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Tata Motors wins order of 1314 trucks from Siddhivinayak Logistics

Tata Motors has received its largest ever single order for commercial vehicles from Siddhivinayak Logistics Ltd. (SVLL), to supply 1,314 trucks to be delivered during the financial year. The order coincided with the launch of an innovative scheme by SVLL, meant for the well-being of their drivers, called 'Chalak se Malak'.

The order includes two recently launched products, the New Tata PRIMA 4923 - LX and the Tata LPT 3723, the first 5-axle rigid truck in the country.

Based in Surat, SVLL is India's largest fleet owner, with a fleet size of over 4,000 commercial vehicles. The company operates across diverse segments, like steel, cement, tractors, chemicals, machinery, and is a pioneer in new segments like commercial vehicle chassis carriers.

Speaking on the occasion, R. C. Baid, Founder and Chief Mentor, Siddhivinayak Logistics Ltd said, “We have been using Tata vehicles for decades and are pleased with the quality, engagement and after-sales services. We appreciate the commitment by Tata Motors in helping us become a specialist and India’s fastest growing surface transport company. Through this order we further strengthen our relationship with Tata Motors.” Read more…

Mahindra unveils Quanto...Its first compact SUV

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, (M&M), a part of the us $ 15.4 billion Mahindra Group, today unveiled the eagerly awaited all new compact and versatile SUV QUANTO in Mumbai. Designed and developed in-house by Mahindra on the robust, proven and highly successful Ingenio platform, the Quanto is a direct outcome of customer insights pointing to the need for a compact and affordable SUV.

The Quanto will be available nationally at Mahindra dealerships, with four distinct and attractive variants - C2, C4, C6 & C8. The Quanto price range starts from Rs, 5.82 lac {ex-showroom Thane) for the base C2 model, to Rs. 7.36 lac (ex showroom Thane) for the fully loaded top end C8 model.. All the Quanto variants are powered by a 1.5 litre mCRlOO diesel engine giving a category best output of lOObhp & a massive 240nm of torque. The mCRlOO engine has India's first twin stage turbo technology for maximum power and excellent torque delivery.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, "The launch of Quanto, our first compact SUV, is another defining moment in our automotive journey. For the Mahindra Group, the Quanto represents yet another example of our alternative thinking approach. It has been developed keeping in mind the evolving needs of our customers. I am confident that the Quanto will create a new category within the SUV segment while offering a unique value proposition to our customers".

Pravin Shah, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. while speaking at the launch stated, "The Quanto offers aspirational and distinctive SUV styling, superior technology, space and convenience, along with best in class features, all of which make it attractive to the younger buyer who leads an active lifestyle. Its compact size and versatility, at an affordable price, makes this product very unique and innovative". Read more…

In Focus News

Auto Component SMEs find Internet useful for business: IKS Report

Riding high on the back of a growing automobile industry, the Indian Auto Components sector is set to gain too. The automobile sector is expected to reach $145 billion by 2016, which experts feel can be achieved with policy intervention by the government to ride over the difficult market conditions.

Echoing similar sentiment, SMEs in the auto components sector too have a positive outlook for the future.

This is revealed in the latest report, 'Auto Components Sector', launched by IndiaMART Knowledge Services (IKS), an in-house research unit of IndiaMART.com. The report further reveals that as high as 71% of the SMEs find computers useful for their business and 69.6% regularly use internet as it has played a major role in the growth of their business.

This is indicative of a huge presence of SMEs online who are actively involved in generating business opportunities through the internet.

On the launch of the second IKS Report, Mr. Dinesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, IndiaMART.com, said, “Carrying the foundations of the entire economy on their shoulders, SMEs need to be aware of the changes happening in the sector.

Lack of this information is detrimental to their growth and therefore, we bring such developments in this report on auto components sector. We hope to provide definite insights on the industry through such reports.”

The aim of the IKS report is to provide in depth information highlighting opportunity areas that can be tapped by SMEs to their advantage and can translate into growth for them.

Backed by data from different sources, the report also presents survey findings conducted amongst auto components SMEs to gauge their experience in the previous year and the outlook for the current one. It also shares various challenges being faced by the small enterprises.

Previous to this, IKS introduced its maiden report on Apparel sector which emphasized on different areas of opportunity besides underlining core issues being faced by apparel SMEs. This report also seeks to bring to light the shifting trend towards acceptance of the online medium as an important aspect of their business by SMEs.

Domestic News

Hindustan Motors inks alliance with United Bank of India

Hindustan Motors Ltd. (HM), India’s pioneering automotive major, today signed a deal with United Bank of India (UBI), country’s leading nationalized bank with its headquarters in Kolkata, in a bid to provide easy and trouble-free financing facilities to its customers.

The tie-up entails collateral-free loan up to Rs. 10 lac and other preferential services exclusively for HM customers from UBI. Buyers of HM products will be able to avail of retail finance support with just 10 per cent buyer margin payment from 1690 branches of the bank spread across the country.

Although the alliance will benefit HM customers countrywide, the move is expected to be of immediate assistance to Kolkata golden yellow taxi business segment.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here today by HM’s Uttarpara unit Financial Controller, Dibyendu Chatterjee, and UBI’s General Manager, Debashish Mukherjee. Also present on the occasion were HM’s Managing Director & CEO,Uttam Bose, UBI’s CMD, Bhaskar Sen, UBI’s Executive Directors Deepak Narang and Sanjay Arya, HM’s COO & SBU Head (Uttarpara & Pithampur),Ramesh Vishwakarma, and senior functionaries of both the organizations. A few HM dealers also attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, HM’s MD, Uttam Bose, said, “The retail financing tie-up with United Bank of India is yet another evidence of HM’s customer-centric approach to business. This association will help us reach out to a wider customer base with speedier, smoother and competitive finance options provided by UBI. Belonging to the elite group of oldest business institutions headquartered in Kolkata, HM and UBI, in a way, share a common lineage. We strongly feel that the deal will be mutually beneficial and help us scale new heights by leveraging each other’s strengths.”

The CMD of United Bank of India, Mr. Bhaskar Sen, commented, “Our bank’s ties with Hindustan Motors date back to 1968. We have been together in both good and bad times. I expect this MoU to further strengthen our relationship. I look forward to more such opportunities to engage with HM. That will help both the organizations.”

UBI officers have already started processing finance applications by customers at Hindustan Motors’ dealerships.

Mahindra to export Quanto to Europe and South Africa

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Volvo launches V40 Cross Country

M&M opens first technical centre in US

Tata Motors unveils 'Nano Studio' at Nada Auto Show

Tata Motors Group global wholesales grows by 13%

Mercedes-Benz launches B-Class for sport tourers in India

Tata Motors launches 6 first-of-its-kind Heavy Trucks

International Tractors registers 20% growth during 1st three months in FY12

Boost to partner with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

JLR celebrates golden anniversary of James Bond at Paris Motor Show

Sona Koyo honored with two prestigious awards by Institute of Economic Studies

CarZ opens its first service outlet in Kochi

Hyundai ICC Fan Park brings World Twenty20

Steelcase presents Education Solutions for Active learning

Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II debuts in India

Shriram Transport rolls out Automall in Ludhiana

International News

Renault-Nissan selects Kronos to drive workforce productivity

Renault-Nissan Automotive India has chosen workforce management solutions from Kronos Incorporated to drive workforce productivity at its automotive manufacturing plant in Chennai, India.

News Facts

Renault-Nissan Automotive India is the Indian subsidiary of Renault-Nissan. Renault-Nissan's Chennai factory was opened in 2010 and currently has a workforce of 7,500 spread across its 640-acre facility.

The state-of-the-art facility is continuously ramping up its production numbers. This necessitated a reliable automated solution that provided real-time workforce visibility across all aspects of manufacturing to keep productivity high.

Driving frontline employee engagement through self-service kiosks, quick and accurate closure of monthly payroll, and managing workforce compliance were some of the other reasons Renault-Nissan chose Kronos workforce management solutions.

Renault-Nissan selected time and attendance, absence management, and schedulingsolutions from Kronos, in addition to Kronos InTouch® time clocks for use by all employees.

With Kronos, Renault-Nissan will move all workforce data collection to one system, which will enable improved visibility and control. Also, Kronos will help eliminate paper-based, manual processes leading to improved productivity and reduced costs.

Additionally, Kronos will enable shop-floor managers to have a real-time view of employee availability, and hence effectively schedule employees and make quicker decisions to ensure higher productivity. Read more…

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