Tata Motors has commenced its certified pre-owned car programme, ‘Tata Motors Assured’. The programme has been launched on a pilot basis through 15 dealers in 10 major cities across India. The cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Vapi. The programme will be subsequently offered across the country through the Tata Motors dealer network in a phased manner. 

The ‘Tata Motors Assured’ certified pre-owned car programme would offer a choice of reliable and certified pre-owned Tata cars to the customer. ‘Tata Motors Assured’ certified pre-owned cars would be refurbished in Tata Motors authorised dealer’s workshops using Tata genuine spares by skilled and trained technicians. Each ‘Tata Motors Assured’ certified pre-owned car will undergo stringent inspection by Tata Motors engineers as per a structured quality check list and come with a certification from ‘Tata Motors Assured’. 

The ‘Tata Motors Assured’ certified pre-owned cars will be less than 5 years old, non accidental and with not more than two owners. ‘Tata Motors Assured’ certified pre-owned cars would come with a 1-year/ 20000 km extended warranty. Additionally, three free services will be offered to customers as a part of the certification package. The extended warranty and free service facility will be available pan India across the extensive service network of Tata Motors dealerships and select Tata Motors authorised service centres. Customers can now have a very convenient and safe option of buying and selling Tata cars and UVs at ‘Tata Motors Assured’ dealerships.

Ford India has engaged one of Bollywood’s most macho action stars and a leading entrepreneur Suneil Shetty to herald the leadership position of its class leading SUV - the Endeavour. The Ford Endeavour is available in three different variants – the 3.0 Litre 4x4 Thunder+, 2.5 Litre 4x2 Limited Edition and 2.5 Litre 4x2 XLT.

After purchasing 100 per cent of KBX Motorbike Products from Bosch Chassis Systems India, Brembo has commissioned its new plant at Pune. Executives from Italy, including Managing Director Mauro Pessi and Motorcycle Business Unit Director Paolo Magri, were present on the occasion along with Brembo India representative Shrikant Pangarkar. 

The plant, spread over an area of 15,000 square metres, will manufacture a complete product line of disc braking systems for scooters and motorbikes to serve the needs of the manufacturers throughout India with its products that are worldly known for their performance, safety and comfort. Having 5,000 square metres of floor space and employing 220 persons, the plant will support Brembo's activities in India, where the Brembo Group, through its Indian subsidiary (KBX), holds a 50 per cent market share of motorbike brake systems manufactured in the country and its main clients are the leading local as well as international companies such as Bajaj, Hero Honda, Honda Motors, Yamaha, Suzuki, Royal Enfield. 

Brembo, on the occasion of the commissioning of the plant, launched a new brand, Breco, which is a synthesis of “Brembo company. Breco is a brand specifically dedicated to the braking systems of small-to-medium displacement scooters and motorcycles targeted for the BRIC and ASEAN countries. The Brembo Group Indian subsidiary KBX will soon change the name into Brembo Brake India. The 2008 KBX sales were about 1.050 million Rupees (€17 million). The company has no financial debt.

Ashok Leyland has bagged an order for 875 high-end Ultra Low Entry (ULE) buses from the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) as part of their fleet modernisation. Worth Rs. 4.8 billion, this is the company’s single largest order from a State Transport Corporation in value terms. Supply of 350 a/c and 525 non-a/c buses will commence by mid 2009 and will be completed by September’09. 

Besides delivering these fully-built buses, Ashok Leyland will train key personnel like drivers and mechanics and will maintain the buses to ensure uptime, by setting up exclusive maintenance depots. The maintenance contract, valid for 12 years, is valued at a further Rs 7.1 billion. Drivers will be trained at the Company’s state-of-the-art Driver Training Institute, situated at Burari, near New Delhi, which has been set up jointly with the Government of Delhi.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced that it has been named Technology Partner of Ducati Motor Holding Spa, the leading manufacturer of motorbikes and super bikes based out of Bologna, Italy. TCS has signed a multi-million dollar, multi-year agreement with Ducati to deliver technology-based services that will help improve customer responsiveness and business efficiency. 

Ducati CEO & President Gabriele Del Torchio was in India recently to kick-start this strategic relationship. As a first assignment, TCS has been awarded an ERP engagement for Ducati Motor Holding and its subsidiaries in Europe. TCS partnered with KPMG Advisory Italy for this assignment. KPMG would bring its local market competencies while TCS will bring its Global Network Delivery Model. The objective of this project is to drive quantum improvements in supply chain management, especially in the areas of forecasts, inventory levels and optimised production plans and overall reduced logistics costs.

Fiat S.p.A., Chrysler LLC (Chrysler) and Cerberus Capital Management L.P., the private investment majority owner of Chrysler LLC, have signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance. The alliance, to be a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide Chrysler with access to competitive, fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, power train, and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites. Fiat would also provide distribution capabilities in key growth markets, as well as substantial cost saving opportunities. 

In addition, Fiat would provide management services supporting Chrysler’s submission of a viability plan to the U.S. Treasury as required. Fiat has been very successful in executing its own restructuring over the past several years. The alliance would also allow Fiat Group and Chrysler to take advantage of each other's distribution networks and to optimise fully their respective manufacturing footprint and global supplier base. 

The proposed alliance would be consistent with the terms and conditions of the U.S. Treasury financing to Chrysler. As per the U.S. Treasury loan agreement, each constituent will be asked to contribute to Chrysler’s restructuring effort including: lenders, employees, the UAW, dealers, suppliers and Chrysler Financial. Such steps would greatly contribute to Chrysler’s long-term viability plan. Completion of the alliance is subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals, including the U.S. Treasury. 

As a consideration for Fiat Group’s contribution to the alliance of strategic assets, to include: product and platform sharing, including city and compact segment vehicles, to expand Chrysler’s current product portfolio; technology sharing, including fuel efficient and environmentally friendly power train technologies; and access to additional markets, including distribution for Chrysler vehicles in markets outside of North America, Fiat would receive an initial 35 per cent equity interest in Chrysler. The alliance does not contemplate that Fiat would make a cash investment in Chrysler or commit to funding Chrysler in the future.