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Toyota to develop $5000 car

November 12th, 2008 65 Comments

Toyota is set to enter the cheap-car race with new reports suggesting a $5000 car has been scheduled for development.

Ultra-budget cars are in high demand in booming emerging markets such as India and Brazil, with Nissan-Renault developing a similar offering whilst Tata has already showcased the Nano.

Indian manufacturers seek financial relief

November 12th, 2008 17 Comments

Suffering from tighter credit and falling sales both locally and abroad, India’s automakers and suppliers are asking the government for financial relief.

The industry seeks a lower customs duty on metal imports, extensions of loan repayment schedules for smaller manufacturers and large infrastructure projects, including roads.

Suzuki’s Indian plants lead green drive

October 21st, 2008 1 Comment

Suzuki’s two Indian plants are leading the company’s drive for green manufacturing with new figures released today revealing that since the start of the decade, green manufacturing initiatives have resulted in total energy consumption by both plants dropping 26 per cent.

Importantly, water consumption levels have also dropped (by 61 per cent) over the same time period, while C02 emissions per vehicle produced have been reduced nearly 40 per cent. These results has been achieved while at the same time increasing production levels from 400,000 units per year to more than 900,000.

Spied: 2011 Jaguar XJ mule

August 24th, 2008 13 Comments

Jaguar is obviously suffering no ill-effect following the Tata takeover, with yet another test mule - this time of the new XJ - spotted in the US.

While the limited camouflage may seem to indicate this is nothing more than a subtle face lift - make no mistake, the next XJ is tipped to sport a radical new and daring look.

Tata buys Jaguar Land Rover, appoints new CEO

June 3rd, 2008 7 Comments

Tata buys Jaguar Land Rover, appoints new CEO

- David Twomey

It’s official, Indian business conglomerate Tata is now the owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, having handed over a staggering $US2.3 billion in cash to the Ford Motor Company at the company headquarters in Britian.

At the same time Tata has announced the official appointment of caretaker CEO, David Smith, who has been in the job since Australian Geoff Polites, who had been CEO under Ford and was expected to continue in the job, died suddenly in Australia last month.

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, was present at the handing over ceremony at the head quarters of Jaguar Land Rover at Gaydon in the UK along with Mr. Don Leclair, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ford Motor Company, and Mr. Lewis Booth, Executive Vice President of Ford Motor Company, who has responsibility for Ford of Europe, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover.

Mr. Tata said, “This is a momentous time for all of us at Tata Motors. Jaguar and Land Rover are two iconic British brands with worldwide growth prospects. We are looking forward to extending our full support to the Jaguar Land Rover team to realise their competitive potential. Jaguar Land Rover will retain their distinctive identities and continue to pursue their respective business plans as before.

“We recognise the significant improvement in the performance of the two brands and look forward to this trend continuing in the coming years. It is our intention to work closely to support the Jaguar Land Rover team in building the success and pre-eminence of the two brands.”

Tata Motors also confirmed that Mr. David Smith, the acting Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover, would be the new CEO of the business. Mr. Smith has 25 years of experience with Jaguar Land Rover and Ford.

Before recently returning to Jaguar Land Rover as its Chief Financial Officer, he was Director Finance and Business Strategy for PAG and Ford of Europe.

Mr. Smith said, “We are very pleased with the association with Tata Motors. We look forward to a sustained bright future for the company and its stakeholders.”

Jaguar Land Rover has been acquired at a cost of US$ 2.3 billion on a cash free, debt-free basis and Ford has contributed $US600 million towards pension costs of Jaguar Land Rover employees.

Long term agreements have been entered into for supply of engines, stampings and other components to Jaguar Land Rover.

Other areas of transition support from Ford include IT, accounting and access to test facilities. The two companies will continue to cooperate in areas such as design and development through sharing of platforms and joint development of hybrid technologies and power train engineering.

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Hyundai to launch small car in India & China

June 2nd, 2008 3 Comments

Korea’s largest car manufacturer, Hyundai, has revealed plans to launch its small car in India by 2011 or 2012. The car will also find its way to China and be priced at around $3,500 - $1000 more than Tata’s Nano.

Hyundai Logo

Hyundai India’s managing director H.S. Lheem told reporters that his company has no immediate plans to fight directly with the Nano, while dropping hints that the small car would be launched in other countries also.