Thursday, November 6th, 2008
Already on sale in Europe and soon to be launched in USA, Hyundai Motor has released a wagon variant of the i30 hatchback in South Korea. The i30 CW will join the five-door model, which went on sale in Korean market earlier this year and has sold above expectations.
Initially, Hyundai expected to sell about 10,000 units on its home market annually, but so far, more than 2,000 units of the i30 hatch have been sold each month, meaning its yearly sales target will be surpassed by a large margin. To further increase these numbers, Hyundai is adding a wagon variant of the i30 to its Korean car line-up.
Named i30 CW, the car will be available with two different gasoline four-cylinder powerplants, generating between 126 and 142 horsepower and a diesel engine packing 128hp. Five speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions will be availab
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Monday, October 27th, 2008
Despite increased sales, Apollo Tyres has reported a steep fall in its Q2 FY 2008 profits due to increases in raw material prices. India’s second largest tyre manufacturing company, Apollo Tyres posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 151 million, on sales of Rs 12.6 billion in the quarter, compared to a profit of Rs 576 million on sales of Rs 10.8 billion in Q2 FY 2007.
The company’s consolidated net profit margin for the quarter came in at 1.2 percent, compared with the preceding quarter’s 4.4 percent. ‘It has been a testing quarter for the company and the industry, but I do believe that the worst might be behind us,’ said Onkar Kanwar, chairman, Apollo Tyres.
The company, which had last raised prices by about seven percent in July, is likely to raise prices again by 3-4 percent over the next one month. Apollo Tyres, however, stands by its forecast of 15-20 percent growth in FY09, and will also go ahead with its planned capacity expansion in India and South Africa, investing up to US$320 million towards this.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
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Thursday, October 9th, 2008
Alfa Romeo is back in US, well partially. After exiting the US market in 1995 due to slumping sales and discontent customers, the brand is making a come back by launching the Alfa 8C Competizione , the $200,000 high performance coupe that has captured the fancy of automobile lovers across Europe.
The Alfa 8C Competizione is now officially available across USA through designated Maserati dealers selected to sell the car. But it doesnt matter as of now beacuse all the 8C’s earmarked for the US market for the year have already been spoken for.
The spyder version will come in later, by 2010. After the full operations are started in the USA, the whole Alfa range will be available throughout the dealerships, from Brera coupe to the 159 sedan or their replacements MiTo and the 149. The company is also looking at a large rear wheel drive car which will be based on a Jaguar platform.
[Via: indianautoblog]
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Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Hyundai plans to make Russia a major production base, churning out 150,000 cars per year in the country from 2012, the top South Korean car maker said on Thursday.
Hyundai, the world’s No. 5 auto maker along with its affiliate Kia Motors will also develop Europe-tailored models to increase sales and profitability, chairman Chung Mong-koo said, according to a transcript.
“High oil prices and the financial crisis have been denting the global automobile market, but we will keep plant operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia stable and boost sales of strategic models, including Cee’d and i30 ,” he told reporters upon returning from a visit to Russia, accompanying President Lee Myung-bak.
[Via: reuters]
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Sunday, August 24th, 2008
In order to expand its business footprints in India, Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer Yamaha is eyeing to sell more than half a million bikes in 100 to 125 cc segments in 2009. The company is striving to add 80 more new dealers this year under its brand to compete with its strong competitors.
Yamaha is aiming to sell more than two lakh units this year, as compared to 1.20 lakh units last year. Commenting on the plans, Mr Tsutomu Mabuchi, CEO and Managing Director of Yamaha Motor India said, “Our fundamentals in the country are not as strong as our competitors. For the last one year, we are working to improve our fundamentals … which include setting up strong sales, services, dealership and spare parts network.”
Highlighting company’s performance in last one year, Mr. Mabuchi stated that due to restructuring and launch of new bikes, sales of Yamaha in the first six months of the year has turned around. The company also plans to roll out FZ , the air cooled bike in 150cc segment in October this year.
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Friday, August 22nd, 2008
Hyundai Motor Corp. says it will bring a gas-electric hybrid version of its Sonata sedan to the United States. Vice President of Product Development John Krafcik said today that Hyundai will display a hybrid version of the midsize Sonata at the Los Angeles auto show in November. The company says it will announce at the show the date that the hybrid will be sold in the United States.
Krafcik says the hybrid Sonata can be powered by both a gas and an electric motor, and will have new lithium-ion battery technology. He says the company soon will begin selling a hybrid Elantra small car in Korea, but it will bring a midsize hybrid to the U.S. market. Krafcik also says it is unlikely that Hyundai will bring its i10 subcompact to the United States from Korea.
[Source: Autoincar]
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Monday, August 18th, 2008
Hyundai sold a healthy amount of Genesis sedans after it went on sale last month, and of the 800 models running around the U.S., General Motors and Toyota were two of the first to pick up the new luxury sedan from the Korean automaker.
According to Michael Deitz, Hyundai’s manager of product development, both automakers purchased V6-equipped models since the V8 isn’t available yet, and that one of the buyers identified himself as part of GM’s “Competitive Intelligence Department.”
While automakers routinely purchase competing vehicles for in-house R&D purposes, it’s telling that the General and ToMoCo were quick to snatch up the Genesis. With Hyundai aiming its new sedan at buyers looking for all the trappings of a high-end luxury model, minus the badge, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW have all placed their own orders for the Genesis.
Deitz went on to tell Wards that Hyundai will be announcing its future plans for alternative-fuel vehicles in the U.S. later this year, and is currently testing liquefied petroleum gas vehicles in South Korea, fuel-cell vehicles in California and Michigan, and is considering diesel engines for its SUVs. The 4.8-liter V8 is expected to benefit from cylinder deactivation in the future and a supercharger is expected to be available further down the line.
Source: Autoblog
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
During a dealer teleconference today, General Motors announced it would be launching a zero-percent financing sale beginning tomorrow, while simultaneously raising the prices of its 2009 vehicles. The “72-hour sale” will run from June 24th through the 30th, and will offer customers 0-percent interest rates for 72 months on most Chevys, Buicks, Pontiacs and GMC vehicles. So far, there’s no word on whether the offer will extend to Cadillac and Saturn. GM will also offer $500 in “bonus cash” to buyers who opt to purchase GM products outright rather than leasing them. At the same time, the General is going to be raising the prices of 2009 models by an average of 3.5-percent “across the board,” something that was bound to happen, according to Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president of vehicles sales, service and marketing.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
After acquiring the Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors is now eyeing the General Motors iconic brand - Hummer. General Motors has stopped producing the “BIG” Hummer as it closed production out of its four plants that construct pickup trucks and SUV. As per the latest reports floating in the market, India’s leading Automakers - Tata Motors and the Mahindra (M&M) are interested in this “American” brand. Tata and Mahindra have also been in the hunt in the past for Jaguar/Land Rover and as reported, both the companies are presently bidding for MV Agusta too.
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Sunday, May 11th, 2008
1. Honda Fit/Jazz 14,854
2. Toyota Corolla (Axio,fielder,Rumion) 10,577
3. Toyota New Crown 10,256
4. Toyota Vitz/Yaris 9,103
5. Toyota Voxy 5,642
6. Toyota Prius 5,454
7. Toyota Passo 5,090
8. Toyota Noah 4,900
9. Toyota Estima 4,435
10. Mazda Demio/2 4,332
11. Nissan Serena 4,316
12. Nissan Tiida (5 Doors) 4,283
13. Suzuki Swift 4,117
14. Nissan Note 3,937
15. Toyota Ractis 3,645
16. Honda STEPWGN 3,520
17. Honda Stream 3,299
18. Toyota Mark-X 3,232
19. Nissan Cube 3,221
20. Toyota Wish 3,134
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