San Francisco  - National Semiconductor Corp, one of the world's largest manufacturers of mobile phone chips, will cut over 1,700 workers, or about a quarter of its work force, the company said Wednesday.

The layoffs will hit all areas of the company and will be carried out in two phases with 850 redundancies occurring immediately and 875 taking place over the coming months, the Silicon Valley-based company said.

The world's cheapest car, Nano is expected to hit roads from Sanand plant in Gujarat by end 2010, according to top officials of the company. Large scale construction activities for buildings and pre-engineering structures are going on at full swing at Sanad, near Ahmedabad.

Subhiksha Trading Services may face strict actions from the Employee Provident Fund Office (EPFO) as the firm failed to pay provident fund dues within the given 15 day deadline.

The EPFO threatened to attach the personal bank accounts of Subhiksha MD, R Subramanian and properties of the retail chain to recover dues worth Rs 1.76 crore.

Meanwhile, company's MD has expressed his desire to pay the dues against laws and the PF Commissioner may take further decision regarding it in few days.

Luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz India would recruit more number of professionals, increasing total headcount of workforce to four-fold, at the research and development centre in Bangalore in the next few years and will invest around Rs 150 crore with the help of partners to expand its business network in the country.

TVS Motors, the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer in India, has finally rolled out its new stylish and futuristic 'Scotty Streak' in the domestic market. The company's latest scooterette targets girls in 16 to 20 age group.

The newly introduced 90 cc Scotty Streak, comes with sharp head lamps, LED tail-lamps, broad anti-skid tyres, and external fuel fill at the rear.

The company claims that bike is fitted with LiTech engine, which makes it lighter than comparative models of other manufacturers.

Nokia, the world's largest cellphone maker, is presently in talks with leading music content providers and music companies for rolling out its virtual music stores in India.

Under the facility, consumers would be able to access and download music on their mobile phones and PCs.

Sources reported that Finnish mobile handset maker is currently joining hands with around 150 music companies including Universal Music, Warner Bros, Sony BMG and other national music leaders.

The company is likely to launch the service initially in India with a free one-year subscription on purchase of select Nokia handsets.