Rise in Hyundai’s Domestic Passenger Car Sales
Hyundai Motor India, the second largest car manufacturer of India has reported an increase in sales of its domestic passenger cars. Hyundai has reported that it has sold over 23,193 passenger cars in India while it had just sold 15,066 units in July last year, an increase of 53.94%.
The ever-growing sales of the Hyundai, which also includes the exports of the company, have also increased by 25.98%, when the company sold 45,543 units during this July compared to a 36,152 units in July 2008. The company exported over 22,350 units during July 2009, where as it has sold only 21,086 units same month last year marking a rise of 5.99% this year.
Hyundai sold 41,779 units of hatchbacks which include Santro, i10, Getz Prime, and i20, 3,720 units of Accent and Verna, and 44 units of Sonata Transform during the month of July.
"HMIL registered a steady growth rate in the month of July and it seems the market is stabilizing at this point. Strong demand for its latest models i20 has helped HMIL in maintaining its share in the domestic market," said Arvind Saxena, HMIL senior vice-president (marketing and sales).
"In the coming months, we hope to see both the export and the domestic market picking up, especially with the festival season starting next month," Saxena said.
[Via: carazoo]
Volkswagen Pune Unit Interests the World Bank
World Bank plans to invest heavily in the Pune plant of Volkswagen. The World Bank, the world's largest private sector lender and an international financial body, plans to invest an initial amount of 135 million Euros which will help in creating jobs locally. Out of the total investment, the World Bank will invest 65 million Euros from its own resources and remaining 75 million Euros will be funded through its other commercial partner banks like Societe Generale, Bank of Mitsubishi, DBS Bank, and Fortis Bank.
Volkswagen has its manufacturing unit in Pune since 2007 and currently has a manufacturing capacity of producing 110,000 cars annually. The company has already invested 245 million Euros in its plant.
"This investment demonstrates the important counter-cyclical role IFC plays in supporting a vital project with significant job-creating potential during challenging times," said Dimitris Tsitsiragos, IFC director for global manufacturing and services. "The investment will also support the development of India's car manufacturing sector and sends a strong signal to other investors in the country," Tsitsiragos added.
[Via: cartradeindia]
2475 Tata Nano Delivered In 15 Days
Tata Motors has delivered 2,475 units of the Nano within 15 days of its commercial roll-out. The Tata Nano carries an ex-factory price of Rs. 1 lakh for the base variant and costs upto Rs. 1,75,000/- depending on the model.
[Via: motorbeam]
Tata would deliver 60,000 Nanos by July next year
Tata Motors says it will deliver up to 60,000 units of the ultra-cheap Nano, by July 2010, Touted as the world's cheapest car, the Nano is getting its passport prepared to wade international waters after the mother plant Sanand reaches completion.
Ratan Tata said the new Sanand plant will be ready by the financial year end and it would have a capacity of 250,000 units per year. The Nano is currently manufactured at the Pantnagar facility, where the Ace pickup truck is made, which has an annual capacity of 50,000 cars.
The company says the first 1,00,000 deliveries will be completed by October-December 2010 from both the facilities. Currently, the company is transporting the installed equipment from the abandoned Singur plant to the Sanand. Ratan Tata took this opportunity to take a dig at Mamata Banarjee, and praised the Gujrat government for granting approvals within three days.
[Via: IAB]
Chrysler to continue making the PT Cruiser
The PT Cruiser was facing the axe when Chrysler was trying to downsize and stave off bankruptcy. When that did not happen, and Chrysler is still alive and kicking though as a new company Chrysler Group LLC, the auto maker has decided to continue production of this popular heritage style car for another year at least.
The car is going to continue to be made at its Toluca Mexico plant till production continues. More than 1.3 million of these cars have been sold globally since 2000 when it was first launched. However, possibly by end next year Chrysler will be having a new portfolio of Fiat-based cars on the anvil.
[Via: globalmotors]
BMW to celebrate Mini’s 50th birthday with two special-edition variants
Mini, the iconic British car brand will be 50 years old on the 26th of August this year. And BMW is going to celebrate by launching two special-edition variants at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The two special-edition cars - the Mini 50 Camden and Mini 50 Mayfair - will be present at the BMW stand in Frankfurt. Also, BMW will focus on its 'Minimalism' concept, which is a package of measures developed to optimize fuel consumption and to reduce emissions.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Toyota Camry Facelift Launched!
Toyota has launched the facelifted Camry in the Indian market. The new Camry comes in 4 variants, W1, W2, W3 and W4 and features subtle changes to the interiors and exteriors both.
The Camry still remains a CBU which means that its still costly compared to the competition. The prices start from Rs 21.26 Lakhs going all the way upto Rs 23.43 Lakhs for the top end automatic. Everything remains the same mechanically which means that it still has the same suspension aggregates and the same 2.4 Litre 4 Cylinder VVTi engine.
Interiors:
* New Instrument Panel
* Optitron Meters With Multi Information Display Ala Corolla Altis
* 60/40 Split Rear Seats
* iPod Connectivity With AUX In ports.
* 6 CD/MP3 Changer
* Cruise Control (Only With Automatic Transmission)
* 8 Way Power Driver Sea
* 4-Way Power Passenger Seat
* Dual Zone Plasmacluster A/C
* Rear A/C Vents
* Auto Anti-Glare Mirror
* Auto headlmaps and Rains Sensing Wipers
Exteriors:
* New Chrome Grille
* Reprofiled Front Bumper
* Chrome Ringed Foglamps
* Multi-Reflector HID Headlamps With Retractable Washers
* LED Turn Blinkers Mounted On The Side Rear View Mirrors
* Moon Roof
* 10 Spoke 16″ Alloy Wheels
* Printed Antenna On The Rear Glass
* Aero Wiper Blades
With the facelift Toyota has also introduced some new colors for the Camry - Super White II, Silver Metallic, Black, Beige Mica Metallic, Dark Green Mica Metallic
[Via: CC]
Schumacher back in F1
In a turn of events that is set to eclipse every thing else that has occurred in F1 2009 , the recent BMW pull out news included, seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is to make a shock return to the sport at the European GP in Valencia.
The German will stand in for Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who is recovering in hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a freak accident during qualifying for last weekend's Hungarian GP.
Schumacher had been linked with the return since it became Massa would not be able to return in time for the race, which takes place after F1's summer break, on 23 August. But as recently as yesterday, Schumacher's manager Willi Weber was denying that a comeback was being considered.
However, this afternoon, in a prepared statement, Schumacher said, "It is true that the Formula 1 chapter has long been closed for me. The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive, and I wish him all the best again.
"This afternoon I met with team principal Stefano Domenicali and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. As the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."
The carefully worded statement does not make specific reference to the number of races that Schumacher will contest, so it is conceivable that he will complete the remainder of the season in Massa's car, allowing the Brazilian to make a full recovery before deciding whether or not to return to the sport himself. Michael has implied that the final decision to race is dependent on the fitness tests and routine that he will carry out over the coming days.
Schumacher's return could be the former champion's greatest challenge yet; he has not tested this year's Ferrari F1 car and has not driven an F1 car at all since April last year. F1 fans across the world will be planning to head for the remaining grand prixs to make the most of the opportunity to see the master in action, one last time.
[Via: Autocar]