Audi A4 Named 2018 Cars.com Luxury Car of the Year

HERNDON, Virginia – The 2018 Audi A4 has been named the 2018 Luxury Car of the Year by Cars.com at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The annual award is presented as part of the 2018 Cars.com Best of Awards, with vehicles judged on quality, innovation, and value. Cars.com editors praised the Audi A4 for its “balance of sport, luxury, function, amenities, quality and comfort” in the compact luxury sedan category.

“The versatility and competency of the A4 is unshakable, and combined with unwavering interior material quality, the A4 remains an outstanding luxury car,” said Cars.com editors.

Cars.com editors also praised the “luxurious trimmings, chassis dynamics, spacious interiors and well-executed electronics” of the 2018 A4, in addition to its breadth of variants. The A4 sedan is available with a 2.0-liter TFSI® with FWD, quattro® or Quattro with a manual transmission. The S4 sedan is available with a 3.0-liter TFSI®. In addition, the A4 Allroad with 2.0T engine offers the driving dynamics of the A4 sedan with the versatility of a wagon.

As one of the brand’s bestselling models, the A4 line represents the best in design, driving dynamics, infotainment and available driver assistance systems.

The A4 interior features driver-focused technologies such as the available Audi virtual cockpit and standard Audi smartphone interface for compatible devices that support Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto integration. Advanced driver assistance systems such as standard Audi pre sense city® and available adaptive cruise control with stop & go and traffic jam assist help drivers to navigate the road with increased confidence.

Cars.com Best of Awards includes six categories: Best of 2018, Best Pickup Truck of 2018, Eco-Friendly Car of the Year, Family Car of the Year, Luxury Car of the Year and Most Fun-to-Drive Car of the Year. To be eligible, the vehicle must be a 2018 model and excel in three key criteria: quality, innovation, and value. Pickup trucks are judged on power, capability, and value. To qualify for the top award – Best of 2018 – models must be all-new or fully redesigned.

with thanks: AUDI

Mercedes-Benz introduces India’s first ‘BS VI compliant - Made in India, for India’ vehicle; strongly reiterates its environment and India commitment

Pune: India’s largest luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz, today achieved a historic milestone in the Indian automotive industry, by being the first automobile brand in India to launch the first ever BS VI compliant vehicles, ‘Made in India, for India’. The Certificate of Compliance to the CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rule) for Mercedes-Benz India was presented by ARAI Director, Smt. Rashmi Urdhwareshe to Mr. Roland Folger, MD & CEO, in the honorable presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Minister of Road Transport Highways & Shipping and Water Resource, River Development, & Ganga Rejuvenation and Shri Abhay Damle Ji, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport Highways and other dignitaries.

Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, Minister of Road Transport Highways & Shipping and Water Resource, River Development, & Ganga Rejuvenation commented, “To mitigate the rising pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas, the Government is trying to advance BS VI grade fuel availability in Delhi NCT by April, 2018 and shift to BS VI norms by April, 2020 across the country. This will drastically reduce pollution and help us advance to better technologies used globally. I want to congratulate Mercedes-Benz for their efforts towards not only making safe vehicles but also for a greener vehicle, by introducing the first BS VI vehicle in India much ahead of the regulations.”

Smt. Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Director, ARAI stated, “It is our endeavor to support the Government and the auto industry in terms of developing and testing the vehicles and promote the cleaner technology. In line with this, we are happy to present the Certificate of Compliance to CMVR, to Mercedes-Benz India for both their BS VI compliant petrol and diesel vehicles. We conducted stringent and extensive tests on both the vehicles, which includes particulate numbers, engine power test, on-board-diagnosis test and Real-world driving emission (RDE) data collection. The results of the test are in compliance to prescribed CMVR rules followed by ARAI. BS VI test protocol and facilities are significantly different than BS-IV and ARAI is fully equipped to handle upcoming development and certification work for all vehicle models and engines.”

Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India stated, “We are glad to fulfill our commitment to the customers and to the Government’s vision of ‘Make in India’, by introducing the first ever ‘Made in India, for India’ BS VI compliant vehicles. Mercedes-Benz vehicles are world-class products and they comply with the most stringent emission standards, and the ARAI certified new BS VI vehicles reiterate this high benchmark. The introduction of India’s first BS VI vehicles for the Indian market is a significant milestone and we strongly believe that this will pave the way for other manufacturers to introduce their BS VI vehicles in India. This, we believe would also be beneficial for the end customer as they could use the latest technology available.”

“Mercedes-Benz has introduced BS-VI vehicles in India almost 2 years in advance of the regulations. We strongly believe that early introduction of BS-VI vehicles will further accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicles in the market and thereby be achieving the Government’s clean air initiative.” Mr. Folger elaborated.

Benefits of BS VI standards:

BS-VI standards are far-reaching in scope and incorporate substantial changes to existing Bharat Stage IV emission standards. Of particular note is the tightening of Particulate Matter (PM) & NOx mass emission limits. In a BS VI vehicle, the NOx limit reduction is up to 68% and PM limit reduction is achieved at 82% in BS-VI, compared to that in BS-IV.

Stringent tests related to BS-IV emission norms:

The Mercedes-Benz S 350 d has undergone stringent emission test related to BS VI emission at ARAI, Pune and has been certified as BS VI compliant. Following are some of the tests done at ARAI for the certification of the BS VI engines:

• Tailpipe emission test in laboratory – limits lowered to 68 to 82% as  against BS-IV
• Engine power test – BS-VI fuel based test
• Onboard diagnostic (OBD) test – Stringent OBD test
• RDE (Real Driving emission) - On-road emission performance test 

Key highlights of BS VI engine in the Mercedes-Benz S 350 d:

S 350d vehicle comes with a state-of-art engine and exhaust after-treatment technology, such as refined engine, EGR, DPF, SCR etc. These technological measures lead to reduce the emissions significantly and meet the BS-VI regulations with huge margins. The S 350 d features the most powerful diesel car in Mercedes-Benz history.

The new six-cylinder Diesel engine is designed to comply with future emissions legislation (RDE – Real Driving Emissions). All the components of relevance for efficient emissions reduction are installed directly on the engine. The integrated technology approach combining the new stepped-bowl combustion process, dynamic multi-way exhaust-gas recirculation, and near-engine exhaust-gas after treatment, for the first time combined with variable valve-lift control, makes further reduced consumption with low emissions possible.

Although the output has increased noticeably compared to the preceding model, the new engine consumes up to six percent less fuel. The special traits of the top-of-the-line engine in the diesel family include the stepped-bowl combustion process, two-stage turbocharging and, for the first time, the use of CAMTRONIC variable valve-lift control. Its design features a combination of the aluminum engine block and steel pistons as well as further improved NANOSLIDE® coating of the cylinder walls.

with thanks: Mercedes Bens

UN Environment and WHO agree to major collaboration on environmental health risks

Nairobi - UN Environment and WHO have agreed a new, wide-ranging collaboration to accelerate action to curb environmental health risks that cause an estimated 12.6 million deaths a year.

Today in Nairobi, Mr Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, signed an agreement to step up joint actions to combat air pollution, climate change and antimicrobial resistance, as well as improve coordination on waste and chemicals management, water quality, and food and nutrition issues. The collaboration also includes joint management of the BreatheLife advocacy campaign to reduce air pollution for multiple climate, environment and health benefits.

This represents the most significant formal agreement on joint action across the spectrum of environmental and health issues in over 15 years.

"There is an urgent need for our two agencies to work more closely together to address the critical threats to environmental sustainability and climate – which are the foundations for life on this planet. This new agreement recognizes that sober reality," said UN Environment’s Solheim.

"Our health is directly related to the health of the environment we live in. Together, air, water, and chemical hazards kill more than 12.6 million people a year. This must not continue," said WHO’s Tedros.

He added: "Most of these deaths occur in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America where environmental pollution takes its biggest health toll."

The new collaboration creates a more systematic framework for joint research, development of tools and guidance, capacity building, monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals, global and regional partnerships, and support to regional health and environment fora.

The two agencies will develop a joint work programme and hold an annual high-level meeting to evaluate progress and make recommendations for continued collaboration.

The WHO-UN Environment collaboration follows a Ministerial Declaration on Health, Environment and Climate Change calling for the creation of a global "Health, Environment and Climate Change" Coalition, at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco in 2016.

Just last month, under the overarching topic "Towards a Pollution-Free Planet", the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which convenes environment ministers worldwide, adopted a resolution on Environment and Health, called for expanded partnerships with relevant UN agencies and partners, and for an implementation plan to tackle pollution.   With Thanks to WHO.

Audi of America sets annual sales record with 226,511 deliveries, as consumer demand overcomes a tight market

Source: Audi

Tata Motors delights its customers in 2018 with industry first, ‘Best-in-class Warranty’ for its Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Tata Motors has ushered in 2018 by providing a delightful experience for its discerning customers. The company has announced the first-of-its-kind ‘Best-in-class Warranty’ for 6 years for the entire range of Tractor-trailers, Multi-axel Trucks & Tippers of 16 tonnes and higher GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight). Tata Motors is the first company in India to introduce a standard driveline warranty of 6 years on the entire M&HCV range. This is a clear testament of the reliability, durability and technological supremacy of Tata Motors Trucks complemented by the trust reposed by the customers.  

Additionally, the drivelines (engine, gearbox & rear axle) comes as a standard offer, while the warranty on the overall vehicle has been enhanced from 24 months to 36 months.

Commenting on this latest Customer Experience Excellence, Mr. Girish Wagh, Head, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit said, “For more than 70 years now, Tata Motors has been pioneering new technologies, products and value added services. The 6-year (6-Y) Warranty is another industry first, in our pursuit of offering better lifecycle benefit for our customers. We are pleased to offer the new warranty on our Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles to our customers while reiterating our commitment behind the quality of our vehicles – including the ones that are subject to the hardest use. With this announcement we also assure customers of greater benefits and hassle free business on availing long term (6Y) Annual Maintenance Contracts. Together, 6-Y warranty and 6-Y AMC will ensure lifetime peace of mind to our customer. We believe it’s a perfect way to delight our customers in 2018 and reward them for their trust and loyalty.”

The 6-year standard driveline warranty is designed based on the study of operation in lifecycle of over 20 lakh Tata trucks & tippers operating all over the country, in varied terrain, applications  and loading conditions. The 6-year warranty is supported across Tata Motors extensive dealership & service network of over 1800+ touch points with service facility at every 50 kms across the country. Warranty is transferable on resale for balance period to second owner subject to vehicle transfer or hand change being intimated to Tata Motors and vehicle condition certified by TATA OK.
To provide a wholesome after sales experience, Tata Motors provides its customers with over 26 initiatives, including:

Source: TataMotors

Tata Motors growing by 52% in December ends 2017 with strong Commercial and Passenger Vehicles sales performance

Key growth drivers: M&HCV (83%), ILCV (78%), SCV (60%) and Passenger Vehicles (31%)

Continuing its turnaround, Tata Motors today announced a strong sales performance for December 2017. The Commercial and Passenger Vehicles domestic sales  in December 2017 was at 54,627 units as against 35,825 units in December 2016, a growth of 52%, due to the increasing demand for vehicles across segments, new product launches and strategic customer initiatives.

Domestic – Commercial Vehicles

Tata Motors’ Commercial Vehicles domestic sales in December 2017 were at 40,447 units, a growth of 62% compared to 24,998 units in December 2016. The commercial sector has shown good recovery after the headwinds and regulatory challenges of last year. The steady production ramp-up of the new range of BS4 vehicles and continued uptick in sales in consumption-driven sectors have led the growth. The cumulative sales performance of Commercial Vehicles (April-December 2017) in domestic market was at 269,536 units, a growth of 17%, over last year and continues to grow month on month.  

The M&HCV trucks segment continues its growth trend with robust sales at 15,828 units, higher by 83%, over last year. The ever-increasing positive customer response to the superior range of Tata Motors’ BS4 vehicles complemented by the success of the company’s innovative SCR technology led to this growth. Increased demand for the new tonnage vehicles, infrastructure development led by government funding and keen focus on customer requirements has helped reviving the M&HCV performance. 

The I&LCV truck segment at 5,103 units grew by 78% over last year driven by consumption-led sectors like e-Commerce and the superior performance of new product introductions like the Ultra range of trucks. 

The pickup segment sales was at 4,529 units, growth of 43% over last year as the Xenon Yodha and the Mega range continued to make inroads gaining wider acceptance and volumes across markets. The SCV sales at 10,576 units, witnessed a growth of 60% over last year at the back of strong response to Ace XL range. The commercial passenger carrier segment (including buses) sales at 4411 units also grew by 19% over last year.

Domestic – Passenger Vehicles

In December 2017, Tata Motors’ Passenger Vehicles sales performance was at 14,180 units as against 10,827 units, a growth of 31% over last year. The company recorded the highest ever December sales for Passenger Vehicles since 2012 and the retail sales for this month was also the highest in last 6 years. Strong performance of Tiago, Tigor, Hexa and Nexon drove the growth momentum for Tata Motors. The UV segment recorded a growth of 406% over last year on the back of strong demand of the newly launched Nexon and Hexa. Cumulative sales growth of Passenger Vehicles in the domestic market (April-Dec 2017) was at 129,229 units compared to 112,539 units, a growth of 15% over last year.

Exports

The company’s Commercial Vehicles sales from exports in December 2017 was at 6044 units, a growth of 26% over last year. This is also the highest sales achieved this year. Market share for Commercial Vehicles International Business in all the key markets continue to remain strong and have further grown during this fiscal year. 

Source: Tata Motors

Toyota Kirloskar Motor records highest ever IMV (Innova+Fortuner) sales in 2017

Toyota Kirloskar has recorded a growth of 5% in the annual sales in 2017 as compared to 2016. The company has achieved the milestone of recording the highest ever IMV sales in 2017 (73000 units of Innova and 24000 units of Fortuner –Total IMV sales = 97000) in India. Innova and Fortuner ever since its launch in 2016 have shown a strong performance in the market in terms of steady growth in customer demand. The premium SUV Fortuner has been scaling heights with highest ever sales in India in 2017.

Although the segment is shrinking, All New Corolla Altis has seen a positive growth momentum and retains its strong customer demand.

Commenting on the sales performance, Mr. N. Raja, Director & Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We are happy to have closed the year on a positive note with both our legendary products Innova and Fortuner doing really well in the domestic market. They have been growing steadily since the launch of Innova Crsyta and All New Fortuner in 2016. Thanks to our loyal customers, who have shown continued trust in our products, we have clocked a sale of 24000 units of Fortuner, which is the highest ever yearly sales of the product ever since its launch in 2009. With maximum utilization of Plant I capacity to 97% we were able to cater to the increase in customer demand of Innova and Fortuner.

The year 2017 was dynamic for the auto industry with series of disruptions from Demonetization to GST roll out. Despite the challenges and a temporary slowdown, industry hit back with a steady growth in sales. Toyota Kirloskar Motor domestic sales in the period Jan –Dec 2017 has grown by 5% compared to same period in 2016.

Camry Hybrid sales was negatively impacted with the steep rise in price post applicable tax as per GST framework. We hope that the New Year will bring in positive sentiments in the market for Hybrid. Toyota will continue to have a strong focus on Camry Hybrid in the new year as a part of its plan for electrification of vehicles. It will continue to be a significant part of Toyota product lineup. The current Camry Hybrid already meets the applicable tailpipe gaseous emission levels set for the Bharat Stage VI which are due to be introduced in 2020.

We at Toyota are optimistic about the coming year and with an enhanced focus on catering to changing customer requirements with the desired products, Toyota will hopefully sustain positive growth in domestic sales with more focus towards Innova, Fortuner and Corolla. We hope customers will continue to appreciate Toyota products and retain their loyalty to the brand.

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold a total of 10793 units in the domestic market in December 2017. The company exported 812 units of the Etios series this month thus clocking a total of 11,605 units. In the month of December 2016, Toyota Kirloskar Motor sold a total of 12747 units in the domestic market. In addition, the company exported 1346 units of the Etios series.

Source: Toyota

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HERO MOTOCORP SURPASSES RECORD 7 MILLION UNIT SALES IN CALENDAR YEAR (JAN-DEC) 2017 - YET ANOTHER GLOBAL BENCHMARK

REGISTERS DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN APR-DEC 2017 PERIOD  

Riding on robust demand for its popular range of two-wheelers, Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, capped-off the calendar year (JanuaryDecember 2017) with yet another global benchmark. 

Hero MotoCorp surpassed the landmark seven million units in cumulative sales in a calendar year. The Company sold a record 7,207,363 units of two-wheelers in the period January – December 2017. 

The cumulative sales of Hero MotoCorp in the Financial Year 2017 (April-December 2017), have now risen to 5,585,558 units, translating into a double digit growth of 11% over the corresponding period (Apr-Dec 2016), when it had sold 5,042,435 two-wheelers. 

Hero MotoCorp sold 472,731 units in December 2017, as against 330,202 units in the corresponding month (Dec 2016), registering a strong growth of 43%. 

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp said, “2017 has been a landmark year in our strategic endeavor to further consolidate our market leadership. Despite the challenging industry environment, we successfully created a series of benchmarks, not only for the Indian market but also for the global automotive industry. Starting with our first global product launch in Argentina in January, we have continued to delight the customers with our technologicallyadvanced and youthful range of new two-wheelers. This has clearly been reflected in the strong demand pattern for our motorcycles and scooters. We are now entering the last quarter of this fiscal with a strong focus on the premium segment and scooters and we are confident of sustaining our growth momentum.

Source: Here Motors

Honda Cars India Ltd. registers 26% growth in December 2017

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of passenger cars in India, registered monthly domestic sales of 12,642 units in December 2017 against 10,071 units units in the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 26%. 

The company registered a cumulative growth of 20% selling 129,964 units during April - December in 2017, against 108,522 units in the corresponding period of April – December in 2016. 

Calendar Year 2017 sales result 

The company registered a cumulative growth of 15% selling 178,755 units during the calendar year 2017 (Jan – December) against 156,107 units calendar year 2016. 

The company’s best seller Honda City recorded cumulative sales of 62,573 units in full year 2017 becoming the highest selling mid-size sedan during calendar year 2017. 

Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, President and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd. said, “2017 has been a milestone year for Honda Cars in India, as our best seller Honda City completes 2 decades of unparalleled success in India. Honda City has emerged as the highest selling mid-size sedan during 2017. I would like to thank our customers for their strong support to the model.” 

“HCIL experienced robust growth during 2017 backed by good demand for all our products across segments, especially the Honda City & WR-V. As we welcome the New Year 2018 we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for the continued support to the Honda brand, and look forward to another fruitful year ahead,” he added.

Source: Honda

TVS Motor Company posts 39% sales growth in December 2017

TVS Motor Company registered a sales growth of 39% increasing from 184,944 units in December 2016 to 256,909 units in the month of December 2017.

Two-Wheeler

Total two-wheeler registered growth of 37.9% with sales increasing from 179,551 units in December 2016 to 247,630 units in December 2017. Domestic two-wheelers recorded growth of 35.4% with sales increasing from 153,456 units in December 2016 to 207,778 units in December 2017.

Scooter sales of the Company grew by 50.5% from 55,557 units in December 2016 to 83,640 units in December 2017. Motorcycles sales grew by 63.7% with sales increasing from 58,211 units in December 2016 to 95,281 units in December 2017.

Exports

The Company's total exports grew by 55.8% from 30,694 units registered in the month of December 2016 to 47,818 units in December 2017. Two-wheeler exports grew by 52.7% increasing from 26,095 units in December 2016 to 39,852 units in December 2017.

Three-Wheeler

Three-wheeler of the Company grew by 72.1% increasing from 5,393 units in December 2016 to 9,279 units registered in December 2017.

Third Quarter Sales Performance

During the third quarter of the financial year 2017 – 2018, two-wheeler sales of the Company grew by 13.8% increasing from 7.02 lakh units in the third quarter of the previous year to 7.99 lakh units in the third quarter of the current year. The three-wheeler sales of the Company grew by 67.7% increasing from 0.16 lakh units in the third quarter of the previous year to 0.27 lakh units in the third quarter of the current financial year.

Source: TVS

Mahindra E2OPlus

Mahindra Electric launches Virtual Reality drive experience for all-electric e2oPlus

Mahindra Electric, part of the diversified USD 19 billion Mahindra Group and a pioneer in the development and production of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, recently launched a Virtual Reality (VR) based drive experience for its smart and connected all-electric vehicle, the e2oPlus.

The experience, enabled by VR headsets, highlights the technical features and focuses on the key attributes of the e2oPlus. One of the main objectives of this initiative is to innovatively communicate all the technologically advanced features packed into the e2oPlus through an immersive experience of the vehicle, at select Mahindra dealerships. The campaign aims to expand the base of people who can experience electric mobility first hand, as well as delivering an advanced test drive experience to enable the faster adoption of EVs.

According to Mahesh Babu, CEO Mahindra Electric, “As the pioneers of integrated and electric mobility solutions in India, it has always been our endeavour to make electric vehicles more accessible across geographies and segments. We believe that new ways of leveraging technology and digital mediums to reach out to our customers is already making waves and will transform the market. The launch of this Virtual Reality based drive experience for the e2oPlus is an important step for us on this journey. We are looking at this as an opportunity to deliver the electric mobility experience to a much wider audience while staying true to the technologically advanced nature of the product. Going forward, we intend to enhance this program even further, making it more immersive and experiential.”

The Virtual Reality based drive experience for the e2oPlus is currently available at select Mahindra dealerships https://www.mahindrae2oplus.com/pages/support/dealer-locator. The same is also delivered to customers before a doorstep test drive, which can be booked on the Mahindra e2oPlus website https://www.mahindrae2oplus.com.

The 2D, 360-degree version of the experience is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAdGe2lDMU8 (best viewed in 4K quality). However, the best way to experience the drive is through VR headsets and it can be enabled via apps available for Android and iOS.

Source: Mahindra

Mahindra’s Auto Sector Sells 39,200 vehicles during December 2017, registers a growth of 8%

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.) today announced its auto sales performance for December 2017 which stood at 39,200 vehicles, compared to 36,464 vehicles during December 2016.

The company’s domestic sales stood at 36,979 vehicles during December 2017, as against 34,411 vehicles during December 2016, registering a growth of 7%. In the Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles segment, M&M sold 1,193 vehicles for the month, registering an impressive growth of 151%. Exports for December 2017 stood at 2,221 vehicles, a growth of 8%

Commenting on the monthly performance, Rajan Wadhera, President, Automotive Sector, M&M Ltd. said, “We are happy to have ended December 2017 with a growth of 8%. Our commercial vehicles growth for December has been encouraging at 24% and we are particularly buoyed by our ongoing strong performance in the MHCV segment which indicates a vibrancy in the economy. Global automotive trends such as electric vehicles and shared mobility will be key indicators for 2018 and at Mahindra we would continue to be a key and innovative player”.

Source: Mahindra

Happy New Year Message

Wishing you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year: Gurdwara Bangla Sahib: Pic by B S Vohra