 |
 |
India Auto News Thursday, 04 Feb. 2010 |
National - Mercedes-Benz India overtakes BMW in January 2010- BMW India plans to lease out cars, launches limited edition Gran Turismon - Mahindra & Mahindra launches light-truck Maxximo at Rs 2.79 lakh - Volvo India launches new diesel S80 - Ford India to start production of small car 'Figo' on February 05, 2010 International - Toyota's Slow Awakening to a Deadly Problem- Japanese government orders Toyota to check Prius for brake-related problems |
||||
Mercedes-Benz India overtakes BMW in January 2010
German automaker, Mercedes-Benz, which fell behind BMW in the luxury car segment in India last year, managed to regain its number one position in January 2010 by selling 403 cars. BMW sold 341 cars in the same month, while Audi sold 306. Mr Wilfried Aulbur, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and Chief Executive, told media persons that even though sales numbers were an encouraging factor, the company's focus, in the coming months, would remain on profitability. |
||||
BMW India plans to lease out cars, launches limited edition Gran Turismo
BMW India may soon start leasing out cars to individual customers not interested in buying luxury cars at ex-showroom prices. The company will lease out cars for specific periods of time, after which customers will be required to return the cars to the company. The cars can then be re-sold in the market. The returned cars can also be used for the company's upcoming used car business, BMW Premium Selection. Meanwhile, BMW India also launched a limited edition version of the Gran Turismo this week. |
||||
Mahindra & Mahindra launches light-truck Maxximo at Rs 2.79 lakh
Mahindra & Mahindra launched its new light-truck, the Maxximo, in Mumbai this week. The Maxximo is priced at Rs 2.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Navi Mumbai), and complies with the Bharat Stage III emission norms. It will compete directly with the current leader in the light-truck segment, Tata Motors' Ace, which is priced at Rs 2.78 lakh and complies with BS II norms. The Maxximo has a payload capacity of 850 kg, and comes with a fuel efficiency of 20 km per litre of diesel. |
||||
Volvo India launches new diesel S80
Swedish auto company, Volvo, launched a new diesel version of the S80 in India this week, priced at Rs 37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new Volvo S80 comes with a 2.4 litre D5 engine, which uses the latest twin-turbo and Piezo high pressure technology. It boasts of a fuel efficiency of 13.09 km/litre, and complies with Euro V emission norms. The car also offers better entertainment and safety features including a dual DVD screen for rear-seat passengers, and an anti-theft personal communicator.
|
||||
Ford India to start production of small car 'Figo' on February 05, 2010
Ford India will start the commercial production of its small car, Figo, at its Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai on February 05, 2010. The company had earlier signed an MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu to invest Rs 1,500 crore in the expansion of the Sriperumbudur plant and use the additional capacity to produce the Figo, along with new engines. A company official said that the plant would be inaugurated this week by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Deputy Chief Minister Stalin. |
||||
Toyota's Slow Awakening to a Deadly Problem
The New York Times has a detailed story on how Toyota USA was too slow in addressing problems of uncontrolled acceleration in many of it's cars which had in turn lead to car crashes and resulting deaths. The articles alludes that though Toyota had said that the problem was limited to loose floor mats, the real issue may be with faulty car electronics systems. It described how it was only after a massive public outcry that Toyota truly started to focus on solving the problem. As a result, Toyota has severely damaged it's once sterling reputation for quality and this in turn has lead to a flood of lawsuits and a steep drop in car sales. |
||||
Japanese government orders Toyota to check Prius for brake-related problems
The Japanese government this week dealt yet another blow to the reputation of auto company, Toyota, by ordering it to check the latest version of the Prius hybrid for brake-related defects. The Prius was Japan's top-selling model in 2009. The latest Prius does not figure in the list of 8 models whose production was halted in the US this week. A transport department official said that the Transport Ministry of Japan had received 14 complaints regarding the Prius's brakes since its launch in May 2009. |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES - Auto News Roundup, 02-February-2010 - Auto News Roundup, 27-January-2010 |
||||
|
Send questions, thoughts, concerns and criticism to: editor@driveinside.com How to Advertise About DriveInside.com Unsubscribe from this mailing list. |
||||
