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Maruti Suzuki to lift the lock-out at Manesar plant

Maruti Suzuki India Limited today announced that the lock-out at its Manesar facility will be lifted on 21 Aug 2012.
 
Safety & Security Measures
 
The Company had declared a lock-out at the Manesar plant on 21 July 2012 following large scale violence by workmen on 18th July 2012. In the violence a General Manager, Mr. Awanish Kumar Dev, was burnt to death inside the plant facilities and 96 Supervisors and Managers were injured / hospitalized. The Company had stated that it could only start production when the safety and security of its managers, supervisors and workers could be ensured.
 
The police has arrested a number of workers, including the 12 Union leaders, and started legal processes to bring the guilty to book. More arrests may follow the police investigations, which are continuing.
 
The Company will work closely with the Government to ensure that those guilty of causing the death of Mr. Awanish Dev and of perpetrating violence are brought to book.
 
The State government has decided to take a number of steps to enhance the security of MSIL employees. These include: 1) Setting up a Rapid Action Force of 500 police personnel headed by a senior police officer near the Manesar area. In each shift 100 of them will be in the Maruti Suzuki Manesar factory. 2) 40 Personal Security Officers (PSOs) have been provided for the safety of managers, supervisors, and where necessary the workers. 3) Security arrangements have been made at the residences of the employees.
 
MSIL has created a special force of 100 security guards, including ex-servicemen, at its Manesar Plant in addition to the existing security force, to enhance security.
 
We believe that these measures, and the continuing efforts of the Haryana government and its police force, to investigate, arrest and prosecute the criminals involved in the violence on 18th July, will create a safe environment for work to resume.
 
Maruti Suzuki is grateful to the local community for their consistent support and expects that local leaders will play a very important part in the creation and maintenance of a safe working environment. Read more…

Maruti to resume partial production at Manesar next week

Toyota to hike prices from September

Toyota reportedly to hike the prices by 1.5 % of its entire car range with effect from September 1 due to the rupee depreciation.

Sandeep Singh,Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), TMK was quoted as saying, "The rupee depreciation has hit us very badly and it is affecting our margins. We are trying to hold this as far as possible. We are forced to pass on the burden partially to our customers."

The company imports many critical components such as engines and transmissions for its different models in India, reports added.

Results

M&M Q1 cons group profit up 55%

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has posted results for the first quarter ended 30th June, 2013.
The consolidated group profit for the quarter ended 30th June 2012 after deducting minoity interests is Rs10.26bn against Rs6.62bn in Q1 previous year.

During the current year, some of the major group companies like Mahindra Finance, Mahindra Satyam and Mahindra Lifespaces improved their lifespaces significantly improved their performance over Q1 previous years.

Infocus

ŠKODA Auto India builds Shendra’s Zilla Parishad School

Built by ŠKODA Auto India, Shendra’s new Zilla Parishad School was inaugurated. The building was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland, Chairman of the Board of Management, ŠKODA Auto a.s, Dr. Kalyan Kale, and  Sudhir Rao, Managing Director, ŠKODA Auto India. In addition to these dignitaries, senior members from the Management from ŠKODA Auto were present along with key members from the Gram Panchayat and local villagers.

Speaking on the occasion Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland, Chairman of the Board of Management, ŠKODA Auto a.s said, “Education is imperative to development. We at ŠKODA AUTO know how important a good education is to be successful. ŠKODA Auto aims to develop and support education with adequate infrastructure and encouragement, since this will secure the future of student community.

Though this is only a small contribution from our side, we consider it the most precious and valuable, as it is in the field of education in India, a country known to be the biggest democracy in the world. In 2018 we aim to become an automotive player with at least 1.5 million deliveries annually. So our workers’ and managers’ expertise has to grow in line with our growth strategy. Lifelong learning and learning on the job is critical.”

Sudhir Rao, Managing Director, ŠKODA Auto India, who was also present at the occasion, said, "ŠKODA in India truly follows the philosophy of social responsibility and we undertake certain initiatives to make a small yet valuable difference in the lives around us. With the inauguration of this school building, we are hoping to see a larger number of students attend school and receive the education that will help them throughout their lives."

Jaroslav Povsik, President of OSKOVO Skoda Labour Unions said, “For ŠKODA's Labour Unions OSKOVO the education of young people always has been a core interest and we welcome the efforts at the school in Shendra. It is important to care for sufficient opportunities at all ŠKODA facilities around the world."

Under its “2018 Growth Strategy”, ŠKODA aims to increase its global sales to at least 1.5 million per year. In achieving this, emerging markets in general and India in particular will be pivotal. For ŠKODA INDIA, 2011 has turned out to be the most successful year in company history, with this traditional Czech brand posting growth in all regions and increasing market shares.

In India, ŠKODA increased sales by 50 percent to 30,005 units. The Rapid is ŠKODA’s first foray into the Indian market’s largest segment. Globally, the company has more than 26,500 experts and ŠKODA has successfully delivered 880,000 cars to the customers around the globe in the year 2011
Globally as well, ŠKODA recognizes the special responsibility it has for its employees and their families, and – as a good neighbour – for people in the communities where its plants are located.

The Company pays particular attention to the welfare of its employees, offering a broad range of social benefits, guaranteeing healthy and safe working conditions, and providing a unique system of corporate training and professional development.

ŠKODA Auto India constructed the school building within 7 months, without disrupting the regular school schedule. Each classroom is equipped with desks, benches and computers. In the past, ŠKODA Auto India also built a compound wall for the school, in order to secure the premises.

ŠKODA Auto India has also helped eradicate the water problem of the school and has provided the best sanitation facilities possible to help the overall development of the village.

Domestic News

Tata Motors appoints Karl Slym as MD

Tata Motors has appointed Karl Slym as Managing Director, He succeeds PM Telang who superannuated from the Company in June this year Slym shall lead all operations of Tata Motors in India and international markets including South Korea, Thailand, Spain. Indonesia, South Africa. Jaguar Land Rover would continue to be managed independently.

Slym has been the Executive Vice President & Board Member, SGMW Motors, China, (a GM Joint Venture). Prior to this, he was President, Managing Director and Board Member of GM in India. Me has had a 17 year career in General Motors in various positions in various geographies.

He is expected to take over his responsibilities on October 18.

Slym is an alumnus of Standford University and a Sloan Fellow.

Ford India recalls 1 lakh Figo, Classic cars

Fitch affirms Tata Motors and JLR at 'BB' and 'BB-'; Outlook stable

Jagadish Bhat takes over as Head of the Management of MAN Trucks India

India Yamaha Motor, MTV start new show

Hyundai launches neo Fluidic Elantra

Volkswagen Finance announces Škoda Rapid Rs. 9999 offer

ZF-EcoLife transmission set to improve City Bus mobility

R. Sethuraman appointed Director, Finance and Corporate Affairs at Hyundai Motor India

Maruti Gurgaon union opposes sacking of Manesar workers

Global News

JLR begins 24 hour shift at Halewood to keep pace with global demand

For the first time in Halewood’s 50 year history, Jaguar Land Rover’s 4,500-strong Halewood workforce will now work around the clock to meet strong global demand for the Range Rover Evoque.

Since its launch in July 2011, the Range Rover Evoque has achieved worldwide sales success, with nearly 88,000 vehicles sold in more than 170 markets.

In March this year, Jaguar Land Rover announced that Halewood would move to 24 hour production, and launched a recruitment campaign to hire 1000 new production operators, supervisors and engineers. These new recruits will manufacture both the Range Rover Evoque and updated Land Rover Freelander 2 models across three shifts, including a new night shift, which began at 21.30 this evening.

Halewood Operations Director, Richard Else, said: “Our new recruits have worked hard during their assessments and extensive induction training. Many have also worked a number of trial night shifts during July, to ensure we get off to a great start today. I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues as they come on-board to help us meet customer demand for the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander.

“Moving production to three shifts and working 24 hours a day will allow us to significantly reduce the time a customer has to wait for their new Range Rover Evoque.”

Des Thurlby, HR Director at JLR said: “With 4,500 employees, JLR Halewood has trebled its workforce in just three years – and the size of the workforce is now the highest it has been for 20 years. As well as creating new jobs, our on-going global success means we continue to have a positive economic impact in the North West and throughout the UK supply chain.”

All of JLR’s new Production Operators will also now receive up to a year of training which will lead to an Intermediate (NVQ Level 2) Apprenticeship.

“JLR is committed to investing in the skills and training of its workforce and many of the 1500 people recruited to launch the Range Rover Evoque in 2011 have already graduated with an Intermediate Apprenticeship,” added Des Thurlby. “We received more than 30,000 applications for these 1000 new roles and we are very fortunate that we were able to select such high calibre people for our new jobs.”

The Range Rover Evoque has gained critical acclaim achieving more than 120 global awards. Crowned Top Gear Magazine Car of the Year, World Design Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year amongst others, the Range Rover Evoque continues to receive plaudits for its concept car looks, dynamic driving performance, class leading off-road skills and excellent cost of ownership.