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India Auto News Thursday, 14 Jan. 2010 |
National - Auto Expo attracts fewer visitors than expected- Maruti Suzuki to hike car prices - Honda's compact car to be sold only in Indian sub-continent - Govt to postpone deadline for implementation of BS III norms - Bajaj Auto posts three-fold increase in Q3, 2009-10 net profit - Renault to build small car on Nissan's platform - Volkswagen to offer customised packages with cars after Polo launch |
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Auto Expo attracts fewer visitors than expected
The recently concluded India Auto Expo attracted fewer visitors this year than it did in 2008, when the Tata Nano was unveiled, said Mr Vishnu Mathur, one of the show's organisers. Approximately 1.2 million people attended the show this year, compared to 1.8 million in 2008. The lower turnout is being attributed to the restrictions imposed on show organizers and the timings, with tickets available only till 3 pm and entry restricted from 5 pm. Stage shows too were stopped by the police on Sunday to keep the crowd moving.
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Maruti Suzuki to hike car prices
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) is planning to hike the prices of all its models by the end of January 2010. MSIL's Managing Executive Officer (Engineering), Mr IV Rao, said that while increased commodity prices had so far been absorbed by the company, this may not be possible any longer, partly because of the additional costs of upgrading models to meet BS IV norms. Steel and copper prices too will continue to move upwards in the coming months. |
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Honda's compact car to be sold only in Indian sub-continent
Honda Siel Cars India
(HSCI) will initially sell its small car only in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, said the company Vice President, Mr Jnaneshwar Sen. The car will be launched in 2011, and has been designed specifically for the Indian market. A concept version of the car was unveiled at the 2010 India Auto Expo last week. Mr Sen said that the company expected its small car's sales to be comparable to the sales of its most popular model in India, the Honda City. |
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Govt to postpone deadline for implementation of BS III norms
The auto industry will have to switch to Bharat Stage IV norms in 13 cities from April 1, 2010. However, the implementation of BS III norms in the remaining parts of the country may be delayed because of the unavailability of Euro III grade petrol and diesel. The government has decided to implement the BS III norms in phases, over a period of 3-6 months. Oil companies will inform the Supreme Court of the postponement of the deadline in due course. |
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Bajaj Auto posts three-fold increase in Q3, 2009-10 net profit
Bajaj Auto has posted a surprising Rs 475 crore net profit in the October-December quarter of 2009. This is almost three times the company's profit in the corresponding period last year. Net sales of the company too grew by 58 per cent in the same period. Bajaj Auto said in a press release that its operating profit margin, which rose to 21.72 per cent, could be maintained in spite of growing raw material costs because of higher volumes, effective cost management and focused sales promotional activities. |
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Renault to build small car on Nissan's platform
French auto company Renault
may use a platform from its partner Nissan's stable to build a small car for the Indian market. Renault Asia-Africa Management Committee Executive Vice-President, Katsumi Nakamura, said that Nissan already has a global platform for just the kind of car that Renault is planning to make, and that the two companies are currently discussing the matter. Renault's first car in India (after Mahindra-Renault's Logan), the Fluence, will be launched in 2011.
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Volkswagen to offer customised packages with cars after Polo launch
German auto major, Volkswagen, said this week that it would start offering optional customised packages for its cars after the launch of its small car, Polo, in March 2010. The extra features in these packages will include exterior cosmetic modifications and entertainment systems, said Mr Lutz Kothe, Chief General Manager (Marketing and Public Relations) of VW India. The company may also enter small-car segments below the Polo to expand its product range in India.
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES - Auto News Roundup, 12-January-2010 - Auto News Roundup, 07-January-2010 |
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