Nissan Motor announced Wednesday it will launch global production of an all-electric van, the e-NV200, as early as next year in the Spanish city of Barcelona, creating 700 jobs.

The Japanese carmaker said it would invest 100 million euros ($126 million) in Spain to start production in its 2013 financial year at its Barcelona plant, which already makes the fuel-powered NV200.

With petrol prices hiked again today and fears remaining about price volatility of the deregulated fuel, auto manufacturers in the country are expecting a jump in demand for diesel-driven passenger vehicles.

Oil marketing companies, reeling under huge losses due to high crude price in the international market and the rupee depreciation, raised petrol prices today by Rs 7.50. But diesel prices, which are still regulated, were left untouched.

Company will produce Light Commercial Vehicles in five different locations in the state

Ashok Leyland Nissan, a JV between Hinduja Group's flagship company Ashok Leyland and Japanese auto major Nissan, today signed a MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to produce Light Commercial Vehicles in five different locations.

Total investment for the project will be Rs 4,150 crore. The locations include Hosur, Pillaipakkam, Ennore, Vellivoyalchavadi and Oragdam.

MumbaiItalian scooter and three-wheeler maker Piaggio has reintroduced the iconic scooter brand Vespa in India. In its new avatar, Vespa will be placed in the premium segment, a first in India, claims Piaggio. The scooter will be priced at R66,661, ex-showroom Maharashtra.

“Right now, there is no premium segment in the Indian scooter market, but we believe ther is a significant number of brand conscious young people who would like to make a statement,” said Ravi Chopra, chairman and managing director, Piaggio Vehicles. “Vespa is creating a premium segment by targetting those customers.”

MUMBAI: The Indian commercial vehicle market will double to 1.6 million units in next five years thanks to the increase in infrastructure spend, rapid urbanisation and entry of major multinational players in the country said Ernst & Young in its latest report on 'Mega trends shaping the Indian commercial vehicle market.'

The West Bengal government may move court against Hindustan Motors (HM) to seek compensation of Rs 200 crore on grounds that the sale of land at the company’s Uttarpara plant was a loss to the state exchequer.

Following a state vigilance inquiry into the alleged irregularities by the C K Birla Group automobile company in selling 314 acres of excess land at the plant in Hooghly district, the state government has put its demand for Rs 200 crore in compensation from the company.

Honda Motor will provide its core hybrid car technologies to a number of Chinese automakers, eyeing to boost sales in the world's largest car market, a report said Sunday.

As Honda's sales in China have long been sluggish, it aims to achieve a turnaround by aggressively pushing its hybrid vehicle technologies, the Japanese business daily Nikkei reported.

"We hope that other automakers will use our IMA technologies," one Honda executive told the business daily, referring to Honda's hybrid system.

New Delhi: After more than four years of wrangling, the government has cleared fuel mileage standards and labeling for new cars. The norms will force automobile manufacturers to put government certified fuel efficiency labels on each car they sell and improve efficiency of the cars they sell every year.

Soaring fuel costs and its expected scarce availability in the future has led utility vehicle market leader Mahindra & Mahindra to explore opportunities in the unconventional space powering new vehicles, such as sports utility vehicles (SUV) and mini cars.

The Mumbai-based company is simultaneously working on concepts such as full hybrids, battery-powered powertrains, bio-diesel, fuel-cells and hydrogen-powered engines.

Six new projects involving a total investment of Rs. 3,411 crore will come up at the Industrial Model Township (IMT) in Rohtak, while two projects, including the second plant of Asian Paints and a blending and bottling plant, will be inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on April 23.

Stating this here on Wednesday, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation managing director Rajeev Arora said Mr. Hooda will lay the foundation of the projects of Maruti Suzuki India, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Limited, Nippon Carbide, Sabarkantha Cooperative — a unit of Amul Dairy, Lakshmi Precision Screws and Aisin Automotive Haryana Private Limited.