L-R: Tom Kearns, Head – Kia Design Center, Manohar Bhat, Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing, Kia Motors India, Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director & CEO, Kia Motors India, Han-Woo Park, President & CEO- Kia Motors Corporation, Lorenz Glaab, Head Global Product Management.

Kia Motors, world’s 8th largest automaker, hosted the world premiere of its first car for India – Kia Seltos. The indigenously manufactured, Seltos features contemporary and stylish design with plush and spacious interiors. The vehicle boasts many segment firsts with class leading safety features, making the vehicle capable to disrupt the segment and create a niche for itself.

Kia Seltos comes equipped with Smartstream, a third-generation powertrain developed for high efficiency and powerful performance. Originally slated for India, the vehicle hosts world class design, quality and features and now will also be available in global markets from the 4th quarter of 2019.

Commenting on the occasion Han-Woo Park, CEO & President, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “India is crucial market for Kia Motors overall growth story and will play an important role in expanding our global footprint. India is a diverse country with distinct driving condition across the country and hence it was crucial to introduce a vehicle which is perfect in every sense. We are excited to pursue our India journey with Kia Seltos which is crafted and built keeping in mind the Indian customers and their needs. We believe that Seltos is all set to propel Kia into becoming one of India’s prominent automobile players in the years to come. Globally, the world premiere of the Seltos is an important milestone for Kia as it shows our commitment to the Indian market. This is just the beginning as we have many surprises for the 4th largest auto market in the world.”

Kia aims to reach out to every possible customer even in the remotest corners of the country. The company plans to begin retail sales with the highest number of touch points for any new car entrant in India. The company will cater to its customers through 265 customer touch points owned by Kia authorised dealer partners, spread across 160 cities. As part of the company’s customer-centric strategy, on/offline sales system will be available from day one of sales, while digitizing the entire customer journey from sales to services, including introduction of digital showroom.

The Smartstream – newly developed third generation BS VI compliant powertrain for high efficiency and powerful performance. The Seltos, by offering BSVI diesel and petrol engines, reiterates Kia Motors’ commitment towards offering cleaner mobility solution. The vehicle will come in petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel guise and will be offered in three automatic transmission options – IVT, (Intelligent continuously variable transmission) 7DCT, 6AT and, along with 6 Speed Manual transmission   – giving users options to choose the combo that conforms to their driving style.

To further elevate the driving experience the Seltos gets multiple driving modes that alters the responsiveness of the car and transforms the car’s driving character optimizing the performance on all conditions. Drivers can choose from ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Sport’ mode. The  Eco mode is tuned to maximise vehicle range by using fuel-saving measures, while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximise the dynamic driving feel of the car. Normal mode provides a careful balance between the two. It also comes equipped with multiple grip controls. Drivers can choose from mud, wet and sand mode depending on road condition.

A Kia hallmark, design is intricately woven into the brand’s DNA, and is definitely the talking point of the Seltos whose design is a collaborative effort of Kia’s global design centres that did extensive research on the current and upcoming trends of car design around the world and tailored it for the Indian market. The design of the Seltos is set to spark conversations and turn heads wherever it goes. From the dominating front fascia with the wide Signature Tiger Nose Grille, the muscular shoulder line and intricately and sharply designed front and rear full LED lights the Seltos looks commanding and confident all-round. The stunning premium crystal cut alloys compliment the dimension of the Seltos and lends it a powerful stance, ready to take on everything and triumph. The Seltos is the flag bearer of the ‘Future of Design’.

Kia’s very first product for India flaunts a bold, distinctive and dynamic design. The mid-SUV sports a wide Tiger nose grille, one of the most unique and recognizable design elements of Kia Motors’ world-class design philosophy. The robust design character of a conventional SUV co-exists with sophisticated exterior design details and is drawn out from real life inspirations, such as a long hood, a robust and sophisticated character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its strong shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse, which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness. Seltos has eight attractive colour combinations and five two-tone colour options. By using different colours and two-tone roof combinations, customers can select their car based on their tastes.

Kia Seltos comes equipped with the globally famous UVO connect, an advanced connected car technology which offers an array of convenience and safety features. The UVO boasts 37 smart features under five distinct categories i.e. Navigation, Safety and Security, Vehicle Management, Remote Control and Convenience. The UVO facility will be free for the first three years for its users.

Kia has paid utmost attention to ensure that every drive in the Seltos is relaxing and safe. It offers a full range safety which includes, active, passive, health safety, security and maintenance. The Seltos gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM and is built on robust structure, which has high usage of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) that fortifies the Seltos’s core and keeps the occupants safe in an event of a crash.

Additionally, the front and rear parking sensors, blind view monitor ensures that the visibility of unseen vehicles is not compromised, giving the driver confidence at all times. Working in tandem with the safety tech, the Seltos comes equipped with an array of advanced UVO connected car technology features. The UVO technology can be summoned via a dedicated button on the IRVM. The IRVM also has dedicated roadside assistance and SOS button that alert the dedicated call centre– in case of An emergency .The car is fitted with an Anti-lock Braking System, a Traction Control System, a Brake-Assist System and Hill-start Assist Control, as well as front and rear parking sensors, for assistance when parking.

Safety being central to all Kia products, the Seltos, also gets, rain sensing wipers and auto headlamps, thus allowing the driver to focus more on the road conditions ahead.

Volvo Car India flagged off an all women drive under the global ‘Equal Vehicles for All’ (E.V.A.) initiative to promote gender equality. The rich data of over four decades and 40,000 investigations involving car crashes has now been provided to the world. The E.V.A. initiative centres around safety for all and not just safety developed by testing the traditional ‘Male Crash Test Dummies’. Women have a different anatomy and hence different effects in crashes.

Volvo cars are tested with Female Crash Test Dummies as well delivering safety for all. The seats are ergonomically designed with WHIPS to reduce the whiplash risk for male and females by half. The Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) relies on an intelligent structure to boost overall safety. In fact, SIPS, together with the side-impact airbag, reduces severe chest injuries by more than 50 per cent for all passengers.

The gender equality does not stop just at product development, it is an integral part of Volvo’s corporate mission and culture. Volvo Cars is aiming at one-third of all leadership positions by 2025 to be females and has a healthy 23 per cent women workforce.

Sudeep Narayan, Corporate Communications Director – Volvo Car India said “ We are very proud of our campaign to generate awareness about gender equality. It is something very close to our brand and the corporate mission to have at least one-third women in all leading positions globally by 2025. We have a healthy 23% ratio of women globally and in India. Our global E.V.A initiative involves creating a Female Crash Test Dummy, thereby delivering safety for all”.

Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans 1923

This year, the Concours of Elegance will be celebrating Bentley’s Centenary year in style, with a display of the cars that established the Bentley legend, both on and off the race track. From the first Bentley to race at Le Mans – a 1923 3-Litre – and Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ – victorious at Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 – to Her Majesty The Queen’s State Limousine, it’s a journey through Bentley’s incredible 100 years from automotive innovator to global luxury icon.

The Bentley legend was built on the race-track, and Concours of Elegance will gather only the most important motorsport Bentleys. It was with the 3 Litre that the on-track legend really began, when an example was privately entered into the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1923. Founder W.O. Bentley attended last-minute, convinced the race was ‘crazy’, but watched the 3 Litre set a lap record and finish fourth overall, hindered only by a hole in the petrol tank. This very car will be coming to Concours of Elegance in September.

The following year, in 1924, Bentley returned to Le Mans with a 3 Litre and won. But it was only later that Bentley made yet more history at Le Mans, with Speed Six ‘Old Number One’, which became the first car to win the race back-to-back in ’29 and ’30. Piloted by Woolf Barnato and Tim Birkin in its maiden win at the world-famous 24-hour race, ‘Old Number One’ took two other race podiums that year. Famed Bentley Boy Barnato drove the racer to a second victory at Le Mans, alongside Glen Kidston in 1930. It will be joined by Speed Six ‘Old Number Three’, which also raced at Le Mans in 1930, and was running in the top two before leaving the track at the Pontlieue Hairpin.

1929 Bentley Speed Six Old Number One

Joining the iconic racers is the car that helped establish Bentley’s reputation for innovation in the pursuit of speed; Bentley 4.5 Litre Blower No.1. This car was built by Tim Birkin before W.O. Bentley was convinced to build the 50 4.5 Litre supercharged ‘Blowers’ that were necessary to comply with Le Mans racing regulations. Blower No.1 is joined by two later ‘Blowers’, including the most original in existence; the No.2 car raced by Tim Birkin at Le Mans in 1930. The Concours of Elegance’s pre-event ‘Tour of Norfolk’ will pay homage to this great Bentley racer, with a visit to his final resting place.

Many of Bentley’s racing endeavours were undertaken by a wealthy group of young motoring enthusiasts, who have become known as the Bentley Boys. But their racing antics didn’t always stick to the track – in fact, one of the most famous races undertaken was against a train. Le Train Bleu, more specifically.

Woolf Barnato, the only man with a 100% record at Le Mans (three starts, three wins), wagered £200 in 1930 that he could outrun Le Train Bleu between St Raphael and Calais in his Bentley. Not only that, but he bet he could get to London before the train reached its destination. Barnato travelled the 570 miles to Calais in record time (setting up his fuel stops in advance), boarded a steamer and finished off his dash to London, arriving 700 miles later with an average speed of just over 43mph. Needless to say, Barnato arrived in London four minutes before the train reached Calais.

Bentley 3 Litre

Despite some controversy surrounding which car Barnato completed the race in, the coachbuilt Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting remains most closely associated with the race, and is possibly the most legendary road-going Bentley in history, and the car that single-handedly exemplifies the Bentley Boys legend better than any other. Visitors to Concours of Elegance will have a chance to see this piece of history first-hand.

And the Gurney Nutting car won’t be the only rare coachbuilt Bentley on display; Concours of Elegance will also be welcoming the completely unique Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Cabriolet by Antem. The low windscreen and coach lines sloping towards the tail are Antem trademarks, complemented by a beautiful trimmed interior and painted dashboard.

The Bentley story is crowned, quite literally, by the State Limousine; Her Majesty The Queen’s official car. Presented in 2002 – The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year – and based on the Arnage R, the State Limousine features completely bespoke body and interior by Mulliner, including a lengthened wheelbase and a heightened roofline, amongst numerous other upgrades and enhancements. Only two Bentley State Limousines exist, and one example will be on display in the Fountain Gardens of Hampton Court Palace for this year’s Concours of Elegance.

1930 Bentley Speed Six Blue Train

Andrew Evans, Concours of Elegance Director, said: “We couldn’t let the Centenary of Bentley pass without doing something special. And in the truest expression of what Concours of Elegance is about, we wanted only the best Bentleys, so what we’ll be displaying is a collection of the most famous, most important and most influential Bentley models ever. Between them, they’ve established Bentley’s reputation for craftsmanship, speed and innovation. There’s no better way to celebrate one of Britain’s finest marques.”

Having already revealed the world-first Aston Martin Zagato feature, which will display one of every model produced by one of motoring’s most legendary partnership, and the 70th anniversary display of five Ferrari 166MM models – including the 1949 Le Mans and Mille Miglia-winning car – Concours of Elegance is set to be the most spectacular yet. Of course, that’s without mentioning what always sits at the heart of the event – over 60 of the rarest cars ever built.

Italian motorcycle brand, Ducati has announced the launch of the all-new Hypermotard 950 in India at a price of Rs 11.99 (Ex-Showroom India).

Sergi Canovas, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “Hypermotard range has been loved and appreciated by riders who look for a fun and adrenalin-packed motorcycle. The new Hypermotard 950 inherits the sport and fearless characteristics which aligns to the personality of a rider who wants pure fun. It does not confine itself to a supermoto bike alone but rather comes with the performance of a dirt bike and soul of a sports bike. It’s a perfect choice for riders who’re looking for a thrilling yet sophisticated motorcycle.”

The all-new Hypermotard 950 boasts of an aggressive look along with a sporty character and is equipped with a 937cc twin-cylinder Ducati Testastretta 11° with more muscle, greater pulling power and new electronics to ensure smoother control. The twin-cylinder engine has been radically revised and is lightened by 1.5 kg. It puts out 4 more horsepower than its predecessor, achieving 116 PS at 9,000 rpm and a flat torque curve peaking at 96 Nm at 7,250 rpm.

The front view – characterized by the trademark Hypermotard ‘beak’, surmounted by compact headlight with a Daytime Running Light (DRL) gives the bike excellent visibility and underscores a clear ‘family feeling’ with the models that preceded it.

The assertive design of the Hypermotard 950 pivots around the twin under-seat tailpipes and the minimalist superstructure, which ensures the mechanics – including the light, essential rear Trellis sub-frame – are kept in clear view. As well as being more visually compact, the new Hyper is also 4 kg lighter compared to the previous model. This has been achieved thanks to a new steel trellis frame with variable-section tubes, new rims, brake discs with aluminium flanges, lightweight Marzocchi forks with aluminium fork bodies/tubes and meticulous design of every detail.

 It is equipped with a new Marzocchi fork with fully adjustable 45 mm aluminium tubes and stanchions, and 170 mm wheel travel. The front braking system features two monobloc radially mounted 4-piston Brembo M4.32 calipers operated by a radial brake master cylinder with an adjustable 5-position lever.

The riding position has been thoroughly revised for utmost riding fun and control. The new Hypermotard 950 sports a new handlebar, narrower side profile and a new seat, featuring a flat, extended profile and a moderate bulge in the passenger area for improved comfort.

It is equipped with 3-spoke Y-shaped aluminum rims with 3.5-inch section up front and 5.5-inch section at the rear and is fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres, namely 120/70 ZR17 up front and 180/55/55 ZR17 at the rear.

The Hypermotard 950 is also equipped with modern, sophisticated electronics based on Bosch 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU), which instantly detects the motorcycle roll, yaw and pitch angle in space. The electronics package includes Bosch Cornering ABS with the Slide by Brake function (with setting 1), Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO. The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO is available as an accessory on the Hypermotard 950.

The operating parameters of each control system are associated by default with the three electronic setups, or Riding Modes, available on the Hypermotard 950. Riders have the ability to customize their riding styles and restore the parameters set by Ducati. The handlebar mounts radial pumps with separate front brake and clutch fluid reservoirs (a hydraulic clutch replaces the previous cable-operated one); the design and interface of the 4.3-inch TFT display take their cue from the panel on the Panigale V4.

The motorcycles also come with provisions for the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS), which enables users to connect the bike to a smartphone and manage key multimedia functions (incoming calls, text messaging, music) via switchgears, and display the relative information on the TFT instrument panel via Bluetooth.

Ducati is preparing for the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb; in this edition, which will start on June 30th, Carlin Dunne will tackle the most famous hill climb in the world on the Streetfighter V4 prototype.

As part of the development process of the new model, the “Race to the Clouds” has been identified as an ideal proving ground for testing the high performance of the Streetfighter V4.

In keeping with tradition, the Streetfighter V4 derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars. The high performance of the 1100 cc Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model.

The prototype will race with a “pixelated” livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look.

“The Streetfighter V4 will be one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020,” declared Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati. “Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production.”

The bike will be presented to the public at EICMA 2019

The updated MY19 Ford EcoSport goes on sale in India with several smart updates to deliver what customers want and value in a compact SUV. High on practicality across its range starting from Rs 769,000, the MY 2019 EcoSport line-up showcases Ford India’s continuous efforts to increase localization, resulting in greater value being passed on to customers across the variants.

“Whether it is the low-cost of ownership or the outstanding capabilities, safety or innovative features on offer, Ford is working relentlessly to deliver greater value to customers. The MY 2019 is a shining example of our efforts,” said Anurag Mehrotra, President & Managing Director, Ford India. “Backed by a strong product development team and ongoing localization efforts, we not just keeping up with the evolving consumer needs but also surprise them with enhanced value on offer across 2019 model lineup of Ford EcoSport.”

The MY 2019 also witness the introduction of EcoSport Thunder Edition, a capable and feature-loaded version of the popular compact SUV. Priced at Rs 10.18 lakh for petrol, the New EcoSport Thunder Edition delivers on all essentials, be it an aggressive bold stance, premium dual-tone interiors, responsive engines as well as the inclusion of a sun-roof to be revered as most value-rich.

The new Thunder Edition is replete with smart exterior changes that enhance the compact SUV’s appeal. It introduces dark inserts on the headlamp cluster and a more prominent black treatment to the fog lamp bezel. It will don sporty, new 17-inch alloy wheels, and a dark theme throughout the exteriors, including black-painted front grille and rear-view mirrors; dual-tone bonnet and decals on doors to give it a distinct road presence.

The EcoSport Thunder will carry forward its sporty theme to interiors as well with abundant use of cognac accents across multiple surfaces – from front seats to door inserts as well as centre console and instrument panel — to add to its overall appeal.

The limited duration Thunder Edition comes with an electric sunroof, a feature that was introduced in the compact SUV segment by Ford last year. The variant will also offer a responsive, intuitive and smart in-car connectivity system, paired to a 9-inch floating touchscreen and offering embedded navigation.

Whether attending calls, listening to music or reading messages, the infotainment system will provide owners with easy access to their connected device through simple voice commands. Customers can opt to buy the EcoSport Thunder Edition as an option pack on the car’s Titanium variant. The option pack will be offered with both Ford’s latest 1.5-litre three-cylinder TiVCT petrol engine that delivers 123 PS of power and fuel efficiency of 17 kmpl as well as the trusted 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that churns 100 PS power and 23 kmpl fuel efficiency (ARAI numbers).

The first Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation – part of the Aston Martin DBZ Centenary Collection – to make its public debut at the world’s most famous endurance motorsport event later this week.

Breaking cover at Aston Martin’s VIP hospitality facility alongside the famous French circuit, the first complete DB4 GT Zagato Continuation – one of just 19 cars being made – will be on show throughout the gruelling 24-hour race.

The production model of this track-only sports car, the latest in Aston Martin’s hugely successful Continuation programme which began with the DB4 GT Continuation series in 2017, represents the culmination of around 4,500 hours of painstaking and meticulous artisan craftsmanship.

As with all the Continuation cars, the Zagato has been created at Aston Martin’s globally renowned Heritage Division headquarters in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Now the largest, best equipped and most knowledgeable Aston Martin restoration centre in the world, the invaluable and highly specialist skills nurtured at Aston Martin Works are perfectly suited to the brand’s celebrated Continuation projects.

The car on show in France this weekend represents the pinnacle of Aston Martin’s Continuation projects to date, and proudly continues the brand’s 50-plus year association with world-renowned Italian coachbuilder and design house, Zagato.

Finished in Rosso Maja red paint, the car’s exterior colour has been matched to original masters created by Max Meyer & ICI, the paint suppliers for the original cars. Inside, the car is trimmed in Obsidian Black leather, which covers the pads in the carbon fibre race seats; door cards, headliner and rear environment. Black Wilton carpets bound in Obsidian Black leather trim cover the floor, stitched in matching Obsidian Black thread.

The new model boasts a larger capacity 4.7-litre version of the straight-six cylinder petrol engine found in the DB4 GT Continuation and, in this guise, is producing in excess of 390 bhp. This is transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential.

Continuation specification instrumentation and interior equipment such as a full FIA-approved roll cage is standard, as are the Borrani silver painted wheels and polished lips.

Originally built to race against the might of Ferrari in the 1960’s, the DB4 GT Zagato was a thoroughbred machine. Evolved for the rigours of motor racing and blessed with a rare and incontestable beauty, just 19 were made. Drawing on the unrivalled knowledge and expertise of the team at Aston Martin Works the 2019 DB4 GT Zagato Continuations are meticulously crafted, staying true to those original Zagato-bodied DB4 GTs produced by Aston Martin and Zagato in the 1960’s.

Each car is being constructed to the highest possible quality using a blend of Sir David Brown-era old world craftsmanship and the sympathetic application of modern engineering advancements and performance enhancements.

A digital body buck has, for instance, been created to allow Aston Martin engineers to examine minute details of the Continuation cars. In contrast, hand-finished body panels of the new cars are each worked from flat sheets of 1.2 mm thick aluminium and representing hundreds of hours of world-class craftsmanship, are created using techniques that were commonplace almost 60 years ago.

Originally built as an evolution of the short-chassis DB4 GT, the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation follows the same recipe, with those thin-gauge aluminium body panels dressing a lightweight tubular frame in a chassis optimised for track work.

This latest continuation car follows the success of the 25 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation models that sold to enthusiast collectors in 2017 and precedes what will perhaps be the most ambitious continuation to date: the Aston Martin Goldfinger DB5 Continuation cars that will come to market in 2020.

Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda President & Group CEO, said: “The development and successful creation of this latest Continuation car is an achievement that should not be underestimated. Indeed, it could well be argued that we are making history with these new cars.

“Celebrating our brand’s deep and enduring partnership with Zagato in this, their landmark year, by launching the DBZ Centenary Collection has been a mammoth undertaking and I’m personally extremely proud of the results in the shape of this new DB4 GT Zagato.”

Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works, said: “Like Andy, I’m incredibly proud of what the team have achieved in making the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation a reality.

“After the unprecedented success of the DB4 GT Continuation cars, we are once again bringing to life the stuff of Aston Martin folklore.”

The DBZ Century Collection will be priced at £6m plus taxes. First deliveries to customers will commence in QTR 3 2019 for the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation and in QTR 4 2020 for the DBS GT Zagato.

The automotive industry fully supports an ambitious aspiration of the Niti Aayog in bringing in electric mobility in the country as soon as possible. India is an aspiring nation and keen not only to catch up with the world but to go beyond in the field of EVs. However, the ambition needs to be tempered with a practical approach and what is possible without needlessly disrupting the automotive industry, cautioned Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM.

The automotive industry, today, is facing multiple challenges of leapfrogging to BS VI emission norms, complying with many new safety norms etc., in the shortest time-frame ever attempted in the world. This is engaging the focused attention of the industry and involving huge investments of the order of Rs 70,000-80,000 crores. Even before this investment is recovered, as per media reports, Government is proposing to ban sales of ICE based three wheelers within a short time frame of 2023 and to ban sales of less than 150 cc 2 wheelers by 2025. This seems to be impractical as well as untimely, said Mr. Wadhera.

The Indian automotive industry has always been highly proactive when it comes to fulfilling national interest. It has been a staunch supporter of Make in India even before the term was coined. The industry’s turnover is close to half of the manufacturing GDP, supports 37 million jobs and contributes 11 per cent of the GST revenues of the country. It also supports a host of manufacturing and services industries.

Overall the auto industry is perhaps the only real success story of India’s manufacturing. It is imperative that this success story is not affected by undue haste in banning mature automotive technologies within the next 5-6 years in the hope that evolving EV technologies will fully replace the demand within that such a short period. Such unrealistic expectations and policies would only adversely affect the world No 1 two/three-wheeler industry but may not help in making EVs acceptable to the customer and the market, said Mr. Wadhera.

The automotive industry, specially the two/three-wheeler segment supports a large number of component suppliers in the small and medium sector, who are the real backbone of the auto industry. None of the stakeholders in the country – industry, Government nor the suppliers have any meaningful experience of EVs to even contemplate a complete 100 per cent shift to 2/3 W EVs by 2023/2025, said Mr. Wadhera. In the current scenario, any policy to accelerate the transition to EVS would lead to a policy induced disruption which could result in significant damage to the auto industry and spell a big blow to the overall ecosystem of these MSMEs, with its related impact on employment, added Mr. Wadhera.

What is required is a well laid out roadmap for an ambitious EV rollout over a practical time frame along with an integrated plan for setting up the necessary infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country, in consultation with all stakeholders. The auto industry under the aegis of SIAM will continue to closely partner with Government in ensuring a planned transformation towards electric vehicles and to build the nation, sustainably, said Mr. Wadhera.

MG (Morris Garages) has announced that its global pure EV – the MG EZS, will be manufactured at its facility in Gujarat, ahead of its introduction in India in December this year. The carmaker, on world environment day, released a video of the first prototype being produced at its manufacturing facility in Halol.

With a full-sized boot and room for five, the MG EZS is the perfect car for people who want to go electric but also need the space and practicality of a compact SUV. The carmaker aims to contribute towards a better tomorrow for all, by providing environment-friendly mobility solutions, as part of its long-term commitment to the market. Few vehicles are currently being tested in extreme climatic conditions across India.

“The MG EZS, as one of the first locally produced global EVs, will mark a new chapter in environment-friendly mobility in India. We are delighted to be one of the first carmakers to enter this space in India. aim to bring accessible electric motoring to the customers in India upon its introduction by the end of this year,” said Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India.

MG Motor India has so far made an investment of Rs 2,200 crores at its plant and has installed an all-new assembly line, a press shop, a body shop, a parts distribution centre, a testing track and a new training facility in the plant – all within a span of 18 months. The plant also has a captive vendor park to facilitate aggressive localization for all MG vehicles. The company’s first vehicle in India, Hector, will be launched later this month with high level of localized content.

Nissan today announced the appointment of Sinan Özkök as the President of its Indian operations.

Sinan, who will be based at Nissan Motor India Private Ltd. in Gurgaon, will have responsibility for all functions in India including Sales and Marketing, Research and Development and Manufacturing, for both Nissan and Datsun brands.

Sinan joins India from Nissan Otomotiv A.Ş. (NOAS), Nissan’s national sales company in Turkey, where he has been managing director since 2015.

Sinan, 49, has overseen a significant growth in Turkey for Nissan and brings with him 26 years’ experience of working within the automotive industry.

Sinan’s career started in 1993 in Renault, where he held senior positions across Marketing, Dealer Network Management, Retail Operation and Sales. He joined Nissan in 2015.

Nissan chairman of the Africa, Middle East and India region, Peyman Kargar, commented: “I am delighted that Sinan will be driving Nissan’s business forward in India. Not only does he bring vast experience of working within the industry over many years, he has a proven track record.”

Sinan said: “I am looking forward to working in one of the most dynamic and important auto markets in the world. Nissan and Datsun offer a broad and compelling line-up for customers and I will be working to develop the full potential of both brands in India.”

Sinan replaces Thomas Kuehl who was appointed president, India operations in 2017.