February 24, 2016: Ather Energy, a Bengaluru-based technology start-up by IIT graduates Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, has unveiled India’s first smart e-scooter Ather S340.  With a lithium ion battery pack, the scooter achieves a top speed of 72 kmph and a range up to 60 km in a single charge.  
The smart e-scooter offers an uncompromised ride for 50,000 km and it can be charged up to 80 per cent in 50 minutes in fast charging mode and can be charged from any 5A normal socket in normal mode.   
The Ather S340 comes with a touchscreen dashboard which integrates cloud-based data to help personalise the consumer ride experience. The touchscreen comes with features such as user profile based sign in, onboard navigation and pre-configured drive modes like sport and economy. The S340 Mobile App helps the user configure ride and profile preferences, and sync navigation routes remotely.   
“The Ather S340 is an unapologetically electric vehicle, it has been designed and built mostly in-house .

Ather Energy unveils S340 smart e-scooter

BS-Motoring

The Gurgaon postal department has in a pilot project deployed nearly a dozen, GPS-enabled vehicles, including six rented e-bikes, for postal delivery in DLF Phase I.
The rented e-bikes will have an average running cost of just Rs1.5 a km inclusive of electricity and maintenance. "This initiative has been taken in support of a pollution-free environment," said Umesh Verma, post-master general. "Besides, it will also help in speedy and prompt delivery of mail."
Most postmen in India are provided bicycles, or even have to foot it out to deliver letters and packets. The deployment of e-bikes will transform the delivery system, speeding up postal services.
The postal department is facing stiff competition from private courier operators most of whose representatives deliver packages on two-wheelers.

Gurgaon postal department deploys 6 e-bikes

Global cab aggregating major Uber launched motorbike ride services uberMOTO - a faster, more affordable ride – on a pilot basis in Bengaluru.
The uberMOTO option, which went live on the app on March 3, will be similar to its other services — uberGO, uberX and uberBLACK. The service will be available in select areas in Bengaluru between 7 am and 9 pm. 
“It’s a great way for people to save time and money on short trips and provides last mile connectivity at the most affordable price – as low Rs. 3/km,” the company said. 
The minimum fare for uberMoto service will be Rs.15, with an additional fare of Rs. 3 to per kilometre and Re. 1 per minute. The bike rider will also provide a helmet for the pillion rider.
Uber had launched its bike taxi service in Bangkok recently. The company said its standard product safety features, which include GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends, available with the service in Bangkok will be extended to ...

Uber launches bike taxi service uberMOTO in Bengaluru

Skoda has launched the 2016 model Superb in India at Rs 22.68 lakh, ex-Mumbai. Available in Lauren & Klement (L&K) edition and Style trims, the all-new Superb is the second Skoda in India to be built on the highly versatile MQB platform, after the Octavia.
The new Superb has an athletic design language, inspired from the new Octavia. Bi-Xenon headlamps with DRL elements are standard across the range along with adaptive light and levelling. There are retractable headlamp washers as well as fog lamps with cornering function.
The car also boasts of luxurious interiors with leather upholstery as standard while the L&K gets perforated leather seats. While Dark Brushed decor is the theme inside for the Style trim, the L&K gets Piano Black.
There is a 6.5-inch touchscreen with eight speakers and MirrorLink infotainment linked with it. The 3-zone climate control is available on the L&K and dual zone with the Style. Other additional features that the L&K gets is virtual ...

Skoda launches all-new Superb in India at Rs 22.68 lakh

The country's biggest all-women car rally, comprising over 1,300 participants, will be flagged off on March 5 as part of the seventh edition of Times Women's Drive.
The rally will be simultaneously flagged off from Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, and drive to Goa. A total of 450 cars - 200 from Mumbai, 150 from Pune and 100 from Bengaluru will be taking part in this drive. A large part of the proceeds earned from the registration will be donated to the Women's Cancer Initiative at Tata Memorial Hospital.
The initiative, which began in 2009, has actively supported the cause of cancer prevention among women through early detection. All the participants will be a part of several fun activities organised over the course of the day once they arrive in Goa.
Participants from Mumbai have been briefed on the event's rules and safety measures by the Indian Automotive Racing Club. The event will be flagged off from Rising City at the PWD Grounds on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, at 7am.
Times ...

India\'s biggest all-women car rally to begin on March 5

 Maruti is all set to enter the compact SUV segment space with Vitara Brezza. With this car, the Indo-Japanese carmaker looks ready to dislodge the current market dominators like Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Creta. As per a source in ETAuto, Maruti might only bring diesel Brezza to India. The petrol variant will be available only for export, at least initially. Maruti has created a fuss among automobile enthusiasts, by releasing teasers for Vitara Brezza. The car is expected to feature projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, which will be offered for the first time in this segment. The car will compete more closely with TUV300 and EcoSport. Both these cars have got enormous sales in the Indian market and it seems that the competition is going to be more cut throat with the launch of Brezza.Brezza will be powered by the same 1.3-litre diesel mill employed in Maruti’s hatchback Swift. This engine can generate a maximum power of 74 bhp in Swift with a peak torque of 190 Nm. ...

Only Diesel Brezza for India?

Mahindra & Mahindra, country's biggest utility vehicle manufacturer, is open to building even smaller engines than the one with which it launched the KUV1OO last week.The Mumbai-based sport utility vehicle major, launched the all-new SUV with engines, which are nearly half in size compared to other regular engines in its portfolio.The KUV1OO is powered by 1.2 litre petrol and diesel engines whereas its other engines - 2.2 and 2.5 litre - both of which are diesel, power the Scorpio, XUV500 and Bolero.When asked if the engines seen on the KUV1OO will be the smallest in M&M's line up Pawan Goenka, executive director, Mahindra & Mahindra said, "Never say never. This is the smallest engine we have presently but will it remain the smallest or not we will see".Targeted for being gas guzzlers and major pollutants, big SUVs have repeatedly found themselves under the scanner of policy makers and penalised for the same.Big SUVs like the Scorpio attract the highest excise duty slab of ...

Mahindra open to building smaller engines

 Japanese automaker recently teased the upcoming next-generation Toyota Innova MPV on its dedicated Auto Expo page and now by the looks of it, the official moniker of the car for the Indian market has been leaked ahead of the company’s 2016 Indian Auto Expo showcase. The revelation came as a courtesy of an official image of the highly anticipated MPV, which a report by The India Today, claims was released by Toyota Kirloskar Motors. The title “Crysta” was reserved exclusively for special editions of the previous-generation Innova. 2016 Innova finds its foundation in the same ladder-frame platform, which underpins the company’s flagship offroader, Fortuner. Under the hood, the next-generation MPV will incorporate a 2.4-liter GD diesel mill, which will deliver a peak power output of 149PS and 342Nm of peak torque. It is also likely that the Japanese automaker will introduce a petrol variant, which in all likeliness will be a 2.0-litre Dual VVT-i  unit and will be capable of delivering ..

Toyota Innova Crysta Might be the Indian Moniker for the Next-gen MPV

Volkswagen India is showcasing its brand new Ameo and its export product the Vento at the Make in India exhibition being held at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Its participation at the show reiterates its commitment to manufacturing in India and also its training programme, the Dual Mechatronics apprenticeship programme.
The German automaker, which has invested nearly ?800 million in a manufacturing plant at Chakan near Pune, has also developed a network of suppliers of auto components. 
The company recently unveiled the Ameo, a car made for India and in the country. The car, designed for the compact segment, reflects the seamless integration of innovative proportions giving it a sporty and a dynamic stance. 
Continuing Volkswagen's core design philosophy of timeless appeal and sharp, distinctive lines, Ameo has special design highlights like the front spoiler lip in body colour or the distinctive fold in the outer edges of the front bumper.
The 1.2L MPI engine is 

Volkswagen showcases Ameo at Make in India exhibition

February 10, 2016: Visitors to the Hyundai pavilion at the just-concluded Auto Expo in Greater Noida experienced ‘digital engagement,’ where they enjoyed a unique, interactive and intuitive engagement.
India’s largest automobile exporter and the second-largest car manufacturer provided a 360-degree experience to visitors to its pavilion. Digital engagements are developed to challenge the minds of the visitors and ace engagement activities with instant gratification. It offered integration across all digital and social platforms with quick registrations through RFID.
According to Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Hyundai, the pavilion was founded on three core pillars of Design & Safety, Future Technology and Digitalisation to enable visitors to understand Hyundai brand and experience its philosophy.
 
Hyundai placed an innovative, first of its kind, mind racing game at the Auto Expo. A multi-player, digital game, it put visitors to the ultimate test of ...

Hyundai enthralled visitors to its pavilion at Auto Expo with \'digital engagement\' 

 The last quarter of 2015 has been quite successful for Renault in India. This can be attributed to the immensely successful, Renault Kwid. In December 2015 the French automaker registered a massive growth of 160%. It sold 10,292 units in December 2015 against 3,956 sold in December 2014. In the calendar year 2015, Renault managed to sell 53,847 unit, 20.1 % more than 2014. Also, the company is growing at a fast pace in India and now has 200 sales and service facilities across the country. The current Renault India lineup consist of Fluence, Koleos, Pulse, Duster, Scala, Lodgy and Kwid. After Duster, Kwid is the only car which has been able to create an impact on market. Soon after its launch on September 24, 2015, the car gathered 25,000 bookings and by the end of October the numbers rose to a staggering 50,000. As a result, the waiting period for the car was extended up to 2 months. Continuing with its successful streak, Kwid had further helped Renault India to register 144% sales ..

Renault India Registers 160% Domestic Growth in Sales of December 2015

Yokohama India has launched two new patterns: ‘Advan V105’ and City SUV tyre ‘Geolandar SUV’ for the Indian market. 
The specialised new compound in Advan Sport V105 is jointly developed with one of the world's leading automakers and controls excessive heat for wet grip and long mileage, 
Yokohama's propriety Orange Oil technology in both Advan Sport V105 and Geolandar SUV produces nano blend of three performance factors: higher fuel efficiency, superior wet grip and longer tread life and all this by reducing petroleum oils as tyre ingredients.
“V105 provides a unique blend of performance and comfort with its matrix body ply structure and mound profile blocks provides impeccable steering response and stability whereas silent sipe and asymmetrical pitch variation provides a quiet and comfortable ride,” said Sanjay Chatterjee, general manager, sales and marketing. 
Globally, Advan Sport V 105 has been the choice of OEMs like Mercedes and Porsche.
“With the sudden growth in the city SUV .

Yokohama launches two new tyres

Indian Automaker Mahindra has launched its all electric scooter GenZe in a Californian city this week as part of its effort to create a niche space for itself in the green technology two-wheeler market in the US.
Mahindra's GenZe 2.0, the first connected all-electric scooter, was conceived in Silicon Valley and engineered/assembled in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Designed to help alleviate challenges associated with urban commuting, parking, congestion and pollution, the scooter was formally launched at a recent event in Oakland, California in the presence of the city Mayor Libby Schaaf and Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra.
"Oakland is the perfect place to combine electric bikes and electric scooters, with mobility sharing and solar power. Projects like Bike Solar Oakland and San Francisco's Scoot Networks are the type of Smart City Initiatives we are launching in Oakland," Schaaf said.
"We are so happy to be working with Mahindra GenZe - this is the kind of innovation and partnership ..

Chevrolet Teases New-gen Beat; Will Showcase new Cruze, Camaro, Corvette and Spin at IAE 2016

India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki sold 111,333 cars in December, up 13.5 percent from 98,109 units sold in the same month in 2014. Hyundai, the second-largest player, sold 41,861 units, up 28.8 percent from December 2014 sales of 32,504 units.  
Mahindra & Mahindra reported a 1 percent increase in domestic car sales. Renault India recorded a huge jump in sales. It sold 10,292 cars in India in December, a whopping 160 percent more than it did a year earlier. Tata Motors, however, posted a four percent decline in car sales. 
Industry analysts believe the generally good turnout was due to large discounts and savings schemes offered by dealers as well as carmakers' thrust into rural India.

December car sales in India grew by eight percent year-on-year 

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), introduced the new Honda Amaze with bold new exterior styling, ‘one-class above premium’ interiors and several new-age features on Thursday.
The new Amaze now comes equipped with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), and becomes the first petrol car in its class to offer advanced CVT technology.  
The company also announced its safety direction for India that every new Honda model, introduced in the market from new fiscal year 2016 – 17 will apply Dual SRS as standard equipment across all variants. Also, Dual SRS Airbags will become standard offering across Honda line-up, including current models, by April 2017.
Additionally, customers of the new Amaze can opt for Dual SRS airbags from the base variant, and the bookings for these variants will begin from May this year.
The new Amaze sports a bolder and wider stance from the front. The newly designed front bumper and dual chrome front grill, coupled with new classy rear combination lights further ..

New Honda Amaze launched 

In a bid to check growing pollution, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to abolish tax on all battery-operated vehicles including rickshaws.
Presenting his fourth budget on Friday, Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Mallaiya said the government’s move is to encourage use of environment-friendly vehicles.
He also reduced the VAT on cars bought by army and other defence service employees from canteen stores department from 15 per cent to four per cent.
Many state governments offer tax exemption on purchase of electric vehicles. Last year, for instance, the Indian government extended subsidies for those buying e-vehicles and hybrid vehicles, depending on the speed and efficiency of the vehicles.
The manufacturer of an e-vehicle or a hybrid one gets reimbursed by the government within 60 to 90 days. This is part of the government’s Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles (FAME) scheme. 
The government had also formulated a National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, 

Madhya Pradesh abolishes taxes on battery-operated vehicles

Audi has reported sales of 11,192 units for the year 2015 in Indian market. This accounts for a moderate growth of 3.14%, when the german carmaker sold 10,201 units in 2014. The company locks horns with its German auto rival, Mercedes Benz, in terms of sales. While Audi acquired the top spot in luxury car space for 2014, this time Mercedes was able to steal the crown and outclassed it with a spectacular growth of 32%.“Audi has been the preferred choice of luxury mobility for car enthusiasts in India. The year 2015 has seen another year of growth for us and we remained focused towards our aim to provide the best luxury car buying experience to our customers,” said head of Audi India, Joe King while addressing media.The company is optimistic about its growth in 2016 and will like to gain back the top spot. “We are committed towards bringing new products which are technologically advanced, smart, agile and comfortable.. We are very confident that we will continue our growth path in 2016 .

Audi Records a sales growth of 3.14% for 2015

Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) unveiled its new model Honda BR-V at the Auto Expo 2016. The new generation Crossover Utility Vehicle features the combination of bold, sporty appearance and handling of an SUV together with great utility and spacious cabin with seven seats. 
Developed exclusively for the Asian market by Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co. Ltd, the much-awaited Honda BR-V is scheduled to be launched in India this year.
The company also showcased its flagship sedan Honda Accord at the motor show. HCIL plans to further strengthen its sedan line-up in India and re-introduce the Honda Accord later this year. Honda Accord enjoys a strong legacy in the premium sedan segment in India, with the earlier generations making a strong foothold in the market. 
The Accord on display, now in its 9th generation, boasts an exhilarating, refined and advanced sedan with sporty looks, highly fuel efficient powertrain and loaded with features.
“India is the largest contributor to the Asia and Oceania ...

Honda BR-V unveiled at Auto Expo

 Maruti’s recently teased the compact SUV which might be showcased at the upcoming 2016 Indian Auto Expo. Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza has been spied on numerous occasions, making rounds on Indian streets.The and the road tests have revealed that Maruti has production-spec Brezzas in the lot, enabling the possibility of the compact SUV making an appearance at the IAE 2016, to be substantially more promising. Indian auto expo will be held from 5th to 9th of February 2016 in Greater Noida.Maruti recently released the official sketch of the upcoming compact SUV and it has become official that Brezza will feature a floating roofline, rising beltline, upright hood, rounded rectangular wheel arches, high ground clearance,short overhangs, angular taillamps and Bi-­Xenon projectors. Also, the front fascia of the car will incorporate chrome garnish, which will be reminiscent to that seen in the S-Cross crossover.Sharing his thoughts on Brezza’s aesthetics, the car’s designer said, “Balanced ...

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Might be Showcased at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo

Delhi seems to be the hub of much excitement in the motoring world. Soon it will host the Auto Expo 2016 at which several models will be unveiled. But recently, at the Road Safety Week, the government made its contribution, as well. 
Home minister Rajnath Singh has been reported to have said airbags will be made compulsory for every car sold in India. He expressed concern about an estimated 500,000 road accidents that occur in India every year, causing injury to about 140,000 people and death to about 100,000 people. He emphasised the need for proper training before a driving licence is issued.
Addressing the Road Safety Forum 2016, the national meet of NGOs on road safety, in New Delhi minister of road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari called on the citizens and NGOs to participate in the national campaign on road safety to create awareness about the subject in India. 
He said that the present system of issuing driving licenses would soon be replaced by a transparent and ...

Air bags may soon become compulsory 

With a goal to empower the youth and underprivileged individuals, Yamaha Motors India has signed a MoU with the Maharashtra government to set up training schools across the state.
Several government-run polytechnics and technical colleges will get training schools by the Japanese-based two-wheeler manufacturer. Individuals that are part of Yamaha's school will get necessary training and would be employed as technicians at Yamaha outlets.
As a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Yamaha's goal is to provide some sort of support to the economically challenged or backward sections within the country. 
Yamaha is the only two-wheeler manufacturer that offers a training school in partnership with government institutes. With five training schools in Maharashtra, Yamaha will be setting up one more soon with government run polytechnics in Pune. 
According to Masaki Asano, MD (Sales), Yamaha Motor India, setting up of similar training schools will bridge the issue of existing 

Yamaha India sets up training schools in Maharashtra 

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