Heena Sharma Blog

The Indian automotive sector was already struggling in FY20. before the Covid-19 crisis . It saw an overall degrowth of nearly 18 per cent. This situation was worsened by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing lockdowns across India and the rest of the world. These two years (FY20 and FY21) are challenging times for the Indian automotive sector on account of slow economic growth, negative consumer sentiment, BS-VI transition, changes to the axle load norms, liquidity crunch, low capacity utilisation and potential bankruptcies. Post-Covid-19 world: When will that be? The return of daily life and manufacturing activity to near normalcy in China and South Korea, along with extended lockdown in India, gives hope for a U-shaped economic recovery. Our analysis indicates that the Indian automotive sector will start to see recovery in the third quarter of FY21. We expect the industry demand to be down 15-25 per cent in FY21. With such degrowth, OEMs, dealers and suppliers

German auto major Mercedes-Benz Thursday made a foray into the luxury multi-purpose vehicles segment in India with the launch of its V-Class at a starting price of Rs 68.40 lakh. The V-Class will be available in both six-seater long-wheelbase (Exclusive) and seven-seater extra-long-wheelbase (Expression) variants, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement. While the V-Class Expression starts at Rs 68.40 lakh, the V-Class Exclusive starts at Rs 81.90 lakh (all prices ex-showroom India), it added. Continuing Mercedes-Benz's BS-VI transition efforts, the V-Class will be available in a 2-litre BS VI-compliant diesel engine, the company said. "The launch of the V-Class in India firmly underscores our pioneering spirit as we introduce the 'Luxury Multi-Purpose Vehicle' segment for our discerning Indian customers," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Martin Schwenk said. Read More Business Standard

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) Thursday launched the 2019 edition of its sportsbike Hayabusa priced at Rs 13.74 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The 2019 edition of Suzuki Hayabusa , powered by a 1,340 cc engine, will feature an added pair of side reflectors for Indian conditions, the company said in a statement. The new bike will have updated graphics and will be available in two new colour schemes -- Metallic Oort Gray and Glass Sparkle Black, it added. SMIPL Managing Director Satoshi Uchida said the 2019 edition of Hayabusa in two new colour schemes will appeal to a larger fan base and enthusiasts in India. "For 20 years, Suzuki Hayabusa has been one of the most loved sportsbikes among the enthusiasts for almost two decades and has received an excellent response in India," he said. Read More Business Standard

This will take Maruti Suzuki India's total production capacity to over 2.25 million units each year Companies News :   The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) plans to add another 750,000 units manufacturing capacity from three production lines in Gujarat plant by 2020, taking the total capacity to over 2.25 million units a year, a top company official said today. The company, which already has a market share of over 50 per cent in the domestic passenger vehicle segment, is also initiating process to study ways to further expand production capacity beyond 2.25 million units per annum after 2020. The first assembly line of Suzuki-owned Hansalpur (Gujarat) plant has already started rolling out products. It has a production capacity of 250,000 units per annum. The second production line with similar 250,000 production capacity, is expected to be complete by this year-end, MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said. After that we