Peugeot Citroen to set up plant in Chennai

     French automobile manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen has zeroed in land in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu to set up its first plant in India. The plant will have capacity of 3,00,000 units per annum catering to domestic and international markets.


     PSA Peugeot Citroen is the fifth company after BMW, Hyundai, Ford and Renault-Nissan to set up a plant in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has been attractive for automobile investments India because of its good labour environment.

     The company will create 20,000 jobs in the region and is likely to pull some automotive component manufacturers from France. 

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Suzuki to buy Fiat’s 1.6L Multijet diesel engine

     In what could a dramatic development, Suzuki has agreed to buy Fiat’s 1.6L diesel engine to mount on a new car to be built in Hungary in 2013.


     Suzuki is tightlipped about the new car but we guess it would be a crossover based on the SX4 platform. Will Suzuki bring the 1.6L diesel engine to India? there is no news about it as of now.

     An SX4 with 1.6L diesel engine would be a great option considering the car and Maruti’s popularity in India. Bigger tyres, high ground clearance and masculine looks of SX4 with power of a 1.6L diesel could have been a perfect recipe for Indian conditions. Who knows, Suzuki might consider the 1.6L diesel SX4 in India at a later date. 


     What is more interesting is Suzuki not opting for VW’s 1.6 TDi. VW and Suzuki are in collaborative terms for mutual benefits and everyone in the auto industry had expected Suzuki to use the VW’s 1.6L TDi diesel engine. Choosing the Fiat’s 1.6L instead of VW’s 1.6 TDi has come as a surprise!

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Opel to bring a fuel cell vehicle(FCV) by 2015

     This era could be of hybrids and electric vehicles, but Opel has gone one step further by confirming a fuel cell vehicle(FCV) by 2015. In a major investment drive, Opel has confirmed its plans to invest $15.8 billion for launching several models by 2014. The company will also introduce “three new engine families” – a small petrol, a medium petrol and a medium diesel which are fully compliant with upcoming Euro 6 norms.

Source: GM via Worldcarfans

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2012 Suzuki GS150R facelift spied

     Suzuki is a well know motorcycle brand all over the world. But some how it is not able to take off in the Indian market. First there was Zeus facelift called SlingShot and SlingShot Plus and now we have come up with some spy pictures of GS150R. However the GS150R facelift will just be change in the graphics and nothing else.


     Though the GS150R is a good bike, it has been over shadowed by the Pulsar maina and Yamaha FZ series. The eninge of GS150R is smooth and refined and the 6 speed gearbox is unmatchable in the segment. Perhaps its the Suzuki's marketing which is not getting the company its desired results. Hope the GS150R facelift does some trick.


Have a look at the Suzuki GS150R

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Yamaha to launch R15 facelift in India

     Yamaha R15 when launched had created a new segment of biking in India. The bike was almost every youth's dream to own one. After over 3 years of R15 launch, Yamaha has decided to give a facelift to its most popular bike in India. 


     The facelifted YZF-R15 will sport a chunkier rear tyre, new chiselled tail fairing with an attractive LED brake lamp. Other changes include a restyled front fairing, new split seats, stylish rear number plate mount and tyre-hugger mudguard.


     However there will be no change in the engine. The same 149.8 cc 4 stroke, liquid cooled, single cylinder will power the facelifted bike. Yamaha might not hike the price of the facelifted bike considering the serious completion from its Japanese counterpart Honda, bike but do not expect price to be below the current model as well.

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Has strike at Maruti's Manesar plant come at a bad time?

     The recently concluded strike at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant has costed the company with production loss of over 1200 cars, most of it were diesel. The revenue loss for the company was estimated to about Rs. 400 crores. Is it just the loss for the company? We think otherwise.


     Since Manesar plant manufacture diesel vehicles there is acute shortage of diesel cars for the company. The booking period is mounting with up to 6 months for the Swift diesel. During the time there is high chance of customers switching over to a different model which is readily available in the market.


     The production loss leading to mounding of booking period has forced to postpone launch the new Swift. So in the mean time if Toyota which has launched a petrol Etios Liva decides to launch a diesel one, it would be hard for Maruti to compete against a car which has a strong quality image.


     Also launching a new Swift means, Maruti should stop the model or launch it along with the current model with a higher price. With the segment hotting up, there could be a price correction among competitor models making the new Swift not so value for money.


     Strategically we feel Maruti Suzuki is in its one of the most challenging period. The company has not yet settled the labour issues properly. New launches are giving stiff competition in every category. But by going through the history, it is most likely that Maruti will withstand the storm, at least to some extent.


     Anyways we at Automobile Planet are happy because it is the customers who are reaping the benefits. 

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Toyota Etios Liva diesel could be here anytime

     On the launching ceremony of the Etios Liva, Toytoa's top official has said that the company has all the expertise and technology of a diesel Liva but stayed away to mention the time frame for its launch.

     As we all know the diesel hatchback segment is the one which hotting up, thanks to the rise in petrol prices, Toyota would want its diesel Etios Liva to dominate the segment. Over 70% cars sold in the B segment hatch are diesel, be it Swift, Ritz, Polo or Micra.

     
     It is not sure weather Toyota will use its Yaris 1.4L diesel engine in the Etios Liva. Since the same engine does the duty on a bigger car Corolla Altis, Toyota might have developed a small diesel engine for the Etios Liva.


     Lot of buzz has been created about Liva taking on the Swift, but it is the diesel variants which should be focused on. Maruti is desperately working to launch the new Swift before the Liva diesel and if Toyota is wise enough (we feel it is), it should launch the diesel Liva as soon as possible.

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