BUSINESS
This week in Auto: Fancy a Hero MotoCorp car or three-wheeler?
Here is a complete look at what made headlines during the week
BUSINESS
Auto companies roll back salary cuts, reward employees with pay hikes
The sharp rebound in sales from July saw companies untie their purse strings to reward employees. While some stuck to their annual increment cycle with a Covid-induced delay of about a quarter, others have already started with a second round of pay hikes, effective from the upcoming financial year. Here’s what Hyundai, Bajaj Auto, JK Tyre and Ceat are doing
BUSINESS
Green tax may push up truck rentals, hit used heavy vehicle prices
Transport vehicles older than eight years could be charged green cess at the time of renewal of fitness certificate
BUSINESS
Clash of the titans: Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp square up for 2021 battle
Both companies ready slew of launches that will take place at regular intervals over the coming quarters as they vie for a bigger slice of India’s two-wheeler pie
BUSINESS
This week in Auto: COVID-19 vaccine transport takes centre stage
Here is what made headlines in the auto space during the week
BUSINESS
Bajaj Chetak bookings to be extended to 24 more cities in FY22
Bajaj’s plans to throw open bookings in more cities had to be deferred because of the disruption in supply of battery cells due to the pandemic. So far, bookings and deliveries have only been taking place in Bengaluru and Pune
BUSINESS
Bajaj Auto warns of further price increase as input costs continue to soar
The Pune-based manufacturer of Pulsar and KTM range of bikes has seen costs rise by 2-4 percent since November led by a jump in the price of raw materials like steel and metals
BUSINESS
With factories running full, Ceat hikes FY22 capex by 40%
Ceat has inventory levels of less than one month despite all its plants running at full capacity. The company will use the increase in capex to add more capacity at its factories and address the sustained surge in demand since the lockdown was eased
BUSINESS
Renault to downsize global production… but India gets a thumbs up
The French carmaker will bring down its global car production to 3.1 million by 2025 from the 4 million clocked in 2019. It will, however, optimise operations in India at a time when its foreign rivals have reduced their focus on the country sharply
BUSINESS
Explained | Why carmakers are worried about shortage of semiconductors and other questions answered
While carmaker claim to have reached localisation, semiconductors are some of the crucial parts going in a car that are not yet fully localised.
BUSINESS
This week in Auto: Here’s why Tesla's India entry should mean more than just flashy electric cars
Here is a wrap on what else made headlines in the auto space during the week
BUSINESS
Luxury car market set to see up to 40 launches in 2021, 3 fully electric cars included
Some of these companies have also announced a price hike in the range of 2-5 percent across models to beat the cost pressures which has already come into effect
BUSINESS
Why Tesla chose to set up shop in Bengaluru
Karnataka’s capital is also the EV capital of the country, with many companies already having R&D units in the city thanks to its huge talent pool. Proactive policies by the State’s governments in setting up an EV ecosystem may have also helped tilt the scales in favour of Bengaluru
BUSINESS
Tractor volumes hit all-time high in a pandemic year
Sales within India closed at 802,670 units in 2020, 11 percent higher than 2019 volumes and 1 percent more than the previous all-time record, set in 2018. All this in a year that also witnessed the lowest monthly tractor sales total in recent history — 12,000 units in April 2020 — due to the nationwide lockdown. That makes the full-year achievement all the more creditable
BUSINESS
India not a priority for Hyundai in global electric vehicle shift
Starting 2030, Hyundai plans to gradually shift towards EVs in key markets such as China, Europe and the US while maintaining Internal Combustion Engine vehicle production in India, Russia and Brazil, but at less than 50 percent capacity
BUSINESS
This week in auto: New launches light up the new year but be ready to pay more for your car
Here is the complete look at what else made headlines during the week
BUSINESS
Mahindra stuck in slow lane, waiting period for Thar up to 10 months
Launched on October 2, 2020, the Thar received an overwhelming response but the waiting period for the off-roader is anywhere between 22 and 40 weeks. In contrast, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan have ramped up production of their popular models to meet demand. Mahindra, too, is now stepping up production.
BUSINESS
Electric vehicle or Ford JV: These were the choices before Mahindra
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) believes EVs will become the mainstay of its business in future alongside SUVs
BUSINESS
Year-ender 2020: Hotels were the first to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic
As per estimates, the hotel industry has suffered a revenue loss of Rs 90,000 crore due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BUSINESS
This week in Auto: 2020 was a forgettable year, welcome 2021?
Here is a complete look at all other stories that made headlines in the auto space
BUSINESS
Why Honda pulled out the Civic, CR-V models from India and shut its Greater Noida plant
The combination of lower efficiency at the Greater Noida plant and poor sales of the Civic and CR-V meant that Honda had very little options to work with
BUSINESS
SsangYong’s bankruptcy filing brings to light Mahindra & Mahindra’s struggle with partnerships
A look at its history highlights how M&M has struggled to diversify, to reduce dependence on its core tractors and domestic SUV business.
BUSINESS
Parliament panel concerned over lack of clarity on EV switchover plans
Citing the lack of infrastructure and an ecosystem, the committee advised the government to adopt a phased manufacturing programme for the switchover to e-mobility as the entire automotive manufacturing system would have to be overhauled. It also recommended a reduction of GST on fuel-based automobiles to 18 percent to spur demand and improve GST revenue.
BUSINESS
SUVs beat other body styles to become fastest growing segment
Mid-size SUVs and compact SUVs turned the demand tide in 2020, which was otherwise a forgettable year for the industry. As of the end of November, compact SUVs controlled 15.5 percent of the passenger vehicle market, up from 11.46 percent at the end of August.
