Hyundai To Export i20 To Non-European Countries
Hyundai India is all set to step-up its export of the i20 in the non-European markets. In light of Hyundai Motor India's growing role to make India as a manufacturing hub, it plans to increase its export base to 42 new non-European countries.
The Hyundai i20 which was revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008 was earlier being shipped to approximately 47 countries predominantly the European market and a few countries in Middle East, Africa & Latin America.
In order to meet the growing demand, Hyundai has stepped up the production of the i20 at its Sreeperumbedur plant, outside Chennai so that it can increase its penetration in the countries of Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia & Pacific, South Africa and even Australia. Hyundai aims to increase its export volumes manifold and enhance its presence in Europe as well as non-European markets.
While Hyundai cars ply in all five continents, amongst the non-European markets, Libya has emerged as an important export destination. Hyundai has already received initial orders from new countries like South Africa, Isreal and Indonesia.
[Via: motorbeam]
Honda Siel to boost Jazz production by 50%
Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) expects a double-digit rate of growth in its sales during FY 2010 and is looking at boosting production of the recently launched Jazz hatchback by 50% from September this year. However, the company believes that demand would still be relatively weak in the immediate future, and does not warrant the completion of its second manufacturing facility in the country (near Alwar, in Rajasthan) to be completed before 2011.
HSCI's plant in Rajasthan, which is being set up at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore, was supposed to have been completed by the end of this year. However, while the plant is partly complete and the company is already producing certain parts for the Honda City and Jazz there, production of complete cars at the Alwar plant will only start by 2011.
In the meanwhile, Honda Siel will start running two shifts at its plant in Greater Noida from next month, instead of the single shift it's currently running. Production of the Jazz is slated to be increased from 5,000 to 7,500 units per month, from September this year.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Tata Nano Mother Plant Ready by January 2010
"The Sanand plant will be ready by January next year. At first stage, the plant will produce more yellow and silver coloured cars as they are in demand in the market," Chairman Ratan Tata said at the company's Annual General Meeting here. The new plant will cater to the domestic demands first.
Later, when the plant is fully operational, it will manufacture cars to cater to demands from Europe, Africa and Asia. Tata Motors started delivering the first batch of cars in India last month. "European, African and some Asian countries have expressed great interest in Nano," said Ratan Tata.
Tata Motors is also planning to build higher capacity engines for its Nano car. It had launched the car targeting the lower income group in India who wish to own a car. However, looking at the strong demand from the export market, now the company is planning for its higher end versions as well.
[Via: cartradeindia]
GM India to Export 20 Per Cent of its Mini Cars
Indian car maker General Motors India has revealed that it will export at least 20 per cent of the intended 50,000 units of its mini car within the first 12 months of launch early next year.
"We will start production of our mini car, developed on the concept of Beat, at our Talegaon plant in December and it will be launched sometime in January next year, starting with the petrol variant," General Motors India President and Managing Director Karl Slym said. The proposed mini car for India will cost around Rs 4 Lakh and the car company expects to produce over 50,000 units of it during 2010, he added. "The company is targeting to export 20 per cent of the mini car's total production during that period," Slym said.
The Indian subsidiary of the US car giant General Motors is aiming to sell 10,000 units of the mini car by end the of 2010 in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, besides the Asia-Pacific region and European countries, he added. Speaking about the localisation of components in the mini car, Slym said: "It will initially have 65 per cent localisation. However, we plan to make it almost fully-localised once our engine transmission plant in Talegaon gets operationalised by 2010."
The company is likely to roll out the Chevrolet Cruze, in October. This luxury sedan will come with a 2.0 litre diesel engine in the initial stage and 1.8 litre petrol engines will follow later in early 2010. The Cruze will be priced between Rs 12-14 Lakh. Moreover, GM India is planning to introduce four other models in India in 2010.
New Maruti Estilo Launched
Maruti India has come up with a refreshed New Estilo which looks much better than the outgoing model with new headlamps, grille and bumpers. Interiors have also been spruced up to give it a upmarket look with all beige theme.
New Estilo comes with all the changes as expected in a mid life facelift - new bumpers, new headlights, new front grille and new fog lights. The front of the car certainly looks more grown up with the large teardrop shaped headlamps flanking a more mature looking grille.
Maruti Suzuki has announced the price of New Estilo - it has been priced at Rs. 3.24 lakhs for the base model and Rs. 4.14 lakhs for top of the line VXi variant with ABS & Driver Side Airbag. The prices are more or less in the same price range of the outgoing model. As far as variants are concerned, it is available in three variants - Lx, Lxi, Vxi & top of the line Vxi ABS. Here are ex-showroom prices of New Estilo:
- New Estilo Lx -------- 324000.00
- New Estilo Lxi ------- 353000.00
- New Estilo Vxi ------- 383000.00
- New Estilo Vxi ABS - 414000.00
New Estilo is available in folowing eight shades:
- Superior White
- Midnight Black
- Silky Silver
- Dusky Brown
- Ecru Beige
- Quantum Orange
- Bright Red
- Emerald Blue
Additional Features/Changes In New Maruti Estilo:
- New Design Front & Rear Bumpers
- New Tear Drop Shape Headlamps
- New Wheel Covers
- New Mature Looking Front Grille
- New Round Fog Lights
- New 998cc K-series engine from A-Star
- New Intrument Cluster
- New Gearbox
- New Interior Theme for seats and dashboard
Volkswagen Starts Fabia Production At Chakan
Volkswagen India has started production of the Skoda Fabia at their Chakan plant in Pune. The ocassion was also the moment when all the employees of the plant in Chakan came together to make it a moment to relish as they celebrated India's 63nd Independance Day.
The celebrations started with the planting of saplings by Joerg Mueller, Volkswagen Group chief representative in India, president and managing director of Volkswagen India Private Limited, along with the board members and all the employees at Volkswagen India's plant at Chakan.
[Via: motorbeam]
Maruti A-Star Crosses One Lakh Mark
Maruti Suzuki launched its new KB series model A-Star last year. The company rolled out its 100,000th model from its Manesar plant recently. A-star is the flagship exports model of the company which is also being sold as Nissan Pixo in the overseas market. Other models like SX4, Swift and Swift Dzire are also being manufactured at the Manesar plant.
"A-Star is doing very well in the export market. We are planning to export over 75,000 units of the car by the end of this fiscal," said Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava. He also stated that Nissan, who sells the A-Star under its label in Europe, has increased its exports order from 30,000 units to 54,000 units. Earlier the company was hesitant to place the order but looking at the response from the European markets the company has increased its exports order.
Maruti also exports its A-Star model to Netherlands, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and more than 40 countries across the globe.
[Via: cartradeindia]
Nissan Increases A-Star Order From Maruti
The Maruti A-Star is not only setting the sales chart on fire as a Suzuki but even as a Nissan. The growing demand for small cars in Europe has led Nissan to nearly double the cars that it buys from Maruti Suzuki. The contract manufactured A-Star's annual order is now in excess of 50,000 units.
"Against the earlier indicated order of 30,000 units for this fiscal, Nissan has now confirmed that it plans to buy 54000 units," Maruti chairman R C Bhargava said. "Total exports to Nissan will now far exceed what was originally projected by them," he added.
[Via: motorbeam]