Royal Enfield Launches Electra Twinspark

As you read it at vicky.in few days back, Royal Enfield has launched the twinspark version of Electra bike. “The Electra Twinspark can now benefit from the superb performance, reliability and fuel-efficiency of the construction engine, whilst retaining the unmistakable character of a Royal Enfield,” the company said. The Electra Twinspark is priced at Rs 89,846 (kickstart) and Rs 93,846 (electric start). Electra Twinspark is available in silver, red and black

Tata Nano catches fire

Not only Tata Motors, no manufacturer ever like to see his product catching fire like this.  A new Tata Nano catches fire and burnt into flames. Definitely this is not a good publicity for  world’s renowned people’s car – Nano. This may/may not be  manufacturing defect, however the reputation has already taken a beating.

” “Satish Sawant, an insurance agent, collected his brand new Nano from a showroom in Prabhadevi, and headed home, dreaming of showing off his first car to his family at LIC Colony, Mulund (W). The car burst into flames at Eastern Express Highway. Sawant jumped to safety. As Sawant cannot drive, the Concorde Motors showroom provided him with a driver to take him home safely. There was not much afternoon traffic on the Eastern Express Highway, it being a Sunday afternoon. Sawant managed to cross Bhandup in less than 40 minutes. Around 3.45 pm, he reached Navghar Signal on the Eastern Express Highway. Suddenly, a motorcycle overtook him, signalling him to look behind.

As he turned to see what the biker was pointing at, he was alarmed to see the rear of the car in flames. Sawant and the driver leapt out of the burning car. In no time, the car was engulfed in flames. Even a tree on the side of the highway was singed. A shaken Sawant said, “I have no idea what happened. A motorcycle rider overtook me and told me that the vehicle was on fire. The engine was behind me and I did not realise that the car was on fire,” said Sawant.  A fire tender rushed to the scene and doused the fire. The Navghar police (Mulund E) have registered a case yesterday evening ” says Midday.

Pictures of Tata Nano Catching Fire

GM

The Marketing Director of GM India said that the electric version E-Spark will be launched by this December. The car will be the electric version of small Spark with the 4-door which is the first to offer this facility. It is to cost a little higher than the small Spark due to the electric engine cost. However the operating cost will compensate this, he added. Also there will be LCVs by this year end in association with the Chinese company SAIC.

The company has all the options of business including export of engines to China, he asserted. GM’s target for this year is 1 lakh cars in India, based on the growth rate as it has sold 70000 units in 2009 to achieve the growth rate to 50%. “Beat”will be the major contributor to the net sales. GM is highly depending on localization to keep the cost in control and the launch of Aveo will be on phases. He optimistically expressed that the company is on the reach of double digit share in the Indian market.

Catch Chevrolet E-Spark Gallery @ http://www.vicky.in/gallery/autoexpo2010/gm/spark_electric/

Nissan to transform to CKD mode for its volume venture

The CEO of Nissan-Renault JV said that the venture likes to have the products made locally in order to reach large volume of users. As a result, Teana sedan and X-Trail SUV will hereinafter be CKDs instead of CBUs. Thus, these cars will either be made in the country or assembled, said the Corporate VP of Nissan. The company’s performance in last year was dismal with 200-300 cars due to the higher cost involved. Hence the company intends to make locally in place of import to avoid the duty on CBU of 110% whereas the CKD receives just 60% duty.

This move will reduce the price of Teana from Rs25 lakhs to Rs18lakhs and a reduction of 28% for X-Trail. Teana counters the cars in D segment consisting of Toytoa Camry (Rs22-22lakhs), Skoda Superb (Rs18-25lakhs) and Honda Accord (Rs26lakhs). Of these, Skoda Superb moves @290 units a month, Honda Accord 240 units, Camry 30 units and Teana just 20 units. For X-Trail (Rs20 lakhs), the competitors are Ford Endeavour and Honda CR-V. the company has by now understood that the major contributor for the growth rate will be the cost factor.

Mercedes-Benz on the fast track

To meet the demand from the market, Mercedes-Benz has decided to increase its production at Chakan facility by making two shifts. The facility is in the job of assembling the variants of C, E and S-Class at a capacity of 5000 cars a year at single shift. Recently the company launched GL-350 CDI Blue EFFICIENCY luxury SUV for Rs63.57 lakhs(GL-Executive) and Rs68.48 lakhs for luxury model. Both versions will be 7-seater import as CBU. The localized production will be made on the volume of sale.

The company foresees a growth in SUVs in India and be better than luxury cars and hence the need to penetrate the market to have a better presence. M-Class will also be made available. GLK is left hand drive and hence cannot be placed for marketing in India. The GL-versions are equipped with a 3-lit, V6 diesel engine, 7G-TRONIC gearbox to deliver an output of 165kw. Other features are electrically foldable third row seats, sun-roof and a ground clearance of 307mm. the company has made it public that the charges made by the previous dealer Millennium Motors proved to be baseless.

The nostalgia is back to the fore

The sensational two stroke scooters of the late eighties on the Indian roads faced a grave threat with the arrival of the Japanese 4 stroke motorcycles. The likes of Bajaj Cub, Lambretta and the most attractive LML Vespa ruled the rooster. Keeping aloof all these busy years in the automobile industry, the company is on the revamping mood in addition to the export venture which has been going on for the years.

The new product from LML now will be NV 4-stroke, equipped with a 150-cc 4stroke engine to offer 13ps of power and 11.3Nm of torque. The intention to go in for 4-stroke is to get relief from the low mileage, smoke and nasty engine performance. LML now assures that the new NV will deliver a mileage of 60km/l in normal conditions. The vehicle will have a rear suspension of double-action, spare wheel at the rear to enable the brand trademark of LML. Other utility values are under-seat storage space, brighter headlamp.

LML’s export market has been tremendous that it has sold over 45lakh scooters across the globe including the US, Italy, Sudan, Japan and Australia. Very soon the scooter will be available for test ride. Till then we shall wait.

KTM to be ignited by Bajaj

A new motorcycle is in the offing to be crafted by KTM Power Sports AG of Austria. The bike will be shaped by Bajaj Auto to be in the shield of nearly four times better than the net range dealt by KTM. According to KTM’s Chief Financial Officer, this bike in 125cc range also to be accorded the status of X-Street, is likely to hit the roads by next year end at 40K units per annum. The marketing venues will include potential areas like Brazil, he added.

But the Indian scenario for this KTM is exorbitant at an annual yield of 1lakh – 2 lakhs, said Bajaj information. This sale will cover lands of India, Pakistan and majority of Asia only to share the royalty with KTM. The FY 2009 (till August) was a solid phase for KTM with a sale of 30-plus model machines along with other street bikes fetched 62000 units. This compensated well to the previous year’s dip of 30%. X-Street will come to please the youth blending KTM’s design and quality as carried out by Bajaj. The pricing will be competitive in Europe(4000 Euro) on par with the Japanese counterparts. However, the bike is in slow pedal in Europe, compared to Asia and Latin America.

KTM believes that the sale will boost with the entry level machine and 250cc version since there has been no sign of growth in the existing ranges, acknowledges KTM. Hence its bid to enter into tie-up with Bajaj in India and nod for new models. This could end up with Bajaj claiming its share, in the event of rights issue, to 36% from the current 31.72%.

The media claims of Bajaj taking over the KTM is entirely refuted by both the companies since Bajaj knows what KTM has up in its sleeves. Further, KTM is not in a hurry to shell out its identity to the Indian company. KTM just wanted to revive its critical stature, arose out of financial downfall- a debt mounting to 320 million Euro in February 2009. As of now the company has reduced it to 240million Euro.

It is quite strange to know that KTM is evoking remedial measures by employing manual make of many parts in its unit in Austria. This was effected as a result of lay off of employees from 2200 to 1600. The company is slowly recovering its crisis and the performance in the Q1 of FY 2009-10 was totally a gruesome phase. Still, the revival measures yielded good show with sale profit of 3.6million Euro against the previous year’s loss of 27.9 million Euro. KTM seeks the fuel of Indian company Bajaj to run long roads in its journey.