Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 05 April 2024,Friday
🏢 Industry
Telangana govt in talks with Tesla to set up electric car plant
The Telangana government is holding discussions with Tesla by putting in all efforts to establish their plant in the state, Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said on Thursday.
Tesla begins making cars in Germany for export to India this year
Tesla has begun production of right-hand drive cars at its plant in Germany for export to India later this year, three people aware of the company's plans told Reuters, as it moves ahead with a possible entry into the world's third-largest car market.
Ionage plans to integrate 1 lakh EV chargers into its roaming platform by 2028
New Delhi: Ionage, a Bengaluru-based leading eMobility service provider, is working for integrating a network of over 100,000 EV chargers into its roaming platform. This initiative aims to empower over 10,000 Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) to enter the EV charging sector by the year 2028.
Allcargo Group appoints Ketan Kulkarni as Chief Growth Officer
India-headquartered global logistics conglomerate Allcargo Group has appointed Ketan Kulkarni as its new Chief Growth Officer.
Battery cell demand for EVs to rise, India's reliance on imports continues
In a presentation on the Indian EV battery market for light vehicles, S&P Mobility stated that while MSIL currently holds a small EV market share, its demand for battery cells is expected to reach 20 per cent by 2035, slightly trailing Tata at 22 per cent.
Rapido attains 100 crore ride milestone in India
Founded in 2015, it claims it touched the lives of approximately 9 crore Indians with its affordable and convenient services. The company has a fleet of around 1.4 crore captains, including male and female riders, and has emerged as a platform empowering gig workers by enhancing accessibility and contributing to the nation’s progress through innovative mobility solutions.
Swiggy conducts road safety and traffic awareness workshop
Food delivery platform, Swiggy joined forces with Gurugram Traffic Police to conduct a road safety and traffic awareness workshop for delivery partners in Gurugram. This workshop was followed by a helmet distribution session and roadshow by Swiggy’s delivery partner fleet.
Tamil Nadu govt plans fourth auto cluster in Thoothukudi, to set up two more centres for EV industry
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government plans to develop a new auto cluster from scratch at Thoothukudi in southern Tamil Nadu due to the EV manufacturing project of VinFast and to support future auto investments “Chennai is a very big cluster in the automotive sector. We are also focusing on Coimbatore and Hosur. There will be a 4th cluster that the government is forming. With VinFast coming in and many other industries making investments, we are developing Thoothukudi to be another auto cluster and we’re starting from the ground up there, Thiru Srinivasan, Senior Advisor – Electric Vehicle Sector, FameTN said at a conference here.
Subsidy withdrawal: Electric car buyers may switch to CNG
Demand for Electric cars used as taxis will take a hit following withdrawal of the government- sponsored subsidy scheme that had fuelled its adoption, especially by the large fleet operators. Known for providing the lowest running cost per kilometre among all available fuel options, nearly one in every 10 electric cars sold in the country is bought by a cab operator.
📝 Tesla to send team to scout location for plant
📝 It is up to Tesla to lay down EV plant investment plans: DPIIT Secy
📝 Tesla eyes India innings: Recap of key developments so far
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🎤 Interviews & Features
India should support all sustainable fuel options says Toyota’s Vikram Gulati
Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched its 12th product offering for the Indian market, the Urban Cruiser Taisor, the re-badged Maruti Suzuki Fronx.
The Icon or the Future? Comparing Maruti Swift and Tata Altroz
The Maruti Swift has reigned the automobile industry of India for a long time now. This car brand is known to have produced the best hatchback at an affordable price. It has gained a lot of popularity among budget car buyers, making it a household brand across the country. The combination of zippy performance and appealing style has added to its popularity.
Maruti Suzuki Fronx vs Toyota Taisor — Similarities and differences explained
The Maruti Suzuki-Toyota partnership continues to be fruitful with yet another product launch, this time, the Toyota Taisor, based on the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Launched at Rs 7.74 lakh onwards ex-showroom, making it the most affordable Toyota on sale in India today.
Are carmakers compromising on safety for Indian consumers?
It was on March 21, Global NCAP, a global road safety watchdog released the latest results of its crash test. The made-in-India Citroen e-C3 scored Zero stars for adult occupant rating and one star for child occupant safety. This reignited a long-standing issue? Are car makers compromising on quality and safety while manufacturing for Indian customers?
📝 EV not a fad but a structural change in auto industry: Ravi Pandit, KPIT Technologies
📝 Suzuki Vitara gets a subtle facelift in Europe, gets revised styling, new features
📝 Exploring the jewels of East India with Honda Elevate, City, Amaze
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🚗 Cars / SUVs
Ryuto Shimizu joins as Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India
New Delhi: Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, has announced that Ryuto Shimizu has assumed the office of Director, Marketing & Sales from April 1, 2024, replacing Yuichi Murata, who has moved to Honda Mexico as President.
M&M 3XO: Mahindra unveils name of its new SUV, details here
Mahindra is set to unveil the updated XUV300 on April 29, however, the updates include a new name as well, the 3X0. This new nomenclature could spill over to the XUV700 and the XUV500 in the future.
Honda City hybrid now available in only top-spec ZX trim
Honda launched the first mass-market strong hybrid in India in the form of City e:HEV in May 2022. Based on the fifth-gen City, the City e:HEV has an amphibian ability to run both on fossil fuels as well as battery. This reduces fuel consumption, emission levels, and ambient noise.
Citroen opens new dealership in Mumbai
Citroen launches its new dealership and workshop facility of La Maison Citroen, Mumbai run by Garnet Motors at Andheri West and Goregaon West in Mumbai. The expansion aims to deliver a fulfilling customer experience to its growing customer base in the financial capital.
📝 Skoda Superb makes a comeback in India, costs more than Mercedes-Benz SUV at Rs…
📝 Maruti Suzuki April offers: Discounts up to Rs 1.5 lakh available on Baleno, Fronx, Jimny, and other Nexa models
📝 2024 Renault Captur facelift makes global debut with new styling, more tech
📝 Citroen C3 range gets price cuts, Blu edition & special offers, celebrates third anniversary in India
📝 Toyota Taisor deliveries to commence from May 2024
📝 Maruti Suzuki India elevates Tapan Sahoo to head of Digital Enterprise
📝 Hyundai Creta prices revised from this month. Check how much it costs
📝 Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava predicts revival of Indian small-car market by 2026: Details
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🚗 Luxury Cars
Mercedes Benz G-Wagon goes green– gets first mild-hybrid engine
Mercedes Benz recently unveiled a facelift of the G-Wagon. This is the second update to the current generation of the luxury off-roading SUV since it made its debut in 2018. The Indian market earlier received the G350d and G400d iterations of the SUV besides the all-powerful AMG G63.
Pre-launch bookings open for electric BMW i5 M60 xDrive; deliveries from next month
BMW India Thursday opened bookings for the all-electric BMW i5. The car will be available in the country as a Completely Built-Up (CBU) model and can be booked at the BMW dealership network and through BMW Online Shop. Deliveries will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis starting May 2024.
Not a sportscar, but not just a family car either : Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53 Coupe
📝 Lexus NX 350h Overtrail launched at ₹71.17 lakh. Check what's different
📝 Meet the Bengaluru barber who owns over 200 luxury cars
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⛟ Commercial Vehicles
Tresa Motors bags order for 1,000 e-trucks from JFK Transporters
Tresa Motors, a start-up focussing on medium and heavy electric trucks, has announced that it has secured a pre-order of 1,000 trucks from JFK Transporters, a leading logistics company.
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🏍 2/3 Wheelers
2025 Indian Scout lineup revealed with new engine, features
While the name may sound very “Indian” but Indian is very much a true American motorcycle brand parallel to the iconic Harley-Davidson. For 2025, Indian has made some significant updates to the Scout lineup which now comprises five models— Scout Classic, Super Scout, Scout Bobber, Sport Scout and the 101 Scout.
Hero MotoCorp gets tax and interest notice from I-T Dept totalling INR 605 cr for six AYs
Two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp has received tax demand notice from the Income Tax Department for INR 308.65 crore and interest thereon for INR 296.22 crore for six assessment years, the company said in a stock exchange filing on Thursday.
2024 Kawasaki Versys 650 launched in India
Japanese motorcycle maker Kawasaki has launched the 2024 Versys 650 in India, priced at Rs 7.77 lakh, ex-showroom. The new Versys 650 retains most of its mechanicals and hardware from the 2023 model but gets a few updates. Also, the price of the motorcycle remains unchanged.
2024 Bajaj Pulsar N250 launch on April 10: What to expect?
Bajaj has its plans set to expand its Pulsar range of motorcycles with at least two brand new models lined up for launch in the coming months. Meanwhile, the Chakan-based bikemaker keeps updating the existing range of Pulsar motorcycles. The next big update is in the form of the current flagship Pulsar N250.
📝 Halve your fuel expense? Bajaj's CNG bike may do just that
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🚲 Electric 2/3 Wheelers
Zypp Electric achieves 3X revenue growth in FY 2024
Zypp Electric has marked a milestone with a rise of 3X revenue growth in India. This growth showcases their commitment to deliveries through sustainable mobility solutions through the last miles.
Quantum Energy extends offer on Plasma X and XR till April 30
Quantum Energy, an electric two-wheeler company has extended its offer on its latest models the Plasma X and XR, until April 30, 2024. The offer which was supposed initially till March 3, 2024, it says has been extended due to the high demand for their products.
Komaki Cat 2.0 NXT electric moped launched at Rs 99,5000
Komaki introduces its Cat 2.0 NXT electric moped at Rs 99,500, ex-showroom. This eco-friendly e-loader is aimed at last-mile delivery operators for all-day usage in a sustainable manner. Komaki is offering an introductory cashback offer of Rs 5,000 on Cat 2.0 NXT till 30 April.
📝 NexGen Energia launches affordable electric two-wheeler at Rs 36,990
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⚙ Components
L Ganesh: A leader who steered Rane’s transformation into modern era
Chennai: Two weeks ago, Chennai-based leading auto component house Rane Group announced a significant transition in its leadership and said that Ganesh Lakshminarayan aka L Ganesh would relinquish his role as Chairman of the operating entities of Rane Group, effective from close of business hours on March 31, 2024.
📝 Manual mode in automatic gearbox can be a life saver: Five key utilities
📝 AMT vs iMT: Which transmission technology should you choose
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🌇 Allied Industries
Ceat ISRL gears up for season 2, evaluates 15 stadiums
The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) is gearing up for its second season with plans to expand its reach across the nation. Evaluating 15 stadiums for potential future races, ISRL aims to build on the success of its inaugural season.
Spark Minda’s Sanjay Gupta joins L&T Semiconductor Technologies as CDO and Global Head of Engineering
L&T Semiconductor Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, has onboarded Sanjay Gupta as its new Chief Development Officer and Global Head of Engineering.
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants & Charging Stations
Bharat Charge Alliance to set up over 5,000 interoperable public charging stations by end-FY2026
The Bharat Charge Alliance (BCA), an industry led initiative focussing on creating a standardised, accessible, and reliable charging infrastructure for Light EVs in the country. By promoting interoperability, the Alliance aims to ensure that EV owners can seamlessly charge their vehicles across a network of stations, regardless of the vehicle’s make or model.
"Forcing Russia to sell oil at bigger discounts to India": US treasury official hails price cap policy on Russian oil
New Delhi: Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy of the United States Department of Treasury, Eric Van Nostrand on Thursday hailed its country's decision to implement price cap on Russian oil after the latter invaded its neighbouring Ukraine and said that the decision made Russia sell oil at discounted rates to other countries, including India.
Install EV charging stns in one week: CREST
In a bid to push mandated installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in petrol pump stations, the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has issued notices asking them to install charging facilities within a week or face legal action.
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💸 Finance & Insurance
Buying a car? Know the true cost of car ownership
Car loans have become a popular means to afford a vehicle without having to pay the entire amount upfront. They are a type of financing offered by banks, financial institutions, or car dealerships to individuals looking to purchase a vehicle. Instead of paying the full price upfront, borrowers can repay the loan amount in instalments over a predetermined period, typically ranging from one to seven years.
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📖 Magazines News
Toyota Taisor vs Fronx, Brezza, Sonet, Nexon: Fuel efficiency compared
Source Credit: Autocar India
Toyota marked its re-entry into the ever-growing compact SUV segment with the Taisor – a rebadged version of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx launched in India at Rs 7.74 lakh (ex-showroom). The Taisor shares all its powertrains with the Fronx, and therefore returns a similar fuel efficiency.
Mahindra XUV300 facelift renamed XUV3XO, global debut on April 29
Source Credit: Autocar India
The upcoming Mahindra XUV300 facelift has been renamed as the XUV3XO, and Mahindra has confirmed that the heavily refreshed compact SUV will debut globally on April 29, 2024.
Mahindra XUV700 gets up to Rs 1.50 lakh discount on MY2023 stocks
Source Credit: Autocar India
Mahindra dealers across the country are offering huge discounts on MY2023 stocks of the brand’s flagship SUV, the XUV700. The SUV, which has commanded a rather lengthy waiting period since its introduction, can be had with as much as Rs 1.50 lakh off its sticker price in April 2024.
Lexus NX 350h Overtrail launched at Rs 71.17 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India
Lexus India has launched the NX 350h Overtrail edition at Rs 71.17 lakh (ex-showroom, India), which is outdoors-inspired and gets minor updates reflect that.
Mahindra Scorpio N gets up to Rs 1 lakh cash discount
Source Credit: Autocar India
It’s been nearly two years since Mahindra launched the Scorpio N in India, and although demand for the SUV is not waning, Mahindra is now offering attractive discounts on the MY2023 units of the Scorpio N. This month, buyers can save up to Rs 1 lakh in cash discounts on the Scorpio N, depending on the trim. Let’s take a closer look.
2025 Indian Scout lineup revealed
Source Credit: Autocar India
Indian has revamped its Scout line-up for 2025 with major changes to the engine and frame. The 2025 Indian Scout range features a liquid-cooled, 1,250cc V-Twin that replaces the outgoing 1,133cc engine, with a new frame to house this revamped motor. This marks the first full-scale overhaul for the Indian Scout line-up since Polaris took over the storied American bikemaker.
Honda City, Amaze, Elevate get up to Rs 83,000 off this month
Source Credit: Autocar India
Honda dealerships are offering attractive benefits across its entire line-up for the month of April 2024. Read on to see how much you can save on the purchase of a new Honda car this month.
BMW i5 bookings open in India
Source Credit: Autocar India
BMW India has started accepting bookings for the all-electric i5 both online and at dealerships. The i5 will be brought in to the country in limited numbers as a CBU model.
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📰 International News
Volvo Cars posts record March sales, lifted by small electric SUV
Volvo Cars sold a record number of cars in March, boosted by the launch of its fully electric small SUV, the Swedish company said on Thursday, sending its shares up 4% in early trade.
China's Chery to set up USD 800 mn automobile factory in Vietnam
Vietnam's trade ministry said on Thursday that automaker Chery had signed a joint venture agreement with a local company to set up an USD 800 million plant, becoming the first Chinese electric vehicle maker to set up a facility in Vietnam.
US closes investigation into Toyota Highlander steering wheel problems without seeking a recall
U.S. safety regulators have closed a five-year investigation into complaints that steering wheels can fall off of some Toyota SUVs without seeking a recall.
Chip shortage again? 70% production resumes after Taiwan earthquake
The massive earthquake in Taiwan has again sparked concerns about chip shortage in select pockets. Just months after talks around global shortage of semiconductors had started to abet with supply-chain glitches being addressed and improved predictive demand forecast enabling better production schedules, the flurry around the same seems to be returning. But initial reports indicate there may not be much to worry as of now as Taiwan slowly returns to normalcy.
UK new car sales record best March since 2019, industry body says
Britain's new car market recorded the best March since 2019, on the back of steady demand for fleet vehicles, industry data showed on Thursday.
How three high-technations becameEV laggards
Japanmeets all the conditions that should make it a frontrunner in electric vehicles:above-average incomes, a robust auto industry, high rates of new-car purchases and a culture that generally embraces technology. Instead, electric vehiclesmade upa measly 1.8 per cent of new cars sold in Japan last year.
📝 French shipper CMA CGM acquires 10% of Volvo-Renault electric van business
📝 Yellen faces tough road on China's excess capacity problem
📝 Italy's IP, Macquarie to invest over USD 215 mn in EV chargers for service stations
📝 Four carmakers to recall over 50,000 vehicles for faulty parts
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