For the quarter ended March, two-wheeler biggie Hero Honda Motors reported an estimate-surpassing 35 percent rise in its net profit! While its fourth quarter year-on-year net profit increased from 298.70 crore to Rs 402.17 crore; the net sales increased from Rs 2788.65 crore to Rs 3411.84 crore.

In fact, beating the overall two-wheeler industry growth rate of nearly 5 percent, Hero Honda - with about half of the two-wheeler market in India - has reported a yearly 13 percent increase in its sales volumes during the quarter.

The very first owner of Tata Nano in Vadodara will be the 96-year old, first woman photojournalist of India - Homi Vyarawalla.

In rather interesting series of incidents, Vyarawalla, who had recently written a Rs 95,000 cheque for Tata's brand new wonder car, was told by officials from Tata Motors that she would be the first 'out-of-turn' Vadodara owner of the Nano, in July!

Hanover, Germany  - A plug and socket which companies hope will become standard throughout Europe to recharge battery-powered cars was unveiled Monday at the Hanover Fair in Germany.

The plug shown to reporters by German electricity company RWE is blue, about as big as a fist and has seven pins. The 400-volt connector is intended to replace the current wide variety of household plugs used to recharge electric cars.

The Hanover Fair does not normally include any automotive products.

Ultra Motor Company, a leading electric cycle and electric scooter manufacturer, has finally launched its much awaited low speed scooter `Marathon Lite' in the Indian market.

The latest revealed vehicle comes with exciting new features like a 250w motor and 48V/20AH power packed battery, Magnetic Anti Theft Lock System, Spacious under seat storage option, Front Telescopic Suspension in Black, Yellow & Blue colour variants.

The latest scooter gives a maximum speed of 25 km per hour and covers a distance of 70 km with single charge. The company has fixed price tag of Rs. 25,850/- .

Ashok Minda Group, Country’s leading auto component manufacturer, has plans to set up a new manufacturing facility in Uzbekistan with an initial investment of $25 million.

Sources reported that the raw material for the proposed Uzbekistan plant would be shipped from India to control input costs as key inputs like steel and plastic cost, which is available lower cost in India compared to abroad.