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India Auto News Tuesday, 27 Apr. 2010 |
National - Tata Motors may soon overtake Hyundai in sales- Ford India to increase production, hire 700 more workers - GM India to introduce electric version of Spark by 2010-end - Ashok Leyland, Nissan to launch LCV by 2011 - Toyota Kirloskar receives 80 bookings for Prius, delivers 24 - Electric-vehicle industry to get more government support - Toyota to display Etios at ''Q' World parade in 10 smaller cities - Euro III petrol, diesel to be available in 16 states from July 1, 2010 - Taj Hotels may add Tata Nano to their vehicle line-up - Mercedes-Benz India launches E-Class Coupe - Hyundai India launches new version of i20 International - John Elkann named Fiat head- Toyota agrees to pay $16.4-million penalty to US for hiding fault in accelerator |
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Tata Motors may soon overtake Hyundai in sales
Tata Motors may soon overtake its closest rival in the passenger car market, Hyundai, with its manufacturing plant in Sanand scheduled to start operations on April 30, 2010. At present, Hyundai is the second largest passenger car company in India after Maruti, while Tata Motors comes third. After the Sanand plant becomes operational, Tata's yearly sales are likely to shoot up by over 2 lakh units. The company will manufacture the
Tata Nano at the new plant, which will have an initial production capacity of 2.5 lakh units an year. |
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Ford India to increase production, hire 700 more workers
Ford India is planning to start a second shift at its manufacturing facility in Chennai to meet the increasing demand for its small car Figo. The company sold 7,210 units of the Figo in March 2010 - the first month of its launch. Mr Michael Boneham, Ford India Managing Director, told mediapersons that the company would start a second shift in June, which would increase the production of the Figo by 30-40 percent. It will also hire 700 more workers at the plant. |
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GM India to introduce electric version of Spark by 2010-end
General Motors India will launch an electric version of its compact car Spark, in collaboration with Reva Electric Car Company (RECC), by the end of 2010.
Mr P Balendran, Director and Vice President, GM India, said that the launch of the 'E-Spark' would be in line with the company's commitment to producing eco-friendly vehicles for the Indian market.
The car will run on battery technology provided by Reva. The two companies had signed an agreement in September 2009 to develop electric vehicles for the country. |
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Ashok Leyland, Nissan to launch LCV by 2011
The Ashok Leyland - Nissan JV will launch its first Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) in 2011. Hinduja Automotive Executive Vice-Chairman, Mr V Sumantran, told reporters that the JV's initial plan was to start with an annual production capacity of 1.80 lakh units, but that production would now be carried out in phases. He said that the JV would begin Phase-I of its operations using the existing facilities of the two companies, as they still didn't have the required land to set up a new plant. |
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Toyota Kirloskar receives 80 bookings for Prius, delivers 24
Japanese car company Toyota's declining reputation worldwide does not seem to have affected the Indian car buyer, with the company receiving 80 bookings for its hybrid car Prius within three months of its launch in January 2010. Demand for the car is likely to exceed the 200 units that Toyota had earlier stated as its sales target. However, the company is not planning to bring more cars to India this year, said Toyota Kirloskar Deputy MD Sandeep Singh. He said that TKM would order more cars, possibly more than 400, from 2011. |
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Electric-vehicle industry to get more government support
The Government of India may formulate a policy to promote electric cars, within FY 2010-11. A core group, comprising representatives from the road transport, petroleum, environment and heavy industry ministries and the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), has been formed for the purpose. The group will look at the various incentives that can be given to the auto industry to develop and sell electric vehicles and will explore ways to encourage research and development in the field. |
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Toyota to display Etios at 'Q' World parade in 10 smaller cities
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is planning to take its 'Q' World show to ten smaller cities between May and July 2010. The company had started the Toyota 'Q' World parade in 10 major metro cities across India right after the Delhi Auto Expo in January 2010. The second leg of the show will be held on a smaller scale, with select models, including the Toyota Etios, on display. The Etios, which is the company's first compact car, will be launched in India in January 2011. |
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Euro III petrol, diesel to be available in 16 states from July 1, 2010
The Indian government rejected the auto industry's demand that Euro III fuel be made available throughout the country at the same time, instead of introducing it in stages. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has prepared a schedule to implement the norms, under which Euro III petrol and diesel will be available in 16 States and 5 Union Territories from July 1, 2010. The fuel will be available throughout the country from October 1, 2010. |
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Taj Hotels may add Tata Nano to their vehicle line-up
The Taj Group of hotels, promoted by Tata Motors, may soon add the Tata Nano to their list of chauffeur-driven vehicles used to ferry hotel guests.
The car may be of interest to guests from outside India, who will have to wait another year to drive it in their own countries. Meanwhile, Tata Motors has renewed its land lease in Singur by paying the advance annual rent of Rs 1 crore. The West Bengal government had earlier asked the company to return the Singur land so it could be used for a new project. |
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Mercedes-Benz India launches E-Class Coupe
German luxury car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz, launched its new E-Class Coupe in India at a starting price of Rs 54.83 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). Mr Wilfried Aulbur, Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO, told mediapersons that the E-Class Coupe would meet the needs of young individuals looking for an "athletic, striking and passionate" car. He also said that the car was the most aerodynamic series production car in the world. It will be available at Mercedes-Benz showrooms across India. |
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Hyundai India launches new version of i20
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) launched a new, more fuel-efficient version of its premium compact car, the i20, along with two new variants - Era and Sportz. The new variants have been introduced keeping in mind the different requirements of i20 customers, and will be available with both petrol and diesel engine options.
HMIL MD and CEO, Mr HW Park, said that the car's new features, including manual transmission shift indicators and automatic temperature control, would make it more desirable for customers. |
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Italian car company Fiat has appointed John Elkann as its new Chairman. Mr Elkann, 34, will replace Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, 62, who took over as the company's head in 2004. Fiat's Board of Directors thanked Montezemolo for his accomplishments during "an especially delicate period" for the company. Meanwhile, the company has decided to separate its auto business from its industrial business by the end of 2010. |
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Toyota agrees to pay $16.4-million penalty to US for hiding fault in accelerator
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this month had proposed that Toyota Motor Corporation pay a penalty of $16.4 million for hiding the 'dangerous' defect in its cars' accelerator pedals for months before taking corrective steps. Companies in the US are legally required to report safety defects within five business days - something that Toyota failed to do, thereby endangering the lives of millions of car owners and their families. The company has agreed to pay the penalty. |
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES - Auto News Roundup, 01-April-2010 - Auto News Roundup, 30-March-2010 |
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