Swaraj Baggonkar &Amp; T E Narasimhan

Stories by Swaraj Baggonkar &Amp; T E Narasimhan

Cities to bid famed cars adieu from tomorrow

Cities to bid famed cars adieu from tomorrow

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

New units of the iconic Maruti 800, Ford Ikon (1.3 petrol), Fiat Palio, Skoda Fabia (1.2 petrol) and Octavia (1.9 TDI engine), and Chevrolet Tavera (2.5 DI) of General Motors will no longer be sold in the 13 notified cities from Thursday, which constitute 40-50 per cent of total car sales in the country.

Global hotels home in on India

Global hotels home in on India

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2010

The skyline is getting crowded by the day--not only in the big cities but across the country. India is expected to double the number of branded hotel rooms from 100,000 now in just three years. Leading the pack are global hotel chains, which will add over 300 hotel properties (an estimated 55,000 rooms) in the country by 2013.

Nissan ropes in Ashok Leyland for small cars

Nissan ropes in Ashok Leyland for small cars

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2010

Although the broad contours of the proposed agreement with Ashok Leyland to build a range of small cars is yet to be outlined, Nissan's intention is clear counter Volkwagen's plans with Suzuki to target the compact car segment.

'We'll save up to Rs 50,000 per vehicle. . .'

'We'll save up to Rs 50,000 per vehicle. . .'

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2010

Chennai-based Ashok Leyland Ltd, the second largest truck maker in India, has inaugurated an integrated manufacturing facility at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. This unit, in which Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) have been invested, is the company's seventh.

Auto makers get ready for bumpy ride

Auto makers get ready for bumpy ride

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2010

Auto makers, who enjoyed a record-breaking sales run over recent months, are now bracing themselves for upheaval, led primarily by changing government policies and rising inflationary pressures.

Auto firms may skid on new fuel norms

Auto firms may skid on new fuel norms

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2010

As the April 1, 2010 deadline nears for introducing Bharat Stage-IV emission-compliant vehicles, manufacturers are worried about the availability of the BS-III fuel.

Hosur's rose exporters face wilting V- Day demand

Hosur's rose exporters face wilting V- Day demand

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2010

A prolonged cold spell in Europe and a rare conjunction of dates in China have combined to wilt the Valentine's Day hopes of rose cultivators in the Hosur region of Tamil Nadu. The two markets together account for 60 to 70 per cent of Hosur's supply, much of it crowded around Valentine's Day, on February 14.

Renault revs up for solo drive with 6-7 launches

Renault revs up for solo drive with 6-7 launches

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2010

The move comes after Renault's troubled five-year partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra failed to provide the French company with a platform to become a serious player in the country.

Tata Motors may reopen Nano bookings before Dec

Tata Motors may reopen Nano bookings before Dec

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2010

The company had got 100,000 bookings in the first phase.

Parikh's flat tax deflates diesel carmakers' plans

Parikh's flat tax deflates diesel carmakers' plans

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2010

Manufacturers that mainly sell diesel cars like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen anticipate a significant fall in sales if the government accepts the Parikh committee's recommendation of a flat tax of Rs 80,000 on diesel cars, because of a widening cost differential with petrol variants.

Flat tax will hurt diesel car makers' growth

Flat tax will hurt diesel car makers' growth

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2010

Manufacturers that mainly sell diesel cars like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen anticipate a significant fall in sales if the government accepts the Parikh committee's recommendation of a flat tax of Rs 80,000 on diesel cars, because of a widening cost differential with petrol variants.

Component shortage puts brakes on auto firms

Component shortage puts brakes on auto firms

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2010

The bad news is that the company has reported an output constraint at its plants because some component vendors were unable to keep pace with the faster production cycle.

Subhiksha stores to reopen as franchises

Subhiksha stores to reopen as franchises

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2010

Subhiksha Trading Services, the retail chain whose stores have been closed for more than a year for lack of money, is planning to reopen some through a franchise model, say sources.

5 million new jobs in Indian auto sector in 3 yrs

5 million new jobs in Indian auto sector in 3 yrs

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2010

This is the total of both, direct and indirect employment growth as a result of the expansion. Estimates put together by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) say this will be the extra added between now and 2012, to support the ever-increasing demand for new vehicles.

Auto makers say sedans make sense

Auto makers say sedans make sense

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2010

These companies are keen on having a presence in the segment below their current range of premium sedans, whose market is relatively smaller in size.

Nissan to enter used car business

Nissan to enter used car business

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2010

The manufacturing facility is being set up at Oragadam, near this city. The company has planned to set up 55 dealerships by 2012. So far, the company has appointed 23 and plans to add seven more by the end of this financial year.

Maruti's upgrades hit cost hurdle

Maruti's upgrades hit cost hurdle

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2010

Rise in prices of essential inputs increases cost of producing cars, making them less affordable.

'Stimulus withdrawal will drive up car prices'

'Stimulus withdrawal will drive up car prices'

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2010

Leading carmakers are considering raising prices of their vehicles across the board, if the government withdraws the excise duty benefit in the coming Budget.

China auto biz enters India

China auto biz enters India

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2010

Chinese auto component manufacturers are quietly making inroads into India.

'We will start production of small car by yearend'

'We will start production of small car by yearend'

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2010

Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the much-awaited small car that it developed for the Indian market at the Delhi Auto Expo.