a new technology based braking system, Bybre, is introduced by Brembo. This is engineered with the Italian technology and is made in the Pune plant. This will be an innovative product in its category and India is the first market to get this product. The brake system will enable the efficiency of motorcycles. Earlier, Brembo made an exclusive product, Bybre P4.28 caliper designed, for Bajaj motorcycles. Bajaj makes use of this brake system for its KTM products made in Austria. Such bikes are slated for market in India and Europe.
Automobiles to cost more in Karnataka
The Silicon Valley state of India, Karnataka, is worrying the buyers of automobiles – cars, two wheelers etc- by way of increased tax in the budget. In proportion to the cumulative sale of vehicles in the state, the CM has come out with such a taxation to accrue additional income. The life tax for the vehicles come under slabs- for vehicles costing less than Rs50000 it would be 10% from the existing 8% and for vehicles costing from Rs50000 – Rs1 lakh the tax would be 12% from the existing 10%. For cars in the price range of less than Rs5 lakh it would be 13% from 12%; and for cars costing more than Rs5 lakhs and upto Rs10 lakhs it would be 14% from 13%; for cars costing in the price range of Rs10 lakh- Rs20 lakhs it would be 17% from 16%.
The luxury cars costing more than Rs20 lakhs it would be 18% from 16%. The new light goods vehicles of 3000-5000 kg will face a life time tax levy of Rs20000 against Rs4800. However, such vehicles will face a life time tax average of Rs12000 depending upon the year of manufacture. The relief went in favor of omni buses which got Rs250 lesser amount; stage carriages will be given on special permit @Rs700 instead of Rs1000. The tax system on construction vehicles of 1000kg will be based on the selling price instead of Rs200 a quarter.
Honda’s second 2-wheeler unit in Raj at Rs 1,100 cr
Honda Motorcycle is installing its second unit in Rajasthan at an investment of Rs1100crore with the annual capacity of 12lakh units. This plant, probably in Bhiwadi village, will have the blessing of the state government by means of a relief package. The plant’s initial capacity will be 6 lakhs per annum at an investment of Rs500 crore. With an additional investment of Rs600 crore the capacity will be increased, in the next phase, to 12 lakhs.
Honda’s Manesar plant has the annual capacity of 15.5 lakh units a year and in the last October it had to face the labor strike, which forced it to move out of Haryana. Thus, the company incurred a loss of Rs300 crore due to stall in the production. This Manesar plant produces Activa, Dio, Unicorn, Shine and CBF Stunner.
Fiat glare with1.2litre Punto Fire Dynamic & Emotion
Fiat India blazed out two variants of furious passionate of B+ hatchback segment. Fiat plunged the 1.2litre Punto Fire Dynamic and Emotion that kindles the spirit of hatch back lovers with its vibrant eight colors: Bossa Nova White, Exotica Red, Minimal Grey, Hip Hop Black, Medium Grey, Electric Blue and 2 new colors i.e. Fox Trot Azure and Tuscan Wine.
As Punto is the hot selling emerging car in the auto space it is supposed to be highly competitive car at plausible rate. The new Punto Fire 1.2 petrol is priced at Rs 4,72, 284 (ex showroom Mumbai) and Punto 1.2 Emotion is priced at Rs 5,04, 279 (ex showroom Mumbai).
The new chic Punto Fire boasts a tilt steering, front power windows, fire prevention system and programmed service reminder in its entry level 1.2 Active variant. The 1.2 Dynamic is equipped with a music system as an introductory offer and it is outfitted with rear power windows and central locking system.
Punto 1.2 Emotion variant is garnished well with integrated music system, fog lamps, electric mirrors, dual tone dashboard and split seats.
Speaking during the launch of the two new variants, Rajeev Kapoor, president and CEO, Fiat Automobiles India said, “The hatchback segment is the most happening in India and has seen a 50% growth in 2009. In fact, 60% of car sales happen in this category and we have had a 5.5% market share till now and with more variant launches in the coming months, we would be looking at doubling the sales.”
Elaborating on the reasons behind coming out with a car with so many features and at an affordable price, he said, “During the last couple months of we have been observing the customer needs and saw that the Punto Active was the most preferred of the lot. So thus we decided to tap that market and offer more features at a reasonable price tag.”
Ravi G Bhatia, vice-president, Fiat India said that Rs 4-5lakh category is seeing a lot activity and the automobile sector in India is growing at a tremendous pace. “Look at the number of cars that has come in the category, so it was imperative that we also be a part of the game. Fiat has been looked upon as an expensive car but with these two launches we want to change that image.”
On the image that Fiat has that cost of ownership is high, he said that that is also slowing changing and that the company has been doing some serious activity to see that spare parts are available easily. He added, “And since localisation has set in, the cost of ownership will also come down drastically for Fiat cars. We are also opening dealerships all over India which should also help us change the image.”
Mahindra inaugurates Chakan Plant
Mahindra & Mahindra, the number one SUV manufacturer of India has inaugurated its new manufacturing home at Chakan, auto hub of Maharashtra. What more than inviting the first person, Chief Minister of the state for the opening ceremony.
The new Chakan plant of Mahindra, a Rs.5000 crore investment was built in a shorter time span of just 22 months, and churns out 3 lakh vehicles annually for the initial years, adding more number for the future (around 5 lakhs), meeting ever growing global auto demand.
So what’s the duty of the Mahindra’s new hub? It shall be making the 0.75 metric tonne Maxximo, a mini truck, like the Tata Ace, Bolero, Scorpio, Xylo platforms and the recently launched 49 metric tonne Mahindra Navistar trucks range. The plant will also be the home for Mahindra’s all new SUV. The plant has state of the art technologies and machineries, facilitating the tractability of manufacturing multiple models meeting future market needs.
Mahindra eyes on creating a new benchmark in the manufacturing of automobiles and advanced production processes which pars with Mahindra’s goal to egress as a preceding full range player with the ability to vie versus world’s list of best automotive firms.”
Mahindra Chakan, as officially called, is a amply incorporated installation for variety of programs, including Press Unit, Chassis Unit, Paint Section, General Assembly Unit and the conglomerations all arriving at the same time.
We will take you through Mahindra’s Chakan’s plant (via virtual tour) in coming days. Stay tuned and keep tracking vicky.in/slideshows
Mahindra Chakan Plant inauguration Pictures
Brilliant Bentley back with a bang for Big Shots
Bentley breaks into India with its top end Mulsanne and GTC Supersport. The British premium car industry, shall start widening their premium car sales in India and China, as the humpty list of millionaires wait for cars that costs crores, to enhance their status symbols.
Benley’s Mulsanne costs about just Rs.2.9 crore, so what it has for such a huge price? This space might not be enough for the list. Yes, the car’s 6.7 litre V8 petrol heart rated at 505 horsepower and a earth-reversing 752 pound-feet of torque, which derives at mere 1,800 rpm, a touch of feet on accelerator will make you fly. It’s a rear-wheel drive with shifts handled by a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic, like the one in WRC cars.
Mulsanne rides on an all-new chassis, and features a range of driving kinetics context for its air suspension system.Mulsanne is a mammoth too, at 219 inches long (that’s 18.25 feet), 75.8 inches wide, 60 inches tall and curls gravity in its neck of the woods to the tune of 5,700 pounds, not even BMW and Benz could stand on it’s immenze size.
The Mulsanne is a home theatre on wheels, domiciliates some of the highest-tech audio and entertainment systems available, with a 14-speaker audio system standard, or an upgraded Naim unit rated at 2,200 watts with 20 custom-made speakers and eight dedicated DSP modes. USB, Bluetooth, mobile data, navigation, video playback, and phone integration are all standard, and most of the infotainment functions are got at through an 8-inch touchscreen that blots out behind an electrically-operated covered door when not in use. There’s even a leather-lined drawer just below to stow your MP3 player.
Before grasping your breath with these features, let me also reveal what’s under the hood of GTC Supersport, launched in Geneva Auto Expo.The ZF gearbox of the Supersports is tied to a six-liter, twin turbo, 621hp W-12 engine.
Horsepower is up from 550hp in the base Continental and 600hp in the GTC Speed. Interestingly, Bentley’s peak torque of 590 foot-pounds arrives early, at 1,700rpm, and doesn’t wake up until 5,600rpm, when in any gear you’re aviating already. The pricing of GTC Supersport is yet to be figured out. India holds a 2% share in world’s luxury car market, constituted mainly by Rolls Royce and Lamborghini, with specially designed yachts and private jets of the big shots. Bentley started it’s business way back in 1911, selling 8 models, with showrooms in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Muslanne is available in India with 6.25 billion trims and colours, personalised for every pround owner. Wait till October-November 2010 for your first delivery.
Indigo gets an edge over Logan in the taxi fleet
Tata Motors has found the ways to enter the Taxi field pushing Logan behind. The fleet operators, after driving home the fact of Indica, now feel that Logan is not feasible on the aspects of spares being in demand. Another reason quoted was the bleak future in the Renault-Mahindra JV. This was explicated by the CEO of Meru Cabs, which was to purchase 200 Logans this year and the order went in favor of Indigo.
Already the cabs have 50% of its cars in Indigo XL. Customers’ satisfaction is also taken into account in this regard, he added. In the radio cabs, Indigo XL dominates with 70%share in market. All the prospective orders meant for Logan have now gone to Tata Indigo. M&M is tightlipped in this regard and is compensating the information with a brief time slot.
SIAM survey indicates that in January alone 7258 units of Indigo were sold, making an increase by 82% from that of January 2009. Logan, on the other hand, could sell just 597 units in January making the sale in April 2009 –January 2010 to 4444 units, a fall of 60% against the previous year’s tenure.
VW’s deal not to affect Nissan-Suzuki drive
Nissan-Suzuki pact will not be disturbed by the entry of VW. Nissan is getting the Pixo from Maruti Suzuki as the contract is till 2012. However, the deal pact with Suzuki and Volkswagen is on the air for small car project. The cars are to be slated for the European market, under the monitoring of VW. Nissan is not in the small picture in Europe as of now. The European market is growing fast towards small and compact car and Maruti-Suzuki’s Alto is marketed as Pixo in Europe by Nissan.
VW got 20% stake in Suzuki for $2.5 billion for improving its base in small car in India and China. If VW becomes vigorous in small car then it would hit the prospects of Nissan’s market against VW’s Lupo, a compact car in Europe. The company official is yet to make the confirmation about the possibilities. Maruti Suzuki thinks in other way, that Nissan has no other go than to continue the contract for small car of Pixo. He said that the deal with VW will not based on the concept of Alto.
Nissan has been in the good stint under this agreement as the small car from Maruti Suzuki has fetched decent business to it. Marurti has been in the recent limelight following its recall of 1 lakh A-Star for fuel leakage. But Nissan has redoubled its agreement for 54000 units from 30000 units in this financial year. If VW thinks in other terms then the tussle may be rigorous between Nissan and Suzuki. VW sees the deal as an easier than to invest a lot for the entirely new plant. Nissan has its own fortune with its new small car, a 4-door compact hatchback made from its Chennai unit. The car will see the domestic roads in this May and be exported to Europe later.
Carmaker Proton appoints Subbu as non-executive director
Malaysian car maker Proton hired Subbu as its non-executive director. He was the main brain for Hyundai in the Indian market to counter Maruti –Suzuki. Later he walked away from Hyundai to start Argentum Motors. This Argentum Motors took over Daewoo Motors production unit some three years ago.
The former Hyundai marketing Head is now in this solo performing company.
He will be assisted by the expertise from India, China and ASEAN markets. The proposed dialogue with Hero group for India failed and so Proton decided on to go alone in India. In the Geneva Motor show Proton displayed three variants of EMAS range which include two hybrids and an electric version. Mr.Subbu maintained that India proves to be a good hunting ground for small car. Proton’s success in the Indian entry came after a relentless effort for 10 long years. Its talk with Hindustan Motors last year went in vain on its financial state. Proton’s entry is in tune with the India-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement pro.
Volvo launches new S60
Volvo makes a deep breath with its launch of new S60, the latest fun car to be ready by January 2011. The car is designed by Peter Horbury, the design of head and coincides with the switch over to Geely ownership. The new S60 enables performance and emotional disturbances. The car is technically fit with a 4, 5 and 6 cylinder petrol engines.
The car will be ready for launch in India first on diesel and petrol versions. Volvo sold 140 cars in 2009 in India and the S60 and XC60 are in the queue. S60 is targeted globally at 90000 units in the first year and 5 lakh units in another 2 or three years. The Indian market will have to shell out Rs28 lakh for this car base model and Rs32 lakh for higher models.