Entries Tagged 'eco-car segment' ↓

Tata’s Nano may face stiff competition on its home turf as Japan’s Honda Motor Co. plans to launch a four or five-seat car in early 2010 in the booming Indian market.

Honda Motor Co. President, Mr Takeo Fukui said the Japanese car-maker plans to launch a very small car in Europe as well as emerging countries such as China and India in the early 2010.

“We are developing a small car that would be even smaller than the Fit subcompact,” he told a news conference.

The engine displacement for the four- or five-seat car would be less than 1 litre, against 1.3 litres for the smallest version of the Fit subcompact series, he was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

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Japanese automakers insist they will move forward with eco-car manufacturing as planned despite their failure to obtain changes in some specifications.

According to an automotive industry source, the Japanese carmakers expressed disappointment that Industry Ministry officials had turned down their requests, but confirmed the project would continue.

“The first eco-cars will be introduced into the market as planned,” he said.

The manufacturers had asked the ministry to relax some of the strict and potentially costly environmental conditions set by the Board of Investment (BoI) when it approved their investment privileges.

“Even though the board approved privileges for the six automakers last year for their eco-car manufacturing projects, some of the firms were lobbying to see if some conditions could be altered,” said the source.

Representatives from Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi discussed their request with Chakramon Phasukvanich, the permanent secretary for the Industry Ministry, last week.

But the source said Mr Chakramon turned them down, saying that the cabinet had already approved the conditions for investment promotion.

The Japanese companies also asked if their eco-cars allocated for export need to abide by BoI requirements.

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It’s a new car but will have three different names. For the first time in the Indian automobile history, the same car—made in India—will don three different badges in the global market.

Maruti Suzuki, manufacturer of the car, will brand it A-Star in India. The same car will be contract-manufactured by Maruti for Nissan Motors and called Pixo. And it will be the new Alto for Suzuki Motor Corporation in Europe. The car will be manufactured exclusively by Maruti Suzuki’s plant at Manesar in Haryana and will be unveiled by both companies at the Paris Motor Show next month at their respective pavilions.

Both Nissan Pixo and Suzuki Alto will compete against Toyota Aygo in the international market while it will be pitted against Hyundai i10, Fiat Palio and Tata Motors Indica Vista in the premium small-car segment in India. An MSI spokesperson refused to comment and said: “A-Star has nothing to do with Alto, which will continue to be the flagship model of Maruti Suzuki in India. It is a totally different segment.”

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Honda and Nissan is the first of eco-cars war in thailand early 2010 that move to joined in small cars market around the world.

Honda is prepare for assemble in ayuthaya plant,this model based on Small Global Platform use as Jazz and City will mounted new 3-cylinder 1.2 litre .Nissan ecocars is the first of sub-B segment of the world will use new engine xh-5 codename is very fuel consumption,based on new A-platform cost competitive

Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors says it is developing a low-priced car to be sold in China and Thailand as well as in the European market.

The car, expected to be priced at below one million yen ($9,650), would be based on a 660cc platform that is currently used only in Japan, Reuters quoted the company’s President, Osamu Masuko, as saying at the Beijing Auto Show.
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