News and Views About the Auto Sector in India

Weekly news updates on trends and happenings in the Indian Automobile Industry

Finally, the F1 in Delhi will become a reality in 2009. The other major news is that Renault is planning to launch a Rs1.5 lakh car in India and this is sure to be competition for the small Tata car on anvil. An interesting trend is better association between industry-academia with car manufacturers tapping young engineers for design.

- Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Automotive player ETAS enters India
ETAS Group, a global provider of end-to-end solutions in electronic control units to the automotive industry is entering the Indian market through its wholly-owned subsidiary - ETAS Automotive India Pvt Ltd, headquartered at Bangalore.

To begin with, ETAS will focus on Test and Validation Division and the Measurement and Calibration Division.
June 15, 2007
PTI via Economic Times

Renault's small car to cost less than Rs 1.5 lakh
Renault may develop a $3,000 small car for emerging markets, including India. If manufactured in India, its will be sold by Renault’s Indian JV Mahindra Renault.

This is sure to be competition for the Rs 1 lakh car of the Tata group.
June 15, 2007
Economic Times

Auto cos on catch 'em young mission
400 budding engineers from 27 colleges will compete to design an all terrain vehicle.

The first BAJA (pronounced Baha) SAE India 2007 will be held at Pithampur near Indore from December 21-23. Mahindra and Mahindra, Ford India, JK Tyres, Bharat Forge, Emitec, Lucas TVS, M&M and Charutar Vidya Mandal are sponsors to the event. The organizers are hopeful that other companies would join.

Each of the teams will be supplied with transmissions from M&M and 9 HP petrol engines by Lombardini India. sponsors will shell-out a cheque of Rs 2 lakh per team, to be backed strictly against bills of expenditure.
Jun 15, 2007
Hindu Businessline

Truck sales slowdown may not impact tyre cos in Q1
All major tyre producers (including Apollo Tyres, MRF, JK Tyre, Ceat and Birla Tyre) have reported rise in net realisation during April-June 2007 compared to the corresponding period in 2006-07 despite reducing vehicular sales.

This is primarily due to replacement demand during the summar months (March-June)
Jun 15, 2007
Hindu Businessline

IOA signs deal for F1 race in Delhi
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has signed a deal with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for a Formula One Grand Prix in New Delhi. The first race is expected to be held in October 2009, subject to contract being finalised by September 2007.

Malaysia (Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur), Bahrain (Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir), Japan (Fuji Speedway in Oyama) and China (Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai) are the other four Asian countries where F1 races take place.
June 14, 2007
CNN IBN

Honda plans India-only 100 cc bike
Honda Motorcycle Scooters India (HMSI) is developing a new 100 cc motorcycle. The motorcycle may be launched by 2010. The bike is expected to sport a premium tag.
June 13, 2007
Economic Times