High Voltage Launches & New Concept Showcase Mark Day 2

By Author: Rocky Singh
Total Articles: 19
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• Major automobile players remain buoyant
• Automobile fraternity deliberate upon “Hybrid/Electric Mobility at “Technology Day” organized by SIAM
• Show opens for public from January 7

The second day of the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012, with its exhilarating new launches and striking displays, ended on a high note for the Indian automotive industry. Global car makers hope to garner greater attention through an exhibition of their finest products and make their brand presence felt in the Indian car market.

Expressing delight at the response 11th Auto Expo has garnered, CII Director General Mr. Chandrajit Bannerjee, said, “Seen as a market with immense potential for growth, India is fast emerging as an automobile hotspot. The new launches at the Auto Expo 2012 aptly demonstrate the importance of the expanding Indian market for global automobile heavyweights. The auto carnival opens for the public tomorrow”.

Passenger vehicles maintain the fervor

The automotive giant, Maruti Suzuki, unveiled the five-seater MPV, Ertiga, which marks the company’s entry into the Utility Vehicle ...
... segment. With the unveiling of the compact MPV Ertiga which promises a mileage of 20 kilometre per litre, Maruti Suzuki is making forays into previously uncharted territories.

Reiterating its commitment to the Indian market, Toyota today launched Etios and Liva racing concepts at the Auto Expo 2012. The company had earlier unveiled the new Innova, Fortuner and Land Cruiser 200 models. Also a part of the attractive line up of vehicles displayed at the expo are an array of new offerings on each of the existing models - Altis Easy Seat, New Prius, New Camry and the New LC 200.

Adding to its bouquet of offerings, General Motors India has brought out a slew of vehicles at the Auto Expo. GM today unveiled the all-new Chevrolet Sail hatchback and the MPV concept.

Cementing its portfolio with present line-up including Fluence and the Koleos, Renault today launched Renault Pulse hatchback in India. Renault has also showcased the Duster SUV.

After unveiling three new products- a 110cc scooter Maestro, and two motorcycles, the 125cc Ignitor and 100cc Passion XPro, on day one of Auto Expo 2012, Hero Moto Corp today unveiled its first petrol-electric hybrid scooter, Leap. The Italian light commercial manufacturer Piaggio SpA today re-launched one of the most iconic scooter brand Vespa in India. The company took wraps off a 125cc gearless scooter- LX125, at the Auto Expo.

Commercial vehicles manufacturers betting big

Apart from passenger vehicles, Daimler Trucks, AMW and Ashok Leyland made their presence felt in the commercial car segment at the event. While Ashok Leyland introduced India’s first 37-tonne haulage truck U-3723 H with the highest payload of upto 27 tonnes, Force Motors launched ‘Traveller —26’, the world largest monocoque van along with hybrid variant of its commercial vehicle ‘Traveller’. India’s third largest heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer Asia MotorWorks (AMW) unveiled the next generation 4928 TR tractor, 2528 TP tipper and a luxurious new front engine bus called Magnus.

SIAM celebrates Technology Day on “Hybrid/Electric Mobility – Drive the Change”

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today organized Technology Day on “Hybrid/Electric Mobility – Drive the Change”. The conference deliberated upon the potential of hybrid and electric propulsion technologies as an alternative to main stream ICE based vehicles.

Mr. S Sundareshan, Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India was the chief guest who spoke about the needs of alternative fuels in view of the growing import of petroleum products.

Suggesting workable solutions to achieve the tipping point for the market, Mr. S. Sandilya, President, SIAM said “The first step is to bridge the price – performance gap for consumers and bring acceptable products into the market through demand side and supply side interventions. In parallel, the industry also needs to invest in building manufacturing and technology development capabilities. Power and charging infrastructure investments need to be made to facilitate adoption and OEMs should be incentivized for local manufacturing.”

Presentations on the global perspective on Hybrid/Electric Vehicles and India’s potential were made by Suzuki Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation and Volkswagen AG and leading component manufacturers’ viz. Bosch, Denso, Eaton Corporation and Cummins.

January 6, 2012