Toyota Starts Construction of Second Indian Plant

Toyota Motor Corporation or TMC for short held an official ceremony on Thursday (July 31, 2008) to mark the beginning of construction of its second plant on the outskirts of Bangalore in India's Karnataka State. The new plant is scheduled to have an annual production capacity of 100,000 passenger vehicles (including a new compact vehicle) when it begins operation in 2010.

Proton to Enter Indian Market in 2009

Malaysian national carmaker Proton has announced its plans to enter the burgeoning Indian market that currently supports annual sales of about 1.5 million passenger vehicles. Initially, the Malaysian company will market three models, the Savvy, the Saga and the Persona with sales expected to begin in early 2009. Proton is also negotiating with a joint-venture partner in India to manufacture and market its cars. "We are looking at a number of possible joint venture partners in India with a strong focus on marketing," said Syed Zainal, managing director of Proton Cars.

Renault – Nissan Break Ground For New Indian Plant That Will Build The New Micra

Today, French carmaker Renault and its affiliate Nissan performed the ground breaking ceremony for their new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India, that’s expected to begin operations in 2010. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 and will produce vehicles for export and the local market for both Renault and Nissan, including the all-new Nissan Micra and the Renault/Dacia Logan. The 50:50 joint venture between Renault and Nissan, represents an investment of a minimum of €780 million / U.S. $1.1 billion.

Renault to Launch High-End Version of Logan Sedan in India

Apparently there are plenty of customers in India who wouldn’t mind paying a few extra bucks or in this case, rupees for a more luxurious version of the Renault / Dacia Logan. The low-cost Logan sedan is produced in India through a joint venture with domestic automaker Mahinda & Mahindra or M&M for short.

M&M Renault will sweeten up the Logan not with chocolate chips, but with a new music system, higher quality upholsteries and different trim. According to M&M’s vice president Rajesh Jejurikar, the top-end Logan will be launched in the Indian market in July.

Hyundai Developing $3,500 Minicar for India

Following the example of Tata Motors and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Hyundai has revealed plans to develop a super low-priced mini car in India by 2011 or 2012. The announcement was made to Indian reporters by Hyundai India’s managing director, H.S. Lheem, on the sidelines of a traffic event on Friday. Lheem also noted that the small car would not be limited to India as there is high demand for such vehicles in many other countries around the world.

Honda to Develop New Minicar for India

Honda’s Indian arm, “Honda Siel Cars India Ltd” has revealed its plans to develop an all-new mini car in order to grasp a larger chuck of India’s booming small car segment which accounts for about 80 percent of the total market. "We plan to enter the small car market with a vehicle that will be manufactured at our new unit coming up in Rajasthan in two years time," Honda Siel Cars India's President and CEO, Masahiro Takedagawa told reporters earlier this week.

Via: TheHindu

Collidonthus: An Alternative to Tata’s $2,000 Car?

The Collidonthus is a life-sized skeleton car created by Indian artist Jitish Kallat. To be honest, we’ve no idea what the artist wanted to evoke with his distressing creation, but we couldn’t help not associating it with Ratan Tata’s $2,000 Nano car…

Link: Artkrush , Thanks for the tip Bk!

Ford Agrees on Selling Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian Tata Motors

According to a report from Reuters, Ford Motor Company has agreed to sell its luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata Motors for more than $2 billion. Although the deal was reportedly signed today (Tuesday, March 25, 2008), sources state that FoMoCo plans to publicly announce the transaction which will also see it pay approximately 300 million pounds ($597.7 million) into the European units' pension fund, in New York on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. EDT. -Pic: Carscoop

Via: Reuters

Indian Tata Motors Unveils $2,500 or €1,700 Nano Minicar

The same Indian firm that is one step away from acquiring Jaguar and Land Rover (see here) is making headlines around the world today with the presentation of the long-awaited Nano minicar or as many call it, the one lakh car ($2,500 or €1,700). Tata itself describes it as the “people’s car”.

The no-frills 5-door mini is powered by a rear-mounted, 33HP strong, 624cc, two-cylinder gasoline engine. Power is transferred to the rear-wheels via a four speed manual gearbox. Measuring in at 3.1 meter (122-inches) in length, the Nano can seat -or at least that’s what Tata says, four adult passengers. While one wouldn’t expect any luxury or safety amenities at $2,500, Tata’s 70-year-old CEO and owner, Ratan Tata does support that, although affordable, the Nano is built to meet safety requirements and emission norms.

We know what your thinking, but look at it this way; better off being in the Nano than riding a scooter packed with four passengers, something not at all uncommon in India. As for the Western world, we seriously doubt that the Nano would have any success; even if it passed safety and emission standards and even if it did actually cost $2,500 –which it won’t in the West. Just the other day I went to look for a used car with a friend of mine outside Boston; for $2k he found a '01 Mazda 626 and for $3k, a loaded '97 Volvo S70 Turbo. What would you prefer? -Details and pics after the jump

Tata Press Release

A comfortable, safe, all-weather car, high on fuel efficiency & low on emissions

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the Tata ‘NANO’, the People’s Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, “I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

Stylish, comfortable
The People’s Car, designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room. It can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.

Yet with a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas. Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars.

When launched, the car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual’s preferences.

Fuel-efficient engine
The People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.


Meets all safety requirements
The People’s Car’s safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body. Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.

Environment-friendly
The People’s Car’s tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of US $ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world's fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. Tata Motors and Fiat Auto have formed an industrial joint venture in India to manufacture passenger cars, engines and transmissions for the Indian and overseas markets; Tata Motors also has an agreement with Fiat Auto to build a pick-up vehicle at Córdoba, Argentina.

The company already distributes Fiat branded cars in India. Tata Motors’ international footprint includes Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co. Ltd. in South Korea; Hispano Carrocera, a bus and coach manufacturer of Spain in which the company has a 21% stake; a joint venture with Marcopolo, the Brazil-based body-builder of buses and coaches; and a joint venture with Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Company of Thailand to manufacture and market pick-up vehicles in Thailand. Tata Motors has research centres in India, the U.K., and in its subsidiary and associate companies in South Korea and Spain.

Audi Starts A6 Production In India

Audi has begun production of its luxury midsize sedan, the A6 in India at its Aurangabad site in the state of Maharashtra. In 2008, more than 300 A6 sedans all of which are intened for the Indian market, will be assembled in single-shift operation. By 2015 however, 2,000 units of the A6 should be rolling off the line as Audi plans to invest more than 30 million euros in production alone in India. Additionaly, starting in late 2008, the new Audi A4 will also be assembled in India.

“Starting our own production there is the best way to adequately serve such a promising growth market like India,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “India is one of the components of our Strategy 2015, which aims to achieve sales of 1.5 million automobiles per year worldwide. We want to be the most successful premium brand in India as well.”

Volvo Enters The Indian Market

Volvo has opened up for business in India with the introduction of the first cars that will go on sale. The Swedish carmaker’s sales program kicks off with the S80 and XC90 models, both of which will be offered with three powerplants: a 4.4L petrol V8, a 3.2L petrol in-line 6 and a 2.4L Turbo Diesel in-line 5-cylinder, the D5. "Volvo Cars is now starting up operations in India, a country with huge potential. We are proud to be able to offer two of our top car models to our Indian customers," said Paul de Voijs, MD for Volvo Car India. The cars will be sold through three dealerships in the cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

Indian Death Wish: Crossing the road in Hyderabad

Ok, technically speaking what this guy with the camera is doing is illegal -he should go to the crossway. However it’s amazing that nobody stops his car or motorcycle to let him cross the road with safety, preferring to perform a dangerous maneuver than come to a halt. But if you thought this was dangerous I’d bet you’d change your mind once you’ve seen this video… Via: Motorpasion

Technorati: India, Accident, Safety, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

“Made in India” Hyundai Getz to be exported to Europe

Who’d have thought a decade ago that a Korean car-manufacture would choose another Asian country to build one of its best selling models? Where’s the world going too… And this is not a first for Hyundai since this move follows an earlier decision concerning the Atos Prime which is also made in India and sold in Europe. According to The Times of India the first shipment of Getz is slated to be flagged off on Monday (April 2, 2007). A Hyundai India managing director stated to the Times that 40,000 units of Getz compact cars will be shipped to Europe this year with the first cars arriving in Germany. Via: The Times of India

Technorati: Hyundai+Getz, India, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007