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India Auto News Wednesday, 05 May 2010 |
National - Hero Honda's sales in April 2010 struck by battery shortage- Toyota Etios likely to be exported to Europe - Passenger car sales grow in April 2010 - Bajaj-Renault mini-car to cost $2,500: Ghosn - Volkswagen to launch executive sedan 'Vento' in second half of 2010 - BMW India launches new version of 5-Series - Tata Motors introduces new version of Indica Vista - JLR takes a re-look at decision to close UK plant - Mahindra, Renault JV ends; M&M to continue selling Logan - Hyundai India to launch SUV Santa Fe by 2010-end - Hero Honda net profit jumps 49 percent in Q4 2009-10 - Harley-Davidson bookings opened on April 20, 2010 - Moselle province in France wants Tata Nano manufacturing unit - Tata Ace crosses 1 lakh sales mark International - Toyota recalls 870,000 Sienna minivans in US, Canada; agrees to pay $16.4-m fine- Toyota suspends Lexus sales in US |
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Hero Honda's sales in April 2010 struck by battery shortage
Most two-wheeler manufacturers in India reported a double-digit sales growth in April 2010, even while market leader Hero Honda grew only marginally due to a shortage of batteries. The company's sales grew from 3,70,575 units in April 2009 to 3,71,652 units in April 2010 - an increase of only 0.29 percent. Hero Honda Motors Senior Vice-President, Mr Anil Dua, said that a go-slow agitation at battery maker Exide's Bawal facility had led to an acute battery shortage for two weeks, but that the problem was now resolved. |
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Toyota Etios likely to be exported to Europe
Following in the footsteps of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor too is planning to export its upcoming small car, the Etios, to Europe, to benefit from the higher profit margins there. The company had earlier said that the Etios would be exported to countries around India and South Africa from its plant in Bidadi, near Bangalore. However, the car will not be exported to the Asia Pacific region. The Etios is scheduled to be launched in December 2010. |
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Passenger car sales grow in April 2010
After the end of a successful financial year in March 2010, passenger car companies in India continued on their upward trajectory in April 2010. Maruti Suzuki's
total domestic sales stood at 80,034 units in April 2010, up from 64,857 units in April 2009. While the company''s passenger car sales grew substantially, its MUV sales (Gypsy, Grand Vitara) saw a 21.3 percent dip. Hyundai India
too saw a 28.1 percent growth in the same month. GM's sales grew from 4,823 units in April 2009 to 10,601 units in April 2010.
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Bajaj-Renault mini-car to cost $2,500: Ghosn
Renault-Nissan's plan to develop an ultra-low cost car with Bajaj Auto is on track. Mr Carlos Ghosn, the President and CEO of Renault-Nissan, said at the company's annual general meeting that the car would be priced at approximately $2,500 (Rs 1.10 lakh). Bajaj Auto MD, Mr Rajiv Bajaj, confirmed that the companies had agreed on a price range. The low-cost car project, announced in 2008, had earlier run into difficulties because of differences between Renault and Bajaj regarding the pricing of the car. |
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Volkswagen to launch executive sedan 'Vento' in second half of 2010
Volkswagen will be launching a new executive sedan in India in the second half of 2010. The new car, to be known as the 'Vento', will compete with the Honda City,
which is currently the highest selling car in its segment. The Vento is being built on the same platform as that of the VW Polo, launched in February 2010, and is expected to be priced between Rs 9 and 10 lakh. Industry sources say that the car has been designed using the Honda City as a benchmark. |
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BMW India launches new version of 5-Series
Luxury-car company BMW India has launched a new version of its 5-Series sedan, priced between Rs 38.9 lakh and Rs 45.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The company has not increased the new variants' prices, thus maintaining a competitive edge over the
other cars in the segment - the Mercedes E-Class and the Audi A6. Outgoing BMW India President, Mr Peter Kronschnabl, said that the company was aiming for double-digit growth in 2010-11, and that it was targeting a sales figure of 4,000 units. |
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Tata Motors introduces new version of Indica Vista
Tata Motors has launched a new BS-IV compliant version of its compact car, the Indica Vista, at a starting price of Rs 3.57 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 'Indica Vista Drivetech4' comes with both petrol and diesel engine options, and has a new Eurotech gearbox that reduces vibration and ensures a smoother ride. Additional features include a four-spoke tilt-adjustable steering wheel, an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), and dual airbags in front. |
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JLR takes a re-look at decision to close UK plant
Tata Motors - owned British carmaker
Jaguar - Land Rover (JLR) is reviewing its plan to close one of its factories in the United Kingdom.
According to media reports, the luxury car company, which had earlier said it would shut down a plant as a cost-cutting measure, may now retain all its plants due to a significant increase in sales and a change in management. The company may also seek help from the UK government to launch new models. |
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Mahindra, Renault JV ends; M&M to continue selling Logan
Mahindra-Renault Private Limited (MRPL), the joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Renault, has come to an end with M&M
deciding to buy out Renault's 49 percent stake in the venture. The companies issued a joint statement last week saying that M&M would get full control of the venture, and would continue to produce and sell the Logan after the buyout. Mr Pawan Goenka, President of M&M - Automotive Sector, said that the company would develop a new strategy to drive Logan sales. |
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Hyundai India to launch SUV Santa Fe by 2010-end
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) will be launching its SUV, Santa Fe, as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) by the end of 2010. The vehicle was first launched in the global market in 2001. HMIL Managing Director, Mr HW Park, told mediapersons that while the Santa Fe would be introduced in India as a CBU, the company was likely to start producing it as a Completely Knocked-down Unit (CKD) after three years. |
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Hero Honda net profit jumps 49 percent in Q4 2009-10
India largest two-wheeler maker, Hero Honda, posted a 48.9 percent increase in its net profit in the January-March quarter of FY 2009-10. While the company's net profit in the period stood at Rs 598.8 crore, its total revenue amounted to Rs 4,122.32 crore. Mr Pawan Munjal, MD and CEO Hero Honda, said in a press statement that the company's profitability might get affected in the following months because of higher interest rates, inflation and increasing raw material prices. |
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Harley-Davidson bookings opened on April 20, 2010
Legendary motorbike company, Harley-Davidson, opened booking for its products on April 20, 2010. The company's motorbikes will be priced upwards of Rs 7 lakh, and will also be available on finance. Its entry level bike will be available at an EMI of Rs 12,500 for a five-year period. Deliveries will start in June 2010. The American bike maker is setting up dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chandigarh, which will be functional by the time deliveries begin. |
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Moselle province in France wants Tata Nano manufacturing unit
Development officials in Moselle, a province in France, want Tata Motors to set up a car manufacturing facility in the region. Mr M David Malingrey, Director General of Moselle Development Agency, said that the Indian company should consider setting up manufacturing and logistics units for its small car
Tata Nano in Moselle. He said that this would be in keeping with the company's plans to launch the Nano in Europe by 2011. |
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Tata Ace crosses 1 lakh sales mark
Tata Motors sold 110,032 units of its mini-truck, Tata Ace, in FY 2009-10, making it the first goods carrier in the country to cross the 1-lakh sales mark in an year. The Ace, which was launched five years back, had touched a sales figure of 81,000 units in 2008-09. It was the only product in the 1-tonne mini-truck segment for a long time, until Piaggio and Mahindra came out with similar vehicles. At present, the toughest competitor for the Ace is the Mahindra Maxximo, launched last year. |
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Toyota recalls 870,000 Sienna minivans in US, Canada; agrees to pay $16.4-m fine
Japanese automaker Toyota announced yet another massive vehicle recall in North America last week. The company will recall 600,000 units of its Sienna minivan in the US and another 270,000 in Canada to repair a problem with the vehicle''s spare tyre. It said that there was a risk of the Sienna's spare tyre separating from the main vehicle due to corrosion. Meanwhile, the company has agreed to pay the $16.4 million fine slapped on it by US authorities for hiding a serious defect in its cars' accelerator pedals. |
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Toyota suspends Lexus sales in US
Japanese auto company Toyota has halted the sale of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 in the US in response to a report in Consumer Reports magazine that warns customers about the SUV's handling problems. A Lexus Group representative said that the company was determined to identify and correct the handling problem, which according to Consumer Reports can lead to a rollover while turning and cause serious accidents. The company has not yet recalled the vehicle. |
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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES - Auto News Roundup, 29-April-2010 - Auto News Roundup, 27-April-2010 |
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