Karnataka govt inks MoUs worth Rs 22,000 crore at WEF, Davos
The government of Karnataka has signed memorandums of understanding worth Rs 22,000 crore with seven companies such as Microsoft, data centre provider Web Werks and Japanese conglomerate Hitachi on the second day of the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland.

Foxconn, HCL announce JV to set up semiconductor OSAT in India
Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group and India’s HCL Group will form a joint venture (JV) to set up a semiconductor outsourced assembly and testing (OSAT) unit, where Foxconn will hold 40% equity with an investment of $37.2 million, the companies individually confirmed on Wednesday.

Tata Motors expects industry EV sales growth in India to moderate to 40-45% this year
It is expecting to grow faster than the industry EV growth rate, he added.

Import reliance for copper to ease, EV push to boost demand for the metal
After a few years of relentless surge, India’s copper imports may ease with new domestic capacities set to go on stream. India was a net exporter of copper for a very long time, but things changed following the closure of Sterlite’s 0.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) copper smelter at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu in May 2018.

Tata Motors urges govt to keep hybrid tax as Toyota seeks cut
Tata Motors warns against lower GST for hybrid vehicles
mint
https://www.livemint.com/auto-news/tata-motors-warns-against-lower-gst-for-hybrid-vehicles-11705509294059.html
Tata Motors urges govt to keep hybrid tax amid Toyota's bid to slash it
mint

Govt forms panel to examine demands for inclusion of more components in Auto PLI: Minister
Rupees 4,415 crore released as PLI so far; Electronics units top beneficiaries
The Financial Express

Aprilia RS 457 first ride review — Italian performance, made in India
When the news first broke out that Aprilia was making a sub-500cc motorcycle, fans were eager. Fast forward to September 2023, Aprilia finally showcased the RS 457 at the Indian GP and later launched it for Rs 4.10 lakh at IBW. While some thought it was expensive, especially given KTM’s pricing in India, a few thought it was okay, while some wanted to ride it before concluding — including me.

2024 Hyundai Creta Review: Reloaded Big Ticket SUV
The Hyundai Creta has an unprecedented cult following in India. Just to back this statement, Hyundai has sold 9.8 lakh units of Creta ever since its launch in 2015. The SUV has been a game changer for the Indian market and is one of the main protagonists why the sedan market is dwindling while the SUV segment has a colossal 49 per cent of the market share. We highlight what’s new, what’s better than its previous versions and how Hyundai has improved the 2024 Creta. 

Tata Motors’ Vinay Pant on the marketing strategy adopted by the automotive brand
The automotive sector has evolved by offering products at every price point. Today, there is a car for everyone, and to meet everyone’s needs from luxury to economy.  The Indian automotive market was valued at $100 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $160 billion in 2027, thereby registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% over the forecast period (2022-2027), as per a report by Mordor Intelligence, a business intelligence platform. 

2024 Mahindra XUV700 — What’s new?
Mahindra launched the 2024 XUV700 in India a few days ago, priced at Rs 13.99 lakh ex-showroom. The updated XUV700 looks identical to last year’s model in design, however, there are numerous new or updated features under the skin. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new with the 2024 Mahindra XUV700.

2024 Hyundai Creta Vs competition: Price check
Hyundai finally launched the much anticipated facelift to the second-gen Creta yesterday. With prices starting at Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom), the new Creta manages to justify its premium price tag thanks to several updates over the outgoing model and the brand value of Creta in the Indian market.

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility nears break-even: MD Shailesh Chandra
On the sidelines of the Punch electric vehicle (EV) launch, the first vehicle on Tata Motors’ pure EV platform, Shailesh Chandra, managing director (MD), Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (TPEML), speaks with Sohini Das in Mumbai. He talks about how the company is focusing on going fully electric and moving away from petrol and diesel powertrains.

Edited excerpts

We welcome competition but it has to be a level playing field: Shailesh Chandra, Tata Motors
Indian automaker Tata Motors on January 17 launched Punch.ev, the first vehicle on its new pure electric platform. The company that has the largest market share in electric vehicles (EVs) plans to introduce Curvv, Harrier, Sierra, and Altroz, going forward. businessline spoke to Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility on the new launch, electric vehicle investments, FAME 2 subsidy, Tesla’s entry in India, dedicated electric vehicle showrooms, and growth of electric vehicles.

1 SUV makes up for 3 cars for Honda: CEO
The Elevate SUV, launched in September 2023, has filled the sales gap left by three passenger cars —fourth-generation City, Jazz and WR-V —for Honda Cars India, Takuya Tsumura, the president & CEO, told FE. The Elevate was launched on September 4, 2023, and has sold almost 25,000 units. It has boosted Honda's sales by 11% — from 32,370 units during September-December 2022 to 35,893 units in September-December 2023.

Maruti Suzuki implements price hike for vehicles due to increased input costs, inflation
 

Tata.ev launches Punch.ev at an introductory price of INR 10.99 lakh
Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited & Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited. said, “Today marks a historic milestone in India's EV journey as Tata.ev propels the nation into a new era of sustainable mobility with the launch of Punch.ev. Our unwavering mission to accelerate EV adoption has transformed the landscape, overcoming barriers with innovative solutions. From the launch of the game-changing Nexon.ev and Tiago.ev to our constant work of creating a robust charging infrastructure, we've reshaped perceptions."

Rollout of e-buses in June, charging bays & substations to be built soon
In preparation to add 100 electric buses to the city’s modest fleet, GMDA is planning to hire an agency for installation of substations at the Sector 10 depot.

CNH New Holland completes 25 years in India
New Delhi: CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction solutions, has completed 25 years of operation in India.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India cracks down on fake engine oil makers in WB
New Delhi: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) recently executed a decisive crackdown on counterfeit engine oil production and distribution in West Bengal in a significant stride to safeguard customer interests and bolster the trustworthiness of brand Honda.

Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles aims to expand to 750 touchpoints
Mumbai: Classic Legends, the maker of Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, plans to deepen its presence and is aiming to expand to 750 touchpoints in the next 24 to 30 months. The company is aiming to expand its presence in the hinterlands and go beyond towns.

2024 Bajaj Pulsar N150, N160 to get new updates— teased ahead of launch
It won’t be wrong to say that the Pulsar range of motorcycles is Bajaj Auto’s lifeline in the Indian two-wheeler market with over 50% of the annual sales coming from Pulsar-branded models. The company currently offers almost a dozen models under the Pulsar sub-brand with more new models in the works.

Classic Legends charts revival plan; to focus more on Asean markets
It recently introduced the Jawa 350 motorcycle to take on Royal Enfield.  
 

Hero Mavrick 440 design sketch teased again ahead of launch
Hero MotoCorp is gearing up to launch its flagship motorcycle later this month. Called Mavrick 440, this upcoming middleweight bike is based on the Harley Davidson X440. The latter has been co-developed by the Indian bikemaker at its CIT facility in Jaipur and also manufactures the bike for the iconic American brand.

Husqvarna launches 2024 editions of Svartpilen 401, Vitpilen 250 in India. Price, technical specifications
Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 and Svartpilen 401 launched in India
The Financial Express

Electric 2W manufacturer Ather Energy to launch family scooter 'Diesel'
The suppliers are already ramping up to meet the anticipated demand for the production of the new model, according to the people familiar with the matter.
 

MRF Share Price: India's most expensive stock hits 52-week high at ₹1.5 lakh-mark, drops over 1% upon closing
MRF Share Price: India's most expensive stock MRF was locked at over nine per cent upper circuit to hit its fresh 52-week high mark of ₹150,000 or ₹1.5 lakh on Wednesday, January 17. MRF stock price has now extended gains for the sixth consecutive trading session, however, it erased all gains and dropped over one per cent upon market closing earlier today.

Lithium-ion battery recycling: key processes and technologies for India’s EV Industry
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as a game-changing invention in the field of sustainable energy and storage technologies, attracting widespread attention. They are vital for sustainable energy solutions, powering consumer electronics and electric vehicles (EVs). And as the LIBs grow in popularity, their demand graph grows proportionally. But the staggering surge in demand for the batteries has posed challenges related to raw material scarcity driven by the depletion of natural resources.

Rosefield Conference on Lubricants & Fuels: Shaping sustainable strategies to keep pace with evolving technologies
The Rosefield Conference on Lubricants and Fuels brought together auto OEMs, fuel, lubricants and additive companies on a common platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie in this evolving landscape.

India to keep diversifying oil supply, accelerate energy transition -Oil Minister
Supply cuts by OPEC+, costly shipments from some traditional Middle East suppliers and geopolitical tension is driving India, the world's third biggest oil importer, to diversify its crude sources and accelerate its energy transition, its Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

India to keep diversifying oil supply, accelerate energy transition -Oil Minister
Supply cuts by OPEC+, costly shipments from some traditional Middle East suppliers and geopolitical tension is driving India, the world's third biggest oil importer, to diversify its crude sources and accelerate its energy transition, its Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

BP to set up new centre at Pune
New Delhi: BP Plc on Wednesday said it will set up a new centre of technical excellence in Pune that will provide engineering and other technical support to global operations of the London-based oil major. The centre will employ more than 400 staff in 2024, which will be scaled up to over 1,000 over a multi-year period, the firm said in a statement.

Aramco CEO predicts tighter oil markets, sees Red Sea risks
Global oil markets will cope with Red Sea disruptions in the short run, although prolonged attacks by the Houthis on ships would lead to a shortage of tankers due to longer voyages and a supply delay, the CEO of Saudi oil giant Aramco said.

Centre imposes 50% export duty on molasses to boost ethanol production
Central government on Tuesday imposed a 50% export duty on molasses, a byproduct of sugar cane. The decision will come in force from January 18.

Embracing Auto LPG: the smart choice for winters to promote clean and sustainable mobility
Based on an analysis conducted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), The grand city witnessed a surge in pollution levels from November 1 to 15, 2023. Consequently, Delhi’s air quality has oscillated between the very poor and severe categories since the beginning of November 2023.

Aprilia RS 457 review: The new benchmark?
Source Credit: Autocar India

We’ve already seen it, we already know the specs that matter and we even know the price. In fact, interest in the Aprilia RS 457 skyrocketed after Aprilia announced the price at IBW 2023 that it was going to cost Rs 4.10 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra). It also helped Aprilia’s cause that Yamaha revealed the tremendously disappointing price for the R3 just a week later, but I digress… Either way, there are a lot of people who are excited about this bike, and having ridden it at the race track, I can confirm that there’s a lot to be excited about. 

Tata Punch EV launched at Rs 10.99 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

Tata has launched the Punch EV with prices ranging between Rs 10.99 lakh-14.49 lakh. The carmaker had opened bookings earlier this month for a token amount of Rs 21,000.

Tata Punch EV variant-wise features explained
Source Credit: Autocar India

Prices for the Tata Punch EV have been announed – the all-electric SUV and Citroen eC3 rival is priced between Rs 10.99 lakh and Rs 14.49 lakh. The first Tata EV to be based on the brand’s Acti.ev platform, the Punch EV gets two battery packs – 25kWh and 35kWh. The former has a claimed range of 315km, while the larger unit has an MIDC range of 421km.

Zontes reduces prices of Indian lineup by up to Rs 48,000
Source Credit: Autocar India

Much like QJMotor, Zontes has also revised prices for nearly its entire Indian lineup for 2024, with the biggest price cut going up to Rs 48,000.

Lamborghini India sales cross 100 units for the first time in 2023
Source Credit: Autocar India

Lamborghini India sold over 100 cars for the first time in India, representing an increase of nearly 12 percent over 2022's 92 units. Mercedes-Benz India, BMW India and Audi India have all registered their best-ever annual sales in 2023. Globally, it has achieved its best-ever annual sales in 2023, delivering more than 10,000 cars during the year; the final tally of 10,112 units is a 10 percent increase over 2022.

Hyundai Ioniq 5, Royal Enfield Himalayan win big at the Autocar Awards 2024
Source Credit: Autocar India

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 has bagged the Car of the Year, while the Royal Enfield Himalayan was adjudged the Bike of the Year award at the 2024 Autocar Awards ceremony in Mumbai.

Classic Legends may bring in BSA brand by 2025
Source Credit: Autocar India

Buoyed by fresh fund infusion plans of Rs 875 crore, Classic Legends, Mahindra's premium two-wheeler division, is planning to expand its model range and dealership footprint. It's also looking at introducing the classic motorcycle brand from the UK, BSA, to have a meaningful play in the growing premium motorcycle market.

Tata Punch EV deliveries to commence from January 22, 2024
Source Credit: Autocar India

Bookings for the upcoming Tata Punch EV are currently underway and dealer sources tell us that the EV's deliveries will begin in January end. The price announcement for Tata's smallest EV SUV has taken place – Punch EV introductory prices start at Rs 10.99 lakh and go up to Rs 14.49 lakh, ex-showroom, India. Tata will charge Rs 50,000 more for a 72kWh charger (only for the Long Range version) and Rs 50,000 more for a sunroof (only for the higher 3 trims).

Husqvarna Vitpilen 250, Svartpilen 401 launched; prices start at Rs 2.19 lakh
Source Credit: Autocar India

After months of being spotted while testing, the Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 and the Svartpilen 401 have been launched in India, priced at Rs 2.19 lakh for the former and Rs 2.92 lakh for the latter. This marks a generation change for the Huskies and now both bikes are based on the corresponding current-gen KTMs. One big complaint with the earlier models was that they were quite small yet tall and the company seems to have addressed those concerns with this generation. 

Tata Punch facelift launch confirmed for 2025
Source Credit: Autocar India

The Tata Punch petrol will see a mid-life facelift sometime next year. Confirming this development on the sidelines of the Punch EV launch, Tata Motors’ Passenger Vehicles Unit MD, Shailesh Chandra, said, “As far as the upgrade of the Punch is concerned, you know that it was launched in October 2021. Typical facelift period is three years. So, we should be expecting a facelift for the ICE version only in mid-2025, or slightly later.”

2024 Hyundai Creta facelift review: Even more wholesome now
Source Credit: Autocar India

2015’s Hyundai Creta was not the first midsized SUV to go on sale (that honour goes to the Renault Duster), but it quickly became the model of choice in the segment. In the years since, the segment has exploded in sales, rivals have come and gone, but the Creta remains undeterred at the very top, with cumulative sales upwards of 9,00,000 units. Thankfully, Hyundai hasn’t gone for a ‘why fix what ain’t broke?’ approach for the 2024 model year update. Rather, the changes are comprehensive with a new look, redone interior, more features and ADAS too. Read on to know how it all comes together.

River opens first showroom in Bengaluru
Source Credit: Autocar India

Electric two-wheeler startup River inaugurated its first dealership in Bengaluru’s JP Nagar. The showroom has the Indie electric scooter on display, along with its range of accessories and company merchandise. It also has an adjoining service centre.

TSMC's Q4 profit to slide 23%, focus on rebounding demand this year
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd is expected to report a 23% drop in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, but analysts predict better growth this year on the back of rebounding demand.

China's SAIC set to add 14 vehicle vessels to boost exports
SAIC Motor Corp plans to add 14 vehicle vessels in the next three years to its fleet of carriers as the state-owned Chinese automaker aims to boost sales in overseas markets, it said on Wednesday.

The Electric-Vehicle cheating scandal
It’s hard to think of a worse environmental scandal in recent years than Volkswagen’s 2015 diesel-emissions cheating. The German automaker was rightly pursued by regulators, enforcement agencies and class-action lawyers.

Germany's Vay launches remote-driven car service in Las Vegas
German remote-driving startup Vay said on Wednesday it had launched its first commercial service in Las Vegas where a "teledriver", or remote driver, delivers electric short-term rental cars to customers then collects them after the rental.

BP appoints interim CEO Murray Auchincloss as permanent boss following Bernard Looney's exit
Energy giant BP appointed interim boss Murray Auchincloss as permanent CEO on January 17. The development came four months after Bernard Looney's sudden resignation on September 12 over undisclosed relationships with employees.

BYD to stop making pouch batteries for its hybrid EVs on leakage concerns - sources
China's BYD plans to end production of the pouch-type batteries used in its best-selling hybrids as the automaker seeks to address durability concerns and the risk that they could leak, said three people familiar with the matter.

European battery maker ACC partners with Circulor to map supply chain, carbon emissions
Automotive Cells Co (ACC) has partnered with UK startup Circulor to check the provenance and embedded carbon emissions of raw materials the France-based battery maker uses for electric vehicle (EV) battery cells, the two companies said on Wednesday.