 |
 |
India Auto News Friday, 11 Dec. 2009 |
National - Car sales grow by 61 per cent in November 2009- Indian auto companies to test new cars in Sweden - Bajaj Auto to exit scooter segment - Logistics companies expand fleet to meet growing demand from car companies - Honda launches 110cc bike CB Twister International - Volkswagen to buy 20 per cent stake in Suzuki Motor for $2.5 billion- Volkswagen buys 49.9 per cent stake in Porsche |
||||
Car sales grow by 61 per cent in November 2009
Car sales in India went up by 61 per cent in November 2009, compared to sales in the same month last year. According to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), 133,687 cars were sold in the domestic market in November 2009, as against 83,121 units in November 2008. Commercial vehicle sales too rose from 20,631 units to 40,874 units in the same period. SIAM senior director, Mr Sugato Sen, said that last month's passenger car sales were the highest since February 2004. He attributed the high year-on-year growth to a low sales base last year.
|
||||
Indian auto companies to test new cars in Sweden
Car companies in India can now test their vehicles in the -45 to -50 degree temperatures of North Sweden. The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) signed an MoU with the Swedish government some time back, which allows Indian vehicle manufacturers to test their cars on ice tracks and heated asphalt tracks in the European country. Mr Shrikant R Marathe, ARAI director, said that the facility would help Indian companies ensure that their vehicles were fit for driving in adverse weather conditions.
|
||||
Bajaj Auto to exit scooter segment
Indian two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto is planning to phase out its scooter model 'Kristal' by the end of FY 2009-10, and focus completely on motorcycle manufacturing. With the phasing out of the Kristal, the company will exit the scooter segment altogether. Bajaj Auto MD, Mr Rajiv Bajaj, said at a press conference this week that the Kristal's sales were not meeting initial expectations, and that the company now wanted to be a 'motorcycle specialist'. It launched a 135cc variant of the Pulsar this week, priced at Rs 51,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
|
||||
Logistics companies expand fleet to meet growing demand from car companies
The continual growth in car sales over the past several months has led a number of logistics companies in India to expand their fleets of vehicle carriers. Transport Corporation of India (TCI) Director, Mr Vineet Agarwal, said that demand for heavy trucks had gone up and that car carriers worth Rs 16 crore would be added to their fleet size in the next few months. In November 2009, sales of high-tonnage commercial vehicles increased fourfold to 1,036 units.
|
||||
Honda launches 110cc bike CB Twister
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) launched a new entry-level bike, the CB Twister, this week. The 110cc bike will be out in the market by February 2010 and will come in three variants. Mr Shinji Aoyama, HMSI President and CEO, said that the Twister is a combination of 'new-age style and unmatched performance', and will help the company establish its presence in the entry-level bike segment. He added that HMSI would avoid direct competition with Hero Honda.
|
||||
Volkswagen to buy 20 per cent stake in Suzuki Motor for $2.5 billion
German carmaker Volkswagen will buy a 19.9 per cent stake in Japanese auto company Suzuki Motor for $2.53 billion, in January 2010. The move will help VW expand its presence in the small-car market in India and other Asian markets, where Suzuki already has a strong presence. The two companies are already planning to develop a new small car for the Indian market in the price range of Rs 2-2.5 lakh.
|
||||
Volkswagen buys 49.9 per cent stake in Porsche
German auto company Volkswagen (VW) this week bought a 49.9 per cent stake in Porsche AG, for 3.9 billion euros ($5.8 billion). It will complete the acquisition 2011. The move is expected to increase the annual operating profit of the Volkswagen Group by approximately 700 million euros. Meanwhile, VW India is planning to hire 1,300 more workers at its plant in Chakan, near Pune. The plant currently has 1,200 employees.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES - Auto News Roundup, 08-December-2009 - Auto News Roundup, 03-December-2009 |
||||
|
Send questions, thoughts, concerns and criticism to: editor@driveinside.com How to Advertise About DriveInside.com Unsubscribe from this mailing list. |
||||
