export. Hence Yamaha takes the torch with it as the company is exporting its products to Columbia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka and other countries. The export volume of FY 10 is up by 73.15% (66904 units) against 38 639 units in 2009. The overseas volume in March shoot up by 36.76% (9568 units) compared to 6996 units in the last March.

The Indian unit of Yamaha enjoys the cost advantage by 20-35% than other developed countries. Due to the initial investment for enhanced technology, the cost factor plays a crucial role. Yamaha may launch one or two new products in the Indian market preferably under 100-150cc segment. The contented production capacity of 6 lakh units a year meets the export and domestic demand.

Yamaha to launch YBR on April 14th

India Yamaha which has been silent after the launch of FZ-16 and R-15 is back to the season of launches. Yamaha which showcased two motorcycles – YBR and SZ 125 at the auto expo will launch one of the motorcycle very soon. The YBR mass commuter motorcycle is expected to hit the market on April 14th. Yamaha which doesn’t have any significant presence hopes YBR would fetch customers in the mass market segment. Hero Honda dominates the 100 -125cc segment with passion and splendor followed by Bajaj with Discover. Yamaha sells crux, G5 and alba but none grabbed customer’s attention. YBR which features 110cc engine comes with moderate power and torque ratings. It features alloy wheels and electric start As showcased in the Auto Expo, YBR is not a head turner too. There is nothing exciting with YBR but pricing could be the key in this segment. We have to wait till April 14th when Yamaha launches the YBR.

Picture of Yamaha YBR

E-class coupe from Mercedes for Rs54.83 lakhs

Mercedes E-Class coupe has found its way out at last. The most aerodynamic series production car in the world, it is offered at an astonishing Rs54.83 lakh pricing, said the MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India. The vehicle is known for its state-of-the-art features and heavy safety measures targeted at the adventurous prone youth. The car is to be dealt by the dealers across the country and with the back up of financial services arm in India, the sale would boost, he felt. More models and extended dealerships- Goa, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Surat and Aurangabad, are on the cards. To afoot in the small car market, Mercedes-Benz India is aiming to roll down small cars in A-Class. It all depends on the result of the customers’ need, he asserted. He outlined the growth rate of car industry- 56% in 2006-07 and 16% in 2008-09.

Limited edition of Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

The German luxury car maker Audi has come out with the new Q7 4.2 TDI sports utility vehicle. The car will be available at the slashed price- Rs58.68 lakhs (lesser by Rs7.45 lakhs than the current model). Audi compliments this offer to coincide the 3rd year of its operations in India. The vehicle will offer the very best features, powerful engine combined with highly sophisticated components (V8 engine),said the MD for Audi India. He feels that India has been a good dearth for the brands from Audi and the company heavily relies on the successful run in India. Coming in three variants, Q7 is one among the models from Audi in India- A4, A6, A8, Q5,Q7,TT and R8.

M&M vehicles to cost dear- hike by Rs26100

The implementation of BS –IV norms has not spared M&M from hiking the price of utility vehicles. This is in addition to the impact of the fuel price; the flagship sports utility Scorpio gets the increase of Rs10300 –Rs17500, while Bolero to cost more by Rs26100. The sensational Xylo would cost additional by Rs15300-Rs15900. From April 1, 13 cities in India have come under the purview of BS IV norms, by which major car makers- Hyundai, GM and Toyota were forced to increase the prices. The switch over to the norm would end up with the customers being burdened with the increase. This is a sequence to the earlier hike due to the increase in the excise duty- from 2% to 10% and the hike amounted to Rs70000.

Twin faces of a coin

The failure cannot resist the push along the path and the revival is not a matter of serious concern. This is what exactly happened when the CEO and Chairman of Renault conceded the deal with Daimler. The global market is flooded with the ebb and low of the marketing from the giant killers like Toyota Motors, VW and Ford. He made a meaningful desire to bring in Daimler to counter the likes of Mercedes in terms of vehicles, engines and electric vehicles.

Renault has been on the limelight with lot of repercussions- the Russian government demanded a cash injection into Lada maker AvtoVAZ. Renault enjoys 25% stake in this project and the worst hit in India in the pact with M&M regarding Logan. Renault’s entry into China is on the vogue end. The government in France expressed its reliance on Renault for the sake of producing a new Clio small car to Turkey.

Further, the value in the stock market too was not on healthy trend, taken the net value of Nissan and Swedish Volvo. Ghosn’s strait became inferior to that of Sergio Marchionne’s deal with Chrysler. However, Ghosn succeeded in convincing the too hesitant Dieter Zetsche of Daimler. This is because of the departing of the deal between Daimler and Chrysler on a costly deal. Ghosn has by now become a star stud for the European car market since he has lot of long term visions rather than solutions for current problems.

He took the first initiative in small cars and electric versions, and was transparent to acknowledge the power of competition in the market. the Brazilian native, born to Lebanese parents, he had a good schooling in Beirut, guided by Jesuit priests. Then he had a sound learning in Paris, where he could get acquaintance with his current deputy Patrick Pelata. He had an opportunity to get exposed to production-line for making tyres with Clermont-Ferrand in Central France. From then there was no looking back- plant manager, research head, and boss for Latin America in Brazil.

He was responsible, as the head of the North American operations for Michelin, to coordinate Uniroyal Goodrich. Fortune smiled at Ghosn at the demise of Edouard Michelin, only to take up the position in the board of Renault in 1996. Ghosn had the task of reviving the scope of tie-up with Nissan. He was bold enough to shut down the unit at the cost of thousands losing the job. Thus he earned the reputation of a business superstar in Japan, focused by media much and had the niche of comic biography. Ghosn has a tough time spending time with his family- wife, four children. He shunts to Paris, Tokyo and the US.

A tripartite deal for the four wheeler marketing

Renault-Nissan and Daimler entered into a tripartite deal for marketing small cars and LCVs. The deal ensures a distribution of stake for each of them- 3.1% of stake for Renault-Nissan in Daimler, 3.1% stake for Daimler in Renault-Nissan and 3.1% stake in Nissan. The deal envisages promotion of small car technology by the partners, including the next generation Renault Twingo and Daimler’s Smart cars. Proposal is also there for developing power trains for LCVs and cars in addition to common purchasing and sourcing.

The deal would mean a lot for Daimler and Renault-Nissan in terms of cost. The deal would lead the scope for Europe market and there will be mutual project understandings, said the Chairman for Daimler AG. The main objective of the deal would be, according to him, strengthening the competitiveness in the small car segment and reduction of carbon emission. The CEO and Chairman of Renault-Nissan complemented the deal as a set for strategic collaboration and a chance to lay lasting value for the alliance between the partners.

A deep impact of small car in India and indicated the step as the right move in right direction, said MD of Mercedes Benz. The analysts in the field calculate that there will be a cost reduction up to billion Euro in the years to come once the deal ran smooth for the partners. They hint the reversal of fortune for similar pacts in past, leading to debacles in the show.