NHTSA closes engine failure probe into 454,840 Nissan vehicles
An engine failure could result in a fire if internal components detached and damaged the engine block, creating a hole that allowed engine oil to reach hot surfaces, the U.S. auto safety authority said.
NHTSA said that a total of 1,878 incidents were reported, of which 12 resulted in either crash or a fire.
The probe included under its scope certain models of Nissan Rogue, Altima and luxury vehicles, Infiniti's QX50 and QX55, the NHTSA report said.
Nissan's June recall fix involves a dealer inspection for metal debris in the engine oil pan.
If no debris is found, dealers will change the oil and carry out minor repairs based on engine type; if debris is found, the engine may need major repairs or replacement.
The Yokohama-based company also agreed to extend the vehicle warranty of the impacted vehicles to 10 years and 120,000 miles after the inspection.>
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘I am confident of strong EV ecosystem being built in Tamil Nadu'
As the MD of Renault India, Venkatram Mamillapalle has seen Tamil Nadu's Oragadam belt develop into an automotive manufacturing hub even as the Renault Nissan factory made cars for India and exported from there. In a chat with TOI, he discusses TN's next big leap into EVs, infrastructure, ecosystem, and the near future. Excerpts: Renault has launched the new Triber, and three new products are to be rolled out in the next two years. What is the capacity utilisation at the Oragadam plant? Will it increase? The Oragadam plant is still used by both the partners, Renault as well as Nissan. So, together, we are currently at about 50% utilization. The new Triber will help enhance our volumes for this year and in the future as well. And the Triber will be exported to all those countries where the old Triber had been going, and the first shipment should leave Ennore Port sometime in the first week of August. The first export shipment will be headed to South Africa. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Two years ago, Renault announced a 5,400 crore investment in its Indian business in general, and in product development in particular. The new products in the pipeline were set to include some EVs as well. When will we see electric vehicles rolling out of your Oragadam plant? When we announced the new investment in February 2023, we said we were going to launch four new products, two for Nissan, two for Renault. Later on, we said we are going to launch four new products, and we are still holding to that. Starting with the new Triber, we will launch four products in the next two years. We did say that we are also looking to launch an EV as early as possible because HEV and EV are arm's length technologies for us, and they are already available in Europe (whether they are ethanol, hybrids, or electric). We are still waiting for regulatory clarifications on a host of issues like CAFE policy, tax issues related to EVs, and the fact that HEVs currently don't have any tax benefits today. The carbon trading policy is also not clear, and the ecosystem that has to support an EV in the Indian market is not completely ready. How does Tamil Nadu's EV manufacturing ecosystem compare to that of other states? What more should it do to support automobile companies? I've been in touch with Guidance Tamil Nadu and the ministry of industries in TN. Recently, we had a positive discussion and they're encouraging investments in Tamil Nadu for new technologies. I'm sure there are many suppliers interested in building the EV ecosystem in TN. They're already in talks or discussions with the government, thanks to the government's ability and agility in supporting such investments. I admire the way Tamil Nadu is moving forward. The govt is going door-to-door to speak to suppliers about investing. I am confident they will build a strong EV ecosystem in Tamil Nadu. Have you spoken to the govt regarding getting into EV production? We've been speaking with them to support the development of a robust EV ecosystem—making it as wide and as deep as possible. Their efforts are focused on helping demand grow, which in turn allows EV manufacturers to justify their investments and sell their cars. These discussions have been very positively received. Will the presence of big-ticket EV investors like VinFast help catalyse the supplier ecosystem in TN? Everything acts as a catalyst to develop the ecosystem. It should be a group effort, along with strong govt support, which is already happening. The way the govt is promoting the state's subsidies and supportive programmes is helping. What can be done to ease the congestion at Chennai's ports? There are two ports in Chennai, and Renault operates out of the Ennore Port. No doubt, logistically, the state does need better port infrastructure. Ship visits to these ports should be more frequent. When demand increases, that will follow. Especially with our focus on Europe and Latin America, improvements in port infrastructure are necessary. One round of discussions has already taken place. We are waiting for further feedback following discussions with the commerce and industry ministry at the central level. These discussions were primarily about improving logistics from our ports towards Europe and expanding infrastructure as well.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Japan's big trade win with US on auto offers some cues for India, others
For India, the world's largest rice exporter, the recent US-Japan deal offers a somewhat cautionary tale on agri access in the context of its own negotiations with the Americans for a bilateral trade pact. At the same time, it is increasingly becoming clear that the Japanese negotiators managed to upstage their American counterparts by getting an immensely favourable deal on automobiles, even as they dangled the agri market access concessions offered by Japan and Tokyo's investment pledges as distraction the entire time. This could offer a template for others negotiating with the US for deals, including India. Under the US-Japan deal, which US President Donald Trump referred to as 'the biggest deal ever made', the Americans have agreed to impose 15 per cent reciprocal tariffs, compared to the 25 per cent the US had threatened earlier last week. While most of the focus of the US-Japan deal has been on how Washington DC managed to get market access for American agricultural products, including politically sensitive items such as rice, what the Japanese managed to wrangle out is the best possible deal for its auto sector in the given circumstances. According to the final deal, Japanese automakers would face a 15 per cent tariff now when entering the US market, much less than the global tariff on cars imposed by the US. The Big Three automakers in America – GM, Ford and Stellantis (essentially Chysler) – are now crying foul, because, as they see it, the Japanese now have a clear tariff advantage. After this deal, cars and car parts from Japan can get into the US after paying the 15 per cent tariff while American car makers, most of whom import a lot of cars and car parts fully assembled and manufactured in Canada and Mexico, are currently paying a 25 per cent tariff to import cars and parts into the US market from these two countries. For Japan, the country's automotive industry is a big contributor to its economy, representing about 10 per cent of the country's GDP and nearly 20 per cent of its manufacturing GDP. Automobiles are among Japan's biggest exports and the sector's performance is crucial for the country's overall economic health. And when it comes to Japan-US trade, where Tokyo has a substantial surplus, it is in the auto sector where Washington DC faces most of its trade deficit. The Japanese negotiators made some eight trips to Washington DC over the course of these last six months to get a deal that is favourable to them. While they did end up making a sizable commitment to investment in the US, alongside the concessions on the agri side involving rice and other farm products, the big prize really was auto. And that's where the Japanese negotiators have maxed out the outcomes, which could set the stage for more Toyotas and Hondas flowing into the American market. Interestingly, while the Americans have gone to town describing the deal as a big win, citing both the $550 billion investment pledge and agri market access as wins, the Japanese have maintained a studied silence in the aftermath of the deal, despite immense political pressure on the embattled Shigeru Ishiba government after the bruising electoral setback. Trump's tariff negotiations have largely been about leverage, given how the US President has used tariffs as a way of getting countries to the table on issues such as fentanyl inflows or how they deal with a military conflict. Revenue is yet another strong consideration for the Trump administration going forward, given that the six months that these tariffs have been in place, they have raised $100 billion so far, according to estimates attributed to the US Commerce department. The other stated objective is to bring manufacturing and jobs back to the US: how that plays out is entirely another story. What the Japan deal means goes beyond basic numbers, since there's a personal connotation here for Trump. For a man who is generally fickle with his views, tariffs are an issue where Trump's been uncharacteristically consistent. And Japan was at the centre of Trump's worldview in his early years when the American businessman was still formulating his views on policy matters such as trade. In 1987, long before he voiced any intention to run for public office, Trump took out a full-page newspaper ad warning that Japan was 'taking advantage' of the US, while pointing to the massive trade deficit between the two countries. Like most things with Trump, this was essentially a personal issue, which likely stemmed from the fact that the real estate developer had, just a few days prior to these ads, lost out on a bid for a grand piano in New York to the representative of a Japanese trading house. His views on tariffs have endured through these years, even though there is very little economic logic to the imposition of large scale tariffs by a country like America. Automakers from Japan, Trump said in that ad, were ripping America off. It's a full circle now, when, ironically, Japanese carmakers seem to be big beneficiaries under a new deal that Japan signed up for under Trump's watch. This is especially so, given the comparative advantage that the Japanese carmakers seem to have now. Over the last quarter of a century, the American cars industry has worked with policymakers to create an integrated supply chain with Canada and Mexico. Some parts of a car sold in the US are made in Canada, others in Mexico, and quite a lot are made in the US. A typical pickup truck made by the big three US auto majors – GM, Ford and Chrysler – moves back and forth across borders because of this integrated supply chain – sometimes up to seven times across the three borders. Now, with tariffs of 25 per cent on both countries, each time an auto part moves, it will get tariffed. The price for an F-150 pickup truck, according to industry estimates, could go up from $10,000-$12,000 for a car that retails at around $50,000. So, now, while the North American car industry will be at a disadvantage given the higher duties on Mexico and Canada, the Japanese car industry can bring in cars and car parts into the US at a much lower tariff. What's even more contradictory is the fact that it was Trump who replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement trade deal between the US, Canada, and Mexico with the new USMCA deal during his first term in 2018-19. Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico now flagrantly violate his own USMCA, and highlight his disregard for negotiated trade agreements. For New Delhi, which is currently engaged in extended negotiations with the US, the manner in which Japanese negotiators dangled multiple carrots, including the phased-out investment pledge and concessions on agri products, to win an evidently favourable deal on auto offers some lessons in negotiating. The India-UK trade deal too has some takeaways for the US deal. The UK deal showed that Indian negotiators are willing to offer concessions in areas such as agriculture and public procurement – contentious political issues where there is scope to give with factoring in some safeguards. With the US, talks have faced hurdles over agri products, with the Americans pushing for market access for genetically modified products such as soya and corn, along with broad-based access across sectors. The willingness to offer concessions on some issues that have traditionally heralded red-lines for India could mean more leeway to extract concessions on other areas of interest, like Japan managed for its auto sector. While the trade deal with the US is likely to be less focused on sectors and more focused on the headline number unlike the UK deal, India is likely to push for market access in labour-intensive sectors, while trying to ensure a significant tariff differential compared to its Asian peers. Now, if the final tariff deal offered to India by Washington DC is between 10 per cent and 15 per cent, the tariff points offered to the UK and Japan, New Delhi should have reasons to be satisfied. The tariff advantage starts to diminish if the tariff goes over 15 per cent and inches up closer to 20 per cent, as was offered by the US to Vietnam. A transhipment clause, of the kind slapped on Vietnam, could be a problem for India, given that a lot of Indian exports have inputs and intermediate goods in sectors such as pharma, engineering goods and electronics coming in from outside, including China. Also, clarity on the final American duty offer on China is a number that negotiators will be looking at, given the implicit assumption in New Delhi that the Trump administration will maintain a tariff differential. For Indian negotiators, other tariffs, over and above the US baseline tariffs of 10 per cent and the sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminium, is an added complication. Sectoral tariffs such as the 50 per cent on steel, aluminium and copper are already impacting India's exports to the US, and Trump's threat of steep tariffs on BRICS countries over them buying Russian oil is a concern. India has shown some degree of realism in opening up segments of imports that are in areas where the country has been weak or those goods are needed as intermediate goods. That is being seen as a positive step, given India's tariff structure currently has rigidities that include high tariffs on inputs and intermediate goods, which acts as a disadvantage to domestic players. While mobility of workers, which had been a bone of contention as India sought improved access for its services sector amid heightened sensitivities in a post-Brexit UK, both countries committed to some concessions. That could be the case in the negotiations with the US too. While continuing to maintain some regulatory carve-outs, such as in legal services, taxation, and national security, Indian negotiators would do well to secure gains in this area. With the UK, commitments gained by India on professional mobility were largely limited in scope, if one were to leave out the positives of the Double Contributions Convention. Expectations from a US deal could be higher on the Indian side. Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Nippon Paint launches n-Shield PPF in India, eyes car surface care leadership
For over 140 years, Nippon Paint has built its reputation on protecting surfaces through coatings. Now, in a calculated extension of that legacy, the Japanese major is taking the leap from paint protection to paint protection film. Its newly launched brand, n-Shield, marks a strategic and ambitious foray into the growing world of automotive surface care. At a packed event in New Delhi, the message from the company's top brass was clear: this is not just a product launch — it's the beginning of an entirely new business vertical. Nippon Paint has launched its n-SHIELD paint protection film (PPF) brand in India, aiming to formalise the country's fragmented vehicle surface care market. With India as the global hub, n-Shield offers films, coatings, and detailing products backed by warranties and trained applicators. The move comes at a time when India's market for Paint Protection Films (PPF) is still underpenetrated, fragmented, and dominated by unorganised players. Today, less than 2–3 per cent of new vehicles in India opt for PPF, compared to 20 per cent and rising in mature markets like China and the U.S. Most of what is available to Indian consumers comes from low-cost Chinese imports, with no warranty backing, uneven product quality, and application inconsistencies, the company noted. Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING VinFast VF e34 41.9 kWh 41.9 kWh 318 km 318 km ₹ 25 - 30 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched UPCOMING Hyundai Stargazer 1493 cc 1493 cc Multiple Multiple ₹ 10 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Tata Altroz Racer 1199 cc 1199 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 9.49 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING MG Baojun 510 1998 cc 1998 cc Diesel Diesel ₹ 11 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder 5204 cc 5204 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 3.54 Cr Compare View Offers Lamborghini Huracan STO 5204 cc 5204 cc Petrol Petrol ₹ 4.99 Cr Compare View Offers Nippon Paint wants to change that — and in doing so, institutionalise a segment that has remained informal and niche for far too long. 'Paints were always about protection and aesthetics. Now, we can protect paint itself — and that's where films come in," said Sharad Malhotra, President, Nippon Paint India Automotive Division. n-Shield is the outcome of four years of R&D, carried out across Japan, China, and India, with its India launch following an international debut in Thailand. From its new global business unit in Manesar, the company is placing India at the heart of this transformation — not just as a consumer base, but as a hub for product development, training, distribution, and future exports. Why now? India's moment in the PPF evolution The company's timing isn't coincidental. India's car market is maturing. Vehicle ownership is stretching beyond five years, buyers are more resale-conscious, and aesthetics now carry weight in both urban and semi-urban pockets. At the same time, the current PPF value chain is heavily fragmented — dominated by unbranded, inconsistent products, installed by poorly trained applicators. 'There's interest but no institution," said Rakesh Handoo, Director – Marketing & Surface Care. 'This is where Nippon brings structure, trust, and a brand promise." Also Read : Ceramic coating vs PPF: Which paint protection to choose for your car While countries like China are seeing high double-digit PPF penetration, India is just beginning to build awareness. But Nippon Paint isn't waiting for the market to mature. It wants to shape it — by creating not just a product line, but an entire surface care ecosystem. More than just a film: Inside the n-Shield portfolio At the core of n-Shield lies a portfolio that goes well beyond the conventional definition of paint protection. Developed with India's diverse climate and challenging road conditions in mind, the offering includes paint protection films in a variety of finishes — gloss, matte, coloured, and even custom design variants. These are aimed not just at shielding vehicle surfaces, but also offering a level of personalisation that reflects the growing sophistication of Indian car buyers. The range is complemented by headlamp protection films, designed to combat heat-related deterioration and the yellowing often caused by prolonged UV exposure — a recurring issue in India's high-radiation zones. In addition, there are dedicated films for sunroofs and windshields, intended to reduce chipping and retain visual clarity in regions where dust and gravel are part of everyday driving conditions. What rounds out the offering is a suite of ceramic coatings and detailing products — from shampoos and waxes to quick-detailing sprays — clearly aimed at customers who view vehicle upkeep as an extension of personal care. This is all supported by 5-, 7-, and 10-year warranty options, backed by a QR code-linked digital e-warranty system. This is a notable departure from the largely informal structure that governs the current PPF segment in India, where documentation and accountability have often been afterthoughts rather than standard practice. Features that aim to set a new benchmark What sets n-Shield apart in an increasingly crowded and loosely organised market is the depth of technical intent behind its development. Unlike many imported films that are simply rebadged and redistributed, n-Shield has been engineered by a company that knows coatings inside out. This understanding of surface chemistry, durability and weathering gives Nippon Paint an inherent advantage — resulting in films that combine hydrophobic behaviour, self-healing properties, and resistance to UV degradation, all tailored for India's uniquely harsh driving and climate conditions. Just as critical as product quality is application — an area where the PPF space in India continues to fall short. Recognizing this, Nippon Paint is creating a branded chain of n-Shield Studios that will deliver high quality and service on a consistent basis by geographies. These franchise outlets will be backed by specialized training academies where applicators learn the subtleties of film handling, cutting accuracy and bonding — abilities that have a direct impact on performance and satisfaction. The company says that paints were always about protection and aesthetics. Now, we can protect paint itself — and that's where films come in. (L-R) Rakesh Handoo, Director – Marketing & Surface Care and Sharad Malhotra, President, Nippon Paint India Automotive Division (Mohd Nasir for HT Auto) The company has already roped in 40 distributors, with plans to reach 100 cities by the end of 2024. This is not an opportunistic rollout. It reflects a clear intent to create an ecosystem where standardisation, warranty-backed assurance, and consumer trust are non-negotiables. For Nippon Paint, the ambition is not just to sell protective films — it is to build a credible and scalable category around them. Market positioning: Mainstream premium with structured value In a market where low-end Chinese films compete on price and international brands on aspiration, n-Shield aims to build a 'mainstream premium' identity. Full-body wraps will cost between ₹65,000 and ₹1.2 lakh, depending on the grade — affordable for premium hatchbacks and sedans, but backed by a brand name, service standard, and warranty. 'We are not here to be the cheapest. We're here to be trusted," said Handoo. He added, 'This is not just for luxury cars. This is for anyone who cares about how their car looks five years later." Interestingly, the company is not rushing into e-commerce or direct-to-consumer sales. Instead, it's building application-led touchpoints that offer both awareness and conversion — a model it believes is more sustainable in the long run. Also Read : Researchers develop car coating that can self-heal scratches in sunlight Cracking the PPF market: Organising what's been informal India's PPF space today mirrors what the car paint segment looked like two decades ago — fragmented, inconsistent, and devoid of brand equity. Nippon Paint sees a repeat opportunity — to organise, educate, and lead. The plan is to first capture aftermarket mindshare, and then move upstream into OEM partnerships. Work is already underway with select carmakers to co-develop films that can be applied at the dealer or even factory level — beginning with headlamp and roof films that demand higher adhesive stability and precision. 'OEMs are warming up slowly. They see the value but want reliable partners. That's what we intend to be," Malhotra explained. India as the global hub: Not just a market, but a mandate India is more than just a testing ground. It is now the global headquarters for Nippon's surface care business unit — responsible for product development, exports, and eventually, film manufacturing. Exports of aftermarket paints from India have already reached over 20 countries, and the same roadmap is being drawn for n-Shield. 'We're not exporting leftovers. We're exporting what we've developed in India, for the world," Handoo pointed out. Manufacturing of PPF films in India is also on the cards, though currently the films are being sourced from Japan. Localisation will depend on demand volumes and infrastructure viability. From paint provider to surface solutions partner Through n-Shield, Nippon Paint is recasting its identity in India's mobility ecosystem. No longer just a paint supplier to OEMs, it now wants to own a visible, high-trust space in the lives of vehicle owners. This is not about chasing volume alone. It's about building a repeatable, scalable, and trusted surface protection business — from the workshop floor to the customer's driveway. 'This is not a product extension. This is a new business," Malhotra summed up. 'And we're here to build it for the long term." Rethinking paint in an era of extended ownership While the spotlight was on paint protection films, Nippon Paint's core strength remains in coatings, and the company is equally focused on how automotive paint itself is evolving in the Indian context. As car ownership cycles get longer and consumers increasingly seek a 'new car feel" well into their vehicle's lifecycle, paint durability, colour consistency, and repainting quality are becoming key differentiators in the aftermarket. The Nippon n-Shield lineup will include PPFs, headlamp protecttion, sunroof and moonroof protection along with ceramic coatings (Mohd Nasir for HT Auto) According to Malhotra, traditional repainting in India still suffers from inconsistent quality and low consumer confidence, especially at smaller workshops. Nippon sees this as an opportunity to bring OEM-level finish standards into the aftermarket, not just through products, but also through application systems, trained technicians, and water-based technology. The company has already begun pilot programs with MasterCraft, its branded body and paint workshop format, to deliver controlled, high-quality repainting experiences. These outlets are also being considered as future touchpoints for n-Shield installations — creating a seamless surface care experience from paint to film. From colour matching to carbon neutrality In keeping with global sustainability goals, Nippon is also pushing the envelope in introducing low-VOC and water-based paints in the Indian market. While solvent-based solutions still dominate, especially in the two-wheeler aftermarket, the company believes that stricter regulations and rising consumer awareness will drive gradual migration toward environment-friendly formulations. Internally, there is already a clear mandate: any new formulation, whether for OE or aftermarket use, must be future-ready, meeting the highest global benchmarks for durability, environmental impact, and application safety. The leadership believes that paint — once seen as a purely aesthetic product — will increasingly be judged on its sustainability credentials, particularly as OEMs move toward greener manufacturing.'Paint is no longer just about colour — it's about contribution," said Malhotra. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date:
