Opens electronic components plant and R&D centre in Bangalore BANGALORE: German automotive electronics supplier, Continental AG, with 2007 global sales of euro 26.4 billion, will provide fuel pump sensors for the Tata Nano. Markus Distelhoff, Managing Director of Continental-India, told reporters here on Monday, "The details are being finalised; we believe small cars, affordable and with full functionality, will drive the market in the years ahead'. The company was also involved in the hybrid car from Mercedes, likely to be launched next year, he said.

Saving energy: The regional aircraft Modem Ark (MA)600 in Xi'an, China, on Sunday. XI'AN: The first China-made regional aircraft Modem Ark (MA)600 was completed on Sunday, marking a milestone in the nation's drive to be one of the world's leading providers of turboprop regional aircraft. The research and development of the 70-seat MA700 was also under way, head of the preparation group for the China Aviation Industry Group Corporation Lin Zuomin announced at the Xi'an Aircraft Industry(Group) Company Ltd.

Opens factory at Ambattur to produce 100 bikes daily CHENNAI: Tube Investments of India (TII), a part of the Rs. 9,582-crore Murugappa Group, has announced its foray into eBikes by kick-starting its factory at Ambattur here. M. M. Murugappan, Chairman, TII, on Thursday, inaugurated the eBikes factory. The factory would have a production capacity of 100 eBikes a day in the low and high-speed categories. These eBikes would be marketed under the aegis of the BSA brand. The market for eBikes is estimated at Rs. 450 crore. The industry is expected to double in a year's time.

Government should cut import duties on eco-friendly cars

Amara Raja Batteries announced its entry into the two-wheeler battery segment on Monday with the launch of Amaron Pro Bike Rider two-wheeler batteries, powered by VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) technology from Johnson Controls of the U.S., customised by Amara Raja's R&D for the Indian markets. Amaron brand ambassadors Narain Kartikeyan, Armaan Ebrahim and Aditya Patel were present on the occasion.

As more vehicles turn to CNG, the number of filling stations is proving to be inadequate Spiralling prices of crude oil are ringing alarm bells for the green fuel policy in the Capital. As more and more private vehicle owners switch to CNG and the government makes CNG mandatory for different categories of vehicles, the city is falling way short of the demand. Long queues at CNG filling stations mean one thing: the city needs an immediate augmentation of capacity. And it needs it fast.

New Transistor Uses A Material Known As Gallium Nitride Washington: Every household is filled with dozens of silicon-based electronics, whose main component is usually a silicon-based transistor. But now, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student's invention could replace this technology with a new generation of transistors that will not only cut energy consumption but also work under extreme conditions.

Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) President and CEO Masahiro Takedagawa, in an interview with Swaraj Baggonkar, shares the company's India strategy, including the launch of hybrid technology (a first on Indian roads), small cars and outlook on diesel technology, an area where the company is losing ground to other auto majors. The company launched its 8th generation Accord today in Mumbai. Honda lacks a diesel car in India, a market where more than 40 per cent of vehicles sold run on the fuel. Comment.

German carmaker Volkswagen and Japan's Sanyo Electric Co will jointly develop a lithium-ion bat tery to be used in hybrid and electric cars, the Nikkei Financial Daily reported on Sunday. Volkswagen will aim to start importing and using the battery in its hybrid and electric cars by 2012, the Nikkei said. Sanyo makes nickel-hydrogen batteries that can be recharged repeatedly and Volkswagen and subsidiary Audi AG in the Volkswagen Group's first hybrid model to be rolled out as early as next year will use the batteries.

A s part of its environment policy and in a bid to reduce carbon footprint, the Force India Formula One team on Friday announced its part nership with Vectrix UK Ltd, producers of the world's first high-performance, zero emission, electric motorcycle. Vectrix will supply the team two Force India-branded electric maxiscooters to use at races, tests and at its Silverstone factory. The pioneering bikes run exclusively on battery power, which is recharged by plugging the onboard charger into any standard electrical outlet.