Maruti marches in August

Sales DURING AUGUST 2007 remained quite strong despite continuing worries about the impact of higher interest rates on demand for cars. Maruti dominated the sales cart with six of the 10 models coming from its stable. Although the new SX4 missed making it into the top 10, it did very well, selling 3,129 units during the month, just ahead of arch rival Honda City, which managed a respectable 3,095 units.

Meanwhile, the Mahindra Logan has done reasonably well with 2,252 units leaving showrooms during the month, just ahead of its main competitor the Tata Indigo that sold 2,192 units in the same period. As for GM's big little car, the Chevrolet Spark, it sold 1,962 units, which is about as many as the company can produce per month given the 2,000 units per month capacity at the carmaker's Halol plant.

VOLKSWAGEN IS planning to launch an all-new common-rail diesel engine in the Passat by mid-2008. VW is choosing common-rail over unit injector technology to meet future emission regulation demands.

TATA MOTORS is planning to launch a face-lifted version of the Indigo in early 2008. The upgraded model will sell alongside an all-new Indigo based on Tata's X1 platform that is expected to go on sale later in the year.

PEUGEOT IS once again eyeing the Indian market with a low-cost model that is under development. Peugeot is worried that the baggage left behind by the failed joint venture with Premier may pose a problem with Indian consumers.

HAS FIAT CEO Sergio Marchionne pulled off the industry deal of the decade? Impressed Fiat insiders say development costs for the smash hit 500 were more or less paid for by the sale of its Panda platform to Ford for the new Ka.

TOYOTA IS considering a new brand name for its low-cost car for developing countries, now confirmed for production in 2009.