Headlines
1) India Auto sales crash 14% in CY2019, the industry awaits GST cut to revive growth
2019 has been a rather forgettable year for the Indian automobile industry and the reasons are many. A prolonged economic slowdown, increase in vehicle prices, revised axle load norms for CVs that reduced M&HCV buying, the IL&FS crisis which impacted lending in rural India, the shift from BS-IV to BS VI-compliant vehicles, and subdued consumer sentiment. (source: autocarpro.in)
2) Now buy the BS-VI Honda City petrol at an even lower price than the BS-IV model
The Honda City is being offered with huge discounts only on the petrol versions, depending on whether they are 2019 or 2020 manufactured. Honda also confirmed that the diesel will be a BS-VI model before the norms kick in. (source: https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/)
3) Ashok Leyland partners ABB Power Grids to develop new flash charge capable e-buses
Ashok Leyland and ABB Power Products and Systems India (ABB Power Grids) signed an MoU development of pilot electric bus based on ABB’s innovative flash-charge technology called ‘TOSA’ (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation). This tops up the battery while passengers board and de-board the bus. As a result, it eliminates the need to take the vehicle out of service for recharging or having a replacement bus ready.
This partnership in the public e-mobility space is aimed to expand the eco-system for efficient and greener electric bus transportation systems in India and helps to minimize the size of the fleet while increasing passenger-carrying capacity. (source: autocarpro.in)
4) Tata Altroz bags five-star safety rating at Global NCAP crash tests
Tata Altroz has achieved a five-star safety rating in the adult occupant protection category at the Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) crash tests. Scheduled to be launched in India on January 22, the premium hatchback is based on the ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) architecture and comes with standard safety features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and CSC, reverse parking sensors, ISOFIX, driver and co-driver seatbelt reminder, and high-speed alert system. The entry-level model of the Altroz was chosen for the tests. (source: indiatoday.in/auto)
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Auto Components & Accessories
1) Denso and Qualcomm to develop next-gen cockpit systems
Denso Corporation and Qualcomm Technologies have announced the companies’ joint efforts in developing next-generation vehicle cockpit systems. Denso Corporation and Qualcomm Technologies have announced the companies’ joint efforts in developing next-generation vehicle cockpit systems. (source: autocarpro.in)
2) Reducing CV exposure may lift earnings at Bharat Forge
The component maker’s revenue mix is expected to move away from commercial vehicles (44%, at present) and industrial segment (44%) and towards passenger vehicles (12%) and new business initiatives (0%) in the long-term. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
3) Online sales of automobile components steal a march over offline sales
Despite retail sales of auto components slowing, their online sales have surged. While Flipkart said that the category saw a growth of 1.7X in sales, and about 2X in units, Amazon said it was seeing good traction and had already started selling electric two-wheelers.
The major factor contributing to the rising sales of auto components online is the availability of all categories, including car and bike accessories/components on a single platform. (source: business-standard.com)
4) Rane plans to raise Rs 50 crore
Auto parts maker Rane (Madras) on Monday has said that it plans to raise funds up to Rs 50 crore. The board of directors in a meeting has approved the plan to issue equity shares and or convertible securities to the promoters on a preferential basis. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Government Policy
1) Fix parking charges in Delhi markets: EPCA
The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has in a report stated that pilot parking management plans at Kamla Nagar, Krishna Nagar, and Lajpat Nagar-III markets have commenced, learnings from which will be scalable for other markets too. The parking rules aim to discourage on-street parking for long durations through differential pricing and also moderate parking demand through dynamic pricing. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
2) Highways may be ranked on safety, mobility
India is proposing to rate its national highways on parameters including safety and mobility, among others, looking to improve the quality of highways network in the country.
The exercise is aimed to help the National Highways Authority of India, or NHAI, plug gaps and adopt better practices at the design stage itself. “We are looking at benchmarking of highways because ultimately roads are a paid service and the users who are paying toll should be given quality services,” an official in the know told ET. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
3) Auto parts supplier IAC to shutdown Dayton plant next month
Global supplier of automotive interior components and systems, International Automotive Components (IAC) Group SA has recently announced the permanent closure of its manufacturing facility in Dayton with effect from February 28, 2019.
As per media reports the plant shutdown will affect 93 workers, according to a notice filed with the state Jan. 8 as part of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
4) Govt. nod for 2,636 new charging stations in 62 cities
The Centre has approved setting up of 2,636 charging stations in 62 cities across the country under the FAME India scheme, which will encourage original equipment manufacturers to launch new electric vehicle models, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday. Of the 2,636 stations, 1,633 will be fast-charging stations. About 14,000 chargers will be installed across the selected cities. (source: thehindu.com/news)
Auto Industry
1) The economy hit by lack of political consensus: RC Bhargava
Maruti chairman R C Bhargava has said that lack of political consensus is slowing down the Indian economy which, in turn, is limiting the ability of India Inc to make new investments and create fresh jobs. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
2) Tata Motors eyes market outperformance in FY-21, a dozen product launches in two quarters to drive volumes
Tata Motors managing director Guenter Butshcek expects the company to turn around in fiscal 2021 after underperforming the market this year, as he bets on a leaner cost structure, a pipeline of over a dozen products and the economy where he predicts activity to pick up.
Now, apart from the launch of the new premium hatchback Altroz and top of the line SUV Gravitas, the company will be banking on a facelifted Nexon, an updated Harrier with options like automatic transmission and sunroof, and BS-VI versions of the Tiago and Tigor, as well as some critical commercial vehicle models to generate volume momentum. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
3) I didn’t escape justice, I fled injustice: Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn in his first press c
onference since his shocking escape from custody in Japan almost two weeks ago said he “did not escape justice” but rather “fled injustice and political persecution.”
After suffering the inhumane treatment for more than 400 days, Ghosn added, he was left with no other choice than to protect himself and his family. (source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
4) Toyota invests $400 million in electric flying car company
Japanese car giant Toyota said Thursday it is investing nearly $400 million in a company working on commercializing electric flying cars for “fast, quiet and affordable air transportation services”.
The investment in Joby Aviation com
es as the automaker looks to expand into new sectors as the industry rapidly transforms, with president Akio Toyoda pledging to move the firm “from a car manufacturer to a mobility company”. (source: businesstoday.in)
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Four Wheelers & Two Wheelers
1) Hyundai India To Launch 202
0 Hyundai i20 Facelift in June
Hyundai India will launch the 2020 i20 facelift in June this year in the country, states a new report from Autocar India. The testing for the new hatch has already commenced. The 2020 Hyundai i20 will boast of a substantial cosmetic makeover while available with a total of three powertrains. (source: autoportal.com)
2) Ather 450X electric scooter teased again
Pre-bookings for the Ather 450X are open but only through an invite for now. More details about availability and deliveries will be known within this month when a formal launch takes place. (source: https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/)
3) Nawa Technologies debuts hybrid
battery e-bike at CES 2020
France-based NAWA Technologies, the maker of next-generation ultra-fast energy storage systems, has debuted its NAWA Racer e-bike concept at CES 2020.
Featuring a world-first in electric powertrains, NAWA Racer uses a ‘hybrid’ battery which combines NAWA Technologies’ revolutionary ultra-capacitors – which offer ten times more power and five times more energy than existing tech – with conventional lithium-ion cells. (source: autocarpro.in)
4) Honda Activa 6G: Price, variants, colours, features, specifications, warranty, all other important details
Honda Activa 6G has been launched in India an
d it seems that the two-wheeler maker has left no stone unturned to preserve the popular scooter’s position as the market leader. The new Activa 6G comes with several fresh features making it not only better than its predecessor but also a much more attractive package. (source: https://www.indiatoday.in/auto)
Global Market
1) Hyundai Mobis uses lighting to communicate in an autonomous car era
Hyundai Mobis, the parts, and services arm for Hyundai Motor, Genesis Company, and Kia Motors has showcased its latest Communication Lighting concept at CES 2019. The communication lighting uses an ‘Indicating Lighting Zone’ to indicate when an autonomous vehicle is operating in self-driving mode. (source: autocarpro.in)
2) CES 2020: Sony announces electric car concept
Electronics giant Sony has surprised attendees of the CES tech show by unveiling an electric car dubbed the Vision S.
The vehicle is a prototype designed to show off the firm’s sensors and in-car entertainment technologies. The dashboard is flanked by an ultra-wide panoramic screen “for driving information and entertainment”. (source: bbc.com/news)
3) Tesla delivers the first batch of China-made cars
Tesla delivered its first batch of China-made cars on December 30, less than a year after the electric vehicle company broke ground on its first plant outside the United States.
Work began on the firm’s multibillion-dollar Shanghai “Gigafactory” in January, allowing the company to skirt trade tensions between China and the U.S. and sell directly to the world’s largest “green” vehicle market. (source: thehindu.com/news)
4) Aston Martin warns on profits but Rolls-Royce
sales surge
Aston Martin, the luxury British carmaker famed for kitting out James Bond, has issued a profit warning after a “very disappointing” 2019.
Shares in the 106-year-old firm plunged by as much as 16% after it said annual earnings were expected to fall by nearly half from a year earlier. (source: bbc.com/news)
