The industry will see as many as 24 new launches in 2008, from 14 car makers across the country, with nearly all of them being unveiled at the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi. New model releases from the top three manufacturers will include Tata's much awaited 'One lakh car' concept (almost production ready), new compact car Indica, mid-sized car Indigo and the Sumo multi-utility vehicle.
Reliance Industries, Tata Chemicals, Bharti Enterprises' Fieldfresh and Indian Oil are among several large companies that have evinced interest in leasing closed sugar mills that the Bihar government is offering, mainly to exploit opportunities to make ethanol to meet mandatory petrol blending norms that were introduced this year.
The Tata-Fiat combine's plant at Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, may see huge capacity additions as new models line up to go under production at the site.
The country's second-largest commercial vehicle maker, Ashok Leyland is pitching for an aggressive drive through the bus segment as work on newer projects for the segment picks up pace at the company's research centre.
Last week, when Harish Bhasin, the Delhi-based stock broker, made an open offer for DCM Shriram Industries Ltd, he was back in news after almost 25 years.
Taking a cue from heavyweights such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi, Ford Motor Company-owned Volvo Car India may use the parents' India facility in Chennai to manufacture and assemble some of its products, reducing their prices substantially.
On the sidelines of the opening of its Mumbai showroom, Deesch Papke, managing director, Porsche Middle East and Africa, spoke about the company's India plans to Business Standard.
The deal size ranges from $200 million to $300 million. The 27-year-old S P Metal Forgings has been a large exporter to Europe, the UK and Israel for over three years. It provides parts for BMW, Peugeot and Renault and also services the after-market and non-automotive companies.
US automobile manufacturer Ford is studying the feasibility of launching a compact car in India that will be imported as a completely-knocked-down kit from a manufacturing hub in Thailand.
Cars from Infiniti are priced in the range of $34,000-$52,000 (Rs 16 lakh to Rs 21 lakh) in the US market.
Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen stitch plans for country-specific mall car models. With India increasingly becoming the production and sales hub for all major car manufacturers, international giants like Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen are pulling out their drawing boards for an all-new India-specific car model.
Germany's Daimler AG, known for its luxury cars and high-end commercial vehicles, has pulled out of the race to acquire a strategic stake in the Delhi-based commercial vehicles maker Eicher Motors.
Hyundai Motors India hopes to export over 250,000 cars next year from India, twice this year's number. Yet, Managing Director H S Lheem said this performance will not be without its problems. In fact, ebullient exports may end up denting the company's bottom line.
Cement shipments from Pakistan will hit the Indian markets by the end of the month at prices that are up to a third lower than domestic prices.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMI) and Yamaha Motor India (YMI) are building motorcycles and scooters to suit the Indian market. The models will be manufactured at the company's research and development centres in Japan and will use new platforms.
According to the Auto Component Manufacturers Association, the apex body of component makers in India, global sourcing of components from the country will double from $2.95 billion to $5.9 billion in 2008-09, and is slated to hit $20 billion in seven years.
Eicher had announced in July this year that it was interested in an alliance or a strategic partnership to become a full-range commercial vehicle player. It currently makes light and medium trucks. MIL makes only heavy trucks.
Organised retail in India's rural hinterland is a very different ball game from what it is in urban centres.
The MEP has been raised from $225 a tonne in May to $495 a tonne in October. Despite this, domestic onion prices have risen sharply. They are currently available at Rs 24 -28 per kg at the retail level, compared with Rs 8-10 a kg in May.
Rapid growth in the automobile industry has seen the market share of fake spare parts more than treble from 12 per cent to as much as 37 to 47 per cent in the past seven years.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances