There is no stopping the Maruti Suzuki juggernaut. India’s largest carmaker continues to grow strong and healthy while other carmakers start to plateau, posting a sales rise of 13 percent in the domestic market in the month of May. The big push has come from compact cars like the Alto and Wagon R, the Ciaz sedan and Ertiga MPV. In May, Maruti sold 1.02 lakh cars in the domestic market, a 13 percent rise compared to 90,560 units in May 2014. The compact Hatchback segment has been underperforming in the past year for Maruti but signs of a turnaround are evident. Sales of the Alto and Wagon R series are up 20.6 percent in May, negating the 5.7 dip in sales in the premium hatchback segment. The Ciaz has settled into a 5,000 unit run every month. In May 5012 units of the Ciaz were sold, taking its cumulative total to 42,825 units since launch in October 2014. The niche position that the Ertiga enjoys, not too expensive yet not too budget, helps it continue to attract buyers. Over 5,500 units of the Ertiga were sold last month. It is already turning out to be a good year for Maruti. This month, the Celerio diesel will be introduced, followed by the S-Cross and YRA hatchback, all with the potential of being big number churners for the company. On the exports front, sales are up too. Maruti shipped 12,466 units last month, a growth of 20.3 percent from the 10,365 units shipped in May 2014. Courtesy: ZigWheels

Emerging markets investment guru Mark Mobius has invested in Entropy Innovations, a Mumbai-based startup that is challenging the conventional two-wheeler washing industry with a proprietary machine that is faster as well as cost-effective compared to the conventional method used across the country . Along with some other investors, Mobius, who is also the executive presi dent of global fund house Templeton''s emerging mar ket arm, picked up a stake in Entropy that runs Express Bike Wash, a two wheeler cleaning ven ture using automatic machines developed by the company''s founders. Entropy , started in 2013 by four IIT-IIM gradu ates, raised the money through ah! Ventures, a net work of investors including Templeton''s Mobius. Courtesy: The Times of India

US-based infotainment supplier Harman Industrial Industries Inc. (HII) has announced its acquisition of Bang & Olufsen Automotive. The deal amounting to USD 156 million (approximately Rs 995 crore), was first announced in March, and Harman said that the amount to be paid would include the unit and technology license fees. Harman will also be expected to pay annual fees of at least USD 1.82 million (approximately Rs 11.62 crores), for exclusive use of Bang & Olufsen and B&O Play stereo technology in car audio systems for over 20 years. Harman said that it will market the B&O products to makers of high-end cars and target the B&O Play to the mass luxury omega replica market. Harman Kardon is credited with creating the high-fidelity audio system market. Harman owns a variety of brands like AKG, JBL, Mark Levinson and Infinity. Bang & Olufsen portfolio boasts important automotive clients like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Aston-Martin and BMW. This deal means that Harman gains the luxury client list and Bang & Olufsen gets to retain its brand name and sound systems. Courtesy: Autocar India

Cult bike maker Harley-Davidson has tied up with fashion portal Myntra to sell its casual merchandise through an exclusive online store. Launched today, the online store offers a range of casual outerwear, sportswear, denims and accessories, Harley-Davidson said in a statement. "Through this alliance, Harley-Davidson merchandise will now be easily accessible to over 12,000 pin codes in India," it added. Harley-Davidson merchandise and accessories are also offered through the brands dealership network across 17 locations in India. Harley-Davidson Sales and Dealer Development Director Rajiv Vohra said the alliance will help the company reach out to more customers across the country. Myntra ''s eCommerce Platform Head Prasad Kompalli said: "This alliance will help us cater to Harley-Davidson aficionados by enabling easy access to the brand''s lifestyle merchandise. Courtesy: Business Standard

NEW DELHI: In what could be construed as a positive verdict for the performance of Narendra Modi govt in its first year, close to 62 percent of auto industry believes that the new government will be able to bring more reforms that can boost auto industry going forward, an ETAuto survey revealed. The survey was conducted among the top auto industry leaders in which there were close to 500 respondents. Narendra Modi-led government took up office in May 2014 after winning a historic elections with a clear majority. Given the high promises and the clear mandate, the expectations expectedly were near about stratospheric from the new government from all corners of the country. Helped by global economic turnaround, fall in global crude oil price, visible reformatory steps and being able to communicate it through media, Modi has been able to uplift the sentiments of the auto industry. Only 17 percent of the respondents thought that Modi government has not met the expectation. Rest 83 percent were of the view that the government has somewhat or completely met their expectation. The prime minister has visited numerous countries in search of foreign funding and also to promote his pet initiative Make in India. One of the biggest promises by the government was to make doing business in India much easier by reducing red tapism. 37 percent company believe that the government has been able to do this to meet their expectations whereas 45 percent were of the opinion that the government has been able to reduce red tapism only slightly. The rest, however, dont see any results to this effect. According to the auto industry heads, the biggest plus point of this government from the business point of view is its ability to attract foreign investment into the country. A whooping 94 percent of the respondents thought that this government has been either good or excellent in attracting investments into the country.