Production Ready VW Taigun aka Creta & Seltos Challenger Unveiled

Production Ready VW Taigun aka Creta & Seltos Challenger Unveiled

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by WAF Editorial Team 

 

• When Safety, Fun to Drive & Quality meet 95% Localisation, it can be a watershed moment!

• Made in India Taigun, for the World!

• Based on the New MQB AO IN Platform 

• Launch just before the Festive Season. Est Price of Rs 10-17 Lakhs

• It’s the Year of the SUVW. Year of the Taigun. Need one say more ?

 

VW India today showcased the India Spec Production Model of the Taigun SUV. It’s based on the latest All new MQB AO IN Platform which also powers the Skoda Kushaq.

It is directly pitched in the hot selling segment of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

Taigun has a class leading wheelbase of 2651 mm which should make it one of the most spacious.

The dual tone interiors look upmarket and premium. The Cockpit is truly digital as it boasts of a 10.1″ touchscreen compatible with Apple car play and Android auto and a 10.2″ Digital Instrument cluster.

The luxury touch gets enhanced by ambient lights, panoramic moonroof and ventilated seats for front passengers.

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Key Takeaways of WAF Gurus Live : The Future of Mobility – EV or FCEV?

Key Takeaways of WAF Gurus Live : The Future of Mobility – EV or FCEV?

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The WAF Gurus Live Episode 20 was held on Saturday, 20 th March in which Gurus of the auto &
mobility industry discussed a crucial and pertinent topic- The Future of Mobility : EV or FCEV?

The panel comprised Shivalik Prasad, VP with Sibros; Vinay K. Piparsania– an automotive industry veteran; Dr. Ajit Kumar Jindal, currently the Advisor E-Mobility and New Products and Technology at Tata Autocomp Systems Ltd, Avik Chattopadhyay Co-Founder Expereal, a Marketing & Brand Consulting Firm; and Anuj Guglani, the founder and CEO at World Auto Forum which connects theAuto and Mobility Industry in 125 Countries.

Anuj Guglani, CEO, World Auto Forum called upon the panel to share their views on the major
concern facing the industry- Can the Fuel Cell solve the future problems of the EV? Would Fuel Cell
get a seat at the table amidst the worldwide Battery Race?

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Toyota, Isuzu revive capital tie-up with focus on connected trucks

Toyota, Isuzu revive capital tie-up with focus on connected trucks

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TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp and Isuzu Motors Ltd announced a capital alliance on Wednesday, reviving a partnership to bolster their competitive edge in connected, commercial vehicles.

Toyota truck unit Hino Motors Ltd will join in the pact to jointly develop small commercial trucks of the future, including connected vehicles and fuel cell technologies, the automakers said.

Connected vehicles can share internet access and data with devices outside the vehicle, making them more efficient.

Under the deal, Toyota will acquire 39 million treasury shares in Isuzu, worth 42.8 billion yen ($393.89 million), taking a 4.6% stake, the automakers said.

Toyota and Isuzu in 2018 dissolved a previous, 12-year capital tie-up that had focused on diesel engines.

The move on Wednesday comes as traditional automakers face growing competition from tech giants and other rivals developing electric and driverless cars.

Volkswagen says Gernot Doellner becomes new strategy chief

Volkswagen says Gernot Doellner becomes new strategy chief

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FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Volkswagen said on Tuesday Porsche AG executive Gernot Doellner will become the carmaker’s new strategy chief from May 1.

“With the addition of Gernot Doellner we are gaining a proven strategist who has gained extensive experience at Porsche AG in the management of model series and in development strategy and innovation management,” said Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess.

“With him, we will systematically continue along our chosen path and further drive the transformation.”

Doellner previously served as head of product and concept at Volkswagen’s luxury division Porsche AG, and will replace Michael Jost, who said earlier this month he will quit after more than a decade with the group.

The announcement comes a week after Volkswagen’s Power Day, which, along with more upbeat broker comments, has revitalised Volkswagen’s shares, which are up 50% year-to-date.

Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Madeline Chambers

Exclusive: China’s Didi leans towards New York for IPO, eyes valuation of at least $100 billion – sources

Exclusive: China’s Didi leans towards New York for IPO, eyes valuation of at least $100 billion – sources

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HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s top ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing is leaning toward picking New York over Hong Kong for its initial public offering (IPO), eyeing a valuation of at least $100 billion via the float, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Didi has also discussed the option of listing via a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), multiple sources told Reuters, which would involve merging with a blank-check firm that raises capital through a U.S. IPO.

But they said the SPAC option was seen by Didi as less viable given its valuation target.

At that valuation target, Didi could raise about $10 billion if it sells 10% of its shares, in what would be the biggest Chinese IPO in the United States since Alibaba’s $25 billion float in 2014.

A fifth person close to Didi said the company is also considering a second listing in Hong Kong if its U.S. IPO takes place.

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Analysis: Electric shock – German auto stocks get a new lease of life

Analysis: Electric shock – German auto stocks get a new lease of life

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By Danilo Masoni, Thyagaraju Adinarayan

5 MIN READ

 LONDON (Reuters) – Volkswagen and BMW’s plans to grab market share in the fast-growing electric car market and challenge Tesla could shift the dial for their cheaply priced shares.

A deadline set by many countries to go carbon-free by 2050 has led to rising adoption of zero-emission vehicles and Tesla has been at the forefront of this transformation, selling long-range battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Despite a recent pullback, its stock has soared 650% in the last year, helped also by a cult following for CEO Elon Musk.

But it is no longer the only electrification play in town.

Volkswagen, the German company competing with Toyota to be the world’s biggest vehicle seller by volume, laid out its ambitious plan to turn 70% of European sales at its core VW brand electric during its “power day” last Monday.

The plan, months in the making, has helped to fuel a Tesla-esque rally in the 83-year old company’s shares, with CEO Herbert Diess even taking to Twitter, Elon Musk-style to crow as the company’s market value crossed 100 billion euros ($119 billion) earlier this month.

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WAF CFO Roundtable Key Takeaways

WAF CFO Roundtable Key Takeaways

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15 March 2021 | New Delhi, India

The WAF CFO Roundtable was held virtually on Saturday, 13 th March in which Chief Financial
Officers of the auto & mobility industry across discussed a very relevant and pertinent topic- Best
Practices of Financial Management in the Covid Era

The panel comprised Maheen Lampwala Country CFO for the Faurecia Group of Entities in India;
Puneet Sabharwal, who is CFO with Citroën India; Anders Olof Häger, the CFO Volvo Eicher
Commercial Vehicles; Surendra Agarwal, CFO Group Landmark; Chandan Goyal, a Chartered
Accountant by profession and the co-founder of Blue Consulting; and Anuj Guglani, the founder and
CEO at World Auto Forum which connects the Auto & Mobility Industry in 125 Countries.

Anuj Guglani, CEO, World Auto Forum called upon the panel to share their key learning in the year
2020.

Mr. Puneet Sabharwal spoke of how they had to reshape their new-launch strategy and media
publicity during the pandemic. Earlier women would request for a day of ‘work-from-home’ to take
care of domestic responsibilities but after the lockdown, it was the other way- requesting to allow
them to attend office at least for a day.

He realized that change is the only constant in life, as he saw flexibility in work hours, a paperless
work environment, including the financial transactions, and a infused a new motivation which created a new opportunity in adversity had set in.

Mr Anuj Guglani, CEO World Auto Forum, told how physical distancing ushered in the entry of trucks
carrying materials inside the premises of Automobiles Industry, through RPA and associated
technologies for material entry thereby reducing the earlier time of 45 minutes to less than 5
minutes.

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MG Motor partners IIT Delhi for research in electric, autonomous technologies

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  • MG, which has introduced electric SUV – the ZS EV and the first autonomous Level 1 premium SUV – Gloster, aims to use the research for developing its future autonomous vehicles.

MG Motor India on Monday said it has joined hands with IIT Delhi’s Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART) for research in the field of electric and autonomous vehicles.

The partnership through Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi aims at furthering the automaker’s focus on CASE mobility (Connected Autonomous Shared Electric); through enabling supporting research for deployment of electric and autonomous vehicles in the urban landscape in the country, MG Motor India said in a statement.

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WAF Gurus Live 20 : The Future of Mobility – EV or FCEV ? Must Attend!

WAF Gurus Live 20 : The Future of Mobility – EV or FCEV ? Must Attend!

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5 pm to 6 pm ist , Sat 20 March, 2021

 Join us for an Interesting Session of WAF Gurus Live Episode 20

 

1.  Do you agree with Mr Musk ?

2.  Electrification @ Mobility is a clear global phenomena

3.  Battery : Right from Mining to Acquisition, to Usage, to Disposal is still a perplexing piece.

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Kia Motors India appoints Hardeep Singh Brar as National Head Sales & Marketing

Kia Motors India appoints Hardeep Singh Brar as National Head Sales & Marketing

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by WAF Editorial Team 

Kia Motors India has appointed the Industry Veteran Hardeep Singh Brar as National Head, Sales & Marketing. The company has created great euphoria and tasted initial success with products like Seltos and Sonet.

Mr Brar would fill in the shoes of Mr Manohar Bhat, who conceived and executed the debut of Kia brand and company at India. The expectations would surely be sky high!

Mr Brar is an Industry Veteran. He has worked with Maruti Suzuki in several functions like Sales & Dealer Development. His last profile there was GM- Corporate and Rural sales

He has headed Network & Dealer Management at Volkswagen India. He also headed Vehicle Sales, Service & Marketing at General Motors till it announced to wrap its India Operations. After General Motors he had joined Nissan India with his last profile there as Director – Commercial and Board Member.

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WAF CFO Roundtable | Best Practices in Financial Management in the Covid Era

WAF CFO Roundtable | Best Practices in Financial Management in the Covid Era

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 “Best Practices in Financial Management in the Covid Era” 

        5 pm to 6 pm ist , Sat 13 March, 2021

 

1. Normal to New Normal to an Evolved Normal : Key Learnings from the Journey of 2020 to 2021

2. 2020 – A year which tested us all in an unprecedented way. How we scaled back the operations. How we balanced Financial Health and Employee Health ?

 3. What is The Finance Department of the Future ?

 Processes, Technology, Innovations, People 

4. Finance Dept powering the Business Strategy and Ops 

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CHRO Toolkit 2021 powered by WAF CHRO Roundtable

CHRO Toolkit 2021 powered by WAF CHRO Roundtable

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The 2nd CHRO Roundtable was held virtually on Saturday 27 Feb, 2021 where Chief HR officers of the auto & mobility industry discussed innovations and best practices during the pandemic year and the learnings thereof, and the way forward for India Inc. in 2021 and beyond.

The virtual exhibition at the 2nd CHROs Roundtable 2021 was also the highlight of the event and was a roaring success.

Mr Anuj Guglani, CEO, World Auto Forum set the ball rolling by sharing with the audience, the global outreach of the CHROs Roundtable this year to share best practices and learnings. He spoke about the challenges faced by organizations in managing Work from Home, and what they would have to do when the focus shifted once more to Work fromOffice.

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