Indian Car Blog – Carazoo.com

Etios Series Touch Sales Of One Lakh Units

The Etios series comprising Etios and Etios Liva sedans have clocked sales of one lakh units. Etios recorded sales of 50,157 units during 2011-2012, emerging as the third largest selling sedan in its segment. Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has achieved an important milestone, after it entered the Indian mass volume market.

TKM launched the Etios in December 2010 followed by the Etios Liva in June 2011, with its focus on the Indian markets. The sedan caught the attention of the audience with its catchy tagline “World First, India First, My First”. The company forayed into the export market, shipping the first consignment of Etios to South Africa in April 2012. TKM plans to ramp up the production of the Etios series by opening its second plant in Bidadi, prompted by the need to match up with the growing demand for the sedans. The company plans to scale up the production capacity from 1.2 to 2.1 lakh units by early 2013 and to export 20,000 units annually.

TKM will source the engine and transmission systems for the cars from Toyota Kirloskar Auto parts which will produce about 1,00,000 engines annually, starting from the third quarter of 2012. The production will take up the localization ratio for Etios from 70% to more than 90%. TKM has ramped up its dealer network from 97 during 2009 to 175 outlets currently in an effort to expand its reach to the target customers. The company plans to launch 25 new outlets in semi urban and rural regions by Dec 2012 and to take up the network to 220 dealerships by early 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, TKM commented “With the launch of Etios, TKM embarked on a very important and challenging journey and this is an important milestone. We thank the one lakh happy customers who have trusted the brand and also appreciated it. Despite unforeseen and unfortunate events like tsunami in Japan and the floods in Thailand, we have been able to achieve the One Lakh mark. We wish to give the common man an opportunity to drive a Toyota vehicle and we look forward to serving the Indian society by making more quality vehicles.”

Mr. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM commented “We are delighted to touch the One Lakh mark. The number reflects how the Etios family has grown and how Etios and Etios Liva has become a household brand in India. Customers have owned and appreciated the vehicles and we are constantly incorporating their feedback to be able to serve them better. This is a small yet very important milestone in this large project that will place TKM on a higher pedestal in the global operations of Toyota.”

posted by somdatta.basu @ Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 28, 2012

Ford Motor Company Earns Goodwill Through “Operation Goodwill”

Ford India is investing USD 250,000 to launch “Operation Goodwill” in partnership with an NGO, the GlobalGiving Foundation and a strong team of volunteers comprising the employees and its Global Business Services. The GlobalGiving Community has till date contributed in excess of $65 million towards more than 5,500 social projects worldwide. Backed by the Ford Motor Company Fund, the programme will promote the ongoing engagement of the company in social causes to induce and propel a positive change and sustained development in villages. The operation aims to improve the health, safety and educational infrastructure in seven communities in the vicinity of its plant in Maraimalai Nagar, Chennai.

On the occasion, Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director, Ford India commented, “As Ford continues to grow and expand in India, we believe it is our obligation to give back, particularly in the communities where we have operations. Our business philosophy is to empower our workforce and give them the tools and training needed to build top quality vehicles. With Operation Goodwill, our aim is likewise to help empower our local communities, providing the tools and training to improve quality of life.” Joginder Singh, president and managing director of Ford’s Global Business Services operation commented, “At Ford, we become citizens of the countries and the communities in which we operate. Our community service efforts at Global Business Services are a true reflection of this ‘People Serving People’ attitude. We are deeply committed to going further and making a difference in the communities where we live and work”.

Ford has partnered with and Aid India to launch 20 after-school tutoring centers near Ford’s Chennai Manufacturing Facility and in the Uthiramerur Block. The tutoring centers will coach government school students to improve their learning ability. Balaji Sampath, secretary of Aid India commented, “The objective is to ensure that every child achieves basic outcomes in Language, Math, English and Science and gets prepared to face the world with confidence. Local empowerment and a strong outcome focus are the hallmarks of the initiative”.

Ford has associated with The Society for Technology and Advancement for Rural Action (TARA) to build school and community toilets and to provide water filters. The company will work on enhancing the skill of women in rural areas of Chennai by engaging them in tailoring classes in association with the Society for Poor People Development (SPDD). Ford India will also engage in a multi-year infrastructure expansion activity at one of the village schools and to ensure adequate reading materials at two other Government schools. Speaking on the occasion, Jim Vella, President of Ford Fund commented, “Operation Goodwill represents Ford’s ongoing commitment to support our employees and dealers around the world in their efforts to go further to improve the living conditions of communities where we live and work. I am confident that with this grant in India, we will make a meaningful difference in the lives of rural women and school children in the villages surrounding our manufacturing operations there.”

Ford India has till date renovated two government schools in Chitamanur and Kizhakarmai villages in Chennai. The schools how have better toilets apart from good drinking water facilities. The employees of Ford joined hands during the Ford Global Week of Caring wherein more than 1,000 volunteers gathered to contribute towards various social causes. The company has partnered with its dealers and trained 4,500 drivers through its popular training programme, Driving Skills for Life (DSFL). The programme has educated new and old licensed drivers on safety, economy and environment friendly driving practices.

It is not surprising to note that Ford has bagged the Red Cross trophy and named as the largest Voluntary Blood Donor in the Industrial Category of Tamil Nadu for ten consecutive years between 2000 and 2010.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Monday, May 28th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 28, 2012

Fiat associates with Mazda Motor

Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A of Italy has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Japanese Car maker Mazda Motor Corporation to develop and manufacture a new roadster which will be based on the rear-wheel drive architecture of the next-generation MX-5. Fiat and Mazda expect to develop two differentiated distinctly designed, light weight roadsters at the plant of Mazda at Hiroshima, Japan.

Ford had earlier offloaded their 20% stake in Mazda and had been facing a financial crunch ever since. The deal sounds like a welcome break for Mazda too which lost a massive $ 1.3 billion during 2011-2012, though the company has been faring quite well in their SkyActiv gasoline and diesel engines and transmissions project. The association is expected to cut costs and pave way to a deeper alliance between the two companies. The final agreement is scheduled to be signed in the second half of 2012 and the production of the Alfa Romeo is envisaged to start in 2015 and to be styled distinctly by Fiat.

Fiat features amongst the three weakest car makers in Europe and has already built the small 500 in association with Ford Motor Co, the Fiat Punto in association with Opel Corsa and the Fiat Seidici in association with Suzuki Motor Corporation, cutting costs of about $1.3 billion which is required to develop each new car. Alfa Romeo had earlier been withdrawn from the United States during 1995. The company now plans to launch the vehicle on a global scale.

Mazda will share then basic underpinnings of MX-5 after effecting changes to both the interiors and exterior appearance. The Mazda MX-5 features in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating history as the best selling two-seat convertible sports car with sales of more than 9,00,000 units during 2011. The new roadsters are expected to have a smaller build and priced more affordably compared to its predecessors.

Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Mazda commented, “Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time.”

CEO of Fiat, Sergio Marchionne commented, “This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship.”

Fiat and Mazda have outlined plans to explore opportunities for cooperation in the European markets in the near future.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Monday, May 28th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 25, 2012

Chevrolet Blockbuster Weekend

General Motors India announced a unique offer for its superbly stylish Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Beat car for three consecutive days starting from 25th May to 27th May 2012. On booking any of these two cars within these three days from 9 a.m to 9 p.m, one can get a chance to win gifts worth up to Rs. 2 crore and can even win the booked car absolutely free. The gifts, given by General Motors India, comprise of LCD Televisions, Camcorders, Home Theaters, DVD Player, Starting model Chevrolet Spark (non-metallic) and Starting model Chevrolet Beat (non-metallic) available across the country.

Mr. P. Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India said, “This is a very special event and a first ever by Chevrolet, at such a grand scale. With this offer, we have tried to give our esteemed customers yet another reason to cheer and buy our product. We believe this offer will bring smile to customers of the Chevrolet Spark and Chevrolet Beat – India’s most fuel efficient car. We are very pleased to announce this offer and look forward to a favorable response from the market.”

Whatever may be your pick from the list of all models and variants of Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Spark, you will drive out with the joy of satisfactory buying experience. This is a limited period offer so hurry and grab this offer!

posted by somdatta.basu @ Friday, May 25th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 25, 2012

Petrol Price Lock Assurance Program Announced By Hyundai

Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in India, has announced “Petrol Price Lock Assurance Program” in order to safeguard its customers from the sudden steep increase in the petrol prices announced on May 23. The program offers discount on the petrol models of various Hyundai cars which includes Eon, Santro, i10, i20, Assent and Verna.

In order to combat the petrol price hike, this program has been launched which is valid on purchases made till 31st May 2012. The program covers the price hike for the next seven months. The 5-star Assurance Scheme which was announced earlier this month for the Santro and i10, which includes Total Maintenance Assurance, Motor Assurance, Warranty Assurance, Exchange Assurance and Roadside Assurance, will go hand in hand with this scheme.

Mr Arvind Saxena, Director-Marketing and Sales, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., while speaking about the offer, said, “The Petrol Lock Scheme will insulate the customer from the impact of the price hike. The price hike is severe and we need to soften the blow for our customers.”

posted by somdatta.basu @ Friday, May 25th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 24, 2012

FIAT Reinforces India Commitment

FIAT India launched its second exclusive FIAT Café in Pune on May 18th 2012, making India the first country with two such brand showrooms. The first such showroom of the company was launched in Delhi, earlier during the year. The new showroom, occupying 6,300 square feet, has been designed in line with the FIAT style and technology parameters in a very aesthetic manner to give out a real FIAT experience to customers. The outlet will conduct events across the year, becoming a one-stop shop for the discerning customer and a destination for progressive class customers. FIAT further proved its commitment to India with the launch of a limited edition Punto Sport at the new Caffe, with a base price of 7.36 lakhs. The new Caffe has come up in Koregaon Park, an upmarket locality of Pune. Millennium Drive, a leading automobiles dealer of Pune will manage the operations of the Caffe.

FIAT Caffe has been built to enhance the experience to customers. The mezzanine floor with lounge at the Café bar allows prospective customers to feast their eyes on the cars on display apart from taking test drives and buying FIAT merchandise. Customers are allowed to browse through information on FIAT worldwide or FIAT India and guided accordingly by trained staff. Giant 3×3 video walls and TV screens air FIAT advertisements while an inhouse library allows one to understand the glorious history of the company.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Enrico Atanasio, Head- Commercial, FIAT India Automobiles Ltd said, “At FIAT, we believe in providing our customers with newer and better cars designed with the best-in-class comfort and technology. We are hopeful that the new limited edition variant of the Punto Sport will be well-received by our customers and will succeed in delighting them. We are committed to the Indian market and with this Caffé we aim to offer the real FIAT experience. This is a step towards ramping up our direct presence in India and we will continue to remain aggressive on this front in the future”

Mr. Neelesh Naik, Proprietor Millennium Drive said, “We are extremely proud to be associated with FIAT India and are committed to providing our customers in Pune a premium experience. There are only 12 such FIAT Image points across the world and it is a matter of great prestige to be selected to operate the FIAT Caffé for India.”

Punto Sport” MULTIJET diesel is considered as the epitome of Italian design and ingenuity. The car, all set to create a new benchmark for diesel hatchbacks in India, has already made waves with its exquisite looks and style. The car bagged the Car of the Year 2009 award in the Premium Hatchback segment from ET Zigwheels, Car with the Best Styling and Design from UTV Autocar Awards 2010,
and the Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2009 from BBC Top Gear. Safety and comfort features of the car include Dual Stage Airbags, ABS with EBD, Automatic Climate Control, Blue & Me technology and an integrated CD/MP3 player with USB amongst a host of other features.

The car with a power of 90 HP is expected to power its way to being one of the most sought after premium hatchbacks India with excellent fuel economy. The sporty version of the car will allow three colour choices, White, Black and Red while the BS IV compliant diesel version will be a potent combination of performance, with a power of 93 bhp and an excellent fuel economy of 20.5 kmpl. FIAT India is a joint venture between FIAT Group Automobiles S.p.A of Germany and Tata Motors Ltd.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Thursday, May 24th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 23, 2012

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Conducts Hybrid Craft Program For School Students In Bangalore

A Hybrid Craft Program had been conducted by Toyota Kirloskar Pvt. Ltd. at Crossword bookstore in Frazer Town, Bangalore on 20th May 2012. The school students between the age group of 12 to 14 were selected from metros for this campaign. The aim of this campaign was to make the students aware of the hybrid technology and its uses for the environment.

The Hybrid Craft Project was started as a pilot project last year at Canadian International School in Bangalore and was perceived well by the students as well as the teachers. The campaign consisted of a detailed program in which the students were made to understand the causes of pollution and its ill effects on the environment.

Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, while commenting on Toyota’s Educational initiative on Hybrid Technology, said, “Toyota is considered to be the pioneers of hybrid technology and is renowned for it worldwide. With the launch of the third generation Toyota Prius in 2010, we are very pleased to bring this technology to India. The whole idea behind introducing this technology in India was to create awareness about hybrid technology and to sensitize the people about the positive effects of the same. To further emphasize on Toyota’s commitment to the environment, we have been involved with many green initiatives, the Hybrid Craft Campaign being one such program, which enables us to sensitize young school children about the benefits of hybrid technology and the importance to conserve energy and fuel,”.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 23, 2012

CarZ Launches Nine New Outlets Across Andhra Pradesh

CarZ, a leading independent multi-brand car service network company based in Hyderabad unveiled nine modern service outlets in Andhra Pradesh. This has taken up the store count of the company to 12 in the state and to 14 across India. The new outlets have come up in various locations including Guntur, Khammam, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Nellore, Anantapur, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. CarZ raised Series A funding of $5 million from Indo-US ventures for the expansion venture.

Incepted in 2008 and founded by Mr Venu Donepudi and Mr Vijay Gummadi, Carz operated through three outlets in Hyderabad at Madhapur, Gachibowli and Prasads IMAX apart from two outlets in Bangalore. Both the mentors of the company are experts in the field with extensive industry experience. CarZ aims to offer the best repair services to customers with the expertise of a dealer and the comfort of a local mechanic. The company offers a wide range or repair services for all car models apart from routine and preventive maintenance, electrical and mechanical repair and treatment for interior and exterior damages and repairs. In an attempt to provide utmost service levels, the company arranges for mobile service vans and employs highly trained technicians and use safe and good quality branded components. CarZ has associated with several public and private insurance companies to enhance the convenience of its clients through cashless insurance claims and renewals. The facility of express and mobile service helps a customer to avail the facility of getting the car picked up, serviced and dropped back to their door step at no extra cost, in case of a minor maintenance work.

Venu Donepudi, Managing Director, CarZ said, “Andhra Pradesh is a huge market for us with the fifth highest population in India of nearly 840 million people. It also has one of the highest growth-rate for vehicle ownership in the country. At CarZ our constant endeavor is to provide end-to-end solutions to discerning Indian car owners.”
Mr. Vijay Gummadi, CEO of CarZ commented “We plan to create new benchmarks in customer service and product offerings in the automobile industry. It’s our endeavour to provide complete auto care solutions to our customers which include preventive maintenance, electrical & mechanical repair, accident repair – denting and painting, tyres and services, battery, variety of styling and performance accessories, interior and exterior detailing.“

The company has outlined an aggressive expansion project wherein it proposes to undertake a nationwide rollout in a phased manner. CarZ brings the best service levels to the Indian car owners.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 18, 2012

How Would It Be To Race A Mahindra XUV 500 On The BIC?

Mahindra XUV500 provided a thrilling opportunity for 100 purple club members. These members won through a unique contest and took their XUV500s for a privileged experience on the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.

Getting a chance to drive on an international racing track is what most car racing fans dream about. You may be missing the gruelling, nerve racking experience of a real race, but then even to drive at a friendly pace on the world class track can set the adrenaline pulsing faster and much faster.

To add to the excitement, Gaurav Gill kept company on fast flying laps. It was relieving his three times National Champion and APRC (Asia Pacific Rally Championship) victories from close quarters. Lohitt Urs, the INRC (Indian National Rally Championship) winner joined Gill and the 100 lucky persons in taking lap after lap, striving to keep pace with these masters was an unforgettable experience.
Well, Mahindra XUV500 drives as well on regular roads as on the BIC. The 2179 cc can power you along at 137 bhp and build up racer torque up to 330 Nm @1600-2800rpm. It is a fifth generation engine sporting variable Geometry Turbocharger. Coupled to a 6 speed synchromesh manual transmission Mahindra XUV500 gives a true crossover driving experience, so you can stop bothering whether you are driving inside the city or zooming along the highway or grappling with rural tracks.

Leather wrapped seats, steering wheels and a few contact points, intelligently placed controls strike you with a sense of elegance as soon as you get inside a Mahindra XUV500. Every time you ride in this XUV, you are sure to feel the comfort – the front seats are bolstered to keep the passengers in place even when you take a steep turn at high-speed. The driver has what Mahindra classifies as a tailor-made throne – 8-way adjustable, the seat has special lumbar support.

While driving a car of this class, you are sure to look for style. Step into the nearest dealer place -Mahindra XUV500 is stunningly stylish.

posted by somdatta.basu @ Friday, May 18th, 2012 Comments Off links to this post

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May 18, 2012

Third Generation Mercedes Benz M Class Launched In India

German Car maker Mercedes Benz has launched its third generation Mercedes Benz M Class SUV in India. Priced at Rs56.9 to Rs66 lakhs, the new M Class sedan is nothing less than an engineering marvel! A potent combination of power, agility and luxury, the M Class SUV exemplifies the philosophy of the group, “Best or Nothing”. The new car has a better fuel efficiency, a new and exciting look and unmatched performance.

Peter Honegg, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said, “At the start of this year we had promised to introduce exciting new models into the market. We are proud to present today the New M Class, built to perform with the highest precision and follows the Mercedes-Benz new design language. We are confident that the quality of drive and the luxurious experience it can deliver will be a big hit with the customers and it will be warmly received.”

Mercedes sold more than 800 SUVs in India during Jan-Dec 2011. The SUV portfolio of the company, comprising GLs and MLs has been growing steadily and the trend is expected to continue. The new M-Class has been pitted against the Audi Q5 and BMW X5 and has been designed to be 23mm longer and 15 mm wider than its previous version. The company expects to fare better with the new M Class SUV which has been priced 15 percent lower than its previous edition while the fuel efficiency has been improved by 20 percent. The car is all set to be a roaring success and an exciting combination of high quality materials, stylish design and other features raising the bar for the SUV segment. Mercedes Benz M Class has been built to combine the best features of an SUV with a strong off-road heritage while giving the commuters the feel of a premium luxury saloon.

The diesel variant of the new M Class SUV, ML 350 CDI, is powered by a 3.0 liter engine which is expected to give a mileage of 9.5 kmpl. The V6 engine produces 255 bhp @ 3600 rpm along with an impressive torque of 620 Nm @1600 to 2400 rpm. The Airmatic Air suspension with selective damping ensures luxury on par with that found in luxury class salons.

The New Mercedes Benz M Class is an irresistible SUV loaded with many active and passive safety features. Attention assist feature wants the driver when it senses drowsiness while Speed Limit Assist, Tyre pressure loss warning system, Intelligent Light System, Night View Assist Plus, Adaptive Brake with Hill Start Assist and other functions help in flawless driving. Other safety features of the car include an ABS, ESP and Electronic Traction System apart from nine strategically placed airbags. The Eco start-stop, reversing camera and other features of the car has helped the car to bag the Euro 5 star rating from EURO NCAP.

The German Car maker aims to sell 8,000 cars in India by Dec 2012 and to emerge as the top selling luxury car maker in India by 2020. The company currently assembles the A4, A6 and Q5 models at its plant in Aurangabad and imports the parts for A8, Q7 and R8 models. Mercedes Benz plans to assemble the parts for it’s A Class, B Class and M Class models in India and has invested about Rs650 crores in its Chakan plant for the same.

So get ready with your bookings if you are as excited as we are. The car is expected to be delivered by the end of June or in early July through 70 outlets across 31 Indian cities.