Entry posted on June 28, 2010 by
Shrawan Raja;
Read More on Tata
Tata Motors at an event to celebrate five lakh units sales of the renowned Ace mini truck said it plans to introduce the Venture in India during August.
The Tata Venture is passenger van based on the Super Ace’s platform and was displayed at the Auto Expo in January this year. The vehicle has flexible seating arrangement that can accommodating 5, 7 or 8 people. It uses a 1.4-liter diesel engine producing 70bhp, the same engine performing duty on the Indica and Indigo.
The Venture measures 3.9m in length, 1.5m in width and is 1.8m high. Two-tone beige interiors with roof-mounted blowers improve cabin comfort. Its power steering, power windows, reverse parking aid, keyless entry with engine immobilizer, and rear wipers will impress family MPV buyers. Safety is improved with the addition of collapsible steering system and side impact beams.
The Venture, as revealed by official of Tata Motors at the show, will be sold through passenger car as well as commercial vehicle dealer showrooms. The vehicle will compete against the likes of Maruti Eeco and Omni currently sitting pretty in this segment.
The biggest advantage the Venture has over its rivals is the much sought after diesel option. Will the Venture set the cat among the pigeons?
Hyundai will consider introducing next generation of i10 in diesel version. It is a desired option but there is no timeframe when will introduce the same. We have been overwhelmed by the huge response for our existing i10 model and the sales are growing. Unlike others, we want to bring in the latest technology even in our diesel versions. When we think, we will definitely make the difference.
HW Park, managing director and CEO of HMIL talking to Financial Express about the diesel i10 which everyone wants to buy.
The Dutch market will see the introduction of the Chevrolet Beat LPG next month. The LPG kit will be factory fitted and as expected it will be marginally more fuel efficient and environment friendly.
Italian supplier BRC will be responsible for manufacturing the the LPG kit. A power loss of 3hp will result if the vehicle is operated on LPG fuel.
The major difference is the kit if fitted to the 1.0-liter engine model, which isn’t offered in India. GM India has stated that the Beat LPG will be offered in 2010, but this will be only on the 1.2-liter engine.
Watch how close to 300 Tata Nanos are being transported using a goods carrier in Bangalore.
Note only some of vehicles are protected using dust sheets. Is there any discrimination among variants? Or has the dust sheet sailed away due to the wind?
IAB is in Chennai for the media drive event of the new Nissan Micra hatchback. IAB will bring you a full report of the event and a drive report of the Nissan Micra tomorrow.
As you all know, IAB has been following the Nissan Micra very closely ever since the design sketches of the car were revealed to the announcement of its launch date in India. We even have a separate category containing all the information related to the new Nissan Micra hatchback on IAB.
For more information regarding the new Nissan Micra hatchback, Click Here
The Hyundai Sonata (also known as the i40 and i45) has won the 2010 Australian International Design Awards in the Automotive and Transport category. This award is conferred to most innovative and best designs internationally.
The Hyundai ix35, which was also a finalist for the coveted award was awarded with a Design Mark. The reason for the two Hyundais doing so well in the Design awards is because of Hyundai’s new ‘Fluidic Scupture’ design direction.
Andre Hudson, Design Manager, Hyundai Design North America -
Fluidic Design is a Hyundai signature, a design language which will appear on future Hyundai volume models. It gives our range a unique and premium identity and defines Hyundai as a modern, progressive company. With i45, we wanted to deliver a strikingly modern shape, yet accommodate the wide variety of practical needs which sedan buyers require met.
This Design award is just one more feather in the new Hyundai Sonata’s cap as the new Sonata went off to a flying start setting sales records in many markets. The Hyundai Sonata with its upmarket looks and classy interiors poses a serious threat to global bestsellers Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is looking to export its cars to new markets such as Australia, South Africa and South America. This move comes on the back of shortening demand for Hyundai’s cars in Europe, due to the withdrawal of incentives such as the scrappage scheme and due to the prevalent economic slowdown in European regions.
The company foresees a 25-30 % dip in its exports to West European regions and thereby wants to negate the effects of this by increasing exports to newer markets and markets where there is a greater demand for its cars.
Arvind Saxena, Director, Marketing and Sales, Hyundai Motor India Limited to Business Line -
Overall we will just about manage to reach last year’s exports this year
The company’s hopes to reach last years export targets seem realistic since there is a great demand for its products in markets outside Europe and with the shifting of the i20′s international production to its plant in Turkey, it should be able to produce more number of cars of its other models for export markets.
General Motors India, along with its Chinese partners SAIC and Wuling, is developing a new range of LCVs for the Indian market. These low cost LCVs would be rolling out of GM India’s Halol plant by the end-2011. GM India would be investing 470 crore Rupees ($100 million) to produce these LCVs.
GM India’s new range of LCVs would be sold through a separate sales and distribution network and wouldn’t be distributed through the existing network for ‘Chevrolet’ badged passenger cars as the customers for GM’s LCVs would be entirely different form customers for the Chevrolets. Once the production of the LCVs begin, GM’s passenger car production would move to GM’s second plant at Talegaon.
Also the new range of commercial vehicles could get a new ‘Tavera’ badge. The Chevrolet Tavera is quite a popular name in the Indian market is a well known reliable cost-effective people mover and GM India using this name would cash in on the Tavera UV’s popularity.
Karl Slym, President, GM India
We will be investing $100 million in manufacturing LCVs in India next year. The investment needed in setting up a sales and distribution network would be separate. Together with new car launches and entry into LCVs, GM India sales should triple by 2012.
