Top Indian Automobile Industry News & Updates - 14 March 2024,Thursday
🏢 Industry
First chip from Tata’s Dholera plant will be out in December 2026, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
The first set of semiconductors will start rolling out from Tata Electronics’ plant here in December 2026, union minister for communications and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of Tata Group and CG Power chip plants, Vaishnaw said India will be among the top five chip ecosystems in the world by 2029.”The first chip from Dholera plant will be out in December 2026 and chip from Micron plant will be out by December 2024,” the minister said. He said Tata’s Dholera plant will make chips in 28, 50, 55 nanometer node.
Heavy industries ministry announces INR 500 cr scheme to promote e-mobility
New Delhi: The heavy industries ministry on Wednesday announced a new scheme to promote e-mobility in the country with an outlay of INR 500 crore for four months beginning April 2024. The new scheme is for 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers.
Tata Motors signs MoU with Tamil Nadu govt for manufacturing plant; to invest Rs 9,000 crore over 5 years
New Delhi: Tata Motors Group, India’s leading manufacturer of commercial and passenger vehicles has signed a facilitation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu to explore setting-up of a vehicle manufacturing facility in the state.
India's semicon capacity could touch 1.8 lakh wafers per month: Rajeev Chandrashekhar
New Delhi: India's semiconductor manufacturing capacity is expected to touch 1.8 lakh wafers per month soon, considering the current project proposals, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, minister of state for electronics and information technology, said on Wednesday.
Vehicle theft increases by 2.5x in India in 2023; Delhi tops the list: ACKO report
New Delhi: ACKO brings out its second edition of Theft Report ‘Theft & the City 2024’ that reveals a 2X spike in vehicle thefts in India between 2022 and 2023, with Delhi continuing to top the charts.
Govt will ensure supply chains are in place for the chip units being set up: Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Dholera (Gujarat): The government will have all the issues resolved when it comes to setting up semiconductor fabrication (fab) units and take the necessary steps to ensure that the supply chains also have a footprint in India, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, said on Wednesday.
Will try to roll out first semiconductor products even before deadline: Tata Sons Chairman
Dholera (Gujarat): Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Wednesday said the semiconductor units that it is setting up in Dholera in Gujarat and Morigaon in Assam would possibly roll out the first products ahead of their deadlines.
Will create 72,000 jobs through semiconductor plants: Chandrasekaran
Speaking on the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of the group's semiconductor project in Dholera, he said, "We are looking at 50,000 jobs here, and at least 20,000 to 22,000 jobs in Assam and it will take time."
Tata Electronics bets big on Singapore-based semiconductor co Silicon Box
Chip plants to make India a hub, foster innovation: PM Modi
📝 Centre announces new scheme to subsidise electric two and three wheelers
📝 India-bound 2024 BYD Atto 3 unveiled with bigger touchscreen, new colours
📝 Study finds ADAS systems lack adequate attention monitoring. Check details
📝 To buy or bye: BYD EV customers in India highlight the highs and lows
📝 Dates for triple-venue 2025 Bharat Mobility Show out: Auto Expo merger likely
📝 ‘CG Semi to commence semiconductor chip operations in 3 years’
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🎤 Interviews & Features
Development of autonomous cars is steadily progressing with AI as an accelerator, says Sven Lanwer, XC expert from Bosch
The edited excerpts:
We are targeting 25% growth in sales in CY24, says Rajeev Chaba of MG Motor India
Mumbai: MG Motor India, which is likely to launch a new vehicle on March 20, is targeting to increase its electric vehicle penetration in the country. Rajeev Chaba, CEO Emeritus of MG Motor India, interacted with businessline on introducing new vehicles, customer response to Comet electric vehicle and expanding the dealership network.
Excerpts:
The Lean Inventory Illusion: A Closer Look at India's Auto Supply Chains
Many auto OEMs in India proudly claim that they operate with only a few hours' worth of component inventory.
MiniMines’ tech recovers 96% raw materials from lithium batteries, aims to meet 25% of India’s battery needs
India’s ambition to become an electric vehicle powerhouse has a lot of potential, but the lack of the critical raw materials required for lithium batteries can be a dampener. This exactly is the challenge Bengaluru-based cleantech start-up Minimines aims to solve.
Toyota Great 4X4 Expedition: Hilux vs Fortuner battle
For a person looking for a vehicle that can do it all – a daily driver, mile muncher, and go off-road – but has a bit of luxury as well, the choices in India are a few. However, the bigger question is if one should choose an SUV or a pickup. Both have their pros and cons, and this was more evident when driving two of the most capable vehicles on sale in India, back-to-back — The Toyota Hilux and the Fortuner.
📝 The impact of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) on labour and employment
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🚗 Cars / SUVs
Upcoming diesel cars/SUVs to launch in India 2024
While diesel cars may be a dying breed due to stringent emission norms and high prices, they continue to be in demand from driving enthusiasts, especially in India. Despite many diesel models discontinued in recent years, Indian consumers continue to desire for a punchy diesel car that not only offers good performance but a healthy fuel-efficiency.
Toyota Yaris caught testing— is this the next hybrid for India?
When everyone was writing obituaries for the hatchback segment, Toyota has been quietly testing the Yaris hatchback in India. Even though only two out of the ten best-selling vehicles in India are hatchbacks, based on February sales figures, the segment has a substantial 26 per cent of the market share. In the case of Toyota, the question arises whether Toyota is planning to introduce a second hatchback in its portfolio after the Glanza or it is focused on testing the 1.5-litre full hybrid powertrain.
📝 Honda Elevate, City & Amaze prices to be hiked from April 2024
📝 Maruti eVX spotted testing once again ahead of launch
📝 Car theft in India spikes, Maruti WagonR tops list of most stolen cars: Report
📝 Maruti Brezza beats Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet to be bestseller compact SUV in Feb
📝 From Creta N Line to Seltos X Line: The evolution of flamboyant buyers
📝 Maruti Suzuki WagonR to Tata Punch: Top 10 passenger vehicles sold in Feb 24
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Electric-Cars / SUVs
📝 Suzuki readies yet another EV even before eVX enters market. Check details
📝 Skoda teases its smallest, most affordable EV. Will it come to India?
📝 Anand Mahindra gifts XUV400 to Indian chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa
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🚗 Luxury Cars
Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4Matic+ makes global debut
Mercedes Benz has taken the covers off the new AMG E53 Hybrid 4Matic+ in the United Kingdom. Like the latest range from AMG, the E53 also gets a hybrid powertrain making way for an electrified future.
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🏗 Construction & Agri Machinery
I T Department search at Balkrishna Industries: Company offers cooperation
Balkrishna Industries Limited Wednesday informed that the Income Tax Department is conducting a search at its office premises and manufacturing units.
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🏍 2/3 Wheelers
Bajaj Auto buyback offer oversubscribed 6.89 times
Mumbai: Bajaj Auto’s ₹4,000-crore buyback offer received a strong response from investors. The offer was oversubscribed 6.89 times according to the data available at BSE. The buyback that opened on March 6 closed on Wednesday. The company announced its intention to buyback up to 40 lakh shares at a face value of ₹10 each. In January, Bajaj Auto announced its buyback plan of ₹10,000 a share, a 12.6 per cent premium compared to the share price prior to the announcement of the offer.
Honda inaugurates BigWing dealership in West Bengal
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has inaugurated an all-new premium motorcycle sales and service outlet, Honda BigWing, in Krishnanagar, West Bengal.
2024 Honda Africa Twin design patented in India
Honda has filed design patents for the updated MY2024 Africa Twin in India. The image of the patent application has leaked on the internet portraying its updated styling. For reference, the flagship adventure tourer was updated in December 2024 for the European markets.
📝 TVS E-XL and XL EV trademarks filed for upcoming XL100 electric moped
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🚲 Electric 2/3 Wheelers
Price cuts and affordable models pump up Ola Electric’s EV market share to 40%
Ola Electric’s electric two-wheeler market share has seen growth from 31.6 percent in the April to November 2023 period, to around 40 percent in the December to February 2024 period says a report by Elara Securities India.
Ather drops battery of upcoming Rizta scooter from 40 feet height. Here's what happened
In an unusual experiment, Bengaluru-based EV manufacturer Ather Energy tested its electric scooter's battery to test by dropping it from 40 feet height.
Rapido to recall all e-bike taxis
Following the scrapping of the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi scheme, 2021, taxi-aggregator platform Rapido plans to recall all e-bike taxis running under their platform. According to Rapido, nearly 20 lakh rides are being operated per week within the bike taxi segment.
📝 New scheme announced to push sale of electric two-wheelers & three-wheelers in India
📝 Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid and Z e-1 electric bike design patented in India
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⚙ Components
IRP to supply E3W motor controllers to Mahindra Last Mile Mobility
New Delhi: IRP Systems, a leading provider of cutting-edge powertrain solutions for e-mobility have entered into an agreement with India’s leading electric 3-wheeler OEM - Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited (MLMML).
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🌇 Allied Industries
Varroc appoints Dixit Roy Mahidhara as CEO of subsidiary, CarIQ Tech
Varroc, a leading global tier-1 automotive supplier, has appointed Dixit Roy Mahidhara as Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary - CarIQ Technologies Private Ltd. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this critical role and will help drive the future of connected vehicles at Varroc, the company said.
Steelbird Helmets plots Rs 250 crore new plant in Tamil Nadu, to launch 70 new helmets in 2024
Steelbird Hi-Tech India, one of the world’s largest helmet manufacturer has announced its ambitious plans to expand its manufacturing footprint and product offerings as it commemorates 60th anniversary.
Okaya EV bags order to install 600 fast DC EV chargers for HPCL
Okaya EV Chargers, an electric vehicle charging solutions company, has secured a order for 600 electric vehicle chargers from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL), one of India’s leading oil and natural gas companies.
Ex-ISRO engineers’ e-LCV startup leans on lightweighting tech to take on heavyweights
New Delhi: As the electric play in the commercial vehicle (CV) industry is gaining momentum, a duo of Gurugarm-based engineers is building Planet Electric, a startup which is manufacturing four-wheeled cargo electric vehicles (EVs), but with a cost effective solution relying on lightweighting technology with composite materials for its chassis, body and the cargo box.
Lohum gets Rs 450 crore in Series B funding, targets global expansion
Lohum, one of India’s largest producer of sustainable energy transition materials through battery recycling, raw material refining, and battery repurposing, has raised $54 million (Rs 450 crore) in series B funding from Singularity Growth, Baring Private Equity, Cactus Venture Partners & Venture East amongst other new and existing venture firms.
Tyre stock investors edgy on price cut, expensive valuations
📝 UK is now using AI to fix potholes. Time for India to learn too?
📝 Buying a new tyre for your vehicle? Here are some important tips to follow
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🌢 Fuels, Lubricants & Charging Stations
Oil prices steady as OPEC retains demand forecasts
Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as OPEC stuck by its forecast for demand growth this year and next, amid persistent tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
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💸 Finance & Insurance
SANY India partners with J&K Bank to provide financial solutions to its customers
New Delhi: SANY India, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment, has taken a significant stride towards offering improved financial solutions to its customers. The company has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with J&K Bank, aiming to stimulate substantial growth and development opportunities within the region, while facilitating easier access to SANY India’s advanced product line along with readily available financial solutions.
Greaves Cotton’s evfin partners Muthoot Capital to expand electric two-wheeler financing across India
Greaves Finance, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Greaves Cotton, through its 100% EV-focused lending platform evfin has announced a partnership with Muthoot Capital Services, one of India’s fastest-growing NBFCs and a publicly traded entity of the Muthoot Pappachan Group.
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📖 Magazines News
Skoda Kushaq, Slavia facelifts to get ADAS
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Skoda Kushaq and Slavia, which have been on sale for 2.5 years and 2 years, respectively, are a part of the Czech brand’s India 2.0 startegy and are set to get a number of updates until facelifts for the midsize sedan and SUV arrive. Speaking to Autocar India, Skoda brand director Petr Janeba said admitted that the company has some catching up to do in terms of features, and that the issue will be addressed.
Kinetic E Luna design patented with rear luggage carrier
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Kinetic E Luna is currently the most affordable electric two-wheeler from an Indian manufacturer and now it looks like the E Luna lineup will expand with the advent of a new variant with even more luggage-carrying capacity.
Hyundai Exter long term review; 5,000km report
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Hyundai Exter has been my daily runabout for the past two months and in typical Hyundai fashion, it has been a fuss-free ride. Its compact dimensions make it perfect for the city and the added ground clearance compared to similar-sized hatchbacks makes it a lot easier to drive on the uprooted roads of Mumbai. So its been my office commuter and also a weekend ride thanks to a spacious interior.
Hyundai Creta N Line vs Kia Seltos X-Line: how do they stack up
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Hyundai Creta N Line was launched in India earlier this week as the company’s third N Line product after the i20 N Line and Venue N Line. The Creta N Line promises to be a sportier version of the midsize SUV, with some mechanical changes and more obvious visual enhancements, both on the inside and outside.
Hyundai i20 N Line, Venue N Line have clocked over 22,000 sales
Source Credit: Autocar India
The Hyundai Creta N Line is the carmaker’s third N Line model since the sub-brand was introduced in India in September 2021 – the i20 N Line was the first to arrive followed by the Venue N Line in September 2022. Hyundai Motor India says that it is witnessing growing demand for its performance-oriented N Line models, contributing over 20 percent of the company’s overall turbo-petrol powertrain volumes.
Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 dates confirmed
Source Credit: Autocar India
The government announced today that next year's Bharat Mobility Global Expo will be held between January 17-22, 2025 at three venues in Delhi NCR. This will be the second edition of the annual Expo, which combines the Auto Expo and Components Show, organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) under one umbrella.
Honda exports nearly 7,000 Elevate SUVs to Japan
Source Credit: Autocar India
Since the Honda Elevate launched in India in September 2023, the Japanese brand has despatched 30,365 units to its dealers. In the August 2023 to February 2024 period, the Elevate midsize SUV was the carmaker’s second-bestselling model, accounting for 38 percent of Honda Cars India’s total passenger vehicle despatches of 79,513 units; this number includes the Amaze (33,339 units) and the City (15,809 units) sedans.
BYD Atto 3 gets larger touchscreen, new colours overseas
Source Credit: Autocar India
BYD has rolled out a mid-lifecycle update for the Atto 3 electric SUV overseas, and the updates include new paint options and an updated infotainment screen with more features. However, it remains mechanically unchanged. The BYD Atto 3 is the company’s highest selling EV in several markets, including India.
Audi Q6 e-tron global unveil on March 18
Source Credit: Autocar India
After multiple previews and teasers of the Q6 e-tron, Audi has now confirmed its international debut will take place on March 18. The addition of the Audi Q6 e-tron will see the brand’s EV portfolio in international markets increase to eight and provide a long-awaited electric alternative to the Q5 SUV.
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📰 International News
Italian Vespa maker Piaggio launches AI-driven factory robot
Vespa maker Piaggio launched on Tuesday a factory robot which uses artificial intelligence to move autonomously on pre-set routes and which can carry up to 130 kilograms.
Toyota likely agreed to wage requests as Japan Inc set for big pay bump
Toyota Motor Corp has agreed to fully meet its union's request for annual pay increases, the Mainichi newspaper said on Wednesday, as top Japanese companies look likely to offer sizeable salary hikes at annual talks with unions.
Toyota agrees to biggest wage hike in 25 years, paves way for BOJ shift
Toyota Motor agreed to give factory workers their biggest pay increase in 25 years on Wednesday, heightening expectations that bumper pay raises will give the central bank leeway to make a key policy shift next week.
Toyota agrees to biggest wage hike in 25 years in sign of Japan Inc's hefty pay bump
Toyota Motor agreed to give factory workers their biggest pay increase in 25 years on Wednesday, heightening expectations that bumper pay raises will give the central bank leeway to make a key policy shift next week.
What to do if your Car is submerged in water
The death of a 50-year-old chief executive highlights a little-discussed reality of motor-vehicle safety: Approximately 400 people die annually in North America in a submerged vehicle.
Tesla official talks up Southeast Asia expansion as China's BYD pulls ahead
Tesla's expansion into Southeast Asia is a priority, a senior executive said on Tuesday, highlighting the fast-growing market where the U.S. electric-vehicle maker faces competition from China's BYD.
Toyota tops in Annual US Patent Ranking for automakers
Securing its position at the forefront of U.S. automotive innovation for the 10th consecutive year, Toyota has been awarded more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) than any other automaker according to an annual report by the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO).
Scania accelerates deployment of autonomous hub-to-hub transport
Scania is expanding its strategic development of autonomous hub-to-hub transport solutions, with the launch of an Autonomous Commercial Pilot Programme. As part of TRATON Group, Scania will also be involved in a new partnership with US-based Plus, which will integrate its Level 4, fully autonomous SuperDrive™ technology stack into Scania and TRATON Group vehicles.
Rolls-Royce Unveils Ghost Prism
Rolls-Royce has introduced Ghost Prism, inspired by contemporary design aesthetics, offering a unique blend of dark, neutral tones with vibrant accents. Limited to just 120 motor cars, this special edition commemorates Rolls-Royce's 120th anniversary in 2024.
Piaggio Fast Forward showcases Kilo robot with smart follow tech
Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF), the Boston-based subsidiary of the Piaggio Group, which is working in the field of robotics and mobility for the future, has presented kilo, a robot featuring smart following technology.
Mercedes-Benz becomes world's first car maker to X-ray crash test
New Delhi: The technical sensation began with a very loud bang. At 60 km/h, a device with a crash barrier rams into the orange C-Class saloon and hits it full on the side. Crash tests are always something special – even for the experts. But the really spectacular part of this side impact test is located in a frame on the hall ceiling above the vehicle: A linear accelerator serves as an X-ray camera.
Most automated driving systems are lousy at making sure drivers pay attention, insurance group says
Most electronic systems that take on some driving tasks for humans don't adequately make sure drivers are paying attention, and they don't issue strong enough warnings or take other actions to make drivers behave, according to an insurance industry study published Tuesday.
Mercedes-AMG unveils E 53 Hybrid 4matic+
Mercedes-AMG, the renowned performance and sports car brand, expanded its lineup with the introduction of the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4matic+ in both saloon and estate variants. These new plug-in hybrid models aim to seamlessly integrate performance, driving dynamics, and an extended electric range, the company stated in a media release.
Mazda Design America promotes Jacques Flynn to Senior Director
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has announced Jacques Flynn's promotion to Senior Director, Mazda Design America (MDA). In this role, Flynn will lead all design activities related to Mazda Design in North America. Throughout his tenure at Mazda, Flynn has established strong relationships with Mazda Design, as well as its Marketing team, which will allow the company to maintain its position as a leader in both automotive design and brand.
Nissan, Honda consider China output cuts, Nikkei reports
Japan's Nissan Motor and Honda Motor are considering cutting production in China as they face stiff competition from BYD and other electric vehicle makers, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N launched at USD 66,100
Hyundai has announced pricing for its fully equipped Ioniq 5 N at USD 66,100, excluding USD1,375 freight, setting the new benchmark for engaging, all-electric high performance.
Global electric car sales in February hurt by China's New Year celebrations
Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) rose at a tepid rate of 3% in February versus the same period last year mainly due to the impact of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, market research firm Rho Motion said on Wednesday.
General Motors' executive vice president for software and services Mike Abbott to step down
General Motors said on Tuesday that Mike Abbott, executive vice president of software and services, will step down due to health reasons.
Teck Resources mulls British Columbia battery recycling plant
Copper and zinc miner Teck Resources is considering building a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in British Columbia, CEO Jonathan Price said on Tuesday.
EVs are 59% less likely to break down, says Start Rescue
Contrary to common perceptions, EVs are 59% less likely to require a breakdown call-out than ICE vehicles, according to a UK-based breakdown and recovery service provider.
Toyota becomes Asia's most shorted large-cap stock
Automaker Toyota Motor Corp became the most shorted large-cap stock by hedge funds in the Asia Pacific region in February, overtaking Takeda Pharmaceutical, a report from treasury management and securities finance platform Hazeltree showed on Tuesday.
Audi Q6 e-Tron to break cover on March 18
Audi has confirmed on its social media handles that the final production version of the Q6 e-Tron will break cover on 18 March 2024. Essentially, an all-electric equivalent of the Q5, the Q6 e-Tron will expand Audi’s BEV portfolio to eight models. It sits on the new PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture that also underpins Porsche Macan EV.
Volkswagen sees slowdown in vehicle sales growth amid growing competition
Presenting the German automaker's 2023 results, finance chief Arno Antlitz said the "general economic situation remains challenging," but added "we are confident about 2024, despite the muted economic outlook and intense competition".
📝 Germany's EV sales must increase sixfold by 2030 to achieve goal, claims study
📝 Rolls-Royce unveils Ghost ‘Prism’ to celebrate 120 years history: Check details
📝 Porsche 911: the iconic sports car to get hybrid tech soon. Check details
📝 Want to own a Tesla Cybertruck? Here's one that costs ₹7.26 lakh only
📝 Elon Musk visits a Tesla plant near Berlin as production resumes after a suspected arson attack
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