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Its been a big day for us at vicky.in…Our correspondents across India pinging us with different news stories. First we brought the live pictures of Toyota Fortuner launch and then the scoop on Harley Davidson Indian Foray. Now here are the first complete picture of Maruti’s new estilo which will be officially unveiled tomorrow
Pictures of new estilo
The much awaited Harley Davidson bike will be here in India on August 27th. Buoyed by the success of Yamaha,Suzuki,Honda and Ducati superbikes, Harley Davidson (HD) is cruising into India.
As we reported you earlier, Harley is launching its 883cc Roadster and Fatboy in India this week. These bikes would be available as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and the prices are expected to be start over Rs10 lakhs. Till now, Royal Enfield is the only bike maker to offer cruisers in India and Harley Davidson is joining the party with this launch.
Harley deferred its indian launch atleast thrice citing higher import duty but the success of superbikes in India in recent times could have altered its opinion. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is holding their ANNUAL CONVENTION 2009 on August 28. Matt Levatich, president and chief operating officer of Harley Davison is invited for the event. Harley Davidson would launch its bikes at the same time.
Till then keep visiting www.harley-davidson.in.
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As you read it, Toyota Kirslokar India launches the new Fortuner SUV in India. The new Fortuner powered by 3.0L D-4D diesel engine developing 171PS of Max power and 343 Nm of max torque. Fortuner is avialable only with 5-speed manual transmission mode.
The seven seater SUV comes with an all time four wheel drive system. The dimensions of this massive SUV are 4695mm in length, 1840mm breadth and height of 1850mm. On the safety front, Toyota is a miser! Fortuner is loaded with only two airbags – driver and passenger and ABS. The features of the Toyota Fortuner are – chrome ORVM, front fog lamps, foof rails,bonnet scoop,front wiper with intermittent function and 6 spoke alloy wheels.
The suspension at the front is double wishbone and at the rear it is 4-link with lateral rod. Riding on massive 265/65 R17 tubeless radials Fortuners has ventilated disc brake at the front and drum at the rear. Riding on 17″ alloys it gets climate control system as a standard fitment. Toyota Fortuner will be available in five colours – white,silver,grey,black and blue.
Toyota Fortuner is priced Rs18.45lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)
The 20-20 sensation in the cricket got the new toss up with the Indian skipper MS Dhoni scintillated the test ride of TVS’s new cap Apache RTR 180. The vehicle was set for the test ride when Dhoni visited the Hosur plant while on his personal visit. His visit made him enthusiastic on watching the unit which produces many traditional ranges of two wheelers.
A resounding comment from Dhoni came about the two stroke bikes that he loved the sound-the exhaust tone – from them. He tried on other road race models from the pioneering automobile industry. He chatted with the employees and praised their exhilarating perfection. He was fully impressed with the atmosphere prevalent in the factory that made him wish to visit again.
To match up the two wheeler biggies – Hero Honda, Bajaj Auto and Yamaha, japanese major Honda Motorcycles plans a series of launches in next two years. Honda is out of action when other manufacturers plans to storm the market. Hero Honda will soon launch the karizma FI ZMR, Bajaj Auto plans Ninja and three new motorcycles, Yamaha plans Fazer 250cc and TVS plans a scooter and a motorcycle. To counter these threats, Honda would launch a new 110cc motorcycle (which Honda has been making noise as its mass market motorcycle), spruced-up shine, refreshed stunner, new Unicorn and a 250cc motorcycle.
Honda’s new 110cc motorcycle is the japanese major’s first step to break the monopoly of Hero Honda in the 100cc segment. The new 110cc motorcycle would be projected as a sporty commuter bike in contrast commuter-ish splendor and passion of Hero Honda. Honda would display this motorcycle at the 2010 Auto Expo. Following would be the new refreshed motorcycles – new shine, new stunner and new unicorn. Shine and unicorn are already due for a facelift. Honda would also launch a refreshed stunner in 2010. By 2011, Honda would unleash its beast – a 250cc motorcycle. We recently told you about the Indian two wheeler manufacturer growing interest on 250cc motorcycle. But unlike the Bajaj, Honda plans to manufacture the 250cc motorcycle in India which would enable the japanese major to price it competitvely.
Set to sign second MoU with Tamil Nadu government
Auto major Ford India Pvt Ltd would sign a second memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government soon, said Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India.
The company proposes to invest Rs 2,000 crore, which will be in addition to the $400 million that it invested previously in its facilities and products, he told Business Standard. The proposed investment will be for increasing the current capacity by 100,000 cars and 250,000 engines.
Earlier speaking to reporters, Boneham said the company was also in the process of setting up a wet paints shop at its factory in Maraimalai nagar, near here.
To strengthen its presence in the domestic passenger car segment, the company would launch a car every year and new models of the existing variants. Ford earlier used to launch a car every three years. This apart, it would add 20 new dealers this year to its existing 93 across the country.
“We will start with the small car, which is scheduled to launch in early 2010 and another new model in 2011, which may be another small car,” he said. The proposed small car would allow the company to enter the sub-four metre segment, which holds 70 per cent of the market share in the country’s passenger car segment. Localisation in the proposed car would be 85 per cent.
“We will also give thrust on exports and will make Chennai our export hub,” said Nigel E Wark, executive director – marketing, sales and service, Ford India. The small car would be for both domestic and export markets. It would focus on African and Asia-Pacific countries.
Meanwhile, the car manufacturer has decided to shift its export base from Mumbai port to Chennai. “So far we were exporting from Mumbai in a CKD form, which in turn was assembled at our South African plant. This was adding to the cost,” he said.
Mercedes-Benz may be facing a tough competition from rival Germanluxury car makers Audi and BMW in India. But that hasn’t stopped the auto maker from getting new special editions of its cars. Earlier this year in April, they had launched a special edition E-Class over here.
Now the Press Trust of India is reporting that Mercedes-Benz India has launched the special edition C-Class. Wilfried Aulbur is the chief executive officer and managing director of the German-based firm. Aulbur says, “The C-Class has been the star of young achievers and dynamic individuals whose lifestyles are a celebration of aspiration, ambition and drive.”
The special edition Mercedes-Benz C-Class will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. It has been priced between Rs 28.46 lakh and Rs 31.30 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi price). As the name suggests, only sixty units of the car will be produced so as to maintain the exclusivity of the car.
Volkswagen India is betting big on its new car Polo, whose hatchback version the company expects to launch in early 2010. With the sedan version following in the fall of 2010, the German car-maker hopes the Polo demand will use up its current single-shift capacity of 110,000 units by 2014.
“Hatchbacks are showing promising growth even during the recession, and within hatchbacks the Rs 5-lakh onwards, B+ segment (Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz) accounts for 30 per cent today. At 17 per cent it’s the highest growing segment,” said Mr Neeraj Garg, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Car.
Sales target
Volkswagen is targeting sales of 3,000 units this year, up from the 1,566 it sold last year. But with the launch of the Polo, Mr Garg expects volumes to increase eight- to ten-fold to 25,000-30,000 units. The car will come in both diesel and petrol versions, and other variants will be explored. The car is expected to launch with 50 per cent indigenisation. While the platform is being developed for India, it can be shared with other markets where applicable, said Mr Garg.
The VW dealership network is also being ramped up in preparation. The car-maker opened its 19th showroom today and has planned for a network of 40 by the end of the year.
Imports
Import of its iconic cars, the Beetle and the Phaeton, is also being considered but no timeline has been mentioned. The company has had sedans, the Jetta and the Passat under the Volkswagen brand, so far which are assembled at its Aurangabad facility. It is now focused on introducing a high-volume product.
The Polo is being test produced at its Chakan plant, where the Skoda Fabia is also being assembled. Skoda and VW are also reported to be jointly developing a platform and a car under the Skoda brand, to be retailed under Rs 5 lakh — below the Fabia and the expected price tag of the Polo.
Where brands are concerned, Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi would market themselves separately, benefiting from the scale-up offered by integration at the back-end with common logistics and service partners, said Mr Garg.
Globally, 2009 will be even more difficult that 2008, according to Mr Garg. The strategy thus is to develop new products as quickly as possible to be able to launch them when the market is ready. Second, it is to identify and invest in new markets and finally, improve on technology so the turnaround, when it comes, is faster.
Skoda Fabia roll out
Volkswagen officially began production of the Skoda Fabia from its Chakan plant on August 11. Mr Kurt Rippholz, Head of Communications (India), Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Brand, said in an e-mail interview to Business Line that the pre-series production of the first body of the Skoda Fabia had been completed on November 15, 2008 and since then it had produced cars to optimise production flow, and to train the employees.
He said that in December the production of the Volkswagen Polo Hatch would start, followed by the production of the Volkswagen Sedan by mid 2010.
To a question on the production figures for the other models, he noted that the Chakan plant had flexible production capabilities and that according to the market requirements, the models would be produced and rolled out.
The total production capacity of the Volkswagen Pune plant is 110,000 cars per year — for the Skoda Fabia, the Volkswagen Polo Hatch and the Volkswagen Sedan.
The total investment as of now in the Volkswagen Pune plant is €580 million.
On whether the Aurangabad facility would be phased out, Mr Rippholz said it would continue as they were two different kinds of plants. He said the Chakan plant was equipped for the entire process of production, with press shop, body shop, paint shop and assembly. The Aurangabad plant focused on the assembly of completely knocked-down cars delivered to the plant. The Chakan plant would produce medium-size cars such as the Skoda Fabia and the Polo while the Aurangabad plant would make the other group vehicles such as Skoda Superb, the Laura, the Octavia, the Audi A6, the A4, the VW Passat and the Jetta.
General Motors is daring to go with its mini car proposal. The move will ease the company with 20% export by the first 12 months of its inception (probably next year). Chevrolet Cruze 2.0 lit diesel is getting ready to burst out for this Deepavali which will be followed by 1.8 lit petrol. In addition there will be 4 more models flagging the GM brand by 2010. The mini car Beat, assembled at Talegaon is already on the process since last December and is waiting for the roll out in January 2010. At Rs4 lakh, the company is hopeful of delivering some 50000 units in the year of 2010 with a 20% export.
The countries targeted for the export are Srilanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and partial Asia-Pacific and Europe. Initial assembling will have 65% of localization and later will be 100% localization. Halol plant is shaping GM’s Cruze, 2.0 lit diesel(Rs12-14lakh) and is ready for drive in October while the petrol variant of 1.8 range is set for the eve of New Year. The units will be fitted with the engine provided in Chevrolet Captiva. GM is committed to the Indian market and is reciprocated with 4 more models in the line up. all these are aimed at reviving the supremacy from the bankruptcy.
Joy is what you get of it.Do you want to own a car that offers you the former statement.Here is our Maruti taking a step forward to launch a new ‘Made In India’ model in two years(2012).
Maruti Suzuki is looking forward to provide Research And Development facilities in India,with time allotted for two phases.First phase is the construction of test track which is likely to be completed by 2012 and the overall R&D facilities to be completed by 2015.It includes the test track and crash test facility. The basic objective of the R&D facility is to provide for full vehicle development and designing of vehicles to suit the specific needs of the Indian customer and component durability testing and performance evaluation.
The land allotment agreement was signed by Maruti Suzuki managing director and CEO Shri Shinzo Nakanishi and Shri Rajeev Arora,managing director,Haryana State Industrial And Infrastructure Development Corporation(HSIDC) at Rohtak.It was a step forward in the direction of the promise made six years ago by Osamu Suzuki,chairman,Suzuki Motor Corporation.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Six years ago, Mr. Osamu Suzuki, Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan had promised the people of India that he will make Maruti Suzuki the R&D hub for Asia, outside Japan. Today, we have taken a step further in realizing this promise. This facility in Rohtak would be a big step forward in building the R&D capability of Maruti Suzuki, and enable us to offer superior products to our customers in the future as well . I am happy that all this is happening in Haryana. I thank the Haryana government and the Central government for their unstinted support to Maruti Suzuki over the last 25 years”.
MSI managing executive officer (engineering) IV Rao said: “It will catapult Maruti into the next league as a car maker capable to develop new cars and platforms on its own. We are targeting 2012 to develop cars indigenously.”
Haryana government has allotted 700 acres of land to India’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Limited(MSIL),for R&D Complex at Rohtak.Of 700 acres,a dedicated 100 acres will house the suppliers park.The investment of the company is of Rs.1000 crore with the first phase seeking a minimum amount of Rs.400 crore,while the balance is invested by 2015.
The Rohtak facility will make Haryana the base for automobile engineering,besides catalyzing future investments by automobile industry. “This facility in Rohtak would be a big step forward in building the R&D capability of Maruti Suzuki, and enable us to offer superior products to our customers in the future as well,” Nakanishi said.
Maruti also has a R&D centre at Gurgaon and around 700 employers working there with the numbers likely to increase at the end of this fiscal.
Among the employers,most of them are Indians who are desirous to leave USA and work in India.As a whole,the step taken by Maruti is a welcome one as it not only enhances its R&D centre counts but also slices out the unemployment lot in India.