Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

Stories by Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

Automobile retail sales up 14% in March; post 21% YoY growth in FY23

Automobile retail sales up 14% in March; post 21% YoY growth in FY23

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2023

Automotive retail sales saw a 14 per cent rise in March on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). For the whole of financial year 2022-23 (FY23), sales grew 21 per cent YoY. For both March and the financial year, all categories, except for tractors, and including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles (PVs), and commercial vehicles (CVs), posted double-digit growth. However, the total retail sales of 22.1 million for the financial year were still 12 per cent lower than the pre-Covid (FY20) level of 25 million, owing to an 18 per cent dip in the two-wheeler segment.

Green mobility: CNG vehicle sales are up 82% in 5 yrs

Green mobility: CNG vehicle sales are up 82% in 5 yrs

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

Amid a shift in mobility trends and people increasingly opting for less polluting energy sources, sales of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles increased more than 82 per cent in the past five years. A total of 729,902 CNG vehicles were sold in 2022-23 against 400,825 in 2017-18, according to VAHAN Dashboard. Though the increase in sales of CNG-powered vehicles has been significant, their share in overall vehicle sales remains minuscule as is the case with EVs.

'MSME, gold will grow faster than any other segment'

'MSME, gold will grow faster than any other segment'

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

'The market has picked up for commercial vehicles. We are very close to pre-pandemic levels.'

How BJP Plans To Gain Foothold In Kerala

How BJP Plans To Gain Foothold In Kerala

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2023

On Easter, April 9, 10,000 BJP workers are being assigned to visit the houses of 100,000 Christian families. Plans are afoot to visit the homes of Muslims on Eid.

2-wheeler EV sales up 58%, PV 130% in March: Fada

2-wheeler EV sales up 58%, PV 130% in March: Fada

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2023

The country saw a massive year-on-year surge in the demand for electric vehicles, with retail sales of electric two-wheelers rising by 58 per cent, passenger vehicles by 130 per cent, three-wheelers by 82 per cent, and commercial vehicles by 171 per cent in March 2023, according to the data shared by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada). According to a report by JMK Research, the EV segment as a whole grew by 157 per cent during FY23, to 1,180,597 units, from 458,746 units a year ago. Overall, EV sales in March 2023 rose by 82 per cent from the March 2022 figure, the JMK report added.

Why EV makers are flocking to Tamil Nadu

Why EV makers are flocking to Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2023

At Prestige Polygon Towers in Chennai's Teynampet, hectic preparations are on for a mega global investors' meet under the aegis of Guidance Tamil Nadu (the state investment promotion agency) scheduled for January 2024. Asked about the key focus areas of the meet, the agency's managing director and chief executive officer, V Vishnu, said the state was betting big on electric mobility. This is no surprise, given that the state has signed electric vehicle (EV)-related memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with several companies in the recent past that may bring in investments worth around Rs 33,000 crore with the potential to create over 43,000 job opportunities.

After record sales in FY23, auto companies expect demand to mute

After record sales in FY23, auto companies expect demand to mute

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2023

'In FY23, PV sales are expected to end the year at a record 3.8 million units, up 26 per cent. In FY24, however, the industry is expecting 5-7 per cent volume growth'

Foxconn Deal: Karnataka Labour Laws In Focus, Tamil Nadu May Follow

Foxconn Deal: Karnataka Labour Laws In Focus, Tamil Nadu May Follow

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

Allowing 12-hour shifts for all and night-time work for women was meant to benefit software firms, but is said to have clinched Foxconn's Rs 80 billion investment.

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman, national Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, the current scenario qualifies as a wave.

South Indian Bank to name new CEO by May as Ramakrishnan announces exit

South Indian Bank to name new CEO by May as Ramakrishnan announces exit

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2023

South Indian Bank is likely to name a new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) by May end, said the Thrissur-based lender on Wednesday. The bank's shares dipped some 14 per cent at one point after MD and CEO Murali Ramakrishnan said he will not apply for an extension when his tenure ends on September 30, citing personal reasons. The bank's board on Tuesday considered Ramakrishnan's request for not intending to continue on his post and appointed a search committee for his replacement.

Luxury Carmakers Eye Small Towns

Luxury Carmakers Eye Small Towns

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2023

Many of these companies have a waiting period from 6-18 months now, indicating a rise in demand.

'I am not the target, my leader KCR is'

'I am not the target, my leader KCR is'

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

'He is exposing the failings of the BJP, which is rankling the party.'

EV dealers find that without FAME there's no fortune

EV dealers find that without FAME there's no fortune

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2023

Subsidies have been stopped for several manufacturers that are under investigation for alleged violations of local-sourcing rules.

'Complete fiction': Zoho CEO Vembu denies wife's allegations in magazine

'Complete fiction': Zoho CEO Vembu denies wife's allegations in magazine

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2023

Sridhar Vembu, Zoho Corp's chief executive officer (CEO), said on Tuesday a report that he financially abandoned his wife and son is "complete fiction". An article in Forbes magazine alleged Vembu, founder of the Indian SaaS company, had abandoned his wife Pramila Srinivasan and their special needs son in the US in 2020. Srinivasan and Vembu are fighting a divorce case in California.

'We are exploring setting up an aerotropolis'

'We are exploring setting up an aerotropolis'

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

'We would like to develop Andhra Pradesh into a logistics hub not only for India, but also for South Asia.'

Auto Industry Sweats As Semiconductor Shortage Persists

Auto Industry Sweats As Semiconductor Shortage Persists

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

Open order books in February breach 700,000; wait period for some models exceed a year.

'Dhoni gets the best out of the players'

'Dhoni gets the best out of the players'

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2023

'It is Dhoni, Fleming and the support staff who decide on cricket.' 'The fans expect CSK to do well, and with Dhoni at the helm, CSK is capable of it.'

100% Railways Electrification By 2024

100% Railways Electrification By 2024

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2023

India is now much ahead of other large railway networks in the world in terms of electrification -- with the US at just 1 per cent, China at 72 per cent and Europe at 60 per cent.

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

With just a month left in this financial year, electric two-wheeler sales, so far, are at just 62 per cent of the ambitious target of 1 million units set for 2022-23 by the NITI Aayog. According to VAHAN data, compiled by the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), 620,006 units of electric two-wheelers were sold across the country in FY23 until February 21. Though the industry may miss the 1-million target, sales in FY23 are already up 146 per cent from 249,621 units sold in FY22.

India Lost 30 Tigers In 2 Months

India Lost 30 Tigers In 2 Months

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

This is the highest number of tiger deaths in three years.