Auto major, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) unveiled its New Mahindra range at the Paris Motor Show. Of the models showcased are the new Mahindra Goa, stylish SUV from the Mahindra stable , the Mahindra Single Cab and the Mahindra Double Cab and the Bolero – the Bolero Double Cab pickup. All the new models had earlier been launched in Italy and in Spain at the Madrid Motor Show and are doing well there. The models with contemporary styling come equipped with common rail diesel engines with a horsepower of 109 bhp and are available in the 4x2 and 4x4 variants. 

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Pawan Goenka President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, "M&M is looking to evolve as a cult brand in the global market. We are looking to create strong brands that people globally will identify with. The vehicles that we have proudly displayed to international audiences at Paris comprise the range that will get us there. The success of our vehicles in markets like South Africa, Europe and other markets is also proof of the fact that Indian automotive companies have the mettle to compete with global players." 

The Mahindra Goa is a stylish SUV offering the best of both worlds,and is the fully restyled version of the SUV that M&M launched in India in 2002. It boasts of a sporty exterior, a stylish interior, improved equipment and is powered by Common Rail Diesel engine. The macho grill and oversized headlights enhance its aggressive looks. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power front and rear windows, central locking, tiltable power steering, power fuel lid opener, rear and front defogger, standard audio system with full CD/MP3, USB port and an SD card port that allows one to listen to music from a pen-drive or CD cards. 

The Mahindra Pik-Up features the same torque 2.6 litre CRDe, and featyres include air conditioning, power front and rear windows, central locking, power steering, power fuel lid opener, rear and front defogger, standard sound unit with full CD / MP3, USB port and an SD card port that allows one to listen to music from a pen-drive or CD cards.

Auto major, Force Motors Limited has entered into a joint venture with MAN Nutzfahrzeuge for building the latter’s truck range in India. The truck range called CLA or MAN Cargo Line A would feature proven MAN technology in the cabs, D08 engines and planetary axles, and these will be built at Pithampur.

The CLA range, in line with the road conditions and the typical load situations in the country, has a very robust chassis with 20 or 22.5 inch tyres. They are two- and three-axle trucks with gross weights of 18 to 26 tonnes. The 18-tonners can, on request, be down weighted to 14 or 16 tonnes. 4x2, 6x2 and 6x4 driveline configurations are envisaged. The proven four- and six-cylinder D08 engines with ratings of 114 kW/155 hp to 206 kW/280 hp come from MAN. The exhaust-gas classification will depend on the market concerned and will be Euro 2 or Euro 3. The four-cylinder unit is combined with a six-speed gearbox from ZF, the six-cylinder engine with the nine-speed box from the same manufacturer.

An MAN leaf-sprung front axle with a load capacity of 7.5 tonnes is fitted. The planetary rear axles too are leaf-sprung and, depending on model, have a load rating of up to 13 tonnes. The CLA is retarded with drum brakes. The wheelbase for the four-wheeler tractor is 3,600 mm, for the six-wheeler 3,175 + 1,400 mm. The truck chassis have wheelbases – depending on model – of 3,175 to 5,600 mm.

Customers have three cabs to choose from. Firstly there is the Day Cab, which corresponds to the familiar C compact cab. The longer ML cab contains one bunk. This cab variant is also available with a high-roof attachment and space for two bunks.

TACO-Interiors and Plastics Division (TACO-IPD), a division of Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd., inaugurated a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Bidadi, near Bangalore, recently. The Bidadi facility is the fourth for the division; the other facilities being in Pune, Maharashtra. The Bidadi facility was inaugurated by A Toyoshima, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limited in the presence of high ranking officials from the Indian auto industry. 

Spread over 28,000 square metres; the new facility was established to primarily cater to its existing customers in South India with a capability of expanding facilities to cater to meet increased requirements from its existing customers and other major OEM's manufacturing in South India. The state-of-the-art plant will manufacture a variety of injection moulded parts and assemblies as per the requirements of the customers. The interior products offered include instrument panels, dashboards, air vents, door trims, centre consoles/floor consoles, grab handles/door pulls for the passenger cars' assembly. Among the exterior plastics components, the product line includes bumpers, body side mouldings, spoilers, grills, bumper guards, footsteps, hoods, tailgates, and spare wheel covers. 

According to Rajiv Bakshi, President, Interiors and Plastics Division, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd, “The new plant is capable of handling the entire range of product requirements in interior plastics. The design and development support to production will come from our Engineering Centre in Pune. Our new facility in Bidadi will ensure that we are able to serve the needs of the rapidly growing domestic automotive market in South India. TACO-IPD, which supplies to both, the tier-I and tier-II automotive markets and boasts of an impressive customers list such as Toyota Kirloskar Motors, Tata Motors, General Motors, Ford, Mahindra & Mahindra and Faurecia, among others, offers high quality products to its customers with cost effective design and manufacturing capabilities in the automotive plastic interior and exterior space.

NetJets Europe has signed an order with Dassault Aviation for 24 Falcon 7X jets valued at US $1.1 billion. This transaction is the largest business jet order in European history and confirms NetJets Europe’s position as market leader. The deal is the second largest order ever and is Dassault’s largest ever private jet sale. The 24 aircraft will be delivered over 6 years, starting in Q1 2008 through 2014.

The Falcon 7X has been well received in the market since it was announced at the 2001 Paris Air Show. Expecting certification in early 2007, more than 90 aircraft have already been ordered from Dassault Aviation and the next available delivery options are in the second half of 2010. This order for 24 aircraft is further evidence that the French manufacturer has once again produced an aircraft that addresses a need in the marketplace. The Falcon 7X flies faster, farther and higher than any other aircraft model in the Falcon range. It is innovative and efficient with the ability to fly 5950 nautical miles/11000 kilometres non-stop. The widebody cabin will set a new standard of uncompromising comfort.

NetJets Europe is the largest Dassault operator on the continent with a fleet of 15 Falcon aircraft. The company took delivery of a Falcon 2000EX and a Falcon 900EX earlier this year and will receive another Falcon 2000EX in December. Demand is such that these aircraft were sold out prior to NetJets taking delivery. The addition of the 24 Falcon 7Xs will consolidate NetJets’ long-range operation, as the new jets are capable of flying non-stop from London to Los Angeles or Edinburgh to Tokyo.

FKM-Walzentechnik, fabricator of industrial roll products, has announced that it is building a new facility in the German Industry Park in Kun Shan City, China, about 50 km west of Shanghai. Phase One of the project, which includes a 2000 m2 (21,528 sq. ft.) factory and 1000 m2 (10,764 sq. ft.) of office space, is scheduled to be complete by March 1, 2007. Phase Two, with an expected completion in two years, will include the development of another 1000 m2 of factory space. This new FKM-China office will house approximately 25 employees and provide sales, service and technical support to the Asia Pacific market. "It is no secret that the business opportunities in China are burgeoning," said Joachim Schifferdecker, General Manager Asia for FKM-Walzentechnik. "We see this as an excellent opportunity to directly serve the Asian OEMs as well as the increasing number of European and American transplants that have opened manufacturing facilities in the area." 

From this facility, FKM-China will operate a 150-inch press to produce its roll products as well as a CNC roll finishing system, a punch machine and a turning machine. The FKM product line includes non-woven roll covers, lightweight carbon fibre roll core technologies and rotary cast polyurethane rolls. FKM-China is a wholly owned subsidiary of FKM-Germany, which was founded in 1967 in Duisburg. In 2000, FKM-USA was established in Illinois to provide complete design and build services for the US steel and automotive market.

Renault has confirmed that it has agreed to sell its 2.8 per cent share of Scania’s capital representing 5.18 per cent of the voting rights to MAN. Renault has held a share of Scania’s capital in its equities portfolio since 2004. The disposal of these non-core assets will contribute to the repayment of its bonds. The detailed terms of the agreement are not being disclosed at this point.

Leading tyre manufacturer, CEAT, has announced a reduction of 4 to 5 per cent in the prices of its tyres. The price reduction came into effect from 20 September 2006. According to a press release from the company, the move follows decrease in prices of key input commodities, including Natural Rubber & Crude. Increased volume in tyres resulting from enhanced automobile production and the continuing pick-up in the replacement tyre market, has also contributed to CEAT’s decision, the release added.

Over the last 4 months, the tyre industry has seen fluctuating trends in the prices of raw materials. The prices of natural rubber, which had shot up by a whopping 30 per cent around June, have relatively reduced. Also, the prices of crude oil, which touched record levels of USD78.40 a barrel, have also subsided to USD 60.57 levels. Replacement of natural rubber with synthetic rubber has touched 15%, which has further reduced input prices, the release added.

The paint shop at Tata Motors was damaged in a fire recently. Sources claim that the cause of the fire and the extent of damage are being ascertained. It seems that the production in the paint shop may get affected for about a week after which it might take some time for the shop to reach to its existing production level. The company is mobilising alternate painting facilities in its Pune plant, while simultaneously taking necessary actions to resume production at the damaged site.

Auto major, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, has announced its foray into Kenya with the launch of Scorpio. The company has appointed Oriel Ltd, part of the Ecta Group, to lead it into the East African market. Scorpio, M&M’s flagship 2.6 litre turbo diesel model, will be launched first, followed by Bolero, the one tonne pick-up vehicle.

Kenya’s automobile market is one of the most dynamic in East Africa. It is a rapidly growing economy with an expanding leisure market. Besides, it is a right hand drive market. “Mahindra’s products with their rugged 4x2 and 4x4 qualities are a perfect fit for the Kenyan terrain,” said Sreedharan, MD of Oriel. M&M, according to sources, has extensively tested the Scorpio for over a year in Kenya and is confident of replicating its global success in Kenya.

Apart from holding a premier position in India, M&M has a strong presence in the US, China, Malaysia, West Asia, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as increasingly in Africa. Over the next couple of years the company plans to get about 20 per cent of its volumes from global ventures. In Africa, Mahindra has a subsidiary in South Africa which distributes vehicles in South Africa, SACU member countries and other Southern African countries. Last year Mahindra sold over 3000 vehicles in South Africa and is expected to cross 5000 vehicles this year.