Car sales gain momentum in April
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
| The domestic auto market is showing signs of revival thanks to the 4 percentage point cut (400 bps) in excise duty on cars and two-wheelers announced in February. April witnessed a jump of more than 17 per cent in the car segment, while sales in the utility vehicle segment rose by 31 per cent, as compared with the corresponding month last year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| According to the figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the passenger-vehicle segment, which also includes multi-purpose vehicles, grew by 21 per cent. The motorcycle sales grew by 8 per cent during the month. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| While 84,283 cars were sold in April 2007, 98,740 cars were sold last month. Sales were led by models from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and General Motors (GM). Anticipation of a hike in prices in the coming weeks also pushed sales. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“Benefits of the excise duty cut can be seen in individual sales of companies, such as Maruti, Hyundai and GM. These collectively command over 66 per cent of total sales,” said an analyst.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maruti Suzuki posted a growth of 22 per cent during the month, selling 59,539 units. Hyundai Motor India sold 21,501 units, up by 36 per cent. Meanwhile, GM sold 5,563 units, growing by 24 per cent. In all, 1,30,013 passenger vehicles were sold in April. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forecasts of a decelerating market due to shrinking credit options and high interest rates had no effect on sales of two-wheelers. Sales of motorcycles and scooters grew by 8.31 per cent and 11.93 per cent, respectively. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, witnessed a declined of 68 per cent in turnover. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motorcycle manufacturers sold 5,01,592 units this year, as compared with 4,63,091 in April last year. Market leader Hero Honda saw a growth of 9 per cent, selling 2.86 lakh units. Bajaj Auto posted a growth of 23 per cent, selling 2.03 lakh units. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hero Honda said its expansion in rural areas helped boost sales. Bajaj said growth was seen mainly in the 125cc-plus category, where it has a 50 per cent market share. Sales in the overall commercial vehicles for April this year grew by 7.62 per cent: 33,271 units were sold as compared with 30,914 units in April 2007. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sad news: a racer die in the “24 Hours of LeMons crash”(Photos)
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
We all saw the report from Murilee just under an hour ago, and now we’re hearing from numerous sources that the 24 Hours of LeMons race has taken a tragic turn. Our sources tell us the driver of the Volvo 242 Turbo in Gulf Oil colors (pictured above before the race, and below from the Thunderhill LeMons race last year) has died. We’re waiting on more as we hear it from team V8olvo as well as others at the Altamont 24 Hours of LeMons. If this news ends up being true, our prayers, thoughts and well-wishes go out to the family, friends and teammates. All we do know for sure is that racing has been halted for the day and will supposedly resume again tomorrow. Although if it is true, that may just be wishful thinking. Updated below the jump — and with new photos below thanks to Mark Pitts
Greener new generation Audi A3 range majors on efficiency
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
• OTR prices range from £14,995 to £27,720
• S3 becomes available for the first time in five-door Sportback form
• Advanced common rail 2.0-litre TDI first seen in A4 Saloon is adopted by A3 in 140PS and 170PS forms, bringing significantly improved efficiency, acoustics and refinement
• Improvements to 1.4 TFSI, 1.8 TFSI and 2.0 TFSI petrol engines boost efficiency
• Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping as used by the TT and R8 becomes available as an option for selected models
• New seven-speed version of S tronic dual clutch transmission for selected models, including, at a later date, the S3
• New faster-reacting quattro four-wheel-drive system for A3 and S3
Reed the Whole virsion
Opel RAK 2: enough to blow up a whole neighborhood
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
It’s no surprise at all that the rocket age began in Germany. But a story that includes dropping V2 rockets on the innocent population of London in the Blitz began 15 years earlier, and the only explosives involved were the 24 rockets with 265 pounds of propellant behind Fritz von Opel’s head.
The dream started in 1927 when Max Valier, a South Tyrolean astronomer, test pilot and author of The Advance into Space approached von Opel seeking support for his rocket engine research. Von Opel, himself a race car driver and pilot, recognized the potential of rocket technology as well as its advertising value for his family’s company. From then on, Opel’s factory in Rüsselsheim began researching innovative modes of propulsion, measuring the thrust of various rocket types on a specially-constructed test bench. Engineer and rocket-maker Sander, based near Bremerhaven, delivered state-of-the-art solid-fuel rockets to them. Sander already had made his reputation manufacturing rockets for maritime rescue operations; his missiles were used to propel ropes to ships in distress.
By the spring of 1928, the company announced (more…)
Read more >>Mercedes-Benz continues to climb in JD Power survey
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
Mercedes-Benz has achieved an overall four star rating in the latest JD Power consumer satisfaction index (CSI) achieving an 82.8 per cent score from the survey of 16,000 UK motorists.
The rating positioned the automaker sixth in the table overall, climbing from 11th last year.
JD Power’s consumer satisfaction index includes 28 brands and 100 models and owners provide detailed information about their cars which they have typically owned for about two years.
The current survey covers the period from September 2005 to August 2006.
Owners rate the manufacturers on 77 attributes grouped in four areas; quality/reliability, vehicle appeal, service and ownership cost.
With a score of 84.7 per cent those owners placed Mercedes-Benz second in the results for vehicle appeal.
In the league table of cars, Mercedes-Benz E-Class owners gave it five stars and a rating of 84.2 per cent.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class also achieved a high score of 82.8 per cent, just above the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which scored 82.2 per cent.
Courtesy: Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd.
Read more >>Goodyear joins US EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
AKRON, Ohio — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, the nation’s leading commercial tire manufacturer, announced today it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, which previously approved using the company’s Fuel Max linehaul tires on SmartWay tractors and trailers.
SmartWay is a collaboration between the truck transportation industry and EPA to help increase energy efficiency and significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution.
“We continue to do our part for the environment with our innovative technologies that reduce tire rolling resistance and energy use at all facilities and eliminate all waste disposal in landfills. We also offer solution-based business tools that calculate fuel consumption and help fleets lower their costs of operation, said Steve McClellan, Goodyear vice president of commercial tire systems.
“Through the SmartWay Transport program, we see opportunities to further our relationships with America’s fleets and truck and trailer manufacturers in the pursuit of even greater gains in fuel efficiency and emission reductions. The savings are substantial,” McClellan said. (more…)
Read more >>Snake Skin Green Hennessey Venom 1000TT up for sale
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
Click above for a high resolution image
As if 1000 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 2.25 seconds and the huge rear wing didn’t attract enough attention. It just had to be in Snake Skin Green. According to Hennessey, this is the first and only Venom Twin-Turbo in this color, and it’s listed for sale on HennesseyPerformance.com. It comes with the 1200-horsepower upgrade option, VenomAero body kit, KW adjustable coilover suspension, Brembo brakes, lightweight wheels, and more. The car’s new owner will also be able to make Bugatti Veyron owners green with envy as they see this Viper’s taillights fading into the distance. Click away in the full-res gallery below. (more…)
Read more >>9ff proves the GT9 is stupid fast, tops 253 mph
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
Click above for a high resolution gallery of the GT9
There are only a handful of cars that can strike fear into the Bugatti Veyron. The Koenigsegg CCX comes close with a top speed of 242.42 mph, and the SSC Aero Twin-Turbo is even faster, hitting a two-way average speed of 255.83 mph and officially taking the crown of world’s fastest car back in September. These über-fast supercars will now be looking over their shoulders with the new kid on the block, the 9ff GT9. Based on the Porsche 911 GT3, 9ff stretches the chassis about a foot and chops the roofline for improved aerodynamics. A carbon-kevlar subframe houses a twin-turbo 4.2-liter flat-6 pushing out 987 bhp. Our German is a bit rough, but we can translate enough of Autobild’s recent story on the 9ff GT9 to know they achieved ridiculous speeds in the super Porsche at the Papenburg high speed oval in Germany. 409 km/h to be exact, which roughly translates to 253 mph. We’re not sure if there is more speed left in the GT9 to top the Bugatti or the SSC, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Read more >>Mazda launches all-new ‘Mazda Biante’ in Japan
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
Hiroshima, Japan - Mazda Motor Corporation today announced its newly developed eight-seat miniv
an, the Mazda Biante, which will go on sale in Japan during summer 2008.
The name ‘Biante’ was coined from the English word, ‘ambient,’ to create the impression of a unified interior space that contributes to an enjoyable and comfortable in-car experience for all the vehicle’s occupants.
Developed exclusively for the Japanese market, the Biante features best-in-class interior space, distinctive, athletic styling and superior dynamic performance. All of which provides the driver and passengers with a pleasing driving experience.
Courtesy: Mazda Motor Corporation, Japan
Read more >>Spy shots: Fisker Karma makes an appearance in California
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
05/10/2008 , 
Up until now, the Fisker Karma hasn’t really been much more than a pretty face to go along with a promise. That changes today, thanks to a spy photographer who was lucky enough to catch the upcoming plug-in hybrid sedan out testing in California. Lawsuits often seem to have a dampening effect on enthusiasm, so it’s good to see the Karma out and about. We can clearly see that the body is the same shape as what we all saw at its introduction earlier this year in Detroit. What we don’t know yet is what’s powering those shapely curves down the road. The first inclination from Autocar is that a Volkswagen 1.4-liter four-banger will provide power to the lithium ion batteries via a generator, but we really can’t be sure what’s being tested. Still, given the amount of electric know-how that Quantum Technologies, the electric powertrain supplier to Fisker, already has, we wouldn’t be too surprised if something close to final-spec components were being run through their paces.
UPDATE: For what it’s worth, these photos were not captured by a photographer hiding in the bushes. They were apparently actually put out by Fisker’s Beverly Hills PR agency Rogers & Cowan. We still don’t know anything about the mechanicals of the car in question, only that Fisker is trying to generate some buzz.
Read more >>Special summer edition Alfa Spider
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
The three grand’s worth of options on the new Alfa Spider, could cost you nothing. The firm is offering a summer special, to be badged Spider Limited Edition.
Only 200 units will be based around (more…)
Read more >>Auto-parts strike could last
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
DETROIT — A two-week strike at auto- parts maker American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings could last much longer, largely because the company is profitable yet wants concessions, say some labor experts and workers on the picket lines.
As the strike dragged on Monday, it caused a parts shortage that crippled General Motors’ ability to make pickup trucks, big sport utility vehicles and vans. The company says it has shut down part or all of 28 plants, affecting 37,000 hourly workers.
American Axle wants concessions like those that the United Auto Workers gave to GM, Ford, Chrysler and parts makers Delphi and Dana.
American Axle says its manufacturing workers can make up to $73.48 per hour in wages and benefits, three times the rate at its U.S. competitors.
DAYS OF FERRARI 2008, Day 9: 1962 250 GT/L Berlinetta Competizione
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
Design by Pininfarina
Coachwork by Scaglietti
Chassis No. 4213 GT
Photos by Mathieu Heurtault
Specifications
240 bhp, 2,953 cc all-alloy SOHC V-12
four-speed with overdrive
front double wishbone
solid rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs
four-wheel disc brakes
wheelbase: 2,400mm (94.5in.)
Introduced in 1962 at the Paris Auto Show, the new 250 GT/L—“L” for Lusso, Luxury—was designed by Pininfarina with construction to be executed by Scaglietti. Many consider it to be a landmark design, and it has often been named one of the most beautiful cars ever built—no small feat when considering the decades-long tradition of stunning Pininfarina creations, both before and after the Lusso. A precursor to the 330 GTC, it was Ferrari’s top of the line production street car but, unlike the SWB Berlinetta or the California Spyder, was not conceived by the factory as a dual-purpose road/race car.
Beginning with a nose reminiscent of the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, the Lusso’s steel and aluminum body swept back to a 250 GTO-like truncated tail capped by a delicate but effective spoiler. The (more…)
Read more >>Union: Layoffs, shutdown hit Louisville Ford truck plant
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
UAW Local 862 Vice President Todd Dunn says temporary employee layoffs are scheduled to begin this month on the body and paint lines at the plant and could roll into August. He said the whole plant will be shut in July. (more…)
Read more >>Volkswagen 1-litre car: Condensed high-tech perfection
from auto parts manufacturers and auto parts suppliers online
With a good amount of chatter out there in regard to Volkswagen offering the 1-litre in 2010, we wanted to give you another look at it. Volkswagen presented the 1-litre car in April of 2002. Do the math and is was just over 6 years ago… The timing would be about right but we have not seen anything solid coming from VW.
Click image to view galleryIt looks to start at Motor Authority back on October of 2007.
We love this car. From its exterior design down (more…)
Read more >>