Motown India June 2018 by Motown India

WWW.MOTOWNINDIA.COM | WWW.MICORPORATE.COM

VOL-8 • ISSUE-9 • JUNE 2018 • `100/-

INDIA

FIRST DRIVE

VOLVO XC40

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO*

FIRST DRIVES FORD ECOSPORT S

ROYAL ENFIELD THUNDERBIRD 500X

MERCEDES AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ PLUSH NEW MAHINDRA XUV5OO

FIRST RIDES HONDA X BLADE

* • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

EDITOR Punnoose Tharyan (Roy) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------News Coordinator - Jisha P Principal Correspondent (Auto & Gadgets) Aakash Paul Video Editor - Ramesh Kumar Content Manger - Vrinda Desai Digital In-charge Naveen Kumar Web Correspondents - Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Photo Journalists - Afsar Baig, Neeraj Panwar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------For Editorial contact editorial@motownindia.com, editorial.motown@gmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR MARKETING & SALES CONTACT Marketing Head - Chandan Punhani 9891092066 Head-Operations - Jisha P jisha@motownindia.com, +91-9958125645 advertising@motownindia.com, advertising.motown@gmail.com /+91-9811097399 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR ACCOUNTS CONTACT Ankit Sharma, ankit@motownindia.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT Dalip Singh Bagdwal subscription@motownindia.com / +91-9811305822 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Office Executive Ravinder ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122756/58 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Motown India is owned by Motown Publications Private Limited and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Motown India magazine is printed at Balaji Ad Prints, C-187, Ground Floor, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase - 1, New Delhi -110028 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------This issue of Motown India magazine contains 76 pages including both covers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITORIAL ADVISORS Salil Sharma, Alexander .T & Annie Jacob

P. THARYAN (ROY)

t is interesting to note that Volvo Cars is slowly making inroads into the Indian car market. In July 2018 it will be launching a compact luxury SUV, the XC40 which is doing remarkably well in the markets of Europe and China. We got a chance to get behind the wheels of the new XC40 and drive it around in Hyderabad. The vehicle is definitely going

to help Volvo Car India to move a notch higher in terms of market share. The Volvo XC40 will be pitted against the likes of the BMW X1, the Audio Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Whether it will give a tough competition to its German rivals, is something we have to wait and watch. On a personal note, I feel the XC40 has the right features and specifications to give its rivals a run for their money. Besides the XC40, we have reviewed the Mercedes AMG E63S 4Matic+, the new Ford EcoSport S, the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X and the Honda XBlade.

There are lots of

news on new launches, some of them being big ticket launches in India and abroad. We have a loaded B2B section too, with a special report on Mahindra & Mahindra, based on what the company had to say during the analyst meet, immediately after disclosing their annual FY18 sales and profit figures.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

LATEST MOTOWN INDIA

VOLVO XC40

VIDEOS

FORD ECOSPORT S

www.facebook.com/MotownIndia

@MotownIndia

RE THUNDERBIRD 500X

www.youtube.com/MotownIndia

/MOTOWNINDIA 60,000 SUBSCRIBERS 12,989,176 VIEWS 432 VIDEOS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL NOW FOR ALL THE ACTION!

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 3

CONTE NTS VOL 8 | ISSUE 9 | JUNE 2018

BIG TICKET LAUNCHES :

INDIA CAR NEWS:

Rolls-Royce Cullinan super luxury SUV launched

18 INDIA BIKE NEWS: Royal Enfield Classic 500 ‘Pegasus’ motorcycle launched in India for `2.49 lakh

2018 Hyundai Creta launched for `9.43 lakh

WHEELZ & ROADZ : Volvo XC40

WHEELZ & ROADZ :

New Ford EcoSport S

Plush New Mahindra XUV5OO (W11-O)

B2B NEWS - SPECIAL REPORT: 4 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

WHEELZ & ROADZ :

50 Mahindra Scales New Heights

WHEELZ & ROADZ : Mercedes AMG E 63 S 4Matic+

WHEELZ & ROADZ :

Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500X

68 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES:

WHEELZ & ROADZ : Honda X Blade

Growth of E-buses to surge faster than EVs, says BNED forecast

TECHNOLOGY: Ford’s new facility in Germany can simulate any weather, anytime

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

A great place to work takes you to greater places. National Engineering Industries Ltd. has been certified as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Great Place to Work.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; It is a testimony of our efforts and a reaffirmation of faith that we will achieve greater heights in the future.

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

Rolls-Royce Cullinan super luxury SUV launched globally R partition wall creating a distinct environment for passengers, separated from the luggage compartment. The 6.75 litre twin-turbo V12 Rolls-Royce engine at the heart of the Cullinan delivers 563bhp and 850Nm of peak torque to the all-new all-wheel drive, all-wheel steer system vehicle. The car can reach a top speed of 250 km/h (governed). Since super luxury cars are almost always driven by chauffeurs, the rear passenger compartment of Cullinan has been designed to offer the best seat in the house for the

owner’s particular needs. Two rear configurations are offered – Lounge Seats or Individual Seats. The rear compartment or boot area offers a standard 560 litres of space, growing to 600 with the parcel shelf removed. Furthermore, the base of the rear seats sits higher than the boot floor, so even with both rear seats folded, the items in the boot cannot slip forward and are safely contained, unlike in any other SUV. But for those wishing to carry a long item back from their trip, a loading length of 2245mm and load capacity

Pictures courtesy: Rolls-Royce

olls-Royce claims that the Cullinan is the most technologically advanced and only purpose-built luxury SUV in the world. The car has a price tag of around US $325,000 (Rs 2.35 crore approx.) in the US. If it were to come to India, one would have to add the import duty and other taxes to this tag. The Cullinan is named after the largest diamond ever discovered which now resides in the British Crown Jewels. The Cullinan is the first “three-box” shaped vehicle in the SUV sector which comes with an optional

6 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

of 1930 litres is accessed by electronically raising the boot floor to meet the seat base, allowing the item to slide through effortlessly. At the touch of the unlock button on the Bespoke key, or by simply reaching out to its stainless steel door handle, the car lowers itself by 40mm to make entry effortless. Once inside, one can press the door closing button to seal oneself within the sanctuary of Cullinan’s cabin. Or one touch of the sensor on the exterior door handles will see the doors automatically close themselves from outside. The central information screen is for the first time touch sensitive, allowing the driver to quickly select functions, map views and vehicle set-up whilst on the trail.

8 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

This portal can still be controlled from the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy controller which nestles on the central console with the ‘OffRoad’ button, Hill Descent Control button and Air Suspension height adjustment controls. A host of other cutting-edge technology makes Rolls-Royce Cullinan the most technologically advanced car of its type in the world. Further equipment includes: Night Vision and Vision Assist including daytime and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning; Alertness Assistant; a 4-Camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view; Active Cruise Control; Collision Warning; Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change

Warning; an industry leading 7x3 High-Resolution Head-Up Display, WiFi hotspot, and of course the latest Navigation and Entertainment Systems. The final piece of the puzzle of ensuring that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is Effortless, Everywhere is one single button—the ‘Everywhere’ button which once engaged, the driver can finesse the off-road setting to glide over any situation, whether it be rough track, gravel, wet grass, mud, snow or sand delivering all 850Nm of torque to all four wheels without interruption. And faced with deep snow, sand or the need to ford streams, Cullinan delivers the deepest wading depth of any super-luxury SUV at 540mm thanks to its highest ride height.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

WWW. MOTOW

MOTOWN INDIA

VOL-8 • ISSUE-6

• MARCH 2018

NINDIA .COM

| WWW. MICOR

Vol 8 / Issue 6

INDIA

MARCH 2018

SUBS C R IP T I O N F O RM

1 year (12 issues) 2 years (24 issues) 3 years (36 issues)

COST

`1,200/`2,400/`3,600/-

DISCOUNT 10% (`120) 20% (`480) 30% (`1,080)

VERY SIGNIFICANT

FIRST RIDE

TVS NTO RQ 125

/34562 RNI No DEL ENG/2010

I WOULD LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MOTOWN INDIA

TERM

AUTO EXPO 2018

DIA.COM WWW.MOTOWNIN

INDIA

COURIER CHARGES (inclusive of Fuel charges & Service Tax)

AMOUNT

PORAT E.COM

• `100/-

COMPA RISON ORT FORD ECOSP I VITARA MARUT I SUZUK BREZZ A TATA NEXON

ROL LS- ROY CE NEW VIII GEN LAUNC H

PHA NTO M

TOTAL

DELHI/NCR

OTHER STATES

DELHI/NCR

OTHER STATES

`1,080

`360

`720

`1,440/-

`1,800/-

`1,920

`720

`1,440

`2,640/-

`3,360/-

`2,520

`1,080

`2,160

`3,600/-

`4,680/-

SUBSCRIBER DETAILS (CAPITAL PLEASE) NAME ADDRESS

CITY PIN CODE

STATE TEL / MOBILE

E-MAIL REMITTANCE DETAILS Enclosed Cheque / DD Number

Dated

in favour of

(Cheque should be payable in Delhi)

“MOTOWN PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD” for ` SIGNATURE

Drawn on

DATE

SEND THE CHEQUE/DD TO THE GIVEN BELOW ADDRESS

MOTOWN PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD., 145 B/9, 1st Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 26122756 TERMS & CONDITIONS: Rates and offer valid in India and for a limited period and closing date will be announced in Motown India magazine. Allow five to six weeks for the delivery of your first subscription issue. MOTOWN PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD reserves the right to extend, cancel or discontinue this offer or any part thereof, without giving any reason or prior notice, details regarding the same will however be published subsequently in the magazine. Disputes, if any, will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts in Delhi only. The terms and conditions are subject to change from time to time. This subscription offer is valid for Indian edition only. Cheques / DDs must contain the code/ address of the issuing bank branch. Subscription copies will be delivered by ordinary courier as soon as the issue is released in the market place: however MOTOWN PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD will not be responsible for the courier delay, transit losses or mutilation of copies. This offer is non refundable and cannot be combined with any other offer. All subscription offers available prior to this stand cancelled.

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

Lexus launches flagship SUV, LX 570 for `2.32 crore L exus has launched their flagship SUV, the LX 570 in India for Rs 2,32,94,000 (ex-showroom). Bookings for the LX 570 are now open. The latest addition to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineup is a blend of luxury and all terrain performance and comes powered by a massive 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine and gets a powerful frame and multi-terrain adjustment systems. The LX 570 makes a stunning impression through signature Lexus design elements such as the spindle grille and the L-shaped illumination of the triple LED headlights. You

10 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

also get side steps for easy access into the cabin along with a moonroof and roof rails. Inside, the mark of the Takumi is evident in the superior semi aniline leather interiors and the Shimamoku trim on the steering wheel. The Lexus spirit of hospitality, or omotenashi, is expressed in the interior of the LX 570 with the inclusion of a spacious cabin, silky white LED lighting, Climate Control, premium 19 speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, high-definition 11.6-inch liquid crystal AI (Artificial Intelligence) displays for rear seats and

ambient illumination integrated in the doors. The 2018 LX 570 also introduces third row seating which can transform easily to additional cargo space if needed. The V8 motor comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that is capable of churning out 362hp @ 5600rpm and 530Nm @ 3200rpm. This top of the line SUV from Lexus is more than capable of tackling all kinds of terrain with its 4WD system, multi-terrain system with active traction control system, 225mm ground clearance and hill start assist among a host of other features.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

All-new MINI Countryman launched at `37.40 lakh T he all-new MINI Countryman was launched in India at a starting price of Rs 34,90,000 for the MINI Countryman Cooper S (Petrol). The MINI Countryman Cooper SD (Diesel) is priced at Rs 37,40,000, while the MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired (Petrol) is priced at Rs 41,40,000. Locally-produced at

BMW Group Plant Chennai, the second-generation all-new MINI Countryman will be available in both petrol and diesel variants with deliveries beginning from June 2018 onwards. The two petrol variants include the MINI Countryman Cooper S and MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired while

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

the diesel variant includes the MINI Countryman Cooper SD. MINI Countryman Cooper S JCW Inspired is equipped with John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit, rear roof spoiler and 18-inch JCW thrill spoke alloy wheels. John Cooper Works influence continues in the illuminated cockpit with the JCW sports leather steering wheel. The car is equipped with

premium features such as the ‘Leather Cross Punch’ Sport Seats, Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi Speaker System, MINI Find Mate and the MINI Wired Package. The MINI Wired Package includes Navigation System Professional and MINI Connected XL 8.8” screen with Touch Controller and Bluetooth mobile connectivity.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 11

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

2018 Indian Roadmaster Elite launched at `48 lakh

ndian Motorcycle of the US launched the most premium touring machine, the Indian Roadmaster Elite. This head turning masterpiece features a custom-inspired dual tone candy paint which is handcrafted with real 23K Gold leaf badging on the tank. The Indian Roadmaster Elite is priced at Rs 48,00,000 (ex-showroom). The Elite comes with a seven-inch Indian Motorcycle Ride Command System and has technology features like Bluetooth audio, navigation, vehicle information & status and split-screen technology to customise the display to focus on the details essential for riders. Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director and Country Head, Polaris India Pvt.

Ltd., handed over the keys of the most luxurious motorcycle to Swaranjit Singh Bajaj, the 1st owner of the Indian Roadmaster Elite. Dubey said â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Indian Roadmaster Elite embodies the rich heritage of authenticity, fine handcrafted quality and legendary American spirit. The dual-tone candy paint 23K gold leaf badging marks the uniqueness of this product. It also features the Indian Motorcycle Ride Command System, which is a pinch, touch, swipe solution for information essential for riders. This product has an attitude for riders looking for the best of the machines...â&#x20AC;?

Above: Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director and Country Head, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd., with Swaranjit Singh Bajaj, the 1st owner of the Indian Roadmaster Elite.

12 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

All-new transcontinental Tiger 1200XCx launched at `17 lakh

riumph Motorcycles India launched the all-new transcontinental Tiger 1200 XCx for Rs 17,00,000 (ex-showroom). The launch event was held at One Triumph dealership in New Delhi. The all-new transcontinental Tiger 1200 XCx has been purposebuilt to handle the ultimate in on-road adventures and off-road challenges. The all-new transcontinental Tiger 1200 XCx is powered by a 1215cc triple engine with shaft drive which incidentally is the most powerful shaft driven motorcycle in its segment, delivering 139hp. The all-new transcontinental Tiger 1200 XCx comes with several new features like seamless clutch less up and down gear shifts, adaptive cornering lighting, Arrow titanium and carbon fibre silencer, all-LED lighting, 5-inch adjustable TFT instruments, among others. There are also new ergonomically designed fully backlit handlebar switch cubes and joystick to make night time use easy. There is an off-road pro riding mode for advanced riders who can turn off rider systems and be in total control with no traction control or ABS intervention. There is also a provision for keyless ignition. The cruise control is updated in the all-new transcontinental Tiger 1200 XCx.

Above: Vimal Sumbly, MD, Triumph Motorcycles India

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 13

BIG TICKET LAUNCH

New Ducati Monster 821 launched at `9.51 lakh

ucati India has launched the all new Monster 821 in India at an introductory price of Rs 9.51 lakh (ex-showroom India). The Monster 821 pays homage to the legacy of the Monster 900, which over 25 years ago revolutionised the motorcycle world, embodying the essence of true naked sport. Not only that, it hosts several aesthetic and functional features drawn from the flagship Monster 1200. The all new Monster 821 is more streamlined, has an agile look with a fully redesigned tank and tail, an allnew exhaust and a headlight that is both classic and iconic. Also making its debut on the new Monster 821 is the colour TFT display with an indicator of the current gear, fuel

14 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

level and the classic Ducati yellow paint job that so many Monsteristi have revered in the past. It will also be available in Ducati Red and Black colour options. The Euro 4 compliant liquidcooled Testastretta 11Â° engine delivers a maximum power of 109 hp at 9250 rpm without sacrificing an extremely favourable torque curve. Thanks to its 86 Nm of torque at 7750 rpm, the 821â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine guarantees fun and usability that are within reach of all. The Monster 821 also features the Ducati Safety Pack, which comprises of Bosch 9.1MP ABS system and Ducati Traction Control, both of which have adjustable intervention levels. Similarly, maximum power and

throttle response can be adjusted via the Power Modes. Riding Modes allow easy adjustment of ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Power Modes, letting riders transform the new Monster 821 into three different motorcycles, each with a distinct personality. Completing the equipment array on the Monster 821 are the Brembo brakes, with dual 320 mm discs and M4-32 monobloc radial calipers up front. A refined suspension system includes a 43 mm fork at the front and a rear monoshock with spring preload adjustment. The new Monster 821 comes shod with a Pirelli Diablo Rosso III 120/70 tyre on the front and 180/55 on the rear.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

CAR NEWS

2018 Hyundai Creta launched for `9.43 lakh onward Hyundai Motor India Limited has launched the much awaited 2018 Creta facelift at a starting price of Rs 9,43,908. The car will be available in one petrol version (1.6 litre) and two diesel versions (1.4 litre and 1.6 litre). The most expensive will be the 1.6 litre diesel Creta variant SX(O) which will be available at Rs 15,03,934 (ex-showroom Delhi). The new 2018 Hyundai Creta gets a bold and aggressive front styling, besides a tall and sporty stance. It gets a cascade design front grille, smooth creased hood lines, voluminous bumper, aerodynamic ORVMs, bifunctional projector

headlamps, LED DRL and positioning lamps. The 17-inch diamond cut alloys along with glossy black A pillar and side cladding further enhance the looks of the new 2018 Hyundai Creta. The compact SUV will be available in 7 exterior single tone colour options and 2 dual tone colour options with two new colour options including – Marina Blue and Passion Orange along with new dual tone Passion Orange and Black.

Ford India offers EcoSport S, Signature edition variants EcoSport S will be available with the 1.0L EcoBoost petrol engine, paired to a new six-speed MT. The Ford EcoSport S will be available at an introductory price of Rs 11.37 lakh for petrol and Rs 11.89 lakh for the diesel variant. Both the EcoSport S and Signature Edition are equipped with scores of exterior and interior enhancements Ford India has announced the expansion of EcoSport model lineup with a new top-of-the-line EcoSport S and Signature Edition. The Signature Edition will be available for a limited duration with sunroof available as an option pack on EcoSport’s Titanium variant. The model will be priced at Rs 10.40 Lakh for petrol and Rs 10.99 lakh for diesel Moreover, a new top-of-the-line variant

(Turn to page 28 to read full road test review of Ford EcoSport S)

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

All-New 2nd Gen Honda Amaze launched for `5,59,900

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) has launched its much awaited all-new 2nd Generation Honda Amaze in the Indian market at a starting price of Rs 5,59,900 SCAN TO (all India ex showroom). The VIEW THE 2nd generation Honda Amaze VIDEO has been built on an all-new platform. The top end V CVT diesel variant of the all-new Amaze will cost Rs 8.99 lakh.

Enhanced looks, AGS option for Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has introduced the SUV Vitara Brezza with a new, enhanced look, and the convenience of the Auto Gear Shift (AGS) as an option. Prices for this new Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza start at Rs 8,54,000 for the VDi AGS and goes all the way up to Rs 10.49 lakh for the ZDi+ dual tone AGS variant. The Vitara Brezza with AGS will be offered in VDi, ZDi and ZDi+ variants. The exterior and interior features have been given a makeover, enhancing the bold and sporty character of the SUV. The new alloy wheels, in glossy black finish, add sportiness to the SUV’s muscular wheel arches. To complement the premium look, the front chrome grille and back door chrome garnish have been made standard across all variants. The urban compact SUV’s interiors have been refreshed with an all-black colour scheme and complementing accents.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 15

CAR NEWS

New BMW Mini models launched in India at `29.70 lakh onward The new BMW Mini 3-door Hatch, the new Mini 5-door Hatch and the new Mini Convertible were launched in India. The new Mini 3-door Cooper S, the new Mini 3-door Cooper D, the new Mini 5-door Cooper D and the new Mini Convertible Cooper S will be available at all Mini dealerships as Completely Built-Up (CBU) units from June 2018 onwards. The ex-showroom prices (effective June 2018) of the new Mini are as follows: Mini 3-door Cooper D (Diesel): Rs 29,70,000 Mini 3-door Cooper S (Petrol) :Rs 33,20,000 Mini 5-door Cooper D (Diesel): Rs 35,00,000 Mini Convertible Cooper S (Petrol):Rs 37,10,000 The new Mini 3-door Cooper S and the new Mini Convertible Cooper S are powered by 2.0 litre 4 cylinder Mini TwinPower Turbo petrol engine delivering 280 Nm of torque and a power output of 192 hp.

New Porsche Cayenne Turbo available in India from June onward Porsche Centres across India are now taking orders for the third generation of the Cayenne Turbo, which will arrive in showrooms from June 2018 onwards. The luxury SUV comes with an increased output of 550 hp. The car is known for its sports car kind of handling and a touring car kind of comfort, while having great off-road capabilities. The brand’s completely redeveloped SUV also boasts intelligent lightweight construction, a new engine, and smart assistance systems. A four-litre V8 biturbo engine which delivers 550 hp and 770 Nm of torque, propels the Turbo to 100 km/h from a complete standstill in just 4.1 seconds (3.9 seconds with Sports Chrono) – surpassing even the previous Cayenne Turbo S in this respect. The Cayenne Turbo reaches a top speed of 286 km/h.

16 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

Ingenium petrol engine for Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque Jaguar Land Rover India announced that the Ingenium petrol powertrain will be equipped in the model Year 2018 Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. The 2.0L motor on the 2018 Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque produces 237.36 hp of peak power and is mated to an 8-speed Automatic Transmission. The Ingenium petrol powertrain equipped 2018 Discovery Sport is offered in SE and HSE trim and is priced from Rs 49.20 Lakh. On the Range Rover Evoque, the Ingenium petrol powertrain is offered on the SE and HSE Dynamic trim and is priced from Rs 51.06 Lakh.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe OrangeArt, SLC 43 RedArtlimited editions Mercedes-Benz India has introduced the Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe ‘OrangeArt’ edition and the SLC 43 ‘RedArt’ edition. Available in limited numbers, these exclusive MercedesAMG models are distinguished by expressive highlights that complement their sportiness. The ‘OrangeArt’ and ‘RedArt’ limited editions of the sporty MercedesAMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe and the SLC 43 models were introduced by Roland Folger, Managing Director

& CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. The two models of car will be limited to a total of 25 Units. While the AMG GLE 43 4Matic Coupe OrangeArt is priced at Rs 1.02 crore onward, the AMG SLC 43 RedArt Edition is priced at Rs 87.48 lakh onward, ex-showroom India.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

CAR NEWS

Ferrari’s most powerful production car, 812 Superfast, unveiled in Mumbai Ferrari, luxury sports car makers from Italy, unveiled the all-new Ferrari 812 Superfast. It is Ferrari’s most powerful production car. The all-new Ferrari 812 Superfast was unveiled at Navnit Motors, the official dealer for Ferrari in Mumbai, in the state of Maharashtra in western India. The world premiere of the 12-cylinder berlinetta, the 812 Superfast was done at the 87th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show in February 2017.

The all-new Ferrari 812 Superfast is the fastest road-going Ferrari ever built. The all-new Ferrari 812 Superfast is powered by the new naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine pushes from 0 to 100 kmph in 2.9 seconds. It belts out a maximum power of 789hp @8500rpm and a peak torque of 718Nm@8500 rpm.

and building on the invaluable legacies of the F12berlinetta and F12tdf. The 812 Superfast is the first Ferrari to sport EPS (Electric

Power Steering) which, in line with Ferrari tradition, is used to fully exploit the potential of the car’s performance by integrating it with all of its electronic vehicle dynamics controls.

Designed as the flagship V12 Berlinetta, the model embodies Ferrari’s revered V12 heritage that sprung to life in 1947, with the birth of the brand

Terrano Sport special edition launched for `12,22,260 Nissan India has launched the Terrano Sport special edition with a host of new features, attractive interior and exterior design elements. The Terrano Sport edition gets dynamic body decals with an all-black roof wrap, black wrapped pillars and new wheel-arch claddings. Bold new stripes have been emblazoned on the SUV’s hood, fenders, rear bumper, and front and rear doors. The Terrano Sport special edition has new crimson-stitched seat covers and floor mats with crimson highlights. The Nissan Terrano Sport is priced at Rs 12,22,260/-.

Tata Nexon A.M.T. with HyprDrive SelfShift Gears for `9.41 lakh onward

Tata Motors has announced the launch of Tata Nexon HyprDrive Self – Shift Gears (S-SG). Launched at a starting price of Rs 9.41 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, for the petrol variant (1.2L turbocharged Revotron) and at Rs 10.3 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi, for the Diesel variant (1.5L turbocharged Revotorq), the Tata Nexon HyprDrive S-SG is the first AMT in India to have Multi-Drive modes (3 modes – Eco, City And

Sport). Sporting the all-new Etna Orange color with a Sonic Silver dual-tone roof option, the Tata NexonHyprdrive S-SG comes with a ground clearance of 209 mm. Extensively loaded with features, the car is equipped with an intelligent transmission controller, which includes features such as anti-stall, kickdown and fast-off; helping optimize the automatic gearshifts to provide best power output during overtaking maneuvers or quick acceleration requirements.

Volvo XC40 bookings open; launch on July 4 Volvo Auto India will be launching the all-new XC40, an entry-level luxury SUV on July 4, 2018. Bookings for the new XC40 have begun. Customers can reach out to the company’s various dealers to pre-book the Volvo XC40. Specifications, features and price will be announced on the day of launch but bookings can be secured at the company’s dealerships before launch at Rs 500,000 as deposit. (Turn to page 20 to read the full road test review of Volvo XC40)

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 17

BIKE NEWS

Royal Enfield Classic 500 ‘Pegasus’ motorcycle launched in India for `2.49 lakh The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield, launched the limited edition Classic 500 Pegasus motorcycle in India. In India, 250 motorcycles, in wartime colour of Service Brown, will go on sale at a price of Rs. 2,49,217/- (on-road Mumbai). Each of these 250 limited edition commemorative models will be available along with a set of bespoke militarystyle canvas panniers bearing the Pegasus logo, one helmet and a t-shirt from the Pegasus collection. The ‘Pegasus’ is inspired by the legendary RE/ WD 125 Flying Flea motorcycle that was manufactured at Royal Enfield’s facility in UK during the World War 2. Conceived as a tribute to the Flying Flea and Royal Enfield’s military heritage, the Classic 500 Pegasus is a chance to own a piece of motorcycle history with only 1000 units available globally.

Race Edition of TVS Apache RTR 180 launched for `83,233 TVS Motor Company has launched the Race Edition of TVS Apache RTR 180 in India for Rs 83,233 (ex-showroom Delhi). This special edition comes in Pearl Whitecolour with racing inspired graphics and will be offered with front and rear disc brakes as standard. The styling of the Race Edition of TVS Apache RTR 180 is based on a unique racing carbon fibre theme which denotes light-weight attributes and racing intent. The TVS Apache RTR 180 Race Edition sports a new 3D TVS logo and features TVS Racing branded rim stickering on the

alloy wheels. It has a digital dashboard with a blue backlit display and numerous tell-tale signs which includes 0-60 kmph speed recorder, lap timer and service indicator amongst others. The TVS Apache RTR 180 Race Edition features a 177.4 cc Single Cylinder, 4 stroke engine which churns out 16.39hp@8500 rpm and a peak torque of 15.5NM@6500 rpm. The motorcycle, which boasts of a 0-60kmph in 4.96s is equipped with a superior braking performance and has the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio.

New Suzuki Gixxer with ABS for `87,250 onward Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited has rolled-out Gixxer – the popular street sport motorcycle, with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) feature. The new Suzuki Gixxer with ABS will cost Rs 87,250 (ex-showroom Delhi) onward. The Gixxer ABS variant comes fitted with a front wheel speed sensor to detect wheel speed for better stability and controlled braking force. Equipped with Ultra-Light Weight Engine, the Gixxer ABS has an all-aluminium 4-stroke

18 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

single cylinder 154.9cc BS-IV engine that produces 14.59hp@8000rpm, 14Nm@6000rpm, powered by SEP Technology- for powerful performance without compromising on fuel efficiency. Furthermore, Gixxer ABS is equipped with Suzuki Jet cooling system (SJCS) to ensure better cooling of engine resulting in better power and mileage. Other features in the new Gixxer ABS include sporty twin exhaust, a 3-spoke light wheel, stepped seat with distinctive design and two-piece rear fender.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

BIKE NEWS

Kawasaki Vulcan S in pearl lava orange colour for `5,58,400 India Kawasaki has introduced Vulcan S in pearl lava orange colour for India market. When the Vulcan S was launched in December 2017, it was available only in black colour. The introduction of a new colour is mainly due to the positive response received from the customers to the existing model. While the Vulcan S in black is available for Rs 5,48,400 ex-showroom Delhi, the orange Vulcan S is priced at Rs.5,58,400 (ex-showroom Delhi). The bookings for the motorcycle are now open.

Aluminium panniers worth `1.95 lakh come free with Ducati Multistrada 950 As part of its celebrations to conclude its three years in India, Ducati has introduced a limited period offer on the Multistrada 950. The company will be providing complementary aluminium panniers with the purchase of a Multistrada 950. The Ducati Multistrada 950 –Ducati Red colour costs Rs 12.80 lakh, ex-showroom, pan India. The limited period offer is available across all Ducati dealerships in India. Multistrada means all the Ducati technology, performance and comfort, to live great adventures and travel any distance on any road. To further increase the Multistrada 950’s accessibility on the open road, Ducati India if offering a set of Touratech Alumimium Panniers worth Rs1,95,000 at no additional cost on the purchase of the Ducati Multistrada 950.

New 2018 Honda Dio scooter priced at `51,292 Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd has launched the 2018 Dio scooter. The Dio will also be available in a new deluxe variant. The mono scooter will have premium LED headlamp and position lamp, signature gold rim, new digital meter, 9 colour options in two variants. The scooter is priced at Rs 51,292 (ex showroom Delhi). Apart from the all new LED headlamp and position lamp add, the Dio now comes with a 4-in-1 lock with Seat Opener Switch, front hook and retractable rear hook. The moto-scooter is now fitted with metal muffler protector. In addition to the standard features, the deluxe variant gains a new fully digital meter (with 3 Step Eco Speed Indicator & service due indicator) for efficient riding. Adding more to the premium appeal are first in class signature gold rims and trendy colour options.

Artem announces the M9 - the world’s safest electric scooter Artem Energy Future Pvt Ltd, a home-grown electric vehicle technology company has announced the Artem M9 - the world’s safest electric scooter. The M9 will include unprecedented ADAS (advanced driverassistance systems) previously seen only in luxury cars. The bootstrapped startup is in the process of raising a Series A round of investment in the run-up to a three product roadmap over the next five years. The M9 is based on a modular architecture that lends itself to scaling up or down. It will be followed by the M9-A and a mid-mass market scooter, the M6. The M9 is being developed with several industry firsts: 90kmph top speed, 0-50kmph in 6 seconds and a range of 100 kms per charge.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 19

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

VOLVO XC40 R-DESIGN

BORN TO LEAD

he Volvo XC40 SUV which was launched globally late 2017 has garnered orders of more than 80,000 units. This has prompted the company to increase production at its two plants globally, one in Belgium and the other in China which manufacture the XC40. Volvo Car India will initially be importing the XC40 into India from Belgium. We take the XC40 for a short spin and give you our first

20 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

Report P. Tharyan & Photography Afsar Baig impressions of the compact luxury SUV.

brilliant is made in China.

EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES

In India this premium luxury compact SUV will be pitted against the likes of the Audi Q3, the Mercedes Benz GLA and the BMW X1.

The all-new Volvo XC40 is the company’s first SUV to be based on the Compact Modular Architecture platform which is shared with its parent company Zhejiang Geely Holding of China. To put things in the right perspective, Volvo is a Swedish car maker with Chinese owners. But who cares? Today, everything that is beautiful and

The Volvo XC40 which will be available in India by July 2018 will only be offered in one variant initially which is a fully loaded one called R-Design.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#VOLVOXC40RDESIGN

SPECIFICATION S

No other model in this segment currently offers such a fine combination of top notch technology, dove-tailed in absolute comfort and brilliant performance as the new Volvo XC40.

ENGINE D4 2 litre, In-line 4 cyl. twin turbo diesel / 1969cc TRANSMISSION 8 speed Geartronic automatic POWER 190hp TORQUE 400Nm TYRES 235/55/R18 EXPECTED PRICE `43 Lakh

When you first get to see the Volvo XC40, you are definitely reminded of the XC 90 and the XC 60. You get to see the signature front grille with the logo in the centre but here there are horizontal slats, unlike the vertical slats that are there in the XC60 and XC90. Not to miss are the headlamps with the Thor’s hammer LED DRLs. The grille area has no chrome inserts; rather it’s all blacked out to give the vehicle very sporty look. The XC 40 stands grand on 18 inches

twin-5 spoke alloy wheels shrouded in 235/55 Pirelli tyres. In fact the side profile of the vehicle looks sporty with its roof rails, prominent wheel arches and black cladding at the bottom. The vehicle has a ground clearance of 211mm. The vehicle comes with a huge panoramic sunroof. It’s déjà vu as you move back. The rear tail-lamps, the dual chrome exhausts along with the integrated spoiler gives the XC 40

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

a distinct Volvo appeal.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES As you step in, it is elegance everywhere. Everything inside which includes the dashboard and doors with silver trims, the steering wheel, the digital instrument cluster, the vertical air vents bordered in chrome, the well-crafted knobs and the 9 inch vertical touchscreen which is so tab like, all have a rich flair about it. The

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 21

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

car will be offered in a choice of three colours. Within the cabin there will be a choice of either a black or a lava orange colour in the bottom section. I personally would stick to black because orange will get all dirtied too soon as you step in and out. The plastics used in the cabin are of decent quality. The 9-inch touchscreen controls all the functions of the car and features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Harman Kardon audio system does justice in this vehicle. Features like an electric tailgate, driving modes, auto LED headlamps, panoramic sunroof, four heated seats, dual zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, are all standard on the XC40 R-Design.

cavities. The woofers on the door have been shifted out enabling more storage on the door panels. There is ample storage in the front area with even a slot to charge your mobile phone wirelessly. The armrest console is large and there’s also a cleverly designed removable dustbin in there with a spring-loaded lid. Tucked away storage areas include one under the driver’s seat, where one can keep a tab or some emergency money stashed away. The rear seats are 60:40 splits and bringing them down creates ample storage space. The boot can accommodate 460 litres of luggage and there is also an additional storage space between the boot floor and space-saver spare wheel area.

As for the seats, they are a mix of fine leather and Alcantara with distinct white stitching. Those who don’t know, Alcantara material is composed of polyester and polyurethane. This composite is basically a substitute for suede. The front seats are electrically adjustable and the driver’s side comes with a memory function. The rear seats offer adequate headroom and legroom. It could, however, be a squeeze for a third person sitting in the middle because of the raised floor and also because of the front arm rest module jutting into the rear space. Within the cabin there is huge space for storage, especially with the huge inner panel door

22 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#VOLVOXC40RDESIGN

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE The XC40 is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that churns out 190hp and peak torque of 400Nm. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Power delivery is smooth and the turbo kicks in very early, enabling the car to accelerate swiftly. The engine feels very peppy, to say the least. The sound from the diesel mill is minimal in the cabin and a lot of the diesel sound is muffled by the wonderful insulation all around. From the 9-inch touch panel in front one can choose the different drive modes which include Eco, Comfort, Off Road, Dynamic and Individual. The

throttle response changes according to the drive mode you choose. Climbing to speeds above 200km comes very easy. One can also opt for the paddle shifters for a quicker getaway. As for the suspension, these have been tuned perfectly for the smooth and the bumps expected on the Indian roads. The brakes are very accurate and instill a lot of confidence in the driver in this all-wheel drive vehicle. There are a plethora of safety features in the Volvo XC40 like the radar-based ones that include lane-keeping assist, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, emergency braking etc. Other safety features include ESP, traction control and hill

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

descent control. The car comes with multiple airbags. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a feature for auto park-in and park-out, which helps steer the vehicle in and out of a parking.

VERDICT Since Volvo Cars has always been setting new benchmarks with its cutting edge technology and safety standards, it was bound to do so once again with its XC40 in the luxury compact SUV segment. No other model in this segment currently offers such a fine combination of top notch technology, dove-tailed in absolute comfort and brilliant performance as the new Volvo XC40.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 23

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

MERCEDES AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+

POWER PLAY

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

Report Motown India Bureau

magine going on a blind date and meeting an incredibly beautiful lady. Even before you get to know her in the way you want, she is gone, leaving you with a heavy heart but with a memory that’s going to last a lifetime… That was precisely what I felt when I was allowed to do one single hot lap of the Buddh International Circuit in the most powerful MercedesBenz E-Class of all time – the AMG E 63 S 4Matic+.

EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ has an expressive exterior design, featuring a new radiator grille, coupé-style inset bonnet and an aerodynamically sound, wide and muscular front apron. The bold Mercedes logo sits in the centre of the grille. The exterior design of the car exemplifies finesse and sportiness, coupled with extreme performance. The power domes on the bonnet (a Mercedes-

AMG GT hallmark) and the flared wheel arches give a broad hint of the power the car possesses. The meshless air intakes not only add to the fashion quotient but also to the engineering values as it serves to guide the air flow at high speeds. Not to be missed are the “V8 BiTurbo 4Matic+” lettering on the wing on either side of the car. If the front is gorgeous, so is the rear with its muscular shape with a spoiler lip in vehicle colour that has been given a visually sharp edge. Then there is the AMG sports exhaust system with two chromeplated twin tailpipes and the rear apron with a diffuser insert in high-gloss black and three fins. The car sits on 20-inch AMG 7-twin-spoke light alloy wheels painted in black.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES Inside the cabin of the AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ is a cockpit with loads of luxury. There is seat climate control for driver and front passenger, the vehicle interior

The Mercedes AMG E63 S 4MATIC + is surely a very spirited car that can set ablaze the tracks of a racing circuit, yet behave its way through the mundane traffic of daily life. 24 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#MERCEDESAMGE63S4MATIC+

SPECIFICATI O N S ENGINE 3982cc V8 petrol TRANSMISSION AMG Speedshift MCT 9-Speed Sport

POWER 612hp@5750-6500 TORQUE 850Nm@2500-4500 TYRES 265/35 ZR20 PRICE `1.5 crore (ex-showroom Delhi)

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 25

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

can be fragranced to suit personal preference with the Air-Balance package. The car comes with automatic climate control system with 3 climate zones and 3 climate modes providing an individual feel-good climate on board. The driver and the front passenger are able to regulate temperature and air distribution independently of one another. Temperature and airflow for the rear can be adjusted separately. The car comes with power closing feature front and rear doors. As for the seats, these are AMG Performance seats which come with side bolsters that offer immense comfort for those seated inside. The rear seat back rests can be folded forward on its own to enlarge the luggage compartment.

26 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

The car is also equipped with wireless charging system. The equipment package also includes stowage trays in the sides and a double cup holder between the seats. Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system ensures great sound experience within the cabin. This consists of 23 specially designed speakers, 25 amplifier channels with a total system output of 1450 watts as well as technologies developed exclusively for the vehicle.

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE

has an AMG Performance 4MATIC+ permanent all- wheel drive with variable torque distribution and drift mode

The car can achieve a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited) and can do 300 km/h with the AMG Driver’s package. The engine is mated to the AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed sports transmission. It

The exciting drift mode function is standard and when activated, the E 63 S 4MATIC+ becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle. Activated in the transmission mode “RACE”

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#MERCEDESAMGE63S4MATIC+

via the shift paddles, this feature transfers all power to the rear wheels only. With the RACE START function, the E 63 S 4MATIC+ surges immediately off the starting blocks with optimum traction. There is also music to the engine sound. The sound from the engine is tuned to match the various transmission modes of Dynamic Select. Thus, in the “Comfort” mode the sound is sedate to some extent but gets all charged in the “Sport”, “Sport+” and “Race” modes. The car has a completely re-engineered AMG sport suspension based on the Air Body Control. As for the safety features,

the AMG E63 S 4MATIC + is equipped with active brake assist, which is a radar-based driver assistance system that can help prevent accidents with vehicles ahead and with crossing pedestrians or mitigate the consequences of accidents. It is a combination of proximity warning, collision warning, situation-dependent braking assistance and autonomous braking function. The car comes with 7 airbags. There is an adaptive dual stage airbags for driver and front passenger, side impact air-bags for driver and front passenger and window airbags. Multibeam Intelligent Light System comes with a variable light distribution with cornering function, that

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

helps in adapting to any road conditions during night driving, making the drive safer, and this is complemented by Adaptive High Beam with automatic switching between high and low beam.

VERDICT The Mercedes AMG E63 S 4MATIC + is surely a very spirited car that can set ablaze the tracks of a racing circuit, yet behave its way through the mundane traffic of daily life. The car scores high not only in performance but also in terms of what it has to offer in terms of ride and handling and not to forget the luxury within its coupe like cabin.

Above: The car sits on 20-inch AMG 7-twin-spoke light alloy wheels painted in black.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 27

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

FORD ECOSPORT S (PETROL)

FUN BOOST Report Motown India Bureau

f you think that the new Ford EcoSport S petrol is just an additional variant added on to the EcoSport fleet by Ford India, you are mistaken. The new Ford EcoSport S has a lot to offer in terms of technology and also in terms of fun.

dust, heat and insects are things we dodge on a daily basis. The new EcoSport S stands proudly on 17 inches smoke alloy wheels. The rest of the body remains more or less the same.

EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES

Step inside the vehicle and you are greeted by subtle, yet pleasing changes within the cabin. The interiors of the EcosSport S have orange accents on the dashboard, the inner door panels and the seats. The seats are a combination of premium leather and fabric.

The EcoSport S model is an extension of the Titanuim + variant of the compact SUV and to distinguish it from the others, the company has tweaked some of its looks. The vehicle now comes with an all-new smoked High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamp. In essence it means, the light is white and not the conventional yellow. The headlamps also have dark inserts. The fog lamp bezel gets a prominent black treatment. There are no chromes around the centre grille, rather that too has been blacked out. The new Ford EcoSport S also gets black roof rails and a black painted roof with an electric sun roof which the company has christened as “fun roof”. But then the sunroof plays a very limited role in a country like ours where

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES

What’s new here is the instrument cluster which now has a 4.2 inches MID screen that displays a range of functions pertaining to your car settings which come into play when you press the buttons that are on your left side when you face the steering wheel. These buttons, when pressed on the steering wheel take you through a plethora of settings from Information about tyre pressure and Mykeys, to Display, Driver Assist and

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

The new Ford EcoSport S also gets black roof rails and a black painted roof with an electric sun roof which the company has christened as “fun roof”.

28 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#FORDECOSPORTS

SPECIFICATIO N S ENGINE 1.0 litre GTDI EcoBoost / 3 inline cylinders 999cc TRANSMISSION 6 speed Manual Transmission POWER 123.28hp@6000rpm TORQUE 170Nm@1500-4500rpm TYRES 205/50 R17 PRICE `11.37 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 29

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

If you were to ask me the high point of the new EcoSport S, I would say it is the deadly combination of the 1 litre EcoBoost petrol engine and its brilliant 6-speed manual transmission. The 999cc petrol engine is a turbocharged one and the engineers at Ford India have done a remarkable job... Vehicle Settings. There are two large analogue meters - the tachometer and speedometer. The round meters have a chrome embellishment around it. There are two small analogue meters which display the temperature and fuel of the vehicle. As for the rest of the features, they are carried forward from the existing Ford EcoSport Titanium + model.

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE The Ford EcoSport S variant has been bolted on with the award winning 1 litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine. This is the very same engine that has been around since the car was launched in India in 2012-13. Now we have a variant dedicated to the EcoBoost engine and to

30 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

keep it all powered up is a new 6-speed manual transmission. The engine delivers around 123.28hp@6000 rpm and a peak torque of 170Nm@1500-4500rpm.The engine delivers a fuel mileage of 18.88kmpl. Of course there are other benefits like reduced carbon dioxide emissions as compared to a conventional 1.5 litre petrol engine. Now if you were to ask me the high point of the new EcoSport S, I would say it is the deadly combination of the 1 litre EcoBoost petrol engine and its brilliant 6-speed manual transmission. The 999cc petrol engine is a turbocharged one and the engineers at Ford India have done a remarkable job of integrating the hardware with the software control systems. One hardly feels the turbo kicking

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#FORDECOSPORTS

in much before the 2000rpm mark, as power delivery is very linear when you accelerate and change gears. As I drove on the Chennai highway towards Puducherry, I could not resist stepping on the accelerator and seeing the speedometer touch the 170kmph mark with considerable ease. Then I had to remind myself I was not on a race circuit but on a public road and I had to get back to following the rules of the land. At high speeds I felt that vehicle was quite planted to the road. The steering wheel is electric power assist and gives good feedback while driving and like in the top end Ford

EcoSport, this too is tilt and telescopic.

bags.

Bringing the vehicle to a halt too came with a lot of confidence. The vehicle has disc brakes in front and drum brakes at the rear. But then Antilock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, emergency brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control system and hill control assist are features that add to the safety while driving. Bumps, noise, body roll, etc, all seem to be well under control in this new variant. On the safety front too this variant too carries front dual airbags, besides side and curtain air

VERDICT

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

The Ford EcoSport is a very capable compact sport utility vehicle. With the 1 litre EcoBoost petrol engine mated to a new 6-speed manual transmission, the Ford EcoSport S offers loads of fun and fury. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely got the right looks, a right fun attitude and coupled with a brilliant performance it is bound to give the vehicle a massive edge over competition.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 31

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * â&#x20AC;˘ Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video â&#x20AC;˘ In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

PLUSH NEW MAHINDRA XUV5OO (W11-O)

CHIC & SLICK Report Motown India Bureau & Photography Afsar Baig & Neeraj Panwar

ahindra & Mahindra is known for its rugged utility vehicles. The company, however, is beginning to understand the language of sophistication and comfort and seems to have mastered it with the Plush New XUV5OO.

32 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

EXTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The facelifted Plush New XUV500 has retained its handsome looks with subtle yet significant changes both outside and inside. The exterior changes are quite evident with the new front grille with chrome inserts, new Day-time Running Lights (DRLs), projector headlamps and attractive fog-lamp bezels.

The vehicle now sits on bigger 235/60 R18 tubeless tyres cast on diamond-cut alloys. For variants below W11 (O), the tyres provided are 235/65 R17. The side profile gets smarter with stylish side cladding at the bottom with chrome lining. As you move to the rear, a lot has changed. The tailgate gets a new design which is a lot flatter than

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#PLUSHNEWMAHINDRAXUV5OO S PECIFICATION S ENGINE mHawk 2179cc diesel engine, 6th gen electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger TRANSMISSION Manual 6-speed synchromesh POWER 155hp@3750rpm TORQUE 360Nm@1750-2800rpm TYRES 235/60 R18 tubeless PRICE `16.68 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

the curvy one in the predecessor. The new split tail-lamps too have been redesigned. Twin exhausts add to the sporty look of the vehicle.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES The plushness of the XUV 5OO is more than evident when we get inside the vehicle. The

tan leather seats give the vehicle a premium look. While the second row seats can be folded 60:40, the third row seats can be folded 50:50. The centre console area now has a new piano black finish that gives the dash area an upmarket look and feel. The dashboard and door trims now have a softtouch, faux leather material with fine stitch

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

lines. The vehicle comes with an electric sunroof with anti-pinch. The driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat is 6-way power-adjustable. The SUV has ample storage space, charging points and even a cool-box at the arm rest zone. The glove box has two separate cavities with lids for storage.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 33

WHEELZ & ROADZ A driving experience

The vehicle also comes with Fully Automatic Temperature Control , passive keyless entry and push-button start, Reverse Parking Camera With Dynamic Assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, smart rain sensing wipers, intelligent light sensing headlamps and brake energy regeneration.

a few other features like the sporty twin pod cluster icy-blue lounge illuminated scuff plates. As for the reading lights within the cabin, they are as bright as morning sunlight. Not to be missed are the logo projection lamps on ORVMs .

For entertainment, the XUV has an 18cm touchscreen infotainment system which in essence is a hi-tech infotainment system with GPS-navigation. Clubbed with an advanced Arkamys sound system, it ensures a decent acoustic experience. The Driver Information System diligently reports vital information about the car such as Distance To Empty (DTE), service alerts, tyre pressure and others while controlling the cabin temperature. With Android Auto one can control several systems like music, navigation, calls and messaging of your Android device through the infotainment system. Convenience features include power windows, lane changing indicator, tinted solar reflecting glass, rear demister, wash and wipe and follow me home headlamps.

Now coming to performance, we got the W11 (O) diesel manual transmission variant for a drive. Mind you, this new Plush XUV 5OO has several variants like the W5, W7, W9, W11, W11(O). While the W7, W9 and W11 have options of a manual 6-speed synchromesh transmission or an automatic 6-speed transmission, the W 11 also has an option of a W11 (O) AT. All these are powered by a 2179cc mHawk diesel engine which is a 6th generation electronically controlled variable geometry turbocharger (eVGT). There is a sole petrol variant of the Plush XUV 5OO i.e. the G AT powered by a mHawk 4 cylinder 2.2 litre turbocharger engine. Both power and torque have been marginally increased in this new facelifted XUV. The W11 variant and the W11(O) is different in the

SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE

As night creeps in, you realise the Plush XUV 5OO is quite colourful with its mood lighting inside and

34 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#PLUSHNEWMAHINDRAXUV5OO

sense that in the latter, one has an option of an all-wheel drive which in essence means you can drive on different terrains and the traction to the wheels are controlled automatically. The driving dynamics of the vehicle has really not changed in the new Plush XUV 5OO. Though the power and torque have been marginally pushed up, one can make out that the vehicle is a wee bit faster than its predecessor. The steering can be adjusted for both rake and reach. The ride and handling too continues to be decent and despite the massive girth and height of the vehicle, body roll is well under control. As for braking, with discs on all four wheels, braking is a lot prompt and definite. Safety features include ABS with EBD, dual airbags for driver and passenger plus side

and curtain airbags. It also comes with ESP with rollover mitigation, hill hold and hill descent control. It is the comfort quotient of the vehicle that has really sky rocketed, while driving dynamics remain top notch.

VERDICT The Plush New XUV500 is a lot more sophisticated than its predecessor. In terms of looks, though the body shell remains practically the same, a few smart design changes have made the vehicle look fresh and inviting. True to its Plush word, the new XUV5OO has become a lot more chic and slick!

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 35

WHEELZ & ROADZ Pros & Cons

TOYOTA YARIS Pros & Cons

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

5 THINGS WE LIKE IN THE TOYOTA YARIS

1) SMOOTH DRIVE WITH PADDLE SHIFT The 1.5L Dual VVT-i petrol engine on the Yaris mated to a 7 speed CVT-i transmission delivers a mature performance and you get a linear acceleration. It might not be an enthusiast’s car but it is a great car to drive on city roads riddled with traffic. However, the Yaris does come with the ability to shift manually and you can even get paddle shift in the top variant which will surely spice things up.

2) INTELLIGENT 2ND ROW COOLING The second row passengers get a rather fancy looking cooling system bolted on the roof. These are not conventional AC vents, rather they are blowers which cleverly take the ambient cold air from the cabin and blow it out at an accelerated speed. Thankfully that works all too well in practice and you can divert the air flow using the large louvers. The controllable blue illumination is just icing on the cake.

36 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#TOYOTAYARIS 3) GESTURES CONTROLS The touch screen infotainment system works great and has a smooth operation but Toyota went one step further and added gesture support which is commonly seen on hi-end vehicles. You can use these to control the volume, change the track/radio station, navigate through the map and more. These can be really helpful once you get used to them as they let you keep your eyes on the road.

4) UNMATCHED SAFETY WITH 7 AIRBAGS Toyota has not cut corners in terms of safety as the Yaris gets 7 airbags as standard. So, no matter which trim you buy, the occupants inside will be safe in case of an accident. The addition of disc brakes on all four wheels is another feature that will give you peace of mind.

5) COMFORTABLE SUSPENSION Taking the Yaris over some broken paths and potholes made us realise how supple the suspension was. It is almost perfect and perhaps the most comfortable for occupants when compared to other sedans in the segment. This only strengthens the Yaris’ appeal as a luxurious ride that people would want to be driven around in.

5 THINGS WE DID NOT LIKE IN THE TOYOTA YARIS

1) MANUALLY OPERATED ORVMS Since this is a premium product, I was expecting that it would at least get auto closing and opening ORVMs but I was disappointed. You will have to use a button found on the driver side door to do the same.

2) MISPLACED CENTER ARMREST The center armrest found in the Yaris has been placed rather oddly. It is a bit too far back for the driver and co-passenger and will require some getting used to. The fact that it is not movable is another downer. The armrest also intrudes a little too much in the second row. As a result, someone seated in the middle will be a little uncomfortable despite the floor being completely flat.

3) LIMITED 2ND ROW HEADROOM Despite the Yaris have a decent amount of space in the second

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

row, the headroom available is not ideal. If you are 5’10” tall or less than that, then the headroom won’t be a problem but for a 6 foot tall person it is not enough. While seated in an upright position, I had to bend my neck and my head was still touching the roof.

4) DEAD PEDAL MISSING Being an automatic vehicle and costing a pretty penny, we were expecting to see a dead pedal but were disappointed. The lack of a dead pedal might not bother some but we did miss it and the lump in place of the dead pedal only made things a little bit uncomfortable for the left foot.

5) STEERING WHEEL The steering wheel on the Yaris is adjustable for tilt but not for reach. This is another small feature that we expected to see in a car of this class but was not included.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 37

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

ROYAL ENFIELD THUNDERBIRD 500X

SPORTY & MACHO Report P. Tharyan & Photography Afsar Baig & Neeraj Panwar

oyal Enfield has always had a fan following among people made of a sterner stuff. Petite boys avoided buying it because it required you to be tough in all sense to own and ride one. Over the years, though Royal Enfield has improved its bikes in terms of technology, a lot of issues still need to be ironed out. We check out the new Thunderbird 500x.

DESIGN AND STYLING The new Thunderbird 500x is similar to the Thunderbird 500, except for a few design changes here and there that have made the bike a lot more exciting in terms of appearance. Except for the fuel tank, the entire motorcycle is bathed in black colour. We had at our disposal a blue coloured bike which meant that the tank was blue in colour and the wheel had a thin blue stripe around the tyre. The model name Thunderbird 500X printed on the bike has the ‘X’ in blue colour. The black and blue combination gives the bike a sporty look. The Thunderbird 500x comes with a smart tank badge with the name ‘Royal Enfield’ in black colour embossed on the either side of the fuel tank, alloy wheels and tubeless tyres. The seat is one single

The new Thunderbird 500x is similar to the Thunderbird 500, except for a few design changes here and there that have made the bike a lot more exciting in terms of appearance. 38 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#ROYALENFIELDTHUNDERBIRD500X

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 39

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

S P E C I F I C ATI ONS ENGINE Single Cylinder 4 Stroke, Air cooled, 499cc petrol

TRANSMISSION 5-speed

When you start the motorcycle, the thumping sound

POWER 27.2bhp@5250 rpm

from the good old Enfield bike is missing. Here the

TORQUE 41.3Nm@4000 rpm

sound is a lot flatter. And once you are on the road,

TYRES Front Tyre: 90 / 90 - 19” - 52 P TL Rear Tyre: 120 / 80 - 18” - 62 P TL

you are pleasantly surprised by its agile nature.

PRICE `1.98 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

40 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#ROYALENFIELDTHUNDERBIRD500X

large piece and they come with new grab rails. But there is no back rest, like all sporty bikes. Besides, the seat is a bit of a squeeze when it comes to accommodating a pillion rider. But if the rider and the pillion are slim, the seat is decently large to accommodate them. The handlebars have a sporty stance to it, which in essence means that long rides on this bike could tire you like crazy, taking a toll on your back. It’s definitely a city bike. The chopped mudguard gives the bike a bobber like appeal. The twin pod instrument cluster is a big letdown. The analog speedometer and tachometer look dated. One of the pods houses a digital screen which gives you information like your trip reading, odometer reading, fuel levels, etc. The designers and engineers at Royal Enfield need to work on the dials and make sure they are more readable than just being a show piece. They can, for instance, keep the face of the dial limited in terms of few relevant digits and also make them bolder so as to make it more readable when one is riding. The motorcycle has projector headlamps with a smoked finish that look good.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE Once you start the bike, it trembles like your great grandmother’s hands. When you are on the move, you realize the vibration from the bike can be a little disconcerting. Both the wheels come with discs but sadly there is no option for an ABS. Now that is absolutely sacrilegious in the two-wheeler world of ours, at least in these modern times. The front brakes comprise of 280mm ventilated disc with double piston caliper, while for the

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

rear there is a 240mm ventilated disc with a single piston caliper. The Thunderbird 500x is powered by a Single Cylinder 4 Stroke, Air cooled, 499cc engine which produces around 27.2 bhp @ 5250 rpm and a peak torque of 41.3 Nm @ 4000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-Speed transmission. Thankfully you have Electronic Fuel Injection rather than the conventional carburetor. The Front suspension comprises 41mm forks with 130mm travel, while the rear suspension is made up of twin gas charged shock absorbers with 5-step adjustable preload which have a 80mm travel. The motorcycle has a ground clearance of 135mm. When you start the motorcycle, the thumping sound from the good old Enfield bike is missing. Here the sound is a lot flatter. And once you are on the road, you are pleasantly surprised by its agile nature. It has a decent acceleration and most important, it takes the rough with a lot of ease. The Thunderbird 500x has an imposing presence on the roads. But what the company needs to do now is to iron out several of its issues on the technical front. At the end of the day, it’s not a bad bike at all and neither is it old fashioned.

VERDICT The design of an Enfield bike just cannot get dated. It’s iconic in nature and riders would continue to love it despite a few of its niggling issues. Every bike is made for a purpose. Some excel on the tracks, some in the jungles, while an Enfield is meant for the men among us!

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 41

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

42 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#HONDAXBLADE

HONDA X BLADE

STARRY EYED

Report Aakash S. Paul Photography Afsar Baig & Neeraj Panwar

rospective Honda two-wheeler buyers would contemplate whether they should go for the Honda X Blade while there is the slightly cheaper CB Unicorn 160 and the slightly more expensive and feature packed CB Hornet 160R within the Honda stable. So we take the X Blade for a ride around the city to find out whether the Honda X Blade has a distinct identity of its own.

DESIGN AND STYLING OF HONDA X BLADE The design on the X Blade is quite striking and that is largely due to the elongated headlamp chin and the full-LED cluster which illuminates the road ahead in a pleasing white light. It gets a small cowl above the headlamp to enhance its sporty appeal. The motorcycle gets a nice and big fuel tank that has an imposing look. All along the sides, one can see small plastic sections with slightly different designs. They look kind of cool. What I also like are the tiny covers for the chain and on parts of the frame. At the back you get a t-shaped tail lamp that flows well with the sleek look offered in the rear. The X Blade definitely looks better than the somewhat plain CB Unicorn 160 and the raw looks of the Hornet 160R. This could be the product to woo in college goers who want a stylish and contemporary looking product.

The 162.71cc engine on the X Blade is shared with the Unicorn and the Hornet. So naturally the engine is well tuned for city riding and it feels very refined. The bike feels very quick and that has been helped by the relatively less kerb weight of 140ks.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 43

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

SPEC I F I C ATI ONS ENGINE 162.7cc air cooled, 4-stroke SI TRANSMISSION 5-Speed POWER 13.9hp@8,500rpm TORQUE 13.9Nm@6,000rpm TYRES Front Tyre: 80/100-17 Tubeless Rear Tyre: 130/70-17 Radial Tubeless

PRICE `79,990 (ex-showroom Delhi)

The riding position on this bike is very comfortable, no doubt. The handlebar is high enough and the footpegs also are positioned not too far back. The saddle is long enough to comfortably seat two adults and the seat height too is adequate for most Indian riders. What irks one is the cushion which is not the softest. The fit and finish on the handle bar is good but nothing extraordinary. The switches can be reached easily and they feel well built. While an engine kill switch is nowhere to be found, Honda has provided a hazard light switch which will be appreciated by many, especially riders who like to ride in groups.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The 162.71cc engine on the X Blade is shared with the Unicorn and the Hornet. So naturally the engine is well tuned for city riding and it feels very refined. The bike feels very quick and that has been helped by the relatively less kerb weight of 140ks. The 13.9hp that this engine produces is almost identical to the Unicorn 160 but about 1hp less than the Hornet but you hardly notice it. The torque output stands at 13.9Nm which kicks in at 6000rpm. I was able to cruise on this bike at 100kmph without

44 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

much problem. The bike even managed to touch a top speed of 120kmph. The wheelbase is handily short at 1347mm and that combined with a great turning radius makes this bike a delight to ride on the crowded city roads. Riding around the city will yield a fuel efficiency of 40-45kmpl which could get better if you are careful with your throttle inputs. The 5-speed transmission is pretty decent as well. The refinement on the engine is lovable but at higher rpms, post 7000, there is some buzz

in the footpegs and handlebars. You do not mind the vibes in the pegs much until you gently place your right foot on the rear brake. Since this is a metal piece it vibrates much more than the rubber coated pegs. Furthermore the rear brake is slightly elevated and that makes the riding position a bit awkward since your left foot is pointing down while the right one is pointing up a bit. The brakes on the X Blade are great for city use and pack quite a decent bite. There is a large 276mm disc in the front and a 130mm drum in the rear. The

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#HONDAXBLADE

front disc does a fantastic job of bringing you to a halt while the rear is no slouch either. Sadly there is no option for getting a disc brake in the rear which in my opinion would have made a strong case for the X Blade. But then an X Blade with a rear disc would more or less be a CB Hornet 160R. Moving on, the tubeless tyres are quite a delight as they provide a lot of grip and make the ride ever so confident. I especially like the 130/70 rear tyre which is nice and fat and gave me a lot of confidence

while riding just after rains had washed the city. The suspension, however, is a bit too stiff for my liking and I could feel the vibrations from the road.

VERDICT Despite my complaint with the stiff suspension and lack of disc brakes at the rear, it gets a thumbs up from me, more so because of the fact that it is so spirited and fun to ride. And when it comes to looks, it scores big with its smart and sporty designs.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 45

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

The NTorq 125 does strike a very pleasing balance between sporty performance and providing a comfortable commute for your daily journeys.

46 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#TVSNTORQ125

TVS NTORQ 125

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO* * • Point your mobile camera at the QR code to view the video • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

TORQ OF THE TOWN Report Aakash S. Paul Photography Afsar Baig & Neeraj Panwar

e have often asked ourselves questions like “Can there be a scooter that is performance oriented and offers a motorcycle-like thrilling ride or one that strikes a balance between the two?” We test the new TVS NTorq 125 to find an answer to these questions.

DESIGN AND STYLING

SPEC I F I C ATI O N S ENGINE 124.79cc Air cooled, Single

Cylinder

TRANSMISSION CVT POWER 9.27hp@7500rpm TORQUE 10.5Nm@5500rpm TYRES Front Tyre: 100/80 R12 Tubeless Rear Tyre: 110/80 R10 Tubeless

PRICE `59,650/- (ex-showroom Delhi)

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

The NTorq 125 was designed to impress and that it does. There are a lot of brightly coloured options to choose from. What we got was a Bumble Bee like yellow with black accents. The matte finish was the icing on the cake. The front headlamp is somewhat plain to look at but I do not mind it much because it does come studded with a batwing style DRL. The turn indicators come mounted on the handlebar. The side of the scooter holds a few interesting bits including the number 125 written on the side of the front board and the premium looking NTorq 3D logo on the side panels. Things get even more interesting at the back as the NTorq 125 gets afterburner style exhaust vents flanking the T shaped LED tail-lamp. The turn indicators at the rear are much more sleek and sharp when compared to the front ones. Sure the scooter looks a bit wide from the back but if Nicki Minaj can be famous because of her derriere, then this is no crime.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE The very first thing that I noticed about the NTorq, while riding, was the engine refinement. TVS needs a pat on the back for this. There is no sign of struggle as you twist the throttle. The next thing I noticed was the linear climb in speed. While

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 47

WHEELZ & ROADZ A riding experience

48 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

#TVSNTORQ125

being quick enough for city roads, the scooter has a very smooth transition into higher speeds. Do not expect a sudden boost or jerk as you accelerate, this scooter thinks for a fraction of a second when you accelerate suddenly and then starts climbing the speedo ladder in a very elegant manner. So no drag racing on this, but it is no slouch either, not even by a long shot. The company states a top speed of 95kmph but my light weight allowed the scooter to actually reach above 100kmph and cruising at 100kmph will also be no problem for those on the lighter side. Even at that speed there was very little vibration. The scooter can easily make it past 60kmph and had no issue going till 80kmph either. However, for most people, who weigh more, that easy climb might be till the speedo reaches 70-75kmph. This makes the scooter definitely a great choice for cruising on highways as well. The 5.3L fuel tank is pretty standard for the segment and you can expect a fuel efficiency of about 45-50kmph if you ride smartly. There is a little indicator light on the left of the meter console that tells you whether you are riding in Eco or Power mode. In case you gun the scooter at all times then expect to see the fuel level fall like it is in love with gravity. Keeping track of the vehicle and its stats is very easy thanks to the Bluetooth connectivity provided by TVS. It is the first connected scooter by TVS and lets you pair your scooter with your smartphone via Bluetooth. Once paired, you can programme the

scooter to display your name when you start it. The completely digital meter console is great when it comes to legibility and also throws loads of information at you. There are a total of three trip meters with one of them being exclusively for when the scooter is in reserve. Once connected to a phone, the scooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s console will display your phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery and signal strength as well. There is a handy clock that syncs itself the moment you connect a phone and you can also manually change the time but that will be a bit hard. The NTorq 125 is also capable of showing various display modes. It is in street mode by default and you can switch to sport mode wherein you get a lap timer, a 0-60kmph recorder and it also records your average speed and top speed for that lap. You of course have a fuel level indicator on the lower right corner and also an engine temperature indicator on the lower right. The engine kill switch on the handlebar is a nice addition and while its usefulness might not be apparent immediately, you do appreciate it as you encounter frequent traffic signals. The rest of the switches too are easy to reach and press. The 12 inch cast aluminium alloys look great and the tyres do provide a nice grip. Just do not lean in too quickly as the scooter might respond in an overenthusiastic manner. The suspension of the other hand came as a big surprise. On paper it is a fairly standard telescopic fork up front and a single gas charged shock at the back.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Being a performance oriented scooter, I was expecting it to be somewhat stiff, instead it was quite soft. The NTorq managed to absorb the bumps much better than a lot of other scooters in its segment. You are aided in you braking maneuvers by a 220mm disc at the front and a 130mm drum in the rear. The front disc is somewhat lenient at first but then kicks in full swing. I like the rear drum brake better as it had a much tighter response. Using them both in tandem can bring you to a halt safely even from high speeds. Maybe a combined braking setup would be a welcome addition in the future.

VERDICT Yes there are a few shortcomings on the scooter but none of them are grave enough to stop me from recommending the scooter to anyone. It will appeal to the young and those who are young at heart. So did I find the answer to the question that was in my mind before I began my ride? Yes I did. The NTorq 125 does strike a very pleasing balance between sporty performance and providing a comfortable commute for your daily journeys.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 49

B2B NEWS - SPECIAL REPORT

Sunny Side Up

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA SCALES NEW HEIGHTS

Report P. Tharyan

In the compact passenger utility vehicle segment it is bringing in a vehicle code named S201, while in the mid segment it will be a vehicle code named U321 and in the premium segment it would be a vehicle code named Y400.

uto and farm equipment major Mahindra & Mahindra has finally found its place in the sun after several years of perseverance and hard work, the last three years being significant ones that led to the company transforming itself into a smart behemoth. Among its various plans for the future, the company is bringing in at least three passenger utility vehicles and has identified a plethora of areas to focus on. In the compact passenger utility

vehicle segment it is bringing in a vehicle code named S201, while in the mid segment it will be a vehicle code named U321 and in the premium segment it would be a vehicle code named Y400. In a presentation made to stock market analysts and institutional investors, the company made it clear that it was on a roll on all fronts, whether it is utility vehicles, commercial vehicles, electric vehicles or tractors. On a consolidated basis, Mahindra & Mahindra recorded a total income of Rs 93,896 crore in fiscal 2017-18 (FY18) as compared to Rs 89,713 crore in 2016-17 (FY17). Even though it was a growth of 5 per cent, it saw a 103 per cent jump in profit after tax from Rs 3,698 crore to Rs 7510

crore during the period.

RESILIENCE: According to the company, the growth and profits did not come easy. It claimed that the financial year 2014-15 was a year of resilience wherein it saw a drop of 9 per cent in auto domestic sales and a 14 per cent drop in tractor domestic sales. But the company focused on cost control and while revenues declined by just about 3.5 per cent, EBITDA margin declined by just 1 per cent. The company, during the period maintained focus on product development. MANTHAN: The fiscal 2015-16 has been termed as Manthan or churning. It was a tough year for M&M which was aggravated by successive monsoon failure. But the company went ahead and launched 14 new products in the auto segment and 2 new products in the Farm Equipment Segment (FES). This led to improvement in the tractor market share. The company maintained its discipline in cost and working capital.

ON THE RUNWAY: The 2016-17 fiscal has been

50 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS - SPECIAL REPORT

termed as the “On The Runway”. The year saw FES turnaround with improvement in market share. The company’s small commercial vehicle market share improved while the utility vehicle segment had a bumpy ride. But it was the tractor that came to the rescue of M&M because as a result of bumper crop, tractor sales saw a 23 per cent volume growth.

BIG TICKET ANNOUNCEMENTS The company made some significant announcements during the last fiscal and early current fiscal. In April this year, Mahindra & Mahindra announced the launch of Automobili Pininfarina, the world’s newest sustainable luxury car brand. Automobili Pininfarina, promoted by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., will be based in Europe. The company will design, engineer and manufacture high technology, extreme performance, luxury electric vehicles for the most discerning global customers. Automobili Pininfarina will combine Pininfarina’s legendary automotive design prowess with Mahindra’s growing electric vehicle (EV) expertise

52 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

gained from its participation in the Formula E electric racing car championship. Automobili Pininfarina plans to launch its first model, a ‘Pininfarina’ badged electric hypercar, in 2020. In March 2018, Mahindra Group and Ford Motor Company signed five new memoranda of understanding (MoU) that further strengthen their strategic alliance and accelerate the development of key products for consumers in India and emerging markets. The MoUs, which are non-binding, mark the progress made by the two companies since announcing their alliance in September 2017. The two companies will jointly develop new SUVs, and a small electric vehicle as part of several initiatives announced between the two companies. Under the initiatives, Mahindra and Ford will leverage their strengths in the utility vehicle space to co-develop a midsize sports utility vehicle (C-SUV). Built on the Mahindra platform, the new

SUV will drive engineering and commercial efficiencies and will be sold independently by both companies as separate brands. Mahindra and Ford also agreed to evaluate co-development of a compact SUV and electric vehicle, along with sharing powertrain portfolios, including the supply of Mahindra powertrains to extend Ford’s product range. Building on the collaboration, Mahindra and Ford also announced plans to co-develop a suite of connected car solutions for consumers. Mahindra which owns a majority stake in Ssangyong Motor Company in South Korea, also forayed into the shared mobility space with investments in ridesharing platforms in the U.S., and is developing products like the GenZe - the world’s first electric connected scooter.

FY18 PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

the fiscal 2017-18. Its auto sector global volumes stood at 689,358 units, which is the highest ever for the company. The Bolero utility vehicle volumes crossed 1 million mark since its inception. The Scorpio utility vehicle registered the highest ever annual sales of 53,934 units. As for the pickups, they registered the highest ever annual sales of 149,119 units. The Mahindra Truck and Bus division recorded its highest ever annual volumes at 17,228 units. The company’s rural business grew by 14pc with 43pc penetration. As for the electric vehicles, its sales gained momentum with annual sales of 4026 units. The company claims that its Trucks and Bus division is on the turnaround track. During the year, the company also launched the ROXOR sports utility vehicle in the toughest market in the world, USA.

M&M can pat itself on its back for a stellar performance during

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS - SPECIAL REPORT

PV Total

DOMESTIC MARKET PERFORMANCE Segment

2,48,859

5.4

41,305

37.5

LCV Goods 2 to 3.5T GVW

1,58.269

15.9

LCV Goods < 2T GVW

M&M F18

Growth (%)

2,33,915

5.1

LCV Goods < 3.5T GVW

1,99,574

19.8

Cars

725

-77.5

LCV Goods > 3.5T GVW

3,786

26.8

Vans

14,219

37.1

LCV Goods Total

2,03,360

19.9

Utility vehicles

M+ICV Goods (7.5 to 16.2T) The company said that the main growth drivers for the year included positive rural sentiments as a result of good monsoons, governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s push for infrastructure and construction and availability of affordable finance. But it said there were challenges too like rising crude prices, increase in commodity prices and competitive intensity.

CV SEGMENT PERFORMANCE It is in the small commercial vehicle segment that the

company continued to retain a dominant position with a 47 per cent market share. M&M grew in volume terms at 16.2 per cent in this segment compared to the industry growth of 11per cent. The SCV segment achieved its highest ever volumes of 1,99,574 units. The segment has the widest range of offerings through three brands of Jeeto, Supro and Bolero picks (0.6 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes). In the heavy commercial vehicle segment, the company achieved sales of 9,484 units. From a level of 3,299 units in FY15, the growth in this segment has been very steady. In FY17, the volume stood at 6,715 units with a market share of 4per cent. The commercial vehicle portfolio of M&M consists of the Alfa L, Jeeto, Supro Mini Truck, Bolero pick up, Supro HD, Imperio and the LoadKing in the load segment upto 7.5 tonnes.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

HCV Goods (>16.2T)

9,484

41.2

MHCV Goods

9,484

41.2

LCV Passenger

3,958

-14.7

3,958

-14.7

2,16,802

19.8

54,625

4.4

5,20,286

10.8

MHCV Passenger CV Passenger CV Total 3W AS (Domestic) Total In the heavy commercial vehicles segment, the M&M portfolio consists of the Blazo series. The passenger commercial vehicle offerings consists of the AlfaL, E-Alfa Mini, the Jeeto Minivan, Supro Van, the Tourister and the Excelo.

LAUNCHES GALORE The company also launched several vehicles during the year in India and abroad. These included the Plush new XUV500 in the premium SUV segment and several

commercial and passenger vehicles in international markets. In the electric vehicles segment too, the company witnessed increases from 1021 units in FY17 to 4,026 units in FY18. The growth in electric vehicles was attributed to several factors that included the EESL tender and tie ups with taxi aggregators like Ola, Zoomcar and Uber. To continue its growth moment and increase in market share, the company has identified several focus areas. These include strengthening its Utility Vehicle portfolio

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 53

B2B NEWS - SPECIAL REPORT

with the launch of U321, S201 and Y400 coded vehicles and strengthening its CV portfolio with the launch of ICV range. ICV stands for Intermediate commercial vehicle and it is a platform where the Gross Vehicle Weight falls in the range of 8 to 15 tonne. The company will also be strengthening its EV portfolio, increase capacities, meet BS VI and safety norms and also focus more on its gasoline engine portfolio.

MAHINDRA TRACTOR BUSINESS Mahindra & Mahindra maintained its leadership position in the tractor industry with sales of over 3 lakh tractors in FY18. The company achieved its highest ever annual tractor sales and registered a growth of 22% in the domestic market, in FY18. It also achieved highest ever tractor exports, crossing 15,000 units. The largest tractor player by volume, Mahindra sold 304,019 units in FY18 in the domestic market and 319,468 units in total (domestic + exports) in FY18, registering a growth of 22% and 21%, respectively. Currently, Mahindra holds 42.9% market share in the Indian tractor industry and has held this leadership position for the past 35 years. Mahindra’s success can be primarily attributed to its focus on technology and innovation, resulting in smart tractors such as the Jivo, Yuvoand Novo. In April 2017, the company launched the Jivo- a new age, superior technology small tractor platform

54 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

in the sub 25HP category, best suited for row crop and horticulture farming. The FY18 sales volume for this product stood at 6,156 units and it gained 4.9per cent share in the 20-30hp category. In February 2018 it also launched the Swaraj963FE which incidentally was Swaraj’s first ever model in high hp segment. The tractor is available in both 2WD and 4WD and promises higher productivity, reliability, durability and ease of maintenance. The year also saw the launch of Mahindra Novo in the 65-75hp range. This is a multi-application tractor suitable for emerging applications like power harrow, rotary tillers, banana mulching and TMCH (Tractor Mounted Combine Harvester). The earlier launches of the Yuvoin April 2016 and the Novo in August 2014 have also contributed immensely to the company’s growth. Launched in April 2016 and built on

a new platform with a unique and industry first 12F+3R full constant-mesh gearbox in the category, the Mahindra Yuvois extremely versatile and can be used across more than 30 different farming applications. Currently, Mahindra has a comprehensive portfolio in tractors ranging from <30 HP up to 75 HP and spanning basic, advanced and smart tractors. The key brands include Mahindra, Swaraj and Gromax Trakstar. The latter came into being after Mahindra & Mahindra’s joint venture company with the Gujarat government, Mahindra Gujarat Tractors was renamed as Gromax Agri Equipment. The naming revamp was part of its strategy to compete on a standalone basis. Gromax Agri Equipment is a 60:40 JV between Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and the Gujarat government.

Mahindra has expanded its business vision to move beyond tractors, to the larger arena of facilitating productivity improvement in Indian agriculture and to drive agriprosperity. Its vision is to drive farm prosperity by pursuing the cause of doubling farmer income and contributing to the era of Farming 3.0. Towards this, the company has pioneered various innovations including Samriddhi, MyAgriGuru and Trringo, as part of its commitment to deliver Farm Tech Prosperity. The company’s farm machinery revenue also increase to Rs 280 crore in FY18 from Rs 219 crore in FY17. The company will now be focusing to establish its third brand of tractors – Gromax. The company is also into backhoe loaders where it saw increased sales. It successfully launched a grader during FY18.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS

Mahindra signs MOUs with Maharashtra Govt. for EV manufacture and deployment Mahindra to deploy 1,000 EVs over the next 1 year across key cities of Maharashtra Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Government of Maharashtra (GoM), to further its next phase of expansion in electric vehicles (EVs) and achieve its vision of becoming completely electric ready. This is in line with the Government’s pursuit for rapid adoption of EVs for private use as well as public (shared mobility). The MoUs were signed by Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Industries on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. in the presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group and other dignitaries. The joint declarations have been signed to further the Government’s vision to make Maharashtra a globally competitive state for EVs and component manufacture and to maximize the adoption of EVs in the state. Under the aegis of the first MoU the company will make efforts to become fully electric ready by further investing in its Chakan plant for manufacture of EVs, e-motor, controller, battery

pack and other electric vehicle components for multiple mobility applications related to battery pack assembly of EVs. As part of this expansion plan, the company will invest an additional Rs. 500 crore. The second MoU underlines the intent to explore a strategic alliance to enable Mahindra to deploy EVs across key cities in Maharashtra. Towards this, both the company and the Government will work closely with various fleet partners, taxi aggregators, logistics companies, amongst others to deploy 1,000 electric cars over the next 1 year. Speaking on the expansion plans and deployment of EVs, Dr. Goenka noted, “We are delighted to announce the next phase of our EV expansion plans at Chakan and would like to thank the Government of Maharashtra for their continuous and unstinted support. At Mahindra we have pioneered the sustainable mobility cause in India and have remained committed to it for almost a decade. Now, we are investing further in next generation EV technology solutions and are actively engaging with the ecosystem stakeholders, both private and public to drive faster adoption of electric

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

The MoUs were signed by Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Industries on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. in the presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group and other dignitaries.

vehicles. The Government of Maharashtra recognises this fact and we are delighted to make the state a key partner in our growth over the coming years.” The first deployment of EVs, as part of the MoU, will see 25 e2oPlus vehicles ported on the Zoomcar platform in Mumbai, on the occasion of World Environment Day. The range of applications for the deployment of these EVs across the key cities of the state will include employee transport between office and home for corporates, taxi hailing, ride sharing and self-drive car rental amongst others. The company will also liaison with technology partners for motor controller, power electronics, battery pack, drivetrain and other parts

and components, which are currently being imported. The company will supply EV battery pack, motors and controllers, power electronics, battery pack, drivetrain, other parts/ components of EVs, battery assembly and electric vehicles to MVML and M&M plants and other Group companies as well as to other customers. The Mahindra Group has been at the forefront of promoting electrical mobility and this strategic alliance with the state Government will bring in a paradigm shift in passenger commuting and considerably mitigate air pollution. The Government of Maharashtra has conferred the status of ‘Pioneer Mega Project’ to this proposed expansion.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 55

B2B NEWS

Tata Motors signs MoU with Maharashtra to promote e-mobility in State Partners with Tata Power to facilitate setting up of EV charging stations in Mumbai As part of the World Environment Day celebrations, Tata Motors signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Maharashtra for deployment of 1000 Electric Vehicles (EV) across its range of passenger and commercial vehicles in the State. Partnering with a Tata group company, Tata Power Ltd, Tata Motors will facilitate setting up of EV charging stations in the State. The MoU boosts the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2018 in accelerating the adoption of EVs in Maharashtra. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors signed the MoU in the presence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. Additionally, the Chief Minister also flagged off five Tigor EVs at the Gateway of India, Mumbai. These vehicles were provided by Tata Motors to EESL as part of its tender. Speaking on the MoU signing initiative, Guenter Butschek noted, “Tata Motors is committed to the Government’s vision of e-mobility in India. We are excited to join forces with the Government of Maharashtra towards this endeavor. We are uniquely positioned to leverage the strength of

our group companies to create an EV ecosystem. With our ready portfolio of EV offerings across our passenger and commercial vehicles, we are geared up to meet future requirements beyond the current tender commitments.” On setting up of new EV charging stations in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Motors, Praveer Sinha, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Power, said, “We are committed to making Maharashtra EV ready and to the Government’s ambition of providing green technology solutions. We are happy to partner with Tata Motors to deliver on the Government and Group’s

Pic on left: Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors signed the MoU in the presence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis. Pic on right: Praveer Sinha CEO & MD, Tata Power at the launch of EV Charging Station.

vision of reducing India’s carbon footprint and enabling the customers with a sustainable future. We are happy to present Maharashtra with various electric vehicle charging stations that cover the wide expanse of the State. With these installations, Tata Power continues to pursue sustainable practices by using technology to provide Maharashtra customers access to energy-efficient options with ease.” Butschek added Tata Motors, as part of its tender with EESL, has already completed the production of 250 cars and initiated the execution of phase 2 orders.

Alliance Tire Group launches new range of radial OTR tyres Alliance Tire Group (ATG), a leading name in the global off-highway tyre business, has launched its very first radial OTR range, specially made to keep pace with the challenging needs of high-pressure job-sites. ATG is a fully owned subsidiary of The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., Japan. ATG is based in Japan and it owns three worldrenowned brands – Alliance, Galaxy and Primex. ATG has a presence in over 120 countries across 6 continents and has 3

56 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

manufacturing facilities, one in Hadera at Israel and two facilities in India one in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu and another in Dahej, Gujarat. ATG has world-class R&D centres in Israel and India. The new range of tyres is designed for loaders, graders and dump trucks.The new radial OTR range will have features like sturdy construction with customised tread designs, stability and optimal traction, minimum heat build-

up, strong carcass protection and superior cut resistance and excellent durability and reduced downtime.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS

ICAT inaugurates new modern automotive test facilities The International Centre for Automotive Technology (iCAT) based in Manesar on the outskirts of Delhi inaugurated several new modern test facilities for vehicles on May 29, 2018. These were installed as a part of the National automotive testing and R & D infrastructure project (NATRiP). The NATRiP project was approved by cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) in July 2005. Subsequently, iCAT was set up in 2006 and is the first of the new world class centres established under NATRiP. The Government of India has recognised iCAT as one of the accredited â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Type Approval and Homologationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; agencies in India under Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 126. iCAT has also been recognised as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), besides being

recognised by BIS for Tyre Testing and Safety Glasses and by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for Emission and Noise testing of Generator Sets. Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises (MoHI& PE) Anant G Geete inaugurated the facilities in the presence of Vishwajit Sahay, Joint Secretary, Department of Heavy industry, Abhay Damle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India and Neeti Sarkar, CEO, NATRiP, Dinesh Tyagi, Director, iCAT along with various dignitaries from the Indian automotive industry were present for the inauguration. With a capital investment of over Rs1100 crore, iCAT facilities are spread over eight acres at iCAT Centre-I and over 46.6 acres of land at iCAT Centre-II. The centre is rendering valuable services to the automotive industry in the country in a major way.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises (MoHI& PE) Anant G Geete inaugurated the facilities in the presence of Vishwajit Sahay, Joint Secretary, Department of Heavy industry, Abhay Damle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India and Neeti Sarkar, CEO, NATRiP, Dinesh Tyagi, Director, iCAT

iCAT has emerged as a comprehensive technical partner of the automotive industry and currently undertakes the following major activities: 1.Homologation and Certification as per Indian regulations. 2.Testing as per various Indian and global regulations. 3.Developmental Projects 4.Automotive R&D Projects

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 57

B2B NEWS

Force Motors to supply Light Strike Vehicles to Indian Army Force Motors has won the prestigious order for the supply of Light Strike Vehicles to the Indian Army against stiff competition from established players. According to a Force Motors press release, the Light Strike Vehicle designed and developed by the research and development team at Force Motors is fully indigenous. Force Motors has developed the Light Strike Vehicle for exacting military activities, with the assurance of speed and reliability. The vehicles not only use the proven, rugged and reliable aggregates like engines and transmissions from the Force Motors’ stable but are also uprated for the demanding applications of the Armed Forces. The Force Motors Prototypes established their superiority in the rigorous user trials, conducted for over two years, in tough and rough terrains as varied as the scorching deserts of Rajasthan (500C) to the freezing Himalayas (-300C). Designed for quick ingress and egress, these vehicles are capable of performing on extreme terrain, with maneuverability, high speed and stability, with 4x4 configuration, and have

differential locks on all wheels, similar to the legendary Force Gurkha. It is equipped with run flat tyres and has the provision to mount a rocket launcher and machine guns. The Force Motors Light Strike Vehicle can be airlifted and dropped into enemy territory, for use as an advance fast strike vehicle. Speaking on the occasion, after the agreement with the Ministry of Defence, the spokesperson from Force Motors noted, “We are very happy that the Indian Army has reposed trust in the fully indigenous Light Strike Vehicle developed by our research and development team. This is a small but significant step in creating fully indigenous specialist vehicles for the Armed Forces – a truly ‘Make in India’ initiative”. Force Motors had also supplied the Indian Artillery with new engines for the famous 155mm Howitzer Guns (Bofors Guns). Trials are on for the adoption of Force developed engines on the indigenously developed new generation Dhanush Gun which is expected to succeed the Bofors Guns. The proven Traveller and Trax range of vehicles are already in service, with most of the para military organisations in the country.

Kia Motors India begins search for Indian auto component suppliers The senior management of Kia Motors India interacted and engaged with over 200 automobile suppliers from across the country as a part of their search for component supply partners. Kia Motors had organised an event to identify and enter into long term partnerships with Indian suppliers, with an intention to localise all components, to ensure competitive maintenance costs of future Kia India model range. Out of 200 leading suppliers, Kia Motors will be shortlisting suppliers who will undergo a systematic and comprehensive evaluation on basis of quality, management, past performance, and development capabilities over the next three months.

58 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kia Motors India, said, “Kia today is selling 2.8 million cars to over 180 countries, and our edge lies in providing world class design, quality, and innovative technology across the globe consistently. We are going to take our success story forward in India with our first car, the SP Concept, in the second half of 2019. This will be achieved with cooperation of some of the finest local Indian suppliers identified at the earliest stage. It’s a great opportunity as the Indian automobile supplier community across cities has evolved, and will fulfil our objective to offer world class components at competitive pricing.”

Daimler DigitalLife Day, a 2-day digital extravaganza held in India Following three successive editions in Germany, Daimler DigitalLife Day was held in Bangalore, hosted by Mercedes-Benz Research & Development India (MBRDI). Around 3,000 attended the two-day annual digital extravaganza, which was the largest DigitalLife Day ever organised. DigitalLife Day revolves around three objectives: information, innovation, and inspiration. This two-day event gave MBRDI employees a unique opportunity to interact with a vibrant mix of renowned industry experts, entrepreneurs, global leaders and tech innovators. The employees attended hands-on workshops, market booths, panel discussions. Also on showcase were innovations from Daimler divisions, partner eco-systems, start-ups and student communities concerning trending technologies, which are shaping the future of mobility. Daimler AG is a premium car manufacturer and plays a leading role in digitalisation. This is enabling the company to evolve from being just an automobile manufacturer to becoming a provider of mobility services as well. DigitalLife@Daimler bundles the various digitalisation activities and supports digital transformation across all divisions at Daimler. The automobile manufacturer has been investing in digitalisation across all operations for several years already. To shape this change into a leading position, the company aims to strengthen all its global units as a basis for the successful implementation of new business models centered on one of the company’s strategy - C.A.S.E. At Daimler, C.A.S.E stands for four major trends connectivity (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric).

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS

Terra Motors raises US $10 million fund to expand in Asian market Japan-based Terra Motors, an electric vehicle start-up company announced that it has secured US $10 million (Rs 67.62 crore approx.) from foreign investors Including Fenox Venture capital (US), a Silicon Valley based venture capital, and other Japanese bank affiliated venture capital investors to accelerate their global expansion. The company believes in Make in India concept and aspires of the investment is to finance and accelerate its Asian market growth. Terra Motors was founded in April 2010, with the idea of creating commuting solutions using Japanese technology and works on integrity, team work

and accountability, without compromising on the quality and speed. Commenting on global expansion and associated funding, Terra Motors CEO, Toru Tokushige said, “A rapid and sustainable growth is our long term goal. We are focusing more on Asian Markets like India and Bangladesh, as gasoline is exorbitantly priced in these countries. Therefore, there is an upsurge in demand for 2 wheeler and 3 wheeler electric vehicles in Asia.” Sharing some insights on product portfolio expansion, Akihiro Ueda, Managing Director of Terra Motors said, “We are trying to enhance the technology and the quality of the products

A Terra Motors product

by bringing quick charger and lithium battery. We want to deliver excellent service to the customers and are planning to achieve No. 1 position in the EV sector market share over the next one year”. Terra Motors is one of the leading companies in terms

of small commercial vehicle manufacturing, with a y-o-y growth rate of 180% in Global business and 700% for their Indian portfolio for 2016-17. They received funding $10M USD in 2014 from Fenox Venture capital (US), Mizuho Capital and SMBC venture capital.

Makino Automotive, RK Takasago launch hi-performance motorcycle chain Makino Automotive and RK Takasago launched a new motorcycle chain that promises high endurance, safety, durability and performance to the 2-wheeler automobiles in India. The announcement comes closely after the two companies inked a technical collaboration to provide exceptional technical assistance to the 2-wheeler automotive aftermarket chain segment in the country. The 2-wheeler aftermarket automotive chain segment is thriving in India and has witnessed an exponential growth. It is close to Rs 700-800 crore in size and is growing at the rate of 10-15%. The newly launched

motorcycle chain from Makino RK will provide the 2-wheeler automobile companies the desired mileage and best-inclass service. Faisal Matin, CEO, Makino Automotive said, “Makino RK is committed to be valuable to the clients by understanding the need and demand in the market. The world’s top 5 motor champion companies use RK’s motorcycle chains offering the most seamless and uncompromising performance. With the newly launched motorcycle chain, Makino RK reinforces its sheer conviction, bringing forth the best to offer to the 2-wheeler automobile aftermarket sector.”

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Makino RK will offer standard and heavyduty chains with increased strength and durability as per OEM specifications. All these chains will be pre-stressed and pre-stretched for superior performance and to minimise elongation during the life of the chain. Apart from this, the company will also provide excellent quality and cost performance for light duty motorcycle application. The new motorcycle chain was

launched amongst a restricted set of audience in Malaysia where Makino RK owns a state-of-theart manufacturing facility, one of the largest amongst its plants. The company further looks at officially launching the product in India soon.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 59

B2B NEWS

Volvo Car India opens National Parts Warehouse Swedish luxury car company Volvo Car India inaugurated the National Parts Warehouse in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, western India. The warehouse in strategic alliance with DSV, will support growing demand for parts across dealerships in India. This reduces waiting time for customers and is a step in the right direction for the company’s ambition to provide global top-tier service standards. Charles Frump, Managing Director - Volvo Car India said, “I am pleased to announce the opening of our National Parts Warehouse in India. This will provide World-Class customer service and support our ambition of doubling segment share by 2020. With DSV as our partners I am confident we will reduce turnaround time for our customers. The warehouse increases liquidity at the dealers and enables them to concentrate on customers

even more.” Also, present at the occasion was Martin Persson, Vice President – Global Customer Service, Volvo Car Group who said, “India is a high growth potential market and the recent performance of Volvo Car India with record sales and service last year increases the headquarters confidence in the local management. India is already providing great customer experience and investing in this infrastructure will raise the bar even higher.” Speaking about the strategic partnership Ketan Shah, Managing

Charles Frump, Managing Director, Volvo Car India, lighting the lamp

Director DSV Solutions India noted “Our core competency is a smooth execution of Warehousing solutions and my team will ensure Volvo Car India will greatly benefit from our partnership.”

Bihar Driving training institute set up in collaboration with Maruti Suzuki Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar inaugurated the State’s first Institute of Driving Training and Traffic Research (IDTR). The institute is set up in collaboration with country’s leading automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL). The IDTR will set standards for quality driving training and also impart driving training, theoretical and practical, to aspiring and existing drivers. The institute will focus on the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model, to have a multiplier effect and upgrade the driving skills

60 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

of a larger number of people. MSIL already manages six IDTRs across India, in partnership with state governments, as part of its CSR efforts to promote road safety and bring down fatalities. Ministers of Bihar, senior officials from the state Government and officials from MSIL were present during the inauguration. The IDTR has been set up under Public Private Partnership mode, between the Government of Bihar and MSIL, and with guidance and support from Ministry of Road

Transport and Highways. The Government has provided the land and building, while MSIL will manage and run the facility. The Company has set up modern class rooms, scientifically designed driving tracks and provided driving simulators, vehicles and qualified trainers. This IDTR spread across 15 acres will also host a 150-seater auditorium, a library, laboratory and a hostel to accommodate 80 trainees. IDTR will follow MSIL’s exhaustive course curriculum, designed to include all critical aspects of driving training and traffic research.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS

Synergies to set up largest alloy plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Synergies Castings Limited, India’s leading aluminium alloy wheel manufacturer announced the signing of an MoU with the Government of Andhra to establish a major greenfield aluminium casting and specialty alloy wheel manufacturing facility in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The MoU was signed in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. This new greenfield facility with an annual production capacity of 2.4 million wheels per year, benchmarked at 18” wheel size will have the most sophisticated casting, machining, painting

facilities with embedded digital manufacturing technologies. The project cost of $100 million will be financed by the existing shareholders, accruals and bank debt. With the auto industry poised to see a major growth in the coming years, and the increased penetration of alloy wheels in India, Synergies is gearing up to meet the steep demand by increasing production capacity manifold and fulfilling the needs of its veritable customer base. Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a major auto hub in the country. The state has attracted an investment of $3.7 billion (about Rs

J Krishna Kishore, CEO, AP Economic Development Board, AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Shekhar Movva, President, Synergies Castings Limited exchanging the MoU.

25,000 crore) in the auto sector . The state of Andhra Pradesh now boasts of presence of auto companies like Kia Motors from South Korea, Isuzu from Japan, Hero Motocorp, Apollo Tyres, Bharat Forge and Brakes India among others

This agreement with the state of Andhra Pradesh sets the stage for building one of the largest single location alloy wheel manufacturing projects, with intent to expand this to 5 million wheels in multiple phases.

Precision Camshafts acquires 51% stake in Emoss Mobile Systems B.V. Precision Camshafts Ltd (PCL) has acquired 51% stake in Dutch electric driveline maker Emoss Mobile Systems B.V through its wholly owned Dutch subsidiary, PCL (International) Holding B.V. This is the third strategic acquisition by PCL in the last eight months in line with its long-term growth strategy. Edwin Hobbel, Emoss Managing Director will continue to own 49% of the business and continue to run the show at Emoss. Based in Netherlands, Emoss, is a renowned manufacturer and supplier of complete integrated

electric drivelines for trucks and buses to leading OEMs and endusers including DSV, Ferrovial, GeesinkNorba, Heineken, Mellor and Waste Management New Zealand. PCL acquired the 51% Equity Shares of EmossMobile Systems B.V. Netherlands (“Emoss”) on May 17, 2018 at Euros 7.358 million (Rs58 croreapprox.). The acquisition has been funded through a combination of loan sanctioned by Bank of Baroda, London and investments made by PCL through its internal generation in PCL Netherlands. Emoss has visibility to scale

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

business 5 times in the 4 years. Emoss is a one-of-a-kind business that designs, develops, produces and supplies complete electric powertrains for trucks, busses, military vehicles and heavy equipment. The Emoss business model includes conversion of diesel trucks into ready to use electric trucks within a short span of 90 days. The company also manufactures “ready to assemble modular kits” which are assembled onto the chassis by the end customer. Both the equipment and the software are extensively tested before they hit the road,

resulting in reliable and durable products. With over 10 years of experience in the electric driveline space, Emoss is leading the industry and is ready for rapid changes in electrical mobility and the interrelated growth in demand. Located in The Netherlands, with the Port of Rotterdam nearby, Emoss also has a strategic position to ship their products worldwide. Emoss provides an end to end solution to its customers which includes research and development, engineering, production, testing, certification, delivery and post-sale service.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 61

B2B NEWS

Schaeffler India launches locally manufactured FAG SNV housings range

Shriram Transport Finance inks MoU with HPCL

Leading industrial and automotive supplier, Schaeffler India Ltd (Formerly FAG Bearings India Ltd) announced the launch of its new range of FAG SNV Housings. SNV Housings are the new split plummer block housings which are quick to mount and easy to lubricate. Schaeffler India launched SNV Housings with an aim to provide similar German quality products manufactured locally. SNV Housings find applications in Paper processing industry, Mining, Materials processing, Agricultural Machinery as well as Power Stations. The newly launched housings provide a host of benefits including reduced installation time, reduced maintenance, longer rolling bearing life, simplifying stock holding due to modular concept and more. The new range of housings is particularly easy to install and replace. It is no longer necessary to use special housing designs in many standard applications. Harsha Kadam, President, Schaeffler Industrial Business, stated, “The launch of our new product SNV Housings is another milestone for our industrial business in India. We have always strived to offer the best in industry to our customers and am very proud that we have kept the momentum. These split plummer blocks are high quality housings designed and manufactured as per local customer needs, which also means higher degree of customization and modular design for easy installation, maintenance and replacement. The new range will deliver premium and hassle free performance in all its applications to our customers”. The new range of housings will be made available through Schaeffler India’s existing Industrial Distribution Network as well as directly for OE requirements.

Shriram Transport Finance Company Limited Ltd (STFC),has inked an MOU with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation LTD (HPCL) to offer credit based fuel filling services to its customers on digital platform. STFC had been offering a host of products to its customers ranging from commercial vehicle finance to tyre loans. Credit based fuel financing will enable customers to have an efficient way of purchasing auto fuels like diesel, petrol and lubricants at credit. It is an affordable low cost working capital solution to monitor and control fuel expenses. Fuel Finance service will be a cash/card free transaction. The credit based fuel services will provide: •Fuel credit limit to customers as per the capacity of the customers. •OTP based platform for availing the benefits. •Credit period of 15 to 30 days. •Card/Cash less fleet fuel management system. G S V Prasad, Executive Director- Retail, HPCL mentioned that the tie up will provide fuel to the customers with complete cashless convenience on pan India basis, along with loyalty rewards and insurance. The card less solution will enable the driver to carryout transactions at all Retail Outlets of HPCL without having to carry cash, which will help in supporting the `Digital India‘ drive.

Sumitomo Corporation buys 49% stake in MukandSumi Special Steel Sumitomo Corporation has bought a 49% stake for Rs 1180.99 Cr in the joint venture company, MukandSumi Special Steel Limited, a leading specialty steel supplier for the fast growing automotive and engineering industries. Mukand Ltd. retains 51% equity of this joint venture company. The joint venture is engaged in the business of rolling, finishing and marketing of alloy steel wire rods and bars made

62 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

from blooms and billets procured exclusively from Mukand Ltd.’s Hospet plant in Karnataka. The JV has 100 acres of land adjoining Mukand’s existing plant at Hospet for the proposed construction and commissioning of new steel rolling facilities by mid 2020 at an approximate cost of Rs 600 crore. The automotive sector in India has grown rapidly in FY 18 and is expected to continue to expand for several years. The

auto component sector in India is a Rs 3 trillion industry, currently exporting of Rs 740 billion a year, and is a major success of the ‘Make in India’ programme. Mukand Ltd. is the preferred supplier of specialty steels to all global manufacturers in the Indian automotive sector for their critical components. For Sumitomo Corporation, a leading Fortune 500 company in 129 locations in 66 countries and

regions, this investment is their largest in India. This is also one of the largest equity investments in a manufacturing company in India by any Japanese corporation for FY 18.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

B2B NEWS

Audi plans to sell 800,000 electrified cars in 2025

40 billion Euros to be invested in e-mobility, autonomous driving & digitisation

Audi Aicon

udi aims to sell approximately 800,000 fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids in the year 2025. At the Annual General Meeting of AUDI AG held on May 9, 2018, the Board of Management presented the updated “Audi. Vorsprung.2025.” strategy. To enable about every third customer to decide in favour of an e-model by the middle of the next decade, there is to be an electrified variant in each model series by then – most of them are to be fully electric, with a smaller proportion as plug-in hybrids. In order to release resources for the package of investments amounting to billions of euros, Audi adopted its Action and Transformation Plan towards the end of last year. It has the objectives of tapping into new revenue sources, improving cost structures and accelerating the corporate transformation with regard to new business models. That will considerably increase the scope for investment.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

By 2025, approximately €40 billion (Rs 3,19,588crore) is to flow into strategic areas such as e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitization. This also applies to the digitisation of production. “Our ambition has always been and will continue to be VorsprungdurchTechnik,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, adding that, “Our goal is to revolutionise mobility. Also in electric mobility, we want to become the Number 1 among the premium manufacturers – with full suitability for everyday use, no compromises, top quality and driving pleasure for the customer. With our technological excellence, we are utilizing our Vorsprung and lifting electric mobility to the next level.” The production version of the Audi e-tron prototype is the first result of the Roadmap E initiative, with which the premium brand will electrify its complete portfolio by 2025. This also includes investment in the German plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm as well as a clear commitment for job security until the end of 2025. The product fireworks include more than 20 electrified models in rapid succession until 2025. In 2019, the Audi e-tron Sportback will be the second fully electric car to be launched, followed by the Audi e-tron GT from Audi Sport in 2020. Audi will also offer an electric model in the premium compact segment in 2020.

For its Roadmap E, the company is making systematic use of two major Volkswagen Group synergy levers in the area of development. In addition to the Modular Electric Toolkit developed by Volkswagen for the compact segment, Audi and Porsche are working together to implement the premiumarchitecture electrification for midrange, full-size and luxury-class electric cars. These cooperation projects reduce development costs substantially. For the customer, it means a quickly available choice from a broad portfolio for emission-free driving. In Brussels, the Audi e-tron is the first premium car to be produced in certified CO2-neutral highvolume production. Following Brussels’ example, Audi will make all its production sites worldwide CO2 neutral by 2030. At the market launch of the e-tron, customers in Europe will benefit from a high-performance charging infrastructure. Audi is making a significant contribution to the development of that infrastructure through the Ionity joint venture. The production version of the Audi e-tron will be the first car that can be charged at rapid-charging stations with up to 150 kilowatts. This will make the electric SUV ready for the next long distance in just under 30 minutes. Its lithium-ion battery provides a range of more than 400 kilometers in the WLTP driving cycle. For the first time, the production version of the e-tron prototype offers Audi customers the possibility to flexibly book functions such as driver assistance systems or infotainment features also after the vehicle is bought. More digital content and services will gradually be made available to the passengers. Audi aims to generate operating profit of €1 billion with such new business models by 2025.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 63

B2B NEWS

Large orders for Volvo XC40 prompt company to expand production Sweden based Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has received almost 80,000 orders for the new award-winning XC40 small SUV and is expanding production in Europe and China in order to meet demand. Production will be expanded at its Ghent (Belgium) manufacturing plant and Volvo Cars will add XC40 production capacity at its Luqiao plant in China in the first half of next year, underlining the popularity of this year’s European Car of the Year. In addition, the company has also announced that it will capitalise on the popularity of its new smaller models with the introduction of new models on its Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), replacing the current V40. “The XC40’s success has surpassed even our highest expectations,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “The small SUV segment is the fastest-growing segment in the industry now, and with these additional CMA-based models we expect to

benefit further from that growth, ” he added The coming new models based on CMA will include fully electric vehicles and will be sold globally in all major regions. More product details will be disclosed at a later stage. The XC40 was launched in late 2017

Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ghent

to global acclaim and was the first ever Volvo to win European Car of the Year in March of this year. The new XC40 is the first model on Volvo Cars’ new CMA vehicle architecture. Co-developed with Geely Holding, CMA provides Volvo Cars with the necessary economies of scale for this segment.

Anthill Ventures invests in Uniti electric car for Indian roads Anthill Ventures, an investment and scaling platform for early growth stage startups that want to scale with speed, has announced its investment in Uniti, a Swedish urban mobility electric car startup. This investment will bring in awareness and opportunity for consumers to experience a modern 100% electric car that is safe, agile and suitable for Indian roads. Uniti is an L7e vehicle with five seat option in India with an estimated starting cost of approximately Rs 7.5 lakhs. Uniti’s first vehicle, the Uniti One, was launched in December 2017 at its production facility in Landskrona, Sweden.

64 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

Uniti of Sweden and India’s Bird Group had earlier this year announced their intention to enter the Indian market with an electric car. The two companies together participated at the Auto Expo-The Motor Show 2018 held from February 9 to 14, 2018 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi. Meanwhile, Anthill has developed a focus on future cities and specifically invests in technologies and innovations that have a large India and South East Asia market potential, working closely with the startups to help them scale in these regions.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Demand for buses is expected to rise by four times in next two decades

ith India’s population expected to double in the next 20 years, the demand for buses is expected to rise by four times, while CO2 emission is expected to rise by eight times. Thus, the need of the hour is for shared mobility to deliver the highest level of seamless and convenient transport options to the people. This was stated by Manoj Kumar, Chairman and MD, Delhi Transport Corporation, while speaking on the need for sustainable public transport. He said that there is a significant opportunity for India to explore partial privatisation to make the bus network in the country for a healthy balance between traditional fuel, as well as renewable energy-driven. Kumar made his observations at the EV & Battery Tech India 2018 Summit at the 4th Smart Cities India 2018 expo held recently at Pragati Maidan. A panel of distinguished experts agreed that the best way forward was through a concerted effort to encourage electric vehicles and their use in our cities today. The conferences comprised many sessions, workshops, and conferences taking place at the 4th Smart Cities India 2018 expo, and featured industry leaders from the electric vehicles manufacturing sector, policy advisors, government representatives, etc. The distinguished panels brought their expertise and experience into play in an illuminating discussion about the benefits, challenges, and opportunities facing the electric vehicle

industry in India. One of the biggest challenges that India’s smart cities program faces is designing a sustainable mobility ecosystem that empowers citizens to travel safely and in an eco-friendly manner. India’s cities today are home to millions of vehicles which, in addition to their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, also cause problems of congestion. Inadequate

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

roadway, parking, and transport infrastructure are ailing the Indian transport sector, which is one of the largest and most diverse in the world. Speaking at the event, Chetan Maini, Managing Director, Sun Mobility, India, noted, “Currently, the biggest challenge to electric vehicles becoming a mass consumption product is the heavy cost of units leaving the factory, and the concerns

around charging in terms of infrastructure, convenience, and time taken. While swappable batteries can help with some of these concerns, many products are coming with a fixed battery which shows a lack of thorough consideration in product design. However, with the cost of renewable energy going lower than gas for the first time, many companies are expected to enter into producing renewable energy

Pic for representation purpose only.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 65

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES in the next decade. They should not miss out on the opportunity with electric vehicles, as it would very likely supply the basic transportation needs of India’s future smart cities.” Maini further added, “The reduction of the cost of renewable energy is a huge factor as it could permit sustained use of electric vehicles without reliance upon subsidies. The important thing for policymakers to remember is that in India, a majority of people use public transport daily. In Bangalore, for instance, 47% of people travel by buses and 45% by two and three-wheeled vehicles. With over 9 out of 10

Indians travelling through these low-cost methods, electric vehicles’ renewable energydriven solutions targeting them should be cost-effective and sustainable. We have to get our vision right, so that we can start laying down the plans to build the infrastructure to support the transport industry we will need in the future.” Discussing the commercial avenue taken towards building one of India’s biggest electric vehicles businesses, Mahesh Babu, CEO, Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, said, “We know what the journey up until this point has been, and going forward we are all aware of the

need to increase the production of ‘Make in India’ electric vehicles. There is much that we are currently lacking, but I am optimistic that as Mahindra came up with technology to create value for the customer to solve a problem, it is inevitable that this technology would be put to good use. The challenge is we have to give customers affordable, valuable products, at global quality standards.” Panelists at the summit agreed that technological integration must be coupled with infrastructure planning, while a common vision with respect to green and sustainable transport can truly enhance urban living

for citizen across the country. Although challenging initially, adopting green technology and renewable energy sources for transportation will be critical to not only to building smart urban infrastructure in the country, but also combatting the damaging impact of pollution and climate change. Further, the experts and industry leaders reiterated that the government’s goal of achieving a capacity of 100 gigawatts for renewable energy production, along with the right policies at both state and national levels can take the country forward towards an age of holistic, sustainable, and inclusive growth in the future.

Safe, clean, affordable, shared and smart mobility mooted ‘Transforming Mobility’ report by NRI (Nomura Research Institute) Consulting & Solutions

here is an urgent need in India for development of mobility that is safe, clean, affordable, shared and smart. And in order to achieve this, several steps need to be taken by the government and other stakeholders. These findings formed part of a report on ‘Transforming Mobility’, released in the capital by NRI (Nomura Research Institute) Consulting & Solutions, one of the largest consulting firms in Japan with a very strong footprint in Asia and Europe. In order to develop a mobility that is safe and smart, among other things, the report has suggested the following steps: •Creating public transport systems which are well

66 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

integrated with each other to fulfil the need for transit in a smooth and hassle free manner •Adoption of zero / low emission vehicles and measures for reducing non-vehicular dust related pollution •Intelligent mobility solutions such as smart traffic lights and lane management systems, redesign of roads post identification of bottle necks and planning separate lanes for slow moving traffic for reducing heterogeneity of speeds on roads •Smart parking management e.g. integrated database of parking with app based parking spot finder, dynamic pricing of parking spots, parking regulations for app based taxis as well as for parking in residential areas •Initiatives should be taken for sharing transport infrastructure

and making sustainable transport options more affordable and acceptable e.g. car pooling and making public transport more affordable to enable people who take inefficient intermediate public transport or non – motorised options switch to public transport Lastly, the report said, it is important to prioritise these measures in terms of the impact/ coverage of population as well as the ease of implementation e.g. footpaths and walk-ways may be easier to implement and will impact a large portion of people who make their journey on foot. Similarly stringent in-use vehicle pollution check will help bring down pollution, stricter traffic law enforcement will also reduce congestion and make roads safer. In addition, simpler measures

such as vacuum cleaning of roads and creation of vertical and median garden and enforcement of dust control norms in construction sites will reduce dust and hence pollution levels. In the mid to longer term, we could get the next set of improvements e.g. through an integrated traffic management system, smart parking solutions, etc. In a nutshell, it is essential that in our quest for transformation of mobility we ensure that solutions are sustainable, scalable and also all encompassing, the report pointed out. The report captures the current state of mobility in India, including the infrastructure as well as the various forms. Thereafter it goes on to define the challenges faced by mobility in terms of capacity , capacity utilisation as well as issues

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Pic for representation purpose only.

plaguing it e.g. pollution, safety, affordability. Lastly, it details a vision for the future of mobility, stated Ashim Sharma, Partner & Group Head – Business Performance Improvement (Auto, Engineering & Logistics), NRI (Nomura Research Institute) Consulting & Solutions. The report was unveiled by key stakeholders from the industry that included Abhay Damle, Anil Srivastava, Saurabh Kumar, Chetan Maini, Mahesh Bajaj, Vikram Gulati and Rahul Bharti. The report mentioned that the geographical expanse of India, and dispersion of points of production and consumption make transport sector a crucial driver for GDP growth. Road infrastructure plays a major role in on-surface transportation of both goods and passenger traffic in India, carrying 2,871 BnTonne km of freight as well as 18,109 Bn Passenger Km annually. However, the quality of our roads needs improvement. On an average, trucks in India cover about 250-300 km per day as against 700-800 km in

developed countries. In our cities, congestion leads to drastic drops in speed with average speed in Delhi being around 26 kmph. The World Economic Forum ranks India as 55th in terms of road infrastructure. The report further said that within cities there are also multiple challenges on account of heterogeneity of traffic e.g. slow speed e-rickshaws sharing roads with cars that leads to immense zig –zag movement and hence congestion. Besides this, a lack of parking facilities aggravates the issue by increasing congestion due to roadside parking, creating reluctance in switching to public transport with the first and last mile being in private vehicles due to limited parking at metro stations, etc. Lack of proper parking areas for app- based cabs which stay on the road for as long as 8-12 hours also leads to high congestion on busy roads. The report noted that though buses are a popular mode of transport here, India, with a

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

penetration of about 1.7 buses per 1,000 people, however, lags behind countries such as Thailand (8.6), South Africa (6.5), USA (2.7). Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) corridors have also not been able to succeed in most of our cities with Ahmedabad and Surat being the only outliers. Metro and mono rail infrastructure is also growing in Indian cities. The ridership is still not very high compared to other global cities. For instance, the ridership per km in Delhi is 10, 879 as against 14,593 in Shanghai, 14,467 in New York and 27,811 in Sao Paolo. On top of that, cities other than Delhi do not have an expansive metro network, the report said. Additionally, low quality infrastructure and poor on-time performance, uncoordinated timetables, lack of connections at transfer stops, buying new ticket with every change of mode and no single authority to maintain and coordinate urban transit network lead to fewer people opting for public transport. As a result, ¾th

of the 227 Mn vehicles running on roads are two wheelers with several people also using inefficient intermediate public transport such as shared Autos, E-Rickshaws, overcrowded vans, coupled with journeys on foot. All these factors have led to hazardous levels of pollution in cities. As a case in point, while the number of vehicles per km in Delhi (using registration data) is 176, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is (Hazardous) 457 while London with 220 vehicles per km has an AQI of 58 (Moderate) and Tokyo with 132 vehicles per km has an AQI of 66. Therefore, dust on roads, construction dust and to some extent other forms of vehicles e.g. heavy trucks plying through cities are a big contributor to the high city pollution levels. In addition, while the overall number of road accidents has decreased, an increasing severity of accidents has emerged as a major challenge. About 11 people per 100,000 were killed in road accidents in 2014, said the report.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 67

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Growth of E-buses to surge faster than EVs, says BNED forecast

he electrification of road transport will move into top gear in the second half of the 2020s, thanks to tumbling battery costs and larger-scale manufacturing, with sales of electric cars racing to 28%, and those of electric buses to 84%, of their respective global markets by 2030. The latest long-term forecast from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) shows sales of electric vehicles (EVs), increasing from a record 1.1 million worldwide last year to 11 million in 2025, and then surging to 30 million in 2030 as they establish cost advantage over internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. China will lead this transition, with sales there accounting for almost 50% of the global EV market in 2025 and 39% in 2030. The pace of electrification in transport will vary by country, particularly over the next 12 years as some markets jump ahead of others. BNEF forecasts that in 2030, EVs will make up 44% of European light-duty vehicle sales, 41% of those in China, 34% in the U.S., and 17% in Japan. However, a shortage of charging infrastructure and a lack of affordable models will hold back the market in India, so that EVs will make up just 7% of new car sales in 2030 there. The number of ICE vehicles sold per year (gasoline or diesel) is expected to start declining in the mid-2020s, as EVs bite hard into their market. In 2040, some 60 million EVs are projected to be sold, equivalent to 55% of the global light-duty vehicle market. ‘Shared mobility’ cars will be a small but growing element . The advance of e-buses will be even more rapid than for electric cars, according to BNEF’s analysis. It shows electric buses in almost all charging configurations having a lower total cost of ownership than conventional municipal buses by 2019. There are already over 300,000 e-buses on the road in China, and electric models are on track to dominate the global market by the late 2020s. Colin McKerracher, lead analyst on advanced transportation for BNEF, commented: “Developments over the last 12 months, such

68 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

as manufacturers’ plans for model roll-outs and new regulations on urban pollution, have bolstered our bullish view of the prospects for EVs. The changes to our forecast this time compared to the previous one a year ago are modest, at least as far as cars are concerned. We now think EVs will be 55% of light-duty vehicle sales in 2040, rather than 54%, and represent 33% of the total car fleet worldwide. “But the big new feature of this forecast is electric buses. China has led this market in spectacular style, accounting for 99% of the world total last year. The rest of the world will follow, and by 2040 we expect 80% of the global municipal bus fleet to be electric,” he noted. BNEF expects the transition in transport to have major implications for electricity demand, and for the oil market. EVs and e-buses will use 2,000TWh in 2040, adding 6% to global electricity demand. Meanwhile, the switch from ICE to electric vehicles is forecast to displace 7.3 million barrels a day of transport fuel. The BNEF team has taken a detailed look at whether the increased appetite for metals such as lithium and cobalt resulting from the rise of electrified transport could lead to

supply shortages for these key metals. Salim Morsy, senior transportation analyst, said: “While we’re optimistic on EV demand over the coming years, we see two important hurdles emerging. In the short term, we see a risk of cobalt shortages in the early 2020s that could slow down some of the rapid battery cost declines we have seen recently. Looking further out, charging infrastructure is still a challenge.” The outlook for EV sales will be influenced by how quickly charging infrastructure spreads across key markets, and also by the growth of ‘shared mobility’. Ali Izadi-Najafabadi, lead analyst for intelligent mobility at BNEF, said: “We predict that the global shared mobility fleet will swell from just under 5 million vehicles today to more than 20 million by 2040. By then over 90% of these cars will be electric, due to lower operating costs. Highly autonomous vehicles will account for 40% of the shared mobility fleet.” BNEF’s projections imply big opportunities for lithium-ion battery manufacturers. China is already dominant in this market, with a 59% global share of production capacity in 2018, and this is forecast to rise to 73% by 2021.

Volvo Electric bus. Pic for representation purpose only. Courtesy: Volvo Buses

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

TECHNOLOGY

Nuance’s Conversational AI platform powers Mercedes Benz User Experience Nuance Communications, Inc, the pioneer and leader in conversational AI innovations, has announced it has collaborated with Daimler AG to develop and power the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system. This latest advancement in infotainment systems transforms the driver experience in the cockpit through a fully customised automotive assistant, built specifically for the new A-Class and other future Mercedes models. Powered by Nuance’s state-ofthe-art conversational AI technology, MBUX leverages the Nuance Dragon Drive platform to understand and continuously learn the needs and preferences of both drivers and passengers over time to provide an increasingly personalised and connected experience.

DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE Analysts have predicted that by 2020, there will be 24 billion IoT devices installed globally and more than 200 million connected cars on the road. As these connected, autonomous, shared, and electric vehicles become increasingly standard, the expectations drivers and passengers will have for in-car interactions will continue to evolve. Nuance’s conversational AI technology and the combination of cloud connectivity with embedded, on-board technology is helping to lead this evolution, delivering an intelligent and intuitive user experience that is integrated elegantly into the vehicle. MBUX’s offerings include: • A Truly Conversational Interface – One of the first in-car systems activated by a wake-up word rather than the push of a button, MBUX is engaged with a simple, “Hey Mercedes.” Natural language understanding (NLU) and natural language generation (NLG) then allow drivers and passengers to

Analysts have predicted that by 2020, there will be 24 billion IoT devices installed globally and more than 200 million connected cars on the road. As these connected, autonomous, shared, and electric vehicles become increasingly standard, the expectations drivers and passengers will have for in-car interactions will continue to evolve. interact with MBUX naturally, just as they would with another person, to ask questions and complete requests. For example, if a driver asks, “Can I wear flip flops tomorrow?” the assistant understands that the request calls for the weather forecast and can respond naturally with “Yes, it will be warm tomorrow.” If a driver says, “It’s too hot in here,” the assistant knows to reduce the in-car temperature. It utilises natural and varied outputs rather than stereotypical, scripted answers. • Continuous Recall for Ongoing Conversation – The natural language understanding designed into MBUX recalls what a driver has said previously and can understand references to things that were said in the past, just like humans can. For example, a user might say “send a message to John,” then follow up with “send it also to Maria,” or ask “what’s the weather like in London?” then follow up with “how about in Manchester?” The assistant has the intelligence to follow the conversation and respond to such requests.

MBUX Daimler Cockpit

(for example seasonal sports events), virtual assistants and services can be added to broaden the spectrum of information available to the driver at any time and ensure the vehicle can always include state-of-the-art capabilities. In addition, the assistant is deeply integrated with the car itself, enabling voice-powered control of in-car functions like climate and music and features like in-seat temperature and massage. “With MBUX, we have come another step closer to turning the vehicle into a mobile assistant,” emphasized Sajjad Khan, vice president, Digital Vehicle & Mobility, at Daimler, adding that, “As we work to create new experiences for Mercedes drivers, the new technologies we implement must have the user at the forefront, with the goal of making interaction with the car seamless and simple. That’s why we worked closely with Nuance, a long-time partner, on MBUX, leveraging their intuitive and natural voice and language solutions as an integral part of how we build an incar experience that helps differentiate us in the minds of drivers.”

• Hybrid, Adaptive System – The system is pre-wired to accept flexible, over-the-air updates via the cloud, even for functions designed and embedded directly into the vehicle. As the software model is continuously enriched with new words or changing use of language over time, new domains

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 69

TECHNOLOGY

Pictures courtesy: Ford

Ford’s new facility in Germany can simulate any weather, anytime

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO Ford has invested more than €70 million (Rs 560 crore approx.) in the John Andrews Product Development Centre in Cologne, Germany which is like a weather factory that can simulate any weather, any time. Described as “an engineer’s dream” it is both Europe’s hottest and coldest spot and highest point in western Europe. This state-of-the-art “Weather Factory” can simulate diverse environmental conditions ranging from blizzards to searing heat, from high humidity to galeforce winds. Now this weather factory is not for employees

70 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

Ford’s new state-of-the-art Environmental Test Centre puts all the world’s weather under one roof, enabling engineers to test forthcoming vehicles – from a small Ford KA+ to a twotonne Ford Transit in the most demanding conditions and make whatever weather they want at any time of the day. to build snowmen or go sun bathing, depending on the weather inside, but it is Ford’s advanced new facility where tests are done on Ford vehicles. Those who ultimately buy the Ford vehicles can then rely on

the vehicles that have endured conditions that are found in the Sahara, in Siberia, and atop the tallest Alpine peaks. The air is shimmering like in the desert, while just a few metres away, it’s so cold you can

build a snowman. And there’s a category 5 hurricane in the next room. Welcome to the “Weather Factory”. Ford’s new state-of-the-art Environmental Test Centre puts all the world’s weather under

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

TECHNOLOGY

one roof, enabling engineers to test forthcoming vehicles – from a small Ford KA+ to a twotonne Ford Transit in the most demanding conditions and make whatever weather they want at any time of the day. Altitudes higher than Mont Blanc, the tallest Alpine peak, vehicle and wind speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph), snow, glaring sunlight and rain are among conditions that are a push of a button away in Europe’s most advanced automotive environmental test centre. On an area the size of a football pitch, engineers can now take vehicles on demanding journeys around the world, from the desert heat of the Sahara, to the arctic cold of Siberia and the heavy humidity of Costa Rica. “The vast range of punishing simulation tests will enable Ford drivers to be confident their vehicles can handle whatever climate zone they live in,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “Travelling to the four corners of this building is like taking a trip to the four corners of the world, and our engineers will do that around the clock, every day, to continue to develop future best-in-class vehicles,” he added. The subject of a €70 million investment, the test centre offers the first automotive wind tunnel that can simulate 5,200 metres, the same elevation as the Mount Everest North Base Camp, and the first with such a range of conditions that can be simulated under one roof. The facility can also cool two rooms to – 40 C and heat them up to 55 C, as well as generate 95 per cent humidity. The temperature extremes make the facility at Ford’s John Andrews Product Development Centre in Cologne,

Germany, the hottest, coldest and most humid place in Europe, and home to the highest point in Western Europe. Now fully operational, engineers can work on up to ten different vehicles simultaneously. Testing covers comfort, safety and durability, as well as electrical performance, braking, air conditioning, trailer towing, cabin heating and traffic jam situations. Engineers analyse the effects of high speed winds on exterior parts, check the robustness against rain and snow, and see how fast a windscreen defrosts at different temperatures. “The Environmental Test Centre represents a significant investment for Ford of Europe that will help enable the company here to develop vehicles for global markets,” said Bakaj. All Ford vehicles will be tested in the facility, which features three climate wind tunnels, including a high-altitude lab, and four temperature-controlled test chambers, one of which will also

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

facilitate humidity testing. Wind Tunnel 1 is set up for hot and cold immersion testing. The 28 spotlights with 4,000-watt bulbs help to simulate the powerful sun beams that enable engineers to check how fast the cabin can be cooled. This wind tunnel can also evaluate the interior noise from vehicle systems at different speeds, temperatures and humidity levels, to check the heating and air conditioning noise Wind Tunnel 2 is also set up for hot and cold immersion testing. Engineers can use this wind tunnel to make snow and rain to check the effect on visibility, engine starts and how long it takes to heat the cabin Wind Tunnel 3 is the altitude lab, where engineers can test vehicles at wind speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph) at up to 5,200 metres. The high altitude cold start and durability tests ensure the vehicle’s liquids don’t burst their lines when working under higher pressure. More than half of Ford vehicles worldwide are sold in territories with roads

above 1,000m “We can see how windshield wipers function in Arctic temperatures, how engine performance changes in extreme heat and cold, and even how much snow falls on the driver’s head when they open the door. It’s an engineer’s dream,” said Michael Steup, project manager, Environmental Test Centre, Ford of Europe. Overall, the facility requires 11 megawatts of electricity, enough to power a small town of 2,400 inhabitants, that comes from a fully renewable, environmentally-friendly source. The electricity provided by RheinEnergie originates from certified sustainable sources in Scandinavia and covers the complete electric power demand of Ford’s facilities in the city. The ground-breaking test centre complements testing facilities that include Ford Lommel Proving Ground, in Belgium, home to a specific pothole-testing track, side-wind tests, and saltwater and mud baths.

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 71

TECHNOLOGY

Reversing gets easier with Ford technology The all-new Ford Focus offers a new camera technology that makes reversing a breeze. The wide-angled camera sees around obstacles, shows hazards driver can’t see. The radar sensors detect vehicles crossing behind and can apply brakes to avoid collisions. For several years now, reversing cameras that show drivers what is immediately behind them have become increasingly popular with new car customers. Now, the all-new Ford Focus is taking the technology a step further – by showing drivers what is around the corner behind them. Located just above the vehicle licence plate, the camera captures a 180-degree view that can be displayed on a touchscreen inside the car – so

passing pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles can be more easily seen. Reversing manoeuvres are also made easier by radar sensors that monitor the area behind the car and alert drivers to vehicles and motorcycles crossing behind. If the driver does not respond

to warnings, the brakes are automatically applied. “We know that for nearly all our customers, reversing is a crucial part of their daily drive – and one that some of them really don’t enjoy. This little camera is helping us to make a big step forwards in making it easier to

SCAN TO VIEW THE VIDEO

go backwards,” said Glen Goold, Ford’s chief program engineer for Focus. According to a recent survey, of the top five trickiest driving manoeuvres, four involved reversing, and the fifth was driving forwards into a parking bay. The all-new Focus introduces a wider range of advanced features and technologies than any Ford vehicle before. As well as Rear Wide View Camera, the car also has Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert that warns the driver of vehicles and motorcycles that may soon be crossing behind. The car can automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the effects of collisions if the driver does not respond to warnings.

Ather Energy launches largest charging infrastructure network in an Indian city Ather Energy has announced the launch of their charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), AtherGrid, which is open to all EVs. The company, known for their intelligent, electric scooter S340, has begun installations of the intelligent and connected charging stations across the city of Bangalore. Thirty charging points will be set up by the end of May 2018. By the end of the year, 60 charging points will be available in Bangalore. With this, there will be a charging station within 4 km driving distance from any point in the city. This is the largest charging infrastructure effort in an Indian city. Installed at malls, cafes, restaurants, tech parks, multiplexes and gyms, they have been selected to cater to both, four wheelers and two wheelers. For this, Ather has partnered with host locations, who have installed Points probono at their premises to offer a convenient experience for all EV owners in the city. To improve EV ownership experience and increase adoption, AtherGrid and its accompanying app

72 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

will be offered for free for the next 6 months to all electric vehicle owners. Using cloud connectivity, consumers can find the nearest Point available and navigate to the charging location using the app. Remotely monitoring charge status and integrated payment options offers EV owners a seamless charging experience. Ather’s Points have been designed and manufactured in India, keeping in mind the needs of the domestic power grid. Safety features ensure that electricity is drawn only

when connected to a vehicle and protects vehicles from overcharging with auto power cut off. Electric vehicles will be protected from undervoltage, overvoltage and overcurrent. And with an IP55 rated body it is safe to use in any weather.

L-R: Swapnil Jain, CTO & Co-Founder &Tarun Mehta, CEO & Co-Founder, Ather Energy

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

TECHNOLOGY

Car engines are tested for 12 hours and can reach temperatures over 900 degrees The Siberian village of Oymyakon remains at 50 degrees below zero for several months of the year, and is considered the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. On the other hand, registering a maximum of 57 degrees, the Libyan town of Al Aziziya is considered the hottest location in the world. In order to guarantee that a car can reliably drive in places with such widely different climactic conditions, parts and prototypes are also exposed to extreme temperatures. These are the temperature variations in a car’s development stage as well as when it is being manufactured:

car seats and steering wheels are tested in a weather chamber at the SEAT Technical Centre. Inside, the temperatures range from 40 degrees below zero to 110 degrees above. At a place located near the Arctic Circle, prototypes also undergo analysis in real conditions of heat and cold, including more than 60 tests, driving 30,000 kilometres at 35 degrees below zero and a frozen lake that is used as a driving circuit. On the other side of the world, specialists perform tests such as traction control, dust aspiration and driving on gravel in a desert region at 45 degrees Celsius. The goal of this series of tests is to ensure the durability

and functionality of every part.

3) A CAR SEAT THAT REACHES 40 DEGREES: Heated seats can reach this temperature in 15 minutes. To check that the heat is evenly distributed, the car is placed in a booth at -20 degrees Celsius and is analysed using a thermographic camera. The goal is to guarantee the comfort of the future driver.

4) WHAT DOES A STEERING WHEEL SMELL LIKE WHEN HEATED TO 60 DEGREES?: Heat makes it easier to identify smells. For this reason, a team

of specialists from the SEAT Quality department heats the car to above 60 degrees before climbing inside to check what the different materials smell like. The goal is to detect any possible unpleasant odours.

5) AT 900 DEGREES TO ENSURE DURABILITY: High temperatures to test the vehicle, but also to produce some of the parts. For example, 15,000 tonnes of aluminium has to be melted at 700 degrees to make the gearboxes. Once made, they can spend up to 14 hours in an oven at 900 degrees; this increases their durability 5,000 times.

1) RED-HOT ENGINES AT 910 DEGREES: This is the temperature that the engines reach during the 12-hour tests prior to their production. They are revved up to 6,500 rpm to simulate their service life under all kinds of conditions. The goal is to certify the highest output while controlling fuel consumption and emission levels.

2) FROM THE ARCTIC COLD TO 45 DEGREE DESERT HEAT: Dashboards,

The engine has to pass a 12-hour heat test where it reaches 910 °C

TOP LEVEL CHANGES IN MOTOWN Schenker India Pvt. Ltd, part of DB Schenker, the transport and logistics division of the Deutsche Bahn Group, has appointed VISHAL SHARMA as the new Chief Executive Officer – India and the Indian sub-continent, with effect from May 2, 2018. He will be succeeding Oliver Bohm who has taken up a new role as Europe Chief Commercial Officer after spending 20 years in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Sharma would be reporting to Ditlev Blicher, Chief Executive Officer, DB Schenker in APAC. With over 17 years of experience with Maersk, Sharma held various strategic leadership roles in Europe & Asia, and is also well versed in the 3PL and SCM Industry, where he in particular was Area CEO for India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka of a 3PL. Apart from this, he also has a wealth of entrepreneurial experience in start-ups and business incubation.

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

JUNE 2018 | MOTOWN INDIA | 73

PICTURE OF THE MONTH

The Volvo XC40 looks resplendent with its Thorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hammer LED DRLs as the moon shines gently in the skies above. The picture was taken in Hyderabad with a OnePlus 5T mobile phone.

74 | MOTOWN INDIA | JUNE 2018

www.motownindia.com | www.micorporate.com

Reading MOTOWN INDIA magazine has just got a lot more exciting!

SCAN THE QR C

ODE

EOS ON TO VIEW THE VID EVICE YOUR MOBILE D ED AND STAY UPDAT IN THE ON THE LATEST

AUTOMOBILE W

ORLD

* • Point your mobile camera at the QR codes in the magazien to view the videos. • In some devices you will have to download a QR Code reader app from Google Play store to view the video.

RNI No DEL ENG/2010/34562

HOUSEBOATS OF KERALA

WWW.KERALAHOUSEBOATONLINE.COM For bookings write to : bookings@keralahouseboatonline.com

Artwork created by MPPL team

Experience motorised fun without wheels