Automakers see brighter side in move to hike diesel prices

New Delhi: Automakers on Thursday said the government decision to allow "small" hikes in diesel prices was a step in the right direction although it could have some impact on sales. While car market leader Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said the move will not have any impact on its Rs 1,700 crore investments for a diesel engine plant at Gurgaon, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) was of the view that demand for petrol passenger cars in the small and mid-range could increase following the development.
The government on Thursday allowed oil companies to make small hikes in the price of diesel from time to time. "This is a step in the right direction for the country overall, as we cannot afford such a high subsidy burden... This will, however, not in any way affect Maruti Suzuki's plans for diesel engine plant. We don't have a problem with the proposed diesel price hike," MSI Chairman RC Bhargava said.
The company's new diesel plant is slated to start operations by June with an initial capacity of 1.5 lakh units per annum, and will be doubled by 2014. Welcoming the government's move, M&M President Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Pawan Goenka said: "Mahindra has always been supportive of narrowing the gap between diesel and petrol fuel prices by another Rs 5 per litre. In our opinion such an increase in diesel price will have very little impact on UV and CV demand but may slightly shift demand to petrol in the passenger car segment in the small and mid-range."

He, however, said an increase in diesel price beyond Rs 5 may start impacting overall industry volume. Despite the possibility of a temporary hit on sales due to the proposed diesel price hike, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Vice Chairman and Whole Time Director Shekar Viswanathan said, "It is always better to have a realistic and market related pricing, and the earlier it is the better."
He further said instead of sudden increase of prices, it should be done in a gradual manner. When asked if sales of TKM, whose major contribution comes from diesel driven vehicles, will be impacted, he said, "We want the consumers to have the choice. If there is more demand for petrol vehicles, then we will be producing more petrol vehicles."
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has already stated that it would welcome any move to reduce the gap between petrol and diesel prices and also to deregulate diesel pricing.

2013 Lamborghini Aventador roadster launched in India at Rs 4.77 crore

Lamborghini has ushered the New Year in India with the launch of its 2013 Aventador roadster. The convertible model costs Rs 4.77 crore, ex-Delhi and will be on sale from mid-2013.
Its 700PS 690Nm 6.5-litre V12 engine married to a 7-speed ISR transmission is capable of reaching 100kmph in just three seconds, maxing out at 350kmph in with or without the roof guises. All this despite the roadster weighing1625kg, just 50kg more than the coupe.
Don't be surprised if you see a Lambo zipping past you. The company says that they sold 17 cars in India last year with a growth rate of 21 per cent. The next launch from the raging bull stable will be the 2013 Gallardo by March-April.

2013 Tata Indica Vista D90 launched in India at Rs 5.99 lakh

Tata Motors has launched a powerful diesel engine of the Vista in India. Called D90, the new Vista gets the 90PS 1.3-litre Multijet engine from the Manza and Punto 90Sport. Prices start from Rs 5.99 lakh (two variants - VX and GX+), approximately 15,000 bucks more than the corresponding 75PS Vista trim, ex-Delhi.

Visually, the exteriors aren't much different from the regular Vista apart from the black contrast roof seen on the 10th anniversary car. Then there is the D90 badging. Tata is offering a list of external accessories like side skirts and a rear spoiler. The biggest change though is inside with the Vista now getting the Manza dashboard, which essentially means the instrument cluster has moved to behind the steering wheel.
There is automatic air-con with three modes and a new touch screen stereo system with Bluetooth connectivity and GPS. Currently Tata is offering the Vista with a choice of three engines, two diesels and a petrol (65PS) in BS4 compliant cities.

Hyundai India raises vehicle prices by up to Rs 20,878

Mumbai:

Hyundai Motor Co's India unit, the country's second biggest carmaker, said it raised vehicle prices by up to

Rs 20,878 due to an increase in input costs and currency fluctuations.

Many companies in India, including No.1 carmaker Maruti Suzuki Ltd and the local unit of General Motors

Co, have hiked prices in recent months despite a slowdown in car sales, as rising costs threaten margins.

Hyundai India had also raised vehicle prices in November.

Nissan to launch automatic variant of Micra, Sunny soon in India

Chennai : As part of its plans to have a 10 per cent share in the domestic automobile market, Japanese auto giant Nissan said it would introduce an automatic transmission variant of its flagship hatchback 'Micra' and mid-sedan 'Sunny' soon in India.
"For financial year 2013, we will introduce a CVT variant which is a very fuel efficient engine (for Micra)", company's Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga told reporters here.
The new Continuously Variable Transmission engine is a global conventional product offering high fuel efficiency for its cars, a company official said

"Very soon..Very soon", company's Corporate Vice President (Africa, Middle East and India), Toru Hasegawa said to a query on when they planned to introduce the new variants.
Launched in 2010, Micra is the flagship product for Nissan Motor India.
Nissan Motor India and French auto major Renault have jointly set up a Rs 4,500 crore manufacturing unit at nearby Oragadam, with annual production capacity of 4 lakh vehicles.
Noting that Nissan has adopted a "Global '88" strategy - meaning achieving eight per cent market share by 2016 and an eight per cent growth on consolidated operating profits, Shiga said the company expects to reach 10 per cent market share in India by 2016 from the present 1.6 per cent.
He said the company had already sold 12,000 units of CVT equipped models globally and intends to increase it to 20,000 units by 2016.
Besides launching the new products, the company would also follow its French partner to introduce a compact SUV in India.
Renault India launched its compact SUV Duster ahead of its joint venture partner Nissan in the domestic market.
To a query, he said ahead of the company's launch of 'Datsun' in India by 2014, the two new products would be rolled out.
He said the company plans to have 300 dealers by 2016.
Nissan Motor India MD and CEO Takayuki Ishida said they planned to sell over 50,000 units by Mar 2013 and add about 30 to 40 dealerships in India in the next fiscal.
Asked if Nissan has enough capacity at its Oragadam plant, he said the existing two assembly lines are undergoing three shift operations partially. "We hope by next year both will be operating in three shifts", he said.