Kia expects 30 per cent increase in car sales in India next year

South Korean carmaker Kia is eyeing increased sales in India. The company expects sales to grow by 30 per cent in 2022 as the chip crisis in the auto market slowly eases. Towards the middle of the year, chips and semiconductors should become more available again and Kia India will be able to utilise the full capacity of its plant in India. To this end, the capacity of the Andhra Pradesh plant will be ramped up from the current 220,000 units (exports included) to 300,000 vehicles. The company is even planning to expand the existing plant to increase capacity by another 100,000 units. Cars and their components must obtain AIS (Automotive Industry Standards) certification in India before they can be used in the Indian market.

According to Kia India manager Tae-Jin Park, last year’s target figures had to be revised downwards due to the chip crisis. Nevertheless, with the situation easing and the launch of the new Kia Carens, a 25 to 30 per cent increase in sales should be possible this year, Park told the Economic Times of India. In the Indian car market, the Kia Carens is positioned between the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the market leader in minivans, the Toyota Innova. Insiders expect monthly sales of the Carens to be between 5,000 and 7,000 vehicles. Together with other Kia models, this could reach the targeted figures of 25,000 vehicles sold per month and the three-year target of 300,000 units annually.
Manager Park further said that the current production capacity is indeed 300,000 units but could be expanded to 400,000 units with automated manufacturing steps. Kia India will closely monitor the market and respond accordingly to higher demand, Park added. Moreover, Kia India is planning to launch an EV in the Indian market soon. The strategy for this will be announced in the first few months of 2022, Park said.
The AIS automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT). Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps.
We will be happy to advise you on AIS certification in India and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Extension of BIS Certification Deadline for SPV Inverters

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has extended the BIS certification deadline for certain products that are part of the „Solar Photovoltaics systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order 2017” until June 30th, 2022.

On September 5th, 2018 the Solar Photovoltaics systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order 2017” came into effect.
This publication includes regulations for the following product groups:

1. Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic PV Modules (IS 14286)
2. Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic PV Modules (IS 16077)
3. PV Modules (Si Wafer and Thin Film) (IS/IEC 61730 Part 1 & 2)
4. Power converters for use in Photovoltaic power system (IS 16221 PART 1 &2)
5. Utility Interconnected Photovoltaic Inverters (IS 16169)
6. Storage Battery (IS 16270)

The BIS certification deadline for products under points 4 and 5 was originally extended until December 31st, 2021. Due to more workload and yet unfinished guidelines, this deadline has now been extended again until June 30th, 2022.
Power converters for use in Photovoltaic power systems and utility interconnected photovoltaic inverters are subject to BIS-CRS certification. Sample products have to be tested in an accredited laboratory in India before they can be exported.
 
For more information on how India Certification could impact your business or specific information about BIS certification please visit our website and news section.
We are happy to support you with BIS Certification and are available at any time to answer any questions you may have. Write us an email or call us at +49-69-2713769261 (EU) or +1-773-654-2673 (US).
You can also view our free India Certification Brochure, which you can download as a PDF file here.
 

BIS search at Metro wholesale store in Mumbai uncovers large quantity of uncertified toys

An unannounced search by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has unearthed a substantial quantity of uncertified toys at a Metro ‘cash-and-carry’ wholesale store. A team of BIS Mumbai personnel conducted the raid on 13 January 2021 to search for fake ISI test seals as well as non-BIS certified toys. Both offences are violations of the quality control laws of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The Metro wholesale store is accused of selling electronic and non-electronic toys without the BIS certificate.

To protect the health and safety for children, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notification on 1 January 2021 that all toys offered for sale from that date must have a mandatory BIS certificate. Violation of this government quality control scheme is an offence punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a minimum fine of Rs 200,000 under the BIS Act, 2016. Manufacturers, traders and retailers are warned against manufacturing or selling toys without a BIS certificate.

Toys require BIS certification to import or market them in India. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. As the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be pleased to help you with an initial assessment. MPR International GmbH – India Certification supports you with a pending BIS certification and is also available at any time to answer any questions you may have.
Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

BMW India sales up 34 per cent to 8,876 vehicles in 2021

In early January 2022, German carmaker BMW reported a record 34 per cent growth in sales figures last year. The figure marks a high within the last decade and is equivalent to 8,876 vehicles sold. In the passenger car segment, the luxury carmaker sold 8,236 cars of the core BMW brand and 640 units of its offshoot Mini in 2021. In addition, BMW sold 5,191 motorbikes in the previous year. Speaking to Economic Times India, BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah said his company has achieved this growth in market share due to adaptation to the market, greater flexibility as well as forward planning in business operations. He highlighted the attractiveness of BMW’s product range to the Indian market and increased customer loyalty through outstanding customer service. The import and of automotive products and components to India requires in many cases an AIS certification, so that the conformity of the products with the applicable Indian safety and quality standards is given.

According to BMW India, more than 40 per cent of the vehicles sold were the X1, X3 and X5 SUVs produced in the country. New models like the M340i xDrive, X7 and 3 Series Gran Sedan were in such high demand and sold out, creating long waiting times. At 102.5 per cent, the BMW Motorcycle Division was able to record even higher year-on-year growth than the Motor Vehicle Division. The G 310 R and G 310 S models together accounted for more than 90 per cent of all motorbikes sold. Other popular models last year, according to BMW, were also the S 1000 RR, R 1250 GS / GSA, F 900 R / XR and the R 18. Even the C 400 GT scooter, which only went on sale in the last quarter of 2022, generated satisfactory sales figures, BMW adds.

AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India, while TAC stands for Type Approval Certificate. This kind of automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.