Volkswagen announces prices for new Polo, in Europe
Volkswagen is now inviting its European customers to book the new Polo, with deliveries scheduled to start by mid-October this year. Depending on the variant, the car is priced at the equivalent of Rs 8-12 lakh.
The fifth-generation VW Polo, which will also be launched in India next year, is one of the best selling small cars in the world. The new one is being made available with a choice of five engines - three petrol and two diesel - and a choice of five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG twin-clutch automatic gearboxes.
When the Polo comes to India in 2010, we expect it to be offered with a 1.2-litre petrol engine, though a 1.6-litre TDI diesel might also be offered at a later stage. Prices in India could start at around Rs six lakh, though the 'Indian Polo' will probably not be as well-equipped as its European sibling, in order to keep prices in check.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
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]
VW Targetting Rs 4 Lakh Starting Price For The Polo
VW is targetting a base price of Rs 4 Lakhs for the Polo when it gets launched in India either late this year or early next year. Worried by the lukewarm response to the Skoda Fabia the company is working hard to meet its cost target for the base Polo which will come with a naturally aspirated 1.2 Litre Petrol engine. The company hopes to sell 25,000 units of the Polo every year in the Indian market.
The next up is the Polo based sedan which will compete in the midsize segment with the likes of Honda City, Fiat Linea and Hyundai Verna. The sedan will sport state of the art petrol and diesel engines for optimum performance and economy. The Jetta too will get a new range of engines by April 2010 to meet the stricter Bharat IV norms. The timid 1.6 Litre Petrol engine will be replaced by a TSi motor while diesel will shift from VW's own Pump Duse technology to more conventional common rail technology.
The new Passat will be launched at the Geneva Motor show next year and is expected to come in India towards the end of 2010. VW's iconic Beetle will also be launched in September this year as but more as a brand building excercize than volumes. The sales are expected to be in double digits only due to higher price.
VW is bullish on the Indian market and is putting all its might behind as it thinks that Indian market has the most potential after the Chinese market in the Asian subcontinent.
[Via: CC]
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]
Indica Vista Voted as the Best Diesel Car
Indica Vista beats Maruti Swift and Ritz diesel models in its category. "What Car" Magazine by Hormzad Sorabjee has rated Vista as "India's Number One Diesel Car". The new Indica Vista gets another feather beating Maruti Swift, Fiat Punto and Maruti Ritz diesel models in the comparison conducted in July this year.
The magazine has placed Vista on top in five out of nine parameters. It has rated Vista with 5 stars for space and practicality and 4 stars for performance, refinement, buying and owning experience and driver seating. "Vista is the biggest here and has clear edge over the rivals.
The seats are supremely comfortable and you even get lumbar adjust along with height adjust for front seats. The Vista is the most driveable of the lot, thanks to smart set of gear ratios that responds better," stated the article from 'What Car' magazine. It also stated that the car offers good level of refinement and the suspension works quietly. It also has the best refinement in the group.
[Via: cartradeindia]
Maruti Launches Mascot For WagonR
In a bid to revitalise the Maruti WagonR brand, Maruti Suzuki India has launched a mascot 'Mr WizeR' to represent the model. The mascot with its smart and witty traits is an amalgamation of the brand name 'WagonR' and 'Wise' is meant to represent the WagonR customers. The company aims to take the initiative to all media domains and is planning to have the cartoon character as the face of future campaigns across print, TV and Internet.
"WagonR will be an integral part of the storyline and the brand fit will be merged with the story. Though 'Mr WizeR' has a modern outlook, he is deeply rooted in the Indian value system,"Lintas Media Group, the creater of the character, said.
[Via: motorbeam]