Nissan India inaugurated a new retail outlet 'Pinnacle Nissan' at Kollam in Kerala. With the new outlet, Nissan India increased its network points to 217 across 165 cities in the country.  
The company aims to nearly double its reach by March 2017 with a total presence of 300 touch points and growing its dealership network to cover 95% of the population in India. 
With over 5,500 sq. feet of showroom space, Pinnacle Nissan will showcase the complete portfolio of Nissan and Datsun cars. It has also established an eight-bay workshop, equipped for mechanical and accident repairs. 
Speaking at the inauguration of the new outlet, Jerome Saigot, vice president, Datsun India said that growing their dealership base, building strong business fundamentals and getting closer to their customers are areas of high priority as they gear up to launch the new Datsun redi-GO and enter the high volume segment in 2016.  
He added that as they expand their dealership footprint to meet rising demand in one 

Nissan opens a new retail outlet in Kerala 

BS-Motoring

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is developing comprehensive wayside amenities along national highways, providing toilets, drinking water facilities, food courts and restaurants for motorists. 
According to the NHAI, it is the responsibility of the owner of retail outlets/oil companies along national highways to provide drinking water and toilet facilities, in accordance with the approved lay out and specifications at their own cost which should be accessible to the public. 
The NHAI had recently held a meeting with oil marketing companies regarding the provisions of existing highway amenities (specially drinking water and toilet at retail outlets) as per the guidelines issued by the road transport ministry from time to time while granting access permission for fuel stations.  
It also suggested measures on how to improve the service standards of amenities (specially the drinking water and toilet facilities) keeping in mind the aim of Swachh Bharat Mission of Clean India 

NHAI developing comprehensive wayside amenities for motorists 

Mahindra Intertrade Ltd, part of the Mahindra group, signed an MoU on Thursday with MSTC Ltd, a government undertaking, to set up India’s first auto shredding facility. 
Auto shredding is a largely unorganised activity in India, even as vehicles long past their usable life still being in use. Older vehicles are currently dismantled in an unscientific manner, hazardous to the environment. The extent to which the vehicle is recycled is also very minimal, with most vehicular residue making its way into landfills. 
The proposed facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art, fully automated end-of-life vehicle recycling equipment.  
“MSTC is always looking at innovative ways to recycle scrap and protect the environment and this facility will help to participate in the emission targets which India has promised to fulfil via the COP 21 Emission Treaty,” said S.K. Tripathi, chairman and managing director of the public sector company. 
According to Zhooben Bhiwandiwala, managing partner, ...

Mahindra, MSTC set up JV for auto shredding 

If you are still at an early stage of searching for a used car,  it is necessary to go for a personal inspection before coming to a decision

How to physically inspect a used car before buying

Agencies

It is a practical, seven-seater SUV/MPV cross and gets all the good stuff from Honda's inventory.

Buying Honda BR-V - Decide before launch

German car maker Audi is considering the launch of its LWB variant of Q2 in India in 2017. The variant was initially thought to be exclusively for the Chinese market. 
The Q2 will be the entry level Audi for the Indian market and is expected to be priced around Rs. 25 lakh. 
Audi recently unveiled the Q2 at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The baby Q is its entry-level SUV and as the name suggests, it is positioned under the Q3.  
Audi has given it a brand new design direction that is substantially different from the current range of Q family. Instead of rectangular styling cues up front, the Q2 gets more squarish details and that continues to the rear profile of the compact SUV, looking inspired from Volkswagen’s hatchback family. 
Now the Q2 is quite small in size, smaller than the Q3 but the Indian market is expected to get the long wheelbase version, currently being developed for the Chinese market. Another reason for considering China specific model for India is the feasibility of ...

Audi to launch Q2 LWB in India priced at Rs. 25 lakh 

Maruti Suzuki plans to launch exclusive service outlets across the country over the next six months, dedicated to Nexa customers.
Maruti has sold more than 70,000 cars through the Nexa dealership so far. As of now, there are 127 showrooms under the Nexa brand, but the customers are required to rely on service centres of regular Maruti dealerships. 
Maruti Suzuki launched Nexa, a dealership network for its premium range of cars including the S-Cross and Baleno, in July 2015. While the cars are being sold through this dealership network, they have to be serviced at the company’s regular service outlets. 
The upcoming Nexa service outlets would be aiming at offering premium ownership experience by catering exclusively to owners who have bought their car at a Nexa outlet. 
At present, Nexa customers have three options to have their cars serviced — call up their relationship manager and get the car serviced at home; have the car picked up and taken to the workshop for service and ...

Maruti to launch exclusive service outlets for Nexa customers 

Honda Cars India, which expects sales to grow in double digits in the current fiscal despite several challenges, says achieving a total of three lakh units during the year looks to be difficult.
The car maker, which is all set to enter the fast-growing mid-range sports utility vehicle segment next month with its seven-seater BR-V, had sold 1.92 lakh units last fiscal, a growth of just two per cent over 2014-15. 
The company had earlier set a target of selling 3 lakh units annually by 2016-17, but due to "challenging conditions" it is not sure if it would be able to achieve that. 
"The market remains very challenging. Prices have gone up due to various taxes and cess, there is no clarity on the diesel (front). So, we are pragmatic but need to look at the situation practically," Honda Cars India senior vice-president (marketing and sales) Jnaneshwar Sen said. 
The new Amaze has been received well and BR-V launch is round the corner, which should help the company, he added. 
"Besides, we 

Honda Cars India finds it difficult to achieve 3 lakh unit sales in 2016

German automaker Mercedes-Benz is willing to power its cars and trucks with bio-diesel in a bid to curb atmospheric pollution.
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari revealed on Wednesday that Mercedes-Benz had written to him, offering to use 100 per cent bio-diesel in its vehicleas in India. The Mercedes India chief had also met him and reiterated the offer. 
The Supreme Court had in December imposed a temporary ban on the registration of diesel SUVs and high-end vehicles with engine capacity of over 2,000 cc in Delhi and the National Capital Region. This had hit the sales of vehicles of manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Indian manufacturers like Mahindra. The court has extended the ban till April 30. 
Roland Folger, managing director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, had recently said that the company had maintained it growth momentum in Q1 of 2016, despite facing multiple market challenges. “We have been able to compensate the negative sales impact in the Delhi and NCR ...

Mercedes-Benz willing to use bio-diesel for its vehicles 

Roads must be viewed as ‘green highway opportunities,’ road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. 
“Aside from the environmental and aesthetic aspects, roads have a huge potential to generate jobs and thus benefit the rural economy,” said the minister while addressing a workshop on ‘Transplantation along national highways,’ in New Delhi. “It may even be linked with the NREGA scheme.” 
Gadkari urged interested investors to take up experimental projects. “If needed, we will provide technology and financial support as well to the selected agency,” he said. “As an incentive three winners from each state every year will also be awarded for exemplary work.”  
He also urged research institutes like TERI to share its inputs on transplantation techniques. He suggested that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) could utilise materials like sand and soil by digging in areas along the highway. Villages would benefit as this would create the much needed ponds ...

Roads are green highway opportunities: Nitin Gadkari 

Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday announced the launch of the Big Bolero Pik-up, which offers superior value proposition to its customers. The vehicle promises to raise the benchmark in the category with its class-leading cargo body length of 9 feet (2765 mm) and payload capacity of 1,500 kgs as well as its stylish looks and comfortable cabin.  
The Big Bolero Pik-up will retain the core values of the erstwhile Bolero Pik-up – it’s tough and rugged DNA, high earning potential and low maintenance and will be competitively priced at Rs. 6.15 lacs (BS-3 ex-showroom Pune) and Rs. 6.30 lacs (BS-4 ex-showroom Pune). 
With a 69% market share (FY2016) in the pick-up segment, Mahindra has been the leader in the market and has launched many industry first products and technologies in the pick-up segment.  
These include the innovation of flatbed pick-ups, 4WD, CBC, introduction of the first micro hybrid technology, first AC pick-up, first CNG pick-up and a range of models to choose from, in ...

Mahindra launches Big Bolero Pik-up

Mahindra & Mahindra has commenced exports of the KUV100, its latest entrant in the utility vehicle segment. The car maker has so far exported over 400 units of KUV100 to right-hand-drive markets like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa. 
According to export data, South Africa has emerged as the largest export market for the KUV100, with over 220 units shipped in April itself from Bombay Port.  
Fiscal year 2015-16 saw Mahindra reinvent itself in terms of its offerings for the Indian market. The rollout of KUV100 in December 2015 stands testimony to its strategic plan to garner volumes by introducing new models. 
With a footprint that's more like that of a midsize hatchback, and with a pricing starting from Rs 4.42 lakh, the KUV100 compact SUV has seen good sales in the domestic market as well. Until March 2016, 14,210 units of the KUV100 had been sold in India, and with its all-new petrol and diesel motors it was also the second-most sold model for Mahindra last month, ...

Mahindra exports over 400 units of KUV100 to right-hand drive markets 

Italian superbike maker Aprilia, which considers India as one of its key markets for future growth, is thinking of introducing a new motorcycle in the 300cc-500cc segment in India.
Owned by Piaggio, Aprilia is planning to introduce lower-capacity motorcycles in India by considering entry into the highly competitive 300cc-500cc mid-size street bike segment which has seen immense growth in recent times. However, it is unclear if Aprilia will bring the motorcycles from its existing line-up or develop new models completely from scratch for developing markets. 
Currently, Piaggio imports high-end Aprilia motorcycles to India with more in the planning phase and has already started local production of the SR 150 scooter which will be launched soon.  
The company as of now has around 80 dealers (concentrated towards the southern and western markets) and they plan to increase that count by 32 more dealers by end of 2016.  
Aprilia bikes are retailed through the Motoplex store. More such ...

Aprilia considers launching 300-500 cc motorcycle in India 

Taxi hailing app Ola has expanded its 'Micro' service to 48 newer cities, taking the presence of its low-cost AC cab service to 75 cities in all.  
Launched about two months ago, Ola has scaled up its 'Micro' offering to 75 cities, from seven. The cities added now include Patna, Aligarh, Amravati, Guntur, Jhansi, Mathura, Rourkela, Thanjavur, Ujjain, Hubli, Rajahmundry, Rajkot and Siliguri, among others. 
With the new addition, Ola claims its 'Micro' category has an edge over its nearest rival, hinting at Uber. "In just under seven weeks of its launch, Ola Micro alone as a category is larger than our nearest competitor as a whole," Ola Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Categories Raghuvesh Sarup said. 
He based his claim on the number of daily rides with just Ola Micro as against its US-based rival Uber. Meanwhile, Sarup claimed Ola Micro has taken the lead as the fastest growing category on its platform.  "Like we had predicted a month ago, Ola Micro has taken the lead as the ...

Ola expands its \'Micro\' service to 75 cities

German carmaker Volkswagen launched its new dealership in Goa, raising its network to 120 in India. 
“With the opening of this dealership we mark our presence in Goa, which is an extremely important market for Volkswagen in this region,” said Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India. “We look forward to provide our customers an enhanced experience and the best of Volkswagen’s products. With the support of our dealer partner, we are confident of a successful run in the region.” 
The new dealership at Panaji has a large display area and a state-of-the-art, 20-bay workshop, spread over nearly 20,000 sq ft. Volkswagen is also displaying its recently unveiled, ‘made in India,’ ‘made for India,’ sub-compact sedan, Ameo at the dealer’s showroom. 
The German carmaker plans to launch the much-awaited Ameo in June, with deliveries expected to begin a month later. The sedan will be competing with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Swfit Dzire, the Honda Amaze and the Ford Figo Aspire.

Volkswagen opens new dealership in Goa 

Mercedes Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) inaugurated a 120,000 sq ft facility, with a capacity to seat 900 employees, in Bengaluru. This is its third facility in India. 
The company is also expanding the capacity at its Pune facility by 23,318 sq ft and adding more than 200 seats.  
“The digital transformation of our company is in full swing and is affecting our entire value chain,” said MBRDI chairman Thomas Merker. “Our India centre through its talented workforce provides the necessary gilt edge raising the digital quotient of the company.” 
According to Manu Saale, managing director and CEO, MBRDI, the unit is focused on becoming a centre of excellence within the Daimler group for engineering and IT. “We have graduated higher up the value chain and contributing significantly in some niche areas of digital product development,” he added. 
MBRDI was established in 1996 and today has 3,000 engineers who focus on computer-aided design and simulation for powertrains, ...

Mercedes Benz inaugurates third India R&D facility in Bengaluru 

South Korean automaker Hyundai launched the Creta Petrol automatic variant (SX+) in India, priced at Rs. 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
The Creta petrol automatic is powered by a 1.6-litre VTVT engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It is available in the SX+ variant and the SUV comes equipped with AVN, projector headlamps with LED positioning, rear parking camera and sensors, smart key with push button, 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather wrap on steering wheel and fully automatic temperature control. 
Announcing the launch of the automatic variants, Rakesh Srivastava, Sr VP - Sales & Marketing, HMIL, said, "Hyundai Motor India has witnessed tremendous success with the CRETA - the perfect SUV. With safety as our priority we have also introduced Dual Airbags as standard across all Creta variants. The new Automatic variants and enhanced safety features will be instrumental in achieving our aim to be the most preferred car manufacturer in India."  
Hyundai Creta, which ...

Hyundai launches Creta petrol automatic variant at Rs 12.86 lakh

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd sold 360,402 vehicles in Q4 of fiscal 2015-16, a growth of 3.9 per cent. Of this, exports were at 27,009 units. 
The board of directors of the company approved the financial results for the fiscal and for Q4 of the year on Tuesday. The company’s net sales stood at Rs. 149,295 million, a growth of 12.5 per cent over the same period of the previous year. Net profit in Q4 stood at Rs. 11,336 million, a fall of 11.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. 
The loss of over 10,000 units due to reservation agitation in Haryana, increased advertising expenses and lower other income slightly impacted profits during the quarter. 
In financial year 2015-16, Maruti sold a total of 1.43 million vehicles, a growth of 10.6 per cent. Of this, exports added up to 123,897 units.

Maruti reports 3.9 per cent growth in sales in Q4 of fiscal 2015-16 

In order to reduce vehicular pollution, as many as 3,650 petrol and diesel-run auto-rickshaws from Mathura, Firozabad and Tundla will be phased out in the coming months and replaced with CNG engines. 
A decision to this effect was taken by the divisional commissioner of Agra recently. There is already a ban on plying diesel/petrol auto rickshaws in Agra. Since the records suggest a significant dip in pollution levels in Agra post ban, RTO officials are hopeful that the move will yield positive results in the targeted regions as well.
According to a senior RTO official, there are 1,800 auto rickshaws in Mathura, 1,000 in Firozabad and 850 in Tundla. The assistant regional transport officer (administration) has been made the nodal officer for this job, and he would ensure that 300 vehicles are dismantled every month in Mathura, 175 in Firozabad and 125 in Tundla till all are covered. 
The divisional commissioner also announced that the administration would launch a crackdown on all ...

Petrol, diesel auto-rickshaws in UP towns to be replaced with CNG engines

TVS Motor Company has launched the updated version of the Scooty Pep, christened the Scooty Pep+, priced at Rs. 42,153 (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and Rs. 43,534 (ex-showroom, Delhi). 
The new Scooty Pep+ comes with the all-new advanced EcoThrust engine, which the company claims has by and large improved the performance of the scooter thus delivering a fuel efficiency of 65 kmpl. 
Powering the Scooty Pep+ is a new 87.8cc, single cylinder, air-cooled EcoThrust engine that develops 5 PS of power and 5.8 Nm of torque paired to a CVT unit. It comes with a unique feature of two riding modes to choose from - Economy mode for better fuel efficiency and Power mode for improved acceleration and top speed.  
The Scooty Pep+ comes with new features such as a mobile charging socket, side stand alarm, clear lens turn indicators, under-seat storage hooks, an open glove box and TVS’s patented ‘Eazy’ Stand technology, which TVS claims can reduce the effort to put the scooter on the centre stand by 30%.  ...

New TVS Scooty Pep+ launched at Rs. 42,153

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