Nissan to open manufacturing facility in Chennai in March

Nissan-Renault JV will launch its manufacturing facility for its Mirca, in Chennai on 17th of the next month. The facility is to be inaugurated by the Chairman and CEO of the JV, which is the result of Rs4000 crore investment and delivering 4 lakhs per year. Mirca will be on the roads in India by this May. The model, along with the other ones slated for four countries will be displayed at the ensuing Geneva Motor show next month. Nissan’s earlier plan was to shift the Mirca plant in the UK to India and to deem it as the export base.

A touch up for Star City from TVS

TVS has slightly modified its commuter motorcycle 110Star City– there is a replacement of the power-horse design on the fuel tank as new graphic pattern finds place; color options too changed; the 12V mobile charger is fixed just behind the front left indicator. This feature yields the reputation as the first bike to have this feature, an ideal one for the riders who are ever on the run. All these are welcome ones but it would be ideal if they are included in RTRs too.

Alarming entry of Volvo S60 into India

The once thought never possible model Volvo S60 is booming into India. It fascinates with its chunky waist line, bigger headlamps, swell grill and wheels, a roofline resembling a coupe. The interiors mesmerizes with a finished dash board, a floating central console by being sporty and youthful in look. The engine has the specs of 4-pot 2.0 lit turbocharged petrol, 200 bhp and a 6-cylinder 3.0 petrol with a staggering 304 bhp. This counters BMW 335i as the engine options are typically sane- twin turbo diesel 2.4 lit D5 yielding 204 bhp and the other one 2.0 lit 4-cylinder diesel with 163bhp.

Volvo plans to include 4 more engines by this year end possibly with two 1.6 lit petrol and a still efficient version of the 2.0 lit petrol, an eco-friendly 1.6 lit diesel. The driver’s convenience is blessed with the pedestrian detection system, as the vehicle gets halt from the speed of 35km/h which means the prevention of any casualties. The driver convenience is still enhanced by a taut chassis and an advanced 4-wheel drive. All these facilitates safe drive and comfortable journey. Wait till January 2011 to avail these as Volvo would alarm its reach by then.

BMW marching towards new launch in March

To eliminate the old concept 325i in the 3-series range, BMW is launching its new 330i next month. The flagship will have a bigger 3-lit in line 6-cylinder engine to yield 258 bhp by propelling to 100kph speed within 7 seconds so that the top speed would be 250kph. This car is to top the ranges in India and to be powered by the existing engine found in 530i. Further, the 330i will include voluminous accessories and safety aspects- front and side airbags enabling the comfort for driver and the passengers; engine mobiliser, cruise control allied with brake function, ABS, automatic stability control (ASC), EBD and hill-start.

The interiors pose automatic 2-zone climate control, multi-function leather steering wheel, on-board computer, steering adjust for easy reach, CD player and MP3 accessibility aided by 6 speakers. Among the 3-series, 320d attracts the crowd across but this 330i is meant for limited aspirants and may reach less owners. Still, BMW believes in its strategy by launching this 330i- to counter Audi A4 3.2 V6 petrol and at the same time tries to woo the customers with lot of options by offering ranges in different prices. This 330i may cost under Rs40 lakhs probably and slightly higher than the 325i. BMW is packing off the 325i soon.

Skoda

Skoda, facing the wrath of popularity with its Fabia and Laura, is thinking of searching a new car in the range between these two cars. Fabia compact comes in 8 variants from the cost of Rs4.98 lakhs – Rs7.85 lakhs and Laura is offered in 6 variants in the cost range of Rs13.38 – Rs18.60 lakhs. Octavia is placed between these two cars in 3 variants at the cost range of Rs10.44 lakhs – Rs13.21 lakhs. Skoda’s high-end, Superb, comes in 3 variants in the price range of Rs19.95- Rs26.60 lakhs.

The Board Member(Sales & Marketing) of the company said that the company is on the mood to such move- a compact car crafted in the Europe to be imported to India. The positioning of this car, speculatively, will be at the price range of Rs8-10 lakhs which makes it fit for C segment in India while Octavia belongs to D class. The new car will be on the lines of Fabia and Polo involving Skoda and Volkswagen. The import cost is to be taken for consideration since it will reflect the net price of the unit.

Simultaneously, the companies are working on a low end car (below Fabia) in the break of Fiat and Renault which make entry into the low car segment. It is to be remembered that VW has made an association with Suzuki already and this may fetch more interesting features in the days to come. Skoda will benefit out of VW’s entry to India, in dealing with manufacturing aspects. Fabia happened to be the first product from this plant and it will be followed by Polo.
In spite of these arrangements, there will be individual preoccupation of the two companies in terms of end products. For VW and Suzuki, brand status and quality are important in the focused line up of units. In this regard, VW is one step ahead in finalizing the things globally. So the company sees the growth of VW with its Passat as the more searched premium than the one happening with Skoda Superb. Jetta too is one step ahead than Laura, the concept which is to be continued for Polo. Skoda to wrap up the market with many new brands in the months to come with heavy push up in VW’s Chakan plant. The wheels are being greased to run the test finally.

Maruti to gear up its delivery of cars

The year 2011-12 will be a busy year for Maruti Suzuki, as installation of stockyards and novel showrooms are in the offing at an investment of Rs200 crore. By this there will be a decentralization of the stocking, currently functioning from the Gurgaon plant, said the company’s executive. The idea is to allocate 25 acres for each such stockyard and the stockyards would ease the delivery of the company’s cars.

In addition there will be 16 model showrooms spread across the country to be located at the regional centres of the company. The lone model showroom is located at Delhi which exhibits the entire range of the company’s cars. By 2011 there will be total localization in R&D by increasing the number of personnel to 1450 from the current 1000, he said.

Ford

Figo, from the US car maker Ford, is all set for launch in March with the expanded dealer network, said the company official. The small car segment (less than 4 meters) constitutes nearly 75% of the market, in which Maruti Suzuki’s Alto, Swift, Ritz and A-Star are the key players.

India turns out to be an ideal platform for the car market as the sale during the 10 months of 2009-10 the sale steeped to 1.22 million units, according to SIAM. Ford India’s share is 2% with the sale of 24,186 cars in the period of April-January.

Ford will build this Figo in its Chennai plant, which is invested at $500 million. For intensified marketing, the dealer network is strengthened with the additional 28 dealers to make the total to 164 in 97 cities. GM’s Beat is already on the veil and VW is shaping its Polo for this June. Despite the recall episode in its history, Toyota is devising its Etios for India slated for December 2010; Honda has announced its 5-seater family compact car to be ready by 2011.