India and China agree to resume air travel after nearly five years

FILE PHOTO: Travellers push trolleys with their luggage at the departure area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File PhotoBEIJING/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years, India’s foreign ministry said on Monday, signalling a thaw in relations between the neighbours after a deadly 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border.Both sides will negotiate a framework on the flights in a meeting that will be held at “early date”, the ministry said after a meeting between India’s top diplomat and his Chinese counterpart.Tensions soured between the two nations after the 2020 clash, following which India made it difficult for Chinese companies to invest in the country, banned hundreds of popular apps and severed passenger routes, although direct cargo flights continued to operate between the countries.Relations have improved over the past four months with several high-level meetings, including talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian...

Read More........ → February 10, 2025

'Lost year': Germany electric car sales go into reverse

Sales of new electric vehicles in Germany plunged last year, official figures showed Monday, as a slow switch to battery-powered cars deepened the woes of the country's flagship auto industry.Just 380,609 EVs were registered in 2024 in Europe's largest auto market, 27.4 percent fewer than in the previous year, the KBA federal transport authority said.After years of growth, demand for battery-powered cars lost momentum as the German economy has struggled and key subsidies were withdrawn.The slump in EV sales amounted to a "lost year for electro-mobility", said EY analyst Constantin Gall.AFP/File | Ronny HARTMANNThe sudden end of the support programme in 2023 amid a government budget crisis had led to "massive uncertainty among potential buyers", he said.High prices for new EV models, still patchy charging infrastructure and range limitations were putting off new buyers in Germany, he said.The drop in EV sales led an overall decline in the German car market, which has struggled to recover since the coronavirus pandemic.Some 2.8 million new cars were sold in 2024 in Europe's top economy,...

Read More........ → January 21, 2025

EV sales hit record in UK but still behind target

LONDON - The UK car industry sold a record number of all-electric vehicles in 2024 but still fell short of the government's mandated targets, an industry trade body said.Battery electric vehicles made up 19.6 percent of new cars sold last year, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which was below the government's 22-percent target for carmakers.The SMMT reported a "record annual volume" of 382,000 battery electric vehicles sold in the UK last year.The automobile trade body had already warned in October that carmakers were at risk of missing government targets, with manufacturers facing government penalties of £15,000 ($18,625) per polluting vehicle sold above the limits.However, the government has since assured that it expects all manufacturers to avoid the penalties in 2024 by taking advantage of flexibility mechanisms that will take into account, among other things, emissions reductions across the whole fleet.The group's chief executive, Mike Hawes, said that while the market share of electric vehicles grew, this came at a "huge cost" to the industry.He referred to...

Read More........ → January 15, 2025

M&M 11th most valuable automobile manufacturer in world: Anand Mahindra

Mumbai, (IANS) Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is the 11th most valuable automobile manufacturer in the world, leaping over many competitors and erstwhile technology collaborators, its Chairman Anand Mahindra said on Wednesday.In a New Year address to the employees of Mahindra Group, he said that among companies that were part of the NIFTY50 in 2002, M&M has had the highest compounded annual share price growth rate till date, and in just the past year, has soared 77 per cent.“For the fourth straight year, we were included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index’s World Index as the highest-ranked automotive OEM,” Anand Mahindra wrote.Most notable among other businesses, Mahindra Susten exceeded its plans for the year, with a cumulative win pipeline of 3.3GWp, over 60 per cent of its targeted capacity.“Last Mile Mobility continued its leadership position in the electrification of India’s 3W market, Mahindra Finance’s loan book swelled to over Rs 1.1 lakh crore and tractor business expanded its dominant position in India amid tough competition,” the company’s Chairman informed.On...

Read More........ → January 02, 2025

Mercedes-Benz India cruises to double-digit growth as demand for luxury cars rises

New Delhi, (IANS): Mercedes-Benz India is on course to close the current year with a double-digit jump in sales, fuelled by the rising demand for luxury cars in a fast-growing economy, the company’s managing director Santosh Iyer has said.Mercedes-Benz India has now launched its new 'AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE' model equipped with F1 hybrid technology priced at Rs 1.95 crore. This is the company's 14th product launch this year, aimed at driving up sales volumes of its high-end vehicles which are priced upwards of Rs 1.5 crore.Speaking to reporters at the launch, Iyer said that the festive season brought the company’s best sales figures, reflecting the strength of the auto major’s performance in a fiercely competitive and fluctuating market.In the July-to-September quarter, sales of Mercedes-Benz India accelerated by 21% over the same period of the previous year amid an overall slowing auto market. He highlighted that the company has been experiencing substantial growth despite the challenges facing the automotive industry.Iyer said the company plans to complete conversion of all of its...

Read More........ → November 14, 2024

Hyundai Motor pips Volkswagen to become world's 2nd-largest automaker

Hyundai Motor Group has outperformed Volkswagen Group to become the world's second-largest automaker in terms of operating profit, industry data showed on Thursday.According to automotive industry data, Hyundai Motor Group achieved sales of 69.4 trillion won ($49.6 billion) and an operating profit of 6.5 trillion won during the third quarter.For the period from January to September, the South Korean automaker's cumulative sales reached 208.9 trillion won, while operating profit was recorded at 21.4 trillion won, reports Yonhap news agency.In terms of operating profit alone, Hyundai Motor Group ranked second among global competitors after Toyota Group.The Japanese automaker reported an operating profit of 1.15 trillion yen ($7.4 billion) for the third quarter. and an operating profit of 32.4 trillion won for the January-September period.For the third quarter, Volkswagen Group has reported an operating profit of 4.3 trillion won. For the first nine-month period, Volkswagen's operating profit stood at 19.36 trillion won.With Volkswagen Group facing challenges in the Chinese market, many...

Read More........ → November 10, 2024

India auto sales cross 24.3 lakh units in July, two-wheelers post 12.4 pc growth

Mumbai, (IANS): The total production of passenger vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers and quadricycle reached 24,37,138 units in July, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) data showed on Wednesday.Passenger vehicles sales were 3,41,510, three-wheeler sales were 59,073 units and two-wheeler sales reached 14,41,694 units.Two-wheeler segment posted a decent growth of 12.5 per cent in July compared to the same month last year.“The above average rainfall coupled with upcoming festive season is likely to again propel growth in the short term. In addition, enabling budget announcements which emphasizes on overall economic growth with fiscal support for infrastructure and rural sector should augur well for the auto sector in the medium term,” said Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM.In July 2024, passenger vehicle segment de-grew compared to July 2023, posting sales of about 3.42 lakh units.“Three Wheelers posted a growth of 5.1 per cent compared to July last year, with sales of 0.59 Lakh units in July 2024, which is close to the peak of 2018-19,” said Rajesh Menon, Director...

Read More........ → August 22, 2024

India to surpass China to become world’s largest 2-wheeler market in 2024

New Delhi, (IANS) India is projected to surpass China this year to become the world’s largest two-wheeler (2W) market, a report said on Friday. The robust economic growth, consumer preference for 2Ws for short-distance commutes, and increasing 2W demand in the shared mobility space will help India overtake China, according to Counterpoint Research.The electric E2W market is growing at a rapid clip, with 2024 sales penetration expected to be 1.5 times that of four-wheeler passenger EVs.The two-wheeler sales grew by less than 1 per cent YoY in 2023. Going forward, it is the electric two-wheeler (E2W) segment of the market that will see more growth, with over a quarter of 2Ws sold in 2024 expected to be battery-powered.Senior analyst Soumen Mandal said that the 2W market is heading towards maturity, but the adoption of electrification is expected to rise significantly, particularly after 2025. “Especially, Southeast Asian countries and India will witness mainstream adoption of E2Ws with a faster transition to EVs in these markets,” he mentioned.Among the top 10, three E2W brands are from...

Read More........ → August 21, 2024

Audi launches two new cars under its Bold Edition in India

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): German luxury car manufacturer Audi on Friday launched two new cars under its Bold Edition -- Q3 and Q3 Sportback, in India.The Audi Q3 comes at a price of Rs 54,65,000 (ex-showroom) in five colours -- Glacier White, Nano Grey, Mythos Black Navarra Blue & Pulse Orange, while the Audi Q3 Sportback is priced at Rs 55,71,000 (ex-showroom) and comes in Glacier White, Daytona Grey, Mythos Black, Progressive Red and Navarra Blue colour options."A perfect blend of luxury, performance and versatility, both these models are now being offered with a Bold Edition -- a more exclusive and sportier variant packed with distinctive styling elements," Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head of Audi India said in a statement."The Bold Editions are designed for those who want to make a unique statement on the road. With limited units available, we are positive that these will be sold out in no time," he added.Audi's Black styling package for the cars features a striking black design that radiates elegance, which includes a gloss-black grille, black Audi rings in front and rear, black...

Read More........ → May 13, 2024

Honda to Pour $15 Billion into EV Factory in Ontario–the Largest Auto Investment in Canada's History

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland listen as Toshihiro Mibe, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., speaks to the crowd at Honda of Canada – released by Honda.In late April, Honda Motor Company announced plans to build a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) value chain in Canada with an approximate investment of CAD$15 billion (USD$11 billion).Consisting of four manufacturing plants for EVs, EV batteries, and battery components the first will have a production capacity of 240,000 EVs per year when fully operational, while the battery plant will produce around 36 gigawatt-hours per year.Battery recycling and end-of-use concepts are being taken into account in the project.Currently in evaluation phasing, the company hopes to build in Alliston, Ontario. In addition to securing the current employment level of 4,200 associates at its two existing manufacturing facilities in Ontario, Honda estimates it will add a minimum of 1,000 new jobs for the EV and EV battery manufacturing facilities.The investment will also create significant...

Read More........ → May 10, 2024

Bajaj Auto launches new flagship Pulsar at Rs 1.85 lakh

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto on Friday launched the highly anticipated 'Pulsar NS400Z' in the country at Rs 1,85,000 (ex-showroom).The Pulsar NS400Z will be available in four colours -- Glossy Racing Red, Brooklyn Black, Pearl Metallic White, and Pewter Grey."It is the ultimate performance machine that will redefine the codes of sports motorcycling in India. It results from engineering expertise, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of what riders truly desire," Sarang Kanade, President of Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto, said in a statement.The new Pulsar comes powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled engine with a 6-speed gearbox, delivering 40 PS power, 35 Nm torque, ride-by-wire electronic throttle, and four ride modes.In addition, the bike comes loaded with an LED projector headlamp, wide tyres, a fully digital colour LCD speedometer with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, music control, lap timer, and traction control.Moreover, the company said that the new Pulsar NS400Z adapts to any ride with dedicated modes -- Road (smooth acceleration,...

Read More........ → May 05, 2024

Petrol, pricing and parking: why so many outer suburban residents are opting for EVs

Anton Ukolov/Shutterstock Park Thaichon, University of Southern QueenslandUntil now, you might have thought of electric vehicles as inner suburban toys. Teslas and Polestars are expensive, leaving them as playthings for wealthier Australians and out of reach for the mortgage belt. But that’s no longer the case. As residents in the outer suburbs reel from price rises seemingly everywhere, more and more are turning to electric vehicles (EVs) to slash their fuel bill. Last year, EV orders for outer suburban residents (43%) overtook inner suburban residents (39%) for the first time. Rural and regional residents accounted for 18% of orders. Avoiding petrol costs is one reason. But there are other good reasons, from easier parking and charging, to lower maintenance. And as our research into why people buy EVs has shown, there’s an even more fundamental reason – car buyers now know more about EVs and feel more familiar with the technology. The suburban garage or driveway works well with charging your EV at home. riopatuca/ShutterstockOuter suburbs rely on cars The further you get...

Read More........ → March 18, 2024

Tesla considering bid for battery metals miner Sigma

Tesla has been weighing a takeover of battery-metals miner Sigma Lithium, people with knowledge of the matter said, amid rampant demand for the metal used in electric vehicle batteries, Bloomberg reported.The EV maker run by Elon Musk has been speaking with potential advisers about a bid, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. Sigma Lithium is one of multiple mining options Tesla is exploring as it mulls its own refining, one of the people said.Sigma’s US shares surged more than 25 per cent in aftermarket trading.Sigma Lithium’s biggest shareholder has been exploring a potential sale of the company and gauging interest from miners and carmakers, the people said. Its biggest investor, holding 46 per cent, is A10 Investimentos, a Brazilian private equity fund that Sigma Co-Chief Executive Officer Ana Cabral-Gardner helped establish. Co-CEO Calvyn Gardner, also owns part of the miner.Deliberations are in the early stages and may not lead to a transaction, according to the people. Potential suitors may hesitate to bid after shares tripled in...

Read More........ → February 24, 2023

Google India tie-up for digitisation in auto industry

The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) and the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) have joined hands with Google India to bridge the digital skill gap in the country's auto dealerships and build their capacity in this critical growth driver.Industry experts believe that some customers may not wish to visit a dealership as many times as before prior to making a purchase decision, and hence there is an urgent need for automotive retail to become virtual, lean, and flexible, said a joint statement.Tailor-made by Google India under its 'Grow with Google' initiative, the training programme will be conducted through a series of webinars on digital marketing, hyper local marketing, and full-funnel strategy on YouTube."The focus of the program is on empowering dealer principals to adopt digital tools and platforms to engage with customers. In its second phase, the program also aims to train frontline sales and marketing executives via a series of vernacular executional videos. This will be followed by an online assessment and certification by Google India, ASDC and...

Read More........ → December 17, 2020

Hyundai receives over 1.15 lakh bookings for new Creta

OCT 09, 2020 NEW DELHI: Hyundai Motor India on Friday said it has received over 1.15 lakh bookings for all-new Creta across the country. "The overwhelming response reiterates trust and love of the Indian customers in the Creta brand name," Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Director Sales and Marketing Tarun Garg said in a statement. The company has already sold 58,000 units of the new version while the overall sales of the model since 2015 stands at over 5.2 lakh units. Last month, the SUV recorded sales of 12,325 units thus continuing with a leadership position in its segment, Garg said. The company's market share has grown to 26 per cent in the SUV segment in the January-September period driven primarily by Creta, he added. The contribution of diesel trims in the SUV continues to soar at 60 per cent since its launch, Garg said. "Owing to the blockbuster success of our super performing brands, the company's passenger vehicle market share in January-September period stood at 17.6 per cent," he noted. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source: Jammu Links Ne...

Read More........ → December 12, 2020

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga crosses 5.5 lakh units sales mark

NOV 17, 2020 NEW DELHI: Auto major Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said its next-gen Ertiga multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), has crossed 5.5 lakh cumulative sales milestone since its launch in November 2018. Powered by a 1.5L K-series petrol engine, the next gen Ertiga is equipped with Smart Hybrid and automatic transmission technology. It also has a factory-fitted S-CNG option. "The remarkable milestone of 5.5 lakh sales is a testimony of its success," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava said in a statement. MSI had introduced the Ertiga model for the first time in India in April 2012 and became the highest selling MPV with 20 per cent repeat customers. "While making a purchase decision, customers often cross-consider MPVs with UVs. Despite being cross-considered with top selling UVs in the country, Ertiga has dominated the market and increased its market share in the segment," Srivastava added. Copyright © Jammu Links News, Source:  Jammu Links Ne...

Read More........ → December 12, 2020

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga crosses 5.5 lakh units sales mark

NOV 17, 2020 NEW DELHI: Auto major Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said its next-gen Ertiga multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), has crossed 5.5 lakh cumulative sales milestone since its launch in November 2018. Powered by a 1.5L K-series petrol engine, the next gen Ertiga is equipped with Smart Hybrid and automatic transmission technology. It also has a factory-fitted S-CNG option. "The remarkable milestone of 5.5 lakh sales is a testimony of its success," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) Shashank Srivastava said in a statement. MSI had introduced the Ertiga model for the first time in India in April 2012 and became the highest selling MPV with 20 per cent repeat customers. "While making a purchase decision, customers often cross-consider MPVs with UVs. Despite being cross-considered with top selling UVs in the country, Ertiga has dominated the market and increased its market share in the segment," Srivastava added. Copyright © Jammu Links News Source:  Jammu Links Ne...

Read More........ → December 09, 2020

Tata Motors unveils futuristic `Ziptron' electric mobility technology

Tata Motors on Thursday unveiled a state-of-the-art electric vehicle technology ‘Ziptron’, which will power a range of aspirational Tata electric cars, starting with a new launch in the fourth quarter of the current financial year.  The new technology will form the basis of Tata Motors’ future EVs, and with it the auto major will ramp up its presence in the electric vehicle segment. The new technology, branded ‘Ziptron’, will first be used on a model set for launch in early 2020. “Ziptron, a soon to be introduced EV powertrain technology, is a building block towards Tata Motors’ consistent strive for commonality, to drive economies of scale and to make new technologies affordable for the Indian consumers. It embodies distinctive characteristics: efficient high voltage system, zippy performance, long range, fast charging capability, battery with warranty of 8 years, and adherence to IP67 standard,” Tata Motors stated in a release. Tata Motors says Ziptron has been developed keeping Indian climatic and traffic conditions in mind, and also addresses typical EV buyers' concerns...

Read More........ → July 07, 2020

JLR unveils driverless electric mobility concept

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd (JLR) on Tuesday unveiled its driverless electric vehicle concept Project Vector at Coventry on Tuesday. The concept vehicle for an autonomous, electric, connected urban mobility is slated to begin its pilot run in the UK from next year. Developed at the UK’s National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC), located at the University of Warwick, JLR’s Project Vector aims at achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion – through its products, services and across its facilities. As the next stage, the Project Vector concept will showcase an advanced, flexible, multi-use electric vehicle that is ‘autonomy-ready’. The compact vehicle concept is built on a flexible flat-floor platform which houses all battery and drivetrain components. The concept vehicle measures four meters in length and can accommodate different seating configurations. The concept electric vehicle can be used for personal, shared and commercial applications such as last mile deliveries, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. “Jaguar Land Rover understands the...

Read More........ → July 06, 2020

18 Lakh FASTag defaulters fined double tolls, Rs 20 Cr collected

New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has stated in a Press communication that RFID based FASTag, an electronic toll collection system implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), has proved to be instrumental in easing lives of commuters on National Highways within two months of its nationwide implementation. Over 1.55 crore FASTags have been issued through multiple Points of Sale (PoS). NHAI has been observing increased sale rate of FASTags which is a clear indication of this digital system being accepted. As a result, FASTag transaction has crossed a landmark count of 4 million per day. In order to give prime importance to its existing FASTag users, dissuade defaulters, and further encourage adoption of FASTags by NH commuters, vehicles without FASTags entering FASTag lanes are being charged double the toll fee. Till now, a total of 18 lakh vehicles defaulted by encroaching FASTag lanes across India, resulting in a double charge cash toll accumulation of about Rs. 20 crore, the Ministry revealed. As a measure, it has also resulted in smooth...

Read More........ → July 05, 2020