Tata eyes MV Agusta

Recently we informed you about the Mahindra’s plan to pick up stake in Kinetic Motors. Now the Mahindra’s arch rival and India’s largest business group Tata is rumoured to be in talks with Italian manufacturer MV Agusta (Meccanica Verghera). After the purchase of prestigious Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata may end up with yet another finest brand. MV Agusta is known for its high-end, high-performance superbikes which are some of the best in the world (‘Brutale’ and ‘Tamburini’). Internationally only two manufacturers have ruled both two and four wheeler market. Recently Volkswagen is said to be interested in buying Ducati. Some of the auto enthusiast feels that keeping two wheeler and four wheeler in the same basket will benefit the maker. Coming back to the Agusta – Tata story, similar to Harley’s agusta has large fanfare across Europe but the italian maker is struggling with a difficult debt situation that has slowed the arrival on the market for new models. The debt condition also hampered Agusta’s dezire for racing in the World Superbikes series. All Agusta needs is the healthy injection of cash, Tata’s can do that and keep the brand alive. It is important to see whether if the deal goes through whether Tata will buy the Agusta through Tata Motors or through a separate brand. It is important to recall MV Agusta announced its intention to sell bikes in India and said that it is currently looking out for an importer.

MV Agusta – Finance

Mv Agusta terminated the balance sheet at 31 March 2007 with a turnover of 141.3 million (including Husqvarna), but margins all in negative terrain: operational management in the red for 7.1 million and a net loss of 34.4 million. To reduce the level of net financial debt was agreed the sale of Husqvarna to BMW, but the sale did not solve the many problems. The 92 million paid by the house of Bavaria Monaco went to repay bank debts and part of those to the Taxes.

About MV Agusta:

Started in 1923 by Vincenzo Agusta and Domenico MV Agusta produced smaller displacement motorcycles til 1960’s. Later it started producing powerful motorcycles and when Domenico Agusta died in 1971 the sales of the MV Agusta motorcycles declind and the production was stopped in 1980. Later Cagiva (another Italian manufacturer) bought MV Agust restructured the business comprising Agusta, Cagiva and Husqvarna. In 2004, controlling stake (57.57%) of Agusta was bought by malayasian automaker Proton for 70 million euro. Proton’s acquistion had been questioned right from the beginning and MV Agusta’s debts and accumulated losses had significantly affected Proton’s finances. Hence Proton decided to sell the stake to GEVI SpA a financing company and sold it for just one euro. In July 2007 MV Agusta sold the Husqvarna motorcycle brand to BMW to concentrate all of the company’s resources in order to expand MV Agusta and Cagiva presence in the international markets.

Classsic Stripes for that extra zinc

Everybody loves style and loves to be in the limelight. To be showy or flashy you have to buy expensive ones, you can Make your car/bike a head-turner by buying a BMW or a Merc but that is not a wise option. There comes the Autographix which makes even your Hero Honda passion plus unresistible for a pedestrian without making a second glance. Having its manufacturing unit at Vasai, on the outskirts of Mumbai, Classic Stripes dresses up your cars and bikes with exciting graphics under the name Autographix. Started in 1987 by Kishor Musale today Classic Stripes client list features India’s top manufacturers ranging from Hero Honda to Mahindra and Mahindra. Stickering is not just to catch your eyes but also increases the life term of the product. Look at the Hero Honda results, when others haave introduced series of new products, Hero Honda has facelifted its proven splendor’s and passion’s. The new graphics has made these decade old products contemporary and the end result is Hero Honda is the only manufacturer which post a positive sales numbers. Hero Honda’s plans to come out with products on new platforms, Mr Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, said: “We are looking to come out with new variants as they cost less in comparison toe building a new platform.” What makes Munjal such a confident man is the firms like Classic Stripes. Classic Stripes has a 68% market share in India and claims to be the world’s largest manufacturer of automobile graphics. Classic stripes has an annual turnover of about Rs 200 crore and says that it is 5 times larger than its closest competitor the US based 3M Corporation. Recently, Autographix made its retail foray to offer service at dealerships and pertol pumps itself. Looking forward classic stripes is scouting to acquire graphic design companies in Europe and Asia.

Mahindra hikes prices

Owing to the rise in input cost, Mahindra today announced the increase in prices of its products. An upward revision of vehicle prices in the range of Rs 3,450-21,000 or 1.5-2.5 per cent for all Mahindra vehicles. The increase will be effective from May 19, 2008 onwards. “M&M has announced an upward revision in prices of its vehicles in the range of 1.5 – 2.5 per cent (Rs 3,450-Rs 21,000). This has been necessitated by a significant increase in input costs. The increase in prices will be effective from May 19, 2008,” the company said in a release. The company, however, has not changed the price of ‘Logan’, produced by its joint venture with Renault.

What’s new in new Unicorn

It’s new…

* Black painted silencer heat shield for the new Unicorn.

* New unicorn also gets a black painted foot step Holder

* New Unicorn also features a black painted saree guard

* New Meter Design- larger dials and brighter colours for easy readability.

* New Gear Pedal – conventional heel and toe gives way for the toe only control in the new Unicorn.

* Chrome plated 3D body emblem to give a premium feel for the Unicorn rider

* Handle bar weights for smoother ride in the new unicorn

New Unicorn comes in four attractive colours with exciting graphics – Black with Red graphics, Red with Black graphics,Space Silver Metallic and Pearl Igneous Black.

Ducati cruises into India

Now you can world’s finest motrocycle in india itself. R1 and MT 01 launched by Yamaha last year opened the market for premium motorcycles in india. From today onwards you can buy Monster’s here. Italy’s Ducati Motor today announced its entry into the country by launching four different models in multiple variants, priced between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. “We are very impressed with evolution of the Indian market. It is no longer an emerging market, but a strong economy. I am very proud to officially announce our entry in the Indian market,” Ducati Motor Holding CEO Gabriele Del Torchio said. Ducati has entered India with the objective to be a market leader in the premium segment, he added. “We will be importing 50 bikes this year. If we will be able to sell these (50 units) in the current year, then it will be more than enough,” Torchio said. “We are not introducing ‘Monster 696’ model, which is currently going through homologation here. After the due processes get over, we will launch this model also,” said Ashish Chordia, Chief Executive Officer of Precision Motor India Pvt Ltd, the sole distributor of Ducati bikes in India. Precision Motor India already represents prestigious brands such as Porsche and Audi in India. The engine power of the Ducati superbikes would be in the range of 90 horsepower to 180 horsepower and would comply with Euro III emission norms, Chordia added.

Availability:

Ducati motorcycles would first be available through two exclusive showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi, he said. “By early next year, we will open three more exclusive showrooms in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai,” Chordia said. Ducati Motor is currently present in 71 countries across the world through a network of 800 dealers. It sold over 40,000 units last year and enjoys about five per cent market share globally in the premium segment.

update:

Multistrada Price in Rs lakh
MTS 1100 1,820,971
MTS1100S 2,072,205
HyperMotard
HM 1100 1,820,971
HM 1100 S 2,072,205
Monster
M 695 1,341,516
S2R1000 1,667,545
S4R 1,946,588
S4RS 2,204,535
M 696 1,378,097
M 696 + 1,423,598
S4R S Tricolore 2,263,396
SBK
1098 2,561,250
1098 S 3,025,362
1098 R 4,803,710
848 2,177,623
Sport Classic
Sport 1000 S 1,882,341
Sport 1000 1,763,436
GT 1000 1,667,545
GT1000 Bicolore 1,731,744

Fiat to source auto parts worth 250 million euro

Fiat today said that it will source auto components worth 250 million euro (about Rs 1,595 crore) from india by 2010. “We will source auto parts worth a minimum of 250 million euro from India by 2010,” Fiat Group Purchasing s.r.l. CEO Gianni Coda said. Fiat currently sources auto parts worth 30 million euro from India. This increase in sourcing is part of Fiat’s plan to increase its purchases from 8 billion to 9.5 billion euro by 2010 from Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, South America, India and China. Auto parts in India would be about 10-15 per cent cheaper. “We are talking to vendors in India who will need to invest in their facilities to meet our demands,” he said. The sourcing would be carried out for the company’s auto manufacturing plants at Europe, Brazil and North America, he added. The Indian auto components industry has an estimated production of US$ 10 billion. The spiraling demand from domestic and international auto companies has seen this sector emerging as one of the fastest growing manufacturing sectors in India and globally. The year 2006-07 saw the auto components sector soar with exports touching the US$ 3 billion mark and investments continuing unabated. The ACMA estimates the global sourcing of components from the country to double from US$ 2.95 billion to US$ 5.9 billion in 2008-09, and touch US$ 20 billion. Similar to Fiat other auto majors like BMW  and Ducati have plans to source components from India for their International opertaions.

Yamaha’s new Alba

Yamaha has facelifted its commuter bike Alba. Introduced in 2007, Alba failed to set the sales chart fire. The entry level commuter segment is dominated by TVS star city,Bajaj platina and Hero Honda CD Dawn. Though Yamaha reinvented its glory by introducing superbikes like R1 and MT 01 and announcing the launch of YZF R15 and FZ at the auto expo,Yamaha said that it will not exit the 100cc segment. 100cc segment still holds more 50% market share in india’s two wheeler market. Alba,Crux and G5 are the three Yamaha’s offering in the commuter bike segment. To enhance its latest offering – the Alba Yamaha has added electric start in the bike. It is important to note that TVS star city is the only other bike in the segment to come with electric start. The new Alba also gets new exciting graphics. The Yamaha Alba 106, billed as the family bike comes in two colours – Deep Red Metallic K and Yamaha Black at Rs. 37,500 (Ex-showroom-All India). With this new alba Yamaha hopes to lure young customers. “The launch of new Alba with electric start is in line with Yamaha’s true commitment to provide world class products to its customers. A lot of emphasis has been laid on shaping Alba for maximum comfort of the rider and its premium features will give consumers a new thrill in biking pleasure. Alba delivers comfort, style and solidity, which will make it the right choice for the discerning customers, “said Mr. Takahiro Maeda Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President.

Nissan to launch Murano in India

Nissan will soon launch its Murano crossover SUV In India. Nissan which is currently selling Teana sedan and X-trail SUV is building a plant jointly with Renault in Chennai. The plant is expected to start production in 2009. Nissan’s Murano might be the only new model between now and the first of the cars to roll out from its plant at Chennai.  Murano is powered by the same engine which powers the famous 350Z. The 3.5L 24-valve DOHC V6 petrol produces 265 bhp@6,000 rpm with more than 342.8Nm of maximum torque at 4,400 rpm. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission system. Another special with Murano is its real-time 4WD system. Unlike a separate 4WD system that allows for serious off-roading, the Murano’s intelligent system begins with a 50:50 split, which can move to either 100 per cent torque to the front wheels, or 60:40 and 80:20 split options during cornering. Murano would be priced around Rs40 lakhs and Murano will compete with Mitsubishi Montero, BMW X3 and Mercedes M-class.

TVS seeks non-confronatation

TVS Motors which locked horns with Bajaj Auto over the use of two spark plugs in engine has decided to get out of the controversy even if the court order goes its way. “TVS will not reintroduce the engine at the heart of the controversy because it would have sold too many bikes using alterative technology in the interim” reports Mint. “Besides, the company would have sold around 100,000 units of the vehicle by the time they would be ready to relaunch it with the old engine (if the court rules in TVS’ favour). And then, these customers (left with the new engine) would feel short-changed” the report added. It is important to recall that TVS caught legal tussle with Bajaj Auto over the use of later’s patented twin spark plug technology. The duo seeked the court to resolve the issue. The Madras high court gave the judgement in favour of Bajaj and halted the sale of Flame bikes using the original two spark. At that time TVS told it will challenge the verdict and it incurred a loss of Rs100 crore in revenue. Later,TVS launched the Flame with a single spark plug engine. TVS is currently selling 10,000 units of Flame with single spark plug engine a month and it plans to sell about 25,000 units of Flame a month by October.

Ducati to launch superbikes in India

Italy based Ducati will be second superbike maker following Yamaha to launch superbikes in India. Ducati will bring its flagship models like the Monster, Multistrada and 1098 super bike to India.Ducati will launch the superbikes in May 7. Ducati’s Global Chief Executive Gabriel Deltorchio will be flying to India on the day of the formal launch in Delhi.Ducati already has a 50:50 joint venture with Kinetic Motors to manufacture auto components. It currently has a sole distributor in India based in Mumbai. The bikes will be imported as completely built units(CBU) and each bike will cost more than Rs 10 lakh. Similar to KTM and Kawasaki, Ducati is likely to join hands with an Indian maker. CNBC TV18 reports that they are likely to have a tie-up with an Indian partner and at the forefront is TVS Motor.