Indian Automotive Sector

[Pintu]

Maruti to show its green cars in Auto Expo - India Business - Biz - The Times of India

Maruti to show its green cars in Auto Expo
Pankaj Doval, TNN 29 December 2009, 01:14am IST

NEW DELHI: In line with government's initiative of developing green technologies in the automotive sector, Maruti Suzuki will display concepts for a hybrid on its SX4 sedan and an electric multi-purpose van at the upcoming auto expo.

The company is working on clean fuel technologies as part of a public-private partnership ahead of the Commonwealth Games. It will use its in-house R&D team for the vehicles, though much of the actual development hinges on access to technology and sourcing of various critical parts that are currently not easily available in India and come at a high cost.

The government's National Hybrid Propulsion Programme (NHPP) aims to develop a fleet of clean fuel vehicles for the October 2010 Commonwealth Games, much in line with what China did for the Beijing Olympics. Government has partnered a clutch of automakers who would collaborate to develop these vehicles that would be used for ferrying players. Half the cost of development work would be borne by government.

For Maruti, this would be the first individual effort on hybrids and electric vehicles. The company will deliver ten vehicles for the Commonwealth Games, and the concepts would perhaps be the first public platform where it will give a glimpse of what it plans to offer for the event, though actual commercial production will take some years.

Apart from Maruti, other companies involved in the NHPP programme include Tata Motors, M&M, Ashok Leyland, Eicher Motors, Bajaj Auto and TVS, besides members of the academia and research professionals.

The idea is to jointly work on hyrbid, electric and other clean feul technologies, while keeping a check on overall costs, including of innovation, labour and development. The NHPP will be a three-phase initiative with the first phase entailing demonstration of technology at Commonwealth Games in October 2010, the second phase stressing on R&D and localisation of technology by 2012 and the final phase culminating at localisation of technology for mass production by 2015-16.

 

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Good to read

Indian Super-Compact Car Sales Pass Japan - Automotive News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Regards

 

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M&M to showcase electric vehicle at Auto Expo- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

M&M to showcase electric vehicle at Auto Expo
30 Dec 2009, 2202 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra plans to showcase its much-awaited electric vehicle at the Auto Expo scheduled to take place next month in the national capital.

"We will be showcasing an electric vehicle at Auto Expo," Mahindra & Mahindra President (Automotive Sector) Pawan Goenka told.

The company, which is one of the largest automakers in the country, plans to launch the electric vehicle by the end of 2010, Goenka said.

That apart, M&M plans to showcase its entire range of products including two-wheelers, utility vehicles, light commercial vehicles and trucks at the upcoming Auto Expo.

Moving ahead, the company, which is one of the largest auto-maker in the country, also plans to launch hydrogen and CNG vehicles over the next 12-18 months.

"We have developed hydrogen and CNG powered vehicle. It could be launched in the next 12-18 months depending on the infrastructure," Goenka said, adding that the company has also plans to launch hydrogen powered three-wheeler moving ahead.

 

[Pintu]

Maruti sales to grow:

Maruti Suzuki: Expect Sales to Grow 10%-12% Next Year - WSJ.com

 

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http://www.ptinews.com/news/446474_Mahindra-to-launch-mini-truck-Maxximo-at-Auto-Expo

Mahindra to launch mini truck Maxximo at Auto Expo

STAFF WRITER 18:13 HRS IST

New Delhi, Dec 30 (PTI) Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra today said it will launch its mini truck Maxximo-- the first product from its new facility in Chakan -- at the Auto Expo here during January 5-11.

Besides, the company will also showcase its entire range of products, including two-wheelers, utility vehicles, light commercial vehicles and trucks at the fair.

"Mahindra will unveil its next generation mini truck, named Maxximo at the Auto Expo 2010, the first product to be rolled out of Mahindra's new Chakan plant. Maxximo has been developed and designed on the basis of extensive customer feedback," Mahindra & Mahindra President (Automotive Sector) Pawan Goenka said in a statement.

"Technology is the abiding theme of the Mahindra pavilion at the Auto Expo 2010. Mahindra's fuel-efficient vehicles and state-of-the-art technologies will undoubtedly appeal to the international audience at the Expo," it added.

 

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M&M to launch motorcycle this year

The Mahindra & Mahindra group on Sunday said it will enter the motorcycle segment this year with the launch of an in-house developed bike. The group, which aspires to be a significant player in the two-wheeler market, is also working on adding an additional production capacity to meet future targets.

“We are working on a motorcycle and you should see it during the course of 2010,” Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) President (Two-Wheeler Sector) Anoop Mathur told PTI at the 10th Auto Expo here.

 

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Car sales jump 40 p.c. in December’09

Domestic passenger car sales jumped by 40.27 per cent to 1,15,268 units in December last year. Total passenger car sales were 82,174 units in the same month 2008. Motorcycle sales were up by 76.70 per cent at 5,92,596 units in last month compared to 3,35,370 units in the year-ago month, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said at the 10th Auto Expo here.

Total two-wheeler sales rose to 7,67,796 units in December 2009 from 4,60,852 units in the corresponding month in 2008, a growth of 66.60 per cent, SIAM said. The sale of commercial vehicles jumped by nearly three-fold to 48,614 units in the month compared to 17,897 units in the same month previous year, it added.

The total auto sales were 10,00,500 units in December against 5,97,241 units in the same month in 2008.

 

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Tata Nano may come to US with $5,000 price tag

The world’s cheapest car, the Tata Group’s Nano that sells for $2,500 in India, may find its place in the U.S. garages at double the price when it is commercially launched here, but would still be lowest-priced car in America.

The cheapest vehicle in North America costs about $9,000-10,000 “so one could speculate that half of that - over $5,000 - is a possible price point” for the Nano in the U.S. and is still way cheaper than the lowest priced car, a Tata Technologies official said at the Detroit Science Centre here, where the car is on display for the US audience for the first time.

The official, who did not wish to be named since the decision on price would rest with Tata Motors, said the over $5,000 price range could also take into account all the necessary safety and emission requirements needed to ensure that Nano is fit for the U.S. roads.

 

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Tata Motors Group’s global December sales up 84 p.c.

The country’s largest automobile manufacturer, Tata Motors, on Friday reported an 84 per cent jump in its global sales at 74,707 units for December 2008, compared to the corresponding month in 2008.The company also posted 137 per cent surge in the sale of its commercial vehicles at 37,326 units in December 2009, it said in a statement.

During the month under review, it sold 16,247 units of passenger vehicles, up by 53 per cent, against the same month previous year, it added. Sale of its iconic brands Jaguar and Land Rover jumped up by 33 per cent in the last month of 2009.

During the month, it sold 4,794 units of Jaguar up by five per cent, while Land Rover sales stood at 16,340 units an increase of 45 per cent, compared to December 2008. Tata Motors Group’s global sales comprises of Tata, Tata Daewoo and Hispano Carrocera range of commercial vehicles, and British brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

 

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GM to start manufacturing LCVs at Halol

German carmaker General Motors will start manufacturing Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in India at its Halol facility in Gujarat from 2011, President of General Motors India, Karl Slym said here on Tuesday.

 

[Pintu]

Hindu business line update link :

The Hindu Business Line : Maruti to invest Rs 1,700 cr on second line at Manesar

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Hero Honda to produce 4.5 mn two-wheelers​

The world’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero Honda on Friday said it will produce over 45 lakh units in 2009-10 from its three facilities in India and will decide on setting up a fourth manufacturing unit within the next six months.

“Despite difficult conditions, we will surely produce 4.5 million units for 2009-10 against 3.7 million units of last fiscal. The market wants more,” Hero Honda Managing Director Pawan Munjal told PTI on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum here. The company, which has three plants at Dharuhera, Gurgaon and Haridwar with a total annual production capacity of about 50 lakh units, has so far sold 34,13,594 units in this fiscal.

Hero Honda had earlier set a target of selling 40 lakh two-wheelers in 2009-10, but later revised it upwards. When asked about setting up of a Greenfield facility, Munjal said, “Very soon we will do a feasibility study. It should take about six months to take a decision.” For the coming fiscal year, Munjal said the company will launch about 8-9 models in order to keep up market expectations of new products and will enhance its presence in the rural areas.

On competition, especially with the revival of Bajaj, he said, “We remain prepared for healthy competition that provides food for innovation.” Earlier this month, Hero Honda had reported a 78.34 per cent jump in its third quarter net profit at Rs. 535.77 crore on the back of a quarterly sales volume of over a million units. It had a net profit of Rs. 300.42 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

Source

 

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Suzuki says Maruti to make 1,02,7,000 cars this FY​

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki will produce over a million cars this fiscal enabling the company to cross the milestone for the first time, its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) said today. "Maruti Suzuki now forecasts production of 10,27,000 units for the fiscal year from April 2009 to March 2010, meaning that its production will exceed one million units on both a calendar-year basis and a fiscal-year basis for the first time," SMC said in a statement on its website.

Maruti Suzuki, produced 9,66,069 cars from January to December 2009, up 27 per cent from the year ago, it added. In expectation of continued growth in the Indian car market, MSI will invest Rs 1,700 crore in new facilities at its Manesar plant to increase an annual output to 550,000 units from the current 300,000 units, the statement said. "The new facilities are scheduled to start operating in spring 2012. As a result, MSI will have annual production capacity of 1.25 million units (700,000 units at its Gurgaon plant; 550,000 units at its Manesar plant," it said.

SMC, which now holds 54.2 per cent stake in Maruti Suzuki, started car production in India with the Maruti 800 in 1983, when the car market was about 100,000 units per year. It had partnered the Indian government in an erstwhile join- venture Maruti Udyog Ltd. It became the majority shareholder when the government exited from the JV.

Today MSI commands 55 per cent share in the market, which has grown to over 1.5 million units per annum. The company sell popular models including, Alto, Estilo, Wagon R, Swift, Dzire and the SX4.

Source

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Ashok Leyland inaugurates Viralimalai facility​

With the dynamics of competition in the bus segment taking a newer twist in the wake of entry of organised players, commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland is gearing up to step up its fully-built buses' component to a higher level progressively.

Addressing a press conference after inaugurating the state-of-the-art Viralimalai facility of Irizar-TVS Limited, a three-way equal joint venture between TVS Sons Ltd., Ashok Leyland and Irizar of Spain, R. Seshasayee, Managing Director of Ashok Leyland, said 30 per cent of the buses sold by the company were built by itself at the moment. Ashok Leyland was keen to increase this percentage to 90 per cent over the next three years. During the next financial year, the company planned to take it up to 60 per cent, he said.

Source

 

[Pintu]

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100224/jsp/frontpage/story_12145156.jsp

Global recall bug bites Maruti A-Star
- Fuel pumps of 1 lakh cars being checked in India’s largest such drive
OUR CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, Feb. 23: Maruti Suzuki India is recalling 1 lakh units of its flagship export model A-Star to replace a fuel pump part, making it the largest such exercise in the country so far.

The company is replacing a faulty rubber gasket in the small car manufactured before August 22, 2009, and sold in domestic as well as overseas markets to prevent any possible fuel leak. Maruti share prices plunged 3 per cent on the stock market, the concerns heightened by the recall troubles that hit Toyota and Honda.

Toyota has recalled over 8.5 million vehicles in recent months for problems that included sticky accelerators. Last month, Japanese auto major Honda recalled 8,532 units of its sedan, the City, in India because of a defective power window switch as part of a global recall.

In the A-Star, the problem arises when fuel is filled to the brim — beyond the cut-off position. A fuel leak from the pump mounting area may take place then.

Replacing the gasket and the “ ring” means the rubber part is defective, leading to a leak or its likelihood. The company is midway through the checking process and hopes to complete it soon.

Maruti is identifying cars that face the possibility of the problem and contacting individual customers. A-Star, priced between Rs 3.46 lakh and Rs 4.12 lakh in Calcutta, sells around 3,500 units a month in India. “In November 2009, we came across an anomaly reported in the fuel tank in some of the vehicles and, by December, we started contacting the customers through letters. These vehicles belonged to a lot made till August 22, 2009, only,” the company said in a statement today.

“The customers are being asked to visit their nearest dealer workshop where the faulty parts will be replaced in about 15-20 minutes,” an official said. Maruti will change the fuel pump gasket and the “ ring” at no cost to customers, he added. “The final cost for this replacement will be shared with the supplier partner after completion of the entire exercise,” he said.

The problem was discovered in an internal survey and no complaint has been received so far, company officials said.

The company started replacing the gasket from December 2009 and has so far changed the part in around 50,000 units.

In 2001, Maruti recalled nearly 76,000 Omnis made between August and December 2000 to get the fuel hose system inspected and, if found defective, have it rectified. In 2006, the company recalled 500 units of Zen. The company had also recalled some units of its hatchback Swift in 2005.

“Its just not good to have recall one after the other… but one must not forget that the company is owning up to the problem. It is an exercise to build good public relations,” said auto analyst Hormazd Sorabji. “In the long run, such small things will not impact the image of the company.”

The A-Star, the fifth “global” model from the Maruti stable, was launched in November 2008 and crossed 1 lakh overseas shipments in less than a year.

The car is exported to around 70 countries and is sold as Suzuki Alto in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the other markets abroad are Chile, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria and UAE, where it is sold as Suzuki Celerio.

 

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Honda's second 2-wheeler unit in Raj at Rs 1,100 cr​

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) will set up its second plant in Rajasthan at an investment of Rs 1,100 crore with an installed capacity to produce 12 lakh units per annum. "Keeping in view the economic and financial environment of the state, the Cabinet has granted its approval for granting a customised package to the company (HMSI)," a top government official said.

The bhoomi poojan and construction work is likely to begin this month itself, the official added. While HMSI officials were not available to confirm the development, the Rajasthan government official said the company will set up the plant near Bhiwadi with an initial capacity of six lakh units per annum in the first phase at an investment of Rs 500 crore over a five year period.

The company intends to ramp up the capacity to 12 lakh units per annum, which could entail an additional investment of Rs 600 crore in the second phase, the official added. HMSI currently manufactures two-wheelers at Manesar in Haryana with a capacity of 15.5 lakh units per annum.

Source

 

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Interview of R Seshasayee, MD, Ashok Leyland​

Chennai-based Ashok Leyland Ltd (ALL), the second largest truck maker in India, has inaugurated an integrated manufacturing facility at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. This unit, in which Rs 1,500 crore have been invested, is the company’s seventh. ALL hopes to increase sales by 38 per cent next financial year and also expand its market share to 30 per cent, selling 90,000 vehicles in India and abroad. R Seshasayee, managing director, spoke to Swaraj Baggonkar about the company's plans. Edited excerpts:

What are your plans for the new Uttarakhand plant?
The capacity of the plant is about 75,000 units (per annum) on a three-shift basis. Investment is about Rs 1,500 crore. It is an integrated plant, where we will make engines, transmissions and axles. We will also make the new ‘U’ trucks here. It is the most cost-efficient of all our plants.

Has the company launched the ‘U’ trucks already?
We showcased these at the Auto Expo in January. This is a platform which is synchronised with the BS-III (emission norms) introduction. We are not sure when BS-III is going to be notified but when it happens, we will be ready for launch.

By when do you wish to achieve full capacity?
In two to three years, we expect production to ramp up to 50,000 units on a two-shift basis. We have started production from Friday. From next year, contribution from this plant would be considerable. This will not require any further investment. We had to meet the deadline of March 31. All products coming out of this plant will be eligible for tax-free benefits.

What would be the average saving on each vehicle you produce from there (due to the tax holiday)?
The average savings on each product would be about Rs 30,000-50,000.

Would you shift some of your existing products to gain from the tax holiday?
Whatever we produce now can also be produced from this plant. This plant can take on any platform, so we have the choice to produce anything from here; it is built to be very flexible.

Leyland sales for April-February in the domestic market stood at 48,648 units, a growth of 12 per cent. How do you see this new plant contributing to your sales next fiscal (year)?
We had some supply chain issues in January and February. We have an increased market requirement next year and we are predicting 15-20 per cent sales growth. This plant will contribute to at least 20 per cent of our overall production.

Any fund-raising plans in the coming financial year?
No, no plans next year.

What will be the impact of the rise in excise duty (proposed in the Union Budget) on demand?
So far, things have been well absorbed as freight rates have gone up.

Where do you see volumes in the commercial vehicles segment headed next year?
Industry volumes should go up 15-20 per cent next year.

What is the status of the delivery of buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation. Is it on schedule?
We had several issues which are all resolved now, so we hope to complete this on time.

Source

 

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Auto sales in February surpass previous record​

The Indian auto industry today said its February sales have been the highest ever for a month breaking the earlier record, which was set only in January this year, as consumers rushed to beat a possible hike in prices following the Budget. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the total sales in domestic market stood at 11,29,783 units, up 34.98 per cent over 8,37,017 units in the year-ago period.

The February sales surpassed the previous record of 11,14,157 units achieved in January this year.

The domestic passenger car segment too posted the highest ever sales at 1,53,845 units against 1,15,505 units, up 33.20 per cent, in the corresponding month last year. It was the 11th straight month of growth for the segment. Earlier, the car manufacturers had touched the peak in January this year at 1,45,905 units. During the month, all the major manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor and General Motors reported their individual best sales ever.

"The highest ever sales by the auto industry was achieved mainly because of the preponement of buying as people truly anticipated an excise duty hike in the Budget. Also it was pushed little by pent up demand," SIAM Director General Dilip Chenoy told reporters here. The industry is expected to continue the robust uphill drive in the current month also as customers would try to avoid another obvious price hike in April on account of shifting to a stricter emission norms, he added.

Source

 

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M&M inaugurates new plant at Chakan​

Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra on Saturday inaugurated its Rs. 5,000-crore new manufacturing plant at Chakan (Maharashtra) that will enable the company to produce its entire range of products under one roof.

The 700-acre facility will have an initial annual installed capacity of three lakh units and will manufacture products ranging from the 0.75-tonne Maxximo to the 49-tonne Mahindra Navistar truck and the sports utility vehicle (SUV) range it plans to launch in the U.S.

“The plant has been envisioned as the hub of innovation and technology for the Mahindra Group, with several new products, including our new SUV and pick-up line rolling out from here,” Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) President (Automotive Sector) Pawan Goenka said in a statement.

He said the Chakan facility incorporates flexible features, which will allow the company to respond rapidly to changing customer needs.The company has invested Rs. 2,500 crore in the first phase of construction of the plant for a capacity of three lakh units, which will be scaled up to Rs. 5,000 crore.

In the initial stages, M&M will make the full range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles from the joint venture with Navistar ranging from 25-49 tonne tippers and trucks. It will also accommodate production of other models if required by the future market demand, the company said.

Source - The Hindu

 

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Tata Motors global sales grow by 59 p.c.​

Homegrown auto major Tata Motors on Monday said its global sales increased by 59 per cent in February to 89,768 units on robust demand for both commercial and passenger vehicles. Sales of luxury brands from Jaguar Land Rover were at 17,197 units during February, up 60 per cent from the same period last year, the company said in a statement.


It said total passenger vehicles sales stood at 47,108 units in February 2010, a growth of 50 per cent from the corresponding month last year. Commercial vehicles sales were also up by 70 per cent to 42,660 units from the same month last year, it added.

For the ongoing fiscal, total cumulative sales between April 2009 to February 2010 were at 7,71,238, up 17 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, Tata Motors said. Passenger vehicles sales during the fiscal were up by four per cent to 4,06,118 units. Cumulative sales of commercial vehicles for the fiscal saw a 35 per cent jump at 3,65,120 units.

The Tata Motors Group global sales comprises Tata, Tata Daewoo and Hispano Carrocera range of commercial vehicles, Tata passenger vehicles along with the distributed brands in India, and Jaguar and Land Rover.


Source - The Hindu