Automobile Makers

Toyota Kirloskar Motor vehicle sales surges 175% to 12,835 units in January

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Wednesday reported a 175 per cent growth in vehicle sales at 12,835 units in January. The company had sold 7,328 units in the year-ago period, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said in a statement. "Even with a month-on-month strong growth of 175 per cent, we anticipate customer demand to gain further momentum in this year," Atul Sood, vice president, sales and strategic marketing at TKM, said. The carmaker had announced opening of bookings for its Hilux and the Innova Crysta models besides announcing the prices of the CNG variants of its Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The company has commenced dispatches of its Hycross SUV and is making efforts to meet the growing demand for the vehicle in the country, he said and added that its Urban Cruiser Hyryder also continues to witness healthy demand. In addition to this, the company's flagship models -- Camry, Fortuner, Legender and Vellfire -- also continue to garner good orders, he added.

Weak exports remain an overhang in the near term for Bajaj Auto

Strong realisations helped the company beat estimates in Q3

Auto firms have foot on price pedal, even as commodity costs tail off

Between March 31 last year and January 13 this year, the prices of raw materials such as Aluminium, Copper and Tin have decreased at the London Metal Exchange

Wheels India starts exports of wheels with advanced flow form technology

The company said the flow form technology involves the application of pressure to the inner barrel of the wheel while spinning and after it has been casted

Adishwar introduces Benelli Bikes, launches new model of Keeway Superbike

Hyderabad-based Adishwar Auto Ride India (AARI) on Wednesday introduced the Italian bicycle brand Benelli Bike in India and also launched Superbike Keeway SR250 at Auto Expo 2023

Auto Expo returns after 3 years; some prominent firms to skip event

India's flagship motor show Auto Expo returns this week after three years having been hit by the pandemic, albeit some of the major manufacturers staying away from the event. The likes of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Kia India, Toyota Kirloskar and MG Motor India will lead the traditional automakers at the show at Greater Noida that will witness five global launches and 75 product launches and unveils. Yet, others such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Skoda, Volkswagen and Nissan along with luxury car makers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi will be conspicuous by their absence in the biennial show that was originally scheduled to be held in 2022 but was postponed to this year due to Covid-19. Also, the visibility of main two-wheeler makers such as Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co will be restricted to their displays of flex fuel prototype vehicles at the Ethanol pavilion. Nevertheless, this edition of the Auto Expo, which kicks off with press days on January 11-12 ...

Profitability focus to drive gains for Mahindra CIE Automotive

The company is selling its loss-making German CV forging business

Maruti Suzuki expects sales of vehicles with auto gear to rise in 2023

With increasing congestion across cities in India, Maruti Suzuki India expects sales of its vehicles with auto gear shift to pick up further next year, according to company Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales Shashank Srivastava. The company had introduced the auto gear shift (AGS) technology that relieves drivers from manually changing gears using the clutch, for the first time in 2013-14 on its hatchback Celerio. It has cumulatively sold 7.74 lakh units of such vehicles across its portfolio so far. "After we introduced AGS, slowly we have expanded it in so many of our models. We do believe that with increased congestion, especially in urban areas, AGS is a further addition to the ease of driving. So we believe technology will pick up even further," Srivastava told PTI. The company has nine models -- Celerio, Alto K10, WagonR, Dzire, Ignis, Swift, Brezza, S-Presso and Baleno -- which come with the AGS option. In terms of AGS penetration, he said, "It varies between 12 per

Honda Cars India ties up with Indian Bank to provide vehicle loans

Honda Cars India (HCIL) on Friday said it has tied up with Indian Bank to provide vehicle finance for its customers. The partnership will offer easy loan disbursement, reasonable interest rates, special offers, flexible policies and simplified process, the company said in a statement. The customers can avail financing benefits across over 5,700 branches of Indian Bank and HCIL dealer network across the country, it added. ********* MBRDI, Mercedes-Benz India partner for electric vehicle module course at RV College of Engineering * Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) on Friday said it has partnered with Mercedes-Benz India to introduce an all-new electric vehicle module in its Advanced Diploma Automotive Diploma (ADAM) course offered at RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru. MBRDI has also contributed a high-tech EV lab to upskill the talent pool in the country and support the industry as it transitions towards electric mobility, the company said in a statement.

EV maker Avon Cycles denies allegations over misappropriation of incentives

India's Avon Cycles Ltd has denied any wrongdoing in a scheme granting subsidies to vehicle manufacturers to boost the sale of electric vehicles (EV)

Value of components supplied to passenger car OEM increasing: Data

Share of value of components supplied to the two-wheeler market goes down

Tesla stock drops to its lowest, Elon Musk blames macroeconomic conditions

Electric car company Tesla's shares tumbled further to around $137 apiece, its lowest ever, as Elon Musk on Wednesday again blamed global macroeconomic conditions

Hyundai becomes 3rd largest carmaker, set to overtake Toyota, Volkswagen

While Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG vie each year for pole position atop the global automobile industry, Hyundai has quietly slipped in behind them, surpassing General Motors Co., Nissan Motor

High regulatory burden, taxes keep cars out of reach of Indians: Automaker

The levies by the Indian govt have made purchasing vehicles expensive for the population, said RC Bhargava, Maruti Suzuki's chairman

BMW Motorrad India expects sales to cross 7,000 units mark next year

BMW Motorrad, the two wheeler division of the German luxury car maker, expects sales to grown in double digits next year as well as it remains bullish on the long term growth prospects of the country. The company, which sells a range of motorcycles in the country, is looking to cross the 7,000 unit sales mark this year. With sales volume this year till November having already crossed the 6,000 units mark, a growth of around 40 per cent as compared to same period last year, BMW Motorrad India has for the first time entered the top ten markets for the brand globally. The company had sold 5,191 units in the country last year. "I am absolutely certain of that," BMW Motorrad Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific & Africa Markus Mueller-Zambre told PTI when asked if the company would be able to achieve double digit volume growth in 2023. In order to continue with sustainable growth in the market, the company has realigned its strategy a bit to reflect on the measures it needs to take to .

Indian automobile industry looks to sustain growth momentum in 2023

The Indian automobile industry is setting out on a journey with hopes for a sustained growth momentum in 2023 and further embracing clean technology amid the lurking speed breakers of rising interest rates and cost increases due to new emission and safety norms, having witnessed a strong comeback from the COVID-led downturn this year. While the passenger vehicles (PV) segment is set for record sales in 2022 despite the lingering effects of supply chain constraints and semiconductor shortages, the two-wheeler space is yet to see sustained sales buoyancy after having suffered for most of the year. According to industry estimates, PV sales can reach around 38 lakh units this year. The three-wheelers and commercial vehicles segments have also witnessed good growth in 2022 compared to 2021, albeit on a low base of last year, which was affected by the second wave of COVID-19 and manufacturers will be keen to carry forward the momentum to the new year. As per industry observers, 2023 will

Auto aftermarket firm myTVS raises Rs 203 cr in funding from Lingotto

Company earlier got Rs 487 cr from Castrol India for business and technology collaborations

Rivian EV puts hold on partnership for electric vans with Mercedes-Benz

Electric car-maker Rivian has put a pause on plans to co-develop multiple new electric delivery vans with luxury German automaker Mercedes-Benz

Rising gas prices constrain CNG penetration in commercial vehicles: Icra

Rising gas prices have constrained CNG penetration in commercial vehicles to 9-10 per cent in the current fiscal from peaks of 16 per cent, Icra Ratings said on Friday. A spurt in global energy prices has led to a 70 per cent jump in the price of CNG in the last one year. This has narrowed the gap between the fuel and diesel, blurring the incentive to shift to the cleaner fuel. In a statement, the rating agency said CNG penetration in the domestic commercial vehicle (CV) sector has witnessed a decline in the current fiscal, especially in the MCV truck segment. "Rising CNG prices have narrowed the gap with diesel and in turn, diminished the running cost savings from CNG vehicles, which has been the key deterrent," it said. Notwithstanding the recent decline witnessed in CNG penetration, medium-term prospects remain favourable given the improving CNG fuelling infrastructure and push for cleaner vehicles, it added. Icra said CV industry has witnessed a contraction in the penetration

Luxury carmaker Audi to hike vehicle prices by up to 1.7% from January

Luxury carmaker Audi on Wednesday said it will increase prices of its model range by up to 1.7 per cent, with effect from January 1, 2023. The company said it is hiking the prices due to an increase in input and operational costs. "The primary objective of the company's business strategy focuses on a model that begets profitability and sustainability. The price correction is affected as a result of the rising supply-chain-related input and operational costs," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said in a statement. The new price range for the company models is directed at maintaining the premium price positioning of the brand, ensuring sustainable growth of both the automaker and its dealer partners, he added. Audi India's current line-up includes the petrol-powered A4, A6, A8 L, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8, S5 Sportback, RS 5 Sportback, and RSQ8. The electric vehicle portfolio under the e-Tron brand comprises the e-Tron 50, e-Tron 55, e-Tron Sportback 55, e-Tron GT and RS e-Tron GT. Mainstr