Bajaj Auto has unveiled a focused organisational restructuring for the auto business. In view of the restructuring, managerial positions would be modified to ensure greater operational empowerment and effective management. This involves five pillars or five strategic units — R&D, Engineering, Two Wheeler Business Unit and Commercial Vehicles Business Unit & International Business Unit. The pillars will be supported by functions of finance, MIS, HR, business development and commercial. Pradeep Srivastava, who was VP-Engineering prior to restructuring, will now be President-Engineering. 

The company will now have three CEOs. S. Sridhar, currently, VP, marketing and sales (Two-Wheelers), will now head the Two Wheeler Business Unit as CEO with manufacturing operations at Waluj and Akurdi also reporting to him. RC Maheshwari has joined Bajaj Auto as CEO Commercial Vehicles. The company is in the process of identifying a CEO for its International Business. The three CEO's will be responsible for topline, business growth and profitability of their respective businesses. Abraham Joseph will continue to lead R&D. The transition would be completed by August 01, 2007.

For the first time in its history, Audi, a Volkswagen Group company, has sold half a million vehicles in the first half year, from January to June 2007. Over 509,000 vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide – up 9.8 per cent year on year (2006: 463,508). Approximately 88,800 vehicles were sold in the month of June (up 11.0 percent). 

“Over 500,000 vehicles sold – that is a historic figure for us and an outstanding success for the entire Audi team all around the world. This result means that we have a cushion for the second half of the year, which is usually weaker for the whole market and which for us will be dominated by an important model change,” stressed Ralph Weyler, member of the board of management of Audi AG for marketing and sales. “Against this background, our target for 2008 remains to sell one million vehicles.” 

In the Asia-Pacific region, Audi recorded sales of around 65,800 vehicles in the first six months of the year, a rise of 21.6 per cent. In India, where Audi recently set up a new national sales company, sales increased by 48.2 per cent over the first six months, and by 15.4 per cent in June 2007. In total, Audi achieved record sales in 41 markets worldwide in the first half of 2007.

The Volkswagen Group, Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer, is further strengthening its Indian operations by setting up a new company called Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited in Mumbai. The Volkswagen Group’s Indian operations will be headed by the Managing Director, Joerg Mueller, who will also be responsible for managing the newly established Group sales company in Mumbai. 

“Volkswagen is looking forward to its engagement in India. Our Indian operations will play a significant role in our overall strategic growth and we look forward to a long-term relationship with the country,” Mueller said. The Volkswagen brand also announced the appointment of Andreas Prinz as Head of Volkswagen Passenger Cars at Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited. Volkswagen Group Sales India Private Limited will act as an independent distribution company for Volkswagen and Audi in India, and will be responsible for the sale of locally produced models as well as imported vehicles. 

The India team will initially comprise approximately 60 members until the end of this year, with a phased increase over the coming years until the entire model range is offered in India. The company is initially targeting Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore for establishing its dealer network and will gradually expand to other Indian cities. It is intended to set up more than 10 Volkswagen dealerships in 2008.

Delhi-based IndoAsian Fusegear Limited was awarded the ‘SME in Auto, Ancillaries and Engineering sector’ by Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the Emerging India Awards 2007 ceremony organised by CNBC-TV 18 and ICICI Bank recently. Pioneered by ICICI Bank CNBC-TV18, the Emerging India Awards recognise the crucial role played by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) towards the growth of the Indian economy. 

IndoAsian Fusegear Limited (IndoAsian) is a manufacturer of products for power distribution, electrical protection and lighting. Products include distribution boards, circuit breakers, changeover switches, fuses, compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) and outdoor lighting equipment. IndoAsian was the first electrical equipment manufacturer to be certified by BIS.

Mahindra Renault has unveiled two variants of the Logan to enhance the value proposition for the customer. The new models, 1.6 GLX (petrol) and 1.5 dCi DLX (diesel), are priced at Rs 5.26 lakh and Rs 6.02 lakh respectively, ex-showroom Pune, and are positioned between the GLE/DLE and GLS/DLS variants. 

Introduced on the basis of customer demand, the additional features over GLE/DLE include adjustable rear-head restraint, trunk room light, outside mirrors with manual adjustment, front and rear power windows and central locking systems. Additional features such as rear door trim with fabric and body side moulding enhance the styling of the vehicle.

Honda Siel Cars India has commenced construction of its second plant at Tapukara Industrial Area, approximately 70 km from Delhi. HSCI’s new facility is spread over 600 acres and will have an initial production capacity of 60,000 units per annum, with an investment of about Rs 1,000 crore ($230million). Vasundhara Raje, chief minister of Rajasthan graced the occasion as the chief guest. Present at the ceremony were Akira Amari, minister of economy, Trade & Industry of Japan; Narpat Singh Rajvi, Minister of Industry, Rajasthan, and Satoshi Aoki, Chairman, Honda Motor Co. (Japan). 

Aoki, Chaiman, Honda Motor Company in his address said, “For Honda, India is an important market, which holds great potential for future growth. We are focused on investing in India to participate in and contribute to its growth.” The new Honda project will also have a designated area for suppliers, spread across an area of about 150 acres. Some suppliers also conducted their groundbreaking ceremony at the Tapukara site around the same time. Eight suppliers have already been identified and construction for these units will also start with immediate effect. At the proposed plant, HSCI will deploy state-of-the-art technologies that provide the flexibility to produce models more quickly and efficiently. 

Major processes at the plant will include a press shop, a weld shop, die-casting shop, machine shop, paint shop and assembly operations. The new plant will be modeled on the lines of its latest global plants with great emphasis on environment protection and safety. The project will generate employment for over 1,000 people in the first phase. The plant will operate under the stringent standards of ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environment management.