Page 4 - Automakers

Maruti Suzuki reports 30% rise in wholesales at 178,248 units in Dec 2024

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Wednesday reported 30 per cent rise in total wholesales at 1,78,248 units in December 2024 as compared to 1,37,551 units in the same month a year ago. Overall domestic sales, including that of light commercial vehicles and supplies to Toyota Kirloskar Motor, were at 1,32,523 units last month as against 1,06,492 units in December 2023, up 24.44 per cent, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a regulatory filing. Total domestic passenger vehicle (PV) sales were at 1,30,117 units in December 2024 as compared to 1,04,778 units in the same month a year ago, up 24.18 per cent, it added. Sales of mini cars comprising Alto and S-Presso were higher at 7,418 units last month as compared to 2,557 units in the year-ago period. Similarly, sales of compact cars such as Baleno, Celerio, Dzire, Ignis, Swift and WagonR were up at 54,906 units as against 45,741 units in December 2023. Utility vehicles, including Brezza, Ertiga, Fronx, Grand Vitara, Invicto, Jimny, and XL6 clo

Mahindra logs 18% jump in Dec car sales to dealers on strong SUV demand

(Reuters) - Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra said on Wednesday it clocked an 18% jump in sport utility vehicle sales to dealers in December due to strong demand.

Bajaj Auto reports 1% decline in total sales at 3,23,125 units in Dec 2024

Bajaj Auto on Wednesday reported a 1 per cent decline in total sales at 3,23,125 units in December 2024 compared to the same month a year ago. Bajaj Auto said in a regulatory filing that the company had sold a total of 3,26,806 units in December 2023. Total two-wheeler sales were at 2,72,173 units last month against 2,83,001 units in the year-ago period, down 4 per cent, it added. Domestic two-wheeler sales stood at 1,28,335 units compared to 1,58,370 units in the corresponding month a year ago, a decline of 19 per cent, the company said. Exports of two-wheelers were higher at 1,43,838 units last month over 1,24,631 units in December 2023, up 15 per cent. Total commercial vehicle sales were higher by 16 per cent at 50,952 units in December 2024 from 43,805 units a year ago, the company said.

China's BYD slams reports of poor conditions at Brazil's factory site

A spokesperson for Chinese automaker BYD has objected to reports about poor conditions at a construction site in Brazil where it is building a factory, saying the allegations were aimed at smearing China and Chinese brands. Earlier in the week, a task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it had rescued 163 Chinese nationals it said were working in slavery-like conditions at the site. A video from the Labour Prosecutor's Office of dorms housing the workers showed beds with no mattresses and rudimentary cooking facilities. A BYD spokesperson, Li Yunfei, vehemently objected in a statement posted Thursday on his Weibo social media site. In the matter of smearing Chinese brands, smearing China, and attempting to undermine the friendship between China and Brazil, we have seen how relevant foreign forces maliciously associate and deliberately smear, it said, also criticizing media reports about the situation. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is one of the world's largest produc

Honda, Nissan aim to merge in 2026 as negotiations begin this week

The two automakers plan to create a holding company that would be helmed by a president picked by Honda

Volkswagen, labour unions continue talks over plant closures and pay cuts

Talks have been ongoing since Monday in hopes of reaching an agreement before Christmas to prevent massive strikes

Chinese auto component makers likely to skip Bharat Mobility Show

Chinese auto component makers are likely to skip the upcoming Bharat Mobility Show which is scheduled to be held from January 17-22 at three different locations across Delhi-NCR. The six-day Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 will be held between January 17 and 22 next year at Bharatmandapam, Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Center) Dwarka, and India Expo Center & Mart, Greater Noida, simultaneously. "I don't think so," Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) Director General Vinnie Mehta said when asked about the participation of the Chinese in the marquee auto event. "We don't have booking from the Chinese...I mean, we did not close the booking for anyone, but they did not apply (on the portal)," he added. In the expo, over 50 countries are expected to participate. About 35 vehicle makers will participate in the Auto Expo Motor Show 2025. Sectors which will be represented include auto, auto components, tyres, e-mobility, software, steel ..

Insurers urge IRDAI crackdown against OEM-linked motor insurance brokers

Insurance companies are demanding an open architecture where customers can choose policies from multiple insurers without being limited by OEM brokers

Chinese automakers pivot to hybrids for Europe to counter EV tariffs

Some manufacturers are also shifting production and assembly to Europe to lower the cost around tariffs

Wheels India pegs to double hydraulics business in next 2-3 years: MD

Wheels India Ltd, a manufacturer of wheels for trucks, passenger vehicles and construction equipment, after witnessing market opportunities in the exports segment, expects to double its hydraulics business over the next two-three years, a top official said. The contribution from the hydraulics business to Wheels India Ltd is currently at Rs 150 crore, company managing director Srivats Ram said. "There are a lot of export opportunities in the hydraulics business and we are expanding to meet the global requirements. We are a supplier to a manufacturer in Europe and North America... We are confident of doubling the hydraulics business in the next 2-3 years from the current level of over Rs 150 crore," Ram said, while declaring the company's financial performance here. Wheels India was proceeding with its plan committing Rs 225 crore towards capital expenditure for this year, he said. The city-headquartered company has already earmarked about Rs 225 crore for taking up expansion of the

Hyundai Motor's Q3 operating profit falls 7%; misses analysts' estimates

Some analysts said its stock price decline on Thursday reflected disappointment about the lack of a shareholder return policy following the Indian IPO

Back in the driver's seat: Ford India's timeline and Chennai plant revival

The American automobile giant plans a third entry into India, reviving its Chennai facility in Maraimalai Nagar, with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles and 340,000 engines for export

PM Modi asks automotive industry to bring global best practices to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the automotive industry to bring global best practices to India, while also working on green and clean mobility. In a written address to the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Modi said the automotive industry will drive even higher economic growth and in turn, thrive on demand growth. "As we shift gears towards our collective goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, I am confident that organisations like SIAM will continue to bring together all stakeholders and become a force multiplier in this mission," he said. The prime minister said the road ahead demands that the country's progress is rapid, while also being sustainable. "Working (on) greener and cleaner mobility is a vital step in this direction. It is important that this climate-conscious and sustainable vision resonates with domestic and international partners," he asserted. "Further, at this critical juncture for India and the world, it is ...

Japan's Panasonic energy unit finalises prep for 4680 EV battery production

The bigger 4680 cells will allow automakers to extend the driving range of electric vehicles and use fewer cells to achieve the same battery pack capacity, Panasonic Energy said in a statement

Chinese automaker BYD's push for global expansion faces challenges in Japan

Some Japanese are wary of buying big-ticket Chinese products due to quality concerns

Auto Bet: Bajaj, M&M, Escorts Kubota may lead August sales, says Nuvama

Within the 2W segment, analysts believe, mass-market original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Honda, Hero Moto Corp, Bajaj Auto, and TVS are anticipated to perform well.

Chinese govt discusses import tariffs on large cars ahead of EU tariff vote

The 27-strong bloc is due to vote in October on whether to adopt additional duties of up to 36.3 per cent on Chinese-made electric vehicles

Xiaomi will swallow EV losses for now to join Tesla, BYD in big leagues

We're more focused on our growth than profitability at this point, said Lam, a trained engineer and former Credit Suisse banker who orchestrated some of Xiaomi's biggest bets

Confident of outperforming industry in domestic, global markets: TVS Motor

TVS Motor Company expects to grow faster than the competition across domestic and international markets this fiscal riding on the back of new product launches and strengthening of operations across key regions, according to CEO KN Radhakrishnan. He noted that in the domestic market, the company expects growth momentum to continue with normal monsoons likely to add strength to the rural markets. In international markets, Radhakrishnan exuded hope to perform better in key markets like Africa this year while expanding operations in other regions like the Middle East and Latin America. "Our strong product portfolio; our unwavering focus on the consumers, quality, new products and attractive quality and technology, we are confident that we will outperform the industry both in the domestic and international markets," Radhakrishnan said in an analyst call. He noted that the growth momentum is likely to be maintained with the budget focusing on employment generation, continued higher ...

From Tata Motor to Royal Enfield, automakers hit the gas on launches

Mahindra is coming up with Thar Roxx, and plans to reintroduce the iconic BSA Gold Star Bike