Two full-blown multi-billion dollar semiconductor plants going to come up in India: MoS IT
Two full-fledged semiconductor fabrication plants are going to come up in India very soon entailing multi-billion dollar investment besides several chip assembly and packaging units, Minister of Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

Ford re-entry on the cards, trademarks Mustang Mach-E in India
There’s been a lot of talk if and when will Ford return to the Indian market. As per reports, the Blue Oval is set to make a comeback here with the Toyota Fortuner rival, the Endeavour. The American maker is also gearing up to introduce its first electric vehicle in India, the Mustang Mach-E. To be fair, when Ford was exiting India in 2021, the company announced that it would introduce the electric coupe via the direct import route. Well, now it’s confirmed, that Ford is planning to bring the Mustang Mach-E as it has trademarked the all-electric vehicle. 

Sales of CNG vehicles rise 52% in 2023
The difference in prices between CNG and petrol or diesel led to a rise in sales of CNG vehicles including cars and auto rickshaws during 2023.

Is it time for India’s EV sector to drop the crutches of subsidy?
Subsidies play a key role in driving companies to make electric vehicles (EV) and also in making them appealing for buyers. So, when the government decided to almost halve the support for EVs, it surprised many stakeholders in the ecosystem. But some say it is time to end sops if EV innovation has to grow.

We are committed to invest an additional Rs 1.65 trillion in Odisha: JSW Group chairman
Odisha is the top destination for the JSW Group, with the steel-to-cement conglomerate committing a fresh Rs 1.65 trillion for the state, apart from developing model villages. This is in addition to the Rs. 30,000 crore the group has already invested in the state, JSW Group chairman Sajjan Jindal told FE.

FAME-III may include more EV categories
New Delhi: The proposed third phase of the  FAME scheme for promotion of e - mobility may have a structure broadly similar to the second phase, but may see extension of the incentives to more categories of vehicles. According to official sources, an expenditure finance panel note has been circulated among various ministries by the department of heavy industries. The plan is to conclude the inter-ministerial consultations and to finalise the outlay over the next few week so that the FAME-III could be rolled out from the start of FY25. The FAME-II will expire on March 31. The outlay for FAME-III is likely to be around Rs. 10,000 crore. Speaking to FE, many OEMs said that their production targets would need to be adjusted as per the parameters of the new scheme. Under FAME, subsidies are given to manufacturers for sales of EVs. 
 

EV firms driving demand for expats; cos increase hiring in tech, engineering, R&D roles
Electric vehicle makers in India are accelerating their search for expat talent even as the country positions itself among the world's leading EV markets.

PIL: TN yet to notify rules for high security number plates, can’t fine motorists
A Chennai resident has moved Madras high court to restrain transport authorities from imposing penalty on vehicles without high security number plates till the government notifies authorised dealers and manufacturers for the same.

Major rift among automobile makers over calculation of carbon credits under CAFE norms
New Delhi: Major dissensions have emerged among Indian automobile manufacturers over calculation of carbon credits. On one side of this divide are Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) along with Korean companies including Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) and Kia India while includes Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) are arguing from the other side.

EVs and India’s Net Zero goals
With a strong GDP growth rate of 7.3%, India has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing large economy and is expected to become the third-largest economy in the world, exceeding $5 trillion in the next three to four years. A key driver for India’s growth is a young population, which offers the nation a unique demographic advantage in terms of increased consumption and productivity. India’s growing global position was evident during the 2023 G20 Presidency, where India played a pivotal role in shaping the agenda for the upcoming decade, particularly emphasising the urgent global issue for climate change.

The green logistics shift merits a comprehensive approach to build scale and make the desired impact
The shift towards green logistics requires a resolute and comprehensive strategy, one that transcends mere intent and triggers a holistic transformation across all the key elements of logistics operations. The heightened scrutiny of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) norms and the growing ESG awareness has underscored the urgent need for logistics companies to elevate their commitment and actions towards mitigating the environmental consequences of logistics operations.

How to develop bike-taxis (beyond issuing clarifications)
Bike-taxis could be an answer to our urban mobility woes but often face regulatory hurdles. While the Centre has recently clarified their legality, state-level concerns about licensing and regulation persist. What needs to be done to make them more viable? Mint explains:

Car Review: Citroen C3 Aircross Automatique : A bit too little, a bit too late

There are two kinds of car buyers — those who want luxury features inside the cabin (internet, good music sys-tern, sunroof, ventilated seats, wire-less charger), and those who want solid ride & handling and a punch yengine. Citroen's C3 Aircross Automatique is for the latter — it's for those who love well-engineered automatic gearbox cars. We drove it. 

Tata's Punch EV and ICE won't have same design

Tata Motor’s latest  electric car, the Punch EV, looks markedly different from the Punch already available in petrol and CNG variants, and that differentiation will remain, going forward. Martin Uhlarik, the head of global design at TataMotors, toldFE that the aim is to have differentiated products in the EV and ICE (internal combustion engine) segments, and the Punch is a perfect example of that. "The Punch EV has been developed on a new electric vehicle plat-form called the `acti.ev' (pro-nounced as `active'), instead of the ALFA platform on which the Punch ICE is based; Uhlarik said. "Even though a platform doesn't necessarily imply a different design, the Punch EV is almost as good as a born-electric car:' For instance, EVs don't have an engine and don't need a radiator grille, so the front of the Punch EV is flat and neat, with a thin strip of light running from left to right, and the charging socket in the middle.

From the sides and the rear, the Punch EV looks like the Punch ICE, though. "Unlike the Punch ICE, however, the Punch EV has a trunk — a front storage area," Uhlarik said. "The word is a portmanteau, blending `front' and 'trunk'. EVs usually have compact electric motors that are much smaller than a petrol/diesel engine and its ancillaries such as intake and exhaust systems, and a big radiator. The space thus freed can be utilized for storage, which we have done in the Punch EV." But the biggest difference between both the cars is inside the cabin. For instance, the Punch EV has a digital dashboard, steering wheel featuring an illuminated Tata logo, a jewelled control knob (gear-shifter), phygital control panel for controlling climate, as well as the luxury car feature of mood lighting. "It also has dedicated EV screens such as the multi-dial, full-view navigation and the energy flow (from the battery to the tyres and vice-versa); Uhlarik added. Although Uhlarik didn't confirm it, industry sources told FE that the Punch ICE facelift is scheduled in 2025, but it's unlikely to look any-thing similar to the Punch EV. 

From Hyundai Creta N Line to Tata Curvv: Upcoming SUVs expected to debut this year
The Indian automotive industry has started 2024 on a high note, building on the momentum from the previous year. With a record-breaking 41.08 lakh units of passenger vehicles sold in 2023, the market has seen an 8.3% increase in sales, largely driven by the popularity of SUVs, which accounted for nearly half of total dispatches, reported HT Auto. 

Once topseller, Alto no more in top 10
Maruti’s Alto, which was the largest selling car for 17 years, and the best-selling till 2019, had dropped from the top 10 bestselling cars list.

Hero Mavrick 440 — Variants explained
The latest offering in the sub 500cc segment in India is the Hero Mavrick, a retro roadster based on the new Harley-Davidson X440, developed by Hero MotoCorp and the US motorcycle maker. The Mavrick was showcased earlier this year and was officially launched a few days ago, carrying a price tag of Rs 1.99 lakh, ex-showroom.

Expect 2W industry to see double-digit revenue growth next fiscal, says Hero MotoCorp CEO
The domestic two-wheeler industry is expected to witness a double-digit revenue growth next fiscal with demand for premium models anticipated to gain further momentum, according to Hero MotoCorp CEO Niranjan Gupta. The country's largest two-wheeler maker, which reported a total income of INR 10,031 crore in the October-December quarter this fiscal, also expects the entry level segment to do better going ahead.

Hero MotoCorp foresees stable double-digit growth in two-wheeler industry revenue
New Delhi: The domestic two-wheeler industry is expected to witness a double-digit revenue growth next fiscal with demand for premium models anticipated to gain further momentum, according to Hero MotoCorp CEO Niranjan Gupta. The country's largest two-wheeler maker, which reported a total income of ₹10,031 crore in the October-December quarter this fiscal, also expects the entry level segment to do better going ahead. "As far as the demand is concerned, as we have been saying, we do expect the industry to grow double digit on revenue in the coming year at the least," Gupta said in an analyst call.

Kawasaki launches retro-styled Z650RS with traction control at ₹6.99 lakh: Know what's new
Kawasaki India has launched the 2024 Z650RS in the Indian market. It is priced at ₹6.99 lakh ex-showroom. For 2024, the only update that Kawasaki has made is the addition of traction control. There are two traction modes through which the rider can choose from. Apart from this, there are no changes to the Z650RS. The motorcycle is offered only in Metallic Matte Carbon Gray colour in India. However, in the global market, the are other colours on offer as well.

Bajaj Auto launches enhanced Pulsar NS200 and NS160 for 2024: Check what's new
Bajaj Auto, a prominent player in the Indian two-wheeler market, has recently unveiled the highly anticipated 2024 versions of its popular Pulsar NS200 and Pulsar NS160 motorcycles, reported HT Auto. While the pricing details are yet to be disclosed, the company expects a slight increase compared to the current models.

Harley-Davidson, Triumph blaze a trail, give Royal Enfield a tough ride
According to data shared by the Indian majors, both brands are already creating ripples in the above 350cc category. The increase in sales has prompted a ramp-up in production and even the doubling of retail touchpoints for one of them.

Cos take price-cut route to get more electric 2Ws on road
Ola Electric last week cut the price of its entry-level scooter by INR 25,000. That brought down the price of the Ola S1X+, with a 3kwh electric motor, in line with that of the top-selling petrol-powered scooter, Honda's Activa.

Luna: Electric from Kinetic
Nearly half a century ago, when the Kinetic Group Chairman Arun Firodia decided to develop and manufacture the Luna — the two-wheeler that became an iconic symbol of its time, complete with the catchy jingle ‘Chal meri Luna’ (let’s go, Luna) — he set down a few parameters: no foreign components; no overseas manufacturing equipment; designed in India for India; must weigh less than 50 kg (two-wheelers back then weighed 100-plus kg); and should reach even backward areas with an affordable pricing of ₹2,000 (when it was first launched).

Schaeffler India reports Rs 909 crore profit in 2023
Schaeffler India, one of the leading automotive suppliers has announced its financial results for Q4 CY2023 and full-year 2023.

Why Tata wants Uber to speed up its super app Tata Neu
Salt-to-steel conglomerate Tata Group's ambitious project of being the sole leader of the super app race by investing over USD 2 billion has been marred with leadership issues, stagnation in user growth and low customer engagement. In a bid to revive its position, Tata Group’s digital arm has initiated conversations with Uber for a strategic partnership to increase traffic and revenue, ET has reported recently.

ETAuto Connected Vehicle Summit'24: Driving sales in digital lane; Challenges and opportunities in connected vehicle revolution
New Delhi: The 4th edition of ETAuto Connected Vehicle Summit '24 convened industry leaders to delve into customer trends, challenges, and evolving strategies essential for maximizing the potential of connected vehicles in the dynamic automotive landscape.

Tolins Tyres files draft papers with SEBI to raise ₹230 crore via IPO
Kerala-based Tolins Tyres has filed preliminary papers to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise ₹230 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

Adani-Total Gas betting big on LNG
This includes strategic tie-ups with various stakeholders like auto ancillaries, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), fleet operators, end-use industry, and retrofitment players to advocate for quicker adoption of the fuel.

Bajaj Pulsar N250 long-term review, 3,000km report
Source Credit: Autocar India

The time has come for our long-term Bajaj Pulsar N250 to return to its maker and it will be missed. Partly because it leaves me without a bike to commute to and from the office, and I now have to drive or take the train; both of which I find tedious. But it’s mostly because of how good a package it actually is.

New Audi RS5 Avant to debut in 2025
Source Credit: Autocar India

The new Audi RS5 Avant is due in 2025 as a fearsome sports estate that will kick off a move into electrification by the Audi Sport performance division. The first plug-in hybrid from Audi Sport will be a successor to today’s pure-V6 RS4, but takes a new name in line with Audi’s plan to assign odd numbers to combustion cars and even ones to EVs. The equivalent electric model, badged RS4 e-tron, is expected to arrive by 2026.

Opinion: Weight over power
Source Credit: Autocar India

Riding the Diavel V4 in January was a nice way to start the new year. It’s a great motorcycle for so many reasons, but the engine really was the leading star. Ducati really knows how to make an exciting motor and this 1,158cc V4 Granturismo is an absolute gem. But beyond the awe and admiration, it also got me thinking – this is fast enough.

Volkswagen announces second phase of Mexico investment of around USD 1 bn
Volkswagen's Mexican unit announced on Friday an investment of around USD 1 billion, in a second installment of spending by the German automaker aimed at boosting its electric vehicle (EV)business at its existing operations in central Mexico.

Tesla able to produce real-world video similar to OpenAI's for over a year: Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shared intriguing insights into the potential synergies between OpenAI's Sora and his own autonomous driving ambitions after the ChatGPT maker unveiled its text-to-video model.

Honeywell, ENEOS to develop world's first commercial-scale hydrogen transport project
New Delhi: Honeywell announced that ENEOS, a leading energy company in Japan, will develop the world’s first commercial scale Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) project using Honeywell’s solution at multiple sites.

Even the world’s biggest electric-vehicle market is slowing
Hong Kong—Chinese electric-vehicle makers that enjoyed years of explosive growth now face a slowdown in domestic demand, spurring them to push overseas and challenge global auto giants already struggling with a transition to battery-powered cars.

EV startup Fisker receives non-compliance notice from NYSE
Electric vehicle startup Fisker said on Friday it had received a non-compliance notice from the New York Stock Exchange as its stock had closed below USD 1 on average for 30 consecutive trading days.