Asia Bizz » Business

Nissan’s Infiniti brand opens headquarters in Hong Kong

Anita — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:29:43 +0000

The upscale infiniti brand of Nissan, unveiled its new global headquarters in Hong Kong on May 22, 2012. With the opening of the new headquarters the Japan based automaker aims to use the southern Chinese financial centre to grab a bigger share in the top car market.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn were seen looking on the Chinese lion dancers. Infiniti has become the first car maker to base itself in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is better known for its banking prowess and stock market.

Ghosn said that the company decided to move to the high end division to Hong Kong so that the staff could better observe the city’s luxury goods market. In the recent years, many of the foreign brands have flocked to the city for wealthy Chinese shoppers.

Infiniti has now a target to achieve a market share of 10% of the luxury car market, from the 3 percent now. Ghosn also brushed off that the Chinese economy is slowing down and insisted that the world’s biggest car market is still expanding. Infiniti will now join the rivals like Mercedes Benz and Cadillac, who are also aiming towards the wealthy Chinese population.

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Now Idea Cellular slashes its 3G tariffs up to 70 percent

Anita — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:55:24 +0000

After the Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel cut the rates of its 3G tariff, Aditya Birla Group’s Idea Cellular has also announced the slashed tariff of its 3G services by up to 70 percent. The move was expected when Airtel announced a heavy cut in the prices.

The pre-paid as well as the post paid customers of Idea will now have to pay 3 paise per 10 KB against the earlier rate of 10 paise per 10 KB. Idea in a statement said, “The new tariff plan aims to make internet usage within the reach of rural, mid-town customers at home and will help first time users to experience the benefits of 3G. Idea’s objective is to drive mobile internet usage for the mass market”.

Another Indian telecom operator Aircel, now offers unlimited 3G plans with tariffs starting from Rs. 8 per day. The telecom operators are now competing in terms of the 3G prices, over the Trai’s recent recommendations on spectrum auction.

The Trai has warned that the mobile bills could go up by 100 percent in some of the circles if the proposals are accepted. According to the industry experts, the new price war between the telecom operators might be a move to cash in the huge investments made by the operators.

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IBM to provide better customer care service solutions for Axis Bank

Anita — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:11:29 +0000

Technology firm, IBM has on May 21, 2012 said that it has been engaged by the Indian financial services firm Axis Bank. IBM has been engaged by the bank to provide more efficient customer care services to its customers.

However, the financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. IBM said in a statement that it will be managing the centre operations of the bank’s existing 58 regional asset centres to a single mortgage contact centre. The statement added that the contact centre will provide inbound voice and email communications from its bank customers.

The new contract will help Axis Bank to benefit from additional potential revenue generated from the cross selling or up selling services or applications at the consolidated mortgage customer care centre. Jairam Sridharan, the senior vice president of the bank said, “We evaluated various companies and found that IBM understood our requirements best and was able to demonstrate true value and a partnering approach that gave us the confidence to entrust this critical operation to them”.

At present the bank which is a part of the private sector, has more than 1,250 branches and 7,500 ATMs across the country.

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Bharti Airtel slashes mobile broadband rates on 3G network by 70 percent

Anita — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:51:45 +0000

Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel has on May 17, 2012 cut its mobile broadband rates on its 3G networks by up to 70 percent. The company released a statement which mentioned that the new rates will take effect from May 17, 2012 onwards.

The statement said, “Volume based browsing rate on 3G down from 10 paise per 10kb to 3 paise per 10 Kb. This will be applicable for 3G non-pack users with effect from May 17, 2012″. The new offer is or those users who have not yet subscribed for 3G services.

The 3G service provides high Internet speed of between 1 megabit per second to 2 mbps. The offer is available under any special offer who wants to use high speed internet as per their needs.

The telecom giant provides 3G services across 21 telecom circles. It has a direct presence in 13 telecom service area and in rest of the circles comes under the roaming agreement with other companies. Airtel has won 3G spectrum for 13 telecom service area in the year 2010 for about Rs. 12,000 crores. The statement has also mentioned that the special tariff for the pre-paid users begins at Rs. 10 and will allow them 30 minutes of internet access.

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Mahindra Retail opens maternity apparel store in India

Anita — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:19:39 +0000

Mahindra Group’s Mahindra Retail has now joined hands with popular maternity apparel maker, Destination Maternity Corporation to open a retail shop in Indian market. The two giants have come up with its first Destination Maternity store at the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon.

Brands like Motherhood Maternity, Destination Maternity and A Pea in the Pod will be retailed by the store. K Venkataraman, the CEO of Mahindra Retail Pvt Ltd while talking about the tie up said, “Destination Maternity has been the favoured and preferred brand of choice by pregnant women all over the world. We at Mahindra Retail have seen the gaps between the specific needs of expectant mothers and their desire to look smart. Hence our efforts, through this partnership with Destination Maternity, are to address the lacunae of smart maternity wear and provide mothers-to-be with a right blend of fashion and comfort.”

Venkataraman also added that they have developed an ethnic maternity brand known as Kriti Maternity with Destination Maternity. India is indeed considered as the most lucrative market and Mahindra Retail is trying its best to fill in the need for smart as well as comfortable maternity wear especially for the Indian mothers.

Since the year 2008, Motherhood Maternity has been retailing out of Mom & Me stores.

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A Raja granted bail by Delhi court in 2G spectrum case

sharjil s — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:15:58 +0000

A Delhi court in the 2G spectrum case has granted bail to former telecom minister A Raja on May 15, 2012. Raja has been granted bail after 15 months of his arrest.

Special CBI Judge OP Saini said, “The bail application is allowed”. The bail has been allowed on a bond of Rs. 20 lakh and also two sureties of the same amount.

But before the bail was granted, the court imposed certain conditions on Raja saying that he will not visit the state of Tamil Nadu without its prior permission and will also not go to the Department of Telecom (DoT). The 14 page bail order from the court has also mentioned that Raja will not try to influence any eye witnesses on bail.

The former Telecom minister was arrested on February 2, 2012. On hearing the news of Raja’s bail the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha reacted and said that the 2G scam case is getting diluted. But the DMK on the other hand welcomed the decision and its leader Tiruchi Siva said , “We welcome the court’s verdict and are hopeful that he will come out and prove his innocence”. Siva also said that Raja will take part in the activities of the party work as per the conditions laid by the court.

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Mercedes Benz to roll out City Bus in India

Agatha Vyland — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:43:37 +0000

German auto manufacturing giant Mercedes Benz, after introducing the long distance coaches, is now all set to bring in the brand new City Bus for the India market. The commuters can now look forward towards to a bump free comfortable ride.

Some of the comfort features of the new City Bus include, low access flat platform, rear engine and fully air conditioned. The bus has been assembled at the Chakan plant in Pune in the state of Maharashtra.

Mercedes is known for the manufacturing the best passengers busses with the applications that are suitable for different road conditions as well as requirements in different countries. Benz has been manufacturing busses since the early decades of the twentieth century.

What they made then, and what they are making today has a vast difference and has a commendable evolution in terms of passenger evolution. The body of the Mercedes Benz bus is different from the other buses. The side panel of the bus are pasted to the structural frame and are then painted. As it has a rear engine, the passenger compartment is completely devoid of noise and vibrations. Even the driver’s seat has several comfort adjustments as well as good damping for all kinds of surfaces.

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Prices of vegetables and fruits to increase due to transport protest

Anita — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:20:11 +0000

There are chances that the prices of the fruits and vegetables might increase in the month of June in Karnataka. The prices might increased of the transport associations proceed with their plan of indefinite strike so as to protest the decision of the government to install speed governors in commercial vehicles.

A threat of indefinite strike from June 1, has been given by the owners as well as the drivers of the commercial vehicles like the trucks, maxi cabs and taxis. The president of the All India Motor Transport Association, GR Shanmugappa revealed that more than 8.75 lakh taxis along with 2.75 lakh trucks across the state of Karnataka will be taking part in the strike.

Shanmugappa added that the order on the installation of speed governors will be applicable on the vehicles in the state as well as those entering the state. The president while talking on their disapproval on the speed governors said that the taxis, trucks and the vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits will be stopped in the state from June 1 onwards.

But the protestors have said that the decision would hamper their business. The Transporters Association has thus demanded that the state government must not stress on the installation of the speed governors.

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Harley Davidson dealership inaugurated in Kolkata

Samron Jude — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:38:14 +0000

American motorcycle manufacturer, Harley Davidson has on May 14, 2012 announced the opening of its new dealership in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal. With the new dealership, the company has entered in to the eastern India as a part of its strategic dealership expansion in India.

The new dealership, ‘Bengal Harley Davidson’ is the eight dealership in the country and is situated near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Anoop Prakash, the Managing director or Harley Davidson India said, “At Harley Davidson, we are proud to lead the way in developing a strong leisure riding culture in the country. The passion, enthusiasm and respect the brand has received from customers and enthusiasts in India have been truly amazing. Across the world, Harley Davidson dealerships are havens for all who seek to experience and share the camaraderie and joy of leisure riding.”

Prakash also mentioned the presence of Adarsh Tulshan, who is the principal owner of Bengal Harley Davidson, who is an automobile enthusiast and also an experienced dealer operator. Tulshan at the event said, “I am delighted to bring the Harley Davidson brand and culture to Kolkata.”

Harley Davidson owners from across the eastern region reached the city to celebrate the launch of the Bengal Harley Davidson.

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Ford India brings back midnight sales to boost car sales

Anita — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:25:27 +0000

In a desperate attempt to boost the sales in the Indian market, auto giant Ford, has brought forward the annual Midnight Sales events to the month of May. The proposition has been made so as to lure the customers and increase the sales, which has been dropping.

The Ford showrooms will be open till midnight and the sale will be conducted across 123 cities in the country. During the sales the company will be offering attractive gifts like DVD players, LED TVs and even attractive interest rates apart from assured gift on every purchase.

The car sales in India went down in recent months with the month of April being the slowest in the past ten months. The sales of the car went down due to many reasons like fluctuating interest rates, rising fuel prices, increase on excise duty post budget, which increased the prices of the vehicles.

Due to all these reasons, the customers refrained from buying new vehicles. Now the new strategy is expected to get back the customers to the showrooms by keeping them open till midnight. Past records have shown that by keeping the showrooms open till midnight helped the dealers in selling off the 15 day stock in just 2 days.