Automobile

US auto major Ford plans to introduce in India its latest version of communications and entertainment system, SYNC 3, in its vehicles by next year.

Ford showcased its SYNC 3 technology at the International CES here. SYNC 3 will be available in vehicles in US this year.

According to the company, its latest infotainment system SYNC3 would be faster, more intuitive and easier to use than the existing SYNC AppLink present in Ford cars.

The US space agency and the automaker Nissan have announced a five-year partnership to build self-driving, zero-emission autonomous cars for earth – and eventually space.

Nissan and NASA will test autonomous cars at the US space agency’s Ames Research Centre in Sunnyvale, California.

NASA researchers will be working with Nissan’s research unit in Silicon Valley, they said in a joint statement.

Nissan is already testing cars that can navigate urban environments on their own, Wired.com reported.

Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra controlled second hand vehicle arm Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd is expanding at healthy pace of over 25 percent.

“We are expecting a growth of 25-30 percent in sales of second hand cars under Mahindra First Choice in FY 15′. We aim to end with 1.4 lakh vehicles against 1.1 vehicle last year,” Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd CEO Nagendra Palle told PTI.

He said second hand vehicle industry was also expanding at a healthy pace of around 15 percent and that the high growth phenomenon will continue.

Domestic passenger car sales rose 15.26 percent to 1,52,743 units in December 2014 as compared to 1,32,524 units in December 2013.

Motorcycle sales last month declined 3.52 percent to 7,79,908 units from 8,08,389 units a year earlier, according to data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Total two-wheeler sales in December rose 4.52 percent to 12,12,996 units.

Sales of commercial vehicles rose 9.01 percent to 51,000 units in December, SIAM said.

A day after transporters in the state called off their strike, the Haryana government made it clear Thursday that no new transport vehicle will be registered if it is not compliant with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989 within one year.

“Such vehicles, as are on the roads, have been given one year to go right-size and conform to the prescribed standards,” a state government spokesman said here.

A rare treat of top cars awaits super car aficionados at the Parx Super Car Show scheduled here over the weekend, which will include the showstopper LaFerrari that can zoom at a dizzying 350 km per hour.

The super cars on show will include some of the best, fastest and most expensive mean machines of Audi, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, Bentley, BMW, Rolls Royce and many more at the daylong expo at Mahalaxmi Race Course Saturday, following by a grand road parade Sunday.

Hydrogen powered cars are making their presence felt here with auto majors Toyota and Hyundai showcasing their products at the global consumer electronics and technology trade show.

While Japanese car maker Toyota’s Mirai, one of the first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be sold commercially, is turning the heads, South Korean firm Hyundai is also attracting attention at the International CES with the hydrogen powered version of its Sports Utility Vehicle Tucson.

In order to demonstrate its self-driving technology, Audi is letting a specially made A7 drive itself to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

The car, named “Jack,” would make the first major debut of Audi’s “Piloted Driving” technology which it said is now production ready, reported The Independent.

The 550-mile-long journey will demonstrate the car’s ability to drive on motorways, including changing lanes and doing overtaking maneuvers.

German luxury automobile maker Mercedes-Benz has said that it’s moving its US headquarters from New Jersey to Atlanta, in part to be closer to its manufacturing facility in Alabama.

Georgia Gov Nathan Deal said yesterday the company accepted an incentive package from the state but said he couldn’t discuss the details yet.

The Fulton County Development Authority met briefly yesterday to discuss its own incentive package for Mercedes’ estimated USD 93 million facility but provided no details.

Indian IT consulting company Tech Mahindra Tuesday said it has entered into a joint venture with US-based global telecom technology firm Avion Systems to provide network design and engineering services to communications service providers.

“Tech Mahindra has been chosen as a minority investor at Avion Systems and the new JV will be called Avion Networks Inc (ANI),” the company said in a statement.

The country’s largest automobile companies in terms of passenger car sales Tuesday hiked prices on account of the government’s decision to withdraw excise duty concessions and increase in input costs.

The country’s largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki said it was increasing vehicle prices to offset higher taxes.

According to a company official, the price increase which was effective Jan 1, 2015 was intimated to its dealers Tuesday.

“The price increase was intimated today. All vehicles which are sent to dealers will be sold with new prices,” the official told IANS.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Monday launched an updated version of its popular multi purpose vehicle ‘Innova’ priced between Rs 10.51 lakh and Rs 15.80 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The company also announced the launch of a new variant variant of its premium sports utility vehicle –Fortuner 4X4 Automatic, priced between Rs 24.17 lakh and Rs 26.49 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

“The launch announcement coincides with the commemoration of the successful journey of the company’s flagship brand ‘Innova’, celebrating 10 years in India,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.

Swedish truck maker Volvo Group said today it had completed the acquisition of 45 per cent of a subsidiary to Chinese motor giant Dongfeng for USD 893 million.

Announced in January 2013, and now confirmed by Beijing, the deal awards Volvo a share in Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles (DFCV) worth 5.5 billion yuan.

The other 55 per cent remains in the hands of the parent company, Dongfeng Motor Group, one of the main shareholders of the French carmaker PSA.

Yamaha Motor India on Saturday reported 12.13 per cent increase in domestic two-wheeler sales at 44,602 units in December 2014.

The company had sold 39,777 units in December 2013.

Commenting on the sales performance, Yamaha Motor India Sales Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Roy Kurian said: “Our relentless efforts to rev up sales, backed by innovative marketing strategies and an impeccable product portfolio across segments, have reaped robust results.”

Japanese car maker Nissan today announced the start of pre-bookings of its soon-to-be-launched compact multi purpose vehicle ‘Datsun GO+’ in India.

The Datsun GO+, which was first previewed at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo, will be available for pre-booking between January 3-14, Nissan India said in a statement.

“Prospective customers can now pre-book their Datsun GO+ with a fully refundable amount of Rs 11,000 at any Nissan dealership across India,” it added.

The Datsun GO+ is India’s first sub-4 meter compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

The insurance ordinance, which was promulgated recently, has made it mandatory for all general insurers except specialised ones to underwrite a certain percentage of insurance business as third party motor premium as required by the IRDA.

The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) is likely to come up with its operational guidelines on the subject shortly.

Automobile maker Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Thursday reported a decline of 8.3 percent in its total sales in the month of December.

Compared to December 2013’s sales figure of 39,611 units, the company sold 36,328 units in December 2014.

Although its sales in the passenger vehicles segment rose by 5 percent for the same time period, overall domestic sales fell by 6.56 percent as well as its exports which registered a decline of 31.57 percent.

The sales figure of passenger vehicles stood at 17,311 units, compared to 16,436 units in December 2013.

Motorycles, scooters and auto-rickshaw maker TVS Motor Company (TVSMC) Thursday said its sales in the month of December grew by 20 percent with total sales clocking at 191,880 units.

“Total two wheeler sales increased by 19 percent from 153,358 units recorded in December 2013 to 181,994 units in December 2014. Domestic two wheeler sales grew by 19 percent increasing from 132,664 units in December 2013 to 157,438 units in December 2014,” the company said in a statement.

India’s largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki Thursday reported a healthy sales growth of 20.8 percent, including exports, for Dec 2014 at 109,791 units.

The company sold 90,924 units in December 2013.

The company’s domestic sales increased by 13.3 percent to 98,109 units during the month under review as compared to 86,613 units sold in the corresponding month of 2013.

Maruti Suzuki exported 11,682 units last month, which was an rise of 171 percent from 4,311 units sold overseas during the last month of 2013.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) today reported 21 per cent jump in total sales at 59,365 units in December 2014.

The company had sold 49,078 units in the same month last year, it said in a statement.

In the domestic market, Hyundai sold 32,504 units last month as compared to 28,345 units in December 2013, up 14.7 per cent.

During the month, Hyundai’s exports increased 29.6 per cent to 26,861 units as against 20,733 units in the same period last year.

Auto companies may be propelled to hike auto price following government decision to withdraw excise duty concessions from January 1, sources said on Tuesday.

Earliler, in the interim Budget, UPA government had reduced excise duty to 24 percent from 30 percent in the case of SUVs, 20 percent for mid-sized car from 24 percent and 24 percent for large cars from 27 percent.

In June, the new government led by Narendra Modi extended the excise duty concession by six months to 31 December.

A day after the central government did not extend the excise duty concessions provided to the automobile and consumer durables sector in 2015, India Inc. Wednesday said the move will hit demand.

According to Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (Assocham), the withdrawal of excise duty concessions comes at a time when manufacturing output has declined by over four percent in October.

Automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor India Wednesday reported a record domestic sales at over 4.10 lakh units in 2014 from 3.80 lakh units sold during 2013.

The company’s yearly domestic sales increased by 7.89 percent to 4.10 lakh units.

According to the company, the yearly performance led to its highest market share of 21.6 percent in the 16 years since the company has been operating in India.

Tata Motors has launched online bookings for its soon to be launched hatchback ‘Bolt’.

Customers can book the Bolt online by making a payment of Rs 11,000, Tata Motors said in a statement Monday.

Bolt, which will be available in petrol and diesel variants, is the second brand new vehicle from the company’s stable after compact sedan Zest which was launched earlier this year.

The new car comes with various features including anti-lock braking system (ABS) for improved braking efficiency and corner stability control (CSC).

PTI