Applied Materials looks to sell equipments to India’s first semiconductor fab
US-based firm Applied Materials is looking to sell equipment to India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant, which is to be set up in Dholera, Gujarat, by the Tata Group in collaboration with Powerchip Taiwan.

Govt set to redefine regulations for road signages in Lucknow
The UP govt is planning to redefine the norms for putting up signage in the state. The housing department is examining the guidelines prepared by Indian Roads Congress that stipulates the safety protocol required to keep the road users safe from getting distracted by outdoor advertisements.

High-end EVs to cost more in Karnataka as govt to levy additional tax
The prices of high-end electric vehicles in Karnataka are set to increase as the state government has decided to collect a lifetime tax of 10% of the vehicle's cost at the time of registration. The new rule will apply to electric cars, jeeps, and buses, the govt said in a notification.

MNRE to discuss specialised cylinders for hydrogen storage with stakeholders
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the development of specialised cylinders for green hydrogen storage. The decision was made after manufacturers of commercial vehicles, including heavy duty and long haul trucks, flagged challenges related to high-pressure storage cylinders in the adoption of green hydrogen as a sustainable fuel in the transport sector.

Karnataka govt withdraws e-bike taxi scheme
The Karnataka government has rescinded the Electric Bike Taxi Scheme 2021, citing violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, “deteriorating law and order” and saying the scheme was unsafe for women. This comes after objections raised by auto-rickshaw unions against the scheme.

Polls may rev up 2-wheeler sales but passenger vehicles likely to be a drag
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada) said these trends were based on the recent state elections and the 2019 general elections.
 

India Auto Inc forms strategic partnership with the government to provide easy access to solar energy and EVs
The Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC), supported by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), have forged a strategic partnership with the Government of India and the Social Justice Department of the Government of Maharashtra.

Tata Motors’ Sanand plant rolls out 1 millionth car
Tata Motors has achieved a significant milestone in its manufacturing history of rolling out the 1 millionth car from its state-of-the-art facility in Sanand, Gujarat.

Centre's new regulations bring cheer to owners of vintage cars in India
Some owners were simply sipping their cuppa, relishing the mood and waiting for the flag-off. The outlook towards these cars, they said, has changed in recent years.
 

Government to issue fresh notification on ‘rear seat belt alarm’ in all cars soon
New Delhi: Road transport ministry will soon come up with a fresh notification for mandatory installation of ‘rear seat belt alarm’ in all cars. This comes barely months after lapsing of the earlier draft notification on this.

Anand Mahindra pitches for govt-Indian cos partnership for scale, innovation, global reach
New Delhi: Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Sunday pitched for a partnership between the government and Indian companies for scale, innovation, global reach to help domestic firms play their part in realising India’s ambition of becoming a global power. He also sought support from the government for domestic industry such as extending the PLI scheme to more sectors, simplifying regulations for start-ups and innovators and help in increasing their competitiveness through steps such as lowering logistics costs. Speaking at the 4th Annual Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lecture, Mahindra also called for India to increase spending on research and development, while acknowledging that the private sector is lagging when it comes to making investments due to a mindset of risk aversion and lowered aspirations.

EVs beat internal combustion engines on total cost in India, yet face adoption hurdles
New Delhi: Electric vehicles (EVs) in India offer lower lifetime costs compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) models across most vehicle segments, positioning them as a more economical choice particularly for high-mileage applications like urban deliveries, ride-hailing, and intra-city transit, according to BloombergNEF's latest analysis on total cost of ownership (TCO).

EV gains: INR 18cr incentive for 2.8k buyers in 1.5 yrs
Nearly INR 18 crore has been disbursed among more than 2,800 people as monetary incentives for purchasing electric vehicles (EV) in the city since the Chandigarh EV Policy was notified in September 2022.

Companies to focus on premium segment, price hikes as FAME subsidy ends
Mumbai: With the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME-II) subsidy coming to an end on March 31, electric vehicle companies are looking at focussing on the premium vehicle segment even as they hike prices by up to 25 per cent.

Making transport system inclusive to women with special needs
Many efforts are made by many NGOs and by the government to empower them, but to live the dream of a prosperous India, it is very important to enable women with disabilities to be self-reliant.

India not to tailor policy for Tesla; EV maker as also other global players welcome in India: Piyush Goyal
India will not tailor its policies to suit US EV maker Tesla, and its laws and tariff rules will be formulated to attract all-electric vehicle manufacturers from across the world to set up a base in the world's fastest-growing economy, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.

EVs are more economical in India, but they are facing big hurdles
However, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles currently have a 6% lower TCO for 2024, posing competition to small EVs in the ride-hailing segment. The report highlights that CNG vehicles are preferred due to their lower upfront costs and well-established refueling infrastructure.

Delhi scrap policy proposes upto INR 10,000 fine, offers 3 weeks time to claim vehicle before it goes to scrap
Delhi government has announced its scrapping policy under which you will get only three weeks to get your vehicle back, else it will be sent for scrapping.

Road Safety: Tech Advancements Transforming Road Security in 2024
As we move into 2024, road safety is emerging as one of the most pressing safety concerns facing India. In 2023, States, Union Territories and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India published its Annual Report on ‘Road Accidents in India-2022’. According to this report, a total of 4,61,312 road accidents have been reported while there were 1,68,491 lives claimed on our roads. These alarming figures have prompted drivers to look at cutting-edge technologies to reduce the number of accidents. Here are some technological innovations that can play a pivotal role and drive a revolution, ensuring road safety for drivers and pedestrians alike.

Tata Motors’ Sanand plant in Gujarat to be upgraded for bigger passenger cars: MD
Ahmedabad: Having initially manufactured Tata Nano and later hatchbacks, the 14-year-old Tata Motors plant at Sanand in Gujarat will soon graduate towards manufacturing “bigger” passenger car variants.

After 17 yrs of toil, India is finally ready for tryst with semiconductors

Taiwan, South Korea, and China control nearly 70 per cent of the global capacity. SEMI, the global industry body for semico­n­ductor and electronics design and manufa­c­turing, projects all fabs collectively will churn out 30 million wafers a month this year.

Anand Mahindra cheers for motorsports racer Chase Briscoe: 'We’re cheering for the sequel…'
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra is known for being active on social media and sharing interesting details.

India's chip ambitions are about to get larger
New Delhi: The government plans to boost chip sector incentives from the current ₹76,000 crore, as it expects a mushrooming of chip fabs and testing units in the country in the years ahead.

'Automobile dealerships are big job creators': Manish Raj Singhania, President, FADA
He also talked about how dealerships have to reinvent themselves in the face of new sales channels that some OEMs are experimenting with.  

What are N Line cars in Hyundai?
Source Credit: Vikram Chaudhary, The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

Shut OLX Auto due to focus on profitable growth: CarTrade's Aneesha Menon

How does CarTrade plan to maintain its market leadership in the auto portal space?

Don’t let hybrids muddle our path to net-zero: EVs must prevail
An Economist article on 7 February 2024 by Elizabeth Lees presented a pictorial representation of the world’s heat map over the past 60 years as compared to pre-Industrial Age temperatures. The latter half of 2023 showed a 2° Celsius heating above the pre-industrial level, and while it was an El Niño year of additional warming, this illustrates the climate-change disaster that we are facing today. The only way the earth will survive is if we stop using fossil fuels as a source of energy at the earliest. Electricity generation has started moving from coal, oil and gas to solar, wind and hydro power; nuclear energy will also become another major source of fossil-free power generation in the future. A promising aspect is that the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources reduces the cost of electricity. The only hurdle here is that solar and wind-based green electricity generation does not take place 24x7 and cannot be controlled to match instantaneous demand; one would need energy storage to balance supply and demand. This adds to the overall cost of electricity use, but power-storage costs are also falling rapidly with emerging solutions.

Expect accelerated growth post investment by JSW Group: MG Motor India CEO Emeritus Rajeev Chaba
New Delhi, MG Motor India expects an accelerated growth path with more aggressive expansion plans after getting the JSW Group as an investor, according to company CEO Emeritus Rajeev Chaba. With the company already establishing a well laid foundation based on technology, customer experience, gender diversity and community service in the first phase of its journey in the country, he said MG Motor India is now looking ahead to the next phase of growth.

Hyundai's Creta N Line races into Indian showrooms, booking opened at ₹25,000: All we know so far
Hyundai Motors is gearing up for the much-anticipated launch of the Creta N Line, scheduled for March 11 in the Indian automotive market. Dealerships across the country have started receiving shipments of the Creta N Line, signaling the impending arrival of the stylish SUV. Enthusiasts can secure their spot as early adopters by placing an online reservation or visiting Hyundai Signature dealerships, with a token amount of ₹25,000.

JSW Group, MG Motor India to roll-out first model under new JV
Months after Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group picking up stake in MG Motor India, the joint venture is set for first-ever launch in India with its most stylish offering MG5 sedan in India on March 20.

Rajeev Chauhan appointed as VP Product and Retail at BYD India
New Delhi: Today, Rajeev Chauhan, a seasoned professional in the automotive industry, took to his social media platform to announce his appointment as the Vice President for Product and Retail Network at BYD India.

Car models crowd in as EVs spark in India
In India’s fledgling electric vehicle market on expectations that a government push towards ecofriendly mobility and greater consumer awareness will further accelerate sales.

A new innovative vehicle launched in the capital
At the launch of BYD Seal in the capital recently, Garima Misra, Managing Director, and Rajiv Vohra, Director from Landmark BYD, along with Gopalakrishnan Sanjay, Senior Vice President, and Rajiv Chouhan from BYD India were also present at the launch. The Corporate AV shed light on the brand’s journey, emphasising its commitment to a sustainable future.
 

The darkest shade of grey

Last week, Tata Motors drove in the Nexon EV in ‘Dark’ theme. Available only as the top-end Empowered + LR variant, the Nexon EV Dark is priced Rs.19.49 lakh, ex-showroom (Rs.20,000 pricier than the non-Dark variant). We checked the car out at a Tata EV store to deconstruct the premium.

MPSEDC new app to track sale of vehicles at Vikram trade fair
To track sales of vehicles and ensure exemption is passed only on vehicles sold from the trade fair, Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) has designed a GIS based application to monitor the sale of vehicles from the Vikram trade fair at Ujjain.

JBM to supply 200 e-buses to Odisha
JBM, a leading bus manufacturer in the country has announced that the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik flagged-off the first batch of JBM Ecolife e-buses in Berhampur.

TVS to enter France, to showcase products on 10 March
TVS Motor Company has announced its entry into the French market. In this regard, the Hosur-baser manufacturer will be showcasing its product range for Europe at the Salon du Deux Roues in Lyon till March 10, 2024. 

Time for pitstop after pulsating ride
The upturn in the auto cycle post the Covid pandemic fuelled massive gains in many auto stocks. Bajaj Auto is no exception. Investors who took exposure to Bajaj Auto based on our ‘buy’ call in early March 2020 (https://tinyurl.com/5n7sauh9) as well as our ‘accumulate’ call in January 2022 (https://tinyurl.com/4uyksc8r) have reaped rich rewards.

TVS's premium e-scooter X yet to see light of the day
Mumbai: More than six months after its launch, TVS Motor Company's all-electric scooter X, which is also India's most expensive scooter, is yet to reach the company's show-rooms. The Chennai-based company promised to commence deliveries of the X from November, after opening bookings at the time of launch in August at a glitzy event held in Dubai. Starting with Bengaluru, the company had committed to extending commercial sales to other cities of the country by March this year. While dealers in Bengaluru said that they were yet to receive dispatches of the model from TVS, dealers in Mumbai said they have not received any intimation of the commercial launch of the model. When contacted, a TVS spokesperson confirmed rescheduling of the timeline for deliveries of the X "With the evolving govern-ment regulations and policy frame-work around EV, we are scheduled to start our deliveries this quarter in a phased manner; said the spokesperson. At Rs.2.5 lakh (ex-showroom),the X is priced nearly twice the price of the Ola S1 Pro, one of India's most powerful scooters, available at Rs.1.3 lakh.

300 women join JK Tyre WIAA Women’s Mumbai-Pune car Rally to Valley 2024
New Delhi: The JK Tyre WIAA Women's Rally to Valley 2024, organized by the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) and presented by JK Tyre, as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, had the participation of nearly 300 women in about 100 cars from various backgrounds.

How Elgi equipped itself for its global forays
The tall and shady trees one sees all round through the large windows of the ground floor boardroom in the Elgi Equipments HQ at Singanallur in Coimbatore are pleasing to the eye. It is from this very boardroom, perhaps ruminating often on the tranquil scene outside, Jairam Varadaraj, Managing Director of Elgi, is looking to steer the air compressor maker to be among the top three in the world in the next decade.

GAIL & GAIL Gas announce significant cut in CNG prices across several key locations
New Delhi: GAIL (India) Limited and its wholly owned subsidiary GAIL Gas Limited, have announced a substantial reduction in the prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across several key locations in India where they operate. The price reduction aims to make CNG more accessible and affordable for consumers, thereby encouraging the widespread adoption of cleaner fuel options and promoting sustainable transportation practices. The price of CNG at GAIL and GAIL Gas CNG outlets has been decreased by Rs. 2.50 per kg. The CNG Price at Varanasi, Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur (East Singhbhum), Bhubaneshwar (Kordha), and Cuttack, stands revised as Rs 81.17, Rs 84.54, Rs 87.15, Rs 87.08, Rs 87.26 and Rs 87.60, per kg respectively.

India is installing solar powered EV charging stations. Will it work?
In February, electric vehicle (EV) ride-sharing platform BluSmart announced a deal with Tata Power to recharge its electric cabs using solar energy, ensuring no fossil fuels are used in their operation. The deal shows a viable path for cleaner and cheaper mobility options.

In Gujarat, harnessing the value of dung to boost farmers’ income
From a distance, it looks like any CNG (compressed natural gas) outlet. But the one on the Deesa-Tharad highway in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, catering to 90-100 vehicles daily, is India’s first and only gas-filling station based on dung from cattle and buffaloes.

UP will have 100 CBG plants soon, says Puri
Announcing that there will be 100 compressed bio-gas plants in Uttar Pradesh in the coming days, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that this project is a significant step towards environment conservation, increasing farmers’ income and achieving self-reliance in energy.

IndianOil set to join high table of F1 fuel producers
After delivering back-to-back innovations in fuel grades, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has now set sight on the Grand Prix and will in next three months start producing fuel used in adrenaline-pumping Formula One or F1, motor racing. The firm's refinery at Paradip in Odisha will in three months produce the petrol used in F1 car racing, its chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya said.

Adani Total Energies to build 26 EV charging stations along four UP expressways
Adani Total Energies E-Mobility Ltd has received approval from the board of the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to develop charging infrastructure for electric vehicles along four expressways in Uttar Pradesh. This joint venture aims to set up 26 charging stations along the expressways, providing convenient access for electric vehicle users. The cost of charging will be Rs 9.74 per kilowatt-hour.

Call on petrol, diesel price cut needs to be thought through ‘very coolly’ by OMCs, says Puri
A reduction in retail prices of petrol and diesel is a decision that would have to be thought through “very coolly” by public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) in view of the volatility in the global energy market, geopolitical challenges, and the companies’ financial health, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Saturday.

MRPL receives ONGC’s KG 98/2 crude oil
This new crude oil, named KG 98/2, was brought to Mangaluru by a ship named Swarna Sindhu, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2. This sweet (low sulphur) indigenous crude is poised to be transformed into various fuels and petrochemicals at MRPL, Mangaluru.

Upcoming Maruti electric MPV to share eVX EV’s skateboard platform
Source Credit: Autocar India

We broke the news that Maruti Suzuki is readying for a mega product onslaught in the next few years. Not only is the brand bringing in hybrid versions of the Baleno, Fronx, Swift and more, it is also working on expanding its overall product portfolio with as many as eight all-new cars, SUVs and MPVs, including three EVs. One of the models that will arrive later, will be an all-electric MPV, which has been codenamed YMC.

Volkswagen T-Cross facelift global debut soon
Source Credit: Autocar India

The refreshed Volkswagen T-Cross SUV will debut in South America in the coming weeks, and it shares its platform, body panels and multiple cosmetic bits with the Taigun sold in India.

Ducati Monster SP review: SPecial Enough?
Source Credit: Autocar India

SP. Two perfectly innocuous alphabets – until you slap them at the end of a motorcycle’s name badge. Suddenly you have two alphabets that signify a heap of extra capability and desirability. 

Harley-Davidson Hydra Glide moniker resurrected after 75 years
Source Credit: Autocar India

Harley Davidson has introduced the 2024 Hydra-Glide Revival and it borrows its name and styling from the first Harley motorcycle to feature a telescopic fork back in the 1940s – the 1949 Hydra-Glide. 

Opinion: Cold brakes; beware
Source Credit: Autocar India

Cold brakes don’t work quite as well as warmed-up ones. Lesson number one for me took place back in the day when Hyundai’s Sonata had a torquey V6 under the hood. Early one morning, just out of the gate, one lusty pull of the growling V6 later, I stood on the brakes... only to sail right past the U-turn. Luckily, no one was around. Cold discs, cold calipers, cold pads, and probably cold tyres meant braking performance was suboptimal. 

Tesla's German plant to restart next week, says works council head
Tesla's German plant near Berlin will resume operations next week, the head of its works council said on Friday, after a power outage stopped production.

Stellantis to launch new Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV in H2 2025
Stellantis' Alfa Romeo will launch its new Stelvio sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the second half of next year, followed by the new Giulia sport sedan in 2026, the Italian premium brand said on Friday.

Hyundai America opens fifth annual women in STEM scholarship program
On the occasion of the In celebration of International Women’s Day, Hyundai Motor America has opened applications for its fifth annual Hyundai Women in STEM Scholarship. In September, five female STEM students will receive a scholarship in the amount of USD 10,000 each.

Audi speeds up preparations to enter Formula 1 and expands commitment
Led by Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the brand with the four rings has made clear what the company is focusing on in the future with the Audi Agenda.

German federal prosecutors to probe Tesla plant sabotage
German federal prosecutors said Friday they had taken over investigations into a suspected arson attack this week that caused a power outage and forced Tesla to halt production at its plant near Berlin.

GM resumes sales, cuts price of Chevy Blazer EV after software issue
General Motors said on Friday it is resuming sales and cutting the price of its Chevrolet Blazer EV after software quality issues prompted the largest U.S. automaker to halt deliveries in late December.

Carmaker Stellantis interested in investing in Thailand, PM says
European carmaker Stellantis is interested in investing in Thailand, the largest producer and exporter of cars in Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Saturday.