Samsung launches J3 for bike riders in India

Samsung India Electronics announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy J3 featuring the S bike mode, an industry-first dedicated feature for two-wheeler riders that is designed to enable responsible and tension free riding.

Once activated at the beginning of a ride, any caller trying to reach the Samsung Galaxy J3 user will be notified through an automated answering machine that the user is riding and cannot take calls so that the ride remains uninterrupted.

S bike mode was developed and built into the Galaxy J3 following extensive market research aimed to create innovations that are really meaningful and useful to people.

All the user needs to do is to switch on the S bike mode of Galaxy J3 before setting off on the ride, and the smart phone will automatically inform the caller that the user is currently riding a bike and is unable to take the call. The caller may choose to press 1 to express urgency to talk with the biker for which the biker will have to bring his bike to a halt in order to take the call.

"Samsung is constantly in the pursuit of meaningful innovations that make people's lives better. S bike mode is a result of that vision.

Android Auto comes to India

Android Auto, an infotainment platform that allows you to connect your Android smartphone to your car, has been launched in India. Developed by Google, Android Auto was introduced in 18 new countries of which India is one. This takes the total tally of countries where Android Auto has already been launched to 29.

Android Auto was launched alongside an update to the platform. The new update features an improved connection reliability between your smartphone and the car and an extensive  ability to browse the music on your phone.

Now that Android Auto is present in the country, it will be interesting to watch what carmakers go for it. Indian manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra already have plans to start incorporating Android Auto in their premium products like the XUV500. The Scorpio could also be part of M&M's plan to incorporate Android Auto in their cars.

With Android Auto present in 29 countries, car manufacturers will also become more receptive to bringing out cars fitted with Android Auto and its competitor, the Apple CarPlay.

Renault-Nissan to increase production at Chennai plant to meet increasing demands

Renault-Nissan alliance on Tuesday announced that they would hike the output of its Chennai plant by introducing a third shift to meet current demands and also prepare for their upcoming cars in the country.

"From this week, the plant will operate a new night shift on one of its two production lines, which will effectively increase overall annual capacity," Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL) said in a statement.

Currently, the Chennai plant has a capacity to about 4.8 lakh units per year at full and it will also continue to produce the export demand around the world like Nissan Sunny and Nissan Micra.

The company feels this will help to produce more vehicles so as to meet the growing demand for their recently launched Renault Kwid and also in order to prepare for Datsun's upcoming model in the next few months.

Till date a total of 12 all-new Nissan, Renault and Datsun models have been introduced to its two production lines catering for both domestic and international markets.

The facility crossed the one million unit production milestone in January this year with over 6 lakh units exported to 106 countries.

Tata Motors global sales rise 16 per cent in January

Tata Motors reported 16 per cent increase in its global sales, including that of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles, at 93,355 units in January.

The company had sold 80,499 units in January 2015, Tata Motors said in a statement.

In the passenger vehicles category, global sales stood at 56,616 units last month as against 49,821 units in January 2015, up 14 per cent.

Sales of luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover rose 25 per cent to 45,535 units last month as compared to 36,527 units in January 2015.

The company's sales of commercial vehicles in January was up 20 per cent to 36,739 units from 30,678 units a year ago.

India's first Indian Truck Driver Race

Tata Motors on Wednesday announced Season III of the T1 Prima  Truck Racing Championship 2016, scheduled to be held on March 20, 2016, at India's globally renowned F1 race track - the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Greater Noida.

In keeping with its commitment of making trucking aspirational for Indian drivers and bringing them to truck racing, Season III of T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship will also feature an Indian truck drivers race for the first time.

Like in the earlier seasons, the championship will continue to host experienced international drivers representing six teams, featuring 12 Tata Prima race trucks built for the purpose 

Indian Truck Drivers will be selected from a pool of truck drivers who are employed with Tata Motors key customers all over the country. In all, Tata Motors will have 12 Indian truck drivers selected to race at the T1 Prima Truck Racing Championship 2016.

Ashok Leyland begins regular operations at Ennore plant

Hinduja group flagship Ashok Leyland has resumed regular operations at its Ennore manufacturing plant near Chennai after production activity was halted at the facility due to heavy rains.

The company has started its regular operations from Monday onwards, Ashok Leyland said in a filing to the BSE.

"The company will be able to assess the insurance losses in due course, upon assessment done by the insurance company," it added.

Various other automobile firms, including, JK Tyres, Royal Enfield, Hyundai, Ford, Renault and had also suspended operations at their respective plants in and around Chennai due to flooding caused by the heaviest rainfall in the city in over a century.

Ashok Leyland shares today ended at Rs 90.10 apiece on the BSE, down 0.28 per cent from previous close.

I lose sleep over competition, says Uber CEO.

Competition and the drive to serve customers better gives sleepless nights to Travis Kalanick, co-founder and chief of one of the world's most valuable start-ups, Uber.

The young billionaire is also impressed by the innovation and creativity coming from the Indian start-up ecosystem.

"I lose sleep because of competition but that sleep I lose is similar to what the Honourable Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) was talking about. That sleep I lose is about how to serve people and cities better. So I like that it is hard, I like the challenge and we feel pretty good about how we are doing so far," Kalanick told PTI on the sidelines of the 'Start Up India' event here.

India is one of the largest markets for Uber globally. Last year, the US-based firm had announced that it will invest USD 1 billion in the country to improve operations, expand into newer cities and develop new products.