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Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Mercedes-Benz Inks Pact With DSEU For Mechatronics Programme

    Mercedes-Benz Inks Pact With DSEU For Mechatronics Programme

    Mercedes-Benz India will offer a one-year Advanced Diploma in Automotive Mechatronics and also extend apprenticeship and placement support to students of the Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU), the varsity said in a statement. The Delhi government-run university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mercedes-Benz India to offer the highly specialised course under the Auto Mechatronics Research Centre (AMRC) at the DSEU Okhla campus, according to the official statement.

    The course will nurture future automobile engineers and provide experiential learning, it added.

    At the MoU exchange ceremony, Shekhar Bhide, Vice President, Customer Services & Corporate Affairs, Mercedez-Benz India said, “The course curriculum will include training in electrical and electronics technology embedded systems, advanced automobile systems engineering which will assist a holistic development of students.”

    He emphasised that the trainers will also be benefitted from the course from capacity-building exercises.

    “Both students and trainers will attend guest lectures, go on field visits, and be encouraged to enrol for apprenticeship,” he added.

    It is understandable that in today”s day and age, students are most concerned about placement when they complete a course, and hence, Mercedes-Benz India with DSEU will extend placement support to all students, he said.

    The admissions to the course are expected to be announced next month, the statement said.

    DSEU Vice Chancellor Neharika Vohra said the faculty as well as its students will greatly benefit from the course and get insights of the field from an entirely new perspective.

    “Many students have a childhood dream to design and develop their own cars. However, this dream never comes true for many. Through this partnership, the university desires to provide a platform for students to achieve their dreams while also assisting them in becoming future entrepreneurs and leaders,” she said.

    The training will include a factory visit to Mercedes Benz Pune plant.

    The Advanced Diploma in Automotive Mechatronics (ADAM) course, an initiative by Mercedes-Benz India, will fulfil the requirement for superlative service in the automotive sector and train aspiring engineers on latest automotive technology using latest, world- class tools and equipment, the statement said.

  • Tata Motors Expects Strong Demand For The Tiago NRG From Tier 2 Cities and Small Towns

    Tata Motors Expects Strong Demand For The Tiago NRG From Tier 2 Cities and Small Towns

    The Tata Tiago has been a game-changer for the homegrown carmaker and has played a crucial role in the turnaround of the brand’s passenger vehicle business since its launch. In the past, the hatchback garnered a strong response from smaller towns and rural markets and same goes for the Tata Tiago NRG. The previous BS4 version of the crosshatch which was based on the pre-facelift Tiago accounted for 10 percent of Tiago’s overall sales in its brief period and was well accepted in rural markets, courtesy its rugged looks and better ground clearance that was an aid in tackling rough roads. And Tata Motors is now expecting the new 2021 Tata Tiago NRG to build up on that demand.

    The 2021 Tata Tiago NRG gets the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

    Vivek Srivatsa, Head of Marketing Passenger Cars – Tata Motors said, “We saw a spreadout demand both from the larger towns and smaller towns, where buyers preferred the Tiago NRG where the perception was that it can manage the roads better. So we see potential in that part of the geography as well. In the brief period it was alive, we saw a very good demand in the smaller towns and in the bigger towns as well. It has the ease of driving, fuel efficiency, and even the pricing of a hatch, and at the same time it gives the semblance of confidence to go into the place where another hatch might not go. We think it provides a very good mix of features and giving the marketing mind behind it, we think the product will grow and I am sure that other competitors will also follow.

    The Tiago NRG gets a muscular tailgate finish with black cladding, housing the Tiago and NRG logos, and offer 11 mm more ground clearance at 181 mm.Tata

    The 2021 Tata Tiago NRG has been launched in India with prices starting from ₹ 6.57 lakh (ex-showroom) and it is based on the new Tata Tiago facelift. It is a rugged looking crosshatch version of the Tiago with bold cladding all around and offers 11 mm more ground clearance at 181 mm, compared to 170 mm that the Tiago hatch offers. It is at par with the Tiago in the creature comforts department with features like the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harmon tuned JBL stereo among others. Under the hood as well, it gets the same 1.2-litre petrol motor that belts out 84 bhp and 113 Nm of peak torque. The engine is offered either with a five-speed manual or an AMT transmission.

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  • Hyundai To Take Stake In German Hydrogen Fuelling Group H2 Mobility

    Hyundai Motor will invest in Germany’s H2 Mobility network of hydrogen fuelling station operators, it said on Thursday, as it looks to support infrastructure for fuel cell-powered vehicles.

    A partner in the project since 2017, Hyundai Motor’s German subsidiary will become a seventh shareholder shortly, it said, having received approval from Germany’s cartel office.

    The South Korean company did not disclose financial details.

    It joins investors including France’s Total, Shell, OMV, industrial gas makers Linde and Air Liquide, and carmaker Daimler.

    “In Germany, a lot of money is flowing into the topic of hydrogen through the European Union Green Deal and national funding, and we believe that we are at the forefront,” said Ronald Grasman, vice president of fuel cell business development at Hyundai Motor Company.

    Hyundai, the biggest-selling Asian carmaker in Germany, had a 3.7% share of the market in January-July 2021 supplying a mix of conventional, electric and fuel-cell vehicles.

    Fuel cell cars are far from mass market production.

    But Hyundai, which is introducing fuel cell trucks in Switzerland, believes hydrogen technology could also play a bigger role in small vehicles further down the road.

    H2 Mobility operates 91 hydrogen filling stations and is expanding.

    H2 Mobility Managing Director Nikolas Iwan said the group was looking for anchor customers to bring big volumes to the stations, hoping this will allow them to reach break even within two to three years.

    “This is why Hyundai is so important. They have the lead when it comes to scaling effects, especially in the area of commercial vehicles,” he said.

    Hyundai, the biggest-selling Asian carmaker in Germany, had a 3.7% share of the market in January-July 2021 supplying a mix of conventional, electric and fuel-cell vehicles.

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  • E-Vehicles Exempted From Registration Certificate Fees

    E-Vehicles Exempted From Registration Certificate Fees

    The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday said it has issued a notification to exempt battery-operated vehicles from the payment of fees for issue or renewal of registration certificate.

    In a statement, the ministry said it has also exempted battery-operated vehicles from the payment of fees for the assignment of new registration marks.

    This has been notified to encourage e-mobility, it added.

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  • China’s Electric Vehicle Makers Report Strong July Sales

    China’s Electric Vehicle Makers Report Strong July Sales

    Electric vehicle sales at China’s Li Auto and Xpeng Inc more than tripled in July from a year ago, while they doubled at Nio Inc, helped by robust demand for new energy automobiles in the world’s biggest auto market.

    The rise in July deliveries comes at a time when electric car makers have been expanding manufacturing capacity in China, encouraged by the country’s policy of promoting greener vehicles.

    U.S.-listed shares of Xpeng surged as much as 8.9% to a near two-week high of $44.12, Li Auto rose as much as 6.1% to a one-month high of $35.44, while Nio gained as much as 4.7% at $46.78.

    Nio, Li Auto and Xpeng compete with U.S. electric car maker Tesla, which dominates the EV market in China.

    Nio, the maker of the ES8 and ES6 electric sport-utility vehicles, said it delivered a total of 7,931 vehicles in July, up 124.5% from a year earlier. Deliveries had more than quadrupled in July 2020.

    Xpeng, which makes the P7 sedan and G3 sport-utility vehicles, said its July deliveries jumped 228% to 8,040 vehicles.

    Li Auto, the producer of Li ONE SUVs, said it delivered 8,589 Li ONEs last month, an increase of about 251%.

    The strong sales numbers for the EV makers come as a global recovery in auto sales is being threatened by chip shortage that has forced automakers around the world to adjust assembly lines, cut productions and shutter factories.

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  • Tesla AutoPilot Stops Car After Driver Passes Out At The Wheel

    Tesla AutoPilot Stops Car After Driver Passes Out At The Wheel

    Tesla has been talking about its AutoPilot level 2 autonomous driving technology for years. It is also transitioning to Tesla Vision which will just use cameras and its computer vision algorithms. Now, its driver-assist system has done it again – this time around stopped the car after a drunk driver in Norway passed out on the wheel. The incident happened on July 30. Many motorists passed the Tesla Model S which was on the road when the driver was unconscious on the wheel. The car was followed and filmed while he had his head down for over a minute before AutoPilot kicked in and stopped the car itself. Many motorists stopped by the car who tried to wake up the driver but he was still unconscious.

    Then the police came to the scene and found that the 24-year-old driver was unconscious because he was drunk. The police also revealed that the driver denied driving.

    “At 0540; a Tesla stops in the tunnel. It turns out to be a man 24 years old who has fallen asleep behind the wheel. He is also drunk but stubbornly denies driving. Although there is a video of him from the car … Necessary samples have been taken,” the police said in a statement. Many times before drunk drivers have used AutoPilot as an excuse to avoid drunken driving charges by claiming the system was driving the car not them. Tesla needs the driver’s hands to be on the steering wheel to make sure they are conscious of the wheel.

    It has also cameras inside the car to make sure that the driver is paying attention to the road. It also sends out alerts to the driver and if the vehicle detects torque isn’t being applied to the wheel – but when alerts are repeatedly ignored it slows down the car makes it stop at the side of the road.

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  • Nissan Raises Earnings Outlook, Optimistic Chip Crunch Will Ease

    Nissan Raises Earnings Outlook, Optimistic Chip Crunch Will Ease

    Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co on Wednesday raised its earnings outlook for the year, helped by a weaker yen and favorable demand in the United States and China, after reporting a surprise first-quarter operating profit. The company also warned that a global shortage of semiconductor chips will significantly hurt sales volume in the July-September quarter, but added that demand for its newly launched, pricier models will mitigate the impact on profits.

    Nissan hopes to make up for production and sales losses during the latter half of the fiscal year ending March 2022 and expects semiconductor shortages to ease during that period, Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta told reporters.

    “Nobody has got a crystal ball. Nobody. But there are some assumptions,” he said, referring to an expected easing of the crisis, partly because a fire-hit Renesas Electronics chip plant in Japan is functioning again.

    Nissan, Japan’s No. 3 carmakers, maintained its global sales target of 4.4 million vehicles that it had set for the year in May.

    Nissan sold 1.048 million vehicles in April-June, up 63% from a year earlier, when global demand was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. It sold 378,000 vehicles in North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), up 70% from a year earlier, while sales in China totaled 352,000 vehicles, a 71% increase.

    Sales in the United States totaled 298,000 vehicles, up 68% from a year earlier.

    Chief Executive Makoto Uchida said Nissan will have to live with business uncertainties, including higher raw materials costs, for the remainder of the year.

    The auto industry has been grappling with a months-long shortage of semiconductor chips, which has forced them to cut production and delay car deliveries.

    Some companies such as Stellantis, owner of brands including Peugeot and Jeep, have said they expect the shortage to easily drag into next year.

    Some, though, like Taiwan chipmaker TSMC and Volkswagen said they are seeing some signs that the crunch is easing.

    Despite that, Nissan had a good start to the year, Gupta said, attributing the surprise first-quarter profit partly to the company efficiently managing supply chains and strategically using its chip stockpile, minimizing the impact of the shortage.

    Nissan reported an operating profit of 75.68 billion yen ($688.6 million) for the first quarter ended June 30. Analysts had expected a loss of 42.72 billion yen, according to Refinitive SmartEstimates.

    For the year ending March 2022, Nissan now expects an operating profit of 150 billion yen. In May, the company had forecast that it would break even in the period.

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  • Tesla Hikes Electric Car Prices In U.S.

    Tesla Hikes Electric Car Prices In U.S.

    Tesla Inc showed signs of divergent strategies in the world’s two biggest automotive markets, raising prices to boost profit margins in the United States while keeping prices steady in China and hoping to grow sales there. Tesla raised prices for the most affordable versions of Model 3 and Model Y about a dozen times this year in the United States, according to data tracked by Reuters. At the same time, Tesla recently introduced an affordable Model Y version in China, where it refrained from price hikes. Tesla posted record vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, and the price increases in North America boosted quarterly profits to a record.

    But in China, the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla faces competition from local rivals and problems that include product recalls, high-profile protests by consumers and pressure from regulators. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said introduction of the lower-priced Model Y in China “may make sustained margin improvement difficult” for Tesla and raises questions about “the health of Chinese demand.” A study by Bernstein analysts found Tesla owners in China were less enthusiastic and had lower repurchase intentions than owners in the United States and Europe.

    Tesla raised prices for Model Y Long Range at least six times in the United States this year, bumping by $5,500 to $53,990. In China, the world’s most valuable carmaker raised prices of the Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan only once this year. The Model Y version has a price tag of 276,000 yuan ($42,394). The company also has launched promotional campaigns in China such as loan offers.

    “I think Tesla is looking to be as competitive as it can be in China. Lower prices will be a part of that aggressive market positioning,” Roth Capital Partners analyst Craig Irwin said. “There is a very large difference in battery prices in the U.S. and China, as well as local vehicle manufacturing costs.”

    Tesla started production at its Shanghai factory in late 2019. It has boosted sourcing of cheaper local components, including batteries from China’s CATL and LG’s Chinese factory. “It wasn’t so long ago that the group was trimming prices in the U.S. to gain scale and maximize profitability, and it feels like we’re now seeing that in China too,” Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Nicholas Hyett said. The low cost of producing local EVs in China would have a lasting effect for Tesla, said Gene Munster at Loup Ventures.

    “Teslas are on average 3x the cost of a typical EV made in China so they have to be priced less than the U.S. to compete,” Munster said. “Prices of Teslas in China will be below (the) rest of the world for the next decade.” Tesla also cut costs and boosted margins in the U.S. market by getting rid of some parts like a radar sensor and lumbar support. Tesla shares closed up 0.3% on Wednesday after falling the previous session.

    In China, Tesla’s share slipped to 11% in the battery electric vehicle market, which excludes plug-in hybrid cars, in the second quarter from 18% a year earlier, according to GLJ research. But data from Morgan Stanley showed Tesla still held a U.S. battery-electric market share of nearly 70% as of February, although that was down from 81% a year earlier.

    China accounts for 44% of the global EV market, a much bigger share than the 17% held by the United States.

    In China, Tesla faces competition from electric vehicle makers like Nio Inc and Xpeng Inc. In the United States, Tesla’s brand is stronger and its main rivals are legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors, which generate only a fraction of their sales from EVs.

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reiterated that the company’s mission is to make electric cars affordable and has blamed vehicle price increases on a shortage of chips and raw materials.

    Tesla is coping with the chip shortage by using alternative chips and rewriting software, Musk said.

    He provided a cautious outlook for chip shortage. “It does seem like it’s getting better,” he said on the second-quarter earnings call, but added: “it’s hard to predict.”

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  • Toyota Extends Battery Warranty On Camry, Vellfire To 8 Years In India

    Toyota Extends Battery Warranty On Camry, Vellfire To 8 Years In India

    In line with its commitment to encourage the adoption of electrified vehicles, Toyota Kirloskar Motor today announced the extension of battery warranty for its Self-charging Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEVs) in India. Currently, the company offers only two cars with hybrid technology and that’s the Camry and the Vellfire. The warranty is extended from the existing three years or 100,000 kilometres to eight years or 160,000 kilometres (whichever comes first). Both cars sold with effect from August 1, 2021, will come with this warranty.

    Toyota was the first carmaker to bring hybrid electric vehicles to the Indian market with products such as the Prius and Camry. The Camry has been a very successful car for the company in India, so much so that the new model which was launched a couple of years ago, was brought to India in a hybrid-only avatar.

    V. Wiseline Sigamani, Associate General Manager (AGM), Sales and Strategic Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Hybrids can run 40% of the distance and 60% of the time as an electric vehicle with a petrol engine shut off, as proven in a study by iCAT, a Government testing agency. This gives hybrids tremendous fuel efficiency improvements of 35 to 50% and much lower carbon emissions. In India, over the years (cumulative), sale of Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles alone has resulted in CO2 emission reduction of over 18 million kilograms and fossil fuel savings of over 7.6 million litres.”

  • Bentley Develops 22-Inch Carbon Fibre Wheel For The Bentayga

    Bentley Develops 22-Inch Carbon Fibre Wheel For The Bentayga

    After years of development with leading composite suppliers, Bentley has announced a new carbon fiber wheel developed specifically for the Bentayga. The 22-inch carbon wheel, engineered with renowned specialists Bucci Composites, is to be the largest carbon wheel in production in the world and offers a vast range of benefits beyond the initial 6 kg improvement in unsprung mass per wheel.

    The new carbon wheel has been subjected to the exceptionally rigorous TUV (Technischer Uberwachungsverei – Technical Inspection Association) standards and is the first carbon wheel ever produced to pass all tests. The newly developed rim has undergone the most rigorous testing for non-metallic wheels according to the new TUV standards including biaxial stress testing, radial and lateral impact testing for simulating potholes and cobblestones, tire overpressure, and excessive torque tests exceeding the permitted limits.

    One of the most severe tests of the TUV requirements – the impact test – has shown how the carbon rim is extremely safe in addition to the performance benefits. After a severe impact that would crack or shatter an aluminum wheel, causing the tire to collapse explosively, the carbon fiber rim allows a slow tire deflation thanks to the intelligent layering of fiber weaves, allowing the vehicle to come to a controlled, safe stop. For the final sign-off stage, the wheel was put through its paces on one of the most famous tracks in the world – the Nurburgring Nordschleife and it passed that test with flying colors.

    The new wheel will be available to order from later this year

  • Hyundai Pitches For Import Duty Cut On Electric Vehicles

    Hyundai Pitches For Import Duty Cut On Electric Vehicles

    Any duty rate cut by the government on imported electric vehicles would be very beneficial as it would help automakers generate much-needed volumes and reach some viable scale, South Korean auto major Hyundai said on Tuesday. The automaker, which inaugurated its new corporate headquarters here, supported the demand of the American electric car major Tesla which has sought to lower of duties on imported EVs. Hyundai noted that support from the government in terms of taxation and the creation of country-wide charging infrastructure were the two most critical factors to grow the EV segment in India.

    “We have heard that Tesla is seeking some duty cuts on imports of CBUs. So, that would be very helpful for the OEMs to reach some economy of scale in this very price competitive segment,” Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO S S Kim told reporters here. Till the time companies are able to localize EV components and other infrastructure, EV imports could help generate some market in the country, he added.

    “It will take OEMs time to localize EVs by 100 pc. We are developing Made in India affordable mass-market EV but at the same time if the government allows some reduction in the duty on imported CBUs that would be very helpful for all of us to create some market demand and reach some scale,” Kim noted.

    At present, cars imported as completely built units (CBUs) attract customs duty ranging from 60 percent to 100 percent, depending on engine size and cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value less or above USD 40,000. Last week Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk had said that the company may set up a manufacturing unit in India if it first succeeds with imported vehicles in the country. He, however, said at present import duties in India are ”the highest in the world” and is hoping for ”at least a temporary tariff relief for electric vehicles”.

    Interacting on Twitter with followers who asked him to launch Tesla cars in India, Musk said, “We want to do so, but import duties are the highest in the world by far of any large country!” Musk further said, “Clean energy vehicles are treated the same as diesel or petrol, which does not seem entirely consistent with the climate goals of India.” He, however, said, “We are hopeful that there will be at least a temporary tariff relief for electric vehicles. That would be much appreciated.”

    Asked by a follower if Tesla could start with local assembly in India, Musk said, “If Tesla is able to succeed with imported vehicles, then a factory in India is quite likely.” Kim noted that the domestic market is ready for electric two- and three-wheelers but it may take some time before four-wheelers gain a foothold. “We need some more support from the government in terms of tax and some incentives. From our experience in various global markets, such as South Korea, China and some European countries, we know that in India there still remains the anxiety related to charging infrastructure and the pricing of EVs,” he stated.

    Range anxiety is a very serious matter from a customer viewpoint, he said. Kim noted that in order to make EVs affordable, the government can offer subsidies under the FAME scheme to private customers as well. He added that with government support the industry can reach some level of scale in two years.

    “If we have some meaningful support, even for the private customer, that would be very helpful. Also the tax reduction will be great for the customer. If the demand is there and the market is starting to grow, I think that in two years we can reach a meaningful point in terms of scale and from that point we can manage,” Kim noted. “Until we reach that point we need support from the government and that would be very critical for the segment,” he added. He said that the company can look at two options for rolling out EVs in India.

    “Either we can find some local partner here or we can bring some global partner here. When we entered India 25 years ago we brought 50 tier 1 vendors with us. Now they operate on a global basis from here. We want to set up this kind of ecosystem here. So we are studying various options,” Kim said.

    On developing charging infrastructure in the country, he noted that the company could take some measures but it would be very limited in scale. “Not only reduction in duties but more investment on charging infrastructure from the government would be critical for the future of EV market in the country. The customer is most concerned about the range and charging options. In this regard we need some very strong support from the government,” he added. On introducing the EV model Ioniq in the country, Kim said, “Ioniq is a great looking and performance vehicle. We are studying the feasibility of the model. If the market and the customer want that vehicle we can try to bring it.”

    The company currently sells only Kona Electric SUV in the country. It is said to be working to locally develop its second EV model which would be on the affordable side. On new corporate headquarters, Kim said the company has invested over Rs 1,000 crore on the project till date. “This new building stands as a symbol of the company”s journey of togetherness with the people of India,” he noted.

    When asked if the company would also consider Haryana to set up its next factory in the country, Kim said: “In the coming two years we have no issues in meeting the demand (from Chennai plant) so after that, if we need some more capacity we will work out some strategy at that time. Any place could be a good candidate but it would be based on things like procurement, supplier chain and availability of labor force etc.”

    The new corporate office, with a built-up area of over 28,000 square meters, was inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki India Managing director Kenichi Ayukawa, who is also the SIAM President currently, also attended the inauguration ceremony. Speaking at the occasion, the chief minister said the state government is providing all kinds of support to corporates willing to invest in the state.

    Hyundai Motor India Director (Sales, Marketing and Service) Tarun Garg noted that there has been a shift towards personal mobility due to the ongoing pandemic. “We are witnessing good traction right now…it seems that July this year probably the industry would be somewhere around July 2018 which is a positive sign. At the same time there are concerns like fuel prices, a third wave of COVID, there are issues regarding supply chain. There are still various challenges. So we are taking it month by month and let”s see how it goes,”he noted when asked about the demand scenario in the domestic market.

    Since its entry into Indian market in 1998, Hyundai has invested over Rs USD 4 billion in the country. From selling one model in 1998, it now sells 12 models in the country with a market share of 17 percent in the passenger vehicle segment.

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  • Tata Motors Sees Demand Recovering, Warns Of Short Term Impact Of Chip Shortage

    Tata Motors Sees Demand Recovering, Warns Of Short Term Impact Of Chip Shortage

    Tata Motors Ltd said on Monday it expects performance to improve from the second half of its current financial year, anticipating an easing of global supply constraints on rapid COVID-19 vaccinations.

    The company said demand remains strong for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and India passenger vehicles, with commercial vehicles seeing a gradual improvement. The semiconductor shortage, rising costs of raw materials and pandemic uncertainty will, however, have an impact in the short term, the company warned.

    The company said demand remains strong for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and India passenger vehicles, with commercial vehicles seeing a gradual improvement.

    Tata Motors reiterated that it expected the chip supply crunch in the second quarter to be greater than in the first, likely resulting in wholesale volumes at JLR to be about 50% lower than planned.

    The company also said it aimed to have near-zero automotive debt by fiscal 2024. The carmaker had last month raised $425 million through unsecured offshore bonds to refinance existing debt and meet expenses.

    Revenue for the first quarter jumped 108% to 655.35 billion rupees, as the pandemic – which hit sales across the luxury carmaker’s business a year earlier – has also fueled strong demand for personal vehicles.

    The semiconductor shortage, rising costs of raw materials and pandemic uncertainty will, however, have an impact in the short term, the company warned.

    Overall retail sales at JLR, which accounts for most of Tata Motors’ revenue, were up 68.1% from a year earlier. Wholesales were 30,000 units, or 27%, lower than planned due to the semiconductor shortage, the company said

    For the quarter ended June 30, the company logged a consolidated net loss of 44.51 billion rupees ($598.04 million), compared with a loss of 84.38 billion rupees a year earlier.

  • Volkswagen India Rolls Out New Brand Design And Logo Across Dealerships Ahead Of Taigun Launch

    Volkswagen India Rolls Out New Brand Design And Logo Across Dealerships Ahead Of Taigun Launch

    Volkswagen recently rolled out its new brand design and logo across the company’s 150 dealerships across the country. The new brand logo was first unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show and it was showcased in India for the first time at the 2020 Auto Expo. The company is using a phase-wise approach for implementing the new brand design and logo. The first phase will have 30 touchpoints get the same, while the remaining outlets will get the flat two-dimensional logo in the coming weeks.

    Commenting on the announcement, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India said, “The implementation of new brand design across our dealerships marks a new era for Volkswagen in India. By implementing the new brand design and logo, we aim to create a 360-degree customer experience, that is intriguing and contemporary across all channels and appeals to our customers.”

    Through the implementation of the new brand design, Volkswagen aims to make its dealerships more human, attractive and emotional, the company said in a statement. The brand will also provide behavioral training to its entire staff including the salesmen and service advisors to make them more customer-oriented. The automaker also introduced ‘Sarvottam 2.0’ to amp up its digital efforts and offer a more transparent purchase and ownership experience to customers

    The rollout comes right in time as Volkswagen India gears up to introduce the new Taigun compact SUV. The brand new offering that has been specifically designed for India is the first model from the automaker under the India 2.0 strategy. It follows in the footsteps of the Skoda Kushaq that’s based on the same MQB A0-IN platform and will be sold only with petrol engine options. We will be driving the Volkswagen Taigun very soon. So make sure to keep watching this space for all the action.

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  • Last Mile Mobility Solutions Firm eBikeGo Reports Rapid Revenue Growth

    Last Mile Mobility Solutions Firm eBikeGo Reports Rapid Revenue Growth

    One of India’s leading electric two-wheeler mobility platform, eBikeGo has reported rapid expansion during the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s revenue has grown from ₹ 15 lakh to ₹ 2.5 crore per month, while the electric two-wheeler fleet has growh from 300 scooters to 2,100 scooters, the company said in an announcement. eBikeGo has also expanded its workforce, and recruited over 70 professionals at leadership and managerial levels since the outbreak of the pandemic. The e-scooters of eBikeGo are currently operating in seven cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Pune, Indore and Bengaluru and has shown a vertical growth in all spheres of operation in all these cities.

    “As per the current demand in online delivery, we have expanded our capacity in terms of fleet and manpower during this pandemic. While we are building this up, we’re also planning on improving our infrastructure, technology and existing facilities to provide ultimate convenience to all networked professionals, trained riders, our key partners, and stakeholders. With the existing tie-ups and increase in the volumes of fleets, we are targeting to fulfill 10,000 electric scooters within next financial year,” said Irfan Khan, Founder & CEO of eBikeGo.

    Earlier this year, the electric vehicle logistics start-up had raised ₹ 10.91 crore in pre-Series A funding from a group of Indian and foreign investors. In 2020, the start-up raised its first funding of ₹ 5.09 crore through an angel round. The company intends to scale up operations across 30 cities by FY 2022. eBikeGo partners with franchise owners, NBFCs, and OEMs through asset leasing models, and commenced operations in 2019. The company is a micro-mobility platform for last-mile logistics in e-commerce, food delivery, groceries and urban mobility.

  • Electric cars fail to get charged up without policy support

    Electric cars fail to get charged up without policy support

    A lack of policies promoting battery production and building a charging station network is preventing the electric car market in Vietnam from hitting the road running.

    At the end of March, automaker VinFast began accepting pre-orders for its first electric cars. More than 4,000 orders were placed on the very first day.

    The company has requested several incentives for electric vehicle development, including scrapping special consumption tax and registration fees on electric cars for five years.

    Some brands have imported electric and hybrid vehicles into Vietnam earlier.

    In August last year, Toyota started selling its first hybrid cars in Vietnam with low fuel consumption, giving 100 km for 4.6 liters of fuel.

    Mitsubishi also distributed its i-MiEV cars in Vietnam in 2017 and installed charging stations in some localities. However, after 10 years of making efforts to distribute them to many different markets, the company has stopped manufacturing the vehicles now.

    Last year, around 1,000 electric and hybrid vehicles were sold in Vietnam, with the latter accounting for 99 percent. The figure for gas powered vehicles was over 296,000 units.

    The Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a recent report to the government that there has not been real support policy for electric cars.

    Apart from VinFast which is manufacturing the vehicles, foreign brands like Honda, Toyota and Mitsubishi have mostly been importing electric vehicles without any concrete plan to make them in Vietnam.

    Experts say that the lack of a systemic policy to support the industry concerning the manufacturing of battery, the development charging infrastructure, prices and emission.

    “Batteries need to have high durability and have quick charge function, while the charging station network should be widespread. These factors are what missing in Vietnam’s electric car industry,” said an expert in the auto industry who asked not be identified.

    VinFast is set to tackle these challenges with plans to set up over 2,000 charging stations nationwide by the end of this year.

    The industry ministry report said that prices for electric vehicles are not enticing enough compared to fuel vehicles.

    A 15 percent special consumption tax on electric cars, compared to 30-50 percent on fuel cars, is not enough to bring electric car prices down to an attractive level to customers, it said.

    Another challenge is electric vehicles will still be using coal-fired and oil-fired electricity which has high emission, as renewable energy is not stable and has high price tag, the it added.

    Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s legal department, proposed that cars be applied a special consumption tax based on how much carbon dioxide they release into the environment, which will help encourage people to switch to electric vehicles.

    Policies should focus on supporting Vietnamese companies to make electric vehicles, not foreign ones, he added.

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