Yamaha YZF-R15 wins India Design Council Award 2012

We have always been fans of the Yamaha R15’s razor-sharp styling, reminiscent of its much larger and sportier superbike siblings from the Land of the Rising Sun. Apparently, the India Design Council seems to agree with us, for they have recently bestowed this brilliant little 150cc crotch rocket with the coveted India Design Mark (I Mark) award.

The India Design Council is affiliated with India’s Ministry of Commerce & Industry and is made up of eminent people in academia, design and industry organizations. The I Mark awards program was organized with the cooperation of the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, organizers of Japan’s Good Design Award (G Mark). Adopting the same high standards as its Japanese equivalent, the submissions and judging for the first edition of the India Design Mark Awards was completed recently and the winners announced. Of the 71 applicants, 31 were awarded the I Mark, and the Yamaha YZF-R15 was one of four products from three Japan-based companies to receive the coveted award.

The YZF-R15, first unveiled at the 2008 Indian Auto Expo, underwent a model change last year that endowed it an even sportier design. The model’s body design is based directly on Yamaha’s supersport YZF-R series models, with which it shares many of its technologies too, like liquid cooling, Deltabox frame and link-type monoshock suspension at the rear.

The primary purpose of the I Mark award program was to increase design awareness and promote value of design in the industry and society, to raise the demand for good designs from users and manufacturers and improve the overall quality of life by encouraging these designs. Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Hiroyuki Suzuki, CEO & MD, India Yamaha Motor said that he was very pleased with this recognition that the YZF-R15 had received.

Valvoline ties up with Kings XI Punjab

Valvoline Cummins Ltd., one of the leading lubricant manufacturers in India, has become the Official Team Partner for the team Kings XI Punjab with captain Adam Gilchrist.

Sandeep Singla AVP Marketing Valvoline Cummins India explains how lubricant manufacturer which focuses on making the engines run smooth got into IPL. “IPL is one of the most vibrant and exciting sporting events in India. Associating with IPL as official team partners helps translate this energy in our business and gives us good mileage through media and helps increase our connect with our Channel partners and Retailers, and OEM clients. Valvoline is into Car racing “Nascar” in US. In India we participate in racing events like – Raide De Himlaya and Maruti Suzuki Dessert storm where we support young drivers achieve their dreams and hone their racing skills. Recently Sarika Sehrawat the driver for Dessert Storm Rally won the Coupe De Dames Trophy also.”

Abhinav Sharma from Valvoline marketing team was seen interacting with the Kings XI Punjab players and congratulating captain Adam Gilchrist and David Muller for the wins.

The eight dealership of India, Bengal Harley-Davidson, is now officially open

A spanking new showroom at Rajarhat, en-route to Kolkata’s international airport, is the new pilgrim spot for Harley-Davidson aficionados of eastern India. Christened as Bengal Harley-Davidson, the inauguration saw Harley-Davidson owners from the region converging at the showroom. Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India, Anoop Prakash along with bike owners rode through the ‘City of Joy’ to make the presence felt. This strategic location of the showroom should open the floodgate for the thirsty bike enthusiasts also from the North East.

The Milwaukee based company already has dealerships in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

Suzuki plans to make India an export hub

Suzuki Motorcycles India Private Limited recently announced its second plant which will come up in Rohtak, Haryana. The foundation stone laying ceremony was performed by Haryana chief minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This new plant will be finished by 2014 and will have an annual capacity of 500,000 units. Suzuki Motorcycles will be further expanding this plant depending on the growth of the Indian market.

Suzuki is also planning to use India as an export hub for its two-wheelers, especially the mass-segment commuters. SMIPL National Head-Marketing, Anu Anamika recently said at the launch of the Hayate mass-segment motorcycle “Yes, this is possible, but I cannot tell you which part of the country this would be located.” Exports to neighbouring countries have already commenced from the Gurgaon plant and this is proposed to be stepped up in future with exports to Southeast Asian countries, too.

The Gurgaon unit, on which a Rs.400-crore investment has been made since the company commenced operations at this unit in 2006, has an annual capacity of 3.6 lakh units (of scooters and motorcycles). This will be ramped up to 5.4 lakh units by 2013-14 when investment would increase to Rs.500 crore, according to Ms. Anamika.

Setting up a new two-wheeler factory in Tamil Nadu

India Yamaha Motor (IYM) Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Tamil Nadu approving the construction and operation of a new two-wheeler factory in the state. The new facility will join the company’s Surajpur (UP) and Faridabad (Haryana) factories to meet the rising demand for two-wheelers in India, where the new factory could also produce scooters, like the Ray which was displayed during the 2012 Auto Expo.

The new factory is to be constructed on a lot of approx. 440,000 sq.m. in an industrial park in Vallam Vadagal on the outskirts of the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Plans call for the construction of a factory facility with a total floor space of approx. 114,000 m2 and is scheduled to begin in September 2012, with completion and start of operations scheduled for January 2014. The company aim to employ 1,800 people and have an annual two-wheeler production rate of 400,000 units at the start of operations. Production capacity will then be increased in stages to a level of 1.8 million units annually by 2018, at which time employment is expected to reach 6,500 people. The forecast for the total investment in the new factory and facilities is approx. Rs 1,500 crores over the next five years.

Gulf Oil strengthens its partnership with its brand ambassador, Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Gulf Oil (a Hinduja group company) and M. S. Dhoni recently announced a slew of new marketing initiatives as the brand celebrates its achievement of being India’s fastest growing brand in the lubricants sector for the year 2011-12 and also for last 2 years before that on a CAGR basis. The Gulf brand has grown consistently at a multiple of industry growth due to a consistent strategy, clear focus and aggressive ATL & BTL programmes fuelled by the association with teams in the IPL, Chennai Super Kings & MSD.

Mr. Sanjay Hinduja, Chairman, Gulf Oil International, and Mr. Ravi Chawla, President & CEO, Gulf Oil India along with MS Dhoni announced the launch of a range of limited edition ‘Signature MSD packs’ and two new advertising campaigns featuring MSD, today. These campaigns would be supported by new retail signages as well as new packaging featuring MSD. On this occasion, Mr. Sanjay Hinduja also announced that Gulf would be partnering the MSD Charitable Foundation to promote young talent who don’t get adequate opportunities, training and infrastructure and pursue their passion to become successful sportspersons. Gulf Oil will sponsor talent in this grass root initiative by providing scholarships through the MSD Charitable Foundation for select number of such sportspersons every year. Along with this, Gulf will play an integral part in organizing grass root level cricket tournaments that the MS Dhoni Charitable Foundation conducts across 15-18 cities in India.

Raise their stake to 47 per cent in the Austrian company

Bajaj Auto, one of India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturers, recently bought another 6.3 per cent stake in KTM of Austria, thereby raising their total stake to just over 47 per cent. The deal was made through Bajaj Auto International Holdings (BAIHBV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bajaj Auto based in the Netherlands.

Although Bajaj officials have confirmed the deal, no details have been divulged as yet.

It may be recalled that Bajaj Auto began investing in KTM in 2007 when the Indian company bought 14.5 per cent stake in the Austrian company and since then Bajaj have been consistently investing in KTM. Rajiv Bajaj said in a recent interview that the company had no intentions to become the controlling stake-holders in KTM. However, going by Bajaj’s constant investment in KTM, it seems that Bajaj might just end up being the controlling authority of KTM in the future.

EAS variants of F3 675 and Brutale 675 announced

Italian superbike makers, MV Agusta, have announced new variants of their two popular models – the F3 675 and Brutale 675 – with EAS (electronically assisted shift). This technique will enable the rider to shift gears quickly while they are still on gas and without clutch application.

These new variants will be sold in addition to the traditional mechanical gear-shift variants of the bikes.

Both these bikes are already a notch higher than their competitors in terms of technology with features such as a counter-rotating crankshaft and evolved electronic controls with MVICS (motor and vehicle integrated control system). Now with the introduction of EAS, both F3 and Brutale have gone a step closer to being the most advanced bikes in their class.

Suzuki to open a new manufacturing plant

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan is all set to build a new two wheeler plant at Rohtak in Haryana. The Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) had set up SMIPL in 2004 for the manufacturing and sales of two wheelers. SMIPL started wheeling out two wheelers from 2006 from its Gurgaon plant in Haryana. SMIPL has plans to build an additional two wheeler and components plant. Planned production capacity of this plant is 5lac units, and the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. If the two wheeler market in India expands, expansion of this SMIPL plant may also be on the cards. In SMIPL , at present 2 models of scooters and 2 models of motorcycles are being produced in the Gurgaon Plant and production achievement of year 2011 was 3.5 lakh which is up by 122% of the previous year.

Suzuki to open a new manufacturing plant

Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited (SMIPL), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan is all set to build a new two wheeler plant at Rohtak in Haryana. The Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan (SMC) had set up SMIPL in 2004 for the manufacturing and sales of two wheelers. SMIPL started wheeling out two wheelers from 2006 from its Gurgaon plant in Haryana. SMIPL has plans to build an additional two wheeler and components plant. Planned production capacity of this plant is 5lac units, and the plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. If the two wheeler market in India expands, expansion of this SMIPL plant may also be on the cards. In SMIPL , at present 2 models of scooters and 2 models of motorcycles are being produced in the Gurgaon Plant and production achievement of year 2011 was 3.5 lakh which is up by 122% of the previous year.