Maruti Swift and Datsun GO fails Crash test,SIAM defends

Stating that car makers in India meet the country's safety norms, auto industry body SIAM today
defended Maruti Suzuki and Nissan, which had failed crash tests conducted by Global NCAP on their Swift and Datsun GO models respectively.

requirements. Our cars are meeting safety norms set by the
government."

Lashing out at Global NCAP, an umbrella body of consumer car safety testing bodies, for "scaremongering", SIAM Director General Vishnu Mathur said: "Every country has its own safety

He further said the protocol followed by Global NCAP was not designed for India and tests must be conducted based on the conditions here. Even in a developed market like Europe, crash test is done at a speed of 56 kmph and not at 64 kmph as done by Global NCAP.

"Our average speed in India is far slower. To say that a particular car hasn't met its (Global NCAP) test is nothing but scaremongering," Mathur said.
 
"There is no data to prove that a particular car is dangerous based on how many occupants have been killed in accidents," he said, adding the Global NCAP had issued a test result based on just a crash test.
He said India is already working on road safety regulations, based not just on crash test but after
considering overall safety related issues.
 Mathur also defended the companies stating that they have not "duped consumers".

 "None of these companies have ever claimed that their models are 5 star rated on safety. The consumers are aware what they are buying. What Global NCAP should be doing is to
spread awareness on safety and encourage customers to but cars with all safety features, even if they come at higher cost," he said.

Yesterday, Global NCAP had said Maruti Suzuki India's popular hatchback Swift and Nissan's Datsun GO have failed crash tests showing "high risk of life-threatening injuries with both cars receiving zero-star safety rating for their adult occupant protection".
"These risks would be significantly reduced if the cars had to comply with the UN test regulation for frontal and side impact," Global NCAP had said in a statement.

Both Maruti Suzuki and Nissan had stated they fully conformed to all the regulations that are presently applicable in India.

Fiat launches Punto EVO at 4.55 lacs

Fiat Group Automobiles India launched compact car Punto Evo with introductory price ranging
from Rs 4.55 lakh to Rs 7.19 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The model will take on the likes of Maruti
lakh and Rs 7.76 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Suzuki's Swift, Hyundai i20 and Honda Brio, which are priced between Rs 3.99
The petrol versions of the Punto Evo are priced between Rs 4.55 lakh and Rs 6.65 lakh, while the diesel variants would retail between Rs 5.27 lakh and Rs 7.19 lakh.  Fiat Group Automobiles India President and Managing Director Nagesh Basavanhalli said the company will continue to expand its presence in the Indian market.
 "We are now strengthening our product portfolio in India with cars that are designed and engineered keeping Indian conditions and need in mind," he said.
 The company is on a comeback trail after failed joint dealership venture with Tata Motors.
  Basavanhalli said the company currently has 116 out lets in 93 cities across 23 states in India.
  The company will launch the compact SUV Avventura which was showcased at the Auto Expo in February, within 60 days, he said.
 Fiat, which is present in the country through a wholly- owned subsidiary, is adding new models in its portfolio this year to rev-up its sales.

Besides the Avventura, luxury hatchback Abarth 500 will be
launched later this year. The Italian-American auto major Fiat
Chrysler had announced plans to launch 12 models in India in
the next five years and will start producing models from the
Jeep brand in the country by 2015.
    After the debut of the Abarth brand in India this year,
Jeep brands will follow next year, with nine models to be
locally assembled and the remaining three to be imported.
 In 2015, the group will introduce the much-awaited Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models from the Jeep brand and Abarth Punto. The Grand Cherokee and Abarth Punto will be locally produced, while Wrangler will be imported.Towards the end of 2016, a fresh Avventura based on a new global small platform will be launched along with a mini-SUV from the Jeep stable, both of which will be locally produced.

In 2017, the group plans to launch new models of the Punto and Grand Sienna from the Fiat portfolio and Wrangler and Grand Cherokee from the Jeep brand. Of these, only the new Wrangler will be imported.
 The launches will be followed by a fresh Abarth Punto based on a new global small platform in 2018, which will also be locally assembled.
  The group's plant at Ranjangoan in Maharashtra will roll out six models across three platforms by 2018, up from the current three models from a single platform. The facility will produce six types of

engines from the current three.
 By 2018, the group expects to have a vehicle production capacity of 2,45,000 units annually, compared with 1,35,000 at present.
 While the total engine capacity will remain the same at 3,50,000 units, for transmission units, it will go up to 3,30,000 by 2018 from the current level of 3,00,000 units. It had set a target of a product line up of five vehicles by December this year and nine by 2016 in its Indian line up.

Porsche launches SUV Macan, costing 1.11 crore

German luxury car maker Porsche today launched its compact sports utility vehicle Macan in
India priced at Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.11 crore (ex-showroom Delhi).

The new SUV will be available in two variants  the Macan Turbo and the Macan S Diesel.
 
While the Macan Turbo, powered by 3.6-litre engine, is priced at Rs 1.11 crore, the Macan S Diesel with a 3.0-litre engine is tagged at Rs 1 crore.

 Porsche India Director Anil Reddi said: "With the introduction of the Macan, Porsche offers a real sports car in the dynamically growing compact SUV segment for the first time."

The Macan marks Porsche's move into a new segment, following in the footsteps of the brand's most successful model in the luxury SUV range, the Cayenne, the company said.

Porsche India is a division of Volkswagen Group Sales India. It sells a range of models including the 911, Boxster, Cayman and the Panamera through eight authorised sales and service dealers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Yamaha sales up 21.33% in March

Yamaha Motor India today reporteda 21.33 per cent increase in its total two-wheeler sales at
61,239 units in March 2014 as compared to 50,473 units in thesame month of the previous year.

Domestic sales stood at 28.7 per cent at 46,052 units as against 35,782 units in the same month a year ago, the company said in a statement.

In the export markets, the company sold 15,187 units last month, compared to 14,691 units in March 2013, up 3.37 per cent, it added.

Commenting on the sales performance, Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd Vice President (Sales & Marketing) Roy Kurian said: "This month has indeed been an exceptional month for us
as we were able to witness a brisk growth due to our superb product line-up and innovative customer centric activities."
 The launch of family scooter -'Alpha' in Auto Expo along with Ray and Ray-Z, enabled the company to maintain

consistency in overall growth, he added.