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Hyundai to Export Made-in-India i20 As Part of Made-in-India Campaign

In a bid to help promote the Make-in-India campaign, Hyundai recently commenced overseas exports of its premium hatchback, the i20. The cars, all being manufactured in India is going to be exported to markets such as South Africa, Peru as well as Chile.

“The all-new i20 has surpassed customer expectations in India becoming one of the highest-selling models in its segment. We are delighted to mark our renewed commitment to ‘Make in India’ with the commencement of exports of the all-new i20 in the global markets.” “With 5.16 lakh exports since its first launch, the i20 is already a brand to reckon with even in the Global markets. We are confident that the advanced and hi-tech feature-packed all-new i20 will continue to drive customer delight” said SS Kim, who is the MD and CEO of Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

Also Read: Nissan to hire over 1000 employees after overwhelming response towards Magnite

Hyundai also stated that the start of exports to international markets showcases the brand’s commitment towards the government’s vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ wherein products are made in India, rather than being exported from external markets. The company has been exporting the i20 from India to various international markets since the hatchback’s first launch in 2007. Hyundai stated that the company has already exported over 5.16 lakh units of the older-generations i20 until November 2020, which is a massive feat.

For those unaware of the new i20, The new-generation Hyundai i20 comes with a completely new and refreshed design, updated interiors packed with modern features, equipment and connected technology coupled with a new set of more powerful and efficient engine options, optimised for BS6 norms.

Sales for the i20 have been quite good, since the car has over 35,000 bookings since it’s launch two months ago, which is an incredible fact, given that Covid has had a massive impact on the Indian automotive market and led to reduced sales.

What do you think, Is this a proud moment for India? Let us know in the comments.

Give this a watch: Our i20 Review

Ford Revamps EcoSport for 2021, Massive Changes Follow

Ford India launched the EcoSport a couple of years ago and, ever since it’s launch, the device has been one of their best sellers and captivated consumers with it’s urban yet rugged look, which also meant that one could slip off from the tarmac to some gravel and not have any worries. Today, the EcoSport is one of, if the best cars available in the segment. The segment’s new entrants do try to clash with the EcoSport and, in doing so, some get close. 

Today, Ford launched the 2021 Ford EcoSport and, in doing so, slashed the car’s pricing. The 2021 Ecosport now starts at just Rs 7.99 lakh, the petrol range of the car now starts Rs 20,000 lower than earlier. The top-spec Titanium+ automatic is also priced Rs 39,000 less than earlier, which is a surprising, yet welcome change. There is only one variant that sees a price hike – the Titanium spec – and that too by just Rs 1,000, which is really not a massive hike considering the Ecosport has received some major changes.

One point to note, Ford has discontinued three petrol variants – Titanium AT, Thunder MT and Titanium+ MT – from the EcoSport’s petrol spec. As for the diesel variants,  Ford has cancelled the Titanium+ and Thunder variants. 

The company has also cut prices of two variants of the diesel EcoSport – the Trend by Rs 35,000 and the top-spec S by Rs 24,000. Prices for the Ambiente and Titanium variant remain the same as before, which is a good thing.

In terms of the changes, Ford also added a sunroof to the mid-spec Titanium variant based on customer response, which is a good sign of the brand listening to the consumers and making necessary changes. The sunroof was earlier offered only on the Titanium+ and S variants only, which are the top-spec models.

Ford also mentions that the Titanium+ variant has made way for “an exciting update” coming soon on the EcoSport. This could likely be the EcoSport turbo-petrol variant, which could be a petrol head’s delight. This could also make the EcoSport a fun little SUV with a peppy Petrol engine. According to reports, Ford is set to use the Mahindra’s 130hp, 1.2-litre mStallion T-GDI engine for the exciting update. This engine is going to be launched in Q1 of 2021. 

Petrol Variant Prices

 

Variant New Pricing Previous Price Difference Amt
Ambiente Rs 7.99 lakhs Rs 8.19 lakhs -Rs 20k
Trend Rs 8.64 lakhs Rs 8.99 lakhs -Rs 35k  
Titanium Rs 9.79 lakhs Rs 9.78 lakhs +Rs 1k
S Rs 10.99 lakhs Rs 11.23 lakhs -Rs 24k
Titanium+AT Rs 11.19 lakhs Rs 11.58 lakhs -Rs 39k

Prices of Diesel Variants

Variants New Price Previous Price Difference Amt
Ambiente 8.69 lakhs 8.69 lakhs
Trend 9.14 lakhs 9.49 lakhs  -Rs 35k
Titanium 9.99 lakhs 9.99 lakhs
S 11.49 lakhs 11.73 lakhs -Rs 24k

Also Read: Mercedes Strikes Out-Lewis Hamilton Rejects New Deal

Audi launches 2021 Audi A4 in India for Rs 42.34 lakhs

Audi India today launched the Audi A4 2021 at a starting price of Rs 42.34 lakhs (Ex-Showroom, Delhi). This update comes with minor changes to the design and interiors for the Audi A4, which is Audi’s sedan offering in the 40 lakhs segment. This change is primarily to help the company take on the likes of Mercedes, Jaguar, Volvo and BMW.

With the facelifted 2021 Volvo S60 and the BMW long-wheelbase 3 series just around the corner, it will be interesting to see what the buyers prefer.

The A4 has been one of the best-selling luxury sedans in the Indian market and has always promised a sophisticated look and a peppy engine. The update builds on these promises and makes necessary changes in some areas. The most major change is that of a new engine since the A4 now sports a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 190 bhp of power and a peak torque of 320nm. This finally puts the 1.4-litre used in the previous version out of action. Diesel engines are however missing like always and, it seems this will be the case for most future Audi offerings.

When it comes to the styling aspect, there is a new and redesigned front grille which is more prominent than that of the previous-gen A4. This grille is flanked to its sides by stylish LED headlights. The hood (bonnet for the UK and India crowd) is sculpted in such a manner that it appears as though the car is in a stance of sorts, ready to leap into action. The sedan sits on 17-inch alloys and, towards the rear, it’s look is enhanced due to starry LED taillights.

The interior too sees a bit of change, with a new 10.1-inch main touchscreen display, paired with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit setup found on some of it’s more premium cars. The interiors feature premium quality materials and ooze a sense of spaciousness.

This is just one of the many launches that Audi has in store for 2021, including that of the E-tron, it’s electric SUV.

Do let us know what you think of the first launch of 2021 – the Audi A4 in the comments section below or tweet to us.

Nissan to Hire Over 1000 Employees Owing to Increased Demand for Magnite

Overwhelmed by the demands from consumers in regards to Nissan’s latest offering, the Nissan Magnite, the car manufacturer has decided to hire over one thousand employees to help cope with these growing demands. Additionally, over five hundred employees are being added to Nissan via the auto manufacturers partner companies.

These new employees will be part of the company’s sales and marketing workforce, which will greatly aid the car manufacturer in handling the high booking numbers for the company’s new entrant, the Nissan Magnite.

In the words of the company’s Managing Director (India Division), Rakesh Srivastava “We have received 32,800 bookings for the Magnite and over 1.8 lakh enquiries. The conversion rate is a high 17.8 percent, which is unheard of in the industry” which is a simple indication of the company’s confidence in regards to the Magnite.

Production for both domestic consumption and export markets would be taking place at Nissan’s Oragadam plant near Chennai. The plant which has a capacity of 4.8 lakh units per annum is jointly used by the Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi alliance. The Magnite is soon going to be exported to Indonesia and South Africa said Rakesh Srivastava.

For those unaware, Nissan has five products in the Indian market including the Redi-Go, Go, Go+, the Kicks and the Magnite. While the company has raised prices of all products, including the entry-level Magnite, the company plans to maintain the original prices of other Magnite variants announced on the 2nd of December, 2020, so as to ensure higher sales and competitive pricing.

Also Read: Kawasaki H2 and H2 SE Sports Bikes Launched in India

‘Mercedes Strikes Out’ Lewis Hamilton Reportedly Rejects 2021 Deal

Formula One F1 - Portuguese Grand Prix - Algarve International Circuit, Portimao, Portugal - October 25, 2020 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the race Pool via REUTERS/Jose Sena Goulao

It seems there is a bit of static at Mercedes headquarters, owing to reports of  Lewis Hamilton rejecting their proposal for the 2021 season. This evidently means that the seven-time World F1-champion will be out of a job, owing to the fact that his current deal ended on 1st of January, 2021. 

The 35-year old racer supposedly made four demands while discussing his future contract with Mercedes, according to reports by Motorsport. They include a salary hike to 35.5 million pounds per year, which would ensure Hamilton would be the highest-paid racer on the racing grid. 

To add to the list of demands, he also wanted a 10% share of Mercedes’ prize money, in case they win the world championship. A limited-edition, low production AMG One Car and, finally, a role that, in his words, “goes beyond that of being a driver and more than a mere testimonial” which, to our understanding is a hint of Hamilton’s desperation of being rather hands-on, wherein he can also aid the Silver Arrows’ approach towards an electric future. 

The chief of Mercedes, Totto Wolff has stated in the past that the extension of Hamilton’s contract is not a point of worry, but, if recent developments are to be believed, the demands of Hamilton are under strict scrutiny, owing to George Russell and his outstanding performance, when he replaced Hamilton for a brief period, during the Sakhir Grand Prix.

In terms of other developments, according to Motorsport.com, Hamilton rejected the proposal set by Daimler, which is the parent company of Mercedes. The world champion is yet to make any announcements and, his counterproposal, if the current one is actually void, is unknown. McLaren could possibly try to pitch an offer, but it seems rather unlikely that they would replace either Lando Norris or Daniel Riccardo, the latter being a new signing, in place of Carlos Sainz. 

The Chairman of Daimler, Ola Kallenius is quite keen on filling the vacant seat, so as to even consider shifting current Mercedes junior driver, George Russell in place of Hamilton considering his outstanding performance at Sakhir and experts believe that George is a World-champion in the making. 

It is a point to note that the rejection of Lewis’ current proposal is rather understandable owing to the changes taking place in the world of F1 and the impact that Covid-19 has had.

There are growing concerns in the World of Formula-One, due to the fact that, if Lewis’ counter-proposal is rejected, he might be sitting 2021 out, as other teams have all seen changes. This would be pretty sad, considering Hamilton is at the peak of his career and this minor derailment could lead to further implications.

What are you thoughts about this face off? Is Lewis Hamilton is fair with his demands? So let us know in the comments section below or tweet to us.

Also Read: Formula One’s First Race might be delayed- Here’s why

Pioneer brings to you Alexa in a visual avatar with DMH-Z6350BT

I won’t be exaggerating when I say ‘Alexa’ is everywhere. Yes, I’m talking about Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa and not your childhood crush.  After conquering our homes and smartphones, Amazon now wants to extend the ease and productivity of Alexa to our cars. Though Alexa in the car is not a new concept, in fact, we also did a video for Echo Auto last year. Watch the video below to understand how it works-

So if you noticed in the video, Echo Auto is an add-on accessory that works with your existing car entertainment system. Whilst what we reviewed, the Pioneer DMH-Z6350BT is a complete AV entertainment system with Alexa in-built. This means that there are additional no wires, setup or investment needed.

The DMH-Z6350BT comes with a vivid 6.8″ screen that not only offers Alexa but also first in segment Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Now isn’t that a good enough reason to invest in this system?

Apart from all the smart and connectivity options like Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and CarAVAssist. The DMH-Z6350BT offers a lot more in terms of sound quality – Hi-Res Audio, Master Sound Review, Dynamic Bass Enhancer and even a unique standalone Smart UI even when no smartphone is connected.

Here are the specs for all the geeks out there –

Type

2-DIN

Display

6.8″ WVGA

Preout

3 (4V)

Playback

USB

Video Format

H.264 / MPEG4 / DivX / JPEG / MKV / FLV / TS

Audio Format

WMA / MP3 / WAV / AAC / FLAC / DSD

AUX Input

Rear

USB Interface

Rear

Control for iPod / iPhone

Yes

Direct Control for Certain Android Phones

Yes

App Radio Mode (Ceased)

No

WebLink

No

SD / SDHC Memory Card Slot

No

Bluetooth

Yes

MIXTRAX

No

Dual Zone Audio / Video

No

Auto EQ

No

Advanced Sound Retriever

No

Time Alignment

Yes

Password Security

No

Back-Up Camera Ready

Yes

EQ

Yes

What’s Good

  • A plethora of Connectivity options
  • Different Screen Sizes to choose from
  • Extra-ordinary Sound Quality

What’s Not

  • Lack of hardware buttons to switch it on/off
  • Getting Alexa to work is a cumbersome process
  • Steep Pricing. A lower-priced model with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto makes more sense

So the question is should you spend INR 49,990 on a Car Entertainment System? Well, the answer is simple if your car entertainment system doesn’t offer features like Amazon Alexa, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and you need these features then go get it. And if you are satisfied with what you get pre-installed from your carmaker then you rather invest in a Woofer/Bass Tube or component speakers to make the audio experience even better.

Ducati starts its engines again. Scheduled to begin its Borgo Panigale factory on April 27

Ducati is set to gradually return to normal, with the steady resumption of production in its Borgo Panigale factory, scheduled to begin on Monday, April 27.

In compliance with the regulatory protocol for measures to combat and contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the workplace, Ducati temporarily suspended production in its Bologna plant on Friday 13 March to reorganize production schedules. Then came the decree that suspended all non-essential activities and therefore, despite the organization being ready, production did not restart. The gradual improvement in health conditions has allowed the government today to enable companies deemed strategic for the national economy, whose activity is mainly aimed at exports, and for which prolongation of the suspension would risk losing our country additional market shares, to resume production.

This is the first phase of return, which at the moment will only involve a part of the workers destined for the production lines. Workshop staff will begin first, then engine assembly workers and, from Tuesday 28 April, motorcycle assembly workers. As for employees, the use of smart working will remain mandatory, only those who are not in a position to carry out their work from home will be allowed to access the factory. All resources employed in the commercial, marketing, IT, personnel management, finance, purchasing and logistics areas will, therefore, be working remotely. The production has been reorganized, going from an eight-hour shift to two seven-hour shifts to allow the minimum number of people to be inside the plant at the same time and thus minimize possible contact. The canteen will be active but with one seat for every four chairs.

The technicians engaged in Research and Development activities who cannot do their work from home were already at work as allowed by the specific ATECO code: therefore the engineers of the engine test rooms, those who carry out motorcycle tests and those who carry out laboratory testing are all present at Borgo Panigale. All designers, project managers, and those in the calculation department will work remotely. This will ensure the deliveries of Ducati motorcycles and the development of new products.

All the rules of conduct in force in Ducati comply with the updated shared protocol of April 24, and for some points, they are even more restrictive. For example, inside the company, there is an absolute requirement to use masks, regardless of distancing. The entire Ducati protocol is the result of the work of a joint commission between the company and the RSU (unified worker representation body) that was formed on February 23, just two days after the discovery of the first infected person in Italy. Many of the measures inserted are the result of a careful analysis of the protocols used in the Chinese plants of the VW Group, in particular the FAW-VW of Chanchung, where production was suspended only for one week but where strict protection, distancing and sanitizing measures are still in force.

“We are ready to go, we have worked hard over the past few weeks to minimize any risk,” said Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO.  “Despite this, we will have to be extremely cautious and rigorous. The virus is still in circulation and we must, therefore, be careful to combat any possible form of transmission. This is the reason why all the people present in the factory will wear masks, we must protect the population from the presence of asymptomatic positives who, although in a very small percentage, are present today and will not be identified by the mandatory temperature test. Serological tests can help but they represent only a snapshot; they should be repeated every day before entry, and this is obviously extremely difficult. This is why masks and distancing are so important. We will obviously adapt the protocols to the evolution of the health situation and to the indications given by the State and the Emilia-Romagna Region. We have been in constant touch with President Bonaccini, whom I thank for the support, with councillor Colla and with commissioner Venturi to prepare us better for this eventuality. The two-wheel market is highly seasonal, and the stop to production in March and April has already had negative effects on sales. The Chinese market is already booming, sales in Korea and Japan are doing well. In Germany, dealers have been open for a week and we already have a major shortage of product. I really believe that this restart can allow us to reduce at least in part the negative effects of the lockdown that we were forced to respect, unfortunately at the worst time. We have a splendid order book: the brand-new Streetfighter V4 just launched has obtained unanimous approval from the specialized press and is the undisputed queen of the category. Unfortunately, production was halted just one month after the start. Then there are also many orders for the Multistrada 1260 S Grand Tour and for the Panigale V2. We also have the empty warehouses of the Multistrada 950 and Ducati Scrambler 1100 PRO. I am convinced that in this ‘phase two’, the bike will prove to be an extraordinary means of combining fun, passion and the possibility of having a vehicle with which to spend the weekend but also to move around quickly and safely in the city, without any problems of parking or social distancing. I want to thank all Ducati employees who have patiently and collaboratively managed this very anomalous phase and are supporting us in the management of the restart.”

Despite the reopening of the production lines, Ducati confirms that visits to the Museum, Factory and Fisica in Moto continue to be suspended until further notice, in addition to entry into the factory being prohibited for suppliers, dealers, external contracted companies, and external staff in general, unless proven and unavoidably required for the continuity of production activities, product development and general services.

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. – A Sole Shareholder Company – A Company subject to the Management and Coordination activities of AUDI AG
Founded in 1926, since 1946 Ducati has been manufacturing sport-inspired motorcycles characterised by high-performance Desmodromic engines, innovative design and cutting-edge technology. With its factory located in Bologna’s Borgo Panigale district. The model range covers several market segments with the following families: Diavel, XDiavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, SuperSport and Panigale. In 2015 Ducati presented the Ducati Scrambler: a new brand made of bikes, accessories and apparel that stands out for its creativity and self-expression.

In 2017, Ducati has presented the Panigale V4, the first Ducati production bike to mount a 4-cylinder engine derived directly from the Desmosedici GP engine. Ducati iconic motorcycles, together with an extensive range of bike accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries worldwide. In 2019 Ducati delivered 53,183 bikes to customers, consolidating its sales over the 50,000-bike threshold for the fifth year running. Ducati competes in both the World Superbike and MotoGP World Championships. In Superbike, Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers’ titles and 14 Riders’ titles. Ducati has been competing in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers’ and Riders’ titles in 2007.

Hero Electric announces special online offer from 17th April till 15th May on entire range of Electric Scooters

Hero Electric announces special online offer from 17th April till 15th May on entire range of Electric Scooters

Hero Electric today announced its online sales scheme on its entire range (excluding Flash lead-acid low-speed model). The scheme is limited to all online bookings made starting from 17 April till 15 May 2020. The booking amount is fixed at INR 2,999, irrespective of the model, which is non-refundable except if the national lockdown extends beyond June. Customers can take delivery of vehicles any time after the lockdown opens and up to June end.

All customers who book any Hero Electric scooter would avail an instant cash discount of INR 5,000 while customers of Glyde and e-Cycle would get a cash discount of INR 3,000. In addition to this,  a cash benefit of INR 1,000 will be offered to existing customers for reference purchase. This scheme is only available for bookings made online. The current portfolio of Electric scooters from Hero Electric includes Flash, Nyx, Optima, Photon, Flash, Dash and also the ER (Extended Range) variants along with Glyde and E-Cycle, which are also powered by high-quality lithium-ion batteries.

In the current scenario, while people maintain social distancing, the environment is slowly healing itself. The most significant change that India has seen in the environment is the improvement in air quality due to less dust and air pollution. In its endeavour of making the country greener with ‘Zero Pollution’ transportation, Hero Electric saw this opportunity to further urge people to switch to electric mobility to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment. Hero Electric as a brand that promotes eco-mobility and environment conservation wants to keep this trend alive. This special scheme comes from the brand is introduced to encourage people to adopt eco-friendly mobility options to keep the nature healthy.

Talking about the offerMr. Sohinder Gill, CEO, Hero Electric said, “Covid’s unfortunate crisis has revealed how quickly a microscopic virus can play havoc with the life and health of citizens whose lungs are already compromised due to air pollution. The few days of absence of polluting vehicles have also had a pleasing effect of clearer sky and nature bouncing back with rare birds chirping. I strongly believe that customers are now tending to switch to cleaner transportation, and we are adding a little sweetener through the “Online” offer to gently nudge them to do so. As pioneers of electric mobility in India, our mission is “No Emission” transportation and this exclusive scheme echoes our decision to keep our mother nature clean and green.”

Hero Electric has a customer base of 2.5 lacs and will continue to innovate in this space and lead electric mobility in the country. The company is doubling its capacity and is planning to take its current 600 touchpoints to 800 by end of 2020 and make the brand accessible even in the most interior parts of the country. The company has aggressive investment plans in the next three years to ramp up production capacity of its electric scooters to 5 lakh units annually, with a focus on low-speed scooters for last mile connectivity. Furthermore, the brand has also tied up with leading financial institutions to offer customers attractive financing options and flexible payment period and to give empowering its to better manage their cash flows and in turn sell more electric vehicles.

For more details on the scheme please follow the link and to buy please click here.

The 2020 Mission Winnow Ducati Team presented in Bologna #MotoGP

The historic Palazzo Re Enzo in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna (Italy), set the stage for the 2020 Mission Winnow Ducati Team Launch.

During the event, riders Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci, together with Ducati Motor Holding CEO Claudio Domenicali and Ducati Corse General Manager Luigi Dall’Igna, unveiled the new colours of the Desmosedici GP20 bikes that the Italian squad will field in the 2020 MotoGP World Championship.

The brand-new liveries, painted in bright red with a few details in black and chrome, will make their first official race appearance at the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2020 MotoGP season in Qatar, the next 8th March. The opening meeting for 2020 will take place as usual in the evening, and it will be the first of 20 races scheduled for this year.

A new exciting season is just about to begin. From 7th-9th February the Mission Winnow Ducati Team will make their first appearance out on track for 2020 at the Official MotoGP Test in Sepang, Malaysia.

Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Motor Holding CEO: “Racing is and has always been a fundamental part of our company, even in such a particularly complicated era where technology is drastically changing our surroundings. In order to succeed in this situation, it is necessary to keep investing in research and development, and racing is a crucial part of our commitment to this. If we sum the R&D done for the production line, for racing and the assets needed to produce new models, the global Ducati R&D is worth more than 10% of the revenue.” 

Our Panigale V4 machine has been profoundly renovated for 2020, and it wouldn’t have been born without the contribution of all the lessons that we have learned thanks to the competitions. An engine that features a counter-rotating crankshaft, a spine and slice traction control, an efficient aerodynamic fairing that includes aerofoils are just a few of the elements deriving from the skillful work done by Gigi and his crew in MotoGP. We are incredibly proud, not just because Ducati is the only Italian company, but also the only European company able to win races in MotoGP since the beginning of the Championship in 2002.

We are proud to represent an excellent territory, the Motor Valley, in the competitions. This is an incredible area that within a ray of 150 kilometers sees prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Dallara, Pagani and of course Ducati, that is situated just 15 minutes away from the centre of Bologna. This is what racing is for Ducati: an advanced technological incubator, a showcase for Italian intelligence and technology, and an incredible component of passion for all the Ducatisti.

I want to thank all our partners and sponsors and wish all my best to Andrea, Danilo and Gigi and the whole team. I wish to all of us a highly competitive season full of satisfaction”.

Luigi Dall’Igna, Ducati Corse General Manager“We already left the 2019 season behind, a year that saw us confirmed as runner-up in the riders’ standings for the third time in a row with Andrea. Dovizioso scored nine podiums and two incredible victories. At the same time, Danilo gave us incredible emotions with his victory in Mugello, which is a GP that we had won in the last three years. Still, we can’t say that we are completely satisfied as our ultimate goal remains the same: winning the championship title. 2020 will be even more intense and demanding with twenty races scheduled in the calendar, and our rivals will be even more competitive. That is why we all need to increase our commitment. For this reason, we have been working harder during the winter to offer to Andrea and Danilo a Desmosedici GP20 bike that will allow them to become leading contenders in all races and all conditions”.

Andrea Dovizioso (#04, Mission Winnow Ducati): “2019 was interesting and made us understand a few aspects that will help us to improve and grow in 2020. Last year we finished as runner-up for the third consecutive time behind Marc Màrquez, a rider that for sure made the difference last year, but we also did our best managing well our potential. Every year has its own story, and it is not easy to predict what will happen in 2020. Our goal is clear; we want to challenge for the title again. Both Ducati and I are working hard to be back stronger than ever before. Compared to last year, I expect to find more competitive rivals, but we have also grown a lot, and I am confident that we will be able to continue with our positive trend”.

Danilo Petrucci (#9, Mission Winnow Ducati): “2019 was positive for me, despite a few difficulties towards the end of the year. It was my best season in MotoGP in terms of results. I took my first win in Mugello in a fantastic race in front of my home crowd and all the Ducati fans. This result boosts my confidence and motivates me to improve even more this year. I know our rivals will be back stronger this year, but that counts for me too. I have been improving and growing each season, and this year I want to confirm my results and make further steps forward compared to last year”.

Nissan India launches 11th edition of its after sales service campaign ‘Happy with Nissan’. Starts from December 10 to December 20, 2019

Nissan launched the 11th edition of the ‘Happy with Nissan’ after sales service campaign in India. During the ‘Happy with Nissan’ campaign, Nissan and Datsun customers can avail attractive discounts and special offers across India. The campaign starts from December 10 to December 20, 2019.

‘Happy with Nissan’ campaign includes a 60-point free vehicle check-up, free car top wash, up to 30 percent discount on accessories, up to 20 percent discount on labour charges, and assured gifts. The campaign will see Nissan reach out to educate customers about the benefits of visiting authorised Nissan and Datsun service centers the use of genuine spare parts, oils and accessories to maximize the efficiency and durability of their cars.

Launching the campaign, Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. said, “’Happy with Nissan’ is testimony to our customer-centric approach and commitment towards a great ownership experience. Every time a customer chooses a Nissan or a Datsun car, it commences a long-lasting relationship with the brand. This relationship is based on our commitment to provide the best of service and satisfaction.

While taking the feedback from our customers over the years, ‘Happy with Nissan’ has become a robust mechanism for us to incorporate their feedback into our products and services.”

‘Happy with Nissan’ campaign offers an opportunity to Nissan and Datsun customers to upgrade their existing cars to Nissan KICKS – The Intelligent SUV and the most affordable automatic models of Datsun in the segment. Nissan is the only OEM in India
offering up to 24 Months and 40,000 kilometres of warranty on pre-owned cars bought under the Nissan Intelligent Choice (NIC) program. NIC customers can also avail an extended warranty for an additional 12 months and 20,000 KMs. NIC-certified vehicles go through a comprehensive 167-point quality check and inspection by technical experts.

Nissan India recently launched the new XE diesel variant of the KICKS – The Intelligent SUV. Nissan KICKS is available in four diesel variants, XE, XL, XV and XV Premium, ranging from INR 9.89 lakh to INR 13.69 lakh. The KICKS is also available in two dynamic petrol variants – XL at INR 9.55 lakh and the XV at INR 10.95 lakh.

Enhancing the convenience quotient, the CVT version of Datsun GO and GO+ was introduced recently at an attractive introductory price of INR 5.94 Lakh and INR 6.58 Lakh respectively. These are the first models offer the most affordable automatic offering in their respective segments with CVT (continuously variable transmission) – Nissan’s globally acclaimed transmission technology.

So if you are an existing Nissan or Datsun customer then do not forget to avail the ‘Happy with Nissan’ offers. You can also leave a comment or tweet to me @nikhilchawla if you have any queries or feedback about the offers.