motor

Car Sales | All-electric Nissan LEAF in Canada, available in Canadian car markets now | Nissan Canada today made history when it delivered the first all-electric Nissan LEAF in Canada, signaling the arrival of sustainable mobility to the Canadian mass market.

PowerStream, the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, received keys to its two white Nissan LEAFs MY11 at an event at its head office in Vaughan, Ontario.

�Electricity is the new fuel for cars and drivers have the freedom to choose a future with no tailpipe emissions or dependence on fossil fuels,� said Allen Childs, president of Nissan Canada, in a statement.� This Nissan LEAF delivery is just the beginning of the sustainable mobility movement in Canada.�

Through Model Year 12, Nissan expects to release around 600 Nissan Leaf on the Canadian market. In addition to these MY12 models, Nissan Canada has secured 100 MY11 Nissan LEAFs with 40 allocated to consumers, ahead of the arrival of MY12 cars that will start to arrive later this year.

To be eligible to reserve a Nissan LEAF, consumers must be registered on www.nissan.ca/leaf and live within the vicinity of a Nissan LEAF certified dealer. Those meeting these criteria will receive an email in the coming weeks with all the details on how and when to order a Nissan LEAF.

Reservations for MY11 will be made on a first-come-first-served basis. A second wave of reservations will be available in the coming months for the 2012 Nissan LEAF and as production ramps up and more cars become available, reservations will open to the broader public.

The first Canadian markets to receive the Nissan LEAF are those in which Nissan has formed partnerships with local or provincial governments along with utilities to foster the development of electric vehicle-friendly policies and an EV-charging infrastructure. - Car Sales

Volvo India, low priced Volvo cars in India 2011 is under consideration | Car Sales | Volvo India is considering the launch of luxury cars at low prices specially designed for Indian markets. Volvo models such as the S60 sedan to be released in versions adapted to improve sales growth and address some of the major automakers in the luxury car segment.

Volvo India, carmakers from Sweden think that if they include vehicles with lower price points rather than only high priced luxury cars, it would generate more sales. Certain facilities available in the top end cars will be stopped such as pedestrian recognition, and lane departure caution as they push prices higher.

According to Mr. Tomas Ernberg, Managing Director of Volvo Auto India, cheaper variants of existing models without added features aren�t altogether undesired in the Indian car market. This will increase sales and push up profits for the company. This is strategically in line with rivals BMW as they have brought out lower cost X1, 3 Series and 5 Series which saw them on top of sales during past two years. Volvo�s S60 is available for Rs.27 lakhs to 34 lakhs and XC60 and XC90 are in the range of Rs. 40 to 44 lakhs.

Volvo Car India's new CEO, Mr. Tomas Ernberg have this to say. "Volvo is looking at extending the lines of the car models in India in its next growth phase. Cheaper variants of existing models are being examined by eliminating certain features that are often not requested by the customer India. This will help to create higher volumes. " - CAR SALES

Toyota India cars sales, toyota vehicle sales 2011 increased 100% in india | Car Sales | Toyota Kirloskar Motor Limited (TKML), the Indian subsidiary of Japan�s Toyota Motor Corporation, which has increased its production capacity in the first plant to 80,000 units, up 10 per cent from 73,000 units, is planning to more than double its vehicle sales in India in 2011. This includes both passenger cars and utility vehicles in its stable.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Limited (TKML), which is likely to close calendar year 2010 with total sales of 73,000 units, up from 51,400 units sold in 2009, a growth of 42 per cent, is looking to selling 150,000 units in 2011, mainly driven by sales of the Etios, a top company official said. Toyota aims to sell 70,000 units of Etios, both sedan and hatchback put together.

�We have recently increased our production capacity in the first plant. With the commencement of our second plant with an annual capacity of 70,000 units, we are looking at total sales in excess of 150,000 units next year. Half of the targeted sales will come from our new �B� segment car, Etios,� Sandeep Singh, deputy managing director, TKML said.

Presently, Toyota manufactures Corolla Altis, Innova and Fortuner in Bangalore plant and imports Camry, Prado, Prius and Land Cruiser as completely built units (CBUs). Etios production has commenced in its second plant and will be delivered to customers from January 1, 2011.

Singh said, the company has established the flexible production unit for Etios car and depending on the customer preference it would make changes in the production of either the hatchback or sedan. To begin with, Toyota will sell Etios only in the domestic market and explore the possibility of exporting it only in 2012, he told Business Standard.

�We have no plans to export Etios in the first year as we expect good demand from the domestic market. However, we do have plans to export this car from India. We are yet to decide when and to which markets to export this car,� he said.

While the second plant is designed for 100,000 units per annum, Toyota would produce only 70,000 units in 2011, he said adding, depending on the demand it would raise the output in the second plant. The company plans to start a second shift in June next year, he said.

The company has invested Rs3,200 crore to set up the second manufacturing plant as well as develop Etios for both Indian and world markets. Toyota employs 4,700 employees in both its plants and aims to increase the headcount to over 5,000 later this year.

�Although India is the first launch market for Etios, the platform will be launched in other markets as well. The next launch market for Toyota Etios would be Brazil in 2012,� Singh said.

Toyota will also increase the localisation content in Etios from 70 per cent to over 95 per cent by end of 2012, when the transmission and engine plant goes on stream in Bidadi near Bangalore, he added. - CAR SALES

Car Review, Car Sales | Indian Chevrolet Cars 2011 - Upcoming Chevy: Models and Prices | Chevrolet (Chevy) is the car brand owned by GM (General motors). General Motors (GM) is one of the oldest and big car manufacturer in the world. GM is having its presence through out then world. The range of Chevrolet cars includes hatchbacks, sedans, SUV (Sports Utility Vehicles), Luxury sedans. Chevrolet cars use petrol, diesel and LPG gas as fuel.

Chevrolet Spark, Beat and Aveo are the hatchback models and are available at a price below Rs.5 lakhs in India. Chevrolet Aveo UVA and Optra are the sedans whereas Chevrolet Cruze is the luxury sedan. Chevrolet Tavera and Captive is the SUV model from General Motors in India. Spark is the cheapest car from Chevrolet. Beat is available with LPG as fuel.

The Chevrolet is having its dealers/ showrooms and service centers at all the major cities across India. GM/ Chevrolet are organizing awards like GIMA (Global Indian Musical Awards) and Apsara awards and are honoring the artists in musical, cinema and film industries.

Awards won by Chevrolet cars in India: Chevrolet captiva has won several awards from Indian magazines and media. Business standard motoring has awarded captiva as the best import car for the year 2009. UTV Auto car has awarded Optiva s the best SUV for the year 2009. - Car Review, Car Sales

Car Review, Car Sales | New India Maruti Swift - 2011 Suzuki Swift K series launch, mileage, price, specifications, features and reviews | The demand for hatchback cars has increased in India. Maruti Swift is the success model from Maruti Suzuki in India. Availability in diesel and petrol versions, better mileage, small in size, features of sedan, easy to park, better safety features like ABS and Airbags, power steering and reasonable price are the reasons for the acceptance of Maruti Suzuki Swift among car buyers.

Other models from car manufacturers in India like Hyundai i20, Volkswagen polo, Ford figo, Nissan micra and Fiat punto have launched their models and have got good response from the market. Now Maruti Suzuki is launching its new swift model new maruti swift 2011 model with little modifications.

Features and specifications of New India Maruti Suzuki Swift 2011: The new swift to be launched by maruti Suzuki in 2011 is little bit long and wide. But the length will be less than 4 m to avail tax concessions for that segment. But the height is reduced. Ground clearance is being increased. Better interiors, quality dash board with digital fitting for meter readings, beautiful tail lamp with LED lamps are the changes with the new Maruti Swift. The new Maruti Swift may come with 15� or 16� tyre size comparatively 14� tyre for the present swift car. The new Suzuki swift is fitted with K Series engine that powers about 1200 cc. Button start and sunroof are the additional features with new Maruti Swift.

Maruti Suzuki Swift K Series Interior

New India Maruti Suzuki Swift mileage: The present Maruti Swift diesel version models LDI and VDI give a mileage of 15 kms under city ride conditions and 18 kms on high ways with A.C on and the new Maruti Swift is expected to give better mileage than present Maruti Swift .

Maruti Swift K Series Engine

Price of new Maruti Suzuki Swift 2011: The present maruti swift LDI and VDI with ABS are available at Rs.5.10 lakhs and Rs.5.65 lakhs respectively ex showroom Mumbai. The price of new swift is expected to be little bit more compared to old swift. We have to wait till the launch date and booking of new swift for the actual price. - Car Review, Car Sales

The lofty sales of Toyota Prius, a hybrid revolution model in the United States have helped propel the Japanese juggernaut car manufacturer, to No. 1 in the world. This week, Toyota Prius reached another milestone: 1 million sales in the United States.

Toyota Prius launched 11 years ago and has since annually claimed the title of best-selling hybrid in the world. Toyota has sold more than 2 million copies of it globally, pushing the brand’s total hybrid sales to 3 million.

The company claims that more than 97 percent of Prius cars are still on the road.

“Toyota Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy,” Toyota vice president Bob Carter said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Toyota announced ambitious plans at the Detroit auto show to expand the Prius line. Toyota Prius v, which is larger than the current car, joins in the fall, and in 2012, Toyota Prius c compact and Toyota Prius plug-in will be added.

Toyota Prius has become a staple of Hollywood stars and mainstream Americans, as motorists have transitioned to more fuel-efficient vehicles and alternative powertrains.

Toyota Prius was by far the best-selling hybrid in the United States last year, recording sales of 140,928. That’s more than any other single carmaker and well head of the next top sellers, the Honda Insight (20,962) and the Ford Fusion (20,816) hybrids.

Toyota Prius has also helped Toyota weather dramatic shifts in fuel prices. A gallon of unleaded cost $3.71 as of Wednesday morning, up sharply from $2.83 a year ago, AAA reports, and crude oil topped $108 a barrel.