Mazda to recall over 42,000 cars to fix Takata air bag issue

China's quality watchdog announced over the weekend China FAW Car Co Ltd, a China venture of Mazda, was recalling 42,732 Mazda 6 sedans from July 20 due to an airbag problem. It said that the airbag in front passenger seat may fail to work and even lead to a fire in extreme cases.

China-based spokesman for Mazda Naoto Oikawa said the airbag in question were supplied by Takata.

It was not immediately clear if the latest move was part of Mazda's global recall involving nearly 1,60,000 cars announced on June 23.

Top Japanese car makers, including Toyota Motor Corp , have recalled over 10 million vehicles over the past five years in a series of recalls involving both passenger-side and driver-side air bags made by Takata.


Source: Auto News in Hindi

Mercedes is building the most expensive luxury sedan in the world

फैं्रकफर्ट। मर्सिडीज-बेंज दुनिया की सबसे महंगी सेडान पेश करने वाली है। इसमें सीटों की तीन कतारें होंगी और कीमत रॉल्स-रॉयस के टॉप मॉडल की लगभग दोगुनी।

मर्सिडीज-बेंज एस क्लास पुलमैन की बिक्री अगले साल से शुरू होगी। सबसे महंगी मानी जाने वाली मर्सिडीज-बेंज की लग्जरी सेडान लगभग 10 लाख डॉलर (करीब 6 करोड़ रुपए) की होगी।

Source: Automobile News

Ford India launches Fiesta at Rs 7.69 lakh

The updated version of Fiesta is available in three variants - Ambiente, Trend and Titanium - priced at Rs 7.69 lakh, Rs 8.50 lakh and Rs 9.29 lakh respectively.

All the variants are powered by 1.5 litre diesel engine, Ford said in a statement.
  
The company claimed the car delivers a fuel efficiency of 25.01 km/litre as per ARAI test.
  
Commenting on the launch, Ford India president Nigel Harris said Fiesta has a very special role in the company's product portfolio and the 2014 Fiesta with its attractive price makes it an "even more compelling option for discerning enthusiasts".
  
The new Fiesta is equipped with hands-free in-car technology to keep drivers safely connected while on the road.
  
Ford India's models hatchback Figo and compact SUV EcoSport have seen robust response in the market. The company had reported over two-fold increase in total sales at 12,288 units in May 2014. 

Source: Latest Automobile News

Tata Motors to launch models regularly till 2020 in India

The new vehicles will also cater to global markets and service various ‘attractive’ segments, he added.

He, however, did not share more details on the product launches.

The company is also working on various other measures such as enhancing quality of manufacturing facilities and improving customer buying and after sales experience, Yadav said.

As part of the strategy to reach out to its customers, Tata Motors on Friday unveiled a country-wide campaign to showcase its new 1.2 litre petrol engine that will power its soon-to-be -launched models Zest and Bolt.

"The Revotron 1.2 T will power our upcoming cars, the Zest and Bolt. To narrate this exciting story, we are engaging with our customers through various platforms," Yadav said.

The company will showcase the engine thorough Revotron Labs to customers across 15 cities. It plans to extend the campaign to digital platforms.

Tata Motors senior vice-president, programme planning and project management, Girish Wagh said the Revotron range of engines would be manufactured at the company's Pune plant.

"The engines from Revotron series would power the upcoming products from the company's stable," Wagh said.

When asked about the progress on the 800cc diesel engine, Wagh said, "The engine is still under development. Whether it will be used in Nano, is still to be decided."

He added that Nano with AMT version, which was showcased during Auto Expo, is likely to be launched next month.

Source: Auto News in Hindi

Honda launches its most affordable bike at Rs 41,100 in India

The company, which is in the process of setting up its fourth manufacturing facility in Gujarat, is also looking to invest another Rs 1,000 crore on various activities including capacity expansion in the current fiscal.
  
"The launch of CD 110 Dream completes our portfolio in the 100-110 cc segment. The bike which is going to be the most affordable bike to be launched by Honda in India, will help us cater to the basic sub-segment of 100-110 cc vertical," HMSI vice president (Sales & Marketing) Yadvinder S Guleria told reporters.
  
The launch of the new motorcycle would help the company sell 8 lakh units in the 100-110 cc segment in the current fiscal as against 7.3 lakh units sold in last financial year, he added.
  
The basic sub segment, in which CD 110 Dream has been launched, currently contributes around 23 percent to the overall 70 lakh units sold across the country annually in 100-110 cc segment.
  
"We are now fulfilling the utilitarian needs of 'rurban' customers with CD 110 Dream. We are confident that the bike will ride Honda into the hinterlands and multiply the success of existing Dream series motorcycles," Guleria said.
  
The company currently sells Dream Yuga, Dream Neo and CB Twister models in the 100-110 cc segment.
  
When asked about the company's investment plans for the current fiscal, Guleria said, "We invested Rs 5,200 crore last fiscal. This year we plan to invest another Rs 1,000 crore, taking the overall investment to Rs 6,200 crore by FY15-end".
  
He added that the company would take its production capacity to 58 lakh units per annum by the end of next fiscal, when the Gujarat plant comes upstream.
  
The company currently has three production facilities at Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan) and Narsapura (Karnataka) with annual capacity of 46 lakh units.
  
Besides, the company which has achieved 25 percent market share in the Indian two-wheeler category in the first quarter of the current fiscal, also launched a new corporate campaign.
  
"Honda is Honda (campaign) is more than just a campaign, it is the start of new era in India," HMSI President and CEO Keita Muramatsu said. 

Source: Automobile News

Toyota launches 'Etios Xclusive' priced up to Rs 7.10 lakh

Only 900 units of the 'Etios Xclusive' limited edition, which comes with both petrol and diesel engines, would be on sale, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) said in a statement.

The petrol variant of the model is priced at Rs 5.98 lakh while the diesel version of the car would retail at Rs 7.10 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
   
"As a part of Toyota's commitment towards the changing customer requirements, the new Etios Xclusive has been introduced to bring in freshness and exclusivity to the existing product," TKM Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing N Raja said.
   
Conceived and designed for the Indian market, the Etios series has so far sold over 2 lakh units in the country since its launch in 2010.
  
The Etios range is also sold across various other right hand drive markets like South Africa, Srilanka, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Nepal, Bhutan, Brazil and Argentina.

Source: Auto News in Hindi 

Nissan rolls out new Sunny; priced from Rs 7.29-10.22 lakh

Nissan had launched Sunny for the first time in the Indian market in 2011.

"India is a key strategic growth market for Nissan. We continue to monitor its evolution extremely closely to ensure our expanding product portfolio fits regional needs. The new Sunny is our answer that responds to the changing demands and desires," Nissan Motor Corporation chief planning officer Andy Palmer said.

Stating that the aspirations of Indian sedan customers have evolved since the time Sunny was launched in the country, Nissan India Operations President Kenichiro Yomura said the new model will strengthen Nissan's presence within this crucially important and growing segment.

The new Sunny comes in eight variants and six colour options.

Nissan had reported 48 per cent increase in sales at 4,362 units in the country in June this year as against 2,949 vehicles sold in the same period last year.

The newly launched brand Datsun GO contributed 1,097 units to the overall sales.

Source: Automobile News