Page 22 - Automobile Industry

US urges owners to stop driving older Nissan vehicles over air bag issues

Over the past decade, more than 100 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled worldwide - including 7 million in the United States - in the biggest auto safety callback on record

Hyundai inaugurates EV charging station in Chennai, plans 100 facilities

Automaker Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) on Monday announced the inauguration of its fast electric-powered vehicles (EV) charging station here, and said this was first of the company's target of installing 100 such facilities across Tamil Nadu. The 180 kW DC fast charging station, comprising of 150 kW and 30 kW connectors, has been set at Spencer Plaza here, and would cater to compatible four-wheelers irrespective of brand and model, a company release said. "As we celebrate 28 years of HMIL in India, we are delighted to inaugurate our first ever 180 kW fast public charging station in Chennai. In line with Hyundai's vision of 'Progress for Humanity', we aim to enhance convenience of all EV users, and hence our charging stations can be utilised by any four-wheeler EV user. HMIL envisages to install 100 charging stations across Tamil Nadu, to enhance the EV ecosystem and motivate more customers towards EV adoption across the state," Jae Wan Ryu, Executive Director - Corporate ...

India to make JLR's Range Rover for first time, delivery starts May 24

Prices of 'flagship car' and its sport variant will reduce by 18-22%, say senior executives of Tata Motors-owned company

Ashok Leyland to unveil 5-6 new products under LCV segment: MD Agarwal

Hinduja Group flagship company Ashok Leyland has lined up 5-6 product launches this year in the light commercial vehicle segment, a top official said here on Friday. The city-based medium and heavy commercial vehicle maker has earmarked Rs 500 to Rs 700 crore as Capital Expenditure for this financial year, Managing Director and CEO Shenu Agarwal said. Ashok Leyland earlier in the day reported a 16.73 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 933.69 crore in the January-March 2024 quarter as compared to Rs 799.87 crore registered in the same period of last financial year. "FY'24 has been a record year for Ashok Leyland. We have achieved an all-time high,whether it is in revenues, growth, EBITDA margins or profits, we have achieved an all-time high number in FY24," company Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja told reporters. "What makes this achievement significant is that it (highest ever performance) is coming in a year when we are celebrating our 75th year anniversary. We continue to

French automaker Citroen ropes in MS Dhoni as brand ambassador in India

French automaker Citroen on Friday said it has roped in former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador in India. Dhoni will mark his debut innings with Citroen in a campaign that will soon go live, the company said in a statement. "We believe that our association with one of India's finest cricketers, Dhoni, will go a long way in reinforcing our commitment to the Indian market. His humility and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our brand's ideology, while our shared commitment to sustainability and shaping the future of mobility strengthens our connection," Citroen India Brand Director Shishir Mishra said. On his association with Citroen, Dhoni said, "The brand shares my commitment to electric mobility and sustainable solutions and like me, focuses on doing what really matters. Citroen's philosophy of truly understanding customer needs and making meaningful innovations resonates deeply with me.

Surge in demand for 'young' used cars outpaces supply, drives prices north

SUVs set to reach 45% of used car market soon

Expecting double-digit sales growth on strong demand: Mercedes-Benz India

Mercedes-Benz India is eyeing double-digit sales growth this fiscal as demand remains strong, especially for high-end models, a senior company executive said on Wednesday. The company, which on Wednesday introduced luxury models -- Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC SUV and AMG S 63 E Performance Edition 1 on Wednesday, had sold 18,123 units last fiscal. It was a growth of 10 per cent over 16,497 units sold in 2022-23. "We expect double-digit sales growth this fiscal as well. The demand for the company's top-end vehicles (TEV) remains robust," Mercedes-Benz India VP (Sales & Marketing) Lance Bennett told PTI. He said the company is focused on strengthening the TEV segment, which accounted for 1 out of 4 Mercedes cars sold in India during the first quarter of 2024. The new Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC is priced at Rs 3.35 crore while the AMG S 63 E Performance is priced at Rs 3.3 crore. The exclusive 'Edition 1' starts at Rs 3.8 crore (All prices ex-showroom). The TEV segment remains buoyant, ...

Shares of JK Tyre zoom 10% amidst robust Q4 financials; profits soar

JK Tyre reported a 56 percent increase in its consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter, reaching Rs 169.33 crore, driven by sustained demand

Tata Power-DDL, India Smart Grid Forum tie up for vehicle-to-grid project

Tata Power Delhi Distribution on Tuesday said it has inked an initial pact with India Smart Grid Forum for the 'Vehicle-to-Grid Technology Demonstration Project'. The initiative aims to explore the potential of EVs to provide essential grid services like frequency and voltage support, test their viability as backup power sources during outages, and examine the impact of bi-directional charging, a company statement said. The pilot project aims to showcase the basics of how electric vehicles (EVs) can interact with the grid. This project looks at reducing carbon emissions within the transportation and energy sectors, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (Tata Power-DDL) which supplies electricity to a populace of 7 million in North Delhi, said.. Additionally, the project will investigate how EVs can participate in the power market by storing electricity when prices are low and selling it back during peak hours. It will also test the feasibility of charging EVs with green electricity. "T

BMW imported 8,000 cars with parts from banned Chinese supplier: US Senate

The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group

Hero MotoCorp to expand electric model range to increase customer base

Hero MotoCorp is looking to expand its presence in the electric two-wheeler segment as it aims to introduce new models below its current range to cater to a broader set of customers, as per a senior company official. The country's largest two-wheeler maker currently sells two electric scooters under its Vida range, priced between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh. "We are expanding our portfolio in the first half of this year (current fiscal)..into the mid and the mass segment as well," Hero MotoCorp Chief Business Officer - Emerging Mobility BU Swadesh Srivastava said in an analyst call. With new product introductions this fiscal, the company is going to be able to play in each of the three segments of premium, mid and mass, he noted. "With this, we are looking at significant growth within this year. And we are also looking to improve our cost structures," he said. The company is going to witness huge growth in the EV segment this year as well as next year, he stated. "We are looking at

Elon Musk pushes plan for China data to power Tesla's FSD ambitions

Tesla's efforts underscore the speed of the electric vehicle maker's pivot to bet on a breakthrough in AI at a time when EV demand has slowed and its competition has deepened

Honda to scale down production, cut China workforce with voluntary layoffs

Honda's move marks the latest setback for Japan's legacy car brands in China, where the growing dominance of local players such as BYD and a brutal price war are causing them to lose market share

TVS Motor launches new TVS iQube e-scooter; price starts from Rs 94,999

Two and three-wheeler maker TVS Motor has rolled out a new range of its popular electric scooter, TVS iQube, widening its product portfolio, the company said. With the launch of new variants, the TVS iQube portfolio begins at an introductory price of Rs 94,999 ex-showroom, the company said. The TVS iQube is now available in 3 battery options -- 2.2 kWh, 3.4kWh and 5.1 kWh, being the largest battery pack in the segment. The company is ready to deliver TVS iQube ST to customers, TVS Motor Company said. As a frontrunner in sustainable mobility solutions, TVS Motor Company reaffirms its commitment to the EV segment with trustworthy, innovative and delightful products. Furthering this vision and in an endeavour to making EV accessible to all, with new 2.2kWh battery variant, TVS iQube series now starts at an introductory effective ex-showroom price of Rs 94,999 which will further help reduce the total cost of ownership for the customers, the city-based company said in a statement on ..

Why well-built Chinese EV Seagull poses big threat to the US auto industry

A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling. The car, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around USD 12,000 in China, but drives well and is put together with craftsmanship that rivals US electric vehicles that cost three times as much. A shorter-range version costs under USD 10,000. Tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles will keep the Seagull out of America for now, and it likely would sell for more than 12 grand if imported. But the rapid emergence of low-priced EVs from China could shake up the global auto industry in ways not seen since Japanese makers arrived during the oil crises of the 1970s. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, could be a nightmare for the US auto industry. Any car company that's not paying attention to them as a competitor is going to be lost when they hit their market, said Sam Fiorani, a vice president at AutoForecast Solutions near Philadelphia. BYD's entry into the US market

Will continue to expand SUV offerings to recover mkt share in India: Suzuki

Japanese car maker Suzuki Motor Corporation on Monday said it will continue to expand SUV portfolio in India to recover its overall market share in the passenger vehicle segment. The company, which currently has around 58 per cent stake in Maruti Suzuki India, said its net sales increased by 732.6 billion yen (15.8 per cent) year-on-year to 5,374.3 billion yen for the last financial year. Operating profit increased by 115 billion yen (32.8 per cent) YoY to 465.6 billion yen. "We will continue to promote the expansion of our SUV models (in India) and aim to recover our total passenger car share," Suzuki Motor Corporation said in a statement. Currently, Maruti Suzuki sells SUV (sport utility vehicle) models like Brezza, Jimny and Grand Vitara in the domestic market. The company's market share has come down to around 42 per cent from over 50 per cent a couple of years back in the domestic passenger vehicle segment on account of limited options in the SUV segment. With the market dem

Hyundai ties up with Laxmi Group to begin Venue production in Nepal

Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has commenced local assembly of its compact SUV Venue in Nepal in collaboration with Laxmi Group. The plant, the first automotive assembly facility in Nepal, has an annual installed capacity of 5,000 units. "Hyundai Venue will be the first locally assembled model to roll off the plant. I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to the people of Nepal for this achievement," Hyundai Motor India MD & CEO Unsoo Kim said in a statement. The company is grateful to Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the Government of Nepal for their unwavering support for the facility, he added. "We look forward to more encouraging policies and incentives from the Nepal Government aimed at developing a conducive environment for local assembly," Kim said. Hyundai has partnered with Nepal-based Laxmi Group for the assembly plant. The Laxmi Group will manufacture and sell the cars in Nepal, in continued collaboration and support on products and ...

Honda commissions new R&D facility to accelerate electrification in India

Honda R&D (India), a unit of Honda Motor Co, on Thursday said it has commissioned a new R&D centre in Bengaluru to accelerate electrification in India. Honda has set a global target of achieving carbon neutrality in all its products and corporate activities by 2050. The company is working to make a wide range of its products carbon neutral in terms of their power sources. In the motorcycle business, Honda is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality for all its motorcycle products during the 2040s, Honda R&D (India) said in a statement. "Honda believes that in order to continue to be chosen by customers, the company needs not only respond to electrification trends, but also to create new value outside of the established framework and provide more attractive products and services," it added. The Solution R&D Centre, will incorporate advanced mobility technologies into electrified vehicle development more quickly, as well as work on software and connected services through ...

Maruti introduces Suzuki fourth gen Swift, prices start at Rs 6.49 lakh

Betting big on the entry-level segment, Maruti Suzuki India on Thursday said it will continue to "re-energise" the small car segment as the automaker expects the vertical to revive over the next few years, according to MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi. Speaking at the launch of the new generation Swift here, he noted that the automaker aims to cater to the diverse needs of customers as it aims to sell 40 lakh units by 2030-31. Takeuchi noted that the entry-level segment continues to be a high volume vertical accounting for around 28 per cent of the overall domestic passenger vehicle sales. "For us to maintain our leadership position, it is important to cater to diverse customer segments. The hatchback segment in India continues to be a high-volume segment, accounting for approximately 28 per cent of total passenger vehicle sales," Takeuchi said. Interestingly, the premium hatchback segment contributes nearly 60 per cent of total hatchback sales, he noted. "As a market leader, we took the

Auto retail sales up 27% in April, passenger vehicles make record

Two-wheeler segment grows strongest due to 'positive impact' of elections, says FADA