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06 February, 2012 The country’s largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki will launch more diesel models to maintain its market share, which has been under pressure for months now, a top company executive has said.
“Our market share has slipped to 40 per cent in 2011. This was due to slowdown in the industry and lower sales of petrol models compared to diesel car production,” Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and Chief Executive Shinzo Nakanishi said here.
The company will now focus on producing more diesel models. The company will be able to produce 300,000 diesel engines a year through Suzuki Powertrain, a joint venture between Maruti and Suzuki Motor’s Gurgaon unit.
Maruti will also buy up to 100,000 diesel engines annually for three years from Fiat India under a pact between the Italian car-maker and Maruti’s parent Suzuki Motor Corp. This is expected to help the company produce more diesel cars, Nakanishi said.
Customer preference here is fast shifting to diesel cars as the fuel is cheaper than petrol. The shift has prompted auto-makers to introduce new diesel variants and increase production of existing variants. Players like Ford have also announced plans to invest on diesel engines.
Maruti’s Swift, Ritz, Swift DZire and SX4 models are sold with 1.3-litre diesel engines.
Meanwhile, Maruti has witnessed a turnaround in monthly sales after seven consecutive months of decline with a 5.18 per cent spike in sales to 1,15,433 units in January. It sold 1,09,743 units in the same month last year. Last December, its sales had declined by 7.1 per cent to 92,161 units.
"Following the turnaround in the auto industry, our first target will be to quickly cover growth of 10-11 per cent as we have had a negative growth of 17 per cent during the April-December, 2011, period," Nakanishi said.
Commenting on the Gujarat plant, Nakanishi said, "We have entered into an agreement for land at Mehsana, in Gujarat. The Gujarat plant will commence production only after we reach full capacity at our Manesar plant (1.8 million).

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03 May, 2011 After rolling out five compressed natural gas (CNG) models last year, India’s largest passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), is mulling a CNG platform for all its makes.
Speaking at the sidelines of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ conference here, Alok Jaitley, general manager, homologation-environment planning, MSIL, said: “We are working on CNG models. We have already launched five vehicles on this platform and eventually plan to offer all our models on a CNG platform.”
Maruti has 11 models in the market, excluding its two completely built units, the Grand Vitara sports utility vehicle and the Kizashi sedan.
MSIL introduced CNG-driven variants of its Alto, WagonR and Estilo small cars, the multi-utility Eeco and the SX4 sedan last July. Already, the CNG variants comprise nearly 10 per cent of the net sales of these models, which are available only in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Jaitely said. The company plans to offer the CNG variants in other states as the network of CNG stations expand. At present, the gas network covers not more than 28 per cent of the overall vehicles market.
“Gujarat is one of the major markets for our CNG vehicles,” said I V Rao, managing executive officer-engineering, MSIL, adding that Delhi was the largest market for CNG as of now. The cost of operating a CNG vehicle is almost a third of a petrol car. CNG costs Rs 29.30 per kg, as compared to Rs 62 a litre for petrol and Rs 40 a litre for diesel.

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29 December, 2010 Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra has said it will raise the prices of its vehicles across all segments in January due to increase in commodity rates.
“There will definitely be a price increase in January and we are finalising it at present... It will be across all categories,” M&M senior vice-president (Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Sector) Arun Malhotra said in New Delhi.
He, however, did not comment on how much could be the price increase on the company’s models. The prices of raw materials, especially rubber and steel, have gone up extensively in recent times, he added. Mahindra today showcased its latest utility vehicle ’Thar“ in the National Capital, which is available for Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The company will launch a new pick-up truck above 1.2-tonnage carriage capacity within the first six months of the next year.
Major car makers such as Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India and General Motors have announced their plans to increase prices of its passenger vehicle models from January. Volkswagen had said it would increase the prices of its small car Polo by over 2.9 per cent with effect from January 1, 2011.

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Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., together with AUTECH Japan and Nissan Motorsports International Co. Ltd. (NISMO) will present nine exciting and innnovative models equipped with the latest custom and aftermarket parts at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2011 with NAPAC (Japan Car Parts and Aftermarket Promotion Association). It will be held January 14-16, 2011 at Makuhari Messe.

Nissan will recreate the exciting atmosphere of its participation in the SUPER GT domestic racing series with a display of a race vehicle, transporter and hospitality cars, along with “pit stop” tire changing demonstrations, Also on display will be the 100% electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF Aero Style Concept and Nissan’s range of standard road cars stylized with the latest genuine aero body kits that complement the vehicles’ pure forms.

Autech will showcase its expertise in custom cars with three fun, relaxing models, including “Elgrand Rider” concept. NISMO will be presenting its new production race car, the Nissan NISMO GT-R RC, which will be officially announced at the Salon, and the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R racecar that competed in the 2010 SUPER GT series.

Highlights of the exhibit include:

NISSAN Area
• Nissan LEAF Aero Style Concept
Equipped with an aero body kit that accentuates Nissan LEAF’s distinctive silhouette and character lines, this concept car expresses an image of futuristic sport EV driving.

• JUKE Sporty Package (Reference exhibit)
With its dealer-installed option enhancing JUKE’s strong, dynamic feel, this custom car is equipped with exterior accessories designed for the European and North American markets. The car includes chrome parts and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

AUTECH Area
• Elgrand Rider Premium Concept (Reference exhibit)
Seeking the ultimate level of “mobility space,”‘ the engine, body and suspension are specifically tuned up for a higher level of driving performance. The genuine leather seats are configured in two rows, accommodating four people, and feature a quilted design. Based on the Elgrand Rider, the Premium Concept also features a cabinet with indirect lightning for the ground below and a cool/warm storage box. The custom exterior items such as a smoke-plated front mask, 19-inch wheels and tires and a front protector accentuate the uniqueness of this car.

• Serena Rider
Based on Serena, this custom car adopts punchy aeroform coating and an emblematic front grille design, which are features of the Rider Series of custom cars. Black-themed special seat materials and silver carbon-style instrument shift finisher enhance its sportiness.
With the front protector* installed in the display model, its unique styling is emphasized.

• March Bolero
This March-based model has an elegantly coordinated interior and exterior. For the exterior, the front grille, which has been characteristics of previous generation models, features a plated mesh design, while its interior is highlighted by wine-colored, horizontal-striped seat materials delivering a distinguished atmosphere.

* Special front protector for the Rider series, to be scheduled to go on sale in January, 2011, for Elgrand and Serena.

NISMO Area
• Nissan NISMO GT-R RC**
Based on the iconic Nissan GT-R, which offers the world’s highest level of performance as a road going car, the NISMO GT-R RC was specially developed for circuit driving. It features a slick tire-compatible suspension, lightweight components and special safety equipment and devices – including a welded roll cage that meets the FIA standard, a 120-liter safety fuel tank made by ATL and air jacks. It is able to compete in various production races held around the world. This car will be officially released at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
** RC=Racing Competition

• NISMO Version FAIRLADY Z
This model builds on the Fairlady Z’s high level of driving performance with added fun and sporty functionality. Along with engine output that is increased to 261kW(355PS), a higher level of sporty handling is realized through special body and suspension tuning and modification of the power steering characteristics. For the exterior, excellent aerodynamic performance is achieved through use of special body components providing greater downforce and reduced air resistance.

• Elgrand S-tune
This model is equipped with NISMO S-tune kit for exhilarating driving on the street, and genuine optional parts for enhanced comfort and sportiness.

• MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
This car, campaigned in the 2010 SUPER GT season took the pole position in Round 5 in Sugo and finished in second place in Round 4 in Sepang and Round 6 in Suzuka.

NISMO will also have a “Kids & Ladies Ride Event,” where participants can experience what it’s like to be inside a racing car, and the “Pitwork Simulation,” where NISMO mechanics will be demonstrating racing tire changes and other techniques.

NISSAN/NISMO Collection Booth
Official Nissan merchandise, including Nissan LEAF, Nissan GT-R and NISMO motorsports products, will be available at the Nissan/NISMO booth.

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Due to raise in commodity rates Auto-maker Mahindra & Mahindra recently reveal that it will increase the prices of its products across all categories in January.
 
From next year main car makers such as Hyundai Motor India and General Motors had also declared to raise the prices to offset the pressure from raw materials, including natural rubber.
 
"There will definitely be a price increase in January and we are finalizing it at present... It will be across all categories (passenger and commercial vehicles)," Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) senior vice-president (Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Sector) Arun Malhotra told reporters in New Delhi.
 
Previously, one more auto-maker Tata Motors was understood to have decided to increase prices of its passenger vehicle models, except Nano and Aria, by up to 1.5 per cent from January. On the other hand Volkswagen had said it would increase the prices of its small car Polo by over 2.9 per cent with effect from January 1, 2011.

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Mahindra & Mahindra recently reported that it will raise the prices of its products across all categories in January due to increase in commodity rates.

“There will definitely be a price increase in January and we are finalising it at present… It will be across all categories (passenger and commercial vehicles),” Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) senior vice-president (Sales and Customer Care, Automotive Sector) Arun Malhotra said.

He declined to specify to how much it could increase the price of its vehicles.

The prices of all raw materials, especially rubber and steel components, have gone up in recent times, he added.

Malhotra said the company will introduce a new pick-up truck above 1.2-tonnage carriage capacity within the first six months of the next year.

Mahindra Thar Pictures:

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