BMW India and ICICI Bank have signed an agreement for offering financing solutions through BMW Financial Services. With this agreement, BMW India and ICICI Bank will offer innovative and premium quality of service through BMW dealership network and ICICI Bank Direct Sales Agency’s (DSA'S) across India. BMW customers will now be able to avail a range of tailor-made financing solutions from BMW Financial Services offered and provided by ICICI Bank at competitive interest rates. 

Commenting on the signing of the agreement, Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India, said “ICICI as a leading bank is the optimal partner for offering BMW Financial Services in India. We believe, this association will strengthen our commitment to provide world-class experience to our customers by offering unique financing solutions through ICICI Bank. 

BMW Financial Services is currently active in more than 50 countries worldwide offering innovative financing solutions for BMW customers. In 20 countries, BMW Financial Services are offered through leading local banking and insurance partners. 

N R Narayanan, Head-Car and Commercial Vehicle Loans, ICICI Bank, said, “ICICI Bank is market leader in car loans in the country and is delighted to be associated with BMW and looks forward to a long-standing relationship. This retail cooperation agreement would take the financing options available to BMW customers, to a higher level. ICICI Bank has been at the forefront in delivering distinctive value to its customers and remains committed to grow the market."

Blaupunkt, market leader in ‘In-Car’ entertainment, has introduced Memphis MP66, which opens up a new world of connection options for the car radio. One can use the cable that comes with the radio to connect USB memory sticks as well as mobile hard-disk drives and control them via the car radio - much similar to a CD changer. The cable is easy to install in the glove compartment or console. The decision to place the USB micro jack on the back of the radio unit complies with the corresponding EU agreements. As an alternative, music files can also be read in via a separate slot for SD memory cards, making this new generation of car radios fit to accommodate the needs of today’s consumer. 

Apart from rich technical features, Memphis MP66 exhibits a very striking design. The impressive operating elements on the left of the front panel with the impressively illuminated rocker switch and - most importantly - the animated 3.2-inch TFT full graphic display guarantees a brilliant screen display with a resolution of 270 x 96 pixels in a trendy basic orange-blue color. Some of the features include last position memory, MP3 browsing, complete sound features, easy HMI. Almost all common devices even USB HDD work with this unit. The Memphis MP66 is priced at Rs. 25,750.

Recently honored with MotorWeek's "Best Minivan" award, the Kia Sedona is now being given The Car Book 2007's "Best Bet" distinction, along with seven other Kia vehicles: Rio, Rio5, Spectra, Spectra5, Optima, Sportage and Sorento. Rio and Optima were both recipients of the award in 2006, however this is the first time eight different models in the 11-vehicle Kia lineup have received the distinguished accolade. 

"Obviously we are extremely thrilled and proud to have eight vehicles from our line-up be distinguished as "Best Bets" by The Car Book," said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America (KMA). "Since this distinction is only given to vehicles that have the safety and performance needs of consumers in mind, we consider it a true testament to Kia's commitment to providing only the highest quality vehicles to customers." 

The Car Book 2007 is an updated and expanded guide to buying a new 2007 car, van, truck or SUV. It presents the latest safety ratings, dealer prices, fuel economy, insurance premiums, maintenance costs, tires, as well as a chart of state lemon laws, and is published in cooperation with the Center for Auto Safety, the nation's leading auto safety advocacy group.

 Truck major, Ashok Leyland has indicated that it is planning a foray into the tactical defence vehicle segment. “Having rolled out a host of modern, logistics vehicles for the Indian Army, the Company is now set to enter the tactical vehicle zone. We plan to build on the interest generated for our vehicles in the overseas markets with greater marketing focus and better vehicles,” said R Seshasayee, managing director, Ashok Leyland. 

The flagship of the Hinduja Group in India was the only Indian company to participate at IDEX 2007, a premier defence exhibition, in Abu Dhabi held from February 18 to 22 2007. The company took part in the event in 2005, and its products had evoked interest among certain defence forces like the Sultan’s Special Forces in Oman and the Kenyan army. 

The company had on show the Aqua Therma, and a Field Artillery Vehicle. Aqua Therma, mounted on a Stallion chassis, is an indigenously developed water bowser equipped to carry potable water in the most inhospitable of conditions that the army may occupy: in ambient temperatures ranging from -10*C to +60*C. The 5KL stainless steel Water Bowser is a double cell tank with PUF insulation. The temperature variation of water inside the tank in 24 hours is within 2 – 3* Celsius where the temperature differential of water inside the tank and the environment is 30”C. 

The Field Artillery Vehicle (FAT) is ideal for towing the 155-bore artillery. The continuous all-wheel drive ensures high mobility across various terrains including sand. Centalised Tyre Inflation enables the driver to vary the tyre pressure to suit different terrains. There is also the option of run-flat tyres. The FAT is fitted with air-conditioned cab and crew cabs that have been indigenously developed by Automotive Coaches & Components Limited, an associate company of Ashok Leyland. The option of an armoured cab is available too. The FAT has a hydraulic crane for self-loading and unloading. It is also fitted with a 16-tone winch for recovery and self-recovery.

Possible Automobiles, a project approved by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and located at Gagret, 28 kms from Hoshiarpur, will soon launch a range of diesel, CNG, LPG and petrol three wheelers. The vehicles will have capacity of 6+1 (seater), 3+1 (seater and the pick-up model will have carriage capacity 1.3 and 1.0 tonne. While a four wheeler is also on the cards, the product range will be called Chief. 

According to Luthra, manager (marketing), Possible Automobiles, “The product is designed by Sphinx Worldbiz, an internationally renowned company designing for Honda, Tata, Maruti, Toyota, M&M, Ford, etc”. The Chief product line-up has a heavyduty chassis, BS III and BS II Greaves engine, which is centrally mounted to reduce noise and vibration. Helped by tier suppliers Greaves Cotton, Brakes India, Pricol, Lumax, Toyo springs, XLO India, Minda Industries, Minda FIAMM, ASP sealing, Ceat Limited, MRF, Amara Raja Batteries, Diamond dynamics, Datta Rubber, Emdet Engineers, Harindra Industrial and Neolite Industries, the Chief, according to Jagdeva, director, Possible Automobiles, “will be launched in four phases”. 

In the first phase, the vehicle will be launched in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. In the second phase the Chief will be launched in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and Chattisgarh. The third phase will see the Chief reaching out to Andhra pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The fourth phase will include West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orrisa. Speaking about the future plans of Possible Automobiles, Jagdeva said, “Very soon the company is coming up with two-cylinder diesel engined four-wheeler with the capacity of 1.5-tonne, pick-up and passenger vehicles”. 

While prototyping of these vehicles is said to be under process, the vehicles are expected to be ready by the end of 2008. Prototyping of multi utility vehicle with 3000cc turbo-charged engine is also under process and is expected to hit the road by the end of 2010. “We are in the process to tie-up with banks and financial Institutions to facilitate dealer network for funding of three-wheelers”. Talks are on with banks like Bank of Punjab, ICICI, Indusind, Mahindra Finance, State bank of India, etc.