French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen will put up a 4,000 crore rupee car plant at a site near Sriperumpudur in Tamil Nadu, Times of India has reported. Sriperumpudur is where Hyundai manufactures the i10 for every country in the world. Situated on the outskirts of Chennai, it is also known for the FIA approved MMSC (Madras Motor Sports Club) race track functioning since the late 80s.
This is the first major investment in the state after the state elections where the AIADMK swept out the DMK party and came to power. Peugeot officials were at the Chief Minister’s office yesterday to explain their plans and the course of action.
Peugeot follows other auto manufacturers like Ashok Leyland, Hyundai, BMW, Ford, Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi and Royal Enfield into Chennai known as the Detroit of Asia.
Peugeot will roll out 300,000 cars per annum and a good share of volume will go to Europe and other emerging markets. The models Peugeot will manufacture here is not yet understood but chances are they could start their chapter with the 3009 MPV and 508 sedan.
Peugeot will provide employment to 20,000 people at the facility. PSA Peugeot is the world’s sixth largest car manufacturer and Europe’s second largest.
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Toyota introduced the Qualis more than ten years ago and despite its bread box inspired design, there was a fun club that formed immediately upon its launch. The Toyota badge rocketed this product past all expectations.
The Qualis paved the way to cars like Corolla, Innova and Etios which enjoy a good image in India. The Qualis proved to be the best first car even if it was built on an old platform and designed using rulers and chalk.
Once the Innova was available TKM didn’t hesitate to discontinue the Qualis and introduce the Innova. They exited the Qualis segment and entered a segment immediately above.
With good (or better) looks, acres of space and tank-like reliability, the Innova established the best possible image in the premium MPV segment, but manufacturers are making a beeline to occupy the lower end of this segment once dominated by the Qualis.
The Maruti R3, GM’s refreshed Tavera, Wuling vans and a refreshed Bolero (the current bestseller) are some candidates who wait behind the curtains ready to rock the stage. Has Toyota watched the action in this space?
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Shoeb R Kalania used a powerful magnifying glass to spot differences in the new 7 Series ready for an unveiling during end 2011.
The mildly improved 7 Series could be assembled in India for an Auto Expo introduction. Last year BMW India told IAB that CKD operation for the 7 Series is “common sense” as they look to assemble as many new cars as possible. The new generation X3 (code – F25) will be newest to join that list when it is introduced in the next few months.
The 2012 7 Series will receive a new front bumper, LED indicator lights on the wing mirrors and a new LED cluster on the corner of the headlight. Likewise the tail light will be redesigned along with a new rear bumper, completing revisions at the rear.
In India the 7 Series is available in lengthened wheelbase form (14cm longer) with six- and eight-cylinder petrol engines. BMW India sold 23 units in May 2011, 32 units in April and 60 units in March of the 7 Series. For a car that costs about one crore rupees, sales performance is brisk.
Under-hood machinery on the new 7er will be tweaked for better efficiency and added performance. The six-speed automatic transmission will be replaced a new ZF-sourced eight-speed box, World Car Fans has reported. BMW India has also made the Security edition available to Indian customers and the cosmetic refreshment will apply to that variant as well though that will continue through the CBU channel.
The next generation Camry scheduled for a fall debut in North America will arrive in India in mid-2012 according to a Toyota official with direct knowledge on the matter. The D-segment market is inviting all players to participate. Hyundai i45, Ford Mondeo and perhaps a locally made Teana are making preparations before departing to India.
The Superb is the current bestseller and we see Volkswagen go to great lengths to promote the Passat Bluemotion though only a few hundred units are there for the taking. But Toyota is not willing to do two things at once.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor official to Indian Autos Blog -
We are not going to be very aggressive in premium segment as of now strategically as unless you produce cars in India they are not competitive. Our focus as of now is to establish Etios brand and make a good, respectable position in B Segment. We don’t do two things together. The next two years, 2011, 2012, will be dedicated on Etios. We will continue to import when the new model comes in. When the model changes we cannot import the old Camry. We will start getting new Camry from second quarter of next year. If we place the order in April, we will get it (in India) in the middle of 2012.
The Toyota official’s remark confirms that there are no plans to assemble the Camry in India and hence prices will not fall. It will hang on to the CBU route.
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Is the Hyundai Verna the new benchmark in the B+ segment? The Hyundai “Fluidic” as it is colloquially referred, has set the B+ arena alight with bookings surpassing 20k. Hyundai pumped in a vast sum of money in the Verna project with expensive teaser campaigns aired during this year’s IPL cricket tournament. To keep abreast with the demand, Hyundai is working overtime to ramp up production at the Chennai factory.
A call to the local dealer gives a rough about the situation. The 1.6 MT diesel is a hot seller. Customers come in large numbers to dealerships wanting a “Hyundai Fluidic.” They end up driving out grey, black and white Vernas. Customers are spoilt for choice as Hyundai offers manual and automatic along with four engines. There’s a car for every type of customer.
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Brazilian blogs are carrying images of the Toyota Fortuner facelift that will be introduced in certain parts of South East Asia this year. The Fortuner facelift might not come to India in 2011 as TKM is still in discussion with TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation) on the Indian launch date.
TMC launches products in a phased manner, they will go from one country to another with this new model starting with Indonesia or Thailand.
The Fortuner is witnessing the same kind of demand even two years after its introduction. The Indian subsidiary can afford to take its time in deciding when to introduce the new model. Changes will be cosmetic with no major feature addition. We hope to see the Fortuner facelift during the first quarter of 2012.
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As we move away from the Tata Safari Merlin, we’re having to discuss a competitor car brought to put an end to its act. Enter Force One.
No, we are not going to say that the SUV market will be under the reign of Force Motors next year. That’s being silly. Over the next ten years if Force can mimic the journey of the Scorpio, there is a good chance of them catching up with the two Indian UV manufacturers.
There are only two real SUVs for around ten lakh rupees today – Safari and Scorpio. They have had the playing field to their own but their refinement and reliability have been topics of hot debates.
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Remember the proposed Tata Safari Merlin? Apparently, it’s still making an effort to reach showrooms, as spy shots of the macho SUV, making its own roads have been sent by our reader Suraj Vibhute.
Suraj spotted the Merlin near Nigdi, Pune draped in camouflage. The camou doesn’t obscure the silhouette of the new Safari that stays true to the original. Tata is deciding if the Merlin has to replace the existing car or sit above it.
Sources tell Indian Autos Blog unplanned sets of revisions delayed the Merlin’s introduction. Believe it or not, at the moment it looks like we won’t see it till the Auto Expo next year. We can confirm that the Merlin will use a part of the Aria’s platform and a completely new skin. Tata Motors put this new Safari through a re-skinning operation early in its development and the front-end is redesigned with new grill and headlamps.
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French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen will put up a 4,000 crore rupee car plant at a site near Sriperumpudur in Tamil Nadu, Times of India has reported. Sriperumpudur is where Hyundai manufactures the i10 for every country in the world. Situated on the outskirts of Chennai, it is also known for the FIA approved MMSC (Madras Motor Sports Club) race track functioning since the late 80s.
