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Wednesday, February 15, 2023

February 15, 2023

Automobile dealers’ body challenges Chandigarh’s EV policy in high court

The administration, working towards promoting eco-friendly transportation, had decided not to register non-electric two-wheelers between February 10 and March 31, 2023. As per a notification issued, two-wheelers running on conventional fuels will not be registered by the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA).

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court, challenging the electric vehicle (EV) policy 2022, introduced by the Chandigarh administration.


The administration, working towards promoting eco-friendly transportation, had decided not to register non-electric two-wheelers between February 10 and March 31, 2023. As per a notification issued, two-wheelers running on conventional fuels will not be registered by the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA).

The decision had come under criticism from various quarters, considering that the average price of a basic e-scooter is around 1.2 lakh.

Chandigarh notified the EV policy in September 2022, which will be applicable for five years, during which the administration plans to gradually stop registering fuel-run vehicles to dissuade people from buying vehicles that cause pollution.

Petition seeks setting aside EV policy

In the petition, FADA, has sought direction to set aside the EV Policy 2022, and also the decision of the administration that bars registration of non-electric two-wheelers between February 10 and March 31, 2023. The petitioners seek allowing sale and registration of non-electric vehicles apart from seeking stay the notification imposing cap and bar/ban on the sale of non-electric vehicles and such other vehicles.


The petitioners have sought directions to administration to register the non-electric vehicles. The petition would come up for hearing on February 16.

UT home-cum-transport secretary Nitin Kumat Yadav on Tuesday chaired a meeting of government officials and auto-rickshaw drivers union.

It was decided that all autos registered in Chandigarh will be issued parking stickers. Many of them have already been issued parking stickers and the process of giving parking stickers to the rest will also be expedited. For better management of pick-and-drop facility by auto rickshaws, the secretary of transport directed the team to designate parking spaces for autos. He also directed the officials to ensure basic amenities such as water and toilets at these designated parking points. The secretary instructed the team to identify more such points and locations in Chandigarh where auto rickshaws stop for pick and drop, and submit the report by February 28.


Monday, February 13, 2023

February 13, 2023

Mercedes-Benz India re-opens bookings for AMG G 63 and Maybach GLS 600: All you need to know

Mercedes-Benz Booking Re-open: German automaker Mercedes-Benz India has recommenced bookings for its popular models — AMG G 63 and Maybach GLS 600. The bookings are now open, however, priority will be given to existing customers of the company for the first week.

"Our top-end vehicles have received an overwhelming response and securing this limited additional production for India, firmly underlines the strategic significance of the Indian market for the automaker," Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Santosh Iyer said.

The company expects the waiting period for the top-end vehicles to significantly reduce by up to 6-10 months depending on the model.

The waiting period for the AMG G63 is now reduced to 12-16 months from earlier 24-36 months. The waiting period for the GLS Maybach 600 is now reduced to 8 months for the single colour and 8-10 months for the dual-tone colour, a PTI report said.

About Mercedes-Benz AMG G63


The Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that develops 577 BHP power and 850 Nm torque. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel drive system. The car is capable of accelerating from 0-100km in 4.5 seconds. It has 50.8 cm (20-inch) AMG 10-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in titanium grey and with a high-sheen finish, with 275/50 R 20 tyres on 9.5 J x 20 ET35 wheels, spare wheel on tailgate with 265/50 R 20 tyre.

About Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach 600


Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 Ex-Showroom Price: Rs 3,30,00,000

The Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach 600 is Mercedes’ flagship luxury SUV. It is based on the GLS and gets the opulent Maybach treatment. It uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that makes 550 BHP power and 730 Nm torque and is paired with a 9-speed automatic. The car is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100km in 4.9 seconds. It measures 5205 mm in length, 2030 mm in width and 1838 mm in height. Also, its wheelbase is 3135 mm.

Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach 600 Ex-Showroom Price: Rs 2,92,00,000 (starting)    

Friday, February 10, 2023

February 10, 2023

Zhiji Automobile Launches its First Luxury SUV for $45,348

 Electric vehicle technologies continue to evolve, paving the way for different models to meet different needs. Recently, Chinese automaker SAIC launched its first electric sports utility vehicle under its Intelligence in Motion (IM) premium brand. This high-end offering, targeting premium users, has a price range of RMB 309,800-RMB 459,800 ($45,348-$67,305) and is scheduled for delivery in March. Here are the details…

Zhiji Automobile Launches its First Luxury SUV Model with Blind Orders Surpassing 10,000

Zhiji Automobile, the high-end EV brand jointly established by SAIC Motor, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and Alibaba Group, has officially launched its second model, the Zhiji LS7 SUV. The new car is positioned as a smart pure electric mid-to-large luxury SUV and comes in 6 versions, with prices ranging from 309,800 yuan to 459,800 yuan.



One of the standout features of the LS7 is its power capabilities, with the four-wheel drive version boasting a maximum power of 425kW and a peak torque of 725Nm. The rear-drive version is no slouch either, with a maximum power of 250kW and a peak torque of 475Nm. These impressive power figures translate to acceleration times of 4.5s and 6.5s respectively, from zero to 100 kilometers.

In terms of battery life, the LS7 comes with a 100kWh high-energy battery from a joint venture between CATL and SAIC, which can achieve a charging speed of 400 kilometers in just 26 minutes. This translates to a cruising range of 625km for the four-wheel drive model and 660km for the rear drive model.

The LS7 is also equipped with a range of intelligent hardware, including the NVIDIA OrinX ultra-high computing power intelligent driving chip, dual laser radar, and the Qualcomm 8155 intelligent cabin SoC chip. Zhiji Automobile believes that the level of intelligent driving is driven by data and algorithms, rather than just hardware.


Zhiji Automobile’s Navigation Assisted Driving (NOA) has already been launched in cities across the country, and NOA based on high-precision maps is set to begin public testing before the end of the year. The company also plans to replace high-precision maps with DDLD algorithms and complete the development of city navigation without high-precision maps by 2023.

Blind orders for the LS7 have already exceeded 10,000, which shows that the new SUV has a certain volume trend. The lowest price of the LS7, 309,800 yuan, has been further lowered compared to the first model, the Zhiji L7, which was officially launched in April 2022 with an official price of 368,800 yuan to 408,800 yuan. This pricing strategy may have an impact on Feifan Automobile, another mid-to-high-end pure electric brand under SAIC Motor.

The Zhiji LS7 is a highly capable and well-equipped electric SUV that is sure to turn heads in the industry. Its impressive power and battery life, combined with its advanced intelligence and navigation capabilities, make it a strong contender in the electric SUV market.



Tuesday, January 3, 2023

January 03, 2023

BUYING USED BALENO? THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND



From the time baleno has come in markt, it has a unique chram in the market with its top quality features and the never like road hatchback. Like with every Maruti, the crowd responded positively and with reason. The 84hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine is known for its peppy performance and superb fuelefficiency figures. Pair that with a spacious cabin, a 339-litre boot and high levels of equipment like HID headlamps and a touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay, a used Baleno could be all the car you need. As with its predecessor, you will enjoy driving the Baleno. A significant part is the K12 engine, which is fast enough for an exciting drive that doesn’t get you in trouble.



Cruising ability could have been better with an extra gear on the highway, but it’s something you get over. The highlight, however, is the ride quality. Even over our rough roads, the Baleno feels supple and comfy. Potholes and cuts in the roads are well taken care of as well. Now while the city performance is excellent, it does not feel as confident on the highway at speeds of over 100kph. Keep it within the triple-digit mark though, and there is nothing to worry about. And there isn’t much that goes wrong with these. However, there are a few things to watch out for before buying a used model.

The power window switches are prone to malfunctioning, so check these. A replacement is cheap, like all other parts, but it is always better if you find one with no issue. Another thing to look for is the clutch. Owners have reported the clutch setting to be slightly tricky, and as a result you could end up stalling the car. Owing to this, a lot of owners constantly tend to ride the clutch with their foot almost always on it in traffic; this results in premature wear.

A new clutch will cost Rs 6,000 If you prefer the convenience of an automatic, this is a good option. Look for an airbag warning sign on the instrument cluster and have a technician check it out. Lastly, while scouting for a model, try and find the top-spec Alpha trim, which will get you the HID headlamps and the touchscreen infotainment. The parts and service cost too is anything but expensive.

Monday, January 2, 2023

January 02, 2023

BMW AND JLR TOGETHER TO CREATE ELECTRIFIED CARS

   

This new alliance is one of many currently underway in the industry as manufacturers seek to make electrified vehicles more profitable. Most recently, Ford announced a $500m investment in EV start-up Rivian. No timeframe has been given for when the first fruits of the collaboration will be seen, but it’s likely to be in the next three to four years. Similarly, no volume expectations have been announced but given the need for economies of scale, it is set to be substantial. Both firms are ramping up their electrified line-ups. The announcement comes just weeks after Jaguar Land Rover reported a £3.6 billion (Rs 31,654 crore) loss over its financial year,

amid persistent rumours of a possible takeover by PSA Group, a deal which has yet to be confirmed. The collaboration, which includes joint investment in research and development, engineering and procurement, stems from both, the success of Jaguar’s electric I-Pace and BMW’s long-established expertise at having built EDUs in-house since it launched the i3 in 2013. BMW said the firms "share the same strategic vision of environmentally-friendly and future-oriented electric drive technologies.” Jaguar Land Rover and BMW will work together, at BMW's HQ in Munich, to develop the EDUs, with both developing systems to

   
 
“deliver the specific characteristics required for their respective range of products,” said JLR's statement. The EDUs will be made by JLR and BMW at their respective plants. For JLR, this will be the Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton, which was confirmed as the home of the firm’s global EDU production earlier this year. BMW has not yet disclosed where it will build its EDUs, but there have been widespread reports that the company is expanding its manufacturing base in Hams Hall, in the Midlands, which would mean it was in close proximity to JLR’s facility.


The financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Jaguar Land Rover said the move supports “the advancement of electrification technologies, a central part of the automotive industry’s transition to an ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared) future”. This is not the first meeting between Jaguar Land Rover and BMW. In 1994, BMW bought Land Rover but had limited success so sold it to Ford in 2000. Ford later sold the brand to Tata Motors in 2008.