NavIC likely to be made must for all devices, cars
With Apple including NavIC, the homegrown global positioning system (GPS), in some of the new iPhone 15 models, the government plans to make the NavIC-powered chip mandatory in devices and cars, minister of state for electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Thursday.

Auto dealers should also open vehicle scrapping facilities: Nitin Gadkari
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said dealers of automobiles should also open vehicle scrapping facilities. Addressing the fifth Auto Retail Conclave, Gadkari said the government is encouraging a circular economy, and accordingly the government will give permission to dealers to start vehicle scrapping facilities.

FADA’s 5th Auto Retail Conclave resolves to ‘Collaborate-Innovate-Accelerate’
The Conclave was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Also present on the occasion were Vinod Aggarwal, President SIAM, Ms. Shradha Suri Marwah, President ACMA, along with Manish Raj Singhania, President FADA and C S Vigneshwar, Vice President FADA.

Govt not planning to levy any tax on diesel vehicles: Nitin Gadkari
Seeking to clarify his remarks on taxation of diesel vehicles, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that he wanted to convey to automobile manufacturers to take steps to reduce pollution, and also added that there is no proposal to levy tax on such vehicles. Earlier this week, the road, transport and highway minister's remarks regarding the need to levy 10 per cent tax on diesel-run vehicles to help cut emissions had generated lots of controversy.

‘TaMo will take a call on diesel cars based on policy, demand’
New Delhi: Tata Motors on Thursday said it will continue to produce diesel cars as long as customers demand and regulations permit while it accelerates shift towards electric vehicles.
 

Auto dealers urge government to reduce GST on entry-level bikes to 18%
New Delhi: Reiterating its demand, automobile dealers on Thursday urged the government to reduce GST rates on entry-level two-wheelers to 18 per cent, saying the segment has not recovered from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. “Although the two-wheelers segment experienced year-on-year (YoY) growth, we are still 20 per cent behind the pre-Covid levels. Two -wheeler industry is an important part of the mobility ecosystem, and hence we urge the government to reduce the GST rate from 28 per cent to 18 per cent for entry-level two-wheelers in the 100-125 cc range. This change isn’t just a policy adjustment, it’s a catalyst for socio-economic progress,” Manish Raj Singhania, President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), said.

Tata Motors to open separate EV sales channel, tests markets for exports
New Delhi: Market leader in the electric passenger vehicle segment Tata Motors will set up separate sales network for its electric vehicles (EV) in the current fiscal year. The company is also trying to test its vehicles in some of the chosen global markets for exports, a top company official said on Thursday.

Nitin Gadkari walks back plans for higher taxes on diesel vehicles
India is not planning to levy any new tax on diesel vehicles, the country's transport minister told news channel CNBC-TV18 on Thursday, two days after he warned automakers to reduce diesel production or face higher taxation.

With Tesla knocking at door, India plans new EV Policy
In an attempt to grab the sizeable market of India, Tesla is emphasising on the new car, which would be the most affordable from the EV maker. It is expected to cost around $24,000 (roughly converted to ₹20 lakh) less than the Model 3, Tesla's current entry-level model. It would be built in India for the Indian market and export. Recently, a high-level Tesla team came to India to discuss its investment plan with Indian government officials. After that, Tesla CEO Elon Musk met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during PM's US visit. He too expressed his interest to invest in India, including a new facility.

Auto dealers should open vehicle scrapping units, says Nitin Gadkari
Source Credit: Nitin Kumar, Business Standard

New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday urged automobile dealers to expand their business horizons by opening vehicle scrapping facilities and fitness centres.

60-day PV stock not a worry ahead of 'bumper' festival season: Fada
Source Credit: Deepak Patel, Business Standard

New Delhi: Dealers in India currently maintain an average passenger vehicle (PV) inventory of 60 days, and they are content with it right now as they anticipate bumper sales during the upcoming festival season, according to Manish Raj Singhania, president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada), on Thursday.

Fuel for thought
 

Tatas zero in on Sanand for Rs 13,000 crore lithium ion cell plant
 

How to calculate fuel-efficiency or mileage of electric car: Easy calculation explained
The fuel efficiency of an electric car is measured in kilometres per kWh. It is a measure of how far the car can travel on a single unit of electricity. Calculating the fuel efficiency or mileage of an electric car is slightly different from a traditional ICE car since electric cars use kilowatt-hours (kWh) instead of litres of fuel or KGs of CNG. Here, we take a look at an easy calculation to determine the mileage of your electric car.
 

New Tata Nexon facelift vs Old Nexon: What's changed and what's not
Tata Motors has introduced the second facelift for the Nexon in the Indian market, and while it still is indeed a facelift, the update is far more than just a nip and tuck job we're used to seeing. It's only fair to say that the 2023 Tata Nexon is a level up from the pre-facelift model which was already one of the top-selling SUVs in the Indian market.
 

On the right road: Nitin Gadkari
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari this week said GOI has put off its plan to mandate six airbags in vehicles with a capacity of up to eight passengers from October 1 because the auto industry didn’t have an unanimous view on the subject. Frontal airbags have been compulsory for new vehicles since 2021. The debate over vehicle safety is important because road accidents are globally the leading cause of deaths for people in the 15-49 age group. In India, the toll is high. In 2021, there were 1.54 lakh fatalities, or 18 deaths every hour.
 

India’s Ascent to EV Leadership: Charting a Path Similar to Japan’s Dominance in ICEs
Introduction

New Nexon is built as per buyer personalities : Shailesh Chandra, MD Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles
Source Credit: The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

Tata Motors' largest-selling m Nexon got a heavy update on Thursday just in time for the period. It was the first time that an electric and non-electric version are launched simultaneously.  Shailesh Chandra, managing director,Tata Motors Passenger Vehicle and Tata Passernger Electric Mobility.

Tata Nexon SUV facelift, rival to Maruti Brezza and Hyundai Venue, launched at ₹8.10 lakh
The exterior of the Tata Nexon is now inspired by the Curvv concept. The LED Daytime Running Lamp now sits above whereas the main headlamp unit now is placed below in the bumper. Speaking of the bumper, it is also all-new. The side profile is more or less the same apart from the new set of alloy wheels which do resemble aero wheels that are used on electric vehicles. At the rear, there is a huge change in terms of the lighting department. The tail lamps are now sleeker and the reversing lights are placed vertically in the rear bumper which is also new.

Nissan introduces Magnite Kuro Special Edition
New Delhi: Nissan is the official partner of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, continuing for the 8th consecutive year, and the Magnite KuroSpecial Edition has been launched in commemoration of this enduring partnership, offering customers a premium option to celebrate the association with the ICC World Cup.

Maruti rejigs small car play amid SUV boom
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, which dominates India’s small car segment, is urging dealers to stock up on hatchbacks, as the country’s largest carmaker anticipates a positive impact from its expanding sport utility vehicles (SUVs) portfolio.

Maruti Suzuki partners with Indian Bank for dealer financing solutions
New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) Thursday announced the signing of inventory funding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Bank. This new alliance will empower 4000+ Maruti Suzuki dealerships across the country with comprehensive inventory funding options for their working capital requirements.

Skoda plans new launches to scale up its India play

Skoda Auto plans to launch multiple models and refresh its existing line-up as it seeks to strengthen its position in India's competitive market and become profitable, said its CEO Klaus Zellmer.

As more young buyers come, need to equip with sophisticated tech: Tata Motors MD
New Delhi: The country’s largest electric passenger vehicle (PV) maker, Tata Motors, on Thursday said that as more young customers are coming as first-time buyers to new cars, carmakers must equip themselves with newer/sophisticated vehicles, not only design-wise but with latest technologies inside too.

Tata Nexon facelift and Nexon.ev facelift launched at INR 8.10 lakh and INR 14.74 lakh
New Delhi: Tata Motors today launched the Nexon facelift at an introductory price of INR 8.10 lakh and Nexon.ev facelift at an introductory price of INR 14.74 lakh.

Another Tata Nexon EV charger damaged by cow!
Last December, a Tata Nexon EV owner claimed that the charger of his car was damaged by a cow. A similar incident has now been reported by another Nexon EV owner.

Tata Motors reaches 1 lakh electric vehicle sales figure in India
 

Tata Motors plans to set up separate sales network for EVs this fiscal year
Tata Motors plans to set up separate sales network for its electric passenger vehicles in current fiscal year as it looks to give differentiated experience to the buyers opting for the environment-friendly models, according to a top company official.

Volvo Car India starts deliveries of luxury electric car C40 Recharge
Volvo Car India has commenced deliveries of its recently-launched electric car C40 Recharge with Kerala and Tamil Nadu to begin with, the company said on Wednesday.

Mercedes EQE electric SUV to be launched in India tomorrow: Price Expectation
The Mercedes EQE SUV will be positioned above the EQB in the Indian car market and priced well over ₹1 crore

2023 Range Rover Velar SUV launched in India at INR 94.30 lakh, deliveries begin today
New Delhi: Land Rover, a Tata Motors subsidiary, has launched the 2023 Range Rover Velar SUV in India, priced at INR 94.30 lakh. The SUV comes with two engine options and two interior colour options.

Despite slow recovery, CV industry poised to grow 4% in FY2024
The commercial vehicle segment may have seen a sluggish start in the first five months (Apr-Aug) of FY2024, averaging 0.2 percent YoY growth in wholesales and 2.8 percent in retail as per data from ICRA. But one has to consider the fact that the CV industry which has been cyclic in nature had also seen pre-buy in March 2023 on the back of the transition to the BS6.2 emission norms.

Mumbai's 200 e-double decker bus plan faces regulatory issue, Switch Mobility seeks price revision as per deal terms
New Delhi: The plan of Mumbai’s BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) to introduce fully air-conditioned electric double decker buses is stuck on the electronic stability control (ESC) requirement made mandatory on buses from April 1 this year.

JCB bets big on hydrogen engines on road to zero carbon
British construction equipment manufacturer JCB is betting big on hydrogen technology, as it rolled out its 50th hydrogen combustion engine off the production line as part of the development process.

Reduce GST on entry-level two-wheelers: FADA to Centre
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Thursday urged the government to reduce the GST on entry-level two-wheelers to 18%, saying the segment has not recovered from the impact of the pandemic. The GST rate set for this segment is 28%.

CCI gives clean chit to Hero MotoCorp
New Delhi: Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given a clean chit to Hero MotoCorp, noting that there exists no prima facie case against the two-wheeler major of any contravention of provision of the Competition Law. The competition watchdog has rejected the contention of Balaji Enterprises (non-exclusive distributor of parts) of Mahabubnagar in Telangana that Hero MotoCorp was abusing its dominant position and imposing unfair conditions like capping procedure on the partnership firm and this was giving advantage to four other firms who were basically wholesalers.

MotoGP Bharat: First batch of race bikes land in India; arrive at BIC
MotoGP Bharat is scheduled between September 22-24, 2023, at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC)

2023 KTM 250 Duke vs Husqvarna Svartpilen 250: Price and specification comparison
Here is a price and specification comparison between the 2023 KTM 250 Duke and the Husqvarna Svartpilen 250.

Harley Davidson's most-affordable X440 may have to change its name. Here's why
A legal dispute is brewing between Bengaluru-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive and iconic luxury motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson, following the latter's recent foray into India's competitive mid-capacity motorcycle segment with the launch of their most affordable offering, the X440.

Ather 450X dashboard shows now active regen with latest OTA update. Check it out
The Ather 450X gets two regen options. Active regen requires the rider to twist the throttle in the forward direction, which will gently reduce the speed of the electric scooter. On the other hand, braking regen works by applying the brakes, which then charge the battery pack. The 450X comes with a 3.7 kWh battery pack promising a range of 150 km on a single charge. A recent update also brought the 2.9 kWh battery pack on sale with a certified range of 111 km. Power comes from the 6.4 kW (8.5 bhp) PMS electric motor with 26 Nm of torque.

Acer, now an EV too
New Delhi: Think eBikeGo Private limited, a pioneering force in the realm of sustainable urban mobility and innovation in India, under a license agreement from Acer Incorporated, will produce electric 2 and 3-wheelers, specifically eBikes, eScooters, and eTrikes, under the Acer brand in India.

mXmoto mX9 electric motorcycle with 120 km of range, launched at ₹1.46 lakh
mX9 has a riding range of 110 km to 140 km on a single charge. It can charge from 0-90 per cent in less than three hours. The manufacturer says that the electric motorcycle consumes 1.5 units per charge and has a top speed of 80 kmph.

Shradha Suri Marwah is new President of ACMA; Vikrampati Singhania is Vice President
New Delhi: The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the apex body of the Indian auto component industry, Thursday announced the appointment of Shradha Suri Marwah, Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros Limited, as President, ACMA, and Vikrampati Singhania, Managing Director of J.K. Fenner (India) Ltd,. as Vice President, ACMA for the 2023-25 term.

India’s natural rubber production may drop 5% on deficient rainfall in Kerala
Chennai: India’s natural rubber production will likely be five per cent lower this fiscal in view of deficient rainfall in Kerala, which accounts for over 90 per cent of the industrial commodity’s production, said Ramesh Kejriwal, President, All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA). 

Oil India to invest ₹8,000 crore in ethanol
New Delhi: Amid India’s push for biofuels and the recent launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance, state-run Oil India is looking to invest around ₹8,000 crore in the 2G (second generation) ethanol space.

Greaves Retail partners with Ugro Capital to offer dealer financing solutions
New Delhi: Greaves Retail, the retail unit of Greaves Cotton Limited, a provider of clean mobility and energy solutions in the e3W, ICE 3W, and SCV segments, and Ugro Capital Limited, a leading DataTech NBFC focused on MSME lending, Thursday announced its partnership to offer financing to dealers.

Tata Nexon EV facelift launched at Rs 14.74 lakh
This is not just an average facelift with cosmetic and feature upgrades, but Tata Motors has even given the Nexon EV mechanical updates, thereby now offering more range. With this update, the Nexon EV has also been renamed to Nexon.ev as per the brand’s new EV nomenclature.

One-off 566hp Volkswagen ID X revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Volkswagen ID X, which is based on the ID 7, is a performance sedan concept sporting 566hp of power, and is a look into the brand’s future performance models. Giving a hint at what hot Volkswagen EVs will look like, the one-off is easily the most powerful VW to wear numberplates yet, and packs nearly double the power of the brand’s current most potent road-going EVs.

Tata Nexon facelift launched at Rs 8.10 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Tata Motors has launched the Nexon facelift at Rs 8.10 lakh for the base Smart MT variant. This is the second facelift for the Nexon; the first facelift was launched in 2020.

Nissan Magnite 1.0 AMT Kuro edition teased; bookings open
Source Credit: Autocar India

Nissan India has released the first set of details of the upcoming Magnite Kuro Edition. The company has commenced bookings for Rs 11,000 from today and will announce prices in October. This Edition is essentially a blacked-out version of the Magnite, and according to Nissan, Kuro means black in Japanese.

Tesla to source USD 1.9 billion worth auto parts from India
Source Credit: Autocar India

American EV giant Tesla is planning to source USD 1.9 billion (approximately Rs 15,700 crore) worth of auto components as part of its global sourcing plan, said Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal. This is nearly double the USD 1 billion sourcing that the US EV specialist had earlier procured from India.

SCOOP! Lotus to drive into India soon

The Emira is a sportscar and in many ways a typical Lotus. Relatively small, light and agile, it will be sold powered by a 365hp, four-cylinder AMG-sourced engine, and a more powerful 406hp V6 from Toyota. However, where the Emira is different from regular Lotus fare is that fit, finish and practicality are a cut above, and there’s a plushness to it that seems almost alien to this brand. There are door pockets and cup holders, the instruments are digital, and you even get a central touchscreen. 

Mahindra Thar.e, BE EVs to be powered by VW APP550 electric motor
Source Credit: Autocar India

In April this year, Volkswagen revealed its next-generation electric drive unit for the rear axle – dubbed the APP550 – for its ID. family of EVs. Mahindra has now adapted the APP550 motor to its INGLO platform and this motor will power its entire range of BE EVs, as well as the Thar.e when it eventually makes it into production. The first Mahindra to use the APP550 motor will be the BE.05 that’s due for launch in 2025.

The tie-up with Volkswagen for components from its MEB platform is proving to be a trump card for Mahindra as it gets access to the latest technology from a global EV giant. The APP550 rear-wheel-drive motor will make its production debut in the VW ID.7 at the end of this year.

Volkswagen APP550 electric motor details
The new APP550 electric motor delivers 210kW (286hp) and a maximum of 550Nm of torque, a significant step up from the previous motor that produced 150kW (201hp) and 310Nm of torque.

The current is a decisive factor for the power of an electric drive unit, for which VW employed an improved inverter, which is able to supply the high phase currents needed for greater power, acting as the controlling ‘brain’ in the powertrain.

The APP550 electric drive unit achieves its higher torque output thanks to an enhanced stator with a higher effective number of windings and a larger wire cross-section. Additionally, the rotor comes equipped with more powerful magnets that have a higher load capacity. The electric drive unit also required additional reinforcing to withstand the higher power and torque outputs.

Thermal management is key for higher efficiency of an electric drive unit – the APP550 motor operates without an electrically driven oil pump, and is instead able to independently cool itself via the gear wheels of the gearbox and specially formed components for oil supply and distribution. The heated oil is cooled by the vehicle’s coolant circuit, which keeps the drive at operating temperature. The outside of the stator is equipped with a water heat sink.

Volkswagen could localise the APP550 motor in India
If the combined volumes of Mahindra EVs, and future VW and Skoda EVs (which will use the same motor) are good, VW may look at localising the motor. Volkswagen has stated that though it is open to supplying to other automakers in India, the current focus is on developing the partnership with Mahindra, which is likely to be the sole customer here (outside of the VW Group) for the APP550. This state-of-the-art motor promises class-leading performance and efficiency and will be a huge competitive advantage for Mahindra.
https://www.autocarindia.com/car-news/mahindra-thare-be-evs-to-be-powered-by-vw-app550-electric-motor-429313

Volkswagen to reduce staffing at all-electric Zwickau plant
Volkswagen is cutting back planned staffing at its all-electric plant in Zwickau, Germany and adjusting shift work due to "market conditions", a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Detroit Three strike deadline nears as sides remain far apart
U.S. automakers and union negotiators offered little hope a deal would be reached on Thursday to avoid a midnight walkoff that would be the United Auto Workers' first-ever simultaneous strike against the Detroit Three carmakers.

Auto Show opens as Detroit weighs possible strike
The Detroit Auto Show kicked off Wednesday with glitzy new vehicles overshadowed by a potential auto workers' strike that becomes more likely with each passing hour.

Canada to recoup investments from EV plants in 20 years
The Canadian government will recoup its investment in about 20 years for the two electric vehicle (EV) battery plants that Volkswagen and Stellantis-LG Electric Solutions are building, the country's budgetary watchdog said on Tuesday.

Gigacasting 2.0: Tesla reinvents carmaking with quiet breakthrough
Tesla has combined a series of innovations to make a technological breakthrough that could transform the way it makes electric vehicles and help Elon Musk achieve his aim of halving production costs, five people familiar with the move said.

Indonesia asks China's Geely to help build homegrown EV by 2026
Indonesia has asked Chinese carmaker Geely Automotive Holdings to help it build a homegrown electric car by 2025 or 2026, a senior minister said on Tuesday, adding that the automaker has agreed.

Did Europe just start a trade war with China over electric cars?
If a surge in government support for strategic industries risks fueling a global subsidy war, then the European Union may have just sparked one of its biggest battles.

German carmakers lead fall in Europe auto stocks amid China EV probe dispute
German car stocks, highly exposed to China, dragged down Europe's auto index on Thursday after the government in Beijing warned the European Commission that its probe into China's electric vehicle subsidies could hurt trade relations.

Ford CEO: 'Still optimistic' but ready in case of auto strike
Ford's CEO said Tuesday night that he was still optimistic of averting a looming strike, but that "there is a limit" to what the company can accept.

Biden's rules on clean cars face a crucial test as Republican-led challenges go to an appeals court
Efforts by the Biden administration to limit pollution from automobile tailpipes - a major source of planet-warming emissions - face a crucial test as legal challenges brought by Republican-led states head to a federal appeals court.

Europe’s EV Troubles Run Deeper Than China
China is speeding ahead in the electric-vehicle race. Europe’s antisubsidy investigation into Chinese EV makers reflects this new reality, but tariffs alone aren’t enough to keep Europe’s automakers in the fast lane.

Beijing blasts 'protectionist' EU probe as China EV stocks slide
Beijing on Thursday blasted the launch of a probe by the European Commission into China's electric vehicle (EV) subsidies as protectionist and warned it would damage economic and trade relations, as shares in Chinese EV makers slid.

Tesla shows interest in Sunrise New Energy's battery components
Battery components maker Sunrise New Energy announced on Wednesday that it received interest for its products from electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Inc. This development led to a notable surge in Sunrise's shares, which climbed by as much as 11% to reach USD 1.87 during morning trading.

0-100 kmph in under 1 second, student-built EV breaks world record in 0.956s
A team of students from the Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, Swiss universities ETH Zürich, and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, has broken the world record for the fastest acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in an electric vehicle (EV).

These 25 car brands including Nissan and Kia, raise alarming privacy concerns: Mozilla report
A Mozilla Foundation report alleges that 25 major car manufacturers, including Nissan, are collecting and sharing deeply personal data, such as sexual activity and health information. The study found privacy and security flaws in car brands from the U.S., Germany, Japan, France, and South Korea.

VinFast’s Rise and Fall Burns Investors in Familiar SPAC Pattern
A crash in the shares of electric-car startup VinFast Auto is serving as a warning: One of Wall Street’s hottest financial trends in recent years often ends with everyday investors getting burned.

Modern cars like Nissan, Kia, Hyundai are hotbed for data privacy breach

Nissan, Tesla, Kia, Hyundai Motor, Toyota, Volkswagen and BMW are some of the global brands who have been found breaching data privacy. The study says vague data security standards while using in-car apps, telematics, digital controls can steal personal data. These may include sensitive personal information to sexual activity and more. Almost every car manufacturer studied have admitted that they are collecting such personal information which they share with government or law enforcement agencies.

EU confronts Chinese subsidies with electric car probe
 

China says European Union probe into EV exports, subsidies is protectionist