Under both Indian law and their contract terms, temporary workers can be dismissed on the spot without notice. They receive no unemployment compensation....More
Auto makers looking for a way to kick-start sales want the government to roll back excise-duty rates to 2008 levels, and introduce compulsory scrapping of passenger vehicles at least 15 years old....More
Market reports indicate the slump may worsen in June, despite auto makers’ generous incentives, deep discounts and fresh launches of low-priced new-generation products....More
During the 2009 downturn, most of the manufacturers curtailed spending and stopped adding capacity, only to be caught unawares when the market recovered in 2010. They do not intend to repeat that mistake....More
India’s finance minister justifies raising taxes on vehicles exceeding certain ground-clearance, length and engine-displacement limits because they occupy more road space and create congestion....More
The Japanese yen’s dramatic decline fueled profits, but the auto maker helped itself by increasing production and boosting investment in its products to make them more competitive....More
The auto makers’ arguments against lower tariffs on EU imports may be in vain. “Indian industry can no longer continue to seek duty protection,” a government spokesman says....More
Maruti accounts for 30% of Suzuki’s global sales and 40% of its global profits. Its emphasis on small cars is an increasingly vital element of the auto maker’s worldwide success....More
Analysts say the unrest consuming much of the industry is rooted in the lack of communication between workers and employers. There are few forums where they can discuss views and ideas on objectives, policies and practices....More
Auto makers and consumers are waiting to learn whether the upcoming federal budget will raise taxes on diesel-powered vehicles and end diesel-fuel subsidies....More
Tata’s investment in JLR has paid off. In the fiscal year ended in March 2012, the luxury brand accounted for 67% of Tata’s consolidated revenues and 90% of its profits....More
October’s result in part reflected recovery from the depressed economy and Maruti Suzuki’s production disrupted by labor unrest. But it also topped September deliveries by 7.2%....More
Slym’s goal is to widen, modernize and improve the quality of Tata’s product portfolio so the auto maker eventually can challenge Maruti Suzuki for market leadership....More
Following the dissolution of Honda Siel Cars, the auto maker has fresh plans for a diesel engine plant, small sedans, smaller CUVs and even-smaller cars in India’s lowest tax bracket....More
The auto maker’s inability to maintain both volumes and sustained excitement stems from its limited diesel offerings and new launches that mostly have been remakes....More
Sales slumped as the government raised diesel prices 13.4%. However, auto makers are hoping the market will recover during the October-November festival season....More
Toyota, which has installed some 1 million units of engine capacity in China, intends to raise local content to upwards of 95%. A similar capacity expansion by the auto maker’s main automatic transmission supplier, Aisin, is in the works....More
Sales are exceeding both government and internal industry forecasts, which earlier had scaled back 2012 projections for car deliveries to 9% from 11% and for light trucks to 3% from 5%....More
Chairman R.C. Bhargava says production will resume with about 300 employees building 150 cars a day, but he does not know when full daily capacity of 1,500 to 1,700 units will be reached....More
Despite its commitment to expanding its Manesar operations, the auto maker is building an assembly plant in Gujarat. It is among several car companies drawn to the western state by its peaceable and productive industrial climate....More
Diesel-powered vehicles shored up the market with a 55% share last month. To meet increased diesel demand, auto makers have altered their mix of diesel- and gasoline-engine production....More
The expansion of diesel production brings the auto maker closer to its goal of a 50-50 ratio between gasoline- and diesel-powered cars; the current ratio is 70-30 in favor of gas powerplants....More
“If there was a slam-dunk engine in this year’s competition, it was this one.” WardsAuto editor David Zoia enthuses about the 350-hp 2.3L turbo-4 in the Ford Focus RS....More
When I climb inside a new vehicle I want to be soothed not perturbed, but too often when I look up I’m staring at some craggy fastener that never should be seen....More
