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      in Bike

      Hero Electric Scooter Sales Dispatch 0 Units In April 2022 – Here’s Why

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      Hero Electric posts zero dispatches in April 2022; attributes it to the ongoing global chips shortageHero Electric Scooter Optima HXA global chip shortage continues to plague manufacturers. Expectations point to an improvement in the situation in H2 2022. With reduced production, acquiring them remains a key issue. And with a chip shortage looming overhead, the only logical outcome is production loss.Hero Electric Scooter Chips ShortageHero Electric has over time, secured a sustainable top position in the fledgeling electric scooter segment. However, the E2W brand finds itself severely affected by the chips shortage. Resultantly, Hero Electric posts zero dispatches in April 2022.Simultaneously, those in the orderbook find their vehicle delivery wait period stands extended. Waiting period is now over 60 days. The situation is so acute at present that there are dealerships, which have no stock to display.As with anything that isn’t fully entrenched and established, the Indian electric two-wheeler industry is dealing with plenty of teething matters. And being under the limelight following a recent spate of fires in quick succession, industry wide think-tanks are expected to work overtime. This bodes well for long term robustness as eliminating drawbacks in the initial stages will make way for stringent safety policies. Focus is currently heightened on battery management systems and vehicle wellbeing.Electric Two Wheeler Retail Sales March 2022 – FADA / Vinkesh GulatiHero Electric production capacityIn FY22, Hero Electric reported a sales milestone of 100,000 units. However, the start to FY23 is slow going on account of the chips shortage. However, Hero Electric isn’t sitting by and twiddling its thumbs. The delivery gap period is being utilised effectively to ramp up production capacity. This is true for its Ludhiana and Pitampur plant.The manufacturer is also working towards a smoother supply chain flow. There are plenty of pointers estimating EV growth. This is evident through increased customer demand. Hero is diligent about enhanced battery testing. And carries out thorough audits of the battery production factories. This enhances battery systems’ safety and consumer security. This month, Hero Electric observed ‘Battery Safety Month’. Dealerships communicated with consumers regarding best practices in handling batteries, and identifying red flags by themselves. EV robust growth pathSohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric, said, “It’s like putting an emergency brake on a fast moving train. Our sales were almost doubling month on month and we somehow managed with sourcing from different geographies but the war collapsed a major supply chain resulting in this disruption. While apologising to customers for waiting so long  for their favourite bikes, Gill assured that the company has geared up alternate sources and would soon resume production.”“Meanwhile we are using this time to enhance our plant capacity to increase our production volumes as well as revisit our systems and processes related to batteries to further reinforce the quality assurance of our bikes. The recent happenings of fire incidents is an awakening call for the industry and we believe that even the best of the companies should introspect and constantly improve their designs and quality to repose confidence in the electric mobility that is going through such a robust growth path.” More

    • 138 Shares139 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata AVINYA Electric Concept Makes Global Debut – New Tata Logo

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      This is the second electric vehicle concept to be unveiled by Tata Motors after covers from the Curvv Concept were lifted earlier this monthTata AVINYA Electric ConceptTata Motors is going all guns blazing when it comes to electric mobility. Currently, the largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the passenger vehicle segment, Tata Motors aims to cement its place in the future as well. The company is planning to come out with a number of EV offerings in the coming years.The homegrown brand has taken its biggest step in the electric mobility space by unveiling a new concept electric car called AVINYA. This EV concept will be underpinned by the company’s first ‘Born Electric’ platform that will incorporate a wide range of body styles with two- and three-row seating configurations.New Tata Avinya Electric – New Logo of Tata MotorsTata Motors ‘Born Electric’ VehicleModels based on this platform are expected to start hitting showrooms from 2025 onwards. Tata AVINYA is a future ready electric car, which will pave the way for Tata becoming a global car manufacturer. Tata says that they are benchmarking to becoming the best, not only the India – but across the globe.Avinya Electric Concept is aimed at showcasing flexibility and versatility of Tata Motors’ new electric skateboard which is understood to have been born out of the same philosophy as the Audi Urbansphere. Avinya has IN at its center – IN standing for India. It has been designed from inside out with a focus on its interior. The vehicle’s exterior design is crossover-ish in nature with a blend of SUV and MPV body styles.New Tata AvinyaNew Skateboard ArchitectureNew Tata Born Electric vehicles will be underpinned by a new skateboard architecture, specifically dedicated to battery-powered vehicles. Usually, skateboard platforms have a long wheelbase that can accommodate a large battery pack. One of the first products to be built on this skateboard is likely to be an electric equivalent of Safari or Harrier.New Tata AvinyaPetrol-powered iterations of both SUVs are based on the OMEGA Arc platform that has been derived from Land Rover’s D8 platform. This platform is extremely difficult to electrify and hence we have not seen a fully electric Land Rover built on this platform yet. Moreover, the new skateboard could be shared with JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) as part of a collaboration between the parent company and the British brand.[embedded content][embedded content]New Tata Motors Logo for EV lineupFurther, it has also come to light that with Avinya electric concept, the company has unveiled a new logo for Tata Motors’ electric car range. The upcoming electric cars will come out of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEML), the EV division of the brand that was recently set up. The new Tata logo is an illuminated ‘T’ that stretches across the rear of the car.Tata AVINYA Electric ConceptA fully electric version of Tata Harrier that has been internally codenamed Eturna. The carmaker is aiming for a production date of this electric SUV in early 2025. More

    • 150 Shares189 Views

      in Electric Cars

      Tata Electric Car Production Target At 80k This Year – Nexon, Tigor

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      Following phenomenal EV sales growth in FY22, Tata Motors has even more ambitious goals for EV production in FY23Tata CURVV Electric SUV Coupe ConceptA Reuters report sheds light on Tata Motors’ ambitious EV plans for the current fiscal. Sources say the auto manufacturer has a production target of 80k units for the current fiscal. This is vastly magnified from the 19k units sold in the fiscal just concluded.This would help meet demand. The volume estimate for FY23 is larger than life but provides an insight into the enquiries and interest Tata Motors EVs are receiving. As it stands, Tata leads from the front where EVs being sold in India are concerned. This scene however would get a lot more interesting and competitive once a larger number of manufacturers sell EVs here. More importantly, they need to be affordable.Electric cars, fleet and busesTata Motors currently accounts for over 90 percent of all EVs sold here. Earlier in the month, Tata Curvv concept was showcased. This week itself, Tata further strengthened its EV journey by announcing a sizable order for EV fleet cars. The same market penetration is being seen where electric buses are concerned. This will see Tata fulfill an order worth 5 crores for 5,450 electric buses.In its EV journey forward, Tata is leaving no stone unturned. And having seen results being an early mover, it’s only expected that Tata will continue to strike while the iron’s hot. While electric car sales only make up a very small percentage of total car sales here, these numbers are expected to have a bigger impact by the turn of the decade. Late in 2021, Tata announced its future EV plans. This includes 10 new EVs by 2026.Tata Nexon Electric Production. Image – National GeagraphicCurrently its electric passenger car lineup consists of Nexon EV and Tigor EV. Soon, they will launch long range version of both Nexon as well as Tigor. Apart from that, Tata is also likely to launch electric versions of Altroz and Punch this year. EV versions of Nexon, Tigor, Altroz and Punch are likely to help Tata achieve their aim of 80,000 electric car sales in FY 2023.The company has a new electric car concept unveiling scheduled for today. This will be their first car built on the ground up EV platform. These new gen all-electric Tata cars will be built on PURE EV architecture. It will be a modular platform, which will deliver cars in various shapes and sizes, as well as battery capacities.Pure EV architectureUntil now, Tata’s EVs haven’t been built from the ground up. Nexon and Tigor, and its EV fleet offering are a derivation of existing ICE platform cars. The recently shown Curvv is built on a Gen 2 platform that’s capable of supporting a range of electric powertrains. This would support ICE and electric powertrain options. Which would mean, Curvv when in production would be available first as an electric vehicle, and then in ICE variants. But that is going to change soon.Tata is ready to build on its first EV only platform called Pure EV architecture. Last year, a billion dollar investment was made by TPG. While today’s global unveiling will further strengthen Tata’s EV goals, the manufacturer is already on the leading track as of now. Currently, India targets 30 percent electric car penetration of total cars sold by 2030.Source More

    • 75 Shares169 Views

      in Motor News

      2023 Acura Integra Starts at $31,895

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      The 2023 Acura Integra will arrive in dealerships in June starting at $31,895. It comes standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission, but a six-speed manual is available and increases the price to $36,895. Power comes from a 200-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four cylinder shared with the Honda Civic Si. After more than two decades the Acura Integra is returning to the luxury automaker’s lineup. It will arrive in dealerships this summer starting at $31,895, and it uses the same turbocharged four-cylinder as the Honda Civic Si but offers more options.
      Where the Honda is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, the Acura comes standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Integra’s starting price makes it $3580 more expensive than the Civic, but the Integra with the optional six-speed manual starts at $36,895, making it $8580 more than the Si. The only way to get the manual Integra is with the A-Spec and technology packages, which includes things like a limited-slip differential (standard on the Civic Si), adaptive dampers (not available on the Civic Si), head-up display, and wireless charging.

      For $33,895 you can get an Integra with the CVT and A-Spec package, which is an appearance package that adds black trim, a lip spoiler, 18-inch wheels, and A-Spec badging. The A-Spec interior gets stainless steel pedals, red needles on the gauges, and red stitching. Adding the technology package, which includes the adaptive dampers and larger touchscreen, increases the price to $36,895. Unlike the Civic Si, which is available with summer tires, the Integra only offers all-season rubber. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is shared with the Civic Si, and it makes the same 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. In our testing, it launched the manual-equipped Civic Si to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and through the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 94 mph. Look for the 2023 Integras to start arriving at dealerships in early June, and Acura has also not yet confirmed or denied the existence of a coming Type S or R model in the future.
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    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Motor News

      Kia Reveals Niro Plus for the Taxi and Ride-Hailing Markets

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      The Kia Niro Plus is based on the first-generation model of the brand’s hybrid and electric SUV. Kia designed the Niro Plus around the requirements of taxi and ride-hailing services. The Niro Plus is part of Kia’s expansion into purpose-built vehicles, which will see it create a dedicated platform for the segment by 2025.Kia previously stated its intent to become a leader in building purpose-built vehicles, and now the brand is showing off its latest entry in this market class: the Niro Plus. Based on the first-generation Niro, which was recently replaced with a redesigned 2023 model, the Niro Plus is geared toward the taxi and ride-hailing industries and will initially launch in Kia’s home of South Korea.

      The Niro Plus arrives in two flavors: a so-called “general” version and a taxi-specific model. Kia’s marketing the general version of the Niro Plus to private owners who can use it “for many business and recreational purposes including car-hailing services.” Kia writes the non-taxi Niro Plus will be offered with all three of the Niro’s powertrain options (gasoline-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric), and it will go on sale in certain markets outside of Korea in the second half of this year. Kia didn’t specify if the Niro Plus will come to the United States, though it plans to soon share more details about other markets the Niro Plus is due to sell in.

      Kia

      The dedicated taxi variant of the Niro Plus will be offered exclusively as an electric vehicle. In order to create the Niro Plus, Kia stretched the body of the first-gen Niro it’s based on by nearly half an inch and raised the roof by 3.1 inches. Thinner seats and door cards in the taxi version afford the Niro Plus additional interior room, while both variants can be had with door reflectors and handles mounted to the B-pillar. The taxi version also features a single display that integrates navigation, the taximeter, and other important data, such as charging station locations. No performance specifications were revealed for either version of the Niro Plus, but we imagine the vehicle weighs a few more pounds than the equivalent first-generation Niro.

      Kia

      The Niro Plus joins a single-seat van version of the Korea-exclusive Ray city car in Kia’s lineup of purpose-built vehicles. While these first two entries are based on existing Kias, the company is developing a platform specifically for its purpose-built vehicle program. The first vehicle to use this architecture is due in 2025.
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    • 113 Shares119 Views

      in Motor News

      VW ID.Buzz Pickup Truck Rendered, Could Become a Reality

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      Klaus Zyciora via Instagram

      Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Zyciora posted a rendering of an ID.Buzz pickup truck.Reuters also reports that VW is considering building such a vehicle in the U.S.The crew-cab pickup could have historical ties to prior Microbus “Doka” variants.VW has already committed to selling several versions of the ID.Buzz electric van: the yet-to-be-launched long-wheelbase “People” variant for America, plus the short-wheelbase, five-seat “People” and short-wheelbase “Cargo” panel van versions for Europe. But this won’t be the end of the road: Volkswagen has strongly hinted at a camper version, and brand aficionados will be happy to know that a crew-cab pickup is strongly considered. At least that’s what we take away from a posting on chief designer Klaus Zyciora’s Instagram profile, where he posted a rendering of such a model, accompanied by the question: “Should we take it to the next level?”

      Zyciora’s informal poll has been answered with a resounding “yes” from the community of his Instagram followers. And at the same time, a Reuters story claims that VW is mulling U.S. production of this pickup version, alongside the regular ID.Buzz.The rendering is not based on the new production model, but instead on the 2017 ID.Buzz concept, which was characterized by body-colored roof pillars. Should such a version come to market, it would likely adopt the “visor” look of the ID.Buzz production model. And the junction between the cab and the pickup bed could adapt a more conventional look.
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      A crew-cab bus would draw from a strong heritage: From the first generation of the VW bus onwards, the brand has always offered a “Doppelkabine” (short: “Doka”), more or less successfully integrated. We can imagine that fans would undoubtedly adopt this nickname for the new version, should it come to fruition.Interestingly, the retro-futuristic 2001 Microbus concept, which served as a strong inspiration for the ID.Buzz, was designed with a pickup version as well. But it never saw production.We’ll join the design community in encouraging the launch of this car. And we want to see more renderings of this concept on Zyciora’s IG page.
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    • 138 Shares149 Views

      in Motor News

      1991 Nissan Figaro is Our BaT Auction Pick of the Day

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      • This 1991 Nissan Figaro is up for sale right now on Bring a Trailer with the auction set to end on May 2.• Designed with retro styling, a tiny 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and a retractable convertible top, the Figaro is a unique car from the Japanese domestic market.• This particular one has spent time in the UK and wears custom Firenze Red paint.In 1991, Nissan launched the Figaro in its home market of Japan, alongside two other retro-futuristic small cars—the Pao and the Be-1—as well as the snail-esque S-Cargo van. The Figaro is arguably the most glamorous of the quartet, as it incorporates scaled-down 1950s-era styling and a retractable convertible top. This one, which has been refurbished and repainted in Firenze Red Metallic paint, is being offered for sale on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.

      Bring a Trailer

      Although it’s a small, lightweight convertible, the Figaro is surely no Miata. Its tiny turbocharged 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes just 75 horsepower and drives the front wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. This is a car for cruising and turning heads at Cars and Coffee meetups.

      Bring a Trailer

      The cream-colored leather is slightly worn and the convertible top, despite being replaced in 2021, has some nicks at the corners. The rear seat upholstery is cracking too, but overall the Figaro is in decent shape. Mechanically, the owner reports that the steering rack, a CV boot, and the spark plugs have recently been replaced, and an oil change and a brake fluid change were performed.

      Bring a Trailer

      The Figaro is relatively rare, and not just because it was sold solely in Japan. Only 20,000 were produced in total, and the car was in production for just a single model year. Originally, Nissan had planned to build just 8000 Figaros, but the car proved so popular that another 12,000 were made available. Prospective buyers had to enter a lottery for the chance to buy one.

      Bring a Trailer

      To grab this Figaro, all you need to do is be the high bidder. The auction ends May 2.
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    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Bike

      Bajaj Sales, Exports Breakup Mar 2022 – Pulsar, Dominar, Chetak, CT, Platina

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      Bajaj Auto sales dipped in domestic market by 40.87 percent while exports improved 2.18 percent YoYBajaj Pulsar 200Bajaj Auto Limited has seen significant de-growth in domestic sales in the past month. Total sales (domestic + exports) stood at 2,48,116 units in March 2022 as compared to 3,16,426 units sold in March 2021. Domestic sales dipped 40.87 percent YoY to 1,03,292 units in March 2022 over 1,74,694 units sold in March 2021. Exports on the other hand exceeded domestic sales in the past month. Exports stood at 1,44,824 units, up 2.18 percent over 1,41,732 units shipped in March 2021.Bajaj Auto has the Pulsar, Platina, CT, Dominar and Avenger in its company lineup along with the Chetak electric scooter. Sales in domestic market last month saw each of these motorcycle models receive lower sales while sales of the Chetak e-scooter increase significantly. Bajaj Pulsar and Platina were at Nos. 5 and 6 on the list of best-selling two wheelers in FY2022.Bajaj Sales Breakup March 2022Bajaj Pulsar was the highest selling model with 67,339 units sold last month, down 21.70 percent over 85,999 units sold in March 2021. Pulsar commands a 65.19 percent share. In the Pulsar range, it was the Pulsar 125 and 150cc that received the most attention with 39,687 units and 18,044 units sold respectively. Pulsar 200cc sales stood at 7,077 units while there were 2,531 units of Pulsars 250cc sold last month. Bajaj Platina sales dipped 60.95 percent in March 2022 to 26,952 units. This was as against 69,025 units sold in March 2021 relating to a volume loss of 42,073 units while Platina holds a 26.09 percent share in the company lineup.Bajaj CT sales also suffered a YoY degrowth to 5,211 units, down 62.50 percent over 13,895 units sold in March 2021. Of the Avenger series, Bajaj Auto sold 1,680 units in the past month, down 58.18 percent over 4,017 units sold in the corresponding period of previous year. The Avenger saw the 200cc model more in demand with sales of 1,582 units over the 250cc of which 98 units were sold last month.Bajaj Sales Breakup March 2022Dominar sales also fell 33.81 percent YoY to 1,104 units down from 1,668 units sold in March 2021. There were 694 units of Dominar 250cc sold along with 410 units of Dominar 400cc. Chetak e-scooter sales on the other hand, increased 1017.78 percent to 1,006 units last month, over just 90 units sold in March 2021 thus leading to volume growth of 916 units.Bajaj Auto Limited has also introduced a price hike across all models from April 2022. Prices have been increased from Rs 819 to Rs 4,913 relating to a percentage increase of 1.22 to 3.14. The highest price increase is seen for the Dominar 400 which is now priced at Rs 2,22,386 as against earlier pricing of Rs 2,17,473.Bajaj Exports Breakup March 2022Exports of Bajaj Auto Limited ended on a positive note last month. In fact, exports exceeded domestic sales by 41,532 units. Two wheeler exports stood at 1,44,824 units in March 2022, up 2.18 percent over 1,42,732 units sold in March 2021. It was the 75-110cc bikes that commanded more attention in export markets.Bajaj Exports Breakup March 2022Bajaj Boxer commanded this list with 90,016 units shipped in March 2022, up 7.43 percent over 83,788 units sold in March 2021. The Boxer commands a 62.16 percent share and the Boxer 110cc saw sales of 75,264 units, up 11.70 percent over 67,380 units sold in March 2021. Boxer 125cc sales were at 6,368 units while Boxer 150cc sales dipped 31.19 percent to 8,384 units in March 2022.Pulsar exports dipped 13.74 percent to 22,648 units, down from 26,256 units sold in March 2021 relating to a 3,608 unit volume de-growth. Pulsar 200cc sales were at 9,618 units in March 2022, down 29.25 percent over 13,588 units shipped in March 2021, while Pulsar 125cc sales increased to 3,408 units, up 1.31 percent on a MoM basis.CT exports increased 15.14 percent to 16,368 units while Bajaj Discover and Platina exports fell 20.06 percent and 28.21 percent respectively to 10,616 units and 2,102 units in March 2022. Bajaj Dominar and Avenger saw increased demand in global markets. Dominar exports increased 114.45 percent to 2,672 units up from 1,928 units sold in March 2021 while there was a significant increase in exports of the Avenger by 2133.33 percent to 402 units, up from 18 units shipped in March 2021. More