Japanese auto major Toyota plans to increase local content of the Baleno and Vitara Brezza models, which it will receive from compatriot Suzuki for selling in India under their partnership to make them price-competitive, a senior company executive has said.
The likely changes to be brought in the two models “are still under work-in-progress and how the final products gets rolled out will be known over the course of time”, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Vice President Atsushi Oki said.
“Toyota will further boost their outlook on components localisation in support to ‘Make in India’ initiative, to achieve cost effectiveness,” he said, when asked how costly the two models under the Toyota badge would be when compared to what Maruti Suzuki is already selling in India.
When asked by when TKM will start selling Vitara Brezza and Baleno in India, he said the details of each model such as the schedule of the start of supply will be considered at a later stage.
In March this year, in continuation of their partnership discussions that kicked off in 2017, Suzuki agreed to supply premium hatchback Baleno and compact SUV Vitara Brezza to Toyota, while Toyota will supply Corolla to Suzuki.
The two companies agreed last week to expand the scope of their collaboration and discuss new joint projects in the fields of technological development, vehicle production, and market development.
Under the agreement, TKM would manufacture models developed by Suzuki for sale in India through their respective brand networks.
Tech Mahindra Foundation trained over 50,000 jobless youth through over 100 Smart Vocational Training Centres, according to COO of Tech Mahindra Foundation Chetan Kapoor here on Saturday after launching a certificate course in logistics and supply chain management in association with CII Institute of Logistics.
The full-time course will be conducted under the aegis of Tech Mahindra IT & Logistics Academy, also under the CSR arm of Tech Mahindra Ltd. The academy has campuses in Visakhapatnam, New Delhi and Chandigarh. The last two are dedicated to courses in healthcare. The fourth one will be launched in Mumbai.
The training centres and academy works in the areas of education and employability through identified partner NGOs. As a part of employability, the foundation runs Smart Vocational Training Centres across 12 cities offering short-term vocational courses free of cost to the unemployed youth. Upon successful completion of the training, the youth are extended placement support in the open-market.
Kapoor said Tech Mahindra Smart Academy for IT & Logistics located at Tech Mahindra Campus here in July, 2017 offered courses with the intention to offer advanced courses in IT and logistics sector to unemployed youth. During the first year of operations, only courses related to IT sector were offered such as graphic and web Ddsign, 2D-animation and web development.
Certificates awarded
The students who completed training and internship in IT courses were awarded certificates by Harshavendra Soin, Global Function Head-(Support), Tech Mahindra Limited and G. Sambasiva Rao, president, AP Chamber of Commerce & Industry Federation. Global Function Head (Support) of Tech Mahindra Harshavendra Soin was the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Sambasiva Rao said a specialised full-time course in logistics and supply chain management would offer plenty of job opportunities in the port and logistics sector.
Among others, Gowri Shankar Maddala, Location Chair-Vizag, Tech Mahindra Limited, Sudheer Babu, Head of Operations-Hyderabad and Vizag, Tech Mahindra Foundation and Sai Sridhar from CII Institute of Logistics, Chennai.
Acer has unveiled new Nitro Series gaming desktop PCs and monitors that expand its Nitro product family, designed for outstanding casual gameplay at affordable prices. The new Acer Nitro 50 Series desktops and Nitro VG0 and RG0 Series monitors easily handle demanding processing and graphics requirements for both content creation and consumption.
Acer Nitro 50 Desktops
Acer created the Nitro 50 Series for those seeking the processing power and capabilities only a desktop PC can offer. These performance PCs are powered by up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, and equipped with up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPUs to deliver superior performance for graphic-intensive tasks including gaming.
They deliver stunning 4K resolution visuals and can support up to four displays[iii] simultaneously for immersive gameplay. With up to a 3TB HDD and a 512GB SSD, there’s no shortage of storage. They sport a handy wireless charging deck[iv] for keeping users’ Qi-enabled wireless devices powered up and ready to go. To top it off, the Nitro 50 series features striking and edgy armour-inspired housing with front-facing LED lighting that emits a sinister red glow.
Lastly, the Nitro 50 desktops optimize network speed for gaming, browsing, and streaming through Realtek Dragon LAN. For totally immersive entertainment or to transform the gaming experience into an eye-popping stereoscopic experience, just match the Nitro 50 desktop with an Acer Nitro VG0 or RG0 monitor.
Nitro VG0 and RG0 Series Monitors
These new IPS[v] monitors with AMD Radeon FreeSync1 satisfy gamers’ need for speed with a blazing fast response time of up to 1ms Visual Response Boost (VRB) for smooth gameplay without breaking the bank. The Acer Nitro VG0 series is available with 27-, 23.8- and 21.5-inch panels delivering true-to-life color, and resolutions of 4K UHD, WQHD or Full HD. The ultra-thin Acer Nitro RG0 series boasts a sleek .27-inch thin profile and is offered in 27- and 23.8-inch models. Both models feature sophisticated but functional design that have earned them 2018 Red Dot Design Awards.
Boasting AMD Radeon FreeSync, the new Nitro monitor’s frames sync with the graphics card’s frames to eliminate screen tearing and minimize lag, allowing for smooth gaming. Integrated Visual Response Boost (VRB) decreases blur in fast moving images to achieve the effect of a 1ms MPRT, along with up to 144 Hz refresh rates. Integrated 6-axis color adjustment lets gamers fine-tune color, hue and saturation to best suit the game at hand, while built-in black boost enables gamers to select from 11 black level options to optimize visual advantage and clearly spot enemies, duck for cover, or navigate curves on a race track.
The new Nitro RG0 series’ 1920x1080@75Hz resolution delivers excellent visual detail, and is perfect for 1080p Full HD gaming, multimedia, and productivity applications, including Blu-ray Disc console gaming and widescreen cinematic playback.
The IPS panels provide accurate views even at wide angles of up to 178 degrees horizontally and vertically. For optimum viewing angles, the monitors can tilt from –5 to 20 degrees [–5 to 15 degrees for RG0 series]. Meeting 72 percent of the NTSC standard and delivering a 250 cd/m2 brightness, Acer Nitro monitors produce vibrant colors and images. Two 2W stereo speakers4 deliver quality audio and HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort ports4 connect to a wide array of PCs to support powerful sound effects.
Integrated Acer Game Mode has eight pre-set display modes to optimize visuals depending on the type of content being displayed. Display modes include Action, Racing, Sport, User, Standard, ECO, Graphic and Movie. Settings are easily accessed through a hotkey or the On Screen Display (OSD) settings menu.
Acer VisionCare encompassing Flickerless, BlueLightShield, ComfyView and low-dimming technologies enhance viewing comfort during long gaming periods. Outfitted with a VESA mount, the monitors can be hung on a wall to free up desk space, leaving more room for game sticks, mice and more. In addition, a ZeroFrame design maximizes viewing area and supports near seamless multi-monitor setups.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Nitro 50 gaming desktops will be available in North America in July starting at $799; in EMEA in May starting at €999; and in China in July starting at ¥5,999.
The Acer Nitro VG0 gaming monitors will be available in North America in June starting at $129.99; in EMEA in May starting at €129; and in China in May starting at ¥999.
The Acer Nitro RG0 gaming monitors will be available in North America in July starting at $169.99; and in EMEA in May starting at €139.
Acer has announced its new Swift 5 notebook designed for users who want superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style. With a 15-inch display, the elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go. The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel Core processors and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.
“There’s been great feedback on Acer’s amazingly light 14-inch Swift 5, and we are now pushing the limits with the 15.6-inch model,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “We’ve kept the weight under the 1 kg mark by using ultra-narrow bezels and a marginally larger chassis.”
The Swift 5’s Full HD IPS1 touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm (0.23 inches), giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio to maximize the viewing experience. The Swift 5 features Acer Color Intelligence technology, which dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time, optimizing screen color and brightness without clipping or over saturation, while Acer BluelightShield technology allows adjusting of the screen’s blue-light emission over extended periods of use.
The Swift 5 is constructed with advanced materials including ultra-light magnesium-lithium alloys for the top and bottom cover, and magnesium-aluminum alloys for extra sturdiness on the palm rest area. Thanks to the LED backlit keyboard, users can work effectively on the go all day and even at night.
Powered by the latest Intel processors, the Acer Swift 5 offers an exceptionally fast and responsive experience with battery life that lasts through the workday. The Swift 5 features Intel Wireless-AC 9560 which offers 2x2 802.11ac wireless Gigabit performance that enhances streaming, sharing, conferencing, and gaming experiences.
Up to 1 TB of SSD storage and up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory keeps the system fast and responsive, while connectivity is provided through one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port (10 Gbit/s data transfer, supporting power delivery and display output), two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging functionality), an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The Swift 5 supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader, allowing users to log in to their accounts faster and more securely.
Pricing and Availability
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.
Acer has unveiled its new Predator Orion 5000 series gaming desktops, designed for gamers who require superior performance and an adaptable chassis for future expansion. The company also released the mid-range Predator Orion 3000 series gaming desktops, as well as an expanded collection of Predator accessories designed to support gamers as they tackle their mission of choice.
"Getting the specs right is just half the fight. Predator Orion desktops provide a well-rounded choice for gamers with a striking chassis, built-in airflow management, expandability, and award-winning software that brings everything together," said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer. "We're excited to add the new 5000 and 3000 series to the Predator Orion family, and together with the top-of-the-line Predator Orion 9000, Acer is providing a full lineup of gaming desktops that cater to a wide range of needs."
Predator Orion 5000 Series: Win the Battle
The new Predator Orion 5000 Series gaming desktops feature up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ 8700K processors paired with the latest Intel Z370 chipset1, up to 32 GB of Intel Optane memory for fast load times and improved responsiveness, and up to 2-way NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPUs in SLI1 so gamers can enjoy their favorite game titles at incredibly high screen resolutions, as well as premium VR experiences.
“The 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ 8700K is the best desktop gaming Intel has ever built, and when combined with the acceleration and responsiveness offered by Intel Optane memory, the result is incredible performance needed for the most demanding gaming experiences,” said Steve Long, Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group Sales and Marketing, Intel. “The close collaboration with Acer to bring Intel’s best-in-class performance to life is on full display with the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 Series gaming desktops.”
“Powered with the extreme gaming horsepower delivered by our GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs, the Predator Orion 5000 can run the most graphically-demanding games with ease,” said Kaustubh Sanghani, General Manager of PC Platforms at NVIDIA. “Gamers will appreciate Acer’s flexible configuration options ensuring they can play to win on GeForce GTX - the world’s largest gaming platform.”
The Predator Orion 5000’s chassis has a transparent side panel to show off its powerful internals and is EMI-compliant to protect users and peripherals from potential electromagnetic interference. Easy-open side panels allows users to quickly swap out components and cables during upgrades. The IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management design segments the system into different thermal zones and provides each sector with its own airflow tunnel to expel heat. A front mesh panel with dust filters allows the Predator Orion 5000 to inhale massive amounts of air while filtering out annoying dust. Additional features for core gamers include Killer LAN high-speed Ethernet, cradles for audio headsets, a carry-handle for portability and Acer’s signature Predator design for aggressive yet refined styling.
Predator Orion 3000 Series: Peak Performance and Style
With up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ processors, and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, the VR- ready Predator Orion 3000 supports 4K gameplay as gamers take aim at opponents on the battlefield with crystal clarity. Like the 5000 series, the Predator Orion 3000 can be configured with up to 32 GB of Intel Optane memory to increase responsiveness and load times, and up to 64 GB DDR4-2666 RAM to support lightning fast action while playing the latest titles.
The Predator Orion 3000 Series features the same attractive design language as its bigger brother, with a transparent EMI-compliant side panel1, RGB lighting, sleek lines, blue accents and built-in headset cradles. Excellent heat dissipation is achieved with a front-facing intake LED fan, mesh cover and rear exhaust for optimized air flow throughout the chassis.
Predator Gadgets and Accessories to Complete the Gaming Experience
Alongside the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 series gaming desktops, Acer has expanded its gaming gadget and accessory line to complete the gaming experience with consistent quality:
• Predator Cestus 510: a customizable high-performance gaming mouse with an precise optical sensor that supports up to 16,000 DPI
• Predator Gaming Chair: includes detachable cushions, superior ergonomics, and lumbar spine support to give players an edge on marathon gaming sessions
• Predator Hard Case: protects the most valuable assets with a hard-as-rock outer shell and customizable foam inserts that fit exactly around your computer
• Predator Aethon 500 extra-durable mechanical keyboard with a lifespan of 70 million strokes per key, customizable with 16.8 million colors
• Predator Mousepad series available in plastic or fabric finishes with dramatic cinematic landscapes to keep the player in the game
Pricing and Availability
The Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in July starting at $1,499; in EMEA in June starting at €1,699; and in China in June starting at ¥15,999.
The Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in October starting at $999; in EMEA in July starting at €1,299; and in China in July starting at ¥6,999.
Godrej Appliances, one of India`s leading players in the home appliances segment and a brand known for its expertise in refrigeration, announced the expansion of their chest freezer portfolio with the launch of ‘Freezer-Cooler Convert’ range. Currently, the chest freezer market in India is pegged at Rs. 1200 crores and is rapidly growing particularly in northern region of India.
The new product is based on the insight that retailers and shopkeepers use chest freezers not only for freezing frozen foods and ice cream but also for cooling beverages and dairy products. Thus, the Godrej hard top ‘Freezer-Cooler Convert’ gives its customers an option to convert from freezer to cooler and vice versa. The entire range of Godrej chest freezers is India’s most energy efficient, promising maximum cooling and 40% more power saving. With the use of refrigerants such as R290 and R600a, they are also India’s greenest chest freezers as the refrigerants have zero ozone depletion potential and minimal global warming potential.
Godrej chest freezers come loaded with a number of features for a powerful performance, such as D-cool technology resulting in faster freezing and faster pull-down time, superior insulation for greater cooling retention and a tropical compressor for optimal operations in high ambient temperatures. Additionally, the chest freezers are equipped with convenience features such as 360-degree rotation wheels for easy movement, lit interiors, and excellent drain design, as well as easy maintenance features such as ZOP technology for rust free operation and anti rodent body. The Godrej chest freezer range also comes with a glass top option.
Commenting on the launch, Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President – Godrej Appliances, said, “Ever since the launch of the first Indian refrigerator manufactured by us, 60 years ago, we have constantly been evolving to meet customer expectations becoming a popular choice in Indian households for frost free and direct cool refrigerators. Over the years we have developed a deep expertise in the domain of refrigeration and its adjacent spaces, offering India’s most energy efficient chest freezers and medical refrigerators with the highest holdover time. We have witnessed a good response to our chest freezers and will be strengthening this segment with a string of new launches in the coming months, targeting a 10% market share in the category.”
Rajinder Koul, Product Group Head – Chest Freezers, Godrej Appliances added, “Offering the finest deep-freezing experience, the products come with features that deliver best in class performance and convenience to the user, while being 100% Green and environment friendly. Based on user insights and domain expertise, we are proud to present the new Godrej Hard Top Freezer-Cooler convert, with maximum cooling and 40% more power- saving effectively translating to a saving of up to Rs. 5,000 annually on electricity bills. Additionally, the Godrej Chest Freezer portfolio provides rust free operation through ZOP technology and a 5-year warranty on its compressor.
Godrej chest freezers are backed by a solid Godrej Smartcare service promise. Godrej Smartcare offers the widest service network with more than 660 service centres, more than 4500 SmartBuddy technicians, 24 x7 call centre in 12 regigional languages and over 160 SmartMobile vans for one visit solutions amongst others advantages. Strong after sales service capabilities make a huge difference in this category given that bulk of the customers are businesses and any downtime can lead to food spoilage resulting in significant losses to them.
The new product portfolio has been launched in five different capacities of 100L, 200L, 300L, 400L, and 510L with hard top lids in single door and double door variants, priced between Rs. 17,000 – Rs. 36,000 and will be available throughout India.
Auto majors Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) on Friday said they have agreed to start discussion on new joint projects in the fields of technological development, vehicle production, and market development.
After having concluded a memorandum of understanding towards business partnership on February 6, 2017, Toyota and Suzuki have been pursuing concrete forms of cooperation and have announced the mutual supply of vehicles for the Indian market and other joint efforts. Meanwhile, the two companies have also been broadening the scope of their partnership considerations to include joint efforts related to production and market development, they said in a joint press statement.
Discussion topics
According to the statement, Denso Corporation and Toyota to provide Suzuki with technological support for a compact, ultra high-efficiency powertrain to be developed by Suzuki.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd. (TKM) to produce models developed by Suzuki for sale in India through each of the Toyota and Suzuki brand network.
Supply of models developed by Suzuki, including those to be produced by TKM (as mentioned above), from India to African and other markets by Toyota and Suzuki, employing each of the Toyota and Suzuki sales networks to sell such vehicles, and advancing cooperation in the domains of logistics and services.
Details related to the above are to be discussed going forward.
“Suzuki was the first (among Japanese companies) to enter India, and, together with the people of India, has been a presence for pulling forward India’s automotive society. Such represents the spirit of “Let’s do it” that I mentioned when announcing the conclusion of our memorandum of understanding on beginning concrete examinations for business partnership. Or, as I like to say, Suzuki is a company that puts into practice being “The Best in Town,” Akio Toyoda, President, Toyota said.
As members of Indian society, Toyota, along with Suzuki, will do its best to enhance freedom and fun in a future society of mobility and to make “Make in India” vehicles cherished in Africa and in many other countries around the world, he said.
“At the time we announced the partnership, I said: Under the leadership of President Akio Toyoda, Toyota was enthusiastic throughout our discussions regarding partnership sought by Suzuki, which was concerned about the development of advanced technologies. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation,” Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki said.
Immediately afterwards, Toyota arranged a series of intensive and meaningful discussions, he said.
“Now, we will receive support for the development of a compact, ultra high-efficiency powertrain that is vital to Suzuki, and we will focus our utmost efforts on development,” Suzuki added.
