BMW iX1 vs Volvo XC40 Recharge: Specs, range and price comparison
Source Credit: Sahil Kukreja, The Times of India
The Indian luxury EV space has witnessed the launch of two brand new offerings this month, first in the form of the Volvo C40 Recharge coupe e-SUV, and now the BMW iX1 - the Bavarian brand's most affordable electric car in India. With a similar price tag, the two luxury EVs will surely give competition to one another.
Here is a specifications and price comparison between the new BMW iX1 and the Volvo C40 Recharge to help you find out which one offers better value for your money -
Battery and electric motor specs
The BMW iX1 is equipped with a 66.4 kWh battery providing a range of 440 km on a single charge as per the WLTP test cycle. The electric SUV gets dual electric motors for AWD, producing a combined 309 hp and 494 Nm, helping it sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
A luxury car that makes you feel like a superhero
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
GreenCell Mobility secures Green Loan Project Finance from Standard Chartered Bank
GreenCell Mobility has announced its green financing deal with Standard Chartered Bank to finance their Surat E-Mobility project, making it a notable financing partnership in India’s electric mobility sector. The deal was made possible with Standard Chartered Bank, which served as the sole mandated arranger, lender, and green loan coordinator for the Rs 1.25 billion Project Finance Facility.
Daimler India posts first profit since inception, revenue cruises past ₹10,000 cr.
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the Indian arm of Daimler AG, has posted profit for the first time since inception while sales revenue cruised past the ₹10,000-crore mark in FY23 on account of strong offtake in the domestic market and sustained demand in the overseas market.
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🏍 2/3 Wheelers
Honda Activa Limited Edition scooter launched in India, price starts at Rs 80,734
The Activa 3D emblem gets premium black chrome garnish while the rear grab rail also gets a body color dark finish. The Activa Limited Edition boasts two attractive colour shades: Matte Steel Black Metallic and Pearl Siren Blue. Further enhancing the overall convenience factor, it now gets alloy wheels in the DLX variant as well while the top-spec variant features Honda’s revolutionary Smart Key.
Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles launches new versions of Jawa 42 and Yezdi Roadster at INR 1.98 lakh, INR 2.08 lakh
New Delhi: Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles has introduced premium additions to two of its motorcycles - Jawa 42 and Yezdi Roadster. These machines flawlessly blend classic design with cutting-edge performance, embodying true neo-retro aesthetics. Made in India for the global markets, prices for the new Jawa 42 Dual Tone starts at INR 1,98,142, and for the new Yezdi Roadster at INR 2,08,829.
Bollywood actor John Abraham rides a BMW M 1000 RR safety bike at MotoGP 2023
John Abraham also recently took delivery of Suzuki Hayabusa. He opted for the Metallic Sword Silver with Candy Daring Red paint shade. John also used to own the first generation of the Hayabusa. Other motorcycles that are in his garage are Aprilia RSV4 RF, BMW S 1000 RR, Ducati Panigale V4 with an SC Project exhaust, Yamaha YZF-R1, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, MV Agusta F3 800, Yamaha V-Max 60th anniversary special, KTM 790 Duke, and more. He also owns cars like the Porsche Cayenne, Nissan GT-R, Audi Q3, and the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India partners with Mohun Bagan Super Giant as associate sponsor
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has announced its collaboration as an associate sponsor of football club Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), for Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 for a period of 11 months.
Top 10 best-selling two-wheelers in August 2023 — Bajaj, Honda post negative sales
As another month passes in 2023, two-wheeler makers have seen mixed sales numbers as Honda and Bajaj have registered negative YoY growth with their popular models. However, with new product launches and the festive season in sight, two-wheeler sales will witness growth.
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🚲 Electric 2/3 Wheelers
Two-wheeler majors TVS, Bajaj Auto close the gap with startups in EV game
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⚙ Components
Uno Minda to hike stake in JV with Westport to 76% for growth in CNG and other fuel market
New Delhi: Uno Minda Board has approved 26% increase in the stake in Minda Westport Technologies Limited (MWTL) to 76%, from 50%, by acquiring it from its joint venture partner Westport Fuel Systems Italia S.r.l. (Westport) for about INR 14,81 crore
Indian EV charger maker Exicom Tele-Systems files for $48 million IPO
Source Credit: Reuters, Business Standard
India's Exicom Tele-Systems, which makes electric-vehicle chargers and energy storage systems, has filed for an initial public offering worth 4 billion rupees ($48.1 million), and an offer for sale of up to 7.4 million shares, a draft paper filed with the market regulator showed on Thursday.
Rane Madras floats wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico
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🌇 Allied Industries
SAT dismisses Sebi penalty on Apollo Tyres in share buyback case
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) on Wednesday quashed the order passed by Sebi imposing a fine of INR 65 lakh on Apollo Tyres for violating norms pertaining to buyback of shares back in 2003. Dismissing the regulator's directive, the appellate tribunal has directed the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to refund the penalty amount deposited by Apollo Tyres within four weeks, according to the SAT order.
CRED brings vehicle-related management to its mobile app with CRED Garage
The CRED Garage will give vehicle owners a single dashboard to access vehicle-related services. Select members will get access to priority 24x7 concierge service answering queries on maintenance, servicing and insurance claims. The CRED garage is part of the CRED app and does not require a different app.
Park+ aims to be profitable in Q4 of FY24, achieve full-year profitability in FY25
Gurugram-based startup Park+ will become profitable in the January-March 2024 quarter, its founder and CEO Amit Lakhotia claimed in an interview with Mint. Thereafter, it is targeting full-year profitability in FY25. The company has been in losses since it was founded in 2019.
Gensol EV Lease bags order worth Rs 75 crore for 500+ EV cargo vehicles
Gensol EV Lease Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Gensol Engineering Limited, an EV-focused leasing solutions provider, on Thursday announced that it has bagged an order for more than 500 Tata Ace Cargo EVs. The order, it said, is valued at Rs 75 crore and is from an all-electric logistics company. An Initial batch of 20+ EVs have already been leased, with the remaining cars to be deployed over the next 6 months across 5 states in India – Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Amara Raja Batteries Limited changes name to reflect broader focus
Amara Raja Batteries Limited, known on BSE: 500008 and NSE as Amarajabat, has changed its name to Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Limited (ARE&M). The new name represents the company's shift from solely battery manufacturing to a provider in the Energy & Mobility sector.
The story of a INR 1,788 crore fine: Tyre makers, cartelisation and calculation errors
This is the story of a mega fine that began more than a decade ago and has now got entangled in challenges and counter-claims. On Monday, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on an appeal filed by one of the fined companies, MRF Ltd.
Eveready Industries India plugs in 'Ultima' to power up premium play
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd.’s shares rise on rebranding
Amara Raja Batteries Limited’s shares were up by 0.51 per cent after the company officially rebranded itself as Amara Raja Energy and Mobility Limited (ARE&M). This move marks the culmination of a two-year journey aimed at transitioning from a battery manufacturer to a comprehensive solutions provider in the Energy and mobility sector.
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants & Charging Stations
Russian oil sold to India at 30% above Western price cap
Russia is selling oil to India at nearly USD 80 per barrel, some USD 20 above the Western price cap, traders said and Reuters calculations showed, as tight global oil markets help Moscow generate strong appetite for its exports.
Mahanagar Gas sets INR 800 crore capex for CNG, PNG infrastructure boost for FY24: MGL MD Shinghal
New Delhi: Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) plans a capital expenditure ofINR 800 crore this fiscal year, focusing on infrastructure for compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG), the firm's Managing Director Ashu Shinghal told ET Energyworld in an interview.
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💸 Finance & Insurance
How to choose the right car insurance policy: Key tips
Here are some tips to pick the right insurance policy for your car.
Cred launches vehicle management platform Cred Garage, makes first move into motor insurance distribution
Fintech startup Cred has launched a new platform, Garage, through which it will seek to help users renew their car insurance and recharge FASTags, among other activities.
SBI approaches Reserve Bank of India over priority loan tag for electronic vehicles
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📖 Magazines News
India-bound Kia Carnival facelift global debut soon
SC Autocar India
Ahead of its global debut in the coming months, new spy shots of the heavily updated Kia Carnival have surfaced previewing fresh looks with some bold design cues.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny AT long term review, 2,700km report
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Jimny is an off-roader first. This is apparent even after just a few minutes behind the wheel. Almost every single part of its body-on-frame construction is specifically engineered or optimised for off-road grip, traction and ground clearance. And it isn’t just the mechanical bits, even the general layout is executed with off-road driving in sharp focus.
BMW iX1 electric SUV launched at Rs 66.90 lakh
10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment
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📰 International News
Volkswagen restarts production after suffering major IT outage
Volkswagen said on Thursday that a major IT outage, which had caused most of its German plants to halt production, was resolved overnight and its global production network was up and running again.
Volkswagen hit by IT outage, VW vehicle production in Germany halted
Volkswagen said it was hit by a major IT outage on Wednesday, causing production at the carmaker's namesake brand in Germany to come to a halt.
United Auto Workers present new counter-proposal to Chrysler parent Stellantis ahead of planned strike
United Auto Workers (UAW) presented a fresh counter-proposal on September 28 to Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, just one day before the union planned to strike at additional Detroit Three automotive facilities, with no serious progress in ongoing labour negotiations, reported Reuters.
Union urges US regulators to deny GM's self-driving Cruise a safety exemption
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union on Wednesday asked U.S. auto safety regulators to deny a petition by General Motors to exempt its autonomous vehicle unit Cruise Origin from vehicle safety standards.
Toyota unveils new features and Nightshade edition of 2024 Highlander Hybrid SUV
The Highlander is available in Front-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive options, with various AWD systems, including electronic on-demand AWD for Hybrid grades, mechanical AWD for gas LE and XLE grades, and Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD for gas XSE, Limited, and Platinum grades. The 2024 Highlander can achieve a manufacturer-estimated 36 MPG combined rating for Hybrid (LE/FWD) and up to 29 MPG for the gas model (LE/FWD).
US lawmakers demand documents on Ford battery partnership with CATL
The chairs of three U.S. House of Representatives committees demanded Ford Motor turn over documents tied to its partnership with Chinese battery company CATL and threatened to call CEO Jim Farley to testify before Congress.
Sweden's Northvolt to build USD 5.2 bn battery factory in Canada
Swedish lithium-ion battery producer Northvolt said on Thursday it would open a USD 5.2 billion gigafactory in Quebec, the largest ever investment in the Canadian province and the latest in electric vehicle battery manufacturing capacity in the country.
Israel's StoreDot and Volvo Cars sign deal to develop battery cells for future electric cars
StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles, has signed a multi-year agreement with Volvo Cars to develop an optimized battery for next generation Volvo cars.
Shell CEO comes under pressure from within on renewables shift
Shell CEO Wael Sawan has come under pressure over his strategy from within the energy company after two employees issued a rare open letter urging him not to scale back investments in renewable energy, sparking an internal debate.
Not convinced about tariffs on Chinese EVs: Chancellor, Germany
Scholz articulated his reservations by stating, "I am not very convinced of this, to put it politely." He emphasized that he believes in a different approach for the economic model, one that does not rely on protectionism but rather focuses on the inherent attractiveness of European products.
Tesla trial over Autopilot fatality kicks off in California
Opening statements are set to begin on Thursday in the first U.S. trial over allegations that Tesla's Autopilot driver assistant feature led to a death, and its results could help shape similar cases across the country.
China's Nio explores investment, tech alliances with Mercedes
Nio has held exploratory talks with Mercedes-Benz for a tie-up that would see the German automaker invest in the Chinese electric vehicle startup in exchange for technology, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Porsche expands Cayenne Hybrid range with new S E-Hybrid model
New Delhi: Porsche is expanding its hybrid range for the new Cayenne. The third plug-in model of the SUV series, the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, offers balanced driving dynamics, comfort, and efficiency. Orders for the new Cayenne S E-Hybrid models are open, with deliveries scheduled to start in November 2023.
Mercedes-Benz delivers 56 Citaro hybrid buses to Italian city public transport operator
New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz has delivered 56 Citaro hybrid low-floor city buses to Kyma Mobilità, the public transport operator in Taranto, Apulia, in Italy. These buses are approximately 12 meter long and sport the signature red, white, and blue paintwork of Kyma Mobilità.
Mercedes-Benz launches Drive Pilot with Level 3 autonomous technology in US
New Delhi: Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot, a certified SAE Level 3 system, is now available in the US market. Mercedes-Benz becomes the first automaker to receive the US state approval for the deployment of a conditionally automated driving vehicle at SAE Level 3. Drive Pilot manages the dynamic driving task while allowing the driver to engage in other activities.
Kia America launched 2024 EV9, three-row E-SUV, at USD 54,900
New Delhi: Kia America announced Thursday that the 2024 Kia EV9, Kia's inaugural three-row E-SUV, is slated for arrival in the fourth quarter. This EV has 800V architecture, enabling rapid DC fast charging to reach a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in under 25 minutes. The standard configuration accommodates up to seven passengers and the car is priced at USD 54,900.
Honda delivers Shogo Electric Ride-On vehicles to children's hospitals in the US
New Delhi: Honda collaborates with its dealer network to supply 60 electric ride-on vehicles, known as Shogo, to children's hospitals across the country. Shogo, created in-house by Honda engineers, aims to bring comfort and joy to young patients. It is exclusively produced by Honda Performance Development (HPD) in California, utilizing race-winning technology.
Porsche AG confirms 2023, long-term margin outlook
Luxury carmaker Porsche AG on Thursday confirmed its 2023 outlook, saying demand for its cars remained strong despite the challenging macroeconomic environment.
Toyota on a high as global sales slam record in August
Global production rose 4% to a record 924,509 vehicles, including subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd., the Japanese carmaker said Thursday. Sales of Toyota and Lexus brand cars grew more than 3% in Europe, mostly in Italy, Spain and England. But sales dropped 4% in Asia, including a 6% decline in China, where the company and other legacy carmakers like Volkswagen AG are struggling to compete with Chinese electric-vehicle powerhouses, such as BYD Co.
Trump says UAW talks don't matter because EV shift will kill jobs
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday it mattered little whether striking union autoworkers secured a favorable deal in talks with America's biggest carmakers because the shift to electric vehicles would soon make them obsolete.
Tesla's rivals scrap for thin slices of US EV sales
Ford Motor's decision to hit the brakes on a planned USD 3.5 billion battery plant in Michigan highlights a challenge for Tesla's growing crowd of rivals in the U.S. market: Tesla is pushing most of them into unprofitable, low-volume niches.
UAW could expand strikes at Detroit Three on Friday
Detroit, The United Auto Workers union could strike additional Detroit Three automotive facilities on Friday if there is no serious progress in labor negotiations, a source familiar with the talks said.
Car Sales Are Slowing. Car-Listing Websites Are Just Getting Started.
Auto retail is finally shifting from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market: Dealers’ car lots are looking fuller, while high interest rates are making consumers choosier. That spells opportunity for online marketplaces such as Cars.com, CarGurus and TrueCar that stand to do well when manufacturers and dealers become more desperate.
Start-up Atlas raises USD 27 million for new nickel technology for EV batteries
Atlas Materials, which has developed a new technology to process low-grade nickel that can be used for electric vehicle batteries, has raised USD 27 million ahead of building a pilot plant in North America, the start-up firm said on Thursday.
Daimler Truck's GenH2 prototype completes 1,047-km journey with single fill
Andreas Gorbach, a member of Daimler Truck AG's Board of Management and Head of Truck Technology, highlighted the truck's capability to cover such distances with a single hydrogen fill. This successful journey demonstrated the viability of hydrogen fuel-cell technology in decarbonizing flexible and demanding long-distance road transportation.
AGCO Corp to acquire USD 2 bn stake in Trimble unit to boost agri portfolio
AGCO Corp said on Thursday it would acquire an 85% stake in navigation products maker Trimble's agribusiness for USD 2.0 billion in cash as the tractor and seeding equipment firm seeks to boost its precision-agriculture portfolio.
A new battery recycling facility will deepen Kentucky's ties to the electric vehicle sector
A recycling facility will be built in Kentucky to shred electric vehicle batteries in a $65 million venture between American and South Korean companies that will supply material for a separate battery-related operation in the same town, the companies announced Tuesday.
US agency files lawsuit against Tesla over alleged harassment of Black factory workers
A civil rights agency in the United States has filed a lawsuit against Tesla Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla has allowed the persistent harassment of Black employees at its main assembly plant in Fremont, California. These allegations closely resemble cases brought forward by both the state and Tesla's own employees.
New BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid breaks cover with over 100 km pure electric range
On the other hand, the 550e variant draws power from a larger 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six petrol powerplant that is paired with an electric motor. This hybrid powertrain pumps out 483 bhp peak power and 700 Nm of maximum torque. The 550e gets an all-wheel drive setup and can run up to 90 kilometres in pure electric mode. For transmission duty, both the 530e and 550e variants get an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
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