Akio Toyoda takes over as new prez of Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corp, in its annual general meeting, has confirmed to its shareholders that Akio Toyoda (the grandson of founder Kiichiro Toyoda) has been appointed as its new president. The 53-year old Toyoda joined Toyota in 1984, becoming a board member in 2000 and was made an executive vice president in 2005, taking charge of Japanese sales and overseas operations.
For full story click here : Akio Toyoda takes over as new prez of Toyota Motor Corporation

Michael Jackson and his collection of cars

This Is It’ concert series was never to be for King of Pop, Michael Jackson and zillion of his fans. He Beat It, in true style of his most famed chart buster. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice with multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", 13 Grammy Awards

For full story click here : Michael Jackson and his collection of cars

Mitsui receives order from Nissan Motor India plant for inland transportation

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has announced that the company has received orders for inland transport and yard operation of completed cars for export from a new Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. plant in India. The contract includes transporting the cars to the export port and yard operations at the port such as storage.

For full story click here : Mitsui receives order from Nissan Motor India plant for inland transportation

Skoda Auto to showcase Yeti SUV at 2010 Auto Expo in India

The first Škoda Yeti SUV, which had recently rolled off the assembly line from its mother plant in Kvasiny in the Czech Republic, is also destined for the Indian market. Now sources who requested anonymity have revealed that the SUV will be displayed at the country’s biggest occasion for car enthusiasts and manufacturers - the 2010 Delhi Auto Expo.

For full story click here : Skoda Auto to showcase Yeti SUV at 2010 Auto Expo in India

Maruti A-Star launched as Suzuki Celerio in Saudi Arabia

Buoyed by the overwhelming success of its premium compact car Alto in Europe and domestic market (sold as A-star with Maruti), Japan-based Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) is now is continuously expanding the availability of Maruti Suzuki A-Star model in the international markets.

For full story click here : Maruti A-Star launched as Suzuki Celerio in Saudi Arabia

Yamaha India launches Racing Kit Parts from Daytona

Having revolutionized the biking scene in the country and fulfilling the racing aspirations of Indian bikers with tremendously successful models like YZF-R15 and FZ series, India Yamaha Motor is now instrumental in bringing in another international trend to the Indian market
For full story click here : Yamaha India launches Racing Kit Parts from Daytona

Toyota offers Gentex RCD Mirror on 2010 Tundra & Sequoia

Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, has announced that it is shipping auto-dimming rear-view mirrors with its Rear Camera Display (RCD) feature that will be available on the 2010 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia.

For full story click here : Toyota offers Gentex RCD Mirror on 2010 Tundra & Sequoia

J.D. Power Survey 2009 puts Daihatsu as most satisfying new vehicle in Germany

Daihatsu ranks highest among automotive brands in satisfying new-vehicle owners in Germany, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Germany Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (VOSS)SM released recently in cooperation with Auto Test.For the first time since the launch of the study in 2002, Daihatsu ranks highest with a score of 843 on a 1,000-point scale.
For full story click here : J.D. Power Survey 2009 puts Daihatsu as most satisfying new vehicle in Germany

CARE Research : Rural India is the next growth frontier for Indian two-wheeler industry

According to a research carried out by Credit Analysis & Research Ltd (CARE), the rural market is the next growth frontier for the Indian two-wheeler industry, as the urban market for two-wheelers is largely penetrated. The research has deciphered that the income levels of rural households are rapidly increasing and more and more villages and smaller towns are turning into attractive market for consumer products, including two-wheelers.
For full story click here : CARE Research : Rural India is the next growth frontier for Indian two-wheeler industry

Tata Nano allotment takes place, 100,000 owners chosen, deliveries in July'09

Tata Motors has announced that it has completed the process to select the first 100,000 owners of the Tata Nano from among the 2,06,703 final list of applicants who had booked the car. As announced at the launch on March 23, the first 100,000 owners were selected through a computerised random selection process. The company had said that the process would be completed within 60 days of the closure of booking on April 25, 2009.
The booking process had also given the option to applicants to indicate whether they would like to retain their booking amounts with the company, even if they do not get selected among the first 100,000 allottees, and await delivery of their cars after them. 67 per cent (137,867) applicants had chosen this option, from which a further 55,021 retainees have been made allotments. The booking amounts of the unsuccessful applicants, who had not exercised this option, are being returned.
For full story click here : Tata Nano allotment takes place, 100,000 owners chosen, deliveries in July'09

2009 edition of Bajaj Pulsar 220cc launched

Bajaj Auto has announced the launch of 2009 Pulsar 220 edition, which the company claims to be the fastest Indian bike with the top speed of 144 km/hr. The new bike gets the performance boost with a 32 venturi carburetor, the biggest ever used in India. In addition, the intake port in the cylinder head has been modified, along with higher lift and duration cam. A larger resonator and catalytic converter is also used to increase performance. With a phenomenal 21.04 Ps power, sporty styling, long feature-list and a price of approximately Rs. 70,000/- ex-showroom, it is a very compelling package for the performance bikers, who will find hard to resist this fastest Pulsar ever. The Bajaj Pulsar 220 will be manufactured at its Chakan facility near Pune in Maharashtra works with 4 color options to choose from.

For full story click here : 2009 edition of Bajaj Pulsar 220cc launched

US car brands make average 10 per cent improvement in 2009: J.D. Power Quality Survey

According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released recently, new vehicles sold by Chrysler, Ford and GM’s domestic brands have improved in initial quality by an average of 10 per cent, compared with 2008, surpassing the 8-per cent rate of improvement by the industry overall.
Overall, the industry average for initial quality is 108 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2009, down from 118 PP100 in 2008. Initial quality for domestic brands has improved to an average of 112 PP100 in 2009 from 124 PP100 in 2008. Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.
For full story click here : US car brands make average 10 per cent improvement in 2009: J.D. Power Quality Survey

TVS to roll out a refurbished version of Flame shortly

According to reports in the media, TVS Motors is gearing up to launch the refurbished version of its controversial Flame brand of motorcycles, with single spark engine in the near term. The new bike -- Flame SR 125 -- would be an advanced version of its existing model Flame, which has single spark CCVTi engine. It is to be mentioned that the Chennai-based company will omit the controversial twin-spark plug technology over which is involved in a two-year old legal tussle with rival Bajaj Auto Limited. It may be recalled that the Supreme Court of India had issued an interim order that allows TVS to continue rolling the Flame series but had restricted from marketing them. The order comes on the back of an interim stay from the Madras High Court that had in effect okayed TVS’ plans to manufacture Flame

For full story click here : TVS to roll out a refurbished version of Flame shortly

Bajaj Auto to roll out world's most fuel-efficient engine series by July'09

Bajaj Auto, on 23rd June, 2009, has announced that it is going to roll out the world’s most fuel efficient engine series, called DTS-Si version 2.0, which incorporates 5 major innovations to make it the most fuel efficient engine not only in India but also the world.
Designed and developed completely by ‘Ahead’, Bajaj Auto’s R&D, the technology has set new benchmarks and promises to revolutionalise the industry with World’s most fuel-efficient two-wheeler to be launched next month. Bajaj had first dramatically improved engine technology in 2003 when it launched the DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark-ignition) engine to achieve faster and more efficient combustion. In 2007, the core DTS-i engine was then further engineered and the DTS-Si engine launched to deliver exceptional mileage without compromising on performance.
For full story click here : Bajaj Auto to roll out world's most fuel-efficient engine series by July'09

Maruti Suzuki testing CNG-powered cars, first model by early- 2010

According to reports in the media, Maruti Suzuki India has revealed that they are now testing CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) editions of several of their cars, without disclosing any names of the models.
India’s largest passenger carmaker is keen to roll out factory-fitted CNG cars by next year, as they believe that be able to offer a better value to the end customer due to the economies of scale. It is widely believed that Maruti is now focusing on CNG-driven cars, as it is becoming a popular alternative fuel in the Indian market because it turns out to be much cheaper than both petrol and diesel. It is to be mentioned that the company has already introduced the LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) version of its 800 and Wagon R models. The company has begun talks with RIL and gas marketer GAIL on the availability of natural gas and the possibilities of more fuel stations. The Alto and the 800 could be the first CNG variants from Maruti – these are likely go on sale by early-2010, reports PTI.
For full story click here : Maruti Suzuki testing CNG-powered cars, first model by early- 2010