indian auto industry update · maruti to launch all new dzire next month maruti to launch all new...

Indian Auto Industry Update

22 April 2017

IndustryInterviews amp Features

Ban on BS-III models wont impact Ashok Leyland Vinod Dasari MD Ashok Leyland

Cars SUVs MUVsNext generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire sketch officially revealed

Mahindra KUV100 crosses 50k sales milestone in 15 months

Ford India targets 30-35 per cent growth in Q1 FY17

Hyundai Prime DZire Tour Platinum Etios Automakers rebrand cars to steer clear of amplsquotaxiamprsquo tag

How Nano failed to create a mass market for small cars

Maruti to launch all new Dzire next month



New Maruti Suzuki Dzire launch in May first sketch unveiled

Luxury CarsThanks to Brexit Rolls-Royce Aston Martin have cut prices in India by Rs 20L to more than Rs 1cr

Volvo S60 Polestar Fast stylish and safe

Commercial VehiclesAshok Leyland showcases Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation technology for BS4 engines

Ashok Leyland bags orders from security agencies invests Rs 600 cr for capex

Leyland sees defence revenues booming on expanded offerings

Over 10000 units impacted by BS-III ban Ashok Leyland

In a first Ashok Leyland to export Neptune engines into the US

Wont incur any loss due to SC ban on BS-III vehicle sales Ashok Leyland

Construction amp Agri MachineryKobelco mulls expansion launches new mining excavators

Japanese equipment maker Kobelco to double production in India in two and half years

S Girish Kumar assumes charge as HMT CMD

23 WheelersBS-III models Bajaj Autos Punjab sub-dealers on strike

Honda Activa pips Hero Splendor largest selling 2-wheeler brand in FY17

E-BikesComponents

Karnataka police seizes spurious auto parts in Mysore

Steel Strips may ride on export orders

Allied IndustriesEmissions EnvironmentFinance amp InsuranceOil Lubricants amp Alternative Fuels

Oil dips on course for biggest weekly drop in a month

News MagazinesVolkswagen ID Crozz SUV concept revealed

Chevrolet FNR-X concept debuts in Shanghai

2017 Maruti Swift Dzire first look

New Fiat Argo hatchback teased

Skoda Vision E SUV concept revealed

International NewsGeneral Motors plans to launch 10 electric cars in China by 2020

General Motors quits Venezuela after government seizes its factory

Sentence next for Volkswagen in US diesel emissions scandal

US judge sentences Volkswagen to three-years probation oversight

Toyota develops hydrogen fuel cell system for heavy duty truck

Michelin Q1 revenue up 99 buoyed by auto market growth

Royal Enfield strenghtens presence in Latin America begins operations in Brazil

Tesla recalling cars to address brake defect

Chevrolet FNR-X concept makes its global debut in China

China carmakers ape foreign brands at Shanghai show

Schaeffler presents electrified drive train products at Auto Shanghai 2017

Bridgestone named General Motors Supplier of Year

ZF plans expansion in China focus on electromobility

Acura TLX-L Prototype unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2017

EconomyRupee down 5 paise to 6461$

Forex kitty raises $889 million

Sensex ends lower after 300-point swing Nifty below 9150

Indiaamprsquos growth projected to bounce back in 2018 IMF

ClosingLast Financial Closing

Industry

Interviews amp Features

Ban on BS-III models wont impact Ashok Leyland Vinod Dasari MD Ashok Leyland The Economic Times (Web Edition)

In a chat with ET NOW Vinod Dasari MD Ashok Leyland says that ours is the only vehicle in which I can literally take out the BS-IIIengine and put a BS-IV engine

How is ban on BS-III models will impact your business

Before it had come to the fact about what we are doing about all of these BS-III vehicles that are leftover I am very proud toannounce that Ashok Leyland has today announced the launch of yet another innovation called the Intelligent EGR You knowAshok Leyland was the only company in the world that was meeting BS-III norms using a mechanical fuel pump

Everybody in the world greater than 130 horsepower goes to an SCR system selective catalytic reduction and it is okay for thosekind of driving conditions where there are long driving roads and very little interferences and it is also okay when there is lots ofelectronics maintenance capability

In a country like India where there is very little capability to repair electronics not a lot of skill available as well as road conditionsbeing completely different we started working on these technologies four years ago to say how can we put an EGR system that ismore intelligent than the traditional EGR Traditional EGR takes 20 recirculation we said can we do it with 10

Traditional EGR has a particulate oxidation catalyst which always clogs up and it requires very high temperatures to do this we saidhow can we do in cylinder combustion in a manner that it is completely eliminates this We eliminated sensors we eliminatedcatalysts we eliminated electronics and truly came up with an Indian system which has little electronics as possible

And then to repair even that electronics our vehicles are equipped with a Bluetooth device it emits Bluetooth signal so take yourphone with our app that we have now available to download and go directly stand in front of the truck it will tell you exactly what iswrong with it you do not have to open it and you just click on it and it will show you how to repair it

80 of the trucks in India are repaired by roadside mechanics how many of them have laptops so you have to create somethingthat is truly Indian by Indians for India So we are very proud to launch that And now the best part and reason why we could nottalk about this earlier is because we had not launched this intelligent EGR whenever somebody asked me about the impact of thisBS-III to BS-IV I could not give a straight answer

Ours is the only vehicle in which I can literally take out the BS-III engine and put a BS-IV engine because I have no piping I have noafter treatment control unit I have no wiring harness I have no urea tank to deal with

And so if I take this engine out we have 10664 vehicles to be exact and because we always used to follow a policy of ensuring thatnothing is carried by our dealers 100 of our sales are cash and carry dealer finds a customer he comes to us pays cash takesaway key goes there Almost 95 plus of the vehicles are with us

So to cut the long story short the BS-III inventory that you are sitting at that can be converted into BS-IV vehiclesAs simple as me taking out batteries from my torchlight and putting a new one in and then the engine that I take out it is about 15lakh worth of engine easily I can sell it for two lakhs these engines I have sold up to six lakh in vehicles that we have sold in the lastseven-eight years

Every year some 5 of them come back for repair anyway 5 is 30000 I have 10000 of them I will easily sell so I will make Rs40000-50000 per engine as profit and here we will spend 20000-30000 in replacing the engine

So this allays all the concerns of the street which probably looked at the inventory loss

When I tell people that Ashok Leyland will not have an impact people do not believe me and I could not have said with a proofunless I launched this IEGR so we were sort of stuck and I wanted to the IEGR launch only at this auto expo of Ashok Leyland andin front of the press

So now that we have launched it now I can be very bullish We have already analysts and investors I am meeting the investorsafter this We will explain to them why we do not have an impact otherwise people do not believe youhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewscommercial-vehiclemhcvban-on-bs-iii-models-wont-impact-ashok-leyland-vinod-dasari-md58302270Over 10000 units impacted by BS-III ban Ashok LeylandDeccan Chronicle (Web Edition)httpwwwdeccanchroniclecombusinessautos210417over-10000-units-impacted-by-bs-iii-ban-ashok-leylandhtml

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Cars SUVs MUVs

Next generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire sketch officially revealed The Economic Times (Web Edition)

New Delhi Indiaamprsquos leading passenger car maker Maruti Suzuki has unveiled the sketch of its new generation Maruti SuzukiSwift Dzire on Friday in a media release The company also confirmed that the global debut of the car is scheduled for May 2017

The released image indicates that the new generation Swift Dzire gets enhanced body proportions and LED DRLs The car seemsto get a low and wide stance but the overall dimensions of the car are like the current generation Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire was first introduced in March 2008 and has been among the top-selling car for the company In FY2016-17 the company sold over 167 lakh units of this its Swift Dzire sub-compact sedan making it the third most sold passengervehicle in the country

The second generation of Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire was launched in March 2012 and the facelift was launched in Feb 2015 Overall since its inception over 14 million units of Swift Dzire has been sold in the domestic market The car rivals the likes of Tata TigorHonda Amaze Hyundai Xcent and Volkswagen Ameohttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehiclecarsnext-generation-maruti-suzuki-swift-dzire-sketch-officially-revealed58298069Maruti to launch all new Dzire next monthBusiness Standard (Web Edition)httpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompaniesmaruti-to-launch-all-new-dzire-next-month-117042101128_1html

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Mahindra KUV100 crosses 50k sales milestone in 15 months The Economic Times (Web Edition)

Mumbai Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra amp Mahindra on Friday announced that its SUV - KUV100 has crossed the salesmilestone of 50000 units First launched in January 2016 Mahindra KUV100 has sold 50288 units till date informed the companyin an official statement

That means the vehicle achieved this 50000 units sales milestone in a span of fifteen months

Rajan Wadhera President Automotive Sector Mahindra amp Mahindra said ampldquoWe would like to thank our customers for their

support in achieving this milestone for the KUV100 The KUV100 has created an all-new SUV segment in the price range of Rs 45to 7 lakh

It combines the appeal of an SUV and the practicality of a compact car making it a compelling value proposition for buyers Therecent introduction of the new look dual tone KUV100 has also resonated well with our customers and going forward I am sure thatthe KUV100 will continue to scale new heightsamprdquo

During January 2017 the automaker launched the first anniversary edition of Mahindra KUV 100 for Rs 637 lakh (Ex-showroomDelhi)

For the financial year 2016-2017 the SUV sold 35698 units as against 14210 units during fiscal 2016 thereby registering growthof 151 percent according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)httpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehicleuvmahindra-kuv100-crosses-50k-sales-milestone-in-15-months58297022Mahindra KUV100 crosses 50000 cumulative sales milestoneminthttpwwwlivemintcomIndustryy4WyGMOKTozsDHcH3BzG5KMahindra-KUV100-crosses-50000-cumulative-sales-milestonehtmlMahindra KUV100 crosses 50000 cumulative sales milestoneDeccan Chronicle (Web Edition)httpwwwdeccanchroniclecombusinessautos210417mahindra-kuv100-crosses-50000-cumulative-sales-milestonehtmlMahindra KUV100 crosses 50000 cumulative sales milestone since January 16Business Standard (Web Edition)httpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompaniesmahindra-kuv100-crosses-50-000-cumulative-sales-milestone-since-january-16-117042100567_1htmlMahindra KUV100 crosses 50000 units markThe Financial Express (Web Edition)httpwwwfinancialexpresscomautocar-newsEFBBBFmahindra-kuv100-crosses-50000-units-mark636848

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Ford India targets 30-35 per cent growth in Q1 FY17 PTISee this story in The Economic Times

Coimbatore Ford India which saw 25 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2017 expects to see it rise to 30 to 35 per cent ridingon sales of recently launched sports models a top company official said

Compared to low double digit growth of the industry the company has witnessed 25 per cent growth apart from a good demand forpetrol variants of its vehicles Ford India general manager Sales-South Narasimhan Balaji said here

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of launch of the sports edition of Figo and Aspire in the region Balaji said since the launch ofthese variants both had set new benchmarks in the segment from the maximum airbags-on-offer to lowest cost of service

South has contributed 30 to 35 per cent of the sales and growth of the company he said

Asked about the demand for vehicles due to fluctuation of petrol and diesel prices he said it did not make much difference on thesales front

But we are seeing an increased demand for petrol variants he said

Moreover the company was successful in breaking the myth that the cost of service was higher for Figo and other vehicles he saidhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsindustryford-india-targets-30-35-per-cent-growth-in-q1-fy1758296311

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Hyundai Prime DZire Tour Platinum Etios Automakers rebrand cars to steer clear of acirceuro˜taxiacirceurotrade tag Gulshankumar WankarHindustan Times (Web amp Print Edition)

New Delhi When your dream car comes to your door as a cab you donamprsquot aspire to buy that model anymore

To resurrect this dropping aspirational value of its entry-level products Hyundai will sell its newly launched Xcent only to familieswhile continuing to sell the older version to commercial owners

ampldquoWe will continue to sell the old models to commercial fleet operators under a new badge called the Prime So there will beEon Prime i10 Prime Xcent Prime etc They will be different from the new models that we have launched recentlyamprdquo RakeshSrivastava director of marketing and sales at Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said

While the company eyes selling 5000 units of the new Xcent per month plans are to sell around 2500-3000 units of Xcent Primeto fleet-owners The company sold over 25 lakh units of the last edition of Xcent launched in 2014 out of which roughly 7 went tofleet-owners

ampldquoItamprsquos a complete family sedan with premium features and affordable priceamprdquo YK Koo CEO of HMIL said at thelaunch of the new Xcent looking to define the caramprsquos target customer -- family buyers -- and shed this ampldquotaxiamprdquo

image that Xcent was developing

Besides Hyundai Maruti Suzuki also sells its older Swift DZire to cab-owners as DZire Tour while the sub-four-metre sedan is soldonly as a family vehicle The DZire Tour which is cheaper than the LDI variant of standard model by almost Rs 6000 accounts forover 16 of total DZire sales industry sources said

According to SIAM data Maruti Suzuki sold over 83000 cars across various models to fleet operators in the last fiscal

Toyota too rebadged its product Etios as Etios Platinum to distinguish between a cab and family car A Toyota dealer said itsMPVampthinspInnova Chrysta is ampldquoavailable for sale only as a family purpose vehicle and the company is not selling it tofleet-operatorsamprdquohttpwwwhindustantimescomautoshyundai-prime-dzire-tour-platinum-etios-automakers-rebadge-cars-to-steer-clear-of-taxi-tagstory-aXkkGyTQA8SHDp87CgZwLOhtml

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How Nano failed to create a mass market for small cars The Economic Times (Web amp Print Edition)

Nano billed as the peoples car was unveiled at the 2008 Delhi Auto Show with an eye-catching price tag of Rs 100000 to draw inthe middle-class consumer

However it failed to create a mass market for itself

Between 2010-11 and 2012-13 Nano sales constituted around a fifth of Tata Motors total passenger vehicle sales but plunged inthe subsequent yearshttpeconomictimesindiatimescomindustryautonewspassenger-vehiclecarshow-nano-failed-to-create-a-mass-market-for-small-carsarticleshow58306383cms

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Maruti to launch all new Dzire next month PTISee this story in The Statesman (Delhi Print Edition)

New Delhi Countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) plans to launch an all new version of its best selling compactsedan Dzire next month

The company which has till date sold 1381 lakh units of the model in the country since its launch in March 2008 today unveiled asketch of the new Dzire

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Maruti to launch all new Dzire next month PTISee this story in Business Standard (Web Edition)



The model has been a roaring success for the company and has been instrumental in making Maruti Suzuki a strong player in theentry sedan segment The model has been contributing to around 50 per cent of vehicle sales in the segment

During the last fiscal Dzire occupied the third slot in the top ten list of passenger vehicles with sale of 199878 units It was thesecond best selling model among the passenger vehicles in 2015-16

Its nearest rival Hyundais Xcent sold 47614 units during the last fiscal

Last full model change of the Dzire happened in February 2012 Last year the company launched the compact sedan with autogear shift (AGS) technologyhttpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompaniesmaruti-to-launch-all-new-dzire-next-month-117042101128_1html

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Maruti to launch all new Dzire next month The Financial Express (Delhi Print Edition)

Countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) plans to launch an all new version of its best selling compact sedan Dzire nextmonth




Top

New Maruti Suzuki Dzire launch in May first sketch unveiled Gulshankumar WankarHindustan Times (Web Edition) New Delhi The rumours turned out to be true The new DZire is coming next month

Maruti Suzuki India on Friday confirmed introduction of the 2017 DZire even before the updated hatchback Swift will make its way toIndia

The countryamprsquos top automaker unveiled the first sketch of the new DZire which will make its global debut in May 2017

ampldquoThe new DZire is designed to leave a lasting impression with its rich sculpted side body and enhanced proportions Theunmistakable sedan proportions with low and wide stance lends an elegant road presence to the new DZireamprdquo the companysaid in statement

The new DZire will be heavily updated in terms of design features and technology to meet with the latest competition in town suchas Tata Tigor and new Hyundai Xcent

From some of the images leaked online looks like the new DZire will get the face of the 2017 Swift that was showcased at theGeneva Motor Show in March

Under the hood the DZire will most likely remain the same with the proven and very successful 12-litre K-series petrol and a13-litre DDiS diesel engines doing the duties The engines will be mated to either a five-speed manual or an automatic manualtransmission gearbox what is on offer at present

The DZire has led the sub-four-metre segment since it was introduced in 2012 selling 167266 units in the financial year 2016-17down by 15 from 195939 units sold in the previous fiscal

The compact sedan segment today sees a tough competition among Ford Figo Aspire Honda Amaze Volkswagen Ameo HyundaiXcent and Tata Tigor

The new hatchback Swift is also expected to hit the market by the start of 2018httpwwwhindustantimescomautosnew-maruti-suzuki-swift-dzire-coming-in-may-first-sketch-unveiledstory-oaoqHba2wpR8nrzLDC5fAKhtml

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Luxury Cars

Thanks to Brexit Rolls-Royce Aston Martin have cut prices in India by Rs 20L to more than Rs 1cr Ketan Thakkar amp Sharmistha MukherjeeThe Economic Times (Web Edition)

Mumbai New Delhi Thanks to Brexit supercars made in the UK have just become lighter on the pocket Rolls-Royce BentleyAston Martin Range Rover and Ferrari have cut prices in India by Rs 20 lakh to more than Rs 1 crore passing on the benefits fromthe pound sterlingamprsquos dive post Britainamprsquos decision last year to exit the European Union

The pound has dropped about 20 against the rupee in less than a year making exports to India cheaper for UK-basedmanufactures and companies that bill India sales in the British currency such as Italyamprsquos Ferrari They cut prices by 5 to15 hoping to attract more buyers for their marquees in a country that is home to the third most number of billionaires

Sales of cars costing Rs 2 crore and more in India topped 200 units in 2016 a record and about half of those were British-madePeople who deal with supercars expect imports from the UK to climb threatening Italian and German manufacturers who bill Indiasales in dollars or euros ampmdash these currencies too have dropped against the rupee but not as much as the pound

ampldquoPricing is at its best over the past three to four yearsamprdquo said Lalit Choudhary director at Performance Cars the official

importer of Aston Martin cars in India Implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) which is expected to make the taxregime stable could offer a more conducive environment for volumes to grow further he said Barring Aston Martin which has beenreducing prices over the past six to nine months the others have passed on the benefits just recently

Rolls-Royce and Ferrari lowered prices in March whereas Range Rover announced its new prices with effect from April 1

Significant increase in Enquiries RecentlySharad Kachalia director at Navnit Motors that imports Rolls-Royce and Ferrari cars in India has seen a significant increase inenquiries in recent weeks and he expects several of those to result in actual buying ampldquoThe market situation is very positive

All uncertainties have gone away with a relatively stable government (in India) and benefits of currency depreciation being passedonamprdquo he said ampldquoWe are looking at a much stronger year for the overall supercar market especially for completely builtimportsamprdquo He cited currency hedging contracts that companies like Rolls-Royce had previously entered into for them to delaythe price revisions though the pound has been depreciating over the past year

One of the major roadblocks in India for supercars has been its steep import duty which has also been tinkered with often Over thepast five years the tax on cars costing more than Rs 2 crore has gone up by over 70 which market players blamed for salesfalling to as low as about 100 units in 2014 Market players now expect the rollout of GST to make tax policies more stable SatyaBagla managing director of Exclusive Motors the sole importer for the Bentley brand in India said he had record sales in 2016 andadded he expects to exceed that this year

Car exports from the UK to India have grown almost 11-fold in the past seven years according to UK industry body Society of MotorManufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Indian motorists bought 3372 British-built cars in 2016 up from just 309 in 2009 Demandincreased 158 compared with 2015 lifting India from the tenth to eighth place in the UKamprsquos Asia export markets TamzenIsacsson SMMTamprsquos director of communications said despite high import duties the market for UK-made cars is growing

ampldquoAs a car market India really understands British brands India and the UK have a great history of collaboration in theautomotive sector and it is essential we secure mutually beneficial trade relationships in the futureamprdquo Isacsson said One ofthe key drivers for the market for super-luxury cars in India has been the increasing number of ultra-rich in the country

According to the Knight Frank Wealth Report India ranked sixth in terms of the growth rate of Ultra High Networth Individuals in2016 With the current pace the country is expected to move up to the third spot over the next decade India is home to 2 of theworldamprsquos millionaires (136 million) and 5 of billionaires (2024)httpeconomictimesindiatimescomindustryautonewspassenger-vehiclecarsthanks-to-brexit-rolls-royce-aston-martin-have-cut-prices-in-india-by-rs-20l-to-more-than-rs-1crarticleshow58306306cms

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Volvo S60 Polestar Fast stylish and safe Joshua David LutherBusiness Standard (Web amp Print Edition)

When we speak of Volvo the first thought that crosses our mind is safety So whatamprsquos a safe car doing on a race trackThatamprsquos because the Volvo S60 Polestar is a pure performance car that tears up the asphalt going from 0 to 100 kmph in just47 seconds It has the genes inherited from Volvoamprsquos performance division Polestar

Volvo S60 Polestar Fast stylish and safe The Volvo S60 sedan has always looked good it carries sharp and elegant style cuesthat lend to it a voguish appeal The S60 Polestar brings more racy characteristics to the sedan while being purposeful in itsincorporation The front splitters have been redesigned to look sporty and at the same time restrict the amount of airflow under thesedan The S60 Polestar also features skirting all around and gets a rear spoiler and diffuser that increases the downforce in turnaiding tyre grip and control over the sedan

Volvo has also added Polestar engineered rims Other aesthetic changes to the exterior come in the form of the Polestar badges onthe trunk and the grille

Inside the cabin Volvo has added sport seats that look slick and are also designed to keep you well ensconced Add to that aracy-looking steering wheel that gets brushed aluminum finish and has identical styling cues to the standard S60

Even the start-up image has been tweaked to display the Polestar badge even as the company has made minor changes under itampmdash modifications that include the door panels centre stack carpets door sill molds gear knob gear knob stick cover armrest and sport pedals The cabin feels premium and rich with an exquisite blend of materials adorning the spaces inside the sedan

The new Volvo S60 Polestar gets a 20 litre 4-pot supercharged turbocharged motor Despite having a smaller engine capacitypower and torque figures have seen a jump over the previous version The gentlest tap on the accelerator makes this sedan lungeforward The engine has been mated to an 8-Speed AWD automatic transmission The AWD setup is marginally biased to the rearwheels thus making for a very sporty drive Volvo has also added a gear hold function to the S60 Polestar so you can push theengine in a single gear ampmdash the way it would be in a manual transmission

It also enables you to turn off most driver aides like stability control and traction control there is minimal intrusion from these controlsystems making it truly a driveramprsquos car The Volvo S60 Polestar gets kits like ABS advanced stability control and dynamicstability traction control

Among other safety features Volvo has chosen the S60 Polestar to incorporate its collision warning with full auto brake andpedestrian detection system Other radar-based safety features that have been incorporated include adaptive cruise control lanedeparture warning blind spot detection with cross traffic alert city safety and park pilot assist All these features go a long way in

making the S60 Polestar one of the safest cars on Indian roads or for that matter even on a race trackhttpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompaniesvolvo-s60-polestar-fast-stylish-and-safe-117042101518_1html

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Commercial Vehicles

Ashok Leyland showcases Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation technology for BS4 engines The Economic Times (Web Edition)

Chennai Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland showcased its full range of future ready products based on IntelligentExhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology at its annual Global Conference 2017 in Chennai the company said in a mediastatement

Ashok Leyland claims to be the only domestic OEM to implement this technology successfully for its products above 130HP

Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology is a step taken to get the desired results to meet the BS4 norms Thecompany also said that this technology is not only better suited to Indian conditions compared to Selective Catalytic Reduction(SCR) technology (based on European technology) but will also prove to be hugely cost effective and easy to operate

Ashok Leyland displayed a mix of over thirty innovative products and services featuring trucks buses light commercial vehicles(LCVs) simulators quick service bikes and gensets revolving aroung iEGR technology

Speaking at the Global Conference 2017 Vinod Dasari ampndash Managing Director Ashok Leyland said ampldquoAshok Leylandhas many innovative class leading firsts to its credit through the years This showcase of the iEGR technology across our productrange bears further testimony of our capability to roll-out technology-led future ready products

More so this indigenous technology will help us deliver on our brand promise of amplsquoAapki Jeet Hamari Jeetamprsquo in multipleways For our customers it will mean ease of use and better cost efficiencies For the environment it will mean more efficient fuelcombustion and improved emissions The indigenous development of iEGR technology will also mean faster time to market andminimal cost of implementation We will emerge as the ONLY OEM in India to have achieved thisamprdquo he addedhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsauto-technologyashok-leyland-showcases-intelligent-exhaust-gas-recirculation-technology-for-bs4-engines58299072Ashok Leyland showcases tech to upgrade vehicles to meet BS-IV fuel normsThe Hindu Business Line (Web amp Print Edition)httpwwwthehindubusinesslinecomtodays-papertp-newsashok-leyland-showcases-tech-to-upgrade-vehicles-to-meet-bsiv-fuel-normsarticle9657333ece

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Ashok Leyland bags orders from security agencies invests Rs 600 cr for capex IANSSee this story in The Economic Times (Web Edition)

Chennai Bagging contracts for mine-protected and bullet-proof vehicles from security agencies Ashok Leyland is targetingthree-fold business increase from its defence vertical a top company official has said

The company will be investing around Rs 600 crore towards capital expenditure in setting up plants in Andhra Pradesh andTelangana in India and Ivory Coast in West Africa

Ashok Leyland also showcased its range of vehicles based on Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology for BharatStage IV (BS IV) emission norms-compliant engines at its Global Conference 2017 held here

We have recently won the tenders for the supply of mine-protected vehicles and bullet-proof vehicles Currently the revenue fromdefence business is around Rs 500 crore We will grow our defence business three times said Vinod K Dasari Managing Director

Dasari said work on the companys plants in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana was expected to begin in a couple of months after theland was acquired

Speaking about the companys international focus Dasari said the plan is to sell one vehicle overseas for every two vehicles sold inIndia and towards that new assembly plants were being set up in Ivory Coast and Kenya and expanding the facility at Ras AlKhaimah in Dubai

Dasari said the company is also developing a new platformarchitecture for building modular vehicles

Speaking about the iEGR technology Dasari said it is simple and innovative solution were being sought to meet the BS IV emissionnorms

He said iEGR technology is more suited for Indian conditions than the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and provides bettermileage -- up to 10 per cent -- as compared to BS III engine

Interestingly Daimler India Commercial Vehicle (DICV) recently launched its trucks with SCR technology

Dasari said the SCR technology adds at least 100 kg to the vehicle weight whereas iEGR technology does not impose anyadditional weight

He said Ashok Leyland was left with 10664 BS III vehicles and the company has started replacing the old engine in those vehicleswith the iEGR technology-based engines

When pointed out that Daimler has not revised upwards the rpice of its BS IV compliant trucks whereas Ashok Leyland had saidthere would be a price hike of around 10 per cent Dasari said for a company cost is real whereas the selling price is a strategy

He said Ashok Leyland had 32 per cent market share in the commercial vehicles segment at the end of the last fiscal and is notchasing market share

Dasari said the company was looking at profitable growth and has been turning away several state transport corporation (STC)business proposals as the returns were not goodhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsindustryashok-leyland-bags-orders-from-security-agencies-invests-rs-600-cr-for-capex58302466Ashok Leyland bags orders from security agenciesThe Statesman (Web Edition)httpwwwthestatesmancombusinessashok-leyland-bags-orders-from-security-agencies-1492773953htmlAshok Leyland to invest Rs 600 crThe Hindu (Web amp Print Edition)httpwwwthehinducomtodays-papertp-businessashok-leyland-to-invest-rs-600-crarticle18187440eceAshok Leyland plans Rs 600 cr capex this fiscalThe Hindu Business Line (Web Edition)httpwwwthehindubusinesslinecomcompaniesashok-leyland-plans-rs-600-cr-capex-this-fiscalarticle9656118eceALL to spend Rs 500 crore on capex developing new productsThe Financial Express (Web Edition)httpwwwfinancialexpresscomindustryall-to-spend-rs-500-crore-on-capex-developing-new-products637573Ashok Leyland for rs 600 cr capex this fiscalThe Pioneer (Web amp Print Edition)httpwwwdailypioneercombusinessashok-leyland-for-rs-600-cr-capex-this-fiscalhtml

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Leyland sees defence revenues booming on expanded offerings The Hindu Business Line (Web amp Print Edition)

ChennaiHinduja flagship Ashok Leyand has made significant progress in defence business and sees opportunities to grow therevenues from about Rs 500 crore to Rs 5000 crore over a period of time The optimism comes from the fact that its addressablemarket has swelled with its expanding product offerings

ampldquoWe were competing less than two per cent of the defence budget Now we are available to compete in 25 per cent of thedefence budget for mobility solutions whether on wheels or tracks Also we have won 12 out of the last 13 tenders We will achieveat least three-fold increase in defence revenues in the next three yearsamprdquo said Dasari

The companyamprsquos latest orders include bullet-proof vehicles mine-protected vehicles for security personnel in a few States

Overseas plans

He added that the company was giving thrust on growing its international business ampldquoThe plan is to sell one vehicle overseasfor every two vehicles sold in Indiaamprdquo he added

Ashok Leyland will be opening its new assembly plants in Ivory Coast and Kenya over the next 12-18 months and it will be doublingthe present capacity of 16 buses a day at its facility at Ras Al Khaimah in Dubai It is also preparing to export its Boss trucks toRussia soon ampldquoWe will enter every market which has a monthly market of 200 vehicles said Dasari It proposes to incur acapex of Rs 500-600 crore annually to launch vehicles and setting up assembly unitshttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecomtodays-papertp-newsleyland-sees-defence-revenues-booming-on-expanded-offeringsarticle9657334ece

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Over 10000 units impacted by BS-III ban Ashok Leyland PTISee this story in The Hindu Business Line (Web Edition)

New Delhi Ashok Leyland said 10664 units of its commercial vehicles were impacted by the Supreme Court ban on BS-III vehiclesbut the financial hit will be minimal as the affected engines would be upgraded for aftermarket sales

The Hinduja flagship firm said the BSampmdashIII engines would be upgraded to BSampmdashIV standard using its new intelligentexhaust gas recirculation (iEGR) technology

ampldquoOut of a total of 10664 units of BSampmdashIII vehicles 95 per cent were with us not with dealers So we will be upgradingthe engines of those vehicles using our indigenously developed iEGRamprdquo Ashok Leyland Managing Director Vinod Dasari toldPTI here

The cost of fitting iEGR technology will be just around Rs 20000 an engine These engines will be used for sales in the aftermarketat a premium he added

ampldquoWe can sell these engines at around Rs 2 lakh though usually the BS-III engines are priced at around Rs 15 lakh So thenet financial impact on us because of the BS-III ban will be minimalamprdquo Dasari said

He did not give details of the iEGR technology citing trade secret but claimed it ampldquois a simple innovative solution of achievingthe desired results in order to meet BS-IV normsampldquo

Dasari said BS-IV compliant engines with iEGR have 10 per cent higher fuel economy and can be used for engines of up to 400horsepower

Ashok Leyland has already started converting 250 old BS-III engines to BS-IV standard using iEGR

ampldquoIt will take about to to three months to get all the BS-III engines (converted) to BS-IV It is not about the financial impact butitamprsquos about effort needed to do so amprdquo he added

The new BS-IV compliant engines would be fitted on the chassis of the affected vehicles for sale in the market Ashok Leyland hasbeen selling BS-IV compliant commercial vehicles since 2010 Dasari said

Last month the Supreme Court had banned sale and registration of vehicles with the older BS-III emission norms from April 1 in ablow to auto firms saddled with a stock of over 8 lakh such vehicles valued up to Rs 20000 crorehttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecomcompaniesover-10000-units-impacted-by-bsiii-ban-ashok-leylandarticle9655840eceBS-III ban hits 10000 units will upgrade affected engines Ashok LeylandBusiness Standard (Web Edition)httpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompaniesbs-iii-ban-hit-10-000-units-will-upgrade-affected-engines-ashok-leyland-117042100516_1html

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In a first Ashok Leyland to export Neptune engines into the US Bharani VaitheesvaranThe Economic Times (Web Edition)

Chennai Chennai-based commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has just signed a deal with a US-based automotivemanufacturer for engine supply in a first-such move from the truck-maker as none of its products so far had entered the Americanmarket The engines to be exported are branded Neptune ranging between 160 and 380 HP and can be fitted and both trucks andbuses

Ashok Leyland has not begun shipping yet as the deal was signed on Thursday For Ashok Leyland global expansion is necessaryto escape the shocks of a cyclical trucks market The company is also focussing on the African market -- a new assembly plant isexpected to come up in Ivory Coast for Western nations and one in Kenya to focus on the East

We are excited about the engines export business We had exported engines that too in small numbers only in the aftermarketbusiness Shipping directly to the US is a first for us The identity of the customer cannot be revealed now Gopal Mahadevan theCFO of the company told ET at a conference for dealers in Chennai

Even as it attempts to grow the exports market Ashok Leyland will launch one new variant in 2-7 tonnes (Light Commercial VehicleMarket) every quarter for the next three years The company has just bought over joint venture partner Nissan and the merger of theseparate corporate entities will Ashok Leyland will take place in 3-6 months

The big push in Ashok Leyland is also a digital foray It has achieved BS IV emission control norms through Exhaust Gasre-circulation instead of a Urea-based exhaust purification method Ashok Leyland had cut down on electronics to enable easyrepairs and bring down the cost of acquisition of the trucks

The Supreme Court order barring automakers from selling BS-III vehicles from April 1 had put the company through a crisis butAshok Leyland is now replacing the BS-III engines with BS-IV and selling off the older engines in the Aftermarket The companyexpects minimal impact of the order as it has already converted about 250 engines through this methodhttpeconomictimesindiatimescomindustryautonewsindustryin-a-first-ashok-leyland-to-export-neptune-engines-into-the-usarticleshow58299378cms

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Wont incur any loss due to SC ban on BS-III vehicle sales Ashok Leyland T E NarasimhanBusiness Standard (Web Edition)

Chennai Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland said that the Supreme Court ban on the sale of BS-III vehicles will not impactthe companys financial performance in any way

Vinod K Dasari managing director Ashok Leyland said that the company had 10664 BS-III vehicles only 10 per cent of whichwere with the companys dealers

Ashok Leyland dealers dont carry stocks beyond 5-7 days and function on a cash-and-carry basis

The moment the Supreme Court order came in the company told its dealers not to panic and assured them of its support saidDasari after showcasing the indigenously developed Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology for the BS-4 engine

Dasari said that though it was painful financially the company will not be impacted since the retro-fitment loss of around Rs 20 crorecan be easily taken from the aftermarket

He said the company has sold around 600000 BS-III vehicles over the years and that around 5-10 per cent of vehicles arereplacing engines every year which translates to around 30000 engines an year

Net cost for the company will be zero said Dasari who claims that Ashok Leyland did not resort to any discount to clear theinventoryhttpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlecompanieswon-t-incur-any-loss-due-to-sc-ban-on-bs-iii-vehicle-sales-ashok-leyland-117042101138_1html

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Construction amp Agri Machinery

Kobelco mulls expansion launches new mining excavators V Rishi KumarThe Hindu Business Line

Hyderabad Japanese construction equipment major Kobelco has embarked on a phased consolidation of its manufacturing facilitylocated at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh while awaiting nod from the head office in Tokyo to take up next phase of expansion

The construction equipment company which has completed 10 years of operations in India is upbeat on the countrys constructionequipment market with strong demand projected from roads and mining sectors

Yutaka (Mike) Goto Managing Director amp CEO of Kobelco Construction Equipment India said ampldquoThe 2000 units per annummanufacturing plant set up at Sri City is operating at near full capacity meeting domestic requirement mainly and some exports Weare now in the process of further enhancing the production by internal efficiencies

However given the huge demand from the market for construction equipment we are looking at taking up expansion of themanufacturing base and are awaiting nod form the parent It is under their considerationamprdquo

Launching new generation mining excavator models SK220XDSK220XDLC in the 20-24 ton segment Goto said ampldquoFrom thefirst day Kobelco started operations in India 10 years ago we continue to provide innovative solutions to customers based on theirfeedback The new models spread the message Power meets efficiencyamprdquo

Kobelco Construction Machinery the Tokyo headquartered company founded in 1930 is a subsidiary of Kobe Steel Limited TheIndian arm of Kobelco has a capacity to produce about 2000 units per annum

ampldquoWith the manufacturing capacity almost hitting its upper limit we are currently in the process of further improving productivitywithin the existing plant Once this is completed we will then take up new expansionamprdquo Vikram Sharma Advisor and formerMD of Kobelco in India said

Referring to the construction equipment market in the country in his capacity Indian Construction Equipment ManufacturersAssociation Vikram Sharma said there has been gradual uptake for equipment in the past two years after about three years ofslowdown Starting with roads gradually other sectors have shown positive growth This will lead to more equipment sales

Rajiv Sanghvi Executive Director of Automotive Manufacturers said ampldquoThe demand has steadily been growing for Kobelcoequipment Last year we sold more than 192 units in the AP and Telangana With construction activity picking up we see demandfor Kobelco equipment going up in a number of sectorsamprdquo

The countrys $ 35 billion construction equipment market sis witness to a rapid growth over the last year after three-four years oftepid growth Given the focus on the infrastructure sector the demand for equipment is projected to acceleratehttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecomcompanieskobelco-mulls-expansion-launches-new-mining-excavatorsarticle9656707ece

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Japanese equipment maker Kobelco to double production in India in two and half years Ashish KulshresthaThe Economic Times

Hyderabad Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Kobelco plans to double its production capacity to nearly 4000 unitsper annum from the current 2000 units in nearly three years informed a top company executive

The expansion will be to cater to the growing demand for construction equipment from the infrastructure sector

Yutaka Goto managing director and chief executive officer Kobelco Construction Equipment India said We will be increasing our

capacities in a phased manner and will be doubling our capacities from the current 2000 in the next two and a half years to cater tothe growing demand We have already undertaken capacity expansion in the first quarter of this calendar year and will beexpanding with the same pace in the coming months

For excavators which forms the major share of their business the capacity was increased to 160 units a month from 120 units amonth three months ago and will touch nearly 200 units a month in the next six months Kobelco has a manufacturing facility at SriCity in Andhra Pradesh where it had invested Rs 170 crore

This growth in demand has been mainly due to faster clearances and announcement of major projects in the roads andinfrastructure space Several clearances were stuck since 20012-2015 which slowed the growth of the industry However sinceSeptember 2015 things started improving gradually said Vikram Sharma former managing director and currently acting as advisorof the company

Kobelco cloaked a turnover of Rs 1000 crore in 2016-17 and expects a 20-25 growth next yearhttpeconomictimesindiatimescomindustryautonewsjapanese-equipment-maker-kobelco-to-double-production-in-india-in-two-and-half-yearsarticleshow58300058cms

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S Girish Kumar assumes charge as HMT CMD Business Standard

The government has appointed S Girish Kumar to the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Bengaluru-based HMT Ltd for aperiod of five years

Kumar assumed charge as the companys CMD today The firm manufactures tractors and food processing machinery

HMT comprises five subsidiaries under the ambit of a holding company which also manages the tractors division directly The fivesubsidiaries include HMT Machine Tools Ltd HMT Watches Ltd HMT Chinar Watches Ltd HMT Bearings Ltd and HMT(International) Ltd

However the government in January last year decided to close three unviable units of HMT including the once popular HMTWatches along with HMT Chinar Watches and HMT Bearings by offering a voluntary retirement scheme to the employees as per2007 pay scales

Kumar will be expected to turn around the state-owned firm which has been incurring losses

HMT had earlier reported widening of its net loss to Rs 7041 crore for the third quarter ended December 31 2016 as against Rs2388 crore in the year-ago period

Earlier Kumar was holding additional charge of the post of CMD HMT Ltd

The appointment is for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till the date of hissuperannuation or until further orders whichever is earliest HMT Ltd said in a regulatory filinghttpwwwbusiness-standardcomarticlepti-storiess-girish-kumar-assumes-charge-as-hmt-cmd-117042101086_1html

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23 Wheelers

BS-III models Bajaj Autos Punjab sub-dealers on strike PTISee this story in The Economic Times

Mumbai Over 200 sub-dealers and some dealers of Bajaj Auto in Punjab have stopped selling bikes from April 18 seekingcompensation for the unsold BS-III units following the Supreme Court ban on sale of such models

Bajaj has around 40 dealers and over 200 sub-dealers in Punjab who are sitting over 1000 BS-III units since the ban came intoeffect according to industry sources

However Bajaj Auto president claimed that none of its dealers are on strike

All our dealers are working and open But there could be some sub-dealers who may have some problems with the dealers EricVas president motorcycle business at Bajaj Auto said in a text message But he refused to share the number of unsold inventory orany other details

Significantly the Pune-based automaker had in February claimed that it was making only BS-IV models from late January Itsmanaging director Rajiv Bajaj had also blasted auto industry early February for seeking more time to implement the new emissionnorms

Sub-dealers say they are saddled with almost 1000 unsold units of BS-III units and the company is not ready to commit any

compensation They also claimed many are afraid to go public on the issue fearing backlash from the company

These sub-dealers and some of the dealers have shuttered their business for the past three days from April 18 in protest against thecompanys approach to their problem

On April 5 Bajaj informed dealers that it would take back all the unsold units from them but was silent on those with thesub-dealers

Following the March 29 ban of sale and registration of BS-III models from April 1 Bajaj too joined its peers in offering heavydiscounts to the tune of Rs 3500-13000 to dealers to help them dispose of the banned vehicles

As per an an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on March 20 Bajaj had said it had BS-IV certification for its flagship Pulsar 150since December 9 2016 but admitted that it had made over 5100 units of the same model in BS-III variant even in February tohelp its suppliers from booking heavy losses

As per the affidavit it had also informed the apex court that as of March 20 it had over 79200 BS-III unitshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewstwo-wheelersmotorcyclesbs-iii-models-bajaj-autos-punjab-sub-dealers-on-strike58292446

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Honda Activa pips Hero Splendor largest selling 2-wheeler brand in FY17 The Economic Times

Reflecting the growing popularity of scooters in the Indian market Honda Activa has overtaken Hero Splendor Indiaamprsquos No1motorcycle brand in terms of sales to emerge as the largest selling two-wheeler in the last financial year

Although motorcycle sales were are roughly double that of scooters in 2016-17 the latter grew three times faster during the yearhttpeconomictimesindiatimescomindustryautonewstwo-wheelersscooters-mopedshonda-activa-pips-hero-splendor-largest-selling-2-wheeler-brand-in-fy17articleshow58305804cms

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E-Bikes

Components

Karnataka police seizes spurious auto parts in Mysore The Economic Times

Mumbai Karnataka State Police (Lashkar PS Devaraja Sub-Division) recently raided KL Automobiles a dealer in LashkarMysore and seized more than 190 spurious auto parts materials which included Barrel Piston Kits Connecting Rod AssembliesFeed Pumps Lumb Oil Pump Assemblies Connecting Rod Bold Kits Governor Support Assemblies Piston Ring Sets etc Theraid was conducted based on the inputs provided by the diesel auto engine manufacturer Greaves Cotton Limited

Reports reveals that the dealer was involved in large scale counterfeiting operations Substandard parts were packed in counterfeitGreaves packaging and then distributed through secure channels to other areas The owner of the shop was caught red-handedwith the infringing material during the raid action conducted at the shop and the police seized all counterfeit parts from the premises

The enforcement teams consisting of the State Police and Greaves Cottonamprsquos representatives have been working closely toidentify both manufacturing units and sales outlets of counterfeit spares across major cities and trade hubs in India

Commenting on this exercise Nagesh Basavanhalli MD amp CEO said ampldquoThe manufacture and sale of spurious spares is agrowing menace and a matter of great concern for the Industry We are strongly committed towards protecting our customers frombeing cheated with these spurious parts Every original Greaves product ensures customer safety and delivers reliable performanceand selling substandard spurious spares under the Greavesamprsquo brand constitutes a serious criminal offense

We will continue to crack down on unscrupulous suppliers and dealers of these fake spares which can be life threatening We areactively working with the police to ensure that the culprits donamprsquot go scot freeamprdquo

Greaves Cotton in the statement also added that the company will further intensify its action against counterfeiters as spurious anddefective quality parts can not only lead to severe repercussions but also cause great damage to the unparalleled reputationgoodwill and trust that Greaves Cotton enjoys globally for the world-class quality of its productshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsindustrykarnataka-state-police-seizes-spurious-auto-parts-in-mysore58300196

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Steel Strips may ride on export orders The Hindu Business Line

Steel Strips Wheels has bagged another export order for supply of steel wheels for EU Trailer and aftermarket The total ordercovers supplies of about 23500 wheels within a period of two months The wheels are to be dispatched from SSWLamprsquosChennai and Dappar plants beginning next month This order further augments SSWLamprsquos strong presence in the extremelycompetitive EU Caravan steel wheels market Investors and analysts will closely monitor the execution of the orderhttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecommarketsstock-marketssteel-strips-may-ride-on-export-ordersarticle9657148ece

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Allied Industries

Emissions Environment

Finance amp Insurance

Oil Lubricants amp Alternative Fuels

Oil dips on course for biggest weekly drop in a month ReutersSee this story in The Hindu Business Line

London Oil prices edged lower on Friday on course for the biggest weekly drop in a month over doubts that an OPEC-ledproduction cut will restore balance to an oversupplied market

Front-month Brent futures were at $5287 a barrel at 0820 GMT down 12 cents from their last close and set for a 54 per centweekly drop the most since the week of March 10

Front-month US crude futures which rolled over on Friday were at $5061 a barrel down 10 cents and on course for a 48 per centweekly decline also the most since March 10

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait key members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries favour extending theirproduction-limiting deal with non-member producers into the second half of the year

Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak however declined to say whether the top oil producer would adhere to an extensionbefore a joint meeting on May 25 saying global stocks were declining

ampldquoThe situation is gradually improving from the beginning of Marchamprdquo Novak said

Both oil benchmarks fell this week as doubts emerged over the effect of the OPECnon-OPEC production cut by almost 18 millionbarrels per day (bpd) during the first half of the year

Thomson Reuters Eikon data shows that a record 48 million bpd of crude is being shipped across ocean waters in April up 58 percent since December

The market is taking note The value of the Brent forward curve has slumped steadily since the start of the OPEC-led cuts inJanuary The two-year calendar strip for Brent futures or the average value of all contracts over that period is down more than $4since January at around $5410 a barrel

Some producers that are not involved in the supply-curbing pact have increased exports

ampldquoThe resurgence of US shale continues to sabotage efforts to stabilise the saturated marketsamprdquo said LukmanOtunuga of futures brokerage FXTM

US output has jumped almost 10 per cent since mid-2016 to 925 million bpd close to that of the worlds top two producers SaudiArabia and Russia

The chief executive of Frances Total warned this week that prices could fall further due to rising US production

ampldquoThe cut even if its extended is not going to make much differenceamprdquo said Sukrit Vijayakar director of energyconsultancy Trifecta

He pointed to elevated crude stocks as the main reason for oversupplyhttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecommarketscommoditiesoil-dips-on-course-for-biggest-weekly-drop-in-a-montharticle9655908ece

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News Magazines

Volkswagen ID Crozz SUV concept revealed Autocar India

Volkswagen has unveiled the new electric powered ID Crozz - the third in a series of zero emission concepts its chairman HerbertDiess is touting for production as part of a broad based future proofing strategy aimed at netting the German car maker up to 1million electric car sales globally by the middle of the next decade

One of the stars of this yearamprsquos Shanghai motor show which opened its doors to the worldamprsquos media today thefour-wheel drive ID Crozz follows the earlier ID hatchback and ID Buzz with which it shares its modular platform electricdriveline newly designed chassis and is planned to be produced alongside from 2020 onwards

Running two electric motors ampndash one mounted at each axle ampndash with a combined output of 306hp and an 83kWh batterythe high riding four seater is claimed to boasts 0-100kph time of less than 60secs and an overall range of up to 500km

Drive is channeled to the respective axles via separate fix ratio gearboxes and a so-called electric propshaft that is capable oftransferring power between each axle dependent on the prevailing grip and traction

As well as acting as a showcase for Volkswagenamprsquos future electric driveline technology the ID Crozz also highlights the sortof autonomous driving features that are likely to begin appearing on the companyamprsquos more up-market models within the nextdecade Included among its self driving technology are four laser scanners which automatically deploy from each corner of the newconceptamprsquos heavily curved roof when the driver switches from manual to autonomous or what Volkswagen describes as IDPilot mode

Commenting on the chances of the ID Crozz seeing production Diess said If it was ever possible to make a one hundred per centcertain prediction of what the future will look like it is achieved here We are showing with the ID Crozz how Volkswagen will betransforming the roadscape from 2020amprdquo

The latest of Volkswagenamprsquos post Dieselgate electric car concepts takes the form of a contemporary styled crossover that setsout to combine the dynamic lines of a modern day sportscar together with the all terrain capability of a dedicated off-roaderFeaturing two conventional front hinged doors up front and a pair of cantilever style doors at the rear it is said to offer interior spaceon par with the recently unveiled Tiguan Allspace

At 4625mm in length 1891mm in width and 1609mm in height the ID Crozz is a considerable 316mm shorter 85mm narrowerand 354mm lower than the ID Buzz The new crossover also rides on a wheelbase that is 527mm shorter than its retro inspiredMPV sibling at 2773mm

As with all of Volkswagenamprsquos more recent electric car concepts the ID Crozz has been conceived to offer the choice betweenmanual and autonomous driving modes In manual mode an LED graphic within the front section and roof is illuminated in a lightblue hue In autonomous driving mode the LED graphic switches to a violet colour At the same time four laser scanners integratedinto the roof are deployed to enable the ID Crozz to detect other road users in combination with a range of proximity sensingtechnology including both ultrasonic and radar sensors as well as front stereo and side-view cameras

Underpinning the latest Volkswagen concept car is a newly developed chassis that employs a MacPherson strut front and six-linkrear suspension with variable damping control Excellent wheel clearance within the front wheel wells owing to the inboardmounting of the electrical engine within the central part of the axle assemble allows for a relatively tight 105 metre turning cycleVolkswagen also claims a front-to-rear weight distribution of 4852 providing the basis for what it describes as ampldquohandlingcharacteristics on par with the Golf GTiamprdquohttpwwwautocarindiacomauto-newsvolkswagen-id-crozz-suv-concept-revealed-404732aspx

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Chevrolet FNR-X concept debuts in Shanghai Autocar India

Chevrolet revealed the FNR-X a new SUV concept at the Shanghai motor show The concept features aggressive and edgystyling suicide doors and a B-pillar-less design

The concept features a narrow grille flanked by sleek LED headlamps an aggressive bumper with prominent vents and sillextensions a power bulge on the bonnet prominent creases along the flanks and an almost coupe-like profile thanks to a sharplyraked tailgate At the rear the windscreen nearly covers the entire upper section of the tailgate with the tail-lamps set into aprominent crease that runs across the length of the boot lid

The doors open to reveal a B-pillar-less design and a minimalistic interior featuring heavy usage of displays all across the cabinThere is a large central display on top of the centre console presumably housing the caramprsquos infotainment system with asmaller display located near the base A third display rests further down the central tunnel near the centre armrest The driver gets amultifunction two-spoke steering along with an all-digital instrument cluster Interestingly the dashboard features three moredisplays set further back atop the unit

Chevrolet did not reveal any powertrain details though it said that the SUV was powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain Another

interesting feature of the SUV is that its aerodynamics ride height and engine power delivery could be altered for differentconditions including off-roading

The concept could further preview an SUV from Chevrolet set to rival the like of the Toyota CH-R in international marketshttpwwwautocarindiacomauto-newschevrolet-fnr-x-concept-debuts-in-shanghai-404760aspx

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2017 Maruti Swift Dzire first look Autocar India

Itamprsquos no secret that Maruti has finished working on the third-gen Swift Dzire compact sedan for India This despite the fact thatvolumes in the compact sedan segment arenamprsquot really growing And then thereamprsquos the small matter of the compactsub-four-metre segment and the resulting tax break being scrapped altogether Nevertheless Maruti is still going hammer and tongsat the sub-four Dzire as it is among its bestsellers and importantly one of its biggest grossers

For the company what sets the new Dzire apart from the earlier car is the fact that it isnamprsquot half as compromised a designTargeted more at the owner drivers rather than fleet operators it is a car that is much nicer to look at The profile to begin with isseveral times more attractive and well balanced Thereamprsquos a nice flow to the bonnet and fenders the windscreens and the roofblend into a uniform arch and the strong shoulder line and the compact boot give it plenty of definition Up front the new Dzireborrows its headlights and grille enclosures from the all-new Swift hatchback and the bonnet front fenders and headlamps appearto be shared as well The chin however is completely different It looks much more upmarket Maruti designers have added tonnesand tonnes of chrome (around the grille inside the headlights and it even gets chromed whiskers) and on the Dzire the sportyfloating grille has been converted into a more traditional air dam Even the rear is better integrated and looks less chopped

The new Swift Dzire which is built on the same platform as the Baleno and the new Swift also features an all-new dashboard thathas plenty of elements from the all-new Swift Chief among these are the steering wheel and the dials The basic structure of thedash is similar to the Swift Stuff like the floating centre console the glovebox and the side vents are carried over Maruti howeverhas steered the Dzire away from the circular theme used on the centre console of the all-new yet-to-come-to-India Swift So theinstrument panel is rectangular the vents on the central console are wedge shaped and the air con system doesnamprsquot haverotary knobs either Also different from the Swiftamprsquos black-on-black theme is the colour palette used on this car Dual-toneblack and beige plastics have been used and a generous dose of faux wood can be seen especially on the steering wheel Not toomuch is clear about the rear bench Still with slimmer and more space-efficient seats similar to those of the new Swift and theslightly longer wheelbase of 2450mm thereamprsquos likely to be much more space in the rear

Under the hood the new Dzire is likely to carry forward the current crop of engines the punchy 85hp 12-litre K12 petrol and thepopular Fiat-based 75hp 13-litre Multijet diesel Both engines will come with AMT single-clutch automatics as well as manualgearboxes And these engines should be sufficient as the new Dzire is expected to be a substantial 70 or 80 kilos lighter than theoutgoing car Unlike the Ciaz there wonamprsquot be a SHVS system on the Dzire just yet but insiders say a more powerful electricassist system is being worked on Maruti is keen to hold onto the lead as far as fuel efficiency is concerned

The new Dzire is expected to come to India by the end of this month and will take on the Honda Amaze the Figo Aspire the TataZest and the Volkswagen Ameo Expect keen pricing from Maruti for its big-selling compact sedan with prices starting not too farfrom the current car somewhere in the range of Rs 55-108 lakh The step up in ability however will be hugehttpwwwautocarindiacomauto-news2017-maruti-swift-dzire-first-look-404759aspx

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New Fiat Argo hatchback teased Autocar India

Fiat has been extensively testing the replacement for the Punto internationally ahead of the modelamprsquos expected debutsometime later this year Codenamed X6H the next-gen hatchback will be underpinned by a stretched iteration of the Fiat 326modular architecture and will be badged as the Fiat Argo

The current third-generation Fiat Punto has been around since 2005 and in its over-decade-long stint has received many updatesSome revisions have been like the India-specific updated Punto Evo on sale currently

Images of test mules of the Argo have been doing the rounds on online portals with not much visible except for the basic outline ofthe body shell Interior images of the test mule hint at a new interiors design with a steering wheel looking similar to the one on theTipo hatchback Other interior images have revealed the possibility of the new car receiving a City drive mode that could possibly upthe caramprsquos mileage during city driving Another addition to the caramprsquos interior could be the companyamprsquos UConnectinfotainment system

Mechanically the Argo is expected to use a mix of new and existing engines with the new units likely to include thecompanyamprsquos 100hp 14-litre four-pot petrol and a substantially larger 18-litre E-Torq petrol motor from the Toro pick-up Fiatcould also use the 09-litre TwinAir turbo-petrol motor in the hatchback though that option is likely to only be available in theEuro-spec car The car is expected to be offered with manual and automatic gearbox options with interior images detailing a carwith an automatic unit with steering-mounted paddles

The next-gen Punto is expected to make its international debut in Brazil sometime later this year with Fiat Brazil having released amicrosite for the new car

It is not known if Fiat has any plans to bring the new car to India to replace the ageing Punto Evo The automaker recentlyintroduced a new entry-level Punto Evo Pure to replace the Punto Pure an entry-level hatchback based on the old Punto on sale inthe countryhttpwwwautocarindiacomauto-newsnew-fiat-argo-hatchback-teased-401348aspx

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Skoda Vision E SUV concept revealed Autocar India

The striking Skoda Vision E electric car concept has been revealed ahead of its Shanghai motor show debut The 304hp productionversion of Skodaamprsquos electric-powered crossover is predicted to hit 100kph from rest in just six seconds about 05sec fasterthan an Octavia vRS hot hatch

Significant for being the first Skoda concept powered by a battery-electric drivetrain the Vision E is also a ampldquovery goodguideamprdquo to a 2020 production electric crossover and sets out the Czech companyamprsquos electrification strategy whichpromises five fully-electric cars by 2025 The first electrified Skoda will be a plug-in hybrid version of the Superb launched in 2019By 2025 one in every four cars sold by Skoda worldwide should be a plug-in hybrid or have a purely electric drive says thecompany

Designed in the Czech Republic the Vision E possesses purposeful proportions with tight front and rear overhangs a pleasingsweeping roofline and strongly expressed feature lines It sits on 2851mm wheelbase 60mm longer than Skodaamprsquos newKodiaq SUV and 10mm longer than the Superb saloon It takes advantage of the floor-mounted battery and compact motors anddrive components of the MEB electric car platform which allows Skodaamprsquos designers to push the front bulkhead fartherforward than in an internal-combustion engine car

Skoda says there is ampldquoseven per cent more internal spaceamprdquo ampmdash a reference to the longer interior ampmdash and aseating position ampldquo25 per cent higheramprdquo ampmdash a reference to the mildly-raised crossover roofline Luggage space isdescribed as roomier than usual At 1591mm high the Vision E is also about two-thirds the height between the Kodiaq and theSuperb giving it tall car crossover proportions

The body features a generous hatchback opening which further emphasises the Vision Eamprsquos practicality Skoda refers to theroofline as amplsquocoupe-likeamprsquo and it does curve gracefully front to rear as it subsides towards the rear lamps

To emphasise interior space Skoda has designed amplsquoclamshell-styleamprsquo doors in which the back pair hinges rearwards togive access to the cabin unhindered by a central pillar A favourite of concept designs it is most likely that the production car willfeature a central pillar to ensure adequate side-impact safety

Like all electric cars there is no need for a conventional grille capable of flowing cooling air to a radiator Instead designers nowhave the freedom to create a new front face using shaped sheet metal and lighting which Skodaamprsquos designers have dubbed aamplsquophantom grilleamprsquo that appears as if it is present but in reality isnamprsquot

Trapezoidal front LED lamps are pushed to the extremities of the front face and are linked by an illuminated bar fashioned fromcrystal glass one of the Czech Republicamprsquos most famous exports

Inside Skodaamprsquos designers have also penned a new look taking advantage of the flat-floor body architecture whichemphasises spaciousness

A major change compared to an internal combustion engine car is the absence of a gearshift a freedom that interior designer PeterOlah describes as amplsquoparadise in designamprsquo

Olahamprsquos interiors feature a sweeping dashboard centred on a 12-inch touchscreen centrally mounted and arranged inconventional amplsquolandscapeamprsquo format rather than Tesla and Volvoamprsquos more contemporary amplsquoportraitamprsquoorientation

New to Skoda is a dashboard architecture designed with a prominent step to allow the driver to steady hisher hand as functions areselected on the move Full width across the dashboard is soft mood lighting configurable in different hues

In front of the driver is a two-spoke multi-function wheel and a second flat screen for basic driving functions

Two lithium-ion battery packs are being engineered for the Vision E and its VW Group platform twins ampndash either an 80kW or a50kW ampndash are expected to be offered as individual models just as different engine capacities make up a car range today Thesebattery packs can then be combined with a choice of two motor outputs ampndash 175kW (237hp) on the rear axle and 50kW (68hp)on the front axle

The motor power is rated in total at 305hp but is split between two motors It is assumed that one will power the front axle and theother the rear axle but again these details havenamprsquot yet been released

Skoda claims acceleration up to the cars top speed of 180kph is ampldquoparticularly smooth and dynamicamprdquo Skoda sourcessay that the maximum performance combination will still offer a 500km range although a 237hp two-wheel drive Vision E equippedwith a 80kW battery is tipped to offer an even longer range

The production version of the Vision E goes on sale in 2020 although it is likely that the model range will be phased-in over 18monthshttpwwwautocarindiacomauto-newsskoda-vision-e-suv-concept-revealed-404721aspx

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International News

General Motors plans to launch 10 electric cars in China by 2020 The Economic Times

Shanghai General Motors plans to launch 10 electric and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in China by 2020 an executive saidFriday as automakers speed up the rollout of alternative vehicles under pressure from Beijing to promote the industry

General Motors will start production of a pure-electric model in China within two years Matt Tsien president of General MotorsChina told a news conference during the Shanghai auto show He said General Motors expects annual sales of 150000 electricand hybrid cars in China by 2020 and possibly in excess of 500000 by 2025

Ford Motor Volkswagen Nissan Motor and other automakers also have announced aggressive plans to make and sell electricvehicles in China the biggest auto market by number of units sold On Tuesday General Motors unveiled a hybrid version of theChevrolet Volt to be manufactured in China and sold under its Buick brand

Chinas communist government has the worlds most ambitious electric car goals hoping both to clean up smog-choked cities andto take a lead in an emerging industry Regulators are pressing foreign brands to help develop the industry

Regulators jolted the industry by proposing a requirement that electrics account for at least 8 percent of each brands production bynext year rising to 10 percent in 2019 and 12 percent in 2020 Automakers say they may be unable to meet those targets andregulators have suggested they might be reduced or postponed

Beijing also is due to enforce what auto executives say are the worlds most stringent emissions standards They say that is likely torequire all manufacturers to include electrics in their lineup to meet targets for average fleet emissions

In the next several years out to 2020 we expect to launch at least 10 new energy vehicles into the marketplace said Tsien usingthe governments term for electric and hybrid vehicles We have a pipeline that is going to materialize thats going to put us in avery good position from a fuel economy requirement perspective

All the vehicles will be manufactured in China he said

General Motors which competes with Volkswagen for the status of Chinas top-selling automaker reported 2016 sales rose 71percent to a record 39 million vehicles

Foreign automakers had been reluctant to sell electric cars in China because regulators required them to transfer valuableintellectual property to local partners or face import duties of 25 percent even if the vehicles were produced at a Chinese factoryBeijing has eased those requirements in an effort to attract foreign participants though automakers say the final ground rules forelectric vehicle production have yet to be announced

We have concerns relative to amount of IP that has to be shared We have a fairly clear understanding of what the rules ofengagement are said Tsien For vehicles where General Motors owns the IP we have had longstanding technology licensingagreements with our partner Those work effectively

The government is expanding Chinas network of charging stations to reduce range anxiety or buyers fear of running out ofpower The Cabinets planning agency announced a goal in February of having 100000 public charging stations and 800000private stations operating by the end of this year

Electric cars also are exempt from sales tax and license plate quotas Beijing Shanghai and other cities use to curb congestion andsmog Still sales of electric and gasoline-electric hybrids fell 44 percent from a year earlier in the first quarter to 55929 vehicleswhile SUV purchases rose 21 percent to 24 million

Tsien said manufacturers will need to develop vehicles that appeal to customers

The industry has to work on very hard to educate customers with regard to the merits he saidhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehiclecarsgeneral-motors-plans-to-launch-10-electric-cars-in-china-by-202058301380

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General Motors quits Venezuela after government seizes its factory APSee this story in The Times of India

Venezuela General Motors announced on Thursday that it was shuttering its operations in Venezuela after authorities seized itsfactory in the country a move that could draw the Trump administration into the escalating chaos engulfing the South Americannation amid days of deadly protests

The plant in the industrial city of Valencia was confiscated on Wednesday as anti-government protesters clashed with security

forces and pro-government groups in a country battered by economic troubles including food shortages and triple-digit inflationThree people were killed and hundreds arrested in the deadliest day of protests since the unrest began three weeks ago

The seizure arose from an almost 20-year-old lawsuit brought by a former GM dealership in western Venezuela The dealership hadbeen seeking damages from GM of 476 million bolivars - about $665 million at the official exchange rate or $115 million on theblack market where many Venezuelans are forced to turn to sell their increasingly worthless currency GM said it was notified thisweek that a low-level court ordered the seizure of its plant bank accounts and other assets in the country

Hundreds of workers desperate for information about their jobs gathered at the plant Thursday to meet with government and militaryofficials as well as representatives of the dealership that brought the lawsuit The neglected factory hasnt produced a car since2015 but GM still has 79 dealers that employ 3900 people in Venezuela where for decades it was the market leader

General Motors announcement came as Venezuelas opposition moved to keep up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro takingto the streets again Thursday a day after the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years

Its not the first time the Venezuelan government has seized a foreign corporations facilities Last July the government said it wouldtake over a factory belonging to Kimberly-Clark Corp after the American personal care giant said it was halting manufacturingbecause materials werent available in Venezuela

But the move against GM the United States biggest automaker was a much more powerful statement and could lead to a furthererosion of relations between the two countries

This is a test case for Trump said Raul Gallegos a Bogota-based analyst at Control Risks consultancy His response to a roguenation taking over the assets of a brand name US company will be indicative of the road it wants to take with Venezuela

The State Department said Thursday it was reviewing details of the GM case but called on authorities to act swiftly andtransparently to resolve the dispute

A fair predictable and transparent judicial system is critical to implementing the essential economic reforms critical to restoringgrowth and addressing the needs of the Venezuelan people State Department spokesman Mark Toner said

Later Thursday Maduro said he had called for an investigation into cellphone operator Movistar for allegedly being part of thecoup-minded march organized by adversaries of his government He said the subsidiary of Spains Telefonica sent millions ofmessages to users every two hours in support of Wednesdays protests

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets again Thursday to demand elections and denounce what they consider anincreasingly dictatorial government They were met by a curtain of tear gas and rubber bullets as they attempted to march todowntown Caracas

Across the country the clashes have been intense Pro-government militias were blamed for two deaths on Wednesday includingthat of a teenager in Caracas who was heading to a soccer game with friends However government officials cast doubt on theaccount saying the other victim a 23-year-old woman was killed by a member of an anti-government movement led by formercongresswoman Maria Corina Machado a claim Machado denied

Theyre using a Venezuelans death for which theyre responsible to commit slander Machado said on Twitter Thats how thiscriminal dictatorship works

The third fatality was a National Guard sergeant killed overnight when his squad was attacked with gunfire while trying to controldisturbances in a suburb of Caracas the chief prosecutors office said Another officer was wounded in the clashes

Another five people have been killed in the three weeks of protests sparked by a Supreme Court decision to strip theopposition-controlled Congress of its last remaining powers a move that was later reversed amid a storm of international criticism

The move has energized Venezuelas fractious opposition which had been struggling to channel growing disgust with Maduro overwidespread food shortages triple-digit inflation and rampant crime

Opponents are pushing for Maduros removal through early elections and the release of scores of political prisoners Thegovernment last year abruptly postponed regional elections the opposition was heavily favored to win and cut off a petition drive toforce a referendum seeking Maduros removal before elections late next year The opposition sees the government measures asturning Venezuela into a nearly full-blown dictatorship

But the government hasnt backed down

Maduro addressing supporters Wednesday said he was anxious to see elections take place sometime soon and repeated hiscall for dialogue something many in the opposition see as a stalling tactic

Today they attempted to take power by force and we defeated them again said Maduro adding that authorities rounded upseveral armed opponents seeking to carry out a coup He didnt provide any evidence to back up the claim and the oppositionrejected it as an attempt to intimidate Venezuelans from exercising their constitutional right to protest

As tensions have mounted the government has used its almost-complete control of Venezuelas institutions to pursue itsopponents On Wednesday alone 565 protesters were arrested nationwide according to Penal Forum a local NGO that provideslegal assistance to detainees The group said 334 remained in jail on Thursdayhttptimesofindiaindiatimescomworldrest-of-worldgeneral-motors-quits-venezuela-after-government-seizes-its-factoryarticleshow58295051cms

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Sentence next for Volkswagen in US diesel emissions scandal APSee this story in The Economic Times

Detroit Volkswagen and the US government are asking a judge to approve a $28 billion criminal penalty against the automaker forcheating on diesel emissions tests

Federal Judge Sean Cox is holding a hearing Friday in Detroit six weeks after the German automaker pleaded guilty to conspiracyand obstruction of justice The judge wanted more time to consider the plea deal and fine negotiated by Volkswagen and the USJustice Department

Volkswagen admits that nearly 600000 diesel cars in the US were programmed to turn on pollution controls during testing and offwhile on the road

Separately Volkswagen is paying $15 billion in a civil case brought by the government and spending $11 billion to buy back carsand offer other compensation Seven employees have also been chargedhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsindustrysentence-next-for-volkswagen-in-us-diesel-emissions-scandal58296104

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US judge sentences Volkswagen to three-years probation oversight ReutersSee this story in The Economic Times

Detroit A federal judge in Detroit on Friday sentenced Volkswagen AG to three years probation and independent oversight for theGerman automakers diesel emissions scandal as part of a $43 billion settlement announced in January

This is a case of deliberate and massive fraud US District Judge Sean Cox said in approving the settlement that requires theautomaker to make significant reforms He also formally approved a $28 billion criminal fine as part of the sentence

This is a very serious and very troubling case involving an iconic automobile company Cox added I just cant believe VW is inthe situation it finds itself in today

As well as accepting the agreement reached between VW and the US government Cox rejected separate calls from lawyersrepresenting individual VW customers for restitution No injured parties spoke in court although they were invited to do so by thejudge

The September 2015 disclosure that VW intentionally cheated on emissions tests for at least six years led to the ouster of its chiefexecutive damaged the companys reputation around the world and resulted in massive fines and pay-outs

The German automaker pleaded guilty in March to fraud obstruction of justice and falsifying statements after admitting to installingsecret software in 580000 US vehicles

Speaking on behalf of Volkswagen general counsel Manfred Doess said the company deeply regrets the behavior that gave rise tothis case Plain and simple it was wrong he said

The plea agreement calls for organization probation which allows for the company to be overseen by an independent monitor forthree years

At the sentencing hearing a federal prosecutor confirmed that the government plans to name former Deputy US Attorney GeneralLarry Thompson to serve as the independent monitor

An assistant US attorney John Neal told the court Thompson has assembled a team of experts and said the US governmenthas a great deal of confidence that (Thompson) will ensure compliance with all the terms of the plea agreement

In total VW has agreed to spend up to $25 billion in the United States to address claims from owners environmental regulatorsstates and dealers and to make buy-back offers

The US Justice Department has also charged seven current and former VW executives with crimes related to the scandal Oneexecutive is in custody and awaiting trial and another pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate US prosecutors said in January thatfive of the seven are believed to be in Germany They have not been arraigned

German prosecutors also are conducting a criminal probe of VWs excess diesel emissionshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsindustryu-s-judge-sentences-volkswagen-to-three-years-probation-oversight58304732

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Toyota develops hydrogen fuel cell system for heavy duty truck The Economic Times

Los Angeles North American arm of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor (TMNA) has revealed a hydrogen fuel cell system

designed for heavy duty truck use at the Port of Los Angeles said the company in a statement

ampldquoAs they did with the Prius and the Mirai Toyota is taking a leap into the future of technology By bringing this heavy dutyzero emission hydrogen fuel cell proof of concept truck to the Port Toyota has planted a flag that we hope many others willfollowamprdquo said Mary D Nichols Chair California Air Resources Board (CARB)

ampldquoToyota believes that hydrogen fuel cell technology has tremendous potential to become the powertrain of the futureamprdquosaid TMNA Executive Vice President Bob Carter

ampldquoFrom creating one of the worldamprsquos first mass market fuel cell vehicles to introducing fuel cell buses in Japan Toyota isa leader in expanding the use of versatile and scalable zero-emission technology With Project Portal weamprsquore proud to helpexplore the societal benefits of a true zero emission heavy-duty truck platformamprdquo

The truck generates more than 670 horsepower and 1325 pound feet of torque from two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh batterya relatively small battery to support class 8 load operations The conceptamprsquos estimated driving range is more than 200 milesper fill under normal drayage operation claims the company

ampldquoThe Port of Los Angeles is excited to collaborate with Toyota to explore the feasibility of fuel cell technology for port drayageoperationsamprdquo said Tony Gioiello Deputy Executive Director of Port Development Port of Los Angeles

ampldquoOur port and industry stakeholders have demonstrated their leadership in reducing pollution from port-related operationsand we see the potential of Toyotas zero-emission heavy-duty truck technology as another solution to meet the long-term goals ofthe San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Planamprdquo

ampldquoHydrogen fuel cell vehicles play a role in Californiaamprsquos efforts to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction goalsimprove air quality and reduce our reliance on fossil fuelsamprdquo said Janea A Scott Commissioner California EnergyCommission

ampldquoThatamprsquos why the California Energy Commission is investing in the refueling infrastructure needed to support adoptionof these vehicles The Commission applauds Toyota for putting this cutting edge technology to use in a heavy-duty freight proof ofconcept This demo will show how fuel cells can help support the heavy-duty sectoramprsquos efforts to increase efficiency transitionto zero-emission technologies and increase competitivenessamprdquohttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewscommercial-vehiclemhcvtoyota-develops-hydrogen-fuel-cell-system-for-heavy-duty-truck58296585

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Michelin Q1 revenue up 99 buoyed by auto market growth ReutersSee this story in The Economic Times

Paris Michelin revenue rose 99 percent in the first quarter buoyed by European auto-market growth and a rebound in demand foroutsize mining tyres the company said on Thursday

Revenue rose to 557 billion euros ($599 billion) from 507 billion euros a year earlier Michelin said in a statement Sales byvolume rose 73 percent

The company reiterated its 2017 goals which include volume growth in line with global markets an increase in full-year operatingincome at constant exchange rates and structural free cash flow in excess of 900 million euros ($1 = 09296 euros)httpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewstyresmichelin-q1-revenue-up-9-9-buoyed-by-auto-market-growth58292354

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Royal Enfield strenghtens presence in Latin America begins operations in BrazilThe Economic Times

New Delhi Chennai based motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield in a press release announced the opening of its second directdistribution subsidiary outside India The company started direct operations in Brazil the fourth biggest two wheeler market in theworld

The company also launched its first flagship store in the heart of the Sao Paulo Brazil The newly-formed subsidiary - Royal EnfieldBrazil - will be selling to dealers as well as conduct all front-end development and support activities such as marketing andaftersales in the country

Royal Enfieldamprsquos first direct distribution subsidiary outside India was - Royal Enfield North America (RENA) that was set up in2015 The brand also has strong presence in Colombia another important two-wheeler market in Latin America

Speaking at the launch of Royal Enfield Brazil in Sao Paulo Royal Enfield President Rudratej (Rudy) Singh said ampldquoWe aredelighted to be formally entering Brazil and are able to offer our motorcycles to a whole new group of customers that will enable usto realise our competitive potential in the fourth biggest motorcycle market in the world We see a huge opportunity in Brazil that hasa hugely underserved mid-sized motorcycle market with a massive commuter base With motorcycle enthusiasts in Brazil waiting toupgrade to simple yet timeless and evocative motorcycles Royal Enfield with its authentic British pedigree will be able to provide anexcellent alternative with an accessible cost of ownership In the coming years Brazil can become one of our bastion markets

outside of India and help us become a leader in the middle weight motorcycle segment globallyamprdquo

The subsidiary and its regional office in Sao Paulo is will be managed by Claudio Giusti Country Manager Royal Enfield Brazil andwill be responsible for handling its operation in the market including sales marketing communication warranty and aftersales

Royal Enfield has entered the Brazilian market with lineup of three models featuring single-cylinder engines currently up to at 535ccAvailable models include the standard street model - Bullet 500 the retro street model - Classic 500 and the Continental GT (535cc)cafe racer

We truly believe that at the core of motorcycling is exploration and leisure riding Our purpose has been the same for last manydecades which is to ensure that our customers amplsquokeep riding pureamprsquo We have seen that our kind of motorcycling hasresonated across the world We have a large set of youth in Brazil waiting to kick start their pursuit for exploration and adventureand Royal Enfield is touching the sensibilities of these needs with its authentic pedigree Motorcycling will be fun again as it wasalways supposed to beamprdquo added Rudy

With a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 50 in last six years The company sold more than 660000 unitsglobally in FY 2016-17 and intends to ramp-up its production capacity to up-to 900000 motorcycles by end of 2018 to meet itsincreasingly rising global demandshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewstwo-wheelersmotorcyclesroyal-enfield-strenghtens-presence-in-latin-america-begins-operations-in-brazil58296498Royal Enfield opens subsidiary in BrazilThe Times of Indiahttptimesofindiaindiatimescomautobikesroyal-enfield-opens-subsidiary-in-brazilarticleshow58302360cms Royal Enfield rides into Brazilian marketThe Indian Expresshttpindianexpresscomarticlebusinesscompaniesroyal-enfield-rides-into-brazilian-market-4622447Royal Enfield rides into brazilian mktThe Pioneerhttpwwwdailypioneercombusinessroyal-enfield-rides-into-brazilian-mkthtml

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Tesla recalling cars to address brake defect AFPSee this story in The Economic Times

New York Tesla is recalling 53000 cars to address a manufacturing defect that could prevent parking brakes from releasing thecompany said Thursday

Tesla described the move as a voluntary recall taken after determining that Model S and X vehicles manufactured betweenFebruary and October of last year may contain a small gear that could have been manufactured improperly by our third-partysupplier the company said on its website

There have been no reports of accidents or injuries relating to the defect

However in order to be overly cautious we are going to be proactively replacing these parts to ensure that no issues arise thecompany said

The recall comes as Tesla remains close with General Motors as the US automaker with the highest market capitalization

Some analysts have expressed skepticism about the meteoric rise in Tesla shares given that the company still sells only a fractionof cars compared with GM or Ford

Tesla shares fell 11 percent to $30224 in midday trade giving it a market capitalization of about $501 billion around $12 billionbelow that of GMshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehiclecarstesla-recalling-cars-to-address-brake-defect58290400Tesla to recall 53000 cars over parking brake issueThe Times of Indiahttptimesofindiaindiatimescomautomiscellaneoustesla-to-recall-53000-cars-over-parking-brake-issuearticleshow58294935cms

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Chevrolet FNR-X concept makes its global debut in China The Economic Times

New Delhi The Chevrolet FNR-X concept vehicle made its world premiere at Auto Shanghai 2017 Chevrolet previously showcasedthe Chevrolet-FNR (Find New Roads) concept vehicle developed by GMamprsquos Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC)joint venture at Auto Shanghai 2015

ampldquoThe Chevrolet-FNR is one of Chevroletamprsquos most forward-thinking concept cars truly exemplifying the brandamprsquospassion for innovation and ingenuityamprdquo said Alan Batey GM executive vice president and president of GM North America andGlobal Chevrolet ampldquoThe FNR-X builds on the design and technology showcased on the original FNR concept and embodiesthe belief at Chevroletamprsquos core that anything is possibleamprdquo

The new Chevrolet FNR-X concept draws inspiration from and brands combination of performance and versatility to meetmultipurpose mobility demands claims Chevrolet

The concept vehicle retains Chevrolets design language and gets masculine lines across the body of the car Dynamic digital LEDheadlights and taillights combine the brands characteristic dual-element light design with addition of traditional Chinese woodwork

It is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and can switch between its engine and electric motor offering two driving modes V (Versatility)and S (Sport) The company claims that the FNR-X gets adaptive suspension that helps the car to adjust the ground clearance ondemand

Inside the concept the SUV features ambient lighting changes colors to match driving modes The cabinamprsquos hexagonaltextures were inspired by graphene crystal structures ampndash signifying the beginning of a new era for new energy

The steering wheel and dashboard have a sporty integrated design Seats ride on multipurpose rails and have fixed components toindividualize storage space Split-folding second-row seats maximize cargo capacity

The FNR-X supports connected mobility for individual users It incorporates an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) dynamicdisplay system information system

Chevrolet FNR-X also gets augmented reality head-up display offers a clear 270-degree posterior-lateral view to maximize safetyand enhance overall driving experiencehttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehicleuvchevrolet-fnr-x-concept-makes-its-global-debut-in-china58290548

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China carmakers ape foreign brands at Shanghai show AFPSee this story in The Economic Times

Shanghai If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then global carmakers are basking in the compliments at Shanghais autoshow where some Chinese-made models bear striking resemblance to famous foreign brands

The annual exhibition is the biggest automotive showcase in the planets largest car market but also an event that revivespersistent accusations of Chinese businesses copying foreign designs

The show opened this week with automotive media and internet wags highlighting a range of Chinese models with more than apassing likeness to their Porsche Land Rover Mercedes and other counterparts

Intellectual-property theft is rampant in a range of industries in China and foreign automakers have taken legal action over theyears against Chinese competitors for suspiciously similar designs

But Mercedes China boss Hubertus Troska laughed it off when asked by reporters about a Chinese-made car on display acrossfrom the Mercedes stand which looked just like the German manufacturers G-Class SUV

We take it as a compliment Troska quipped

Other automotive doppelgangers include one by little-known Chinese brand Zotye which sells for 100000 yuan ($14500) and couldbe mistaken for Porsches sporty Macan SUV which has a sticker price of $87000

A Porsche spokeswoman brushed it off stressing that foreign automakers compete for different market segments and income levelsthan their Chinese counterparts

We are absolutely sure that car enthusiasts will easily be able to tell the difference between the original Porsche Macan and thecopycat due to design perfection and overall quality said Anja Wassertheurer Porsches director of product and technicalcommunications

Land warLand Rovers Range Rover Evoque SUV also is on display in Shanghai as is a model by similarly-named Chinese carmakerLandwind that has sparked a legal battle between the two

The British manufacturer in 2014 launched a bid to void Landwinds patent on its X7 SUV prompting a tit-for-tat move by theChinese company in a fight that continues

The chances of a foreign carmaker winning an auto patent case in China are extremely low due to the way the countrys patentlaws are written said Li Yanwei an analyst with the China Automobile Dealers Association

A conviction can only be made when the two vehicles design and size match exactly he said

Companies like Zotye only need to slightly adjust some parameters and the other brand wont be able to win

Global automakers largely have to just accept such mimicry and focus on the fact that they compete for different buyers

Chinese carmakers involved in such disputes did not respond to AFP requests for comment

Honda filed a lawsuit in 2004 against Chinese carmaker Shuanghuan Automobile accusing it of copying the exterior of the

Japanese manufacturers popular CR-V SUV but lost the case in 2015

Honda had to cough up 16 million yuan for legal fees and reputation damage inflicted on Shuanghuan which folded last year

Industry watchers say the number of such disputes are expected to diminish as Chinese manufacturers design capabilities grow

There was a time when design was not at the core of the (Chinese carmakers) concern It was more about delivering a productBut now original design creation in China is blossoming said Christophe Cayrol head of French car brand Citroens design centrein Shanghaihttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehiclecarschina-carmakers-ape-foreign-brands-at-shanghai-show58298129

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Schaeffler presents electrified drive train products at Auto Shanghai 2017 The Economic Times

Shanghai German automotive components manufacturer Schaeffler has products for the electrified drive train at the AutoShanghai 2017 that are customised for the Chinese market informed the company in an official statement

From hybrid modules to the electric axle Schaeffler has offered solutions for hybrid vehicles and all-electric automobiles for both 48volt and high voltage systems

ampldquoElectrification of drives will fundamentally change the mobility of individuals within the decade to come According toestimates the global production of hybrid and all-electric vehicles will account for approximately half of the overall vehicleproduction between 2025 and 2030amprdquo says Zang CEO Greater China at Schaeffler

ampldquoDriven by political boundary conditions the automotive industry is undergoing dramatic changes Thanks to ourtechnological expertise Schaeffler is in an excellent position to face this developmentamprdquo he continues

Talking about the products the company said with the electric axle in the so-called P4 arrangement Schaeffler provides afuture-oriented drive train solution for hybrid and all-electric vehicles Schaeffler is now electrifying Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) thatare increasingly popular in China with its two-speed electric axle developed for the Chinese market

The cost-optimised electric axle achieves a starting torque of up to 3000 Nm and a maximum speed of 210 kmh The first volumeproduction application in a Chinese SUV model will start at the end of 2017

Schaeffleramprsquos hybrid module showcased at the automotive trade show in Shanghai is tailor-made for Chinese OEMs Inapplications for plug-in hybrids (PHEV) Schaeffleramprsquos P2 hybrid module contributes to a reduction in fuel consumption andhas at least 70 percent with an all-electric range of 50 kilometers claims the company

A maximum speed of 135 kmh can be reached in purely electric driving mode (EV mode) the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in less than eight seconds This new P2 hybrid module will be put into volume production for the first time at the end of 2017

ampldquoElectrified drives play a particularly important role on the Asian market China is an important market for us and we willtherefore make further investments in customized technologies in order to help Chinese OEMs to fulfill legal requirementsamprdquosays Matthias Zink CEO Automotive at Schaefflerhttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsauto-componentsschaeffler-presents-electrified-drive-train-products-at-auto-shanghai-201758295375

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Bridgestone named General Motors Supplier of Year The Economic Times

Nashville Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation has been named General Motors Supplier of the Year during the25th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony recently held in Orlando Florida

This is the second consecutive year that Bridgestone has received this award informed the tyre maker in a statement

ampldquoI am proud of the effort and dedication that earned Bridgestone this honor for the 15th timeamprdquo said Mike Martinipresident original equipment US and Canada Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations

ampldquoThis award is a testament to our product engineering and manufacturing performance at Bridgestone and belongs to thededicated teammates across our global organisation who bring value and innovation to partners like General Motorsamprdquo

ampldquoWe are focused on building positive supplier relationships and bringing new customer-centric innovations to oursuppliersamprdquo said Steve Kiefer General Motors vice president Global Purchasing and Supply Chain ampldquoThe companieswe recognised this year have brought innovation and delivered it with the quality our customers deserveamprdquo

Winning suppliers were chosen by a global team of General Motors purchasing engineering quality manufacturing and logisticsexecutives and selected based on performance criteria in Product Purchasing Indirect Purchasing Customer Care and Aftersalesand Logisticshttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewstyresbridgestone-named-general-motors-supplier-of-year58295130

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ZF plans expansion in China focus on electromobility The Economic Times

New Delhi Auto components manufacturer ZF in a press release said that in the Asia-Pacific region China is one of the mainmarket for the company and contributes to more than one fifth of companys overall sales Chinese market approximatelycontributes to euro76 billion of the companys total euro352 billion sales in the 2016 fiscal year

Chinas growing market was responsible for approximately euro6 billion alone ZF also announced its plans to expand its localdevelopment capacity in the Technology Center in Shanghai

Making up 22 percent of Group sales the Region of Asia-Pacific is one of ZFs key markets Sales achieved in this region amountedto approximately euro76 billion during 2016 ZF generated sales of almost euro6 billion in China and has about approximately 13700employees in the country

We also expect a moderate yet clear growth in the Region of Asia-Pacific for 2017 Major factors are hybrid and electric drives aswell as technologies for active and passive safety We are extremely well-positioned in both sectors says ZF Chief ExecutiveOfficer Dr Stefan Sommer

The German component manufacturer is looking to expand its position on the Chinese market ZF claims to have invested over euro1billion in its Chinese development and production locations over the past five years

ZF is preparing for further growth on the Chinese market with its expanded Engineering Center in Shanghai The focus of theextension lies on driveline and chassis technology particularly electromobility for all applications The new Engineering Centerworks closely with the existing ZF Technology Center in Anting that focuses on active and passive safety technology for the Asianmarket ZF also invested considerably in the recently opened Wuhang production location and the Zhangjiaging plant At these twolocations the company produces brake systems and occupant safety systems for OEMS with production plants in Chinahttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewsauto-componentszf-plans-expansion-in-china-focus-on-electromobility58294088

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Acura TLX-L Prototype unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2017 The Economic Times

Shanghai China Acura the luxury vehicle marque of Japanese automaker Honda has exhibited the world premiere of the AcuraTLX-L Prototype at Auto Shanghai 2017 informed the company in a statement

The Acura TLX-L Prototype is a China-exclusive model developed based on the needs of Chinese customers The productionmodel of TLX-L is scheduled to go on sale in China in 2017

Talking about the product the company said While maintaining TLXamprsquos high-quality driving performance unique only to aluxury sedan occupant comfort was further improved by expanding the cabin space for rear passengers by increasing thewheelbase

Other models on display include the Acura MDX which will undergo a minor model change in June 2017 a special model of theAcura CDX the China-exclusive SUV model featuring a matte-finish body color as well as the Acura NSX which was introduced tothe market last year

Takahiro Hachigo President Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director of Honda Motor said ampldquoIn China wherefull-fledged local production began Acura China will continue to enhance its product lineup including China-exclusive modelsConcerning the localisation of our production we are planning to begin production of RDX in China in 2018amprdquo

Toshihiko Sato President of GAC Honda Automobile said ampldquo2016 became a memorable year as we began production andsales of the Acura CDX the first Acura model produced locally in China This year we are introducing the Acura TLX-L the secondAcura model to be produced in Chinaamprdquohttpautoeconomictimesindiatimescomnewspassenger-vehiclecarsacura-tlx-l-prototype-unveiled-at-auto-shanghai-201758295494

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Economy

Rupee down 5 paise to 6461$ PTISee this story in The Hindu Business Line

Mumbai Snapping its two-session uptrend the rupee on Friday slipped 5 paise to 6461 a dollar due to uptick in demand for theAmerican currency and persistent capital outflows

The domestic currency largely moved in a narrow range throughout the day

Consistent demand for the greenback from foreign funds predominantly weighed on the rupee

The domestic unit had gained 7 paise in last two dayshttpwwwthehindubusinesslinecommarketsforexrupee-weakens-to-6465-on-increased-dollar-demandarticle9655016ece

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Forex kitty raises $889 million PTISee this story in The Hindu Business Line

MumbaiThe countryamprsquos foreign exchange reserves rose by $8894 million to $369887 billion during the week ended April 14helped by increase in foreign currency assets the Reserve Bank said They had declined by $9564 million to $368998 billion in theprevious reporting week

The reserves had touched a life-time high of $37199 billion in the week to September 30 2016httpwwwthehindubusinesslinecommoney-and-bankingforex-kitty-raises-889-millionarticle9657007ece

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Sensex ends lower after 300-point swing Nifty below 9150 Swati VermaSee this story in The Economic Times

New Delhi After trading in the positive territory for most of the session the domestic equity indices ended lower owing to heavyselling in pharma and FMCG stocks

On Friday the SampP BSE Sensex shed 57 points to settle at 2936530 with ITC ICICI Bank and Sun Pharma being the majorcontributors to the fall in the index The 30-share index which opened at 2957566 against previous close of 2942239 hit anintraday high and low of 2958434 and 2925942 respectively

Among key corporate events HDFC Bank on Friday reported 1825 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit at Rs 3990 crore for thequarter ended March 31 2017 It had posted a net profit of Rs 337422 crore in the corresponding quarter last year

The private sector lender also recommended a dividend of Rs 11 per equity share of Rs 2 for year ended March 31 2017 againstRs 950 last year

The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries regained its status as Indias most valued firm by market capitalisation overtaking Tatagroups crown jewel TCS

Kolkata-headquartered leading hosiery company Dollar Industries got listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) at Rs 1314 onFriday

The Nifty50 closed lower for the sixth day in a row The benchmark index settled at 911940 down by 17 points

Among individual stocks shares of Max Financial Services declined as much as 549 per cent in early trade on Friday after 13crore shares traded in two block deals at Rs 622-625 per share The stock closed at 3 per cent lower at Rs 62990 apiece

On the other hand shares of Diamond Power and Infrastructure tumbled over 6 per cent in Fridayamprsquos session after thesmallcap firm said its losses widened to Rs 31683 crore in March quarter

Global stocksIn the commodity market oil dipped and was set for the biggest weekly drop in a month over doubts that an Opec-led productioncuts will restore balance to a market dogged by oversupply whereas gold held steady with safe-haven demand remaining intact asinvestors kept an eye on the upcoming French presidential vote that is seen as too close to call

Among Asian stocks Shanghai shares post their worst week in 2017 as tighter regulatory scrutiny and concerns over the broadereconomic outlook dampened investors risk appetite

The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 02 per cent to 346679 while the Shanghai Composite Index was flat at 317315 points

European shares fell as French stocks came under pre-election pressurehttpeconomictimesindiatimescommarketsstocksnewssensex-ends-lower-after-300-point-swing-nifty-below-9150articleshow58298012cms

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Indiaacirceurotrades growth projected to bounce back in 2018 IMF PTISee this story in The Pioneer

Washington The IMF on Friday said that post demonetisation Indiaamprsquos growth is projected to rebound to 72 per cent in fiscalyear 2018 and further to 77 per cent the next year

ampldquoIn lndia the temporary disruptions (primarily to private consumption) caused by cash shortages accompanying the currencyexchange initiative are expected to gradually dissipate in 2017amprdquo Changyong Rhee Director of the Asia and PacificDepartment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) told reporters on the sidelines of the annual Spring Meeting of the IMF and theWorld Bank

ampldquoThus growth is projected to rebound to 72 per cent in Financial Year (FY) 2017-18 and further to 77 per cent in FY2018-19amprdquo Rhee said adding that India remains the fastest growing emerging economy in Asia and the world

The recent growth momentum in the largest economies in the region remains particularly strong reflecting sustained policy supportin China and Japan the IMF official said

More broadly across the region forward-looking indicators such as the Purchasing Managersamprsquo Index suggest continuedstrength into early 2017 he said

Against this backdrop growth for the region is forecast to accelerate to 55 per cent in 2017 from 53 per cent in 2016

Rhee said in China first quarter growth came in slightly higher than expected reflecting in part continued policy support

ampldquoWe expect GDP growth to moderate somewhat in the second half of this year as recent tightening measures take effectalthough the near-term outlook remains strongamprdquo he said

In Japan growth momentum is set to continue into 2017 but weaken thereafter as fiscal policy consolidates with the plannedconsumption tax increase Growth has been revised up to 12 per cent Imports are expected to recover from exceptionally cultlevels in 2016 while exports are boosted by foreign demand he said

Rhee said Asia is poised to remain the global growth leader into the future

ampldquoBut as in the past securing this leading position will require continuing policy upgrades vigilance against risks and reformsto boost domestic demand and address growth bottlenecksamprdquo he said

Noting that appropriate demand support and structural reforms are needed to reinforce growth momentum where it is weak Rheesaid monetary policy should generally remain accommodative given that inflation is below target and there is slack in mosteconomies

However some central banks should stand ready to raise the policy rate andor tighten macroprudential settings if inflationarypressures increase or credit growth remains too high

ampldquoFiscal policy should support and complement structural reforms andor external rebalancing where needed and fiscal spaceis available

At the same time countries with closed output gaps or high debt levels should start rebuilding fiscal space focusing ongrowth-friendly fiscal consolidation measuresamprdquo said the IMF official

ampldquoStructural reforms are needed to help rebalance demand and supply reduce external imbalances mitigate domestic andexternal vulnerabilities increase economic efficiency and potential growth and foster more inclusive growthamprdquo he addedhttpwwwdailypioneercombusinessindias-growth-projected-to-bounce-back-in-2018-imfhtml

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Closing

Last Financial Closing

Sensex 2936530 (-5709)NSE 911940 (-1700)US$ spot Rs6461US$ Y1090700US$ 6 months RsYen Rs59Euro spot Rs6916

Gold (10gm) Rs2934500Silver (1kg) Rs4128900

Crude Oil (WTI)

Crude Oil (Brent) $5117

Scip on BSE Face Value (Rs) Last Traded Value (Rs)Apollo Tyres 1 23710Asahi Ind 1 21805Amara Raja B 1 87475Ashok Leyland 1 8525Bajaj Auto 10 282430Bharat Forge 2 107390Denso 1 Eicher Motor 10 2555125Escorts 10 55640 Exide Ind 1 23445Force Motors 10 461195Gabriel India 1 12510Hero Motocor 2 320320Hind Motors 5 1000Hi-Tech Gear 10 35490Jay Bh Maruti 5 60175

Jamna Auto 5 24495JK Tyres amp Inds 10 15325Kinetic Motors 10 Kinetic Engg 10 KOEL 2 39610Kirloskar Br 2 28190LML Ltd 10 1265LampT 2 168750Lumax Ind 10 134720Lumax Tech 10 51185MampM 5 125820Maruti Suzuki 5 618580Motherson SS 1 37950Minda Inds 2 46815MRF 10 6328370Omax Auto 10 8515Rico Auto 1 6120Sona Koyo St 1 8290

SRF 10 169965Tata Motors 2 44060 TVS Motors 1 48215

Scip on BSE Face Value (Rs) Last Traded Value (Rs)Bhushan Steel 2 7725Hindalco 1 18810Hind Zinc 2 27280JSW Ispat S 10 Jind Steel 1 11200JSW Steel 1 18725Jindal Saw 2 8260National Aluminium 5 6690SAIL 10 6030Tata Steel 10 45085Visa Steel 10 2180

Scip on BSE Face Value (Rs) Last Traded Value (Rs)Ambuja Cement 2 23940Binani Industries 10 8845Birla Corp 10 74905India Cement 10 18825Prism Cement 10 10480JK Cement 10 93955

Shree Cement 10 1759585

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NURC Industry Updates contain editedtruncated text of Industry-specific news as it appears in various select dailies and websites These are NOT full stories unless otherwisespecifically mentioned The stories contained herein are informational only and no representation is made or warranty given as to their content reliability truthfulness orusefulness User assumes all risk of use It be clearly understood that NURC updates do not claim to and neither mean to replace the Print or the Internet editions of variousnewspapers whose articles are featured therein For the best and complete news reading NURC urges its readers to read the full text of the stories from the Newspaperswhose credits are given after the headline and visit the related website whose URL is given below the text matter of each news item

NURC News Update - AUTOMOBILES

News on Indian Auto Industry Copyright 1999 NURC MediaNext Pvt Ltd

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Powered by Enablingbiz Esoluttions

2017 Maruti Swift Dzire first look

New Fiat Argo hatchback teased

Skoda Vision E SUV concept revealed

International NewsGeneral Motors plans to launch 10 electric cars in China by 2020

General Motors quits Venezuela after government seizes its factory

Sentence next for Volkswagen in US diesel emissions scandal

US judge sentences Volkswagen to three-years probation oversight

Toyota develops hydrogen fuel cell system for heavy duty truck

Michelin Q1 revenue up 99 buoyed by auto market growth

Royal Enfield strenghtens presence in Latin America begins operations in Brazil

Tesla recalling cars to address brake defect

Chevrolet FNR-X concept makes its global debut in China

China carmakers ape foreign brands at Shanghai show

Schaeffler presents electrified drive train products at Auto Shanghai 2017

Bridgestone named General Motors Supplier of Year

ZF plans expansion in China focus on electromobility

Acura TLX-L Prototype unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2017

EconomyRupee down 5 paise to 6461$

Forex kitty raises $889 million

Sensex ends lower after 300-point swing Nifty below 9150

Indiaamprsquos growth projected to bounce back in 2018 IMF

ClosingLast Financial Closing

Industry

Interviews amp Features

Ban on BS-III models wont impact Ashok Leyland Vinod Dasari MD Ashok Leyland The Economic Times (Web Edition)

In a chat with ET NOW Vinod Dasari MD Ashok Leyland says that ours is the only vehicle in which I can literally take out the BS-IIIengine and put a BS-IV engine

How is ban on BS-III models will impact your business

Before it had come to the fact about what we are doing about all of these BS-III vehicles that are leftover I am very proud toannounce that Ashok Leyland has today announced the launch of yet another innovation called the Intelligent EGR You knowAshok Leyland was the only company in the world that was meeting BS-III norms using a mechanical fuel pump

Everybody in the world greater than 130 horsepower goes to an SCR system selective catalytic reduction and it is okay for thosekind of driving conditions where there are long driving roads and very little interferences and it is also okay when there is lots ofelectronics maintenance capability

In a country like India where there is very little capability to repair electronics not a lot of skill available as well as road conditionsbeing completely different we started working on these technologies four years ago to say how can we put an EGR system that ismore intelligent than the traditional EGR Traditional EGR takes 20 recirculation we said can we do it with 10

Traditional EGR has a particulate oxidation catalyst which always clogs up and it requires very high temperatures to do this we saidhow can we do in cylinder combustion in a manner that it is completely eliminates this We eliminated sensors we eliminatedcatalysts we eliminated electronics and truly came up with an Indian system which has little electronics as possible

And then to repair even that electronics our vehicles are equipped with a Bluetooth device it emits Bluetooth signal so take yourphone with our app that we have now available to download and go directly stand in front of the truck it will tell you exactly what iswrong with it you do not have to open it and you just click on it and it will show you how to repair it









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indian auto industry update · maruti to launch all new dzire next month maruti to launch all new...

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