Friday 18 January 2013

TATA MOTORS


Type Public
Traded as BSE: 500570 (BSE SENSEX Constituent)
NSE: TATAMOTORS
NYSE: TTM
Industry Automotive

Founder(s) J. R. D. Tata
Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India[1]
Area served Worldwide
Key people Cyrus Pallonji Mistry
(Chairman)
Karl Slym
(Managing Director)
Products Automobiles
Commercial vehicles
Automotive parts
Services Vehicle leasing
Vehicle service
Revenue Increase US$ 34.575 billion (2012)[2]
Profit Increase US$ 2.821 billion (2012)[2]
Total assets Increase US$ 28.540 billion (2012)[2]
Total equity Increase US$ 6.507 billion (2012)[2]
Employees 59,759 (2012)[2]
Parent Tata Group
Divisions Tata Motors Cars
Subsidiaries Jaguar Land Rover
Tata Daewoo
Tata Hispano
Website www.tatamotors.com
Tata Motors Limited (formerly TELCO) is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India and a subsidiary of the Tata Group. Its products include passenger cars, trucks, vans, coaches, buses and military vehicles. It is the world's eighteenth-largest motor vehicle manufacturing company, fourth-largest truck manufacturer and second-largest bus manufacturer by volume.[2]
Tata Motors has auto manufacturing and assembly plants in Jamshedpur, Pantnagar, Lucknow, Sanand, Dharwad and Pune, India, and in Argentina, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom. It has research and development centres in Pune, Jamshedpur, Lucknow and Dharwad, India, and in South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It has a bus manufacturing joint venture with Marcopolo S.A., Tata Marcopolo, and a construction equipment manufacturing joint venture with Hitachi, Telcon Construction Solutions.
Founded in 1945 as a manufacturer of locomotives, the company manufactured its first commercial vehicle in 1954 in a collaboration with Daimler-Benz AG, which ended in 1969.[3] Tata Motors entered the passenger vehicle market in 1991 with the launch of the Tata Sierra and in 1998 launched the first fully indigenous Indian passenger car, the Indica. Tata Motors acquired the South Korean truck manufacturer Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company in 2004 and the British premium car maker Jaguar Land Rover in 2008.
Tata Motors is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, where it is a constituent of the BSE SENSEX index, the National Stock Exchange of India and the New York Stock Exchange. Tata Motors is ranked 314th in the 2012 Fortune Global 500 ranking of the world's biggest corporations.[2]

Contents

History

The second-generation Tata Indica; one of the best selling cars in the history of the Indian automobile industry
Tata Nano, the world's most inexpensive car
Tata entered the commercial vehicle sector in 1954 after forming a joint venture with Daimler-Benz of Germany. After years of dominating the commercial vehicle market in India, Tata Motors entered the passenger vehicle market in 1991 by launching the Tata Sierra, a multi utility vehicle. After the launch of three more vehicles, Tata Estate (1992; a station wagon design based on the earlier 'TataMobile' (1989), a light commercial vehicle), Tata Sumo (1994; LCV) and Tata Safari (1998; India's first sports utility vehicle).
Tata launched the Indica in 1998, the first fully indigenous Indian passenger car. Although initially criticised by auto-analysts, its excellent fuel economy, powerful engine and an aggressive marketing strategy made it one of the best selling cars in the history of the Indian automobile industry. A newer version of the car, named Indica V2, was a major improvement over the previous version and quickly became a mass-favorite. Tata Motors also successfully exported large quantities of the car to South Africa. The success of Indica played a key role in the growth of Tata Motors.[4]
In 2004 Tata Motors acquired Daewoo's South Korea-based truck manufacturing unit, Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company, later renamed Tata Daewoo.[5]
In 2005, Tata Motors acquired a 21% controlling stake in the Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Hispano Carrocera.[6] Tata Motors continued its market area expansion through the introduction of new products such as buses (Starbus & Globus, jointly developed with subsidiary Hispano Carrocera) and trucks (Novus, jointly developed with subsidiary Tata Daewoo).
In 2006, Tata formed a joint venture with the Brazil-based Marcopolo, Tata Marcopolo Bus, to manufacture fully built buses and coaches.[7]
In 2008, Tata Motors acquired the British car maker Jaguar Land Rover, manufacturer of the Jaguar, Land Rover and Daimler luxury car brands, from Ford Motor Company.[8][9][10][11]
In May 2009 Tata unveiled the Tata World Truck range jointly developed with Tata Daewoo.[12] Debuting in South Korea, South Africa, the SAARC countries and the Middle-East by the end of 2009.[12]
Tata acquired full ownership of Hispano Carrocera in 2009.[13]
In 2010, Tata Motors acquired an 80% stake in the Italy-based design and engineering company Trilix for a consideration of €1.85 million. The acquisition formed part of the company's plan to enhance its styling and design capabilities.[14]
In 2012, Tata Motors announced it will invest around ₹6 billion on developing Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles in collaboration with DRDO.[15]

Operations

Tata Motors has vehicle assembly operations in India, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Thailand, Spain and South Africa. It plans to establish plants in Turkey, Indonesia and Eastern Europe.[16]
Tata Motors' principal subsidiaries include Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Daewoo and Tata Hispano.

Tata Motors Cars

Main article: Tata Motors Cars
The Tata Prima
Tata Motors is among the top three in passenger vehicles in India with products in the compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segments.[16] The company’s manufacturing base in India is spread across Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Pune (Maharashtra), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) and Dharwad (Karnataka). The company is establishing a new plant at Sanand (Gujarat). Tata's dealership, sales, service and spare parts network comprises over 3500 touch points.[16]
Tata also has franchisee/joint venture assembly operations in Kenya, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Russia and Senegal.[17] Tata has dealerships in 26 countries across 4 continents.[18] Though Tata is present in many countries it has only managed to create a large consumer base in the Indian Subcontinent, namely India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Tata has a growing consumer base in Italy, Spain and South Africa.
Tata Motors has more than 250 dealerships in more than 195 cities across 27 states and 4 Union Territories of India.[19] It has the 3rd largest Sales and Service Network after Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.

Tata Daewoo

Main article: Tata Daewoo
In 2004, Tata Motors acquired Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company of South Korea. The reasons behind the acquisition were:
The Tata Prima heavy truck
  • Company's global plans to reduce domestic exposure. The domestic commercial vehicle market is highly cyclical in nature and prone to fluctuations in the domestic economy. Tata Motors has a high domestic exposure of ~94% in the MHCV segment and ~84% in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment. Since the domestic commercial vehicle sales of the company are at the mercy of the structural economic factors, it is increasingly looking at the international markets. The company plans to diversify into various markets across the world in both MHCV as well as LCV segments.
  • To expand the product portfolio Tata Motors recently introduced the 25MT GVW Tata Novus from Daewoo’s (South Korea) (TDCV) platform. Tata plans to leverage on the strong presence of TDCV in the heavy-tonnage range and introduce products in India at an appropriate time. This was mainly to cater to the international market and also to cater to the domestic market where a major improvement in the Road infrastructure was done through the National Highway Development Project.
Tata Daewoo is the second-largest heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer in South Korea. Tata Motors has jointly worked with Tata Daewoo to develop trucks such as Novus and World Truck and buses including GloBus and StarBus. In 2012, Tata will start developing a new line to manufacture competitive and fuel efficient commercial vehicles to face the competition posed by the entry of international brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Navistar into the Indian market.[20]

Tata Hispano

Main article: Tata Hispano
In 2005, sensing an opportunity in the fully built bus segment, Tata Motors acquired a 21% stake in Hispano Carrocera SA,[6] the leading European bus and coach cabin maker. In 2009, the Tata acquired the remaining 79% of in Hispano Carrocera for an undisclosed sum, making it a fully owned subsidiary, subsequently renamed Tata Hispano.

Jaguar Land Rover

The Range Rover Evoque
Main article: Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover PLC is a British premium automaker headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, United Kingdom and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors since June 2008, when it was acquired from Ford Motor Company.[21] Its principal activity is the development, manufacture and sale of Jaguar luxury and sports cars and Land Rover premium four wheel drive vehicles. It also owns the currently dormant Daimler, Lanchester and Rover brands.[22]
Jaguar Land Rover has two design centres and three assembly plants in the UK. Under Tata ownership, Jaguar Land Rover has launched new vehicles including the Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar F-Type and the fourth-generation Range Rover.

HV Transmission and HV Axles

HV Transmission (HVTL) and HV Axles (HVAL) are 100% subsidiary companies of Tata Motors engaged in the business of manufacture of gear boxes and axles for heavy and medium commercial vehicles, with production facilities and infrastructure based at Jamshedpur. HVAL and HVTL have been amalgamated ton HVAL and is renamed as TML Drivelines Ltd.

Tata Technologies

Tata Technologies Limited (TTL) provides engineering and design services to the automotive industry. Tata Motors holds 86.91% of TTL’s share capital. TTL is based in Pune (Hinjawadi) and operates in the United States and Europe through its wholly owned subsidiaries in Detroit and London respectively. It also has a presence in Thailand. Tata Technologies is a software service provider in the IT services and BPO space. Its global client list includes Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Honda. TTL acquired the British engineering and design services company Incat International Plc for ₹4 billion in August 2005. Incat specializes in engineering and design services and product lifecycle management in the international automotive, aerospace and engineering markets.

European Technical Centre

Tata Motor European Technical Centre is Tata's subsidiary based in the UK. It was the joint developer of the World Truck.[23]

Joint ventures

Tata Marcopolo

Main article: Tata Marcopolo
A Tata Marcopolo bus in use in Chandigarh, India
Tata Marcopolo is a bus manufacturing joint venture between Tata Motors (51%) and the Brazil-based Marcopolo S.A. (49%). The joint venture manufactures and assembles fully built buses and coaches targeted at developing mass rapid transportation systems. It utilises technology and expertise in chassis and aggregates from Tata Motors, and know-how in processes and systems for bodybuilding and bus body design from Marcopolo. Tata Marcopolo has launched a low-floor city bus which is widely used by Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Lucknow, Pune, Kochi, Trivandrum and Bengaluru transport corporations. Its manufacturing facility is based in Dharwad.

Fiat India Automobiles

Main article: Fiat India Automobiles
Tata Motors also formed a joint venture with Fiat and gained access to Fiat’s diesel engine technology.[24] Tata Motors sells Fiat cars in India through a 50/50 joint venture Fiat Automobiles India Limited, and is looking to extend its relationship with Fiat and Iveco to other segments.

Telcon Construction Solutions

Main article: Telcon Construction Solutions
Telcon Construction Solutions is a joint venture between Tata Motors and Hitachi which manufactures excavators and other construction equipment.

Products

For details of Tata Motors passenger cars, see Tata Motors Cars. For details of Land Rover products, see Land Rover. For details of Jaguar products, see Jaguar Cars

Commercial vehicles

The Tata TL
A Tata 407 water truck
A Tata Starbus
  • Tata Ace
  • Tata Ace Zip
  • Tata Super Ace
  • Tata TL/Telcoline/207 DI Pickup Truck
  • Tata 407 Ex and Ex2
  • Tata 709 Ex
  • Tata 809 Ex and Ex2
  • Tata 909 Ex and Ex2
  • Tata 1109 (Intermediate truck)
  • Tata 1512 (Medium bus chassis)
  • Tata 1612/1616 (Heavy bus chassis)
  • Tata 1618 (Semi Low Floor bus chassis)
  • Tata 1623 (Rear Engined Low Floor bus chassis)
  • Tata 1518C (Medium truck)
  • Tata 1613/1615 (Medium truck)
  • Tata 2515/2516 (Medium truck)
  • Tata Starbus (Branded Buses for city, inter city, school bus and standard passenger transportation)
  • Tata Divo (Hispano Divo; Fully built luxury coach)
  • Tata CityRide (12 – 20 seater buses for intra-city use)
  • Tata 3015 (Heavy truck)
  • Tata 3118 (Heavy truck) (8×2)
  • Tata 3516 (Heavy truck)
  • Tata 4018 (Heavy truck)
  • Tata 4923 (Ultra-Heavy truck) (6×4)
  • Tata Novus (Heavy truck designed by Tata Daewoo)
  • Tata Prima (The World Truck designed by Tata Motors and Tata Daewoo)
  • Tata Prima LX (Stripped down version of Tata Prima)

Military vehicles

  • Tata LSV (Light Specialist Vehicle)
  • Tata Mine Protected Vehicle (4×4)
  • Tata 2 Stretcher Ambulance
  • Tata 407 Troop Carrier, available in hard top, soft top, 4×4, and 4×2 versions
  • Tata LPTA 713 TC (4×4)
  • Tata LPT 709 E
  • Tata SD 1015 TC (4×4)
  • Tata LPTA 1615 TC (4×4)
  • Tata LPTA 1621 TC (6×6)
  • Tata LPTA 1615 TC (4×2)
  • Tata Winger Passenger Mini Bus
  • Tata Landrover 1515 F

Electric vehicles

Tata Motors has unveiled electric versions of the Tata Indica passenger car and the Tata Ace commercial vehicle, both of which run on lithium batteries. The company has indicated that the electric Indica would be launched locally in India in about 2010, without disclosing the price. The vehicle would be launched in Norway in 2009.[25]
Tata Motors' UK subsidiary, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, has bought a 50.3% holding in electric vehicle technology firm Miljøbil Grenland/Innovasjon of Norway for US$1.93 million, which specialises in the development of innovative solutions for electric vehicles, and plans to launch the electric Indica hatchback in Europe next year.[26][27][28] In September 2010, Tata Motors presented four CNG–Electric Hybrid low-floored Starbuses to the Delhi Transport Corporation, to be used during the Commonwealth games. These were the first environmentally friendly buses to be used for public transportation in India.

Notable vehicles

Tata Ace

Main article: Tata Ace
Tata Ace was India's first mini truck
Tata Ace, India's first indigenously developed sub-one ton mini-truck, was launched in May 2005. The mini-truck was a huge success in India with auto-analysts claiming that Ace had changed the dynamics of the light commercial vehicle (LCV) market in the country by creating a new market segment termed the small commercial vehicle (SCV) segment. Ace rapidly emerged as the first choice for transporters and single truck owners for city and rural transport. By October 2005, LCV sales of Tata Motors had grown by 36.6 percent to 28,537 units due to the rising demand for Ace. The Ace was built with a load body produced by Autoline Industries.[29] By 2005, Autoline was producing 300 load bodies per day for Tata Motors.
Ace is still a top seller for TML with 500,000 units sold to date (June 2010).[30] In 2011, Tata Motors invensted Rs.1000 Crore in Dharwad Plant, Karnataka with the capacity of 90,000 units annually and launched 2 models of 0.5T capacity as Tata Ace Zip, Magic Iris.[31]
Ace has also been exported to several Asian, European, South American and African countries and all-electric models are sold through Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division.[32] In Sri Lanka it is sold through Diesel & Motor Engineering (DIMO) PLC under the name of DIMO Batta.
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Thursday 17 January 2013

BMW


BMW India today said it will launch entry level luxury car 1 Series in India next year-end as part of strategy to enhance its position in the country and at the same time it is preparing to hike product prices by up to
The company, which today launched the all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe priced at Rs 86.40 lakh, also said it will bring three more new products by March 2013.
"By the end of 2013, we will start assembly of completely knocked down (CKD) units of the 1 series at our Chennai plant for the Indian market," President of BMW Group India Philipp von Sahr told PTI.
He said while a product like the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is mainly aimed at enhancing the brand equity of the company, the company has also plans to bring other products to drive voThe BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in six different generations and in five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the BMW brand's annual total sales (excluding motorbikes).[2]lumes.10 percent across all

History


BMW 3 Series – from the old to the new, through E90

E46, E36, E30
BMW released its E21 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, attracting customers seeking both prestige and economy, nearly doubling BMW's worldwide auto sales figures in three years, and winning numerous automotive world awards and honours. The 3 series has also maintained BMW's racing heritage. The M version of the 3 series, M3, debuted in 1988.[3]
There have been six generations; their respective chassis codes are:
  • BMW E21 – (1975–1983) 3 Series
  • BMW E30 – (1983–1991) 3 Series
  • BMW E36 – (1991–2000) 3 Series
  • BMW E46 – (1998–2006) 3 Series
  • BMW E90 – (2005–2011/EUR, 2006–2011/US) 3 Series saloon
    • BMW E91 – (2005–2011/EUR, 2006–2011/US) 3 Series Touring (Sports Wagon)
    • BMW E92 – (2007–2011) 3 Series Coupé
    • BMW E93 – (2007–2011) 3 Series Convertible
  • BMW F30 – (2012–) 3 Series saloon
    • BMW F31 – (2012–) 3 Series Touring (Sports Wagon)

E21, First generation, 1975–1983

E21
Production 1975–1983
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door cabrio
Layout FR layout
Main article: BMW 3 Series (E21)
The first generation was a two-door saloon model only. A factory authorised cabrio

E30, Second generation, 1982–1991

E30
Production 1982–1994
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / All-wheel drive
Related BMW M3
Main article: BMW 3 Series (E30)
The E30 was sold from 1982 through 1991 in saloon form, and through 1993 in convertible form. The E30's introductory price was nearly double that of the E21 just seven years earlier, but the availability of a six-cylinder engine and four-door body style (in 1984) earned sales. The torquey "eta" six in the 325e produced 121 hp (90 kW) and 172 lb·ft (233 N·m) of torque, but met the strict emission standards of the time. The E30 was the most powerful compact BMW offered in the United States since the 2002 Tii.
The lineup was augmented in 1985 by the high-output 325i and 325is. Though the engine displacement was reduced to 2.5 L, output was up to 168 hp (125 kW) but torque dropped to 164 lb·ft (222 N·m) as the company focused on performance rather than economy. The rev limit for the new motor was raised from 5,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm.
The 325is was an upgrade from the standard 325i, as some new features were added to the car as standard. These included the full electrics package, black roof-liner[citation needed], BMW "is" body kit, BMW 14 inch BBS "Basketweave" wheels and a close ratio gearbox[citation needed]. Other features also found on the 325is were options, however over time, some have been mistaken for standard features. These options include a 25% Limited Slip Differential, M Sport suspension with Bilstein struts, M-Sport II steering wheel, BMW sports seats, leather interior, sunroof and BMW 15 inch BBS wheels. Options differed on vehicles produced for the United States market.
In 1987 a left hand drive only all-wheel drive version, the 325ix, joined the lineup with a touring version being introduced in late 1987. The 1.8L four-cylinder was dropped in 1985, but was brought back with a new, 1.8 L DOHC motor (M42B18) for 1991.
At the end of 1987, BMW introduced the touring version of the E30. It was very popular during its production up to 1994. It was available with a 1.6-, 1.8-, 2.0- or 2.5-litre engine and also 2.4-litre turbo diesel.
The most powerful American BMW E30 in 1989 came in the form of the M3, using a 192 hp (143 kW) S14 straight-four with a four-valve head adapted from the M88 six and Bosch fuel injection.
A so-called 'run-off model' of the E30 318 was produced in 1990[4] that featured BMW's new 16-valve 136 bhp 1.8 engine from the upcoming E36 range that was to replace the E30. This newer engined E30 was named the 318is and came as standard with Recaro interior, black headlining and M-Tech suspension. It was not offered as a four-door model or as a convertible.

E36, Third generation, 1990–1999

E36
Production 1990–1999
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Related BMW M3
BMW Z3
Main article: BMW 3 Series (E36)
The E36 was introduced in 1990 as the successor to the E30. It was eventually superseded by the E46 starting in 1999 for saloons, and 2000 for coupés and cabriolets.
The E36 experienced enormous success in the market. It laid strong foundations for the success that the E46 experienced in subsequent years.
The E36 employed the "Z-axle" multilink suspension in the rear which had been proven in the Z1. VANOS variable valve timing was introduced on the DOHC I6 (inline 6-cylinder) engines in 1993.
The four-door E36 was produced from early 1990, initially for sale in Europe only, and was introduced to other worldwide markets up to a year later. The coupe version was produced from 1991, with the Cabriolet version following in 1992. The three-door hatchback Compact was introduced in 1994 and was moderately popular in Europe. The Compact was identical to the regular E36 saloon from front bumper to A-Pillar. Everything else was unique, namely its rear semi-trailing arm suspension, based on the old E30, instead of the Z-Axle Multilink employed in all other E36's. The Z3 and M Coupe have similar rear suspension setups as well. BMW developed several prototype five-door versions of the Compact model, but these never entered production. The "Touring" estate also began production in 1994, but was never offered in the United States.
The 2.5 L M50B25 used in the 325 models was replaced in 1996 with the 2.8 L M52B28, creating the 328i line. Another 2.5 L engine, the M52B25, was reintroduced in 1995 but the cars were sold as 323 rather than 325.

E46, Fourth generation, 1998-2006

E46
Production 1998–2006
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / All-wheel drive
Related BMW M3
BMW X3
Main article: BMW 3 Series (E46)
The E46 was introduced in 1998 as a 1999 model, in saloon version only, replacing that of the E36 the same year, while the older "E36" coupé and convertible remained for one more year. This was keeping with what is now known as the traditional 3-series model introduction cycle. The initial inline-six engines available were the 2.5 L 323 and 2.8 L 328 (the 323 badge did not match engine displacement but it was numbered as such to increase the spread between both models). The touring and coupé models appeared in 1999 with BMW's newly designed steptronic manumatic transmission, and the convertible and M3 later in 2000. The E46 Compact, a three-door hatchback, was revealed in 2001 to be sold in European and Australian markets. xDrive all-wheel drive was introduced as an option in 2001 for left hand drive markets only due to clashes between the running gear and steering rack.

2002 E46 saloon Facelift
In 2000, the E46 lineup received an engine boost when the new M54 engines appeared for Model Year 2001 cars replacing the M52TU engines; with the new 3.0 L 330 replacing the 328, and the 2.5 L 325 replaced the 323. Additionally a 2.2 L engine was introduced in the 320i. Outside of the engine and exhaust upgrades, there were few cosmetic changes, the most noticeable being the 330 receiving silver accents on the front fascia.
Also in 2000, the E46 lineup expanded to include the new (model year) 2001 M3 Coupe. The M3 only came in a coupe and convertible (model year 2002) platform, with either a six-speed manual or SMG. Unlike its predecessor, the E46 M3 shared very few parts with the standard 3 series. The exteriors of the two cars only shared the doors, roof, and boot. The exterior of the M3 had wider bumpers and "M styled" bumpers, side skirts, mirrors, a protruding bonnet, spoiler, and the new tradition of M marked grills on the front bumpers and four exhaust pipes. The interior of the M3 was accented with an M steering wheel, seats, rear view mirror, and instrument cluster.
The first major overhaul occurred when the E46 saloon underwent a facelift from September 2001, which included re-designed headlights, new bumpers and a stiffer chassis. Also, the 316i and 318i models received new, more powerful engines. Then from March 2003 the coupe and convertible had a facelift which included new headlights, new front wings and bumpers, new selections in exterior colour, and redesigned sidemarker lights and LED tail lights. The M3s got a much more mild facelift that same year, with the inclusion of the updated boot and LED tail lights from the coupe/convertible.
Despite being introduced last, the E46 compact was the first to be replaced when the 1 Series was launched in September 2004. In mid-2005 the E46 saloons were phased out with the introduction of the new E90 saloons. The E46 touring was also replaced later that year with E91. The E46 remained in production as coupé, convertible and M3 until the E92 coupé and E93 convertible was revealed in late 2006. The new M3 coupé concept was later unveiled in March 2007 during Geneva Motor Show.
The E46 experienced enormous success in all markets and was widely considered the performance benchmark of its class. The record year for the E46 was 2002, when 561,249 vehicles were sold worldwide.[5]
As a credit to the E46 series, it was chosen for Car and Driver Magazine's "10 Best Cars" every year of its production. See Car and Driver Ten Best.

E90, Fifth generation, 2005–2012

E90/E91/E92/E93
Production 2005–2011, 2007-2012 Coupes only
Body style 2-door coupé
2-door convertible
4-door saloon
5-door touring
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / all-wheel drive
Related BMW M3
BMW X3
Main article: BMW 3 Series (E90)

Facelift BMW 320i (E91), Europe
The E90 debuted as a saloon (E90) and touring (E91) in March 2005 for the 2006 model year, while the coupé (E92) and a retractable hard-top convertible (E93) went on sale in August 2006 for the 2007 model year.[citation needed] It was completely re-engineered from the E46, including changes to engines, transmission, the passenger compartment, suspension technology, as well as the addition of a host of high-tech features and options. The coupé/cabriolet body was now its own design and no longer derived from the sedan/wagon (unlike its predecessors), and was slightly longer and narrower with 2+2 seating compared to the saloon and touring which retained the rear three-passenger bench. The retractable hard-top convertible, meanwhile, was a first for the 3 Series.
Currently, twelve engine options are offered, two being part of the new 'N' series of BMW inline engines featuring a host of new technologies. The N52 naturally aspirated inline-six engine (powering the 323i, 325i/xi, 328i/xi, and 330i/xi) features technological innovations such as lightweight magnesium/aluminum construction, electric water pump, Valvetronic (steplessly variable valve lift), and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing contribute to produce a lighter and more powerful motor than its predecessor, but yield a 15% increase in fuel economy. The introduction of the N54 twin turbo inline-6 engine, which produces 306 PS (225 kW; 302 bhp) and 400 N·m (295 lb·ft) torque, marks BMW's return to petrol turbocharging and is found in 335i/xi trims.
Major features include Comfort Access, HID Xenon adaptive headlamps, Active Cruise Control, and Active Steering.
Sales of the E90 have been very strong. In 2007, a record total of more than 550,000 vehicles were sold and it was the seventh most popular car in the United Kingdom.[6] But E90 production ended in October 2011.
The saloon and touring (wagon) received more powerful engines in late 2006 for the 2007 model year, particularly the N54 twin turbo, the same engines available in the E92 coupé and E93 convertible that debuted at a similar time. The sedan and wagon got a mid-generational facelift for the 2009 model year which comprised changes to the grille, headlights, bonnet, taillights and boot. In spring 2010, the refreshed coupé and convertible were released as 2011 models, with the 335i/xi receiving the new N55 single turbo I6 (with a "TwinPower" twin scroll turbocharger), and a sportier 335is with a tuned N54 engine and an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual.

F30, Sixth generation, 2012

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MARUTI SUZUKI

Maruti Suzuki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Maruti Suzuki India Limited




Industry Automotive
Predecessor(s) Maruti Udyog Limited
Founded 1981
Headquarters New Delhi, India[1]
Key people Shinzo Nakanishi
(CEO & MD)
Products Automobiles
Revenue ₹  369.34 billion (US$6.72 billion) (2012)[2]
Net income ₹16.81 billion (US$305.94 million) (2012)[2]
Employees 6,903 (2011)[3]
Parent Suzuki Motor Corporation
Website www.marutisuzuki.com
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (/marut̪i suzuki/; NSE: MARUTI, BSE: 532500), commonly referred to as Maruti, is a subsidiary company of Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor Corporation.[4] It has a market share of 37% of the Indian passenger car market as of November 2012.[5] Maruti Suzuki offers a complete range of cars from entry level Maruti 800, Maruti Esteem and Alto, to hatchback Ritz, A-Star, Swift, Wagon-R, Estillo and sedans DZire, SX4, in the 'C' segment Maruti Eeco, Maruti Omni, Multi Purpose vehicle Ertiga and Sports Utility vehicle Grand Vitara.[6]
It was the first company in India to mass-produce and sell more than a million cars. It is largely credited for having brought in an automobile revolution to India. It is the market leader in India, and on 17 September 2007, Maruti Udyog Limited was renamed as Maruti Suzuki India Limited. The company's headquarters are on Nelson Mandella Rd, New Delhi.[1] In February 2012, the company sold its 10th million vehicle in India.[7]

Contents

[edit] Profile

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The old logo of Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Later the logo of Suzuki Motor Corp. was also added to it
'To Munsiyari on a Maruti 800', Uttarakhand Himalayas
Maruti Suzuki 800 at Nainital Uttarakhand
Maruti Suzuki is India and Nepal's leading automobile manufacturer and the market leader in the car segment, both in terms of volume of vehicles sold and revenue earned. Until recently, 18.28% of the company was owned by the Indian government, and 54.2% by Suzuki of Japan. The BJP-led government held an initial public offering of 25% of the company in June 2003. As of 10 May 2007, the government of India sold its complete share to Indian financial institutions and no longer has any stake in Maruti Udyog.[8]
Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) was established in February 1981, though the actual production commenced in 1983 with the Maruti 800, based on the Suzuki Alto kei car which at the time was the only modern car available in India, its only competitors- the Hindustan Ambassador and Premier Padmini were both around 25 years out of date at that point. Through 2004, Maruti Suzuki has produced over 5 Million vehicles. Maruti Suzukis are sold in India and various several other countries, depending upon export orders. Models similar to Maruti Suzukis (but not manufactured by Maruti Udyog) are sold by Suzuki Motor Corporation and manufactured in Pakistan and other South Asian countries.[citation needed]
The company exports more than 50,000 cars annually and has an extremely large domestic market in India selling over 730,000 cars annually. Maruti 800, till 2004, was the India's largest selling compact car ever since it was launched in 1983. More than a million units of this car have been sold worldwide so far. Currently, Maruti Suzuki Alto tops the sales charts but Maruti Suzuki's Swift has taken over this titles by 19000 models in April 2012.The company imports diesel engines for all maruti Suzuki cars from the fiat motors the great Italian company.The German car company Volkswagen has a 19.9% non-controlling shareholding in Suzuki Motor Corporation.[citation needed]
Due to the large number of Maruti 800s sold in the Indian market, the term "Maruti" is commonly used to refer to this compact car model. Its manufacturing facilities are located at two facilities Gurgaon and Manesar south of Delhi. Maruti Suzuki’s Gurgaon facility has an installed capacity of 900,000 units per annum. The Manesar facilities, launched in February 2007 comprise a vehicle assembly plant with a capacity of 550,000 units per year and a Diesel Engine plant with an annual capacity of 100,000 engines and transmissions. Manesar and Gurgaon facilities have a combined capability to produce over 14,50,000 units annually. More than half the cars sold in India are Maruti Suzuki cars. The company is a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, which owns 54.2 per cent of Maruti Suzuki. The rest is owned by public and financial institutions. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India.[citation needed]
During 2007-08, Maruti Suzuki sold 764,842 cars, of which 53,024 were exported. In all, over six million Maruti Suzuki cars are on Indian roads since the first car was rolled out on 14 December 1983. Maruti Suzuki offers 15 models, Maruti 800, Alto, Maruti Alto 800, WagonR, Estilo, A-star, Ritz, Swift, Swift DZire, SX4, Omni, Eeco, Gypsy, Grand Vitara, Kizashi and the newly launched Ertiga. Swift, Swift DZire, A-star and SX4 are manufactured in Manesar, Grand Vitara and Kizashi are imported from Japan as completely built units(CBU), remaining all models are manufactured in Maruti Suzuki's Gurgaon Plant.[citation needed] The company is believed to be moving towards introduction of a new version of Maruti 800 by November 2012, which will be more fuel efficient, though slightly costlier than Alto and existing Maruti 800.[9] Suzuki Motor Corporation, the parent company, is a global leader in mini and compact cars for three decades. Suzuki’s technical superiority lies in its ability to pack power and performance into a compact, lightweight engine that is clean and fuel efficient. Nearly 75,000 people are employed directly by Maruti Suzuki and its partners. It has been rated first in customer satisfaction among all car makers in India from 1999 to 2009 by J D Power Asia Pacific.[10] Maruti Suzuki will be introducing new 800cc model by Diwali in 2012.The model is supposed to be fuel efficient, hence more expensive.[11]
Further information: Timeline of Maruti Suzuki

[edit] Joint venture related issues

Relationship between the Government of India, under the United Front (India) coalition and Suzuki Motor Corporation over the joint venture was a point of heated debate in the Indian media till Suzuki Motor Corporation gained the controlling stake. This highly profitable joint venture that had a near monopolistic trade in the Indian automobile market and the nature of the partnership built up till then was the underlying reason for most issues. The success of the joint venture led Suzuki to increase its equity from 26% to 40% in 1987, and further to 50% in 1992. In 1982 both the venture partners had entered into an agreement to nominate their candidate for the post of Managing Director and every Managing Director will have a tenure of five years[12]
R.C. Bhargava was the initial managing director of the company since the inception of the joint venture. Till today he is regarded as instrumental for the success of Maruti Suzuki. Joining in 1982 he held several key positions in the company before heading the company as Managing Director. Currently he is on the Board of Directors.[13] After completing his five-year tenure, Mr. Bhargava later assumed the office of Part-Time Chairman. The Government nominated Mr. S.S.L.N. Bhaskarudu as the Managing Director on 27 August 1997. Mr. Bhaskarudu had joined Maruti Suzuki in 1983 after spending 21 years in the Public sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited as General Manager. In 1987 he was promoted as Chief General Manager. In 1988 he was named Director, Productions and Projects. The next year (1989) he was named Director of Materials[clarification needed] and in 1993 he became Joint Managing Director.[citation needed]
Suzuki Motor Corporation didn't attend the Annual General Meeting of the Board with the reason of it being called on a short notice.[14] Later Suzuki Motor Corporation went on record to state that Bhaskarudu was "incompetent" and wanted someone else. However, the Ministry of Industries, Government of India refuted the charges. Media stated from the Maruti Suzuki sources that Bhaskarudu was interested to indigenise most of components for the models including gear boxes especially for Maruti 800. Suzuki also felt that Bhaskarudu was a proxy for the Government and would not let it increase its stake in the venture.[15] If Maruti Suzuki would have been able to indigenise gear boxes then Maruti Suzuki would have been able to manufacture all the models without the technical assistance from Suzuki. Till today the issue of localization of gear boxes is highlighted in the press.[16]

[edit] Industrial relations

Since its founding in 1983, Maruti Udyog Limited experienced few problems with its labour force. The Indian labour it hired readily accepted Japanese work culture and the modern manufacturing process. In 1997, there was a change in ownership, and Maruti became predominantly government controlled. Shortly thereafter, conflict between the United Front Government and Suzuki started. Labour unrest started under management of Indian central government. In 2000, a major industrial relations issue began and employees of Maruti went on an indefinite strike, demanding among other things, major revisions to their wages, incentives and pensions.[17][18]
Employees used slowdown in October 2000, to press a revision to their incentive-linked pay. In parallel, after elections and a new central government led by NDA alliance, India pursued a disinvestments policy. Along with many other government owned companies, the new administration proposed to sell part of its stake in Maruti Suzuki in a public offering. The worker's union opposed this sell-off plan on the grounds that the company will lose a major business advantage of being subsidised by the Government, and the union has better protection while the company remains in control of the government.[17][19]
The standoff between the union and the management continued through 2001. The management refused union demands citing increased competition and lower margins. The central government prevailed and privatized Maruti in 2002. Suzuki became the majority owner of Maruti Udyog Limited.[20][21]

[edit] Manesar violence July 2012

On 18 July 2012, Maruti's Manesar plant was hit by violence as workers at one of its auto factories attacked supervisors and started a fire that killed a company official and injured 100 managers, including two Japanese expatriates. The violent mob also injured nine policemen.[22][23] The company's General Manager of Human Resources had both arms and legs broken by his attackers, unable to leave the building that was set ablaze, and was charred to death. The incident is the worst-ever for Suzuki since the company began operations in India in 1983.[24]
Since April 2012, the Manesar union had demanded a three-fold increase in basic salary, a monthly conveyance allowance of ₹ 10,000, a laundry allowance of ₹ 3,000, a gift with every new car launch, and a house for every worker who wants one or cheaper home loans for those who want to build their own houses.Initial reports claimed wage dispute and a union spokesman alleged the incident may be caste-related.[25][26] According to the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union a supervisor had abused and made discriminatory comments to a low-caste worker.[27] These claims were denied by the company and the police.[23] The supervisor alleged was found to belong to a tribal heritage and outside of Hindu caste system; further, the numerous workers involved in violence were not affiliated with caste either. Maruti said the unrest began, not over wage discussions, but after the workers' union demanded the reinstatement of a worker who had been suspended for beating a supervisor.[24] The workers claim harsh working conditions and extensive hiring of low-paid contract workers which are paid about $126 a month, about half the minimum wage of permanent employees.[27] Maruti employees currently earn allowances in addition to their base wage.[28] Company executives denied harsh conditions and claim they hired entry-level workers on contracts and made them permanent as they gained experience. It was also claimed that bouncers were deployed by the company.[25]
India Today claimed[29] that its interviews of witnesses present at the plant confirms the dispute was over the suspended worker. The management insisted that they must wait for completion of inquiry underway before they can take any action on the employee suspended for beating up his supervisor. The management was then told, "you will be beaten up after we get a signal." Thereafter, the workers broke up into groups, went on to set the shop floor as well as all offices afire. They searched for management officials and proceeded with a barbaric beating of the officials at the site with iron rods.
The police, in its First Information Report (FIR), claimed on 21 July that Manesar violence may be the result of a planned violence by a section of workers and union leaders. The report claimed the worker's action was recorded on close circuit cameras installed within the company premises. The workers took several managers and high ranked management officials hostage. The responsible Special Investigative Team official claimed, "some union leaders may be aware of the facts, so they burnt down the main servers and more than 700 computers." The recorded CCTV footage has been used to determine the sequence of events and people involved. Per the FIR, police have arrested 91 people and are searching for 55 additional accused.[30][31]
Maruti Suzuki in its statement on the unrest,[32] announced that all work at the Manesar plant has been suspended indefinitely. A Suzuki spokesman said Manesar violence won't affect the auto maker's business plans for India.[24] The shut down of Manesar plant is leading to a loss of about Rs 75 crore[33] per day.[34] On July 21, 2012, citing safety concerns, the company announced a lockout under The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 pending results of an inquiry the company has requested of the Haryana government into the causes of the disorder. Under the provisions of The Industrial Disputes Act for wages, the report claimed, employees are expected to be paid for the duration of the lockout.[33] On July 26, 2012, Maruti announced employees would not be paid for the period of lock-out in accordance with Indian labour laws. The company further announced that it will stop using contract workers by March 2013. The report claimed the salary difference between contract workers and permanent workers has been much smaller than initial media reports - the contract worker at Maruti received about ₹ 11,500 per month, while a permanent worker received about ₹ 12,500 a month at start, which increased in three years to ₹ 21,000-22,000 per month.[35] In a separate report, a contractor who was providing contract employees to Maruti claimed the company gave its contract employees the best wage, allowances and benefits package in the region.[36]
Shinzo Nakanishi, managing director and chief executive of Maruti Suzuki India, said this kind of violence has never happened in Suzuki Motor Corp's entire global operations spread across Hungary, Indonesia, Spain, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, China and the Philippines. Mr. Nakanishi went to each victim apologising for the miseries inflicted on them by fellow workers, and in press interview requested the central and Haryana state governments to help stop such ghastly violence by legislating decisive rules to restore corporate confidence amid emergence of this new 'militant workforce' in Indian factories. He announced, "we are going to de-recognise Maruti Suzuki Workers’ Union and dismiss all workers named in connection with the incident. We will not compromise at all in such instances of barbaric, unprovoked violence." He also announced Maruti plans to continue manufacturing in Manesar, that Gujarat was an expansion opportunity and not an alternative to Manesar.[37][38]
Labour disputes are endemic in the auto industry of India and have affected other manufacturers. India has strict labour laws, but their application is widely sidestepped by hiring low-wage contract workers.[27] Manesar violence adds to India's recent incidents of labour disputes turning to violence. Analysts claim[39][40] recent incidents like Manesar violence suggest a need for urgent reform of archaic Indian labour laws, the rigid rules on hiring and layoffs, which harm the formal sector and discourage investment in India. Government mandated procedures for labour dispute resolution are currently very slow, with tens of thousands of cases pending for years. The government of India is being asked to recognise that incidents such as Manesar violence indicate a structural sickness which must be solved nationally.
The company dismissed 500 workers accused of causing the violence and re-opened the plant on August 21, saying it would produce 150 vehicles on the first day, less than 10% of its capacity. Analysts said that the shutdown was costing the company 1 billion rupees ($18 million) a day and costing the company market share.
The previous week company officials had announced that Maruti would scrap the practice of hiring contract workers and that the workers currently on temporary contracts would be made permanent. It would begin the process of hiring new workers on a permanent basis from September 2, 2012.[41]


[edit] Manufacturing facilities

Maruti Suzuki has two manufacturing facilities in India.[46] Both manufacturing facilities have a combined production capacity of 14,50,000 vehicles annually. During a recent meeting of the Gujarat chief minister with Suzuki Motor Corp chairman & CEO Osamu Suzuki,the Chairman had said that the work on car manufacturing plant at Mandal near Ahmedabad would be started soon.[47] Maruti Suzuki to set up second plant in Gujarat; acquires 600 acres

[edit] Gurgaon Manufacturing Facility

The Gurgaon Manufacturing Facility has three fully integrated manufacturing plants and is spread over 300 acres (1.2 km2). All three plants have an installed capacity of 350,000 vehicles annually but productivity improvements have enabled it to manufacture 900,000 vehicles annually. The Gurgaon facilities also manufacture 240,000 K-Series engines annually. The entire facility is equipped with more than 150 robots, out of which 71 have been developed in-house. The Gurgaon Facilities manufactures the 800, Alto, WagonR, Estilo, Omni, Gypsy, Ertiga and Eeco.

[edit] Manesar Manufacturing Facility

The Manesar Manufacturing Plant was inaugurated in February 2007 and is spread over 600 acres (2.4 km2). Initially it had a production capacity of 100,000 vehicles annually but this was increased to 300,000 vehicles annually in October 2008. The production capacity was further increased by 250,000 vehicles taking total production capacity to 550,000 vehicles annually. The Manesar Plant produces the A-star, Swift, Swift DZire, SX4 and Ritz.
Government Notice to Pay Rs 235 Crore for Manesar Plant Land allotment
On June 25, 2012, Haryana State Industries and Infrastructure Development Corporation demanded Maruti Suzuki to pay an additional Rs 235 crore for enhanced land acquisition for its Haryana plant expansion. The agency reminded Maruti that failure to pay the amount would lead to further proceedings and vacating the enhanced land acquisition.[48]

[edit] Sales and service network

As of 31 March 2011 Maruti Suzuki has 933 dealerships across 666 towns and cities in all states and union territories of India. It has 2,946 service stations (inclusive of dealer workshops and Maruti Authorised Service Stations) in 1,395 towns and cities throughout India.[49] It has 30 Express Service Stations on 30 National Highways across 1,314 cities in India.
Service is a major revenue generator of the company. Most of the service stations are managed on franchise basis, where Maruti Suzuki trains the local staff. Other automobile companies have not been able to match this benchmark set by Maruti Suzuki. The Express Service stations help many stranded vehicles on the highways by sending across their repair man to the vehicle.[50][51]

[edit] Maruti Insurance

Launched in 2002 Maruti Suzuki provides vehicle insurance to its customers with the help of the National Insurance Company, Bajaj Allianz, New India Assurance and Royal Sundaram. The service was set up the company with the inception of two subsidiaries Maruti Insurance Distributors Services Pvt. Ltd and Maruti Insurance Brokers Pvt. Limited[52]
This service started as a benefit or value addition to customers and was able to ramp up easily. By December 2005 they were able to sell more than two million insurance policies since its inception.[53]

[edit] Maruti Finance

To promote its bottom line growth, Maruti Suzuki launched Maruti Finance in January 2002. Prior to the start of this service Maruti Suzuki had started two joint ventures Citicorp Maruti and Maruti Countrywide with Citi Group and GE Countrywide respectively to assist its client in securing loan.[54] Maruti Suzuki tied up with ABN Amro Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Limited, Kotak Mahindra, Standard Chartered Bank, and Sundaram to start this venture including its strategic partners in car finance. Again the company entered into a strategic partnership with SBI in March 2003[55] Since March 2003, Maruti has sold over 12,000 vehicles through SBI-Maruti Finance. SBI-Maruti Finance is currently available in 166 cities across India.[56]
"Maruti Finance marks the coming together of the biggest players in the car finance business. They are the benchmarks in quality and efficiency. Combined with Maruti volumes and networked dealerships, this will enable Maruti Finance to offer superior service and competitive rates in the marketplace". — Jagdish Khattar, Managing director of Maruti Udyog Limited in a press conference announcing the launch of Maruti Finance on 7 January 2002
Citicorp Maruti Finance Limited is a joint venture between Citicorp Finance India and Maruti Udyog Limited its primary business stated by the company is "hire-purchase financing of Maruti Suzuki vehicles". Citi Finance India Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citibank Overseas Investment Corporation, Delaware, which in turn is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Citibank N.A. Citi Finance India Limited holds 74% of the stake and Maruti Suzuki holds the remaining 26%.[57] GE Capital, HDFC and Maruti Suzuki came together in 1995 to form Maruti Countrywide. Maruti claims that its finance program offers most competitive interest rates to its customers, which are lower by 0.25% to 0.5% from the market rates.[citation needed]

[edit] Maruti TrueValue

Main Article: Maruti True Value
Maruti True service offered by Maruti Suzuki to its customers. It is a market place for used Maruti Suzuki Vehicles. One can buy, sell or exchange used Maruti Suzuki vehicles with the help of this service in India. As of 31 March 2010 there are 341 Maruti True Value outlets.[citation needed]

[edit] N2N Fleet Management

N2N is the short form of End to End Fleet Management and provides lease and fleet management solution to corporates. Clients who have signed up of this service include Gas Authority of India Ltd, DuPont, Reckitt Benckiser, Sona Steering, Doordarshan, Singer India, National Stock Exchange and Transworld. This fleet management service include end-to-end solutions across the vehicle's life, which includes Leasing, Maintenance, Convenience services and Remarketing.[58]

[edit] Accessories

Many of the auto component companies other than Maruti Suzuki started to offer components and accessories that were compatible. This caused a serious threat and loss of revenue to Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Suzuki started a new initiative under the brand name Maruti Genuine Accessories to offer accessories like alloy wheels, body cover, carpets, door visors, fog lamps, stereo systems, seat covers and other car care products. These products are sold through dealer outlets and authorized service stations throughout India.[59]
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