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Kia Motors is Flourishing in the SUV Segment of the Indian Market

One of the top automobile companies in the world is Kia Motors which is a South Korean company with many car models sold all over the planet in different categories and segments of the automobile market. Kia Motors for a long time was looking to enter the Indian market and to establish a firm market share in the vast automobile sector in this country. Kia Motors entered the Indian market in 2019 with its car Kia Seltos and has built a manufacturing plant in India in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It has sold over 100k car units in India since then and is considered one of the best performing car manufacturers in India over the last few years.

Target Market Segments for Kia Motors in India

In India, people from all economic and social backgrounds buy different types of cars at different price points. Kia has been smart about the type of cars they have introduced into the market and has picked a few market segments to focus on to capture market share and to increase sales and profits in India. Kia Motors is primarily focusing on two market segments which are the entry-level SUV market segment and mid SUV segment of the market. They have introduced two cars into the Indian market which are both parts of the SUV segment of the Indian market. The Kia Sonet and the Kia Seltos helps Kia Motors capture market share in the entry-level and mid-level segments of the SUV market in India.

Kia Motors – SUV Sales

September was a very good month for Kia Motors in the SUV segment of the Indian market. Kia sold over 9200 Kia Sonets in September and went ahead of competition like Hyundai venue and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. It also sold over 9000 units of Kia Seltos which gave it second place in terms of market share just behind Hyundai Creta. The popularity of these two cars is because they have great features and stylish designs. Even the future booking data for these two cars look impressive. Their multi-purpose premium vehicle called Carnival which was launched earlier initially got a poor response but the inquiries for this model also have picked up.

Production Capacity of Kia Motors in India

The Andhra Pradesh plant of Kia Motors has a capacity of churning out 3 lakh units of cars in one year with 3 shifts but only 2 lakh cars can be produced with 2 shifts. Because of COVID restrictions and the nature of this pandemic, the production has been hampered. There are delays because Kia Motors also has to depend on their suppliers and during the pandemic supply chain is hindered. Due to the high demand for Kia Seltos and Kia Sonet, the wait time for these vehicles can go up to one month after booking.

Kia Motors just entered the Indian market last year and though it is available in over 160 cities across India, it still has room to grow in this country. They have high expectations for the festive season this year for sales of their cars and the overall outlook for Kia Motors in India looks bullish.

Triumph Launches A Used Bike Program in India in October 2020

Triumph motorcycles is a large UK based Motorcycle Company that has a large presence in the motorcycle market in India. It has a range of motorcycles which it sells all over the world and also in India. Currently, it is a premium motorcycle seller in India and sells 13 products in different motorcycle categories across the country. They have, however, added a new type of business to their retail sales in India in light of the present situation. Triumph is now going to launch a used bikes program that will target first-time buyers to help the company tide this current situation.

COVID 19 Pandemic

2020 has been one of the most challenging for businesses across the world because of the Corona Virus Pandemic. Millions have contracted the virus, many have died and tens of millions across the world have either lost their jobs or have seen a substantial reduction in their wealth portfolio. The automobile industry, especially the premium automobile sector of the industry has seen degrowth due to the coronavirus outbreak. Triumph has seen their motorcycles being sold at a similar level as last year so far but this could change. The economic rebound is likely to take some time and so Triumph has introduced a used bike program in the meantime.

Launch of the Used Bike Programs

Currently, Triumph sells 13 types of motorcycles across India. They are now going to launch a used bike program by the end of October 2020 in just 3 dealerships across India. They have plans to increase this program to 10 dealership locations by December. They have launched this program because despite the COVID 19 prices, they want this year to be a busy calendar year and they want to achieve a target of 20-25% growth over last year in India.

How This Program Will Work

Triumph has sold a lot of bikes to Indian customers over the last few years. They will put up a scheme to buy back Triumph motorcycles from the public and then they will upgrade these bikes, fix them in such a way that they can be sold again. These bikes will then be ‘Triumph approved’ and will be sold to new customers as used bikes with warranty. When Triumph sells new bikes, it provides the customers with 2-year warranties for new motorcycles and the plan is to provide one year warranty for these used bikes. Customers who want to buy used bikes from Triumph can make inquires about these bikes through the dealer network.

Future Plans for Triumph in India

Triumph retails 13 Premier motorcycles in India and in the next year it also has plans to launch several new products, including the 650 cc Trident Motorcycle in India. It currently operates through a dealership network of 14 dealerships across India. It also has plans to add two more dealerships in India, probably one in the South and one in the East. The growth forecast for Triumph motorcycles in India is ambitious and they are conducting business in such a way that they are not letting the current pandemic situation deter them from their goals in India.

Simple Ways to Survive and Rebuild Your Business after COVID-19

Since coronavirus has become a full-blown pandemic, the unemployment rate has rapidly increased as businesses are forced to close their doors for the sake of public health. It has wreaked financial havoc across the world, leaving many small-business owners struggling in its wake.

No doubt, this is a stressful time mainly for small business entrepreneurs who have smaller coffers to sustain them. While the short-term outlook for start-ups varies as per the industry, it is vital to consider what recovery mode will look like once the economy begins to return to a state of normalcy.

But having an exit strategy after the pandemic will help you to be prepared to hit the ground running and recreate. In case, you are not so sure what your present and exit plan should be during and after COVID-19 situation, here are some ways to sustain and get your business back on the track.

Make a Backup Plan

Present-day, businesses are putting safeguards in place to ensure the security of their companies and employees the major precaution many business owners are taking includes creating an emergency preparedness plan. This plan includes major steps to protect employees, what to do if this outbreak occurs at your company, how your employees can contact you, and what will happen to company function if it is infected.

Communication with Employees

Communication is an important part of doing business. This time, your employees are likely concerned about their health and how they can continue working as more things. Whether you have a small team or a big team, try to be in constant touch with them- via. Email, text, or call.

Connect on a Personal Level

This is a perfect time to encourage your community to follow, like, and share information about your business and to leave reviews on Google and Yelp. Utilize this time to connect on a personal level, so when things get back to normal, they feel that connection and become a lifelong customer.

This period is also great to focus on customer service like handwritten letters, manual and personalized emails instead of automatic flows, and tries to respond to more comments on social media. Anything to help make these customers feel appreciated for still helping you when everyone is struggling.

Stay Prepared for the Next Crisis

While the COVID pandemic may seem like an once-in-a-lifetime event, the reality is that an emergency can come along to disrupt your small businesses at any time. Use what you have learned during this current situation for them to prepare for the next crisis, it would help you to insulate your business from future shocks.

For example, building up liquid savings may be a priority for your business if you had little or nothing aside before the coronavirus begins.

Consider Whether You Need Funding to Recover

Unless you had a large amount of cash on hand going into the pandemic, this is likely that you may need some working capital to start your business operations coming out of it.

When it comes to financing your small business, there are various options to consider. If you are considering financing to help rebuild, keep in mind that borrowing may be competitive, as leaders want some reassurance that loans can be rapid. Review your business and personal credit scores and also your business and personal finances to gauge how likely you are to get approved for funding.

Bottom Line

The COVID pandemic has impacted businesses and industries of all sizes. The lessons we are taking from the crisis in the global sense- supporting each other, keeping each other safe, learning new ways to connect, and banding together in a common effort and learning new ways to connect.

Trump signs bill that creates the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

US President Donald Trump signed today a bill into law, approving the creation of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The bill, known as the CISA Act, reorganizes and rebrands the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), a program inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as CISA, a standalone federal agency in charge of overseeing civilian and federal cybersecurity programs.

The NPPD, which was first established in 2007, has already been handling almost all of the DHS’ cyber-related issues and projects.

As part of the DHS, the NPPD was the government entity in charge of physical and cyber-security of federal networks and critical infrastructure, and oversaw the Federal Protective Service (FPS), the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM), the Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (OCIA), the Office of Cybersecurity& Communications (OC&C), and the Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP).

As CISA, the agency’s prerogatives will remain the same, and nothing is expected to change in day-to-day operations, but as a federal agency, CISA will now benefit from an increased budget and more authority in imposing its directives.

“Elevating the cybersecurity mission within the Department of Homeland Security, streamlining our operations, and giving NPPD a name that reflects what it actually does will help better secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and cyber platforms,” said NPPD Under Secretary Christopher Krebs. “The changes will also improve the Department’s ability to engage with industry and government stakeholders and recruit top cybersecurity talent.”

With its promotion to the rank of federal agency, CISA is now on the same level as the US Secret Service or FEMA, but still under the DHS’ oversight. The new agency is expected to improve the cyber-security defenses across other US federal agencies, coordinate cyber-security programs with states, and bolster the government’s overall cyber-security protections in the face of mundane criminals and nation-state hackers.

The Amazing Ways Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Genomics and Gene Editing

By 2021, consultant firm Frost & Sullivan expects that artificial intelligence (AI) systems will generate $6.7 billion in revenue from healthcare globally. One area that machine learning is significantly evolving is genomics the study of the complete set of genes within an organism. While much attention has been paid to the implications for human health, genetic sequencing and analysis could also be ground-breaking for agriculture and animal husbandry. When researchers can sequence and analyze DNA, something that artificial intelligence systems make faster, cheaper and more accurate, they gain perspective on the particular genetic blueprint that orchestrates all activities of that organism. With this insight, they can make decisions about care, what an organism might be susceptible to in the future, what mutations might cause different diseases and how to prepare for the future.

Genome Sequencing and Gene Editing

Since the illnesses an individual experiences in a lifetime are largely determined by their genetics, there has been significant interest to better understand our genetic makeup for years. Our progress was stalled by the complexity and enormity of the data that needed to be evaluated. With advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, researchers are better able to interpret and act on genomic data through genome sequencing and gene editing.

A genome sequence is a specific order of DNA building blocks (A, T, C, G) in a living organism; the human genome is made up of 20,000 genes and more than 3 billion base pairs of these genetic letters. Sequencing the genome is a critical first step to understanding it. The latest technology called high-throughput sequencing (HTS) allows the sequencing of DNA to occur in one day—a process that once took a decade when it was first done.

When changes are made to DNA at a cellular level, it’s called gene editing.

Personalized medicine and life-saving therapies

One of the most exciting prospects about gene technology is the development of precision or personalized medicine. The field, which enables interventions specific to a patient or population of genetically similar individuals, is expected to reach $87 billion by 2023. Historically, cost and technology limited the implementation of personalized medicine, but machine learning techniques are helping to overcome these barriers. Machines help identify patterns within genetic data sets and then computer models can make predictions about an individual’s odds of developing a disease or responding to interventions.

Microsoft acquires conversational AI and bot development firm

SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft has announced to acquire a conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) and bot development company XOXCO for an undisclosed sum.

Texas-based XOXCO has been paving the way in conversational AI since 2013 and was responsible for the creation of Howdy, the first commercially available bot for Slack that helps schedule meetings.

“It also developed Botkit which provides the development tools used by hundreds of thousands of developers on GitHub. Over the years, we have partnered with XOXCO and have been inspired by this work,” said Lili Cheng, Corporate Vice President, Conversational AI at Microsoft on Thursday.

Conversational AI is quickly becoming a way in which businesses engage with employees and customers — from creating virtual assistants and redesigning customer interactions to using conversational assistants to help employees communicate and work better together.

According to Gartner, “by 2020, conversational artificial intelligence will be a supported user experience for more than 50 percent of large, consumer-centric enterprises”.

The Microsoft Bot Framework, available as a service in Azure and on GitHub, today supports over 360,000 developers.

“With this acquisition, we are continuing to realise our approach of democratising AI development, conversation and dialog, and integrating conversational experiences where people communicate,” said Cheng.

Over the last six months, Microsoft has made several strategic acquisitions to accelerate the pace of AI development.

The acquisition of Semantic Machines in May brought a revolutionary new approach to conversational AI.

In July, it acquired Bonsai to help reduce the barriers to AI development by combining machine teaching, reinforcement learning and simulation.

In September, Microsoft acquired Lobe, a company that has created a simple visual interface empowering anyone to develop and apply deep learning and AI models quickly, without writing code.

“The acquisition of GitHub in October demonstrates our belief in the power of communities to help fuel the next wave of bot development,” Microsoft said.

How to make AI less biased

With machine learning systems now being used to determine everything from stock prices to medical diagnoses, it’s never been more important to look at how they arrive at decisions.

A new approach out of MIT demonstrates that the main culprit is not just the algorithms themselves, but how the data itself is collected.

“Computer scientists are often quick to say that the way to make these systems less biased is to simply design better algorithms,” says lead author Irene Chen, a PhD student who wrote the paper with MIT professor David Sontag and postdoctoral associate Fredrik D. Johansson. “But algorithms are only as good as the data they’re using, and our research shows that you can often make a bigger difference with better data.”

Looking at specific examples, researchers were able to both identify potential causes for differences in accuracies and quantify each factor’s individual impact on the data. They then showed how changing the way they collected data could reduce each type of bias while still maintaining the same level of predictive accuracy.

“We view this as a toolbox for helping machine learning engineers figure out what questions to ask of their data in order to diagnose why their systems may be making unfair predictions,” says Sontag.

Chen says that one of the biggest misconceptions is that more data is always better. Getting more participants doesn’t necessarily help, since drawing from the exact same population often leads to the same subgroups being under-represented. Even the popular image database ImageNet, with its many millions of images, has been shown to be biased towards the Northern Hemisphere.

According to Sontag, often the key thing is to go out and get more data from those under-represented groups. For example, the team looked at an income-prediction system and found that it was twice as likely to misclassify female employees as low-income and male employees as high-income. They found that if they had increased the dataset by a factor of 10, those mistakes would happen 40 percent less often.

In another dataset, the researchers found that a system’s ability to predict intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was less accurate for Asian patients. Existing approaches for reducing discrimination would basically just make the non-Asian predictions less accurate, which is problematic when you’re talking about settings like healthcare that can quite literally be life-or-death.

Chen says that their approach allows them to look at a dataset and determine how many more participants from different populations are needed to improve accuracy for the group with lower accuracy while still preserving accuracy for the group with higher accuracy.

“We can plot trajectory curves to see what would happen if we added 2,000 more people versus 20,000, and from that figure out what size the dataset should be if we want to have the best of all worlds,” says Chen. “With a more nuanced approach like this, hospitals and other institutions would be better equipped to do cost-benefit analyses to see if it would be useful to get more data.”

You can also try to get additional kinds of data from your existing participants. However, that won’t improve things either if the extra data isn’t actually relevant, like statistics on people’s height for a study about IQ. The question then becomes how to identify when and for whom you should collect more information.

One method is to identify clusters of patients with high disparities in accuracy. For ICU patients, a clustering methods on text called topic modeling showed that cardiac and cancer patients both had large racial differences in accuracy. This finding could suggest that more diagnostic tests for cardiac or cancer patients could reduce the racial differences in accuracy.

The team will present the paper in December at the annual conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) in Montreal.

Officials to Approach Strong Local Economy in the State Real Estate

F.C. Tucker Commercial Thursday presented its annual State of Real Estate program, a panel discussion about recent trends and predictions in the region’s residential, retail and industrial real estate markets. F.C. Tucker officials and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke participated. A few of the highlights:

Officials said 2017 saw significant activity in local industrial real estate, and the plastics industry was a major driver. Two former Whirlpool warehouses on St. George Road were bought last year for distribution of plastics, and a $2.1 million sale last May on St. Joseph Industrial Park Drive is facilitating a plastics company expansion.

An empty building in the Vander burgh Industrial Park drew an Israeli-owned company in the plastics industry. “The economic impact of the plastics industry is huge, and as the economy stays strong, I look for the industrial demand to stay strong as well,” said Ken Newcomb, president of F.C. Tucker Commercial.
New comb also noted another recent industrial development win for the region, a TaylorMade golf equipment distribution center at 4400 Garrison Drive.
There tail market has been busy as well, although the continued trend to online shopping has caused some hits, such as the pending loss of Evansville’s Sears store in Washington Square.

Fresh Thyme has opened at The Promenade, and Dick’s Sporting Goods just opened its new store in the former Gordman’s store at East Lloyd Commons, relocating from the Pavilion shopping center further east.

Dick’s will have lower rent and an additional 15,000 square feet at the new site, said Aaron Kendall, F.C. Tucker Commercial vice president.
The new year is expected to bring the arrival of Costco at The Promenade, a relocation of Burlington Coat Factory, the arrival of At Home in Burlington’s former space and a few Eastland Mall additions, such as Box Lunch and Carters/Oshkosh B’gosh.

There’s been quite a bit of new office development in the region, but a lot of B or C class space remains vacant in Downtown Evansville and elsewhere.
Energy Systems Group moved into a new building, just east of Interstate 69 in Warrick County. New burgh Family Dental built on Ruffian Lane, and a new medical office facility is going on adjacent to Target Pavilion on Evansville’s East Side.

The former ITT Tech building is now occupied by Approval Payment Solutions. Commerce Bank opened a new branch at Lloyd and Eagles Crest Drive and relocated its corporate headquarters to nearby 320 Eagle Crest Drive.

The high level of vacancy “speaks to the need of those landlords to adapt and change to the new workforce taking over these spaces,” said Kyle Bernhardt, who works in F.C. Tucker Commercial in commercial sales and leasing.

The region’s tallest building, at 420 Main St., is back on the open market. A purchase option and redevelopment plan was announced at the 2017 State of Real Estate event, but it did not materialize.

“Although we are sad to see this potential project put on hold, we are still very excited about how this property could truly transform Downtown,” Bernhardt said.
Locally and nationally, new home construction starts are well below demand, said John Briscoe, vice president of F.C. Tucker’s residential division.

Vanderburgh and Warrick counties saw 535 housing starts in 2017. That number will likely grow about 10 percent in 2018, Briscoe said.
The local residential market saw record low inventory levels in 2017. Briscoe said houses were on the market an average of 56 days, and it was common during the spring and summer to see multiple offers on houses and offers above the asking price.

Winnecke said the region’s economy is strong. He pointed to major publicly supported projects in Downtown Evansville and organic growth elsewhere in the community.

The Multi-Institutional Academic Health Science and Research Center, a Downtown building that will house academic programs from three universities, is more than 70 percent completed and will be open for classes in August. Construction on the campus’ second building could begin this year.

“Strong regions have strong cores in their primary cities, but it’s not just Downtown where that is happening,” Winnecke said. “Literally, there is hundreds of millions of dollars of investment underway in our city right now … I think 2018 will be another banner year for the community. I hope people are documenting how the city is changing for the better.”