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Category: Automotive

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.

  • Honda Will Continue To Offer The Previous Gen City Alongside The New-Gen Model

    Honda Will Continue To Offer The Previous Gen City Alongside The New-Gen Model

    The upcoming new-generation Honda City is all set to be launched in India in the coming weeks, and now we have information that the company will continue to sell the existing model alongside the new-gen Honda City. The previous-gen Honda City, is already BS6 compliant, which means the carmaker can continue to produce it in India, and by having both models, the company intends to offer a wider range of options for customers. It is the first time that the company will be adopting this strategy for a product in India. Now even though the existing model in the fourth generation of the Honda City in India, globally it is the sixth-gen model, and the same principle applies to the upcoming City as well.

    Speaking to us in the latest episode of Freewheeling with SVP, Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President & Director, Sales & Marketing, Honda Cars India said, “The current City, the fourth generation as we call it, is also BS6 certified, and we were selling the BS6 certified, current City before the lockdown happened. So, technically, we can keep producing it, and we intend to keep offering the fourth and the new fifth-generation City parallelly to offer a wider choice to the customers, across various price bands, and also, there has been a demand from various people. It happens with almost every generation of the City, as to ‘why do you need to discontinue this’. So, respecting the opinion, I think we intend to keep both the fourth and the fifth generation of the City together. So that customers depending on who likes what and what price point suits which customer, we have a great lot of options available to satisfy all our customers.”

    Now, this is not the first time that we have seen a carmaker simultaneously sell two different generations of a model in India. Maruti Suzuki has been selling the previous-gen Dzire for the fleet market, whereas, Hyundai India, too follows this strategy with the previous-gen Grand i10 and Xcent. So, when asked whether Honda too only plans to offer the lower variants of the older City to make to maintain a lower price point, Goel said, “I think City has been a car, which has been a highly desirable brand, and it has been kind of a benchmark, so to say. A car which everybody wants to drive in that segment and therefore most customers, of the City, in any generation have always preferred to own a kind of a loaded version. So, I do not, obviously intend to sell a bare version of the old City just to keep the price point low, that’s not the intent.”

    The current-generation Honda City is offered in seven variants and is powered by only a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine which is now BS6 compliant and is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard while a CVT automatic gearbox is optional. Rakesh Goel has confirmed that the car will continue to remain a petrol-only model, however, the new-generation City will be offered with both petrol and diesel engine options. While the petrol version of the new-gen Honda City will share its powertrain with the older model, the diesel version will get a new oil burner. Transmission options for the new Honda City are likely to include a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic transmission.

  • Vespa, Aprilia Reopen Dealerships Across Karnataka

    Vespa, Aprilia Reopen Dealerships Across Karnataka

    Piaggio India has re-opened its Vespa and Aprilia dealerships across Karnataka, in Bengaluru, Mysore, Belgaum, Mangalore, Bijapur, Davangere, Shimoga and Udupi to serve the brands’ customers. The dealerships have been opened in a staggered manner over the last few days, after receiving permission from local authorities. All the touchpoints across the 21 dealerships have been fully and partially operational with due health, safety and care measures. The showrooms and workshops are completely sanitized in accordance to the guidelines introduced by the company for maximum safety of the employees and customers. Additional health and safety guidelines and protocols are also being followed, including usage of Arogya Setu App.

    “We have been working together with our dealers in navigating through the new reality and the opening of dealerships is a key step in that direction. Keeping in mind the anxiety of our customers we had previously announced extension of original equipment warranty and free services which expires during the lockdown period, and our dealerships are prepared to address all vehicle sales and service requirements. We want to ensure that our customers face no hurdles during the purchase of a new vehicle and are able to avail services seamlessly,” said Diego Graffi, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio India.

    The dealerships are operating in a safe environment and teams at every dealership are following social distancing protocols including contactless greeting, wearing protective gear and using hand sanitisers while addressing sales and service needs of the customer. Customers can call and pre-book service appointment to avoid crowding at the dealership. Piaggio India has also resumed manufacturing operations at its Baramati plant for the supply of Vespa and Aprilia scooters.
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  • Current Generation Honda City to Continue with only the Petrol Engine

    Current Generation Honda City to Continue with only the Petrol Engine

    The fifth-generation Honda City was slated to debut in March this year but the unprecedented lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic has pushed the launch for the all-new model. The new-gen Honda City launch is just around the corner. In an interesting move, the fifth generation and the fourth generation (current) models will co-exist in the market. Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice President & Director, Sales & Marketing, Honda Cars India, confirmed the development on the latest episode of Freewheeling With SVP and said, “In the fourth generation, the BS6 is only available on the petrol, and that’s how we intend to keep it. ”

    Elaborating more on the same, Goel revealed that while the next-generation Honda City will be sold in both petrol and diesel engine options, the current model will get only the 1.5-liter BS6 petrol engine. The sedan was updated to the BS6 norms earlier this year and the move could see Honda take a dual approach to the compact sedan segment with a wider portfolio. The fourth-gen Honda City has been around for a while and continues to be a popular seller in the segment. It is likely that the model will get a more competitive price tag that will help take on the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the entry-level trims of the Hyundai Verna, Volkswagen Vento and the Toyota Yaris. Meanwhile, the 2020 Honda City will be a major overhaul over its predecessor and will see an all-new 1.5-liter petrol engine with more power, a revised diesel engine and a host of new features and goodies on offer.

    While there have been rumors that Honda plans to target the fleet segment with the sale of the current generation City in India, the same is yet to be confirmed by the automaker. Goel also did not reveal the variant break-up on the old City, but did say that the model will be sold in a fairly loaded guise, in-line with the premium benchmark that the City has set for itself over the last two decades across four generations.

    The move does beg the question if the new generation Honda City will see a premium price tag. The sedan made its debut in Thailand last year and looks extremely promising with an appreciable list of features. It’s also grown in proportions and is now wider and longer by a considerable margin. The new car also mimics the cabin from the new generation Jazz, which makes it a clutter-free yet feature-laden interior.

    With respect to the current model, the fourth generation Honda City gets all the essentials including the touchscreen infotainment system and even the HondaConnect app. Power comes from the BS6 compliant 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol motor that develops 117 bhp and 145 Nm of peak torque. The motor is paired with a 5-speed manual and a CVT automatic. It will be interesting to see if the current Honda City will be offered with a CVT once the new model arrives.

    In contrast, the all-new Honda City uses a revised 1.5-liter petrol engine that develops 119 bhp while peak torque remains the same at 145 Nm. Expect the transmission options to remain the same. The 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel, on the other hand, makes 99 bhp and 200 Nm, and is paired with a 6-speed manual.

    The new-generation Honda City is expected to debut in a few weeks and initial production will be restricted till the company chooses to scale things up, depending on the situation. More details will be available in the coming days.

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  • Kia Motors Resumes Production At Anantapur Facility

    Kia Motors Resumes Production At Anantapur Facility

    Kia Motors India has announced the resumption of production at its Anantapur manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The company is operating in a single shift at present and will resume full operations once the Coronavirus pandemic subsides. The Anantapur plant resumed operations on May 8, 2020 and has been catering to both domestic and export demand with the production of the Seltos and Carnival models. The automaker had temporarily suspended production on March 23, 2020, following the government’s decision to impose the nationwide lockdown. The company has received the necessary permissions from the Anantapur local municipal corporation.

    Commenting on restarting production, Kookhyun Shim, MD & CEO, Kia Motors India said, “These are unprecedented conditions and we are committed to adapting to the new norms of the world while we work towards normalcy. Our initial focus is to keep our employees motivated, retain a positive outlook, and deliver on our promises to our customers. Kia Motors India priorities are to clear pending orders for the best-selling Seltos and luxurious Carnival, and also to prepare the line for the eagerly anticipated compact SUV, Sonet. Our stakeholders, including suppliers and logistics partners, are all in-line with the current production and have assured us support in case we have to increase production volumes over the coming days.”

    Kia India is maintaining high health and hygiene standards. The company is conducting sanitization drives by spraying disinfectants on common computers, biometric systems, and in common areas. Social distancing is being followed in the canteen, team meeting areas, walkways, washrooms, meeting rooms, and more. The automaker is distributing masks and has made it mandatory to wear the same, while regular temperature checks and medical check-ups are being done before entering the facility. Kia is also following social distancing in company-run buses, while interstate and inter-district employees are not being called at the plant.

    Keeping up with the times during the lockdown, Kia India has commenced the online sale of its cars, while dealerships are following a detailed guideline with regards to the hygiene and distancing protocols. The South Korean auto giant has also announced several support initiatives for its dealer partners including improved cash flow and distribution of 50,000 masks. The automaker more recently also started the delivery of its vehicles at select locations.

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  • General Motors Instructs Mexican Suppliers To Prepare To Resume Operations

    General Motors Instructs Mexican Suppliers To Prepare To Resume Operations

    The president of General Motors Co’s Mexican unit advised suppliers to prepare to resume operations after the Mexican government said the automotive industry could exit the coronavirus lockdown before June 1 with adequate safety measures.

    “We are now beginning a new phase given the Mexican government’s official announcement earlier this week to consider the transportation manufacturing industry as essential for the country’s economy,” Francisco Garza, president of General Motors de Mexico, wrote in an email to suppliers dated on Friday that was viewed by Reuters.

    Noting the Mexican government is due to publish final safety rules on Monday, Garza added: “Once those final guidelines are known, we will be in a position to move swiftly to comply.”

    GM is tentatively planning to restart operations at its auto assembly plant in the Mexican city of Silao on Wednesday, according to a message to workers seen by Reuters on Sunday.

    Hundreds of workers at General Motors and other auto companies have gone back to work to make face shields, surgical masks and ventilators in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective gear and equipment.

    Workers at the plant in the central state of Guanajuato that has been idled for weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak had previously been told to plan to return to work on Monday.

    GM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The Mexican government’s announcement, made on Friday, means that automakers from as early as this week can begin reconnecting supply chains between Mexico and the rest of North America, which depends heavily on parts made south of the U.S. border.

    Senior U.S. politicians and auto companies had pressed the Mexican government to reopen factories.

    Some politicians are wary, however, of opening too fast. Mexico registered its first case of the coronavirus weeks after the United States and Canada and the toll of daily infections and deaths in the country reached new peaks over the past few days.

    Mexico has registered 49,219 cases of the coronavirus and 5,177 deaths.

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  • Subaru Says Full-Year Profit Rose 16%

    Subaru Says Full-Year Profit Rose 16%

    Subaru Corp on Monday posted a 15.7% rise in annual operating profit in the year that ended in March as it recovered from production delays and product recalls last year, but warned of uncertainties from the coronavirus outbreak this year.

    Profit was 210.3 billion yen ($1.96 billion) for the year just ended, up from 181.7 billion yen a year earlier under international financial reporting standards. It exceeded a consensus estimate of 204.7 billion yen profit drawn from 17 analysts polled by Refinitiv.

    Subaru declined to give an earnings forecast for the current business year, citing uncertainties about the longer-term impact of the coronavirus outbreak on its operations and sales.

    It saw a 3% rise in global vehicle sales in the year to March to 1.03 million units, bouncing back from last year, when a defective steering component and measures to improve inspection tests had stopped output for two weeks at its sole assembly plant in Japan.

    The issue stems from faulty airbags made by Japanese automotive parts company Takata.

    The automaker managed to grow sales for the year despite a 40% drop in global sales in March, when vehicle plants and car showrooms around the world began to close due to coronavirus lockdown measures ordered in many countries.

    The automaker resumed limited vehicle production at its plants in Japan and the United States on May 11 after weeks of closure.

    Though global automakers have begun to restart vehicle plants, anemic demand, supply chain disruptions and social distancing measures at factories are expected to limit output in the coming months.

    Some analysts believe industry-wide global auto sales could slump by a third this year and that any recovery will be slow and patchy as job losses and reduced incomes weigh on consumer spending.

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  • Yamaha Dealerships Restart Operations In Select States Of India

    Yamaha Dealerships Restart Operations In Select States Of India

    Like other two-wheeler manufacturers, Yamaha Motor India is slowly making its way towards the ‘new normal’ with its dealerships restarting operations in certain states of India. The company has a list of states and cities in which Yamaha dealerships have begun operations after the government relaxed rules and regulations for businesses in Orange and Green zones depending on COVID-19 spread. The company will be opening its dealerships in a phased manner and in compliance with lockdown 4.0 regulations. Plus, Yamaha insists on customers making a prior appointment with dealerships so as to maintain social distancing and hygiene guidelines issued by the government.

    Yamaha has also prepared a detailed action plan and guidelines for restarting operations in factories and area offices across the country. Yamaha will be prioritizing on fulfilling the existing orders of domestic and export customers as these were on hold since the beginning of the lockdown. India Yamaha Motor has a total installed production capacity of 17.5 lakh units, with the Surajpur plant in Greater Noida having capacity of 8.5 lakh unit production and the Chennai plant having a capacity of 9 lakh units per annum.

    Yamaha Motor India Group announced that its employees have joined the fight against the novel Coronavirus Pandemic by voluntarily donating a day’s salary from the month of April. The Yamaha Motor India Group employees donated a sum of ₹ 61.5 lakh. The employees include both white-collar and blue-collar and some trainees based at the three facilities in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh & Haryana along with the corporate office in Chennai and area offices across the country.

  • Nissan India Introduces New Finance Schemes And Pick-Up & Drop Service

    Nissan India Introduces New Finance Schemes And Pick-Up & Drop Service

    Nissan India has introduced a new car finance schemes and pick-up & drop service to ensure customers don’t need to come to visit dealerships and workshops and avoid physical contact. The Japanese carmaker has partnered with various financial institutions and is now offering a range of schemes offering paperless payment of car loans, special offers for women car loan applicants and professional based products for salaried, self-employed, Government & Public Sector Units (PSU) employees, police and the agriculture sector.

    Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director- Nissan Motor India, said, “With innovative financial schemes and initiatives including ease of financing and convenience in getting their car serviced, Nissan India will enrich the customer experience at each step, which is especially important in such challenging times.”

    The first of its kind finance and insurance scheme also include job Loss Protection’ on EMI’s covering loss of job and medical emergencies including Coronavirus, optional payment from January 2021 on select products and zero-mile car product has been introduced looking at the opportunities in the used car business. Nissan India also announced the launch of its new pick-up & drop service. It is offering an end-to-end hygienic pick-up & drop solution including a standard sanitization process for all frequent touchpoints in the vehicle such as door handles and gear lever. Drivers delivering the vehicles will also follow full hygiene regulations between the customer location and Nissan workshop. The complimentary pick-up & drop service is available in all major cities while customers in other locations can also avail of this service at a minimal charge.

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  • Harley-Davidson India Introduces Home Delivery Of Motorcycles

    Harley-Davidson India Introduces Home Delivery Of Motorcycles

    Harley-Davidson India has introduced home delivery of motorcycles during the months of April and May, along with extended service warranties and a completely online version of what the brand calls, the Harley-Davidson Passport To Freedom, the experience of riding a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Members of the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) from across India have also shot and made a film, which has been published online to share the spirit of camaraderie and stand strong with the extended Harley-Davidson family. Bikes whose product warranties are expiring during the lockdown will also get extended.

    “For an experiential brand like ours, it is critical to stay engaged with customers and enthusiasts continuously, keeping them hooked to the brand. We have introduced a number of initiatives to keep them motivated and look forward to riding,” said Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director – Asia Emerging Markets and India, Harley-Davidson.

    Harley-Davidson India is also offering an extension of warranty on its motorcycles

    The Harley-Davidson Home Delivery Program will help customers explore the range of Harley-Davidson models on the Harley-Davidson website, and then directly contact a dealer expert via the dealer locator to discuss the purchase and payment opportunities. Home deliveries of the motorcycles are free for a distance of up to 40 km from the dealership and chargeable for every extra kilometer.

    Harley owners whose product warranties are expiring during the lockdown period will get a 30-day extension. The brand will also provide a 60-day extension to customers who fall under the HDFS (Harley-Davidson Financial Services) planned maintenance program. The H-D contact center and Road-Side Assistance will continue to provide support services to all customers. Harley-Davidson India has also rolled out a completely online avatar of its popular program- ‘Passport to Freedom Online series’ in partnership with some notable names in motorcycling to talk about motorcycling at large and some of their Harley experiences. Harley-Davidson India has also pledged its support to PM Cares fund for fight against COVID-19.

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  • Aston Martin Posts Deep Loss As Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Sales

    Aston Martin Posts Deep Loss As Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Sales

    Aston Martin posted a first-quarter pretax loss of 119 million pounds ($146 million) after sales dropped by nearly a third due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the destocking of dealers, the carmaker said on Wednesday.

    “COVID-19 and the resulting global economic shutdown has had a material impact on our performance this quarter,” said Chief Executive Andy Palmer.

    The carmaker, which has seen core retail sales slump by an annual 31%, has furloughed staff, introduced additional safety measures and cut the pay of its senior management as part of measures to handle the crisis caused by the pandemic.

    Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who leads a consortium which took a stake in the company earlier this year, hopes to pursue a turnaround partly by sharing Formula One technology with the firm’s range of road cars.

    But the firm said on Wednesday the pandemic meant it could no longer provide full-year guidance.

    “Given the ongoing uncertainties, as is prudent, the company continues to review all future funding and refinancing options to increase liquidity,” it said.

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  • Tesla, California County Reach Deal To Reopen U.S. Plant Next Week

    Tesla, California County Reach Deal To Reopen U.S. Plant Next Week

    Tesla Inc and officials in California have resolved their acrimonious clash over safety procedures at the automaker’s sole U.S. assembly plant with a deal that allows production to resume as early as Monday, county officials said.

    The county said the automaker could take additional steps ahead of next week after Chief Executive Elon Musk had vowed to defy authorities, saying Monday he was resuming production despite the prohibition. On Tuesday, he also won the backing of President Donald Trump.

    In a tweet, Alameda County said that following talks with Tesla it agreed that the electric carmaker can take steps “in preparation for possible reopening as soon as next week.”

    Tesla did not immediately comment Wednesday but around the same time the county issued its statement, Musk tweeted: “Life should be lived.”

    Tesla’s sole U.S. electric vehicle assembly plant is in Fremont, California, which is in Alameda County.

    The county said it would work with the police in Fremont “to verify Tesla is adhering to physical distancing and that agreed-upon health and safety measures are in place for the safety of their workers as they prepare for full production.”

    Tesla and officials in California have resolved their acrimonious clash over safety procedures at the automaker’s sole U.S. assembly plant with a deal that allows production to resume as early as Monday, county officials said. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.

    On Monday, Musk said production was resuming in Fremont, defying an order to stay closed and saying if anyone had to be arrested, it should be him.

    On Tuesday, Musk won Trump’s backing. “California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!” Trump wrote on Twitter. The White House did not immediately comment on the announcement.

    Tesla fell 3.3% in afternoon trading to $782.43.

    California Attorney General Xavier Becerra told CNBC that “conversation is going on between Tesla and the county. But at the state level, we’re ready to enforce if we find that anyone is violating the state orders issued by the governor.”

    On Tuesday, employee parking lots at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California, were packed with cars. Trucks could be seen driving in and out of the factory grounds.

    At the Fremont factory’s outbound logistics parking lot, where only a dozen Tesla cars were parked last week, hundreds of Tesla vehicles were seen on Tuesday.

    The company had sued Alameda County challenging its decision that the plant should stay closed.

    A county health official on Friday said the county had asked all manufacturers, including Tesla, to delay operations by at least another week to monitor infection and hospitalization rates.

    Tesla on Saturday released a plan to keep workers returning to the factory safe.

    The measures, which include temperature screenings, the installation of barriers to separate work areas and protective equipment for workers, are similar to those set up by Detroit-based automakers General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler. Those automakers are set to resume at most U.S. auto plants starting Monday.

    Trump is eager for the U.S. economy to reopen and for Americans to return to work.

    Musk over the weekend threatened to leave California for Texas or Nevada over his factory’s closure. His move has highlighted the competition for jobs and ignited a rush to woo the billionaire executive by states that have reopened their economies more quickly in response to encouragement from Trump.

    Last month, Musk was on a call with Trump and other chief executives to discuss the reopening of the U.S. economy in which Musk said he wanted to be able to resume production by May 1 or earlier, a person briefed on the call confirmed. Details of the call were reported earlier by the Washington Post.

    Musk’s fight with local authorities has gotten the attention of those who scout sites for new factories and corporate offices, as well as economic development officials hungry for more jobs.

    Since the disagreement between Tesla and Alameda County gained national attention, officials from such states as Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Utah and Oklahoma have pitched Musk about considering their state. Analysts estimate it would take Tesla 12 to 18 months to move production.

    The Fremont factory employs more than 10,000 people, according to the automaker.

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  • Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot Decide To Withhold 2019 Dividend Payout

    Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot Decide To Withhold 2019 Dividend Payout

    The boards of automakers Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Peugeot S.A said on Wednesday it would not pay an ordinary dividend for 2019 this year due to a collapse in consumer demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The health crisis has thrown the global auto industry into the worst tailspin since the 2008-09 financial crisis. Consumer demand for vehicles has plummeted as governments across Europe and the United States have enforced lockdowns.

    Fiat has already finalized a plan in overnight talks with Renault, and the deal would be discussed at a meeting of Renault’s board on Monday.

    The two companies also confirmed that preparations for their merger are advancing with respect to antitrust and other regulatory filings.

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  • Toyota India Partially Resumes Retail And After-Sales Operations

    Toyota India Partially Resumes Retail And After-Sales Operations

    Toyota Kirloskar Motor today announced that it has partially resumed retail and service operations in India. It was towards the end of March 2020 that the company announced suspending production and retail activities, in accordance with the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Now, adhering to the advisory issued by the Central and State Governments, the company has re-opened 171 dealership outlets and 146 service outlets, across India. Toyota says that as per the government protocols, all dealerships will function with the prescribed percentage of the workforce, and they will practice stringent social distancing, ensuring the health and safety of all their staff.

    Commenting on the development, Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “While the lockdown was a necessary step to counter the virus spread and curb the consequences triggered by the pandemic, it is paramount to reignite confidence among customers, and stakeholders and boost their morale, during these difficult times. As we gradually recommence operations, we are ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our stakeholders while simultaneously safeguarding business continuity.” Toyota will continue to closely review the developments in each region and will take the necessary steps based on the situation.

    Last month, the company had also released a dealer restart manual as a guide for industries to follow post the lockdown withdrawal, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has come out with a similar measure for its dealerships. As per the guidelines, dealerships will maintain hygiene at all customer touchpoints, do regular sanitization and ensure minimized usage of air conditioners. The staff must always wear face masks and all visitors and employees must go through thermal checking before entering the facility. For sales operations product demonstration will see a change new disinfection process will be implemented before every demo, to assure customer safety. Masks and gloves will be provided during test drives and the company representative will be directed to sit in the rear seat while the customer drives, adhering to the rule of social distancing.

    The company understands that close to 75 percent of its suppliers have received a nod from the Government to recommence operations, while the remainders are expected to receive the necessary permission soon. Also, as of May 5, 2020, Toyota has begun preparatory operations at the plant to provide the workforce with an adequately safe environment to work in, duly prioritizing domains like spare parts supply. The operations at the TKM plant too will resume in a phased manner, keeping in mind the need for social distancing and thorough sanitization.

  • China’s April Passenger Car Retail Sales Down 5.6%

    China’s April Passenger Car Retail Sales Down 5.6%

    China’s passenger car retail sales in April fell 5.6% from a year earlier to 1.43 million, the China Passenger Car Association said on Monday, as the country gradually recovers from the coronavirus.

    China on Wednesday reported 52 new coronavirus deaths, the lowest figure in more than three weeks. The number of fresh coronavirus cases has declined in China, with multiple provinces reporting zero new infections in recent days.

    The association said during an online briefing that the overall passenger car sales trend is showing a quick recovery from the virus-induced low.

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  • Tesla Threatens To Move Operations Out Of California

    Tesla Threatens To Move Operations Out Of California

    Electric vehicle maker, Tesla, has threatened that it will move its operations out of the state of California, where 20,000 of its employees work. This has been a result of local health officials refusing permission to Tesla Motors to re-start operations amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that the company will file a lawsuit against the Alameda county immediately and will also move its headquarters and future programs out of California. Currently, Tesla is the only remaining car maker still having manufacturing operations in California

    In a series of Tweets Musk said,”Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately. The unelected & ignorant “Interim Health Officer” of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & just plain common sense!”

    In a related tweet he mentioned how the US states of Nevada and Texas could be chosen places for Tesla to shift operations. He said,”Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.

    In a blog post put up on the official website Tesla said,”Given the Governor’s recent guidance, which is supported by science and credible health data, the state and federal government’s classification of vehicle manufacturing as national critical infrastructure, and our robust safety plan, Tesla has started the process of resuming operations.” The statement also said that Alameda County is still insisting operations should not be resumed. “Unfortunately, the County Public Health Officer who is making these decisions has not returned our calls or emails.”, the statement added.

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