Toyota pips General Motors, regains no. 1 crown globally

Toyota bounced back from safety recalls and natural disasters, selling 4.97 million vehicles globally in the first half of the year to retake its crown as the world's top automaker from General Motors Co.

The Japanese company sold about 300,000 more cars and trucks than GM did in the first half of the year, a lead large enough that it will be difficult for GM to catch Toyota in the final six months of 2012.

GM said it sold 4.67 million vehicles during the first half. Both companies released their numbers Wednesday.

For Toyota Motor Corp., the numbers underline a powerful rebound from a period of dismal sales, and the resilience of its brand as it gains traction in new markets such as China and Southeast Asia while clawing back lost market share in the U.S.

Both companies have said in the past that they don't care about the global sales leadership and are focusing on making profits. But the crown is a matter of corporate pride for both automakers.


GM doesn't plan to drop out of the race, though. The company's sales and market share grew in China, and Chevrolet, its largest brand, has seen record growth for seven straight quarters, spokesman Jim Cain said. GM sales should rise because 70 percent of its U.S. models will be refurbished or all-new in the next two years, said Cain.

"We are in the early days of the most aggressive rollout of new products in our history, which will help us press our advantage in the U.S. and China and grow profitably around the world," he said, declining to comment on whether the company expects to pass Toyota in the second half.

Assam violence: More people injured in overnight clashes, death toll rises to 41

Guwahati:  Fear and uncertainty continues to grip Assam with more people being injured in overnight firing. Seven days of ethnic clashes have claimed 41 lives and have left nearly two lakh villagers homeless.

There have been fresh clashes and cases of arson and more people have been injured in ethnic clashes between minority Bangladeshi immigrants and Bodos. At least three people were injured in firing in Baksa district late last night.

1. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to visit Kokrajhar today.  The Centre has asked the Assam government to catch the "ring leaders" who instigated violence in the state.
2. 13 columns of the Army have been deployed in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon. Idefinite curfew and shoot-at-sight orders are also in place in these four districts that are most affected by the violence.
3. The exodus of people from villages affected by the clashes continues. They are taking shelter at about 120 relief camps set up by the government.
4. Entire villages have emptied out after houses were burnt down. Buses, cars and schools were set afire too. In the last seven days since clashes began, nearly two lakh people have had to flee their homes. Over 10,000 people have reportedly escaped to neighbouring West Bengal.
5. The Army yesterday mobilised about 1000 troops to enforce peace in the areas. "The troops are also carrying out flag marches in these areas," officials said.
6. Trains were also targeted in the clashes and the entire North-East was cut off by rail for the last two days. But special trains will run today to help stranded passengers. The Army is helping to ensure that the tracks are clear. Union Home Secretary RK Singh said that 2,000 Central security personnel have been deputed to guard Guwahati-bound trains and railway tracks.
7. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi held a meeting of government officials in Guwahati yesterday to take stock of the situation. Assam's police chief J N Choudhury visited the violence-hit districts and met top security officers.
8. The situation had been tense since early July when two migrants were killed. Two more were killed on July 19, but police failed to identify the killers. On Friday last (July 20), four former Bodo Liberation Tigers men were killed. The Bodos retaliated by attacking migrants.
9. The BJP has alleged that illegal immigration from Bangladesh was responsible for ethnic and communal discord and has asked the government to seal the border with the neighbouring country.

Maruti runs out of Swift, DZire stocks as Manesar plant remains shut

Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said it has run out of stock of its two best-selling models, Swift and DZire, which are produced at the Manesar plant where it has declared lockout following violence last week.

The company has, however, not stopped bookings for these models.


"We do not have any stock of Swift and DZire at our factory. About 10,000 cars of both the models are on transit and that is the inventory at present," Maruti Suzuki India chief operating officer (marketing and sales) Mayank Pareek said.

When asked if Maruti would stop taking orders for these models, he said: "Our booking is going on and we will not stop it. We have informed the dealers and customers about the situation.

"We tell the customers that this is the current situation (about the production at Manesar) and if even after that, they want to book the car, then it shows the strength of the two brands."

Pareek was confident that customers will remain loyal to the company. "During the strikes in last year also, we did not stop booking. Our rivals are still offering discounts to attract customers, but we are receiving huge response to our cars without any scheme even in our crisis period."

He said at present Swift has a booking order of 55,000 units, while DZire has 65,000 bookings. Out of these, 80 per cent are for the diesel variants. There is no order backlog for SX4 and A-Star models, which are also produced at the Manesar plant.

Asked how long it could take to clear the backlog, Pareek said: "Assuming that production starts today, it will take us 4-6 months to clear the backlog depending upon the variants."

In Chennai, child dies after falling through hole in floor of bus

Chennai: In Chennai, a young child has died after falling onto the road through a hole in the floor of his school bus.

Angry eyewitnesses set the school bus on fire.

Kalmadi not allowed to attend Olympics opening ceremony

New Delhi: Suresh Kalmadi will not be allowed to attend the opening ceremony of the London Olympics and cannot leave the country till July 27.  Checking his plans, the Delhi High Court said that it "cannot remain a passive spectator." 

Mr Kalmadi is President of the Indian Olympics Association, but has agreed that the organisation will not be managed by him while he is being tried for corruption.  He spent close to a year in prison on corruption charges related to his term as the chairman of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games, held in India in 2010.

The court said today that it could not stop Mr Kalmadi from attending the Games in his individual capacity - but by banning him from travel till the opening ceremony takes place, that's ruled out for the Lok Sabha MP.  His lawyer had argued that he would not be representing the government at the Olympics.  


Mr Kalmadi has been suspended by his party, the Congress.  Sports Minister Ajay Maken had urged him to voluntarily skip the opening ceremony.  Mr Kalmadi refused and suggested that Mr Maken resign instead. He pointed out that he remains the President of the Asian Athletes' Association and is also an elected member of the council of the International Association of Athletes Federation.  

An organisation of former athletes, many of who have represented the country, had written to the International Olympic Committee to cancel his accreditation.  

The High Court's verdict is based in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that said Mr Kalmadi should not be allowed to represent India in any way at the Olympics because he is being tried for corruption, and public money cannot be spent on him.  The petitioner also said that his presence at the opening ceremony would violate the code of ethics of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

On July 13, a special CBI court had allowed Kalmadi to go to London from July 26 to August 13 for the 2012 London Olympics.

Mr Kalmadi and 10 others have been charge-sheeted by the CBI for hiring a Swiss firm at inflated prices for timing and scoring equipment for the Commonwealth Games.  This allegedly cost the government 90 crores in losses.