Wilfried Aulbur, MD & CEO, DaimlerChrysler India, posing with the new C-Class

As the race for luxury cars heats up with BMW and Volkswagen in India, more and more luxury cars are finding their way into India. DaimlerChrysler India, which enjoys the first runner advantage, launched the CL-Class coupe in addition to the S 320CDi L (diesel), recently. 

Available in two trim levels—CL 500 and CL 600, the CL-Class coupe is a powerful luxury coupé that employs innovative technology and a attractive and sporty design that highlights the new Mercedes style, characterised by interplay between taut, striking lines and large, tranquil surfaces. 

Other design features include the fully retractable side windows, whose continuous aperture is not interrupted by a B-pillar, and the large, curving panoramic rear windscreen. Pioneering safety features and exemplary comfort, the S-Class diesel adds a new dimension to luxury cars at that level and price. The CL-Class coupe and S-Class diesel are expected to add to the growing sales of luxury cars that saw DaimlerChrysler double its sales in 2006.

Škoda India announced the launch of Laura Elegance recently. Flaunting exquisite exterior and luxurious interiors, the car follows the introduction of Laura L&K DSG automatic and manual versions. Speaking at the occasion, Karsten Bogun, managing director (commercial) Škoda India, said, “Škoda India has achieved tremendous success since its inception in India and we are looking forward to achieve more milestones with the support of our valued Indian customers. With the launch of new products, we not only focus on giving more choices to our customers but upgrading the products with the world-class technology.”  

Features in Skoda Laura Elegance MT 1.9 TDI PD

• 4 Spoke steering wheel
• Clear lens headlamps
• Cruise control
• Rear windshield defogger
• Electrically adjustable mirror
• Climatronic AC
• Rain sensors
• Mini dot display
• Leaving home and coming home feature.

“We are looking at consolidated expansion plans for this year which includes bringing our international offerings i.e. launch of the much awaited small car ‘Fabia’ by end of this year and more variants of the existing products. We have a sales target of 17,000 cars for 2007, which is a challenge considering that we are already with a market share of 28 per cent in our segment in 2006, but we are committed to increase that market share. We are aggressively looking at localisation”, he added. 

This Laura Elegance model costs Rs. 14, 32,825 (ex-showroom Mumbai) and will be available in 1.9 PD diesel engine and at 48 dealerships across the country.

Jagdish Khattar with P J Nayak after announcing the tie-up

UTI Bank has entered into 4-wheeler financing through an alliance with Maruti Udyog Limited, the country’s largest car maker. As part of the agreement, UTI Bank will utilise Maruti’s network of retail outlets to promote its financing products, and Maruti will benefit from access to the customer database of UTI Bank. 

Commenting on the tie-up, Jagdish Khattar, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Udyog Limited said: Maruti is determined to motorise India and tap the opportunity in smaller cities. Like Maruti, UTI bank is also driving ambitious growth in smaller cities. Maruti has a right product range and a countrywide network of dealers & service stations. With UTI Bank, the important link of easy availability of car finance is taken care of. UTI Bank’s strengths in smaller cities with innovative financing products will help us reach our dream to motorise India. 

Dr. P.J. Nayak, Chairman & Managing Director, UTI Bank said, “The launch of our car loans would essentially boost our existing portfolio of retail asset products. We are pleased to tie up with Maruti Udyog, the largest passenger car manufacturer in the country, whose extensive dealer network would help the Bank to effectively promote the loan offering and scale up the same.”

Ratan Tata flagging off the 100,000th Ace at Tata Motors' Pune facility

Tata Motors rolled out its 100,000th Ace from its Pune plant recently, reaching the milestone within 20 months of launch, in May 2005. Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Motors, flagged off the 100, 000th unit. Besides having been introduced in all major states of India, the Ace has been launched in Sri Lanka. 

Powered by a unique twin cylinder 16PS IDI 700cc diesel engine, the Ace is suitable for both rural and urban use, and has the ability to carry a variety of payloads. Tata Motors has also recently launched the Tata Ace HT (High Torque), a special variant to deal with a wide variety of gradients especially to deal with the on-ground reality of the North Eastern region slopes and climbs more effectively. 

Tata Motors is setting up a dedicated plant for the Ace at Pant Nagar in Uttaranchal, with an annual capacity of 250,000 units. The plant will begin production this year.

INA Bearings India Pvt Ltd, a division of the Euro 8.3-billion Schaeffler Group, commissioned its new plant at Talegaon recently. Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler and her son Georg Schaeffler, partners of the Schaeffler Group, inaugurated the new plant. The company, which has been operating from a rented premise at Pirangut near Pune since 2001, shifted its three existing product lines, plastic and steel cages, drawn cup bearings and engine components, to the new premises. In addition to a new product line for water pump bearings, the addition of a welded cage line is expected soon. 

Hans Jurgen Goslar, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, Schaeffler Group, said the plant, which has an installed capacity of 40 million components annually, would cater essentially to domestic demand from two-wheeler and four-wheeler manufacturers. Two more plants can be built in the existing space to enhance capacity if need be, he added. 

Put up on an area of 18000 sq mtrs, around 350 employees produce precision products for the automotive and industrial sectors. The production range includes needle cages, drawn cup bearings, engine components such as roller finger follower, and hydraulic pivot elements, chain tensioner, clutch release bearing, water pump bearings as well as welded cage production and the development of an injection moulding operation. INA Bearings India’s clientele includes automakers, earth moving equipment makers and various other manufacturers like Toyota, Hyundai, Fiat, Hero Honda, Bajaj, Eicher, Demy, JCB, Ashok Leyland, Subros, Suzuki, TVS, HMT, Caterpillar, Yaken and Komatsu. 

INA Bearings India is also in the process of setting up an engineering centre at Pune.

Tata AutoComp GY Batteries Pvt. Ltd. (TGY), a 50:50 joint venture company between Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd. (TACO) and GS Yuasa International (GYIN), Japan, announced the launch of Tata Green, a range of environment-friendly car batteries, in Chennai. This is the third launch of the company, after the West and North regions. 

The eco-friendly car batteries are based on Calcium-Calcium technology that will minimise water loss, reduce self-discharge, and provide protection from acid spillage and sparks. According to Yogesh Dhawan, CEO, TGY, advanced technology from GS Yuasa ensures that the batteries do not require top-ups or maintenance for the first One-lakh Km . The product offers several features like longer life and shelf life (more than 90 days) as compared to traditional batteries, high levels of vibration resistance on all types of Indian roads, ability to withstand extreme temperatures, higher cranking power for instant start and maintenance and hassle free performance, he added. 

The TGY manufacturing plant, situated at Ranjangaon near Pune, is spread over a total area of 60,000 square metres, and will manufacture batteries initially for Passenger Cars and Utility Vehicles. Batteries for Commercial Vehicles, Farm Vehicles and Two-wheelers are likely to launched by the year end.