Car co joy ride: export to Europe increased

Indian car companies making profit from incentives offered by the government of France, United Kingdom and Germany. These incentives are provided to the fuel efficient vehicles. Hyundai Motor India recorded 33% growth in exports in June to 24,241 cars Maruti to export 2 lakh cars in FY10, up from 70,000 cars the company exported in FY09 Toyota, General Motors and Ford are looking at a possible debut in compact cars segment. “Our parent Suzuki Motor’s distribution network in Europe is clogged with bookings,” Maruti’s executive officer (sales & marketing) Mayank
Pareek said. Maruti aims to export 2 lakh cars in FY 10 from the 70,000 cars it exported in FY ‘09. Eyeing the potential, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the Indian unit of Japan’s Toyota Motor, has increased investment by an additional Rs 800 crore, taking it to Rs 4,000 crore till 2016 in its small car manufacturing facility near Bangalore. “The Indian subsidiary will play a larger role in global operations. Besides the domestic market, our small car coming next year will also cater to several overseas markets,” said a TKM executive, requesting anonymity.

High-end cars to be priced a little lower

The Union Budget 2009-10 has given a chance to own luxury items at lower prices due to proposed cut in taxes and duties. The auto sector has also been provided with some great announcements like excise duty cut on big cars. As soon as the news spread, several auto makers has promised to reduce the prices of the big cars. Mitsubishi has taken the lead by announcing price cut of Rs 6,000 on its Pajero, Outlander and Montero cars. Responding in the same spirit While BMW, General Motors and Toyota said they would pass on the benefits of excise cut, Tata Motors said it would soon announced its decision on it. "We will pass on the benefits of this excise duty cut to our customers immediately," General Motors India Vice President P Balendran told reporters. Another carmaker Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) would also react according to the Budget's proposal. "We have always been passing on all benefits to the customers, which we get from the government. Though this cut is very minimum, still we will pass on this," TKM Deputy Managing Director (Marketing) Sandeep Singh said.

Now Honda and Ford reduced its car prices

After Mitsubishi's cut prices of its high-end cars after excise duty cut on large cars, Ford and Honda joined in the rally. Both the carmkers reduced the prices of their cars by up to Rs 6,000. Ford India announced a price cut of Rs 6,000 for its sport utility vehicle (SUV) 'Endeavour'. While Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) cut the prices by Rs 5,000 for its luxury sedan 'Accord' and SUV 'CR-V'. Following the price cuts, Honda's Accord would now be available between Rs 17.72 lakh and Rs 24.80 lakh. Its CR-V would now come at Rs 22.92-Rs 23.62 lakh. GM India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and BMW had also said they would pass on the benefit of excise cuts to consumers. The government had proposed to reduce the additional excise duty on big cars with engine capacities of 2,000 cc and above by Rs 5,000 per unit in the Budget for 2009-10.

Hyundai, Tata and Maruti plans to hire engineering talent from Detroit

India’s largest carmaker had sent a team to Detroit to shop for talent. It bagged 10 engineers so far, two of them expats. Maruti also plans to hire around 500 people in managerial capacity in the next financial year. Sunil Goel, director of GlobalHunt India, said there is a serious shortage of skilled manpower in India, which has forced these companies to look outside. Arvind Saxena, senior VP (sales and marketing) said, "We have always believed in hiring the best and if this means extending the boundaries to include those living outside India, we are open. I am sure this will be a good opportunity for many Indians as well, who want to come back home. It will be an excellent opportunity for us too since we will be able to get experienced people, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in international markets." Volkswagen Beetle and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X are the upcoming cars in India.

Tata Indicruz, Tata Indica Vista Igins at Auto Expo

Tata Motors, one of the largest auto maker in India, is expected to launch a couple of new vehicles at the up-coming Auto Expo. According to sources, the new launches will include Tata Indicruz and Tata Indica Vista Igins. Apart from these, the company will launch a Jaguar-branded luxury saloon. The Tata Indicruz is supposed to be a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) and might be priced at Rs 6-8 lakh in India. The CUV is to be pitted against Chevrolet Tavera, Mahindra Xylo and Toyota Innova. The Indicruz was displayed at Geneva Auto Show in 2005. The CUV is reported to be based on Tata Indica Vista platform.

Tata to showcase Indicruz model in the Delhi Auto show

Tata Motors, one of the India's largest car manufacturer will showcase its Tata Indicruz model in the Delhi Auto Expo, starting 5th January next year. The Tata Indicruz model is expected to be officially launched in the first quarter of next year by the company. Tata Indicruz is a MUV (Multi Utility vehicle) that has been designed to provide a multi purpose vehicle which can be drove in cities as comfortably as in off road journeys.

The Tata Indicruz model has been manufactured at the platform of Tata New Safari model and it is coming with the same 2.2L Safari Dicor engine. Besides the latest engine the Tata Indicruz model is coming with all new safety features like antilock braking system and multiple airbags. It has been designed with a new and stylish exterior designing while the interiors of the car are comfort providing and spacious.

Ford Focus 1.6 Flex

A Ford apresentou a nova geração do Focus. Ele vem com o novo motor Sigma 1.6 Flex, quase todo feito em alumínio de quatro cilindros e 16 válvulas gerando 109 cv a gasolina e 115 cv abastecido com álcool.

A versão GL vem de série airbag ar-condicionado, frontal duplo, travas, direção hidráulica, vidros e retrovisores elétricos, CD Player compatível com MP3, ajuste de altura dos faróis e rodas de aro 16”. Na versão GLX traz ainda vidros elétricos nas portas traseiras, maçanetas e retrovisores na cor do veículo e descansa-braço para o motorista.

Veja preços das novas versões 1.6 Flex do Focus 2010:

GL 1.6 Flex – R$49.900
GLX 1.6 Flex sem ABS – R$51.400
GLX 1.6 Flex com ABS – R$52.400