Automakers focus on exports to increase sales, reduce inventory

Agencies
December 12, 2019

New Delhi, Dec 12: Even as Indian automobile industry's domestic sales performance continues to decline, increased shipments of BS-IV vehicles at attractive prices along with low base effect lifted auto exports to over 17% in November, the third straight month of rise in overseas shipments on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

Industry insiders and market watchers predict the trend to continue in the coming months to reduce the BS-IV inventory levels.

As per the data furnished by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the sector's exports across categories was higher by 17.60% at 411,470 units from 349,893 units shipped abroad in November of 2018.

In October, overall exports had grown by 2.72%.

On the other hand, SIAM data showed the sector's total sales declined by 12.05% to 17,92,415 units in November from 20,38,007 units sold during the corresponding month of the previous year.

At present, the domestic market suffers from an economic slowdown which is a culmination of several factors such as high GST tax rates, stagnant wages and a distressed farm sector.

"Exports have improved in both two-wheeler and passenger vehicle segment reporting positive traction in markets outside India. The two segments have shown growth of almost 20% each," said Sridhar V., Partner, Grant Thornton India LLP.

"This healthy traction in exports is a consequence of some of the OEM focus on turning India into a supply hub for markets other than India and have seen acceptability specifically in Middle East, Africa and SAARC regions. It could also be that many are still in BS-IV equivalent and a push in that market is seeing positive results."

According to Suman Chowdhury, President-ratings at Acuite Ratings and Research: "Many of the OEMs have set up manufacturing plants in India to cater to the demand in South Asian and African nations."

"With the significant slowdown in the domestic demand, the focus on exports has increased further. Hyundai, Nissan and Kia Motors have seen a jump in their PV exports in November though the volumes are still insignificant as compared to the domestic volumes."

Furthermore, the data disclosed that passenger vehicles' overseas sales during the month under review rose by 20.37% to 58,562 units this November, on a year-on-year basis.

In terms of passenger cars, exports edged higher by 13.60% to 39,390 units, while utility vehicle' overseas sales grew by 38.16% to 18,909 units.

Conversely, exports of the key indicator of economic activity -- commercial vehicles -- went down by 29.03% to 5,694 units.

The overseas sales of three-wheelers in November rose by 2.04% to 47,827 units.

In the case of two-wheelers, which include scooters, motorcycles and mopeds, exports stood higher by 21.57% to 299,147 units.

The period from April to November 2019 saw the overall automobile exports grow by 3.28%. During the period passenger vehicles and two wheelers exports grew by 5.36% and 6.50%, respectively.

"The growth in two-wheeler exports can be attributed to demand recovery in some key export destinations in African continent as well as Latin America following some stabilisation of macro-economic challenges," said Shamsher Dewan, Vice President, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA.

"Apart from two-wheelers, passenger vehicle exports have also grown by 5.3% during FY2020, supported by OEM specific initiative to leverage on manufacturing capacities available in India."

Besides, Dewan said that India's automobile exports are primarily concentrated on nearby markets and developing countries in Africa, Latin America and southeast Asia.

"Accordingly, it is not a reflection of demand recovery in major automobile markets of China, Western Europe etc," Dewan said.

Nonetheless, Fitch Ratings Associate Director Snehdeep Bohra told IANS: "The trend in November coincides with the fact that OEMs are trying to reduce the BS-IV inventory levels to a manageable limit. In this context they seem to have focused on exports."

"However, with some automakers expecting a stable domestic market from next year onwards this may not represent a sustained shift towards exports."

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Agencies
January 26,2020

New Delhi, Jan 26: Google on Sunday marked India's 71st Republic Day by dedicating a doodle illustrating the country's rich cultural heritage that permeates and unites the diverse nation.

From its world-famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal and India Gate, to the wide array of fauna such as its national bird (the Indian peafowl), to classical arts, textiles, and dances, the doodle, designed by Singapore-based artist Meroo Seth, brings together the rich cultural heritage of the country.

Republic Day marks the completion of India's transition towards becoming an independent republic after its constitution came into effect. The governing document had taken nearly three years of careful deliberation to finalise, and its eventual enactment was joyfully celebrated across the country.

While the Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, it came into effect on January 26 -- a day when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress back in 1929, as opposed to the Dominion status offered by the British Regime.

Festivities embody the essence of diversity found in one of the world's most populous nations, celebrated over a three-day period with cultural events displaying national pride.

Last year's doodle on Republic Day, designed by artist Reshidev RK, had featured Rashtrapati Bhavan in the background along with a display of the country's iconic monuments and heritage.

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Agencies
January 3,2020

Giving each and every app access to personal information stored on Android smartphones such as your contacts, call history, SMS and photos may put you in trouble as bad actors can easily use these access to spy on you, send spam messages and make calls anywhere at your expense or even sign you up for a premium "service", researchers from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky have warned.

But one can restrict access to such information as Android lets you configure app permissions. 

Giving an app any of these permissions generally means that from now on it can obtain information of this type and upload it to the Cloud without asking your explicit consent for whatever it intends to do with your data.

Therefore, security researchers recommend one should think twice before granting permissions to apps, especially if they are not needed for the app to work. 

For example, most games have no need to access your contacts or camera, messengers do not really need to know your location, and some trendy filter for the camera can probably survive without your call history, Kaspersky said. 

While decision to give permission is yours, the fewer access you hand out, the more intact your data will be.

Here's what you should know to protect your data.

SMS: An app with permission to send and receive SMS, MMS, and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) push messages, as well as view messages in the smartphone memory will be able to read all of your SMS correspondence, including messages with one-time codes for online banking and confirming transactions.

Using this permission, the app can also send spam messages in your name (and at your expense) to all your friends. Or sign you up for a premium "service." You can see and conrol which apps have these rights by going to the settings of your phone.

Calendar: With permission to view, delete, modify, and add events in the calendar, prying eyes can find out what you have done and what you are doing today and in the future. Spyware loves this permission.

Camera: Permission to access the camera is necessary for the app to take photos and record video. But apps with this permission can take a photo or record a video at any moment and without warning. Attackers armed with embarrassing images and other dirt on you can make life a misery, according to Kaspersky.

Contacts: With permission to read, change, and add contacts in your address book, and access the list of accounts registered in the smartphone, an app can send your entire address book to its server. Even legitimate services have been found to abuse this permission, never mind scammers and spammers, for whom it is a windfall.

This permission also grants access to the list of app accounts on the device, including Google, Facebook, and many other services.

Phone: Giving access to your phone means permission to view and modify call history, obtain your phone number, cellular network data, and the status of outgoing calls, add voicemail, access IP telephony services, view numbers being called with the ability to end the call or redirect it to another number and call any number.

This permission basically lets the app do anything it likes with voice communication. It can find out who you called and when or prevent you from making calls (to a particular number or in general) by constantly terminating calls. 

It can eavesdrop on your conversations or, of course, make calls anywhere at your expense, including to pay-through-the-nose numbers, Kaspersky warned.

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Agencies
July 11,2020

Citing the current dismal aviation scenario, Air India is terminating the services of trainee cabin crew and cabin crew by withdrawing the offer of employment of those who were under training.

As per sources, the new crew and trainee pilots might reduce contracts from five years to one year. Sources said Air India is terminating 1,200 crew and employees who are more than 55-yr-old including 190 trainee pilots.

In a letter reviewed by IANS, Air India has informed an applicant who had been selected as cabin crew in August 2019 subject to successful completion of training.

"On behalf of Air India we would like to thank you for the interest shown by you in joining our organization. However, in view of the current aviation scenario, it would not be possible for Air India to impart any further training to you for engaging your services," the company said.

"In view of the above reasons, which are beyond the control of the company, it has been decided to discontinue your training arrangements and dispense with the offer of engagement with immediate effect. The bank guarantee furnished by you at the time of joining is returned herewith," Air India told the cabin crew.

"Once again on behalf of Air India we thank you for your cooperation and trust that you will appreciate the circumstances under which we are constrained to discontinue the training arrangements," the carrier said.

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