December Newsletter

Headlines

1. Tata Nexon electric vehicle spotted testing, unveil on December 19

Tata Motors will reportedly unveil the Nexon electric vehicle in India on December 19. However, before the automobile manufacturer officially showcases the Nexon EV, it has been spied testing in Pune. It becomes amply clear from the picture that the upcoming electric vehicle from the house of Tata Motors will be more or less similar to the internal combustion engine-powered Nexon. (source: auto.ndtv.com)

2. Nokia, Daimler, Others Agreed To Mediation To Resolve Licensing Dispute

Nokia, German carmaker Daimler and several car parts suppliers have agreed to independent mediation to resolve their technology licensing dispute, the Finnish telecoms equipment maker said on Thursday. The move, if it leads to a successful outcome, could stave off a possible EU antitrust investigation following complaints by Daimler, Bury Technologies, Continental, Valeo and Thales-owned Gemalto to the European Commission. (source: auto.ndtv.com)

3. Hyundai Aura Official Sketches Revealed

Hyundai Motor India has released the first official sketches of the Aura subcompact sedan, ahead of its public debut on December 19, 2019. The all-new Hyundai Aura will step in place of the Xcent in the company’s line-up and the sketches reveal the Grand i10 Nios connection with the new model. (source: auto.ndtv.com)

4. FASTag sale crosses 1 crore, Government steps up awareness campaign

The number of transactions through FASTag has increased to 20 lakh per day and once this figure increases further, there will be savings worth over Rs 1,000 crore in terms of fuel wastage, loss of man-hour and congestion.

5. FADA appeals the Supreme Court to allow selling of BS-IV vehicles after 31st March

The apex court previously directed that no BS-IV emission norms complying motor vehicle shall be sold or registered in the entire country with effect from 1st April 2020. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

6. TaMo could be next big Indian automaker to partner with a foreign brand

While Tata Motors has already been looking for partnerships for its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover, previously it has been seen that the Chinese brands have invested successfully in German, Swedish and French auto companies. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

7. Maruti Suzuki Futuro-E could be the automaker’s first EV: Know the facts

Expect the Maruti Suzuki Futuro-E electric hatchback to be priced between Rs 7-10 lakh (ex-showroom). This will give the car a competitive edge against the rival like Tata Tigor EV, which is available at a price range of Rs 9.44-9.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

8. Piaggio launches its maiden electric product Ape’ E-City at Rs 1.97 lakh

Ape’ E-City is the first 3-wheeler to have smart swappable batteries. The swappable battery concept is being brought in association with Sun mobility. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

9. BS6 Toyota Innova Crysta Bookings Commence Ahead of January Launch

BS6 emission norms come into effect from April 01, 2020. No auto manufacturer can sell any vehicle without the BS6 certification after the commencement of the emission norms. Toyota Innova, one of the most popular SUVs in India, has announced that the opening of the bookings for the new BS6 Toyota Innova Crysta models. The launch date will be sometime later in the year. (source: autoportal.com)

10. Tata Nexon electric vehicle spotted testing, unveil on December 19

Tata Motors will reportedly unveil the Nexon electric vehicle in India on December 19. However, before the automobile manufacturer officially showcases the Nexon EV, it has been spied testing in Pune. It becomes amply clear from the picture that the upcoming electric vehicle from the house of Tata Motors will be more or less similar to the internal combustion engine-powered Nexon. (source: auto.ndtv.com)

Auto Components & Accessories

1. Auto components sales fall record 10% to Rs 1.87 lakh crore

Auto component sales in India fell 10% to $26.2 billion (Rs 1.87 lakh crore) in the first six months of the ongoing financial year, amid a broader slowdown in consumption in the local market, the Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association (ACMA) said. (source: economictimes.indiatimes.com/auto-components)

2. Protectron Electromech develops high-performance EV fuses

Karnataka-based Protectron Electromech, a leading manufacturer of electro-mechanical products, has launched fuses for electric vehicles that are claimed to offer complete system protection. The fuses are rated for DC voltages as high as 450V DC and currents up to 150 amperes. (source: autocarpro.in)

3. Tata Motors Launches Pro Edition Accessory Kit For Its Entire Range

Tata Motors has launched the pro edition accessory package for its entire range in a bid to cash in the festive season demand. The pro editions have been launched on the Harrier, Hexa, Nexon, Tigor, and Tiago and have been designed to enhance the visual appeal of the car along with adding some features. (source: auto.ndtv.com/news)

4. Michelin, ARAI to co-develop automobile tyre tech for improved performance, safety

Michelin and ARAI plan to develop automobile tyre technology exploring future stakes in standardization and regulation. (source: financialexpress.com)

5. IBM’s new battery design taps seawater as an alternative mineral source

International Business Machines Corp on Wednesday said it has come up with a new battery technology that uses materials extracted from seawater and requires no cobalt, as the race to find alternative sources to the expensive mineral intensifies. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

6. FADA moves Supreme Court seeking relief in the sale of BS-IV vehicles after April 1 deadline

Automobile retailers said they might fail to liquidate Bharat Stage-IV vehicles’ inventory before the new emission standards take effect, on April 1, 2020, and pleaded before the Supreme Court to give them more time to clear such stock. (economictimes.indiatimes.com)

7. No calls while driving: Bluetooth speaker use a grey area, say Chennai police

Almost all cars on Monday come with an option to use hands-free devices and Bluetooth speakers, allowing drivers to take phone calls while behind the wheels. “It is illegal,” said B Ramesh, a traffic policeman on duty at Nungambakkam High Road, who had fined a motorist Rs 100 for talking over the phone through her Bluetooth speakers.

Government Policy

1. No Reduction In GST For The Auto Industry

There were no GST rate cuts announced in the GST Council meeting recently held in Goa and that means there will be no change in the price of cars and bikes. However, it’s not all bad news for the auto sector. The Finance Minister has proposed a reduction in the corporate tax rate to 22 percent from 30 percent and eliminated the minimum alternate tax for companies that are not availing incentives under the income tax act thus giving a big boost to Make-In-India as also the automobile industry. (source: auto.ndtv.com/news)

2. Will Uddhav bite the bullet on Motor Vehicles Act?

The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena regime had stayed enforcement of the amended MVA rules following an uproar from all over the country on the exorbitant fines/penalties stipulated. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news)

3. India cannot achieve $5 trillion economy with slowing automotive industry

Speaking at The Times Network ‘India Economic Conclave’ Pawan Goenka, MD, Mahindra & Mahindra said that the automotive industry accounts for almost half of the manufacturing GDP and if the Indian economy has to scale a $5 trillion mark, the manufacturing GDP needs to grow to $1.2 trillion, which is a growth of 12% in the coming four to five years. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

4. Buying a BS-VI car next year? Get ready to shell out more

With just over three months for the implementation of BS-VI emission norms, Indian automobile consumers seem nervous about future purchases. From the consumers’ point of view, mid-year 2020 may be time for a few price shocks as car prices go up with automakers rolling out new emission standards compliant vehicles. Especially in diesel SUVs, a price hike of 10% may be in the offing. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

5. De-growth in the auto sector expected to fall to 3%: N Raja

The de-growth in the automobile sector is expected to fall in the next calendar year. The current year saw a recession of 18% to 19% in the car sales, which is expected to come down to around 15% in the coming year, said N Raja, deputy managing director (sales and service) of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited.

Auto Industry

1. Google Maps Adds Plug Type Filter For EV Charging Stations

Google Maps has received a new filter to classify the Electronic Vehicles (EV) charging stations based on plug type. The recent update will surely a sigh of relief for the daily drivers, it will facilitate them to drive the car on to the compatible charging station. To use the new feature, the users can head over to the Google Maps > Settings > Electric Vehicle Settings >Your Plugs > Choose and save. (Source: auto.ndtv.com/news)

2. Auto components sales fall record 10% to Rs 1.87 lakh crore

Auto component sales in India fell 10% to $26.2 billion (Rs 1.87 lakh crore) in the first six months of the ongoing financial year, amid a broader slowdown in consumption in the local market, the Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association (ACMA) said.

3. The current slowdown in the auto industry is a short term phenomenon: Vinod Aggarwal

Opening Remarks by Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles at the #ETAutoNGVC, where he said that the current slowdown is a short term phenomenon and the Indian auto industry will turn around soon. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Four Wheelers & Two Wheelers

1. Maruti Suzuki Sells 6 Lakh Automatic Cars In India In 5 Years

Maruti Suzuki has sold 6 lakh cars with automatic transmission in the country. The company has seen a growth in sales as far as automatic transmission variants are concerned, which is why it’s available in almost all cars from the company’s portfolio. (Source: auto.ndtv.com)

2. India Bike Week 2019

The sixth edition of India Bike Week was truly about motorcycles, and yes, while there have been launches and showcases in the past, the festival really outshone itself with the launch of a motorcycle brand. With KTM onboard as a partner for the first time ever, the brand launched the much-awaited KTM 390 Adventure in the India-spec version. The other big launch was, of course, Husqvarna making its India debut amidst a sea of bikers. The Swedish bike maker entered India with the Svartpilen 250 and the Vitpilen 250 quarter-litre offerings that were a complete surprise to everyone. (Source: auto.ndtv.com)

3. Yamaha FZ-FI, FZS-FI Recalled In India Over Non-Fitment Of Rear-Side Reflector

The voluntary recall affects 7757 units of the Yamaha FZ-FI and FZS-FI motorcycles for the non-fitment of the rear-side reflector. The missing part will be installed by the company free of cost. (Source: auto.ndtv.com)

4. Ampere Zeal electric scooter available with attractive offers as company clocks 50,000 unit sales

Ampere, the electric two-wheeler manufacturer, a subsidiary of Greeves Cotton, has announced that it’s electric scooter range has crossed the sales milestone of 50,000 units in India. In order to mark the same, the company has announced that is is going to offer a ‘free-insurance scheme’ for the Zeal electric scooter. Not only this but accessories worth up to Rs 1,000 will be offered on the rest of the Ampere range. This new offer is in addition to the finance schemes which are available at a low EMI, being offered at dealerships and other e-commerce platforms. (source: financialexpress.com)

5. Tata Nexon EV revealed ahead of early 2020 launch

India’s first all-electric compact SUV, the Tata Nexon EV is said to have a range of over 300km on a full charge; bookings open tomorrow for the EV that’s expected to be priced between Rs 15-17 lakh.

6. Lambretta made-in-India electric scooter launch scheduled for February 2020

Closely following its main competitor Vespa, Lambretta International launches the new Lambretta Electric prototype on the 15th Auto Expo of 6-9 February 2020. The Italian-Swiss multinational additionally announces the development of a steel Super Lambretta specially designed for the Indian market.

Global Market

1. From Past To Future: BMW In Search Of Best M Model Of All Time

In a fairly recent video by DRIVETRIBE, they take a trip down memory lane to find out what makes the best BMW M car, and what the future holds for BMW’s prestigious performance division. Anyone who has even a passing interest for BMWs will find this 16-ish minute long video an interesting and entertaining one, as the narrator takes us through major production vehicles that lead up to where we are today; an M car for almost anyone’s tastes. (Source: www.motor1.com/news)

2. Asian brands top Automotive Net Trust – Toyota, Mazda & Honda

The latest research from the Roy Morgan Risk Monitor shows Asian automotive brands dominating the leaderboard as Australia’s most trusted car companies: those with the highest NTS – Net Trust Score.
The top six positions are filled by five Japanese car companies led by Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru and Nissan along with South Korean car company Hyundai in the sixth position. The highest-ranked American brand is electric-vehicle maker Tesla in the seventh position. (Source: roymorgan.com/findings)

3. Global Automotive Engine Oil Market 2020-2024

The global automotive engine oil market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% during the period 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global automotive engine oil market 2020-2024. (source: finance.yahoo.com)

4. Toyota forecasts 2020 unit sales

Toyota Motor is forecasting sales of 10.77m vehicles worldwide during 2020, nudging it closer to top automaker Volkswagen, a media report said. (source: just-auto.com)

5. French automobile giant signs merger with Fiat-Chrysler

Carmakers Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and PSA Peugeot have signed a merger agreement on the merger of the two parties. The new company will be responsible for the production of Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall says the opinion. (source: indonewyork.com)

6. Mercedes reaches $20 million settlement with the federal auto safety agency

Mercedes-Benz has agreed to pay $13 million to the nation’s top highway safety regulator to resolve an investigation into how the luxury German automaker handled recalls on defective cars. (source: washingtonpost.com)

 

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