Indian Car News

Following suit of global auto companies that source components from India, BMW, the German luxury car maker announced on Tuesday that it will open its international purchasing office in India to cater to its worldwide ancillaries requirement. "We will be setting up an international purchasing office (IPO) which will be headed by an expat to take care of sourcing components for BMW's global operations," said BMW India President Peter Kronschnabl. By August this year, the office would be operational. In Chennai, BMW already has a purchase unit for its India operations. The new purchasing office would be independent of the India operations. It would directly report to Munich headquarters. Presently, BMW sources some IT components from India but with the setting up of the new international purchasing office, it is looking to expand the basket of products sourced from India. BMW India's purchase office and the international purchasing office could work in tandem, Kronschna...

Europe's top-end car maker Volvo is planning an onslaught on the Indian market on the back of Ford India Ltd. Ford India's parent, the US-based Ford Motor, owns Volvo's car business. The Indian subsidiaries of the two companies are planning a joint strategy under which Volvo will cater to the high-end market, while Ford will feed the mid-size segment, as it did with the Ikon earlier and does now with the Fiesta. "Future launches in India could be a part of our global synergy with Ford Motor," Volvo Car India managing director Paul de Voijs told Business Standard. He indicated that the two companies would work on a common platform to launch their cars in the country. "We could bring in vehicles having shared technologies (platform) with Ford Motor to increase our presence in India," de Voijs added. Ford India President & Managing Director Arvind Mathew said, "Common platform models with Volvo cannot be ruled out in India." Volvo plans to bri...

India’s largest automaker Maruti has revealed that their cars would now cost a bit more as they are now equipping them with the immobilizer device branded as iCAT (intelligent computerized anti-theft system). Maruti said that the cars fitted with this advanced device are currently reaching Maruti showrooms across the country. The price hike due to this enhancement varies from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,300 (ex-showroom) for the various models. MUL Managing Director Jagdish Khattar spoke about this feature edition: “With this initiative, we have equipped our cars with a feature found in advanced car markets like EU and Australia.” The company said that the insurance companies too are offering a rebate of Rs 500 on insurance premium for cars equipped with iCATs. Maruti said that the system would ensure that the car cannot be opened using a third party key. If the owner lost both the keys provided at the time of delivery, they would have to request a new key from the company itself.

When an NRI buys his first new car on returning to India, he knows that he has made it. Most NRIs arrive without any savings and have to put in a few months if not years of gruelling work before they can buy the basic household furniture and appliances for their rented homes. All this time, they have also to send money back home to support their relatives and repay the mountain of debt left behind. So they do not have the deposit or 'the down payment' for a car. Since a car is a necessity for many NRIs to work and to relax, it becomes a priority. A start is made with a second-hand car but its maintenance is so high that an NRI soon opts for a new one. Before buying a new car on instalments, an NRI must have legal stay and a job to satisfy the financing company. Once he has saved enough to make the down payment, he selects a suitable new car depending on its model and customisation required. Taking delivery of the new car is a happy event with the smiling car salesmen offering t...

Are you bored of your luxury car? You want a more luxurious and spacious vehicle? Like a Limousine! But you do not have the required amount. No worry. Help is at hand. A Chennai – based firm says it can transform your four-wheeler into the super-luxury Limousine in Just a matter of 45 days! For a cost half that of the original Limousine. Yes, Rs. 30-35 lakh! Now doesn’t that sound exciting? Executive Coach Builders, a Chennai- based firm with headquarters in the United States, claims to transform cars according to your wish. “Any small car cannot be converted into a Limousine. If the vehicle is spacious enough and has sufficient pulling capacity, it can definitely be changed,” says Shibu Kizhakkevilayil who has floated this firm, Shibu a young computer engineer from TVM, owns many business enterprises in the US. So what spurred Shibu to launch this firm? Limousine is a fantastic car. People dream of travelling in it. But unfortunately not many can afford it. Shibu wanted to take the ca...

Goodwood, England - Rolls-Royce has announced that a new armoured version of the Phantom will be launched, offering substantial security benefits for those customers who require the highest levels of personal protection. Engineered to VR7 level, the highest current international protection rating, the Phantom Armoured features high-tech fibre composites and special purpose steel for the bodywork. The glazed area is made from sheets of thickened glass. In addition, a polycarbonate layer is fitted to the inside for extra passenger protection. The Phantom's aluminium spaceframe chassis and suspension components have been strengthened to cope with the additional weight of the modifications. The exterior makes the car virtually indistinguishable from the ordinary version and has the same engine with 453 hp. Customers will be able to order Phantom Armoured from all Rolls- Royce dealers and can tailor every aspect of the car to their individual requirements. The new model will be availabl...

The increasing preference for Mercedes Benz models by Indian customers may see the company roll out more models in the near future. "We are evaluating the launch of new models. But I would not be able to give you the details because our competition will also be eager to know about our plans," Wilfried Aulbur, managing director and chief executive officer of DaimlerChrysler India said at the launch of S-Class diesel, the S 320CDI L on Saturday. The demand is being fuelled by the software professionals and entrepreneurs from the real estate business. "Sales between January and March 2007 grew 17 per cent to 690 vehicles. The sales growth was 30 per cent in the C-and S-class segments," Aulbur added.

Porsche, the German maker of luxury sports cars, said on Monday it had launched an official bid to acquire Volkswagen, Europe's largest auto manufacturer. Stuttgart-based Porsche announced in late March that it would exercise an option to buy an additional 3.6-percent stake in VW. The additional shares raised Porsche's interest in VW to 30.9 percent, effectively obliging it under German law to launch a public takeover for all outstanding VW shares. Under an offer to run until 29 May Porsche said it would propose €100.92 per ordinary share, which is well below VW's current share price of around €112, and €65.54 for priority dividend shares. Analysts have predicted that few shareholders were likely to take up Porsche's offer, adding that Porsche in effect has no intention of buying all of VW's share capital just yet. They see the move as a clever way for Porsche to increase its stature in VW without being forced to pay for any additional shares.

AUDI has bundled its racetrack experience into the new super sports car, the R8, that goes on sale this month in an arena where it faces tight competition from cars such as the Porsche 911 and Jaguar XK. “Audi is filling the important segment of exclusive sports cars,” the carmaker’s new CEO, Rupert Stadler, said at an official presentation in Las Vegas. According to market analyst Nick Margetts it is a logical step by the Audi to fill what it sees as a gap in this exclusive segment because “the classical car segments are breaking up and society is becoming more divided financially. Car-makers are reacting by building more niche vehicles such as these super sports cars.” Apparently they are very successful in the process. Sales of high performance super sports cars in the Jaguar XK and Porsche 911 segment have soared in recent months. Mr Stadler says that all the carmaker’s racing experience has been put into the R8 development process. The V8 motor positioned behind the seats has a ph...