BMW introduces training programme for its customers

Gurgaon: BMW India has introduced the BMW Driver Training programme in India for BMW customers and prospects.
Initially, the BMW Driver Training programme will be conducted in Delhi NCR and Chennai.
BMW India dealerships in Delhi, Gurgaon and Chennai will identify BMW owners and prospective buyers who are interested in participating in the BMW Driver Training programme.
Dr Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW Driver Training is a signature training
programme to improve the driving skills, handling, reaction time and awareness of BMW customers. The aim was, and remains, to provide an opportunity to know the capabilities of a BMW better and experience the superior BMW technology. The BMW Driver Training programme is designed to help customers to overcome potential hazards in day-to-day driving.”
Drawing on the extensive experience and in-depth expertise, instructors take the customers through various driving techniques starting from basics such as the correct seating position and steering wheel posture to the appropriate steering technique, avoidance manoeuvres, emergency and target braking, dynamic lane changes and deliberately induced understeering or oversteering on bends.
“BMW Driver Training programme focuses on the challenges posed everyday on the road. It helps the driver to retain composure and remain clear headed, as well as apply the knowledge in critical situations. BMW Driver Training programme provides the ideal foundation for increasing the necessary self-confidence as well as enhancing the pleasure of everyday driving. With small groups and under the guidance of experienced instructors, the drivers get an excellent basis for developing a confident approach to driving.” Schaaf added.
Through the BMW Driver Training programme, drivers are able to get a better feel of how to react calmly in unexpected situations. By practising a range of safety exercises; and dynamic techniques in the BMW Driver Training programme, customers experience both Sheer Driving Pleasure and develop an expert control over the vehicle.

Hyundai Motors gets a new MD for India operations

Chennai: Country’s second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter, Hyundai Motors recently announced a change in its management with the appointment of Bo Shin Seo as the new Managing Director.
Prior to his elevation as MD, Seo was Executive Director Production -- a position that he held for the past two years.
Seo, took over from Han Woo Park who returned to Korea as Chief Financial Officer of Kia Motors.
“I look forward to taking Hyundai Motor India to newer heights and working closely with the extended
Hyundai family,” Seo said.
Speaking about his tenure in India Park said, “I have lived 9 years in India, my long association with HMIL has provided me with an immense amount of learning. I am confident that HMIL will go from strength to strength under Seo’s leadership,”
Seo is an engineer by training, in his distinguished career he has been Hyundai’s Production Head at its state-of-the-art Alabama plant in the USA.

Microsoft’s Cloud Computing to create over 2 million Jobs

New Delhi: According to a study conducted by IDC on behalf of Microsoft cloud computing will generate over 2 million jobs in the country by 2015. The findings predict that cloud will generate nearly 14 million new jobs worldwide in the same time.
More than 50 per cent of these jobs will be generated in the small and medium businesses. Further, more than two million jobs each will be generated in the ‘communications and media’ and manufacturing sectors, followed by banking at over 1.4 million. Pointing to the strong linkage between cloud, innovation and entrepreneurship, the study estimates that revenues from cloud innovation could reach $1.1 trillion per year by 2015. Combined with cloud efficiencies, this will drive significant organizational reinvestment and job growth.
Cloud computing is already changing how IT delivers economic value to countries, cities, industries, and businesses. IDC estimates that in 2011 alone, IT cloud services helped businesses around the world generate more than $600 billion in revenue and 1.5 million new jobs. Further, the spending on public cloud IT services in 2011 stood at $28 billion, while the total spending on IT products and services was $1.7 trillion.
The study also indicates that countries investing in key cloud infrastructure will experience greater job growth. The factors determining the number of jobs that might be created in a particular country include projected level of spending on IT, degree of automation, workforce size amongst others.
“For most organisations, cloud computing is a no-brainer when considering it enables massive return on investment and flexibility,” said John F Gantz, Chief Research Officer and Senior Vice President at IDC. “A common misperception is cloud computing is a job eliminator, but in truth it will be a job creator — a major one. And job growth will occur across continents and throughout organisations of all sizes because emerging markets, small cities and small businesses have the same access to cloud benefits as large enterprises or developed nations.”
Floris van Heist, GM, Business & Marketing, Microsoft Corp said, “Cloud computing poses a compelling opportunity for businesses and governments around the world. India is uniquely poised to leverage this opportunity with factors like an unparalleled ecosystem of developers, ISVs and SIs, no legacy IT systems and a high growth rate of economy contributing towards growth of cloud computing. Microsoft is playing a key role in the cloud space to help businesses realize their full potential and move Governments closer to their vision.”

Citibank Launches ‘Citibanking’

Mumbai: Citibank India recently announced the launch of ‘Citibanking’, a new retail banking proposition for its consumers. Citibanking will offer unprecedented global access, increased convenience, connectivity and personalisation for everyday banking needs.
It is designed for customers who are upwardly mobile and maintain a relationship value of a minimum Rs. 200,000 with the Bank.
Basis McKinsey India estimates, the emerging affluent segment in India constitutes of 16 million households with 37 per cent in the top 14 cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nagpur, Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh and Kochi. This segment primarily consists of salaried professionals and also includes 35-40 per cent of self employed individuals, with an annual income ranging from Rs. 300,000 to Rs. 1,500,000. The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9 per cent, while the revenue pool currently at Rs. 25,000 crore ($5 billion), is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16 per cent.
On the occasion of the launch of Citibanking, Anand Selva, Country Business Manager, Global Consumer Group, Citi India said, “We are delighted to launch a market first value proposition for emerging affluent consumers in India. The Citibanking offering, created through extensive research, demonstrates our commitment to address the increasingly changing needs of this segment. With this launch, we have personalized and customised offerings for our customers across the wealth continuum - starting with salaried accounts (Suvidha); the newly defined emerging affluent (Citibanking), the affluent (Citigold), the high net worth individuals (Citigold Select) and the ultra high net worth individuals (Citi Private Bank)”
“We are focused on executing our segment-led strategy to grow our retail banking franchise in India in the areas of cards, payment solutions, wealth management, mortgages and unsecured loans. We aim to set new benchmarks with strong value propositions with the launch of innovative products & services, to meet the aspirations of our customers”, concluded Anand.
Announcing the launch of Citibanking, Sandeep Bhalla, Head-Retail Banking, Citi India said; “We conducted an in-depth research to identify the specific banking needs of the emerging affluent, a segment that has significantly grown over the last decade. Consumers in this segment embrace technology in every aspect of their lives and are increasingly leading a global lifestyle. Waiting is no longer an option. They want a bank that values their time, offers world-class digital banking services and supports their global banking and investing needs. Citibanking seeks to deliver all of these and make banking convenient. It’s time to Rethink Banking.”
Citibanking was thoughtfully developed with customer feedback from an extensive survey of 8,000 emerging affluent individuals across seven Asia Pacific markets (India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea).