Exide Industries Limited, the largest manufacturer of Lead Acid Storage Batteries in South Asia announced its intention to enter the lead smelting and recycling business in India. To this end it is in discussions with local smelters to enter into a strategic alliance including equity participation. It further announced that at its board of directors’ meeting that the management was authorised to select a local smelter where an initial investment of up to Rs 25 crores by way of equity participation could be made. 

T V Ramanathan, managing director and CEO of Exide stated that, “such an acquisition – as and when it materializes - would be a significant step towards enhancing the amount of recycled Lead and Lead Alloys used by the company, and hence would help to reduce our dependence on imports of high cost Lead. In a scenario where the price of Lead has been highly volatile, having an equity stake in a local smelter would be a significant step towards increasing the reliance on domestic sourcing of recycled Lead.” Exide has been at the forefront of the movement to collect scrap batteries as required by the regulatory framework. The foray into smelting will help further its commitment to protect the environment, through use of recycled materials, which is part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Tata Motors has introduced a new engine in the Safari with changes to the model as well. The new engine is a 16V dohc, 2.2-litre Direct Injection Common Rail (DICOR) engine that is operated by a 32 bit ECU and laced with a specially designed turbocharger incorporating Variable Turbine Technology (VTT). The motor puts out a good 140PS (at 3000 rpm) and 320 Nm (at 2200 rpm) of torque with a torque band that is wide. According to sources at Tata, this engine also makes for a quieter and more efficient running of the vehicle. Tweaks to the front and rear exteriors provide a new look to the vehicle. The range gets two tone beige interiors, stylish new day and night instrument panel and tubeless tyres. 

Several new thoughtful features have been added: follow-me-home, express-down power windows and a convenient feature that helps in locating the car in a crowded parking lot at night, all enhancing the appeal of the Safari. The range gets two new colours: Cycus grey and Mountain green. The Safari DICOR 2.2 VTT range starts from Rs.7.33 lakhs (ex showroom Delhi), with an enhanced warranty of 2 years or 75000 kms (whichever is earlier). An additional 2 years' warranty can be availed through the extended warranty option. The entry level TCIC diesel model incorporates all the aesthetic and convenience features of the entry level 2.2 DICOR VTT model and is now available at Rs.6.47 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The Safari sold nearly 16,000 nos. in 2006-07 in the country, and more than 69,000 vehicles have been produced till date.

KS Kolbenschmidt GmbH, Neckarsulm, Germany, a member of the Kolbenschmidt Pierburg Group, and Nippon Piston Ring (NPR) Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan, have signed a global co-operation contract. This agreement between KS and NPR, a renowned Japanese manufacturer of piston rings, is focused on joint R&D and marketing with the overall purpose to provide value-added products and comprehensive services to the global OEMs. Accordingly KS Kolbenschmidt and NPR will together develop piston systems for the car and commercial vehicle markets in Europe, North America, China, ASEAN, and Australia. 

Given the system competence in the market for complete piston modules and in creating technological synergies by joint R&D activities and the utilisation of existing R&D capacities, the co-operation is also directed to offer global OEMs an efficient project management from the first prototypes up to series production. 

With their longstanding experience and worldwide acknowledged capabilities in pistons and piston rings, KS and NPR are targeting, in particular, high-performance components addressing in the best way possible the demands of international automobile manufacturers for fuel optimized piston systems that are able to cope with the ongoing rise in engine loads. 

In this way, the two companies are in line with the trend toward piston systems as required mainly by European and American auto manufacturers. The agreement, which is of a long-term nature, does not include any equity participation and both companies will respect each party’s independence as equal partner.

The Volkswagen group has awarded Faurecia the contract to manufacture seat structures for a new program. Production for this program will be based at Faurecia's plant in São João da Madeira, Portugal. These seat structures will supply a new vehicle platform that will include the future Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza models. Series production at the plant will start from March 2008. The São João da Madeira plant was selected for this program due to its capacity to produce parts that meet the automakers' increasingly strict requirements in terms of quality, safety and productivity. 

Pre-series production will start for SEAT from September 2007 followed by a full launch in March 2008. Series production for Volkswagen will start in 2009. The manufacturing process at São João da Madeira will be fully operational by August 2007. This new program for Volkswagen and SEAT – planned for 1,800 seat sets per day at full production rate – will have a positive impact on workload and employment. Faurecia will invest eight million euros in this program.

Flagged-off from Mumbai by renowned writer and columnist Shobhaa De along with Dr. Wilfried Aulbur, CEO and managing director, DaimlerChrysler India, the pan-India Mercedes diesel drive called The India Trail is on its way to north India. Featuring the complete portfolio of diesel cars from the Mercedes-Benz stable in India- S-Class, C-Class, E-Class, M-Class, the Bio-Diesel C-Class and the Viano, the seven car entourage that started from Pune last month will cover a cumulative distance of more than 40,000 kms until it ends on the October 10 at Delhi.