Excess Production In Emerging Markets Could Torpedo Automakers Yet Again

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Excess Production In Emerging Markets Could Torpedo Automakers Yet Again
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We’ll spare you the awful cliches about failing to learn from the past and get right to the point. “Emerging markets” like China and India are all the rage right now for profit-hungry car makers, but the same problems of too much supply and weakened demand could spell doom for OEMs if a similar situation… Continue Reading...

Gold-Coated Tata Nano is Hideously Ostentatious

Gold-Coated Tata Nano is Hideously Ostentatious
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There is such a thing of having too much of a good thing. Like gold… especially when it is on a Tata Nano. The most basic car on the road just got pimped to celebrate the 5,000th anniversary of Indian jewelry. Tata Group, the company that makes the Nano, employed Titan, one of its subsidiaries,… Continue Reading...

Tata Nano A Sales Disaster In India

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Tata Nano A Sales Disaster In India
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Despite being hailed as the vehicle that would motorize a billion-strong economic powerhouse, the Tata Nano has turned out to be a spectacular flop, with November sales totalling just 509 units, from a peak of 9,000 units in July. For comparison, Mercedes-Benz cars, far beyond the reach of a majority of India’s population, regularly sells… Continue Reading...

Mahindra Buys Ssangyong, Maker Of The World’s Ugliest Car, For $463 Million

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Mahindra Buys Ssangyong, Maker Of The World’s Ugliest Car, For $463 Million
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India’s Mahindra will buy troubled Korean carmaker Ssangyong for $463 million, with Mahindra gaining a 70% stake in the company. The deal is expected to conclude in March, 2011. “Together with its financial capability, Mahindra offers competence in sourcing and marketing strategy while Ssangyong has strong capabilities in technology,” Mahindra President Pawan Goenka said in… Continue Reading...

Mahindra’s U.S. Launch Postponed Indefinitely

Mahindra’s U.S. Launch Postponed Indefinitely
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Beleaguered Indian truck manufacturer Mahindra has had their American launch delayed indefinitely, thanks to a series of legal battles between Mahindra and vehicle importer Global Vehicle Sales USA. Global Vehicles argues that Mahindra wrongfully terminated the contract between the two companies. “The bottom line here is Mahindra now believes this is a huge project. They… Continue Reading...

Global Vehicles Orders $35 Million Worth of Mahindra Trucks for U.S. Sale

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Global Vehicles Orders $35 Million Worth of Mahindra Trucks for U.S. Sale
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Now that they have, Mahindra still wants to rescind the contract between it and GV, but there’s evidence to suggest that the company’s argument won’t hold up in court. Continue Reading...

Range Rover Evoque Details Released Ahead Of Paris Auto Show

Range Rover Evoque Details Released Ahead Of Paris Auto Show
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Land Rover‘s new Range Rover Evoque two-door SUV is on a publicity blitz ahead of its deubt at the Paris Auto Show, and details are begging to emerge. Rather than the usual 8-cylinder powerplant, the Evoque will use a 2.0L Ecoboost 4-cylinder, dubbed the Si4, which makes 240 horsepower.  Land Rover will likely have to resort to… Continue Reading...

Mahindra Deliberately Voided Contract for U.S. Distribution Says Importer

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Mahindra Deliberately Voided Contract for U.S. Distribution Says Importer
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Now, that clause has come to mean something slightly different: GV, having invested several million dollars up front to secure a distribution network for the trucks is now out in the cold and Mahindra is washing its hands clean. Continue Reading...

Nissan-Suzuki City Car Venture Unaffected By Volkswagen

Nissan-Suzuki City Car Venture Unaffected By Volkswagen
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Nissan is denying reports that Suzuki‘s tie-up with Volkswagen will affect their small car ventures in countries like India. Nissan sells a rebadged version of the Suzuki Alto (one of India’s most popular cars) in that market, but a senior Nissan exec was quoted as saying that ““Suzuki and Nissan have done a lot of… Continue Reading...

Tata Nano Is The Latest Car To Go Up In Flames

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Tata Nano Is The Latest Car To Go Up In Flames
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Tata’s Nano city car is being investigated for a series of fires in India related to the car. A Tate spokesman said that the company was “conducting a probe” into the matter. The Nano, which costs about $2,500, is billed as the world’s cheapest car. Initial reports of fires were said to be unrelated incidents,… Continue Reading...

Mahindra Acquires Bankrupt Automaker Ssangyong

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Mahindra Acquires Bankrupt Automaker Ssangyong
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India’s Mahindra has nearly completed a purchase of Korean carmaker circus freakshow Ssangyong, maker of the world’s ugliest vehicles. “We give the takeover candidate (Mahindra and Mahindra) an exclusive right for negotiation, and won’t be involved in any takeover-related activities with a third party,” Ssangyong said in a statement. Financial terms were not announced but… Continue Reading...

Mahindra Granted EPA Certification for Pickup; U.S. Sales Expected to Follow

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Mahindra Granted EPA Certification for Pickup; U.S. Sales Expected to Follow
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The trucks will be powered by a modified version of the ‘Hawk’ 2.2-liter in-line four-cylinder diesel, which will employ exhaust urea injection to help meet US smog requirements. Continue Reading...

Report: Jeep Investigating Compact Pickup

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Report: Jeep Investigating Compact Pickup
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The Jeep Comanche has a small but dedicated following of fans, but the venerable brand hasn’t been too interested in returning to the segment – until now. With the Mahindra pickup on the way and demand for the Ford Ranger still at passable levels, Jeep CEO Mike Manley says compact trucks are an area that he is… Continue Reading...

Report: Jaguars, Land Rovers To Be Built In China

Report: Jaguars, Land Rovers To Be Built In China
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Nearly 13 years ago today, Britain handed over sovereignty of Hong Kong to the Chinese government, ending a 99-year lease on the territory, and signaling the end of a British presence in China. Now, reports from various news agencies say that India’s Tata Motors is looking at building Jaguar and Land Rover assembly plants in China. Like… Continue Reading...

Tata Returns To Profitability

Tata Returns To Profitability
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India’s Tata Motors is back in the black after rising demand for the Land Rover and Jaguar cars, as well demand in India for Tata products. The Tata group posted an overall profit of $543 million, compared to last year’s loss of $535 million. Tata was able to beat analyst expectations of a $321 million… Continue Reading...

Mahindra Pickup Testing Complete, But No Launch Date Set

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Mahindra Pickup Testing Complete, But No Launch Date Set
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  India’s Mahindra is gearing up to sell its pickups in the United States and has recently completed all the necessary tests to gain approval for the diesel-powered truck. However, Mahindra’s US importer has already missed two launch dates, and is gearing up for a third, this time with the necessary modifications made for regulatory approval…. Continue Reading...

Geneva 2010: Tata Nano Goes Electric

Geneva 2010: Tata Nano Goes Electric
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Tata unveiled a new electric version of its Nano at the Geneva Auto Show. The Nano EV joins the Indica Vista EV in Tata’s electric line-up. The Nano EV will use the same super polymer lithium-ion battery as the Indica Vista EV. The electric version of the world’s least expensive automobile has a range of… Continue Reading...
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