- At the launch of the Verito facelift, Mahindra has hinted at plans to launch a new smaller car based on the same platform. We believe this will be the sub-four meter Verito CS, which has been caught testing several times and is expected to be launched by end of this year.
- Toyota is once again the largest car maker in the world. The company lost numero uno position to GM last year, after the Japan tsunami crippled its production. Toyota has now outsold GM and VW by 3,00,000 units and 5,20,000 units respectively, by selling 4.9 million cars in the first half of 2012.
- Maruti Suzuki has for the first time launched the Swift Dzire in Middle-East. The company has appointed a dealer in Oman named, Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co LLC, to exclusively distribute the compact hatchback, earlier this month. However, we think that the supplies are going to be hit immediately, since the Manesar plant where the Swift Dzire is built is currently in lockout after labour riots.
- The lockout at the Maruti Manesar facility has now started impacting economy in the surrounding areas. Many component manufacturers have stopped production and also laid-off workers, similarly shop owners in the area are also under sever distress due to low business, after majority workers have fled after the riots.
- Lewis Hamilton won the round 11 of the 2012 Formula1 Grand Prix for McLaren, at Budapest in Hungary. Birthday boy and championship leader, Fernando Alonso, finished fifth, still maintaining the lead ahead of the Red Bull duo. Lotus F1 also made the most of the high down-force Hungaroring track, with Kimi Raikkonen finishing second ahead of teammate Romain Grosjean in third.
- An electric car maker in US has unveiled a new car called the Eggasus. The single-seater car is as weird as the name itself, with egg-like oval shape and bright colours. Unlike the Fisker and Tesla, this is purely for green commuting with a top-speed of 40kmph – the car will be launched in US by the end of this year.
- There are reports that the customs duty on certain quota of cars imported from Europe will be slashed to 10 per cent. The number is expected to be around 2.5 lakh units – which will the drastically cut prices of luxury cars, since the companies are currently paying 60 per cent duty.
- Paint specialists at BASF have conducted a research on automotive colour trends. While colours like white, black and silver still dominate in majority markets around the world, BASF reports says that natural colours like brown, green and blue will be in demand in the next five years.
- Researchers in the Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology are working on a nano-capsule technology that can make paint repair minor scratches on it. The coating will be scratch- and water-resistant, meaning that to get a gleaming car all you'll need is a little water. Too good to be true? We hope not.
- GM is developing a system that will alert drivers of the presence of pedestrians by connecting with the latter's smartphones over wi-fi. The technology is different because it will take only a second for the phones to connect with the new technology. The technology could be useful for bicycle messengers as well, and other people who are at increased risk of being hit by traffic.
The CarWale Daily Fuel is your quick daily dose of automotive news from India and around the world. If you want to know whatever's in the news but want it short and sweet, here's your solution.
