THURSDAY JANUARY 26 2012

 

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

MUMBAI, JANUARY 25 :
AUDI, the German luxury car manufacturer, has swept the various automotive awards in India and bagged 15 awards for the year 2011. After record sales volume for Audi in India , Audi A8L, Audi A6, Audi A7 and Audi RS5 have garnered top honours of the industry, underlining Audi's brand essence "Vorsprung durch Technik".

Audi A8L has captured premium segment buyers and won the Import Car of the Year by CNBC TV18 Overdrive Awards and NDTV Car & Bike Awards.

Audi A8L also received the CB Luxury Sedan award at the ET Zigwheels Award and the Technology and Innovation Award at Bloomberg UTV Autocar Awards, Premium Luxury Car of the Year by Car India and Bike India Awards and CNB – AAA Best Integrated Campaign of the Year by NDTV Car & Bike Awards.

The car has received the Premium Car of the Year by CNBC TV18 Overdrive Awards, Luxury Car of the Year by Car India and Bike India Awards, the Premium Sedan of the Year by NDTV Car & Bike Awards and Auto Bild India Carwale Awards and the Luxury Saloon of the Year by Bloomberg UTV Autocar Awards.

Customer recognition for Audi as the sportiest brand is indicated with Audi RS5 being awarded Top Gear Magazine's Car of the Year and NDTV's Car & Bike Awards 2012 Performance Car of the Year, the Audi R8 Spyder winning Cabriolet of the Year by TopGear Magazine Awards and the Audi A7 Sportback winning the Automotive Design of the Year, thus making Audi the most awarded luxury car manufacturer across diverse product categories.

Mr Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India said, "2011 has been Audi's most successful year in terms of sales which surpassed our expectations. The Audi A8 L, R8 Spyder, Audi A7 Sportback and the business luxury limousine - Audi A6, contributed greatly to making 2011 the strongest year in terms of sales in India."

" And now the awards won by these models not only impressively demonstrate their success in India but also reiterate our philosophy of thinking ahead of the curve as well as our ability to bring innovative and progressive products to India," he added.

" With over 430,000 fans, Audi India has the maximum number of fans on its Facebook page- highest amongst all luxury car manufacturers. This is also the world's second largest fan community on Facebook within the Audi world." added Mr. Perschke

In 2011, Audi India posted a solid performance with a sale of 5511 cars, thus recording an impressive growth of 84 percent (2010: 3003 cars). The luxury carmaker's sales figure for December 2011 stood at 394 cars, a growth of 86 percent over the same period last year (December 2010: 212 cars).

In 2011 the company opened showrooms in Chennai, Delhi, Ludhiana, Surat and Indore with further developments planned in Coimbatore, Delhi West, Lucknow and Mumbai South.

Globally, Audi delivered more than 1,193,100 cars to customers worldwide from January to November 2011, an increase of 18.8 percent over the same period in 2010, which put the company well on course to reach its sales target of 1.3 million units.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 23 : MARUTI Suzuki India registered net sales (net of excise) of Rs 76,636 million in the third quarter (October-December) of the financial year 2011-12 (Q3FY11) , a decline of 17.4 per cent over same period in the previous year.

The net profit in the quarter stood at Rs 2,056 million, a fall of 63.6 per cent.

In the quarter, the company sold 211, 803 units in the domestic market as compared to 299, 527 units same period previous year.

In exports, the company sold 27, 725 units against 31,160 units in the previous year.

Unit sales in the quarter were impacted by sluggish market conditions caused by higher fuel prices and interest rates.

Additionally, the company lost around 40,000 units in production due to the industrial relations problem at Manesar.

The depreciation of the rupee during the quarter adversely impacted the bottom-line through higher cost of imports for the Company and its vendors and royalty.

In 9-month period (April-December) of the financial year 2011-12 the company registered net sales (net of excise) of Rs 235, 10 million, a decline of 10.4 per cent over same period in the previous year.

Net profit in the period stood at Rs 9.953 Million, a fall of 38.9 per cent.

In this period, the company sold 684,892 units in the domestic market as compared to 820,350 units during same period in last year.

In exports, the company sold 88, 469 units.  

 

 

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI , JANUARY 13 :
AUDI AG sold around 1,302,650 cars in 2011, its previous sales record from one year earlier by more than 210,200 units.

The brand's strong growth spanned all regions of the world. China became Audi's biggest single market for the first time ever, with 313,036 vehicles delivered. In Europe, the Ingolstadt-based brand increased its unit sales by 12.1 percent to around 726,300 cars; it also achieved a growth rate well into double figures in the United States.

The brand ended the past year with a new sales record in more than 50 markets.

"2011 was an unprecedented year in the history of Audi: Never before have we gained so many new customers in a single year," declared Peter Schwarzenbauer, AUDI AG Board Member for Marketing and Sales.

"With our new models in very high demand, business proved better than expected, specifically in Europe and the United States, he said.

In the U.S. market we established new sales records in every single month and achieved another clear improvement in our financial result – mainly thanks to the very successful drive in the full-size category, he said.

Since the market launch of the new-generation A8 and A6 and of the A7 Sportback, more than one in four U.S. customers have opted for a full-size model.

Within one year, the company has thus increased the U.S. sales share of the top-end car lines by more than half. Across all models, Audi sold 117,561 automobiles in the United States last year, a further advance of 15.7 percent on the 2010 figure.

Worldwide, too, the full-size models were instrumental in driving Audi's growth: Even before the appearance of the new-generation A6 in China, the sedan model's biggest market, global sales of this car line rose by 12.2 percent to around 229,200 vehicles.

The new A6 sedan appeared in its first markets in March, with the Avant, which is especially popular in Europe, following only in the fall. By contrast the A7 Sportback has now been on the market for its first full year, attracting over 31,300 customers worldwide.

The brand with the four rings also increased its presence in the full-size category with the Q7, with sales up 21.4 percent on the previous year. Launched at the start of 2010, the brand's flagship A8 model actually doubled its volume (+101 percent).

At the other end of the model range the Audi A1 brought additional customers into dealerships: In its first full year on sale, Audi delivered around 118,200 of its premium compact car, mainly to customers in Europe.

Overall, AUDI AG clearly bucked the market trend in that region with sales climbing 12.2 percent to around 726,300 cars, further bolstering its position as the leading premium brand.

After China, the home market Germany brought the Ingolstadt company its highest growth in absolute terms. 254,011 new cars were handed over to Audi customers in 2011, 10.8 percent more than in 2010.

The past year unit sales in the UK gained 15.7 percent to 115,345 and Audi France sold 62,009 vehicles, a rise of 18.1 percent, taking it past the 60,000 mark for the first time.

The company matched the previous year's deliveries totals in Spain (+3.4 percent) and Italy (+0.03 percent). In all its other top 10 markets worldwide, the company achieved a double-digit sales increase on 2010, with Russia, too, performing much more strongly than in the previous year with 25.6 percent growth and unit sales of 23,250.

Audi's growth of 37.3 percent in China was due both to the surge in demand for the brand's imported models and to the completion of the Changchun plant's expansion mid-way through the year, creating extra production capacity.

The company sold 313,036 autos to Chinese customers in 2011, enabling the brand with the four rings to substantially increase its lead in the premium segment yet again.

Emerging growth markets such as South Korea (+30.9 percent to 10,346 cars) and South Africa (+20.4 percent to 14,523) have also continued to gain in importance for Audi over the past few months.

These two markets combined now account for as many unit sales as the brand achieves in Russia. In South America, Mexico (+46.8 percent) and Brazil (+68.0 percent) stood out for their particularly high growth rates in 2011.

Worldwide, too, the full-size models were instrumental in driving Audi's growth: Even before the appearance of the new-generation A6 in China, the sedan model's biggest market, global sales of this car line rose by 12.2 percent to around 229,200 vehicles.

The new A6 sedan appeared in its first markets in March, with the Avant, which is especially popular in Europe, following only in the fall. By contrast the A7 Sportback has now been on the market for its first full year, attracting over 31,300 customers worldwide. The brand with the four rings also increased its presence in the full-size category with the Q7, with sales up 21.4 percent on the previous year. Launched at the start of 2010, the brand's flagship A8 model actually doubled its volume (+101 percent).

At the other end of the model range the Audi A1 brought additional customers into dealerships: In its first full year on sale, Audi delivered around 118,200 of its premium compact car, mainly to customers in Europe. Overall, AUDI AG clearly bucked the market trend in that region with sales climbing 12.2 percent to around 726,300 cars, further bolstering its position as the leading premium brand.

After China, the home market Germany brought the Ingolstadt company its highest growth in absolute terms. 254,011 new cars were handed over to Audi customers in 2011, 10.8 percent more than in 2010.

 

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 11 :
WORLD'S third largest company in the commercial vehicle market the Nasdaq-listed company PACCAR is looking to tap India for component sourcing and developing technology for its global operations.

The US-based Paccar, which participated in the 11th Auto Expo here for the first time, has set up a technical centre in Pune in partnership with technology solutions company KPIT Cummins Infosystems .

The work at the technical centre has already begun and the company will hire 200 employees by the end of this year and will focus on engineering, information technology, and component sourcing for worldwide production and aftermarket operations.

PACCAR showcased its premium DAF CF-series truck at the Delhi Auto Expo, the largest automotive show in India.

"India is one of the largest and fastest growing truck markets in the world. The Auto Expo event offers an excellent opportunity to exhibit our industry-leading DAF product to Indian commercial vehicle customers. Our focus in India right now is to launch the technical centre in Pune to develop solutions for global requirements and introduce ourselves to the supplier base here," said PACCAR Inc Managing Director (India Initiative), Donald J Schulte .

"India is a very vibrant and interesting market, but Paccar has no plans for vehicle sales in India at this time. We had a great experience here at Auto Expo considered to be one of the biggest trade show in India. There is huge potential market in almost all categories and that's why so many big companies exhibit here ," he added.

"We have just started getting into contact with suppliers here...and work at the technical centre has also begun. By the end of this year we will hire 200 employees," he added.

"The PACCAR India Technical Center will deliver quality resources to our global engineering and IT organizations, and enable PACCAR to accelerate new product development. PACCAR is pleased to be partnering with KPIT as they are leaders in providing world-class information technology and product development support, particularly in the automotive sector," he informed.

"The AutoExpo 2012 offers PACCAR the opportunity to meet with potential customers, dealers and suppliers," added Dan Sobic.

The DAF CF is equipped with a PACCAR PX-6 180-horsepower engine and an Asia MotorWorks (AMW) tipper body. The versatile CF is designed for tractor and vocational configurations. DAF is a major on-highway tractor manufacturer in Europe. DAF trucks are sold and serviced by a network of over 1,000 independent dealer locations worldwide.

The global market for over 6 tonne trucks is estimated to be 2.9 million at present and will touch 3.6 million. In India, 300,000 trucks were sold in 2011 and the number is expected increase to 3,70,000 units by 2015, according to Schulte.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 10 :
IF it is the compact car segment that is gleaming its way through the 11th Auto Expo, it is the Sports Utility Vehicle ( SUVs) and Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) that are painting the town red with their flair.

With a slew of launches from the industry honchos, the race for the utility vehicles segment is expected to get hotter in the years to come.

A host of vehicles in the sports utility segment are expected to be seen on the Indian roads including Audi Q3, Range Rover Evoque apart from the affordable small utility vehicles like Renault Duster, Mahindra XUV 500, mini Xylo, Safari Storm, Ford EcoSport, Force Motors One,Volkswagen Touareg and Toyota Front Runner. For Renault, Duster is the first car in the SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) segment and has received favourable responses from the media and the audiences alike. 

Not one to be left behind is the famed GM Chevrolet which has launched its updated Captiva. The stylish SUV has a superior 2.2-litre diesel unit which generates 184bhp, about 20bhp higher than the current unit.

Maruti's first multi utility vehicle (MPV), Ertiga is expected to be the most awaited MPVs on road this year. With a belligerent pricing at around Rs 5.7 lakh for the petrol and Rs 8 lakh for diesel, the sleek automobile is grabbing the headlines with its all-embracing features.

Although sharing its look with its cousin Ritz, the 7-seater looks well balanced in terms of style and power.  Toyota's Innova, which has already tasted success on the Indian shores, gets a facelift with innovative features to enhance the finest appeal.

The new Innova will be devoid of the almond lights and duly replaced by rectangular shaped headlights. It would not be wrong to mention that the new Innova derives much of its inspirational looks from the Camry.

Also on the lines of the facelift is Chevrolet's Tavera, Neo 3 with new powerful TCDi engine apart from the range of other exciting features. Japanese Auto Manufacturer Nissan has unveiled a new 7 seater Evalia which is supposed to be manufactured in partnership with Ashok Leyland. Also on the cards is eight-seater concept car Hyundai Hexa Space HND-7.
With majority of the foreign players slashing prices this year, it's the Indian Manufacturers who will face some serious contest against the hyped European car makers.

As for the consumers, it's the smile and satisfaction that they carry with the array of products to choose from.

The horde of launches in these two segments (SUVs and MPVs) is to make wakes in the Indian Market with its varied options and its unique features from zealous manufacturers.
It also highlights the evolution of the India's automobile industry with smooth movement from compact car segments to a new segment of vehicles.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 10 :
AGAINST the backdrop of spiralling fuel prices and escalating environmental concerns, vehicles driven on hybrid or green technology have emerged to be the focal point at the 11th Auto Expo 2012. This edition of Auto Expo clearly gives a preview of how well the automobile industry across the world identifies this problem and puts up a solution.

The concept of hybrid cars is creating a new wave at the exposition with manufacturers unleashing a bevy of hybrid concepts and technologies.

Major attractions at the Auto Expo include the world's largest-selling electric car Leaf from Nissan, and Volkswagen's 'XL1' concept that comes with a 0.8 litre engine giving 48 PS of power. 

The potential of hybrid and electric propulsion technology as an alternative to main stream internal combustion engine(ICE) has been effectively utilized by French automaker Peugot  SA, by unveiling its hybrid 3008. Volvo is showcasing its hybrid bus and is keen on introducing them on Indian roads for inter-city transport.

Not the ones to be left behind are the Indian manufacturers Mahindra and Mahindra with an array of Reva electric cars, Tata's Manza as also Sweden's Volvo with its hybrid buses.
India's largest two wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp is also showing its first concept hybrid scooter, as the hybrid concept successfully forayed into the two wheeler segment.

The hybrid concept, although prevalent in the overseas since the latter half of the 90s when Japanese manufacturers Toyota came up with Prius and later Honda used the concept for Insight, has reached the Indian shores only recently, which is a bit surprising, considering its significance in the Indian market.

Clearly, the auto makers are betting big on the eco-friendly vehicles and their fervor was obvious in the conference "Hybrid/Electric Mobility- Drive of the Change" organized by the SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) on the sidelines of the exposition.

While addressing the conference, Mr. Sundareshan opined, "I believe with National Council on Electric Mobility in place as an apex structure to promote hybrid and electrical mobility in the country, this sector is set to grow in a more concerted and time bound fashion."

The hybrid concept is basically an electric vehicle which combines ICE with an electric propulsion system aimed at creating low fuel combustion while enhancing the prospects of a smooth drive.

The modern hybrid vehicles are even more unique with an improved technology of regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into electrical energy, thus saving by itself the time required to charge the battery.
 
The hybrid technology clearly spells a new change in the Indian Automobiles though it remains to be seen if the industry can invest in building power and charging infrastructure to facilitate its adoption by the consumers.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 10 :
CAR safety mechanisms are becoming more synthesized and integrated, as the challenges still persist in making such systems cost-effective and adoption varies across the country.

From being standalone independent systems, next-generation safety and advanced drive assistance systems are now integrated with chassis, telematics and navigation systems to improve functional efficiency, and also reduce total cost of ownership.

The 2012 Delhi Auto Expo has stalls on driver assistance systems, which help the driver to detect ordinarily-hidden obstacles along the way and help him take better, informed decisions through difficult maneuvers.

Companies like Bosch, Smart Key, Technoton Sensors have put up new age car security and driver assistance systems on display at their stalls.

Smart Key has come out with a vehicle security concept featuring keyless operations based on technology by Siemens PASE (Passive Start and Entry System). This enables the driver to gain entry by automatically locking/unlocking the vehicle and subsequently allows him/her to start/stop the vehicle without the use of keys.

Bosch has come up with a few driver assist systems such as the Electronic Stability Program which uses intelligent sensors to check whether the drivers steering wheel input corresponds to the vehicle's direction of travel.

If it does, it reduces the engine torque to restores vehicle stability. This approach allows the ESP interface to generate the necessary counterforce so the vehicle reacts as the driver intends it to.    

Bosch has also unveiled the Airbag control unit which has two peripheral acceleration sensors for detecting side crashes. This helps the airbag to deploy instantly from the sides of the car as well. 

Other offerings from Bosch include the SMARTRA or the smart anti-theft system, which provides an interface between the ECU (Engine Control Unit) and the ignition key transponder. This immobilizes the vehicle in the case of forced entry.

Technoton Sensors, on the other hand, have developed something called the axle load sensors which help in axle load control and cargo weight control in vehicle tracking systems. With this sensor, a vehicle tracking system can get valuable information about the location and the time of loading and unloading the vehicle.

As far as road safety management is concerned, Hubert Ebner India will be producing a film on road safety, in collaboration with the Earth Matters Foundation. This will generate the much needed awareness on road safety amongst the masses in India.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 08 :
THE Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mr. Kapil Sibal,visited the Bajaj Auto stall at the Auto Expo on Sunday to witness the revolutionary Next Gen RE 60,  

Mr Sibal showed keen interest in the vehicle and its unique features.

The RE 60 is said to be the cleanest four wheeler any where with a CO2 emission of just 60 gms/km and a fuel efficiency of 35km/ltr."

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 08 :
PACCAR is showcasing its premium DAF CF truck at the Delhi AutoExpo, the largest automotive show in India.  “India is one of the largest and fastest growing truck markets in the world. 

The AutoExpo event offers an opportunity to exhibit DAF product to Indian commercial vehicle customers,” said Dan Sobic, PACCAR  executive vice president.
The DAF CF being displayed is equipped with a PACCAR PX-6 180-horsepower engine and an Asia MotorWorks (AMW) tipper body. 

The versatile CF is designed for tractor and vocational configurations. 
DAF is  a major on-highway tractor manufacturer in Europe.  DAF trucks are sold and serviced by a network of over 1,000 independent dealer locations worldwide. 

  

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 06 :
MAGNETI Marelli is showcasing its products and solutions for the Indian market in Pavilion 1A at the Auto Expo 2012 ( January 5- 11) in New Delhi

The technologies showcased at the 6-day event include Freechoice Automated Manual Transmission, Telematics, Powertrain flexfuel systems for CNG and Lighting solutions.

The company is participating for the second time at the Auto Expo, India's automotive tradeshow held every two years that attracts leading national and international automotive companies to New Delhi.

The company's stand at the Auto Expo will features all the main business areas in which the company operates in the automotive sector (Automotive Lighting, Electronic Systems, Powertrain solutions, Suspensions and Shock Absorbers, and Motorsport) with special focus on the company's activities in India.

The company over the past four years has managed to reproduce its entire industrial perimeter through seven joint ventures with leading Indian partners: seven fully operational production facilities and another one set to start soon, the result of a recently signed joint venture for suspensions.

The company's offer for a strategic market such as the Indian one meets the challenge of delivering state of the art technology and innovation at sustainable costs, thanks to a well-established manufacturing footprint and a growing R&D local network.

From this perspective, the Marelli Marelli stand at the Auto Expo (Pavilion 1-A Stand 3) is highlighting certain products in particular, starting from the Freechoice AMT (Automated Manual Transmission), an electro-hydraulic technology used to automate the manual transmission, a novelty for the Indian market, that combines driving comfort and lower emissions and consumptions.

In the area of electronic systems, in addition to a complete display of instrument panels of all ranges, telematics and infotainment solutions will be in the foreground: from "telematic boxes" to the most sophisticated infotainment systems based on open-source platform that combine navigation, multimedia, connectivity, etc.

In the powertrain area, in addition to GDI systems, which optimize performances and lower consumptions in gasoline-powered engines, the focus is on complete multifuel solutions (electronic control unit, injectors, intake manifold), which allow alternative fuels such as CNG and LPG to be used.

Lighting technologies, both headlamps and rearlamps, will also be showcased: the entire range is on display, from the most advanced premium LED and Xenon solutions, to the most affordable halogen technologies, with special focus on skills in the processing and moulding of multi-coloured plastic and polycarbonate, an important issue for the Indian market and the demand of leading local carmakers.

There is also be an area devoted to the solutions for the world of the two wheelers, a large market in India. For this market, in addition to a wide range of instrument clusters, the company offers various powertrain products and technologies, including the new "S-MIU", an engine control system that allows two and three-wheelers vehicles to be fitted with electronic injection, easily and inexpensively.

The other highlights of the Magneti Marelli stand at the New Delhi Auto Expo include the latest versions of motogenerators and control units for electric-hybrid engines; the wide spectrum of components and modules for the field of suspensions - including the most advanced solutions in the area of weight reduction - within the scope of the recent Joint Venture agreement with the Indian Partner Talbros; the solutions for electronic control of suspensions called Synaptic Damping Control, alongside the latest technologies in the area of shock absorbers (dual stage valves, hydraulic drives); the range of exhaust systems, important in respect of lowering emissions and defining the "personality" of an automobile in connection with the concept "from noise to sound".

Lastly, wide space is given to the feather in Magneti Marelli's cap: the 90 years of presence and technological excellence in Motorsport, with a display of the best solutions and systems that are adopted by the most successful teams in the leading world automobile and motorcycle championships (Formula 1, GP2, FIA GT, WRC, WTCC; AMA, MotoGP; Superbike, etc.): GDI injection systems for racing (which will also be used F1 starting in 2014), KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and the various injectors, pumps, data logger, electric drives for the gearbox, electronic control units, dashboards, etc.

The company has entered into the joint ventures in India with Maruti Suzuki India and Suzuki Motor Company for electronic control units of diesel engines; with Sumi Motherson Group for lighting and powertrain components; with SKH Metals and with SKH Sheet Metal Components (both part of the Krishna Group) for the production of automobile exhaust systems; with Endurance Technologies for motor vehicle shock absorbers; and with Unitech Machines for automotive electronic systems.

The last joint venture signed by Magneti Marelli, with Talbros Automotive Components (TACL) in the area of suspensions, dates back to the middle of November 2011.

The company designs and produces advanced systems and components for the automotive industry. With its 77 production units, 11 R&D centres and 26 application centres in 18 countries, about 34,000 employees and a turnover of 5.4 billion euros in 2010, the group supplies all leading carmakers in Europe, North and South America and the Far East..

The company's business areas include Electronic Systems, Lighting; Powertrain, Suspension Systems and Shock Absorbers, Exhaust Systems, Aftermarket Parts & Services, Plastic Components and Modules, Motorsport. Magneti Marelli is part of Fiat Spa.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau  

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 05 :
AUDI,  the German luxury car manufacturer, showcased an exciting display of cars at the 11thAuto Expo in New Delhi.

To celebrate its success in the Indian luxury car market and its fifth year in India , the Audi stand displayed the compact SUV - Audi Q3, the new futuristic A3 e-tron concept, the sporty   Audi S6 limousine, the most powerful diesel SUV - Audi Q7 V12 and some highlights from the existing Audi India product range.

The luxury carmaker also demonstrated three technology pillars:  Audi e-tron, Audi ultra and Audi connect which redefine mobility and will be the drivers of urban mobility solutions of the future.

The Audi range was presented by Mr Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales, and Mr Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.

“India is a key strategic market for Audi and we are making a clear long-term statement in the country with ambitious expansion plans. Audi has seen phenomenal growth since its inception in India five years ago and today is the fastest expanding premium brand in the market , said Mr Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of Audi AG for Marketing and Sales.

 Now we are starting the next chapter of our success story . As a true premium SUV, the Audi Q3 leads the way for the Four Rings to enter a new segment in India  with ever increasing customer groups demanding for premium mobility in a compact form”, added   Mr  Peter Schwarzenbauer.

“For four consecutive years, we have  exceeded our projected sales targets and have been able to carve out  a niche for ourselves in the Indian luxury car segment. The growrh is attributed to our continued focus on introducing an energetic product line, qualitative network growth and strong brand presence. We will continue on this growth trajectory and events like the Auto Expo help generate the right buzz in the market”, said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.

The International Audi Stand concept gives auto enthusiasts an opportunity to experience some highlights from the Audi product range available in India together with the Audi Q3, Audi A3 e-tron concept, Audi S6 and Audi Q7 V12.

The Audi Q3 is a  premium SUV in a compact form. It is sporty and efficient as well as versatile and trendy. The design of the Q3 is classic Audi: its coupe-like styling is one-of-a-kind among SUVs and symbolizes its sporty identity.

The Q3 showcases Audi’s expertise in all aspects of engineering: from its lightweight body through strong and efficient drivetrains and a dynamic chassis to its state-of-the-art assistance systems and multimedia systems.

The Audi A3 e-tron concept is an attractive technical study. The four-seat notchback sedan integrates the full breadth of Audi’s technological expertise – from the enhanced MMI operating system, to the high-end infotainment system, to the drivetrain.

Athletic character, quiet understatement and richly appointed – the Audi S6 is a sports car for everyday use, offering uncompromising practicality. Its new engine, a four-liter, twin-turbo V8, combines ample power with low fuel consumption in keeping with the times.
The Q7 V12 TDI quattro is powerful diesel-engine SUV, its power plant another technical milestone. In everyday use the twelve-cylinder diesel impresses with another highlight – its astounding efficiency.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 05 :
XAα(XA Alpha),  a concept for a compact SUV, was unveiled here on Thursday at the Maruti Suzuki pavilion at Auto Expo 2012.

XAα combines ruggedness and ‘muscle’ – the traditional attributes of a Sports Utility Vehicle – with elegance, a certain finesse and compactness.

In XAα, the ‘Alpha’ represents trendiness and newness that the youth connect to. The ‘A’ signifies that this compact, 4 metre long concept, is designed for customers wishing to enter the utility vehicle segment. 

Presented in glistening Lava Red, the XAα is the show stopper, occupying centre stage at the market leader’s Auto Expo pavilion this year.

Together with Ertiga  the XAα signals Maruti Suzuki’s plans to expand into the utility vehicles space.

While continuing to strengthen its compact car portfolio, the company will create new categories in the utility vehicle segment as an option for existing Maruti Suzuki customers as well as for new ones.  

The company will back this foray with the best in technology. While expanding its popular range of K-series petrol engines, the company will build on the success of its diesel offerings.

Unveiling the Concept XAα, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Mr  Shinzo Nakanishi said,  “India is set to become one of the top automobile markets of the world. This may become evident as early as the next Delhi Auto Expo. Maruti Suzuki will lead India’s automobile growth and evolution by strengthening its compact car portfolio, entering new segments and creating new product categories across fuel options”.

He added, “The Concept XAα is designed for a market of customers with a young urban lifestyle. This Concept showcases the unified R&D efforts of Suzuki and Maruti which will be a big asset for us in India in the future”.   

On display at the show are Suzuki’s bestsellers MR Wagon, Palette, Solio and SX4 hatchback for public view and seeking comments and opinions on the aspects of design, features and pricing. These vehicles demonstrate Suzuki’s unique strength to pack values of superior technology and high-end features into compact cars. They also highlight Suzuki’s capabilities to offer optimum space in compact dimensions’.

The Maruti Suzuki range of regular production models is displayed in interesting interpretations and accessorized forms like Swift Concept - Night Rider; A-star - Cabriolet two-seater convertible; Estilo – Dreamliner; Wagon R - Urbane and Omni - Cuppa Joy.
The wide array of display vehicles demonstrates how Brand Maruti Suzuki integrates into the life of every Indian.

 

Thesynergyonline Auto Bureau

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 03 :
THE 11th Auto Expo 2012, jointly organized by Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), is scheduled from January 5 to 11 , 2012 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India. .

The 5-day event expects launch of several vehicles from passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, two- wheelers to a range of electric and hybrid vehicles, besides modified vehicles.

The automotive component players will be showing latest technologies. Innovative products including fully built off – the road vehicles too will be unveiled by a few.

Over 1000 journalists from over 9 countries have registered for the show. The race for launches has begun even before January 5, 2012.

Officially the first day of the exposition is reserved exclusively for the media; the day is also a Goodwill day for the differently challenged people to visit the show.

"India's auto industry reported a growth in as aspects be it passenger cars, Utility vehicles, Vans/ MPV's, two wheelers, commercial Vehicles, Three wheelers. This edition of auto expo would strive to boost the auto sector in spite of negatives growth in the passenger vehicle and three wheeler segment in the last quarter of 2011 the auto expo thus begins with a positive note for the Industry. Post expo, we expect vehicle sales to keep up its momentum, especially such a large number of launches at the show" said Mr Rajive Kaul- Chairman, steering committee, Auto Expo 2012.

"Global companies like, Polaris of the US, Triumph of the UK, Mini and Motorad range from BMW, Vespa from the two- wheeler segment. PSA Peugeot, Nissan, SSangyong of Korea (Mahindra Group) from the Cars segment, Paccar of Netherlands from the trucking segment. Almost all the Indian Automotive manufacturer is launching new models/ new variants" said Mr S Sandilya. president,SIAM.

He added that "Several battery- operated vehicles and hybrids will also be unveiled in this year's edition of Auto Expo and almost all the vehicle halls would see new vehicles".

The focused theme of the expo will be 'New Technology- Green Technology". Vehicle manufacturers are ensuring that at least part of their stalls have the green message going. A few manufacturers will be displaying their "green line" of vehicles to reduce their carbon footprint. Added Mr Arvind Saxena, Chairman, Trade Fair Committee, SIAM

The Auto Expo will act as a platform for highlighting the progress the auto-component industry has made over the last 2 years since the previous Auto Expo in terms of its growing capabilities and capacity, specially in the area of new product development and adoption of latest product and manufacturing technologies, particularly to meet the rapidly changing requirements in terms of Emission reduction, enhanced safety, security and comfort. Both Indian and foreign business visitors will have ample opportunity to see products on display as well interact with senior officials of component companies at the venue grounds, said Mr Arvind Kapur,president ACMA.

Mr Kapur added that the display will include a wide range of new and locally designed/developed auto-components, new designs of component systems like engine management systems, new age electronics like Navigation Systems, vehicle security systems etc."

"This expo will position the Indian auto-component manufacturers as the most ideally suited to manufacture components for small cars, thus making India a key hub for production of small cars and two wheelers in the world,"he said.

"It is very encouraging for the auto components industry in India to witness a robust growth in the domestic automobile industry for the last few months. But today our fortunes are not linked to the domestic market alone. Auto component players have spread their global footprint through foreign collaborations and acquisitions. We also hope that vehicle markets across the globe experience increased sales. This will bode well for the Indian auto components industry," said Arvind Kapur, president, ACMA.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

Hakan Karlsson,  president, Volvo Bus Corporation, and Akash Passey, Managing Director and CEO, Volvo Buses in South Asia, at a launch of new range of city bus and coaches in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 30 :
VOLVO Bus Corporation, on Thursday unveiled new range of buses, comprising city bus and coaches targeting inter-State routes and cities.

The expanded range of Volvo buses in India now includes three new models that are the first-of-its kind in the country and takes the company's bus range to 10 different products.

All of these actions take place just three months after Volvo Bus Corporation president Hakan Karlsson , said, “About three months ago we promised that we will play a bigger role in the progress of the Indian bus industry and announced an investment of Rs 400 crore. Today, we stand here with a product range that will take us there.”

“Our focus remains to drive quality of life and with our current range we will be spreading the Volvo experience to a larger market in India.  We have defined a clear role for India in the future — as one of the largest markets in the group, a global hub for selected models, local product development and that utilises the synergies we hold as a group in India,” he added.

By 2015 the bus major expects more than 50 per cent of its sales would come from Asia, mainly China and India.

The company is developing a global hybrid and plans to showcase it in the coming Auto Expo  2012 which will be launched in India in the future.

“We also plan to export buses from India to South America like Mexico and Europe,” he added.

Volvo Buses Managing Director and CEO (South Asia) Akash Passey said, “We now have the local competence and experience to raise the momentum of change manifold. This is just as we expand our market access and raise standards and expectations.

We are on our way to reaching our vision of a $1 billion company with 5,000 buses produced each year by 2015.”

The company is now selling about 1,000 units every year.

 

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 10 : AUDI, the German luxury carmaker, on Friday announced the winners of Audi-India Future of Change Automobile Design Contest & Business Strategy Contest. The nationwide contest attracted over 900 registrations and over 250 submissions, which had a mix of young professionals and students of top business and design schools in India.

Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India, handed over the first and second prize to the winners of Automobile Design and Business Strategy Contest during the CII – NID Design Summit, New Delhi

"We are delighted with the phenomenal business and design plans that AUDI - INDIA Future of Change has received from both students and young professionals."

The AUDI – INDIA Future of Change Business Strategy Contest finals was held on December 08 at the International Management Institute (IMI), Delhi and December 9 saw the finalists presenting their Automobile design plans during the CII – NID Design Summit, New Delhi.

Achint Parekh and Ekta Babbar from ISB Hyderabad were the runners up of Business Strategy contest; Mahesh Shinde and Dhananjay Chile from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad took the second position in the Automobile Design Contest.

"We have provided added momentum to this program by giving winners an opportunity to experience the world class automotive engineering practices by way of a traineeship with Audi. In line with our core brand values of progressiveness and sophistication, I am confident that 'AUDI-INDIA Future of Change' has established benchmarks in nurturing talent to spur the growth of the Indian luxury automotive industry, said Michael Perschke", Head, Audi India.

"As an automobile designer, the AUDI – INDIA Future of Change Automobile Design Contest has helped me in carving out some of my best designs. It has always been my ambition to design an automobile for India and catering to the needs of the masses through design is a wonderful opportunity any designer could get, said Vijayendra Jadhavrao from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.

"AUDI – INDIA Future of Change Business Strategy Contest started off as an exciting challenge for me and my team member Sidharth, both passionate auto enthusiasts. It finally culminated in an intense competition at IMI Delhi and I am thrilled to know that our ideas and vision for Audi was appreciated by Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India and other eminent industry veterans, said Ayushi Agarwal from IIM, Kozkhikode.

The luxury carmaker is expecting 30 to 40 percent growth this fiscal and 50 percent in the next fiscal year.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

Mr K D Suri, Deputy General Manager, OBC and Mr Ramesh Ramsinghaney, Deputy General Manager, ICML signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

The objective of signing MoU is to provide better funding to ICML customers all over India through the services of OBC.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr P T Sood, Group Company Secretary.

Mr Ramsinghaney said on th occasion, “It would greatly benefit the end customers of ICML as they will have more funds at their disposal to buy ICML products by getting the same financed from OBC. So, it would be an advantageous situation for both OBC and ICML.”
“This alliance will benefit the customers through trouble–free and prompt procedures of funding put in place by OBC.

With this MoU coming into being, more products of ICML would be available to the customers because they will not have to worry about funding issues,” said Mr Suri. It was also informed that OBC has a network of 1719 branches across India out of which 316 branches are in Punjab itself. 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 03 :
CERTAIN sections of media have reported on Maruti Suzuki's decision to purchase land in Gujarat, as `moving out of Haryana and shifting its base to Gujarat'.

The company has clarified that the decision to purchase land in Gujarat is towards building additional capacity. Further it has no linkage whatsoever with the recent industrial unrest situation faced by the company. The company's plan to invest in Gujarat started much before the industrial unrest situation at Manesar, according to a company's release.

The board of directors approved the purchase of land in Gujarat for future capacity requirements of the company, last week. The logistics for reaching the finished cars to the large domestic markets in West and South India and the close proximity of the Mundra port for future exports, played an important role in the decision.

The company also clarifies that its investment plans for Haryana stay on course. These include installation of the 2.5 lakh capacity Assembly line in Manesar (Manesar C), a world class R&D Center and test course in Rohtak. The company has lined up a direct investment of over Rs 3,400 crore towards these facilities.

In addition to company's investment, its vendors and joint venture partners will continue to appropriately invest in Haryana for the future expansion.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 08  :  INDIA’S  multicity automobile show AUTOMALL 2011 has  started from  October 7  to  October 9 ,  2011 at NSIC Ground, Okhla Phase 1 New Delhi. The chief guest Mr Rajan Pental, executive vice president and Business Manager- Car Loan, HDFC Bank, inaugurated the three- day auto exhibitions, organized by RELIO QUICK. Auto Mall 2011.

It aims at meeting customers’ need   for automobiles so that they can buy best vehicle.  An expo full of action and amusement has displayed some of the best national and international automobile brands in the country along with related products and services. Auto mall 2011 is an outstanding platform for manufacturers, retailers, dealers to showcase their pioneering creations, hottest products and latest technologies to the potential buyers under one roof.

Vintage & Classic Car Display, Harley Davidson, Super bike Display, Concept Car and Bike Display, Auto Job Fair, Live Design Show, Premium Lounge, Think Green & Drive Green Lounge and many more are the attributes of the exhibition. Eye catching superbikes and cars such as Royal Enfield Classic Desert Storm 500 CC EFI, Classic Chrome 500 CC EFI, Harley Davidson, Honda’s CIVIC CITY & ACCORDFIAT’S Linea & nano, Volvo S60 &  XC 60 and many more is attracting each and everyone.

Mr Rajan Pental said, “The Automotive industry in India is one of the fastest growing industries globally. India manufactures and exports over million vehicles (including 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers) every year. Auto Mall, a novel concept from Relio Quick, is a great platform for all the well-known participants to display their products and services.  The growth of AUTOMALL gives me immense happiness and I congratulate each and every member of Relio Quick for this huge success.” 

“Relio Quick Auto Mall has enjoyed enormous success over the years and to add value to its already elite identity, Auto Mall 2011 is a step forward. Auto Mall 2011 aims to combine different Auto Brands from different categories along with lifestyle entities to create a spectacle not only entertaining but fascinating its participants and visitors.  We are delighted and thrilled to bring Auto Mall 2011 with lager participation to Delhi,” says Mr  Sandeep Kapoor, Managing Director, Relio Quick India .

Mr. Kapoor also added, “Auto Mall was launched in the year 2002 in Delhi. The event saw participation from leading car and two wheeler manufacturers, OEMs, in-car entertainment systems, design concepts from DC Design, accessories, auto finance and auto insurance companies."

 

 

LOHIA AUTO UNVEILS 'GENIUS' E- BIKE FOR TEENAGERS

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 05 : LOHIA Auto Industries, India's electric bike manufacturer, On Wednesday launched e-bike 'Genius' in here . The company plans to tap market in e-bikes for teenagers. Genius bike aims at fulfillingt needs of teenagers with its trendy looks and attractive features.

Genius e-bike claims to be a perfect choice for the safer and economical mode of travel.

According to Mr Ayush Lohia, CEO, Lohia Auto Industries "We understand the needs of our customers and believe in providing with smart mobility solutions. Our Genius electric bike will cater to teenagers, which is still an un-tapped market. We believe 'Genius' will add significant value in form and function to the electric bike segment and also address the environmental concerns of the automobile industry and the country. Genius aims to inspire the parents to provide their children a safer transportation".

Priced at Rs 25,495(ex –showroom Delhi) Genius e-bike can run 70 kilo metre in one charge will be available in three different colours blue, yellow and red for its customers in India.

The company targets to make deep inroads into the regions where it does not have dealerships and expand its dealer network to 50 in number, added Mr Lohia.

The unique selling points (USPs) and technical specifications of Genius e-bike are :

Max Speed : 25kmphr , tange/charge(with single rider) 60 km/charge , seating capacity : 2 persons , loading carrying capacity 90 kg , dimension(L X W X H) 1800mm X 680mm X 1066mm , battery capacity 48 V, 20 Ah and charging time 6-8hrs.

 
 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 06 : INDIA Yamaha Motor on Tuesday launched the YZF-R15 version 2.0 – a 150cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke fuel injected bike. The YZF-R15 version 2.0 is a new model that has been developed under the concept of a "Graded Up R15.

Maintaining the ease of handling of the existing R15, the R15 version 2.0 the company claims spruced up looks and better performance in circuit riding. The design elements are borrowed from the supersport model YZF-R1 that is adapted from YZR-M1 MotoGP race machine. The new bike is priced at Rs 1,07,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and will be available in Racing Blue, Midnight Black & Sunset Red colors.
 
The R15 version 2.0 has undergone changes as compared to the present YZF-R15 in the specs of the Engine Control unit (ECU), drivetrain unit, a long aluminum swing arm, wider front and rear tires (radial tire for the rear), split seat, LED taillights and new-design middle cowl and tail cowl.
 
Mr Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & Managing Director, India Yamaha Motor, said, "Seeing the trend, the market for premium bikes in India offers immense scope as this segment consists of people who are looking for performance characteristics."
 
"The YZF-R15 version 2.0 is an upgraded version of our flagship bike YZF-R15 and is designed keeping in mind the comfort as well as the thrill of a sports ride. The YZF-R15 has been continuously gaining ranks in the hotly contested premium segment since its launch 3 years ago and we are sure to repeat the same feat for the new version too. With the festive season round the corner, we expect the new model to be an instant hit amongst biking enthusiasts", he claims.   
 
Based on the "Graded Up R15" concept, the development focused on the two main areas of body styling and sporty performance, and an array of optimum features were adopted throughout the machine to make sure that customers enjoy the thrill of a refined and impressive body styling in the supersport image with the newly designed middle cowl, tail cowl, split seat, LED taillights, new exhaust pipe & silencer specs. The newly designed middle cowl features improved aerodynamic performance at higher speeds - the aerodynamic resistance value is 4 percent better than that of the existing YZF-R15, he added.
 
The R15 version 2.0 also sports the first aluminum swing arm in the 150cc segment in the Indian market and has a truss structure that enables greater rigidity while improving handling in the turns. The new seat design enables a better feeling of seat grip in sporty riding, he added.

Also, "low front, high tail" design enables a riding posture that is well suited to both sporty riding and everyday riding around town., he said..

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16 :
TOYOTA Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Thursday unveiled the Stunning New Corolla Altis in India.  It has been designed to give it a advanced and dynamic look.

It is available in the price range of Rs 10,53,300 and Rs 14,77,400 (petrol variant) and Rs 11,46,500 and RS 14,55,000 (diesel variant), ex-showroom Delhi.

The petrol variant comes with an all new powerful 2ZR Dual VVT-I engine and super CVT-i with 7 speed sequential shiftmatic enhancing the output and torque.

The new contemporary  styling and enhanced performance  makes the New Corolla Altis a combination of dynamism and performance.

The petrol variant will come with an all new powerful engine - 2ZR Dual VVT-i Engine 1798 CC, producing an increased output of 140 PS @ 6400 rpm and an improved torque of 173 Nm @ 4000 rpm.

The new engine is designed to provide excellent driving performance, best in class fuel economy and environmental performance with lower emission.
The petrol variant is available in both super CVT-i with 7 speed sequential shiftmatic or 6 speed manual transmission.

The 4 speed AT in the petrol variant has now given way to the super CVT-i with 7 speed sequential shiftmatic. The 5 speed manual transmission (MT) has also been upgraded to a 6 speed MT.

This will enable a smooth change in gears and a better control over the car with more gear options, excellent driveability, and class leading fuel economy.

The enhanced low to mid speed range torque and high speed range output will provide smoother acceleration in high traffic and greater accelelration on highways.

The Diesel variant retains its 1ND D-4D Diesel Engine with Variable Nozzle Turbo & Intercooler with 6 speed manual transmission.

Present at the launch Mr Michihiko Sato, Chief Engineer - Corolla Altis , Toyota Motor Corporation said “Following half a century of continuous evolution, responding to the needs of the times, the New Corolla Altis design and driving performance has been further refined to continue being a leader in its class.

The contemporary styling and intelligent performance takes the experience of owning a Corolla Altis to an all new high. The New Corolla Altis represents the best of global motoring experience and also further strengthens Toyota’s commitment to the Indian market”

  Mr Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said, “The Toyota Corolla Altis has constantly been a leader in its class.  We are delighted to now introduce the New Corolla Altis that will offer an exclusive blend of contemporary styling, luxurious features and intelligent performance, in response to the latest customer demands of the times.We hope to take customer delight to an all new level with the Stunning New Corolla Altis.”

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM, added, “The New Corolla Altis  is aimed at providing newness to the product and offers the latest in technology and design.The Stunning New Corolla Altis is Genius inside and Gorgeous outside. With an all new engine and transmission and contemporary styling the New Corolla Altis is a perfect blend of genius performance and gorgeous style."

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

WASHINGTON, JUNE 02 :
THE Treasury Department said on Thursday it reached an agreement to sell its remaining 6 percent equity stake in Chrysler to Italy's Fiat in a deal that will net Washington $560 million.

The proceeds of the deal include the sale of the government's interest in a UAW retiree trust, Treasury said in a statement.

The Obama administration invested $12.5 billion in Chrysler under the Troubled Asset Relief Program during the 2007-2009 financial crisis and said that, after the transaction, Chrysler will have returned more than $11.2 billion of that amount.

"Treasury is unlikely to fully recover the difference of $1.3 billion," the statement said.

Fiat agreed to pay Treasury $500 million for Treasury's 98,461 shares of Chrysler. Treasury also had an option to buy shares held by the UAW retiree trust and Fiat agreed to buy that for $75 million -- with Treasury to get $60 million and the government of Canada $15 million.

The announcement of the deal with Fiat came on the eve of President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to a Chrysler plant in Toledo, Ohio, where he is expected to tout the success of the auto bailout that saved American jobs and auto nameplates like Chrysler.

Treasury said that, once the transaction is completed, it would have fully exited its investment in Chrysler.

Fiat held a 46 percent interest in Chrysler, which will rise to 52 percent when the transaction is completed and thus give the Italian automaker majority control, which was one of Fiat Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne's overarching goals for 2011.

Thesynergyonline  Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, JUNE 02 :
CASHING  in on  new  product offerings and novel marketing initiatives for  India Yamaha Motor has registered a sales growth of 58.7 percent in its domestic market in May 2011 with a sale of 27,959 units vs. 17,614 units sold last year.

The export figures stood at 10,853 units in May 2011 while 7,419 motorcycles were exported in May 2010. The overall sales stood at 38,812 units in May, 2011 vs. 25,033 units in May, 2010, a growth of 55 percent.

Mr  Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & MD, India Yamaha Motor , said, “We expect the momentum to continue for the rest of the year. The  recently launched refreshing FZ series has got an encouraging response from customers and  SZ series is helping us equally in boosting  sales in their respective segments.”

“ This is the direct results of efforts we have been making to connect with our target customers through various marketing initiatives like the sales and service camps, Yamaha Fiesta, R15 One Make Race Championships and other youth centric sports events that directly relate to their interests and passion in life, he added.”

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI,MAY 27 :
ENTREPRENEURSHIP in India is witnessing an upsurge. Players like Maruti Suzuki India have taken initiatives like the Wagon R Think Big Challenge- II to help it grow further and get a much needed platform.

On 26th May 2011 this platform saw Aparna Bhatnagar from Jaipur, a woman entrepreneur emerge as the winner with her vision and business idea of 'The Green and Good Store' impressed the jury panel comprising of Mr  Alok Mittal, Mr Pradeep Gupta, Mr Srikant Sastri, Mr Shantanu Prakash, Mr Rohatsh Mal and Mr. Sandeep Goyal; and took away the cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and the keys of blue eyed boy- Wagon R car which was presented to her by R Madhavan, The Bollywood actor.

The most overwhelming thing for this young entrepreneur was the fact that she also grabbed venture capital for her business idea.

The winner amongst Aparna Bhatnagar from West Zone, Sarfaraz Hassan from East Zone, Thirumalai Vijayan representing from South and Sunil Gupta from North was shortlisted after a rigorous questions and answers round that not only tested their business acumen but also judged the growth potential of their business ideas.

This was followed by presentations by participants about their business ideas to an esteemed jury from 'The Indian Angel Network'.

People associated with Wagon R Think Big Challenge- II said that the briefing sessions on 24th May 2011, conducted to help participants with important tips helped participants in boosting up their morale and make improvisations in the presentations accordingly, to impress the critical eyes.

Contestants were ready to make their mark and they felt that Wagon R Think Big Challenge- II would help them in improving upon any of the loopholes in their business plans. They also said that interaction with fellow contestants and jury helped them in learning and would in future act as a guide in working on projects.

Wagon R Think Big Challenge-II, a brainchild of Maruti Suzuki India  had a briefing session and zonal rounds on May 24 and May 25 followed by the national round on  May 26 , 2011.

From every zone the judges narrowed down to one winner each to represent his/her zone in the Grand Finale.

Mr Sunil Gupta emerged as the winner in the Northern Zone. An experienced businessman from Ludhiana, Mr Gupta's idea entails bridging the gap between producers and consumers of organic foods by setting up a supply chain that allows selling through retail in branding and in bulk directly from farms to processors. Products include essential oils, health foods, Ayurvedic preparations etc.

Mr Sarfaraz Hassan, winner from the Eastern Zone presented a very simple yet mouth-watering idea- a web and mobile service that connects local chefs and food lovers Pan-India and beyond.

Mr Thirumalai Vijayan, a healthcare services inventor from Chennai expressed the desire to serve the ailing with his business idea- a low cost insulin pen inhaler that delays the early complications and pain in diabetics.

Mrs  Aparna Bhatnagar, a woman entrepreneur from Jaipur, pitched the idea of the 'The Green and Good Store'-an online store that sells products which bring about positive environmental and social change in the world.

Mr  Alok Sengupta from IDBI Bank(exclusive bank partner for Wagon R Think Big Challenge- II) marked his presence at the event and presented the runners up prize to Mr Sunil Gupta.

Mr Shashank Srivastava, Chief GM Marketing said , “With Wagon R Think Big Challenge-II our basic objective was to provide productive startups that run on plans which are innovative yet executable. These contestants are focused, have their strategies right and we have made it sure that they get a fair chance to present it to the team which would value their plans and might invest in their start ups.

Mr Alok Mittal, co- founder of Indian Angel Network added, “Our organization has been screening workable ideas for quite some time now to get the rational ones to invest into. We have been closely studying the proposals of these contestants and the important aspects related to their workability, target customers, strategies, investment needs etc. The plan intelligently covering all these fields deserves to be the winner.

Madhavan who has been associated with Wagon R as a brand ambassador and has been hosting Wagon R Think Big Challenge-II for the second season consecutively left no chance to ask contestants some strategic questions.

Wagon R Think Big Challenge-II, held at The Surya Hotel, New Friends Colony, New Delhi has proved to be a catalyst for the budding business ideas. It has helped the entrepreneurs in presenting their ideas to the nation and directing people's attention toward their unique business ideas. This four and a half months campaign which got business registrations from 19 cities of India came to a conclusion on May 26 , 2011.

TESLA MULLS SHARE SALE TO RAISE $214 MILLION

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

 

DETROIT , MAY 26 : 
ELECTRIC car maker Tesla Motors Inc plans to raise up to $214 million through a share offering to help fund development of its Model X SUV, and said its chief executive would buy a portion of those shares.

The Model X is a crossover vehicle based on the platform of Tesla's Model S sedan, which is scheduled to begin customer deliveries in mid-2012.

A prototype of the Model X will be revealed by the end of 2011, with a commercial introduction set for the fourth quarter of 2013, Tesla said in the filing.

"Because the company is raising money to jumpstart a new product line, that's viewed as a long-term positive," analyst Andrea James of Minneapolis-based Dougherty & Co said.

Tesla said it planned to raise up to $158.5 million through a public offering of 6.095 million of its common shares, including 795,000 shares granted to the underwriter in a 30-day option, at $26 a share.

In a private placement at the same price, Tesla said it would sell 1.5 million shares to Chief Executive Elon Musk and 644,475 shares to Blackstar Investco LLC, an affiliate of Daimler AG. At the offer price, the private placement would raise $55.8 million.

"That really shows confidence from the management team when you have the head of the company investing an incremental $40 million," said James, who has a "buy" rating on Tesla shares. "So that's encouraging."

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

DETROIT, MAY 05 :
DRIVEN  by a recovery in the US market and strong sales in Asia General Motors  quarterly profit more than tripled.

The US. automaker also said on Thursday it expects its full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes to show "solid improvement" from 2010 helped by better pricing and lower fixed costs in North America.

Net income in the first quarter rose to $3.2 billion, or $1.77 a share, compared with $900 million, or 55 cents a share, in the year earlier quarter.

Excluding such one-time items as its sales of stakes in parts maker Delphi and Ally Financial, it earned 95 cents a share. That was 4 cents better than what analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had expected.

Revenue rose to $36.2 billion from $31.5 billion last year. Analysts had expected $35.59 billion.

GM Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann said GM is set up well to profit from higher gasoline prices with a much more diversified portfolio than three years ago when gas prices last topped $4 per gallon.

"We had a very high, robust April, 19.8 percent market share in April with the lowest incentives we've had as the new company," he told reporters.

GM's liquidity at the end of the quarter rose to $36.5 billion after the sales of the Delphi and Ally stakes. Cash and marketing securities grew to $30.6 billion from $27.6 billion at the end of the fourth quarter.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

DETROIT , APRIL 26 :
FORD Motor Co reported its best first-quarter profit in 13 years, driven by strong sales in its home market and demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Ford also said on Tuesday that last month's earthquake which has hurt the supply chain in Japan has had "minimal" impact on its business, and analysts said Ford may even stand to gain.

"Ford continues to get market share. We expect this trend will continue," said Channing Smith, co-manager of Capital Advisors Growth Fund, which owns Ford shares. "I think Ford and a lot of the other American automakers will take market share from the Japanese."

Lewis Booth, Ford's chief financial officer, said that so far, since the earthquake in Japan, the automaker has lost the production of 12,000 to 14,000 vehicles in Asia, where it has shut several plants temporarily.

Ford beat quarterly earnings expectations by 12 cents a share, which helped send the company's shares up 3.5 percent to $16.09 in trading before the market opened. Its fourth-quarter 2010 results missed analyst expectations by a wide mark, ending a string of quarters in which Ford easily exceeded expectations.

Net income rose to $2.55 billion, or 61 cents a share, compared with $2.09 billion, or 50 cents a share, in the year earlier period. It was the highest first-quarter net income since 1998.

Excluding one-time items, it earned 62 cents a share, easily topping the 50 cents analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had expected. It was the seventh straight quarter of operating profit.

Revenue rose to $33.1 billion from $28.1 billion last year. Analysts had expected $29.7 billion.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

NEW DELHI, MARCH , MARCH 31 :
TOYOTA Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Thursday started its yearly service campaign Suhana Summer – a service campaign with free check- up for all Toyota models – across its dealerships in India.

The month-long campaign will be conducted across Toyota dealerships between April 01, 2011 to April 30, 2011. Toyota has set a benchmark in the automobile industry for its quality products and more so for Q Class Service Experience. Keeping this tradition alive, Toyota has launched this service campaign in 122 dealerships across India.

Mr Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, TKM, said, “Toyota has timed this service campaign to correspond with the vacation season in India. The campaign will help our customers gear up their vehicles for long journeys, ensuring safe, comfortable and trouble free drives during summer vacation”.

Under this campaign, all Toyota customers will be eligible for a free 20 point check up of their Toyota vehicles and an option to choose from a broad spectrum of service parts packages, which include most of the periodic and general maintenance repair related parts.

All customers participating in the campaign by purchasing any of the packages will be eligible for over 3000 lucky draw prizes and a host of other assured gifts on various packages. Additionally, the Campaign offers Daily lucky draw for all walk-in chauffeurs at all its dealerships.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

FRANKFURT, MARCH 26 :
DEBT-LADEN German carmaker Porsche is set to approve this Sunday details of implementing a 5 billion euro ($7.1 billion) capital increase, clearing the way for a merger with Volkswagen AG

"The executive board and the supervisory board of Porsche SE have not yet resolved on the subscription price and the details of the implementation of the capital increase. Such decision is planned for Sunday, 27 March 2011," it said.

"A syndicate of banks has today undertaken vis-a-vis Porsche SE, under certain conditions, to underwrite all new ordinary and preferred shares to be issued in connection with the implementation of the capital increase ...," it said.

It said the banks will offer the new shares at a subscription price of 38 euros per share.

The company would implement the capital increase in the next few days.

Porsche Automobil Holding SE only earns investment income from stakes in Porsche AG sports cars and Volkswagen and needs fresh equity before being folded into Europe's biggest carmaker.

The underwriters of the mammoth issue are Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) and Morgan Stanley and other banks could still join the syndicate, the sources said.

The two banks declined comment.

The sources said the capital increase would raise a total of 2.5 billion euros from the Piech and Porsche families, as well as Qatar, all of whom hold ordinary shares.

The Piech and Porsche families will provide 2.25 billion euros between them, while 250 million euros will come from Qatar, the sources said.

The rest of the 2.5 billion euros will be from owners of preferred shares, they said, adding that, if the amount falls below that figure, Qatar might also subscribe to the preferred shares, even though it has not committed to do so.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

FARIDABAD, MARCH 16 :
TOYOTA Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday opened its first dealership – Thirty Six Toyota - in Faridabad. The new outlet offers service, sales, financing and insurance facilities. It is aimed at being accessible to the customer in Faridabad and neighboring areas and will offer them an enhanced purchase experience.

Spread over a total area of 90000 sq ft, Thirty Six Toyota will have 19 general service bays, 16 body and paint bays and 1 paint booth besides having a showroom and 130 parking bays.
 
Thirty Six, is the latest to join the network of exclusive Toyota '3S' dealership spread across India. ‘3S’ signifies Sales, Service and Spare parts under one roof. This is Toyota's unique approach to customer care and service. Thirty Six Toyota will initially have around 85 trained personnel.

The sales, service and spare parts officers in the dealership have been trained extensively by Toyota. Thirty Six Toyota is similar to the other Toyota dealerships in India, meeting Toyota’s international standards of quality and service. It is fully equipped with state-of-the-art tools and equipment and necessary spare parts.

In line with its growth strategy the company will continue with its expansion plan in India by adding to its existing network of dealerships across the country. We have achieved the dealership count of 150 facilities at the end of 2010.
The count of Toyota dealership has touched 152 with the opening of Thirty Six Toyota.

The company's dealership thrust will be largely in smaller towns. With increasing demand from semi-urban and rural areas, the company aims to bring its quality services closer to them.  

On the expansion of Toyota’s dealer network, Mr Vikram Kirloskar, vice chairman, TKM, said ,“The needs and preferences of an Etios customer are very different from the customers we have catered to so far."

"With the entry into a new segment we have expanded our dealer network and boosted our service operations by employing new tools like dealership management system and express maintenance”, he said.

Mr Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM said, “This is our first dealership in Faridabad. So far we catered to the customers in Faridabad with our dealerships in the NCR region."

"With the increasing demand and the sale of Etios, setting up a dealership in Faridabad is essential. With this, we aim to serve our customers better through greater accessibility,” he added.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has registered a growth of 55 percent in sales in February 2011 compared to the same period last year. It sold 9,308 units in February 2011 against 5,993 units in February 2010.

The company will invest Rs 300 crore to expand production capacity by 40 percent by 210,000 vehicles a year.

 

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

GURGAON, MARCH 15 :
MARUTI Suzuki India , India's car manufacturer on Tuesday rolled out its 1 crore (ten millionth) car.

The historic 1 crore car, a Metallic Breeze Blue coloured WagonR VXi (Chassis No 243899) rolled out from the company’s Gurgaon plant.

With this landmark achievement, Maruti Suzuki becomes the only Indian car company that makes its entry into the select club of automobile manufacturers across the globe who have crossed this milestone.

On the occasion, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “As we reach this historic landmark, we thank our founding partners who laid a solid foundation of values and practices. We thank our customers who have brought us this far.

The commitment of employees and continued strong support of business associates has played a critical role all through the journey. Their enthusiasm and commitment is especially reflected in manufacturing around 5 million units just in the last 6 years. Today is a day of pride for the full Maruti Suzuki family.”

Maruti Suzuki India started operations in India in 1983 (then Maruti Udyog ) as a joint venture between the Government of India and Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan.

The company’s journey towards 1 crore mark, picked momentum in recent times through several focused initiatives like capacity expansion, higher productivity levels and enhanced R&D capability demonstrated through product refreshments. A new car design philosophy, as evidenced in world strategic models like the Swift, SX4, A-Star, Ritz and WagonR helped to win customer’s hearts.

Contemporary DDiS and Super Turbo Diesel engines and the K-Series petrol engines helped to reinforce the technological supremacy of Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki currently offers a wide range of 16 passenger vehicle models in India. It is the largest car maker with over 45 per cent share in India’s passenger vehicle market.

 Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

 

H S Goindi, president, Marketing , TVS Motor Company astride the TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI, MARCH 11 :
THE Indian two-wheeler major TVS Motor Company on Friday unveiled ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) in its premium segment motorcycle TVS Apache RTR 180, giving the bike formidable stopping power and superior braking control that compliments its high performance capability.

This is aimed at enabling Indian bikers to fully enjoy the capabilities of their Apache RTR 180 ABS and experience superior levels of safety and stability. TVS Apache RTR 180 ABS can also clip-off a few seconds on a race track, thanks to late braking, faster exits and incredible stability. ABS technology is becoming more common in passenger cars but new to the Indian two wheeler industry.

Anti-lock Braking System or ABS technology is an integration of a HECU (Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit) and Independent Wheel Speed Sensors which help determine when a wheel is likely to get locked. When the brakes are applied hard, the wheel tends to lock.

At this point, the HECU takes over instantaneously and modulates the brake pressure continuously to keep the ‘Apache RTR 180 ABS’ in the most effective braking zone while ensuring precise maneuvers.

Sensors on the front and rear wheels independently monitor the speed of rotation at all times and can sense the risk of wheel lock whenever the brakes are applied. If the sensors communicate an impending wheel lock, the HECU modulates the braking pressure and prevents it, therefore reducing the risk of the rider losing control of his Apache.

When the ignition is turned ‘ON’, the Apache RTR 180 ABS does an automatic self-check, which is indicated by the blinking of an LED on the console and the speed sensors monitor the wheel speed and send signals continuously to the HECU.

Mr H S Goindi, president - Marketing said, “We have been closely working with our technology partner, the international automotive supplier, Continental and what you see is the result of more than a year’s collaborative work. ABS technology prevents skidding and assists effective braking, especially in wet and muddy road conditions while providing for sharper and shorter cornering.”

Priced at Rs 78,880 the Apache RTR ABS, is also equipped with rear wheel lift-off protection (RLP ) system which regulates deceleration when the bike is likely to lift off during emergency braking situations and takes over control, with no loss of stopping distance. With the RLP system continuously monitoring and controlling the braking, the bike gives the best stopping performance.

The company is looking at higher CC range bikes in India.With brand enhancement on the anvil the company expects 25 to 40 percent growth in sales in the next fiscal.

The two-wheeler major has however not left the avid ‘biker’ unsatisfied. The bike comes with an ‘ABS-Off’ switch, which disables the ABS technology, enabling the rider to showcase his capabilities on the Apache RTR, in controlled conditions.

In an effort to enhance the ‘thrill of biking’ in the TVS Apache RTR 180, the company has fitted the bike with an all-new 3 phase Full DC lighting system and an efficient energy management system.

The Apache RTR 180 ABS comes in the spectacular white color with differentiating orange decals and is immediately available at select TVS dealerships across the country.

Said Mr Murali Srinivasan, General Manager – Chassis and Safety Division, Continental ," With this new, compact motorcycle Antilock Braking System (ABS), which has been developed by Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division in collaboration with TVS Motor Company, we have further strengthened our presence as a strong international supplier in the Indian automotive industry." "

"ABS for motorcycles emphasizes our philosophy of ‘Intelligent mobility and safety for everyone’. It is a vital and decisive step on the road towards “Vision Zero,” when safety is evolved to such a level that there are no more serious accidents on the road," he said.

"In view of globally available technologies, safety is non-negotiable. It is gratifying for Continental that we have associated with an Indian manufacturer to give India her first motorcycle with ABS technology," he added.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

TOKYO , MARCH 09 :
AS part of new long- term strategy Toyota Motor Corp would make its foothold in emerging markets stronger and unveil more hybrid models as it targets to nearly double profits.

The car maker, trying to move on from a massive global recall, also unveiled plans to trim its board to 11 members by June from 27 to speed up decision making as part of a new plan unveiled on Wednesday.

Under its "global vision" strategy, Toyota said it would aim for an operating profit of 1 trillion yen ($12 billion)and a profit margin of 5 percent, against an estimated 550 billion yen and 2.9 percent in the current financial year ending this month.

It did not give an exact time frame for the targets.

The plan, unveiled by President Akio Toyoda, also called for Toyota to launch about 10 more hybrid models by 2015. It expects emerging markets to make up half of its sales by 2015, up from 40 percent now.

"It looks like it is finally catching up with Nissan and Honda in recovering (profitability) and I think that is being reflected in the share price," said Makoto Kikuchi, chief executive of Myojo Asset Management Japan.

Executives say that, under Toyoda's leadership, the company has veered away from market share targets that used to be a major driver for growth during its boom years in the past decade.

Thesynergyonline Automobile Bureau

FRANKFURT, MARCH 09 :
GERMAN automotive group Daimler and British aerospace engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce said they would bid 3.2 billion euros ($4.44 billion) for industrial diesel engine maker Tognum.

Under the deal, first announced on Monday, stockholders can tender their shares for 24 euros each. Tognum shares closed at 23.215 euros on Tuesday but have jumped by more than a quarter over the past five days.

The agreement is contingent on Daimler and Rolls-Royce gaining control of at least half the equity plus one share.

Daimler will contribute its 28.4 percent stake into a joint venture that will make the offer to Tognum shareholders.

"The complementary capabilities we are bringing together will provide us with a world leading proposition and will enable us to expand the business by developing a broader portfolio of integrated power systems and services for existing and new customers," said Rolls-Royce Chief Executive John Rose in a statement on Wednesday.

The companies intend to maintain the current manufacturing sites and are confident that the growth strategy will secure jobs, it added.

As part of the deal, Rolls-Royce plans to contribute its Bergen gas and diesel medium-speed engine business used in the marine propulsion and auxiliary power markets.