Automobile

Toyota Motor Corp. has announced it will launch a hydrogen fuel-cell car for sale to global consumers in 2015, which will produce nothing more than water vapor from its tailpipe.

Toyota has been driving this camouflaged fuel-cell prototype, based on the Lexus HS250h, around the United States for the past year, the Verge reports.

Toyota said it”ll launch its fuel cell car first in California, the report added.

California has approved some 200 million dollars to build hydrogen refueling stations statewide starting next year. (ANI)

Luxury carmaker BMW reportedly demonstrated one of its self-driving feature that allows for automated parallel parking at the push of i3 button.

The new automated parallel parking system for the new i3 allows the driver to keep hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals while the car parks itself. According to Cnet, once the driver of the i3 electronic car is ready to find a parking spot, he can push the button on the car”s console after which, the car”s ultrasonic sensors scan around and look for a space.

To shore-up its market share in the sedan segment, Honda Tuesday launched the fourth generation of its Honda City with both diesel and petrol variants.

“With the best of both petrol and diesel technologies available in Honda City, we are very confident about the success of the model which will significantly contribute to our business growth in India,” said Hironori Kanayama, president and chief executive, Honda Cars India.

This is the second diesel offering of the company after it introduced the new fuel option in its entry-level sedan Amaze in 2013.

Formula E’s new fully-electric race car made its first ever public demonstration Monday, entertaining crowds with a high-speed display around the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here.

Capable of speeds in excess of 150mph, the zero emission single-seater was driven by former Formula 1 driver Lucas di Grassi and gave invited guests and onlookers their first chance to see and hear the cars that will compete in the new FIA Formula E Championship — the world’s first fully-electric racing series beginning in September.

Toyota unveiled a hydrogen-powered “Car of the Future” that emits only water vapour, at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Toyota said the prototype would have a driving range of about 300 miles (480 km) and accelerate from zero to 60 miles (96 km) per hour in about 10 seconds. It also would take only three to five minutes to refuel hydrogen tanks.

Hindi movie superstar Salman Khan Monday unveiled Audi RS 7 Sportback in India and said the vehicle is for the common man who wants to be uncommon.

“This is the common man’s car too… common man who wants to be uncommon,” Salman told reporters at the launch of the luxury car.

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer’s new offering is available at Rs.1.28 crore in the country.

In filmdom celebrities often gift luxury cars to their family members or colleagues.

Hinduja flagship firm Ashok Leyland plans to launch up to 18 different types of trucks this year under its new brand for commercial vehicles, ‘Captain’.

The company, which today unveiled the tipper model Captain 2523, priced Rs 24 lakh upwards, is increasing the prices of the existing small trucks by up to Rs 30,000 this month.

It has invested about Rs 600-700 crore in the development of the new range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles under the Captain range, endorsed by Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Luxury car-maker Audi today expanded its product range in the country by introducing the RS 7 Sportback, priced at Rs 1.28 crore, ex-showroom Mumbai.

“After the overwhelming response to our Audi RS 5, which further boosted our leadership in the luxury sports car segment, we are confident the new Audi RS 7 Sportback with its aesthetic design and impressive sportiness would establish new benchmarks in the performance sports car segment,” Audi India head Joe King said.

The company sold the first new car to Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover Monday launched a petrol variant of its Jaguar XF sedan in India, priced at Rs 48.3 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai).

Broadening its product line-up, the company is offering a two-litre petrol variant of the Jaguar XF for the first time in India, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said in a statement.

“The Jaguar XF 2.0L petrol engine is a definite head turner and an excellent sedan that combines elegant design, luxurious style and classy appeal,” JLR India Vice President Rohit Suri said.

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly set to unveil a Pebble smartwatch to demonstrate vehicle connectivity at CES 2014 in Las Vegas.

The luxury car maker would show a concept car that connects with a Pebble smartwatch that displays vehicle data and current navigation info sourced from the car”s software.

German auto major Audi today reported 11 per cent growth in its 2013 sales at 10,002 units in India, thus becoming the first luxury car maker to cross the 10,000 milestone in the country.

“Audi has emerged as a winning brand by closing the year on a record-making note with 10,002 units sold in a single year in India,” Audi India head Joe King said in a statement.

The company had 9,003 units in 2012. Rival BMW, which occupied the top slot in the luxury car market in India after dethroning Mercedes-Benz since 2009, is yet to announce its yearly sales for 2013.

A consumer forum here has directed Tata Motors to pay Rs 1.25 lakh as compensation to one of its customers whose car developed numerous defects within the first year of its purchase.

Automobile sales in December revealed a downturn in passenger car sales due to a sluggish economy plagued by high fuel and interest costs.

Sales of the country’s largest passenger car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki declined by 4.4 percent in total sales for December which stood at 90,924 units due to a fall in exports.

The company sold 95,145 units in December 2012.

There was a sharp drop in the company’s exports. Maruti Suzuki exported just 4,311 units last month, which was 67 percent less than 13,072 units sold overseas during the corresponding month of 2012.

Leading car makers Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor India Ltd posted single-digit growth in their domestic sales in December but other companies failed to beat the year-end blues.

Reflecting the prolonged slump in the Indian automobile sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford India , Toyota Kirloskar and General Motors India reported decline in domestic sales.

Maruti said its domestic sales during December 2013 stood at 86,613 units, up 5.5 per cent from 82,073 units in December of the previous year.

Tata Motors today reported 42.28 per cent decline in its total vehicle sales at 37,852 units in December 2013.

The company had sold 65,582 units in the same month last year.

Total passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 9,272 units in December, down 34.63 per cent from 14,185 units in the same month previous year.

Sales of Nano, Indica, Indigo range in December 2013 were 6,537 units, while that of Sumo, Safari, Aria, Venture range were at 2,735 units, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd today reported 36.88 per cent jump in total two-wheeler sales at 64,997 units in December 2013 as compared to 47,483 units in the same month of the previous year.

Domestic sales grew by 58.32 per cent at 39,777 units as against 25,123 units in the same month previous year, the company said in a statement. In the export markets, the company sold 25,220 units last month, compared to 22,360 units in December 2012 – up 12.79 per cent, it added.

Farm equipment maker Escorts Ltd today reported 3.84 per cent decline in its total tractor sales at 3,852 units in December 2013.

The company had sold 4,006 units of tractors in December 2012, Escorts Ltd said in a statement.

Domestic tractor sales stood at 3,809 units during the month as against 3,988 units in December 2012, down 4.48 per cent.

Exports jumped by over two-fold to 43 units in December 2013 as compared to 18 units in the same month previous year, it added.

Honda Cars India Ltd posted a 29.49 per cent increase in domestic sales at 5,493 units in December 2013.

The company had sold 4,242 units in the same month of the previous year, HCIL said today in a statement.

During December, the company sold 1,026 units of its small car Brio, 4,458 units of its latest sedan Amaze and nine units of the premium sedan Accord. In addition, the company exported a total of six units during the month.

Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India today reported 4.4 per cent decline in its total sales at 90,924 units in December 2013 as against 95,145 units in the same month previous year.

Domestic sales during the month stood at 86,613 units, up 5.5 per cent from 82,073 units in December previous year, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

Sales of mini passenger cars, including M800, Alto, A-Star and WagonR, were up 16.7 per cent at 38,286 units in December as against 32,797 units in the year-ago period.

Commercial vehicle maker SML Isuzu today announced it will hike prices of its products including trucks and buses by 2 to 5 per cent from next month, citing rising input cost.

Despite sluggish market, the company also said it will foray into higher capacity truck segment category by rolling out 13 tonne capacity vehicle.

The company said it plans to launch more trucks with bigger capacities in future to mark its presence.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd today reported a 2.58 per cent increase in its total sales in December 2013 at 49,069 units as against 47,833 units in the same month of previous year.

The company’s domestic sales were up 6.24 per cent at 28,345 units during the month from 26,697 units in December 2012, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said in a statement.

Exports during the month were down 1.94 per cent to 20,724 units from 21,136 units in the same month previous year, it added.

Auto-maker Mahindra & Mahindra today reported 12.55 per cent decline in its total sales at 39,611 units in December 2013.

The company had sold 45,297 units in the same month previous year, the company said in a statement.

In December, M&M’s domestic sales stood at 36,881 units as against 42,307 in the same month previous year, down 12.82 per cent.

Total sales of passenger vehicles, including Scorpio, XUV500, Xylo, Bolero and Verito, stood at 16,436 units during the month as against 22,761 in December 2012, down 27.78 per cent.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co today terminated its troubled $2.5-billion merger agreement with Apollo Tyres, which said it will take legal action against the US-based firm.

“It is time to move our business forward. While the strategic rationale for a business combination with Apollo is compelling, it is clear the merger agreement both companies signed on June 12 will not be consummated by Apollo,” Cooper Chairman CEO and President Roy Armes said in a statement.

Google has reportedly joined hands with carmaker Audi to develop in-car entertainment and information systems that would function on the search giant’s Android operating system.

The partnership is expected to be announced next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and its aim is to allow for in-car integration of music and navigation apps currently available on smartphones.

According to Cnet, the collaboration is expected to challenge Apple’s iOS in the Car, which aims to integrate users’ iPhones with their car’s onboard receiver or ‘infotainment’ system.

The worst may be over for the struggling auto sector that is expected to see some improvement from the second half of the next year, with a likely fall in interest rates and deferred purchases materialising into better sales, says a report.

“While an immediate upturn in the auto industry is not expected, the worst may be behind us. Expectations of improvement in economic environment from the second half of 2014 along with potential interest rate cuts are likely to provide support to auto sales in the year ahead,” global research firm Dun & Bradstreet said in a note.