Nissan celebrates 150 million vehicles produced globally

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has reached a new milestone with 150 million vehicles produced globally. It took 73 years for Nissan to produce its first 100 million vehicles after the company was founded in 1933, and another 11 years to build the last 50 million.

When Nissan reached the 100 million vehicle milestone in 2006, 76.5% of the total vehicles had been produced in Japan. Localization of production accelerated in the past 11 years, during which 76.5% of the 50 million Nissan vehicles were made outside Japan – with 13% made in Europe.

Press Release

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has reached a new milestone with 150 million vehicles produced globally. It took 73 years for Nissan to produce its first 100 million vehicles after the company was founded in 1933, and another 11 years to build the last 50 million.

Nissan sees this achievement as the result of 84 years of continued support from all of its stakeholders worldwide, including employees, dealers, suppliers and local communities, as well as the numerous customers who have chosen cars produced by Nissan.

When Nissan reached the 100 million vehicle milestone in 2006, 76.5% of the total vehicles had been produced in Japan. Localization of production accelerated in the past 11 years, during which 76.5% of the 50 million Nissan vehicles were made outside Japan – with 13% made in Europe.

Following this latest milestone, Nissan remains committed to delivering cars that satisfy its customers.

In Europe Nissan has been manufacturing in Spain and in the UK for more than 30 years, and established its plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, more than 10 years ago. Total production for the UK is now over 9 million vehicles, and the combined total for all three countries sites has now surpassed 13 million vehicles.

The 150 million milestone has been reached as Nissan prepares to launch the new Nissan LEAF in Europe, where trial production is already under way in Nissan’s UK plant.

Nissan Europe Manufacturing Locations

Sunderland, UK: Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Juke, Nissan LEAF, Infiniti Q30, Infiniti QX30

Barcelona, Spain: Nissan Navara, Nissan Pulsar, Nissan nv200, Nissan e-nv200, Renault Alaskan, Mercedes X-Class

Avila, Spain: Nissan NT400

Cantabria, Spain: Components

St. Petersburg, Russia: Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail, Nissan Murano

 

2017 Frankfurt Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA

Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA

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Bajaj Urbanite will be Tesla in the two-wheeler space

Bajaj is reportedly working on ‘premium’  electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, codenamed -‘Urbanite'. Bajaj MD Rajiv Bajaj has stated that the Urbanite will aim to, ‘do a Tesla in the two-wheeler space.’

The electric vehicles under the brand name 'Urbanite' will be sold for both for the domestic as well as international markets. Bajaj also confirmed that the electric vehicles including three-wheelers under the new franchise will go on sale by 2020.

Bajaj is not the first Indian company to show interest in the EV space.

Hero Electric has been around for over 10 years now, and has a strong network of 300 sales and service centres.



Ather Energy, a Bangalore-based hardware startup has launched India’s first electric smart scooter called S340. The S340 comes with a range of up to 60 kilometres in one single charge. The company claims its Lithium Ion battery pack is IP67 rated and offers an uncompromised ride for 50,000 kms. The company has started pre-order for the smart scooter in Bangalore, Chennai and Pune.



Source; autocarindia.com

Two-wheeler major TVS Motors’ also plan to launch an electric scooter in the Indian market. The electric scooter, captured in a camouflaged state while being charged in Bengaluru, share parts with the Jupiter.



Pune-based electric bike maker Tork Motorcycles has been in the news for unveiling India's first all-electric motorcycle - T6X.

Stay tuned as we bring more on Urbanite.

Electric vehicles can cause job loss at workshops? Here's why

It takes people to make cars: to lift and install parts, check quality, test-drive them after assembly, and so forth. Automation has eliminated many of the jobs performed by humans a century ago and now the electric cars may pose a new threat: they will require even fewer workers to build.

"EV’s maintenance cost to be 1% of ICE vehicles; can cause job loss at workshops", Abhay Firodia, President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)

[embed]https://youtu.be/uVmCxcRUBss[/embed]

Source: http://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com

A simple calculation: a battery-electric car has fewer than 200 moving parts, while a vehicle with a modern, turbocharged, multi-valve engine and nine-speed transmission (and perhaps all-wheel drive) has 10 to 30 times that number.

EVs are much easier and cheaper to build than vehicles with internal combustion engines. 40 percent of a conventional car's manufacturing cost is made up of its engine, transmission, axles and driveshafts, engine cooling and air-conditioning systems, fuel tank and plumbing, and exhaust and emission after treatment systems.

In EVs, instead of engines, the computers, sensors, regulators and controllers make it all work.

Battery-electric cars dispense with all those parts, and the replacement components are far less complex. Worse yet, they may not be assembled by automakers at all. Battery cells and packs, which contain hundreds of lithium-ion cells (each of which has its own components) plus connectors, sensors, wiring, and the rest, aren't necessarily made in-house.

And this is just the beginning. The shift from producing vehicles with internal combustion engines to EVs will take place over the years. So it won’t be sudden. But it’s going to happen faster than the shift to automation, which began in the early 1900s and happened in small increments, starting at some plants, followed by others. As the decades passed, automation became ever more sophisticated and replaced more and more jobs – a process that continues to this day.

Lets wait and watch the negotiations among auto manufacturers, automotive associations, their employees, their suppliers, and national politicians over where those jobs end up, and why?.

 

 

 

Tata Tiago Wizz launched; Festive season special celebration edition @ INR 4.52 lakhs

To mark the overwhelming success of TIAGO and usher in the festive season, Tata Motors launched the limited-edition TIAGO Wizz at INR 4.52 lakhs for the petrol version and INR 5.30 lakhs for the diesel version (ex – showroom Delhi), inclusive of the accessory kit.

The TIAGO Wizz comes with new:

1. Striking contrast black roof and spoiler	2. Stylish dual-tone wheel cover with red accent
3. Unique berry-red grill highlights	4. Black contrast colored outside mirrors
5. Dual-tone interiors with piano black finish & sporty red accent	6. Sleek roof rails
7. New patterned seat fabric	8. Stylish blackout on B pillar

Other key feature:

9. 1.2L Revotron petrol and 1.05L Revotorq diesel engine	10. Multi drive mode- Eco & City
11. Front & rear power windows	12. Remote central locking with flip key
13. Harman infotainment system	14. Bluetooth connectivity
15. Rear parking sensors with display	16. Turn by Turn Navigation
17. Juke-Car App	18. 22 Intelligent utility spaces

Mechanically, the Tiago Wizz variant comes with the same 1.05-litre, 70PS, 140Nm diesel -  and 1.2-litre, 85PS, 114Nm petrol engine. The standard gearbox is a five-speed manual but one can also opt for AMT at an additional cost.

Remembering Paul Walker on his Bday. Top 5 cars he drove in Fast and the Furious Movies

Today, September 12, is the 44th birthday of Paul Walker, the Fast and Furious fame actor whose death had shocked the world. Tragically the actor who features in all but half of the first seven editions of the film series Fast and the Furious, died in a car crash. Ironically, one of his famous quotes totally describes the way his last ride took place. The quote goes around like, "If one day speed kills me, don't cry. Because I was smiling."



Walker was born and raised in California and was always an adventurous person.

Walker starred in such films as, “Varsity Blues”, “Pleasantville”, “Flags of our Fathers”, and “Into the Blue.”

Tragically, Walker was killed while test driving a Porsche in November of 2013. Roger Rodas, a good friend of Walker’s, was driving the car when it crashed. The “Fast and Furious” star was only 40 when the car crash took his life.

Walker loved cars, he owned over 30 different ones that were kept in a warehouse.

 

Remembering on his birthday here are the top 5 cars that the actor drove in the Fast and the Furious Movies

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Source: financialexpress.com

Images: facebook.com

Tata EV showcased. Not a special edition; It's Pure Electric

Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC) has showcased the Tiago EV concept at an event at Millbrook. The Tiago EV is expected to make it to India soon as the pictures suggest the car is nearing its production stage.

The Tiago EV does  0-100 kph in about 11 seconds in sport mode and is capable of a top speed of 135 kph. Power is delivered by an 85 kW motor that churns out 200 Nm of torque. The EV is offered with front wheel drive and does not have a gearbox -will be driven through a single-speed gearbox. It will also deliver a claimed range of 100 km on one full electric charge.

The car uses a lithium-ion battery pack with its own cooling systems to keep them from overheating. If this car makes its way to India, it will the quickest and fastest electric car in India. The Tiago EV weighs in at 1040 kg.



This is not Tata's first attempt on EVs - the company previously unveiled the Bolt EV concept in the UK

Tata choosing the Tiago to be developed as an EV may have to do with the fact that it was part of a UK government initiative to develop autonomous cars.

The Tiago was first launched in India in early 2016 and garnered a lot of popularity. It is currently available in India in both petrol and diesel versions and underpins the same platform that is also used on Tata's latest subcompact sedan Tigor. Sales figures of the Tiago crossed 7,000 for the first time in 2017 August. Available in India in 17 variants, the Tiago is priced at Rs 3.28 lakh for the base model and Rs 5.8 lakh for the top end.



Source: Financial Express

Mahindra launches e-Alfa Mini electric passenger 3-wheeler @ INR 1.12 lakh

Mahindra has launched its first electric three-wheeler. Called the e-Alfa Mini, the 3-wheeler priced at Rs 112,000 (ex-Delhi).The e-Alfa Mini will come with a seating capacity of 4+1 and is designed specifically for  Indian conditions.



 

 

The eco-friendly vehicle is available for sale in Delhi NCR and other parts of the country followed by Kolkata, Lucknow, and other cities in a phased manner. 

Targeted at fleet taxi operators and existing three-wheeler owners, the e-rickshaw comes with an attractive exterior design, robust body, large cabin space for passenger comfort and superior suspension and chassis.



The e-Alfa Mini is powered by a 120Ah battery, a powerful motor and controller. As per Mahindra, charging the e-Alfa Mini will be as simple as charging a mobile phone. It further states that on a full charge, the e-Alfa Mini will be able to cover up to 85km in standard conditions and can achieve a top speed of 25kph.



The e-Alfa Mini will be manufactured at M&M's Haridwar plant in a planned 1,000 units capacity a month operation. Indraprastha Auto, the company's existing dealer, will market the product in NCR through 12 dealerships and also appoint 20-25 sub-dealers in the next couple of months.

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Source: autocarpro.in

Massive discounts upto INR 2.5 lakh on Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and Heritage Softail Classic

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and Heritage Softail Classic have just gone cheaper by a large margin. The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, which was priced at ₹ 17.01 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), will now be available at ₹ 14.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, earlier priced at ₹ 18.50 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), will now be priced at ₹ 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

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The revised prices are applicable on the Model Year 17 Softail models and have been effective 1st September 2017, till stocks last. To assist customers further Harley-Davidson has come up with a new financing scheme - Bullet EMI. The new scheme involves reduced monthly payments (in terms of EMI amount) and an increased lump-sum paid once or multiple times each year, as per terms of the loan availed.

EMIs for the 2017 Fat Boy start at Rs 14,999 per month and that for the Heritage Softail Classic start at Rs 15,999 per month. With this, Harley hopes to reach out to a wider pool of customers, making its motorcycles more affordable.

Harley-Davidson plans to introduce the 2018 model range with updated engines and this cut down in prices will help it clear the 2017 stocks and make way for the new ones.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 

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Heritage Softail Classic

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The future is electric for Indian automotive industry. Here's why?

Carmakers producing vehicles that run on traditional fuel, take note - Union minister Nitin Gadkari has a clear message: Go for alternative fuel, else he will not mind "bulldozing" them in his bid to check pollution
and imports.

According to the road transport and highways minister, a Cabinet note on electric vehicles is ready that will take care of charging stations.

"We should move towards alternative fuel... I am going to do this, whether you like it or not. And I am not going to ask you. I will bulldoze it. For pollution, for imports, my ideas are crystal clear... The government has a crystal-clear policy to reduce imports and curb pollution," Gadkari said at SIAM's the annual convention.

"Already, we are in the process of a Cabinet note where we are going to plan to charge stations... It is in the last stage and will be done as early as possible," he disclosed, adding that the government will soon bring in a policy on
electric vehicles.

[caption id="attachment_23232" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Credits: India Environment Portal[/caption]

Cautioning against any dilly-dallying tactics, he said," the future is not of petrol and diesel, but of alternative fuel."

"I urge you (carmakers) politely to do research. First, when I urged you for electric vehicles, you said the battery is costly. I coaxed you to start at least. Now, the batteries cost 40 per cent less. And if you start now, the cost will be reduced further on mass production. Teething trouble is everywhere," he explained.

The minister is clear that electric cars, buses, taxis, and bikes are the future and India should move forward in this direction. He sought to put the entire issue in perspective, saying imports and pollution are the twin problems as India's import bill stood at a huge Rs 7 lakh crore per annum, a big drag on the economy.

Source: Financial Express

Royal Enfield launches Classic 350 Gunmetal Grey & Classic 500 Stealth Black

Royal Enfield has launched two new colour variants of its bestselling motorcycle variant, Classic - Gunmetal Grey in 350cc and Stealth Black in the 500cc variant. Both the new colours are matt finished. The Gunmetal Grey is priced at Rs. 1,59,677 while the Classic 500 Stealth Black is priced at Rs. 2,05,213 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom, Chennai.

Also read: LEAKED!! ROYAL ENFIELD CLASSIC 350 / 500 WITH REAR DISC AND THUNDERBIRD’S SWINGARM !!

The two important changes to be seen on both the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Gun Grey and Stealth Black 500 are rear disc brake and swing arm from the Thunderbird range.



The Classic 350 is powered by 346cc single-cylinder engine. The carburetted engine produces a maximum power of 19.8 Bhp at 5250 rpm while torque peaks at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed transmission.

The Classic 500 is powered by a fuel injected, 499cc single-cylinder engine that generates a maximum power of 27.2 Bhp at 5,250 rpm and peak torque of 41.3 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed transmission.



The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Stealth features

• Black handle bar and clamps


• Black headlamp ring


• Black wheel rim and hub


• Black textured swing arm and cap


• Exhaust system with heat resistance painting


• Black coloured turn indicators housing


• Black textured utility box


• Chrome gear shifter


• Black textured TB500 engine assembly


• Thunderbird sourced swing arm and rear disc brake


• Matte liquid painted body panels (fuel tank, air filter box, front & rear mudguards, battery cover)


• Black RSU (Rear Suspension Unit) cap

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="23219,23218,23181,23180,23179,23178,23177,23176"]

Images: source

JEEP Compass scores 5-STAR EuroNCAP rating

The Jeep Compass has attained the maximum five-star EuroNCAP rating, the manufacturer’s latest model incorporating the latest technology from the iconic brand, scored positive ratings in all categories – including adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and driving assistance safety systems. 



The result is even more significant considering that it meets the 2017 severe, ever increasing EuroNCAP standards, underscoring how the Jeep Compass has been developed with safety and protection at its heart.The new compact SUV combines the brand’s legendary off-road capability with user-friendly technology and a full array of driving assistance systems – all wrapped up in a distinctive modern design.



Making a major contribution to the Jeep Compass’s maximum five-star rating are the effectiveness of its ‘safety cage’ – 65% of which is constructed of high-strength steel – which ensures very high torsional strength and enhanced occupant protection, plus the availability of more than 70 active and passive safety systems that set the new standard in the Jeep range.



Safety systems fitted as standard on the new Compass range available in Europe include active driving assistance systems, such as Forward Collision Warning-Plus and Lane Sense Departure Warning-Plus, which combine radar and video camera technology to recognise potential collisions and prevent impact by alerting the driver with audible, visual and tactile warnings. Plus, under certain conditions, these systems use the electronic steering (EPS) to assist the driver.



Jeep Compass also features additional safety systems, available either as standard or optional depending on the version, specifically designed to assist with motorway driving. Among these is Adaptive Cruise Control – which maintains distance from the vehicle ahead and in certain circumstances, can bring the vehicle to a full stop without driver intervention; and Blind-spot Monitoring (available in the parking pack), which aids the driver when changing lane and notifies of vehicles in their blind spot via illuminated icons on the side-view mirror and with a driver-selected audible chime.



The safety equipment offering available on new Compass also includes specific systems to assist with parking manoeuvres, such as Rear Cross Path detection which notifies drivers backing out of parking spaces of vehicles crossing behind via illuminated icons on the side-view mirror and with a driver-selected audible chime.



All these systems complement the 'five-star' standard safety and security features of the Compass range for the European market that also include six airbags (frontal airbags for the driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags for all rows and side airbags on the front seats) and ESC (electronic stability control) with ERM (electronic rollover mitigation).

Image Gallery: Jeep Compass (India spec)

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Image source:

https://www.euroncap.com/en

http://www.jeep-india.com/compass/

Leaked!! Royal Enfield Classic 350 / 500 with Rear Disc and Thunderbird's swingarm !!

Royal Enfield will be introducing new variants of the Classic 350 and 500. New colour option- The Classic 350 gets Gun Grey as a new colour option, while the 500 a Stealth Black colour. The most important addition is the swing arm from Thunderbird which allows the accommodation of rear disc brake, something the previous swing arm didn’t.

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The Royal Enfield Classic 500 Stealth features

• Black handle bar and clamps


• Black headlamp ring


• Black wheel rim and hub


• Black textured swing arm and cap


• Exhaust system with heat resistance painting


• Black coloured turn indicators housing


• Black textured utility box


• Chrome gear shifter


• Black textured TB500 engine assembly


• Thunderbird sourced swing arm and rear disc brake


• Matte liquid painted body panels (fuel tank, air filter box, front & rear mudguards, battery cover)


• Black RSU (Rear Suspension Unit) cap

Royal Enfield has been slow in equipping its motorcycles with modern and safety features like the rear disc brakes and ABS. Now with ABS becoming mandatory in India on all bikes from 2018, this change will allow the company to adapt to the new norms.



Exact launch details of the updated Classic 350 & 500 are not available as of now.

Stay tuned as we bring in more details soon.

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Source: team-bhp

Mahindra exits from mass two-wheeler market in India

Mahindra & Mahindra has quit the mass market two-wheeler category. With the acquisition of Kinetic Motors roughly a decade ago, the business wasn’t performing to the Company’s sales expectations which is the reason why the manufacturer has taken this decision.

The sales figure came crashing down by 77 percent during the period April-July in the domestic market versus corresponding period last year.  While the dealers report that sales continue as normal, the company has slowly been looking to the Mojo as the product that will take it forward.



Mahindra will no longer develop new mass-market two wheelers such as 100-150cc scooters and motorcycles. The niche product Mojo, which is a premium mid-capacity touring motorcycle, is where M&M intends to focus for future development. So, the likes of the Mahindra Centuro motorcycle and the Gusto, Rodeo and Duro scooters will go out of production, and replacements won’t be developed.

The company has also started work on products to be launched under the European brands Jawa and BSA.

However, existing sales and service functions will continue. Over time, small-capacity Mahindra two wheelers will be phased out.



 

Source: moneycontrol.com

UM Renegade Classic & Mojave Edition launched. Bookings open

UM Motorcycles has launched the Renegade Classic and Renegade Commando Mojave Editions. The Renegade Classic is priced at Rs 1.89 lakh, while the Renegade Mojave Edition is available at Rs 1.80 lakh,ex-showroom, Delhi. 



The company has started taking the booking of both motorcycles and the deliveries will begin in a month.

The Renegade Commando Classic was first showcased at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo whereas the Mojave edition is all-new offering in the Commando series of motorcycles.

Both these motorcycles are powered by a fuel injected, 279.5 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with power output that stands 25.15 Ps at 8500 rpm and the torque of 23 Nm at 7000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive.



The UM Renegade Commando Classic comes with lot of chrome touches throughout and a wind deflector at the front. The motorcycle is available in Metallic Candy paint with shades of Copper Cream and Metallic Candy with Gloss Black.



The Renegade Commando Mojave Edition will have only one shade of brown in matte finish and is meant to be an ode to the Mojave Desert in California.

The bikes also get a host of features as standard fitment such as panniers, service alert system and USB chargers.

Both the new motorcycles will be manufactured at Lohia Auto's Kashipur facility in Uttarakhand.

Image gallery: Renegade Commando Mojave Edition

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Image gallery: UM Renegade Commando Classic

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