Buying a car is no more a luxury for Indians, it’s a necessity. For the global automotive industry, China is now a passé, India grabs all their attention. Last year, car sales in India totaled in 1.1 million with compact hatchbacks accounting for nearly three quarter of that.

Time for Maruti, Tata, or Mahindra to pull up their socks, foreign automakers like Nissan, Hyundai, and Renault are aiming big in India. A recent auto survey says that the car market in India is growing at an average of 20 percent a year, outpacing even China.

Nissan already made its entry to the Indian market with Renault SA of France and Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and sold its Logan like hot cakes early this year. Japan’s carmakers are not behind in this race, the biggies like Toyota and Honda have already pronounced their presence here loudly.

Maruti 800, Alto, or Santro says small car is always a big hit in India. Incited by Tata‘s super-cheap People’s Car next year, Nissan and Renault are projecting a car that may sell for as little as $2,500. And now India’s two-wheeler giant Bajaj and Renault are discussing the possibilities of ultra inexpensive cars.

With this pace, bicycle and two wheelers may look like extinct products of the auto world.

Tata Motor’s Social Responsibility Index will now outsmart many players now. They initiated a green project with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for developing a 60-seater proto-model bus powered by gas by 2010. The bus will not run on an engine, but on electric power produced out of a mix of hydrogen and oxygen. It will use hydrogen fuel cell technology as against combustion technology which burns gasoline.

The frame and chassis will be developed by Tata Motors, and ISRO will provide the fuel technology. The estimated cost of the bus will roughly be Rs 80 Lakh with per kg of hydrogen gas that will have running cost of around Rs 120 per kg or more.

Like CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) enabled public vehicles helped in controlling Delhi’s pollution in the last few years, this new project by Tata and ISRO is a great step towards climate control and a small step towards scheming Green House Gases (GHG).

Ok, am sure that we all know Maruti Suzuki is the top leading automaker in India. It’s a pretty exciting fact that no matter where you go in India, you can see a Maruti vehicle. From the last seven years Maruti Suzuki is the top ranked in JD Power’s India Customer Satisfaction Index study. Continuing in the first position this year Maruti scored 838 points out of 1000 and the most interesting thing is that Maruti was the only carmaker to score more than the industry average of 777 points.

According to the JD Power’s India Customer Satisfaction Index study the factors contributing to overall satisfaction are the percentage of problems experienced in a car, service quality, and the user friendly service. Take a look at the maintenance services that Maruti is providing. I would say it is truly instant, easily accessible, and affordable. Also the problems experienced in Maruti cars are less. I personally have the opinion that Maruti Services have a very user friendly attitude.

The brands that follow Maruti in the ranking are Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford. These automakers scored 765, 745, 740, and 737 points respectively, making themselves fit in the top four positions after Maruti. Compared to last years score these automakers showed vast improvement in their scores. Honda, Skoda, and Hyundai showed the highest improvement.

It looks like new cars from BMW will be available for sale earlier than expected. BMW is seriously working on its product and dealership expansions in India. As part of this process, they announced the first launch in line is the Mini Cooper. BMW has plans to sell 1,200 cars that is an increase from the earlier target of 1,000 units.

Mini will be the first small car to launch in India from this German automobile giant. Big or small BMW is BMW, so there won’t be any compromise in luxury. This expensive premium small car may cost somewhere around Rs. 15 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) in India.

Mini was developed by the Rover Group and manufactured by the British Motor Corporation. Later BMW stripped itself from Rover in 2000 and started working on the Mini project as BMW Mini. India, where small car industry is on boom, will definitely have a high demand for the Mini Cooper.

The Indian SUV market is so competitive that the big boys make no delays. Tata has recently launched the new Safari to keep the existing demand of Safari going and the answer for that from Mahindra was quick, announcing the launch of the Scorpio 2.2L Eagle before the end of this year. Now it’s time to see GM defend itself in this hard core competition. GM has announced plans to launch the new Chevrolet Tavera.

While competition is heating up, GM is right in the firing line as ever before with this limited edition Tavera. As reports say GM has no plans to launch an all new Tavera with a new engine. It will be a face-lifted version of the existing Tavera with additions in the exterior and interior features. This new Tavera will come out as a limited edition.

This new Tavera has all sort of unique features. Despite the existing features of Tavera the face-lifted Tavera offers a larger grille with a bigger Chevrolet bowtie and an elongated air dam. Inside, a three spoke steering wheel replaces the existing two spoke and it gets a new instrument panel and a projected central console. The space above the glove box is now covered and is made as an additional glove box. I am sure the other SUVs in the market will line up soon with their new versions to continue to keep themselves in the market.

ODYSSEY is a specialized Landrover that will spell the motto as “Get enlightened” when it come to India. We all know about the good faith of Landys in the H.H. Dalai Lama.

I would tell you I am literally waiting for its reach in India on the coming weeks. The round the world premier is one of the most historic, most lively endurance races in the world. Be a part of the world tour with a team of 7 adventurous professionals.

ODYSSEY will be the first foreigners to cross Myanmar (Burma) in over 50 years. From China, ODYSSEY will reach India and further to Pakistan. We can also expect these Landrovers passing through Dharamsala, India, after the special meeting with His Highness Dalai Lama. Get ready to see the ODYSSEY in India. Don’t miss it!

Indians love their small cars. In India small cars go well with the urban living conditions. Fulfilling the growing demands for small cars, Ford in collaboration with Mazda wants to launch a small car in India. However, Ford is still confused about the appropriate model for India. The options it is considering are KA and Mazda2.

As the story goes, Ford is considering plans to import the Mazda2 kit from Thailand. Rumors say if it is the Mazda2, Ford will either use the existing Ikon or Fiesta platforms.

The new KA is expected to roll out in Europe next year under the Fiat-Ford signature. Fiat’s 500 made under the platform of KA has formally launched recently. Mazda2 got more Wows when it was formally previewed at the Geneva motor show than the Honda Jazz and Fit.

From Fords new plans, we can expect either the KA or Mazda2 or both swarming on Indian roads soon.

Nissan wants to make a $3,000 car. Nissan recently confirmed that it is confident of being able to develop a $3,000 car in India with proposed partner Bajaj Auto Ltd. The Renault-Nissan alliance has been doing serious research for the production of this new $3,000 car.

Tata quoted its One-Lakh-Car would be a rear-engine, 600-cc, four-door hatchback. A series of question is still in the air. What are the features the car will host? How can a car offer the essential safety measures with such a price tag? Will the engine and power be enough to carry four or in some cases five people?

Nissan is confident about the $3,000 car’s production for India and Tata’s claim is still not disproved. Let’s wait and watch to see what new turns the Indian auto market will take.

Toyota dreams about the launch of its Yaris style big sedan Vios in India. Probably Vios is the most expected car from Toyota in India. Toyota has exhibited its 3rd generation ‘Vios’ at the recently held Bangkok motor show. I got the impression it’s a more ‘rough’ version of the Toyota Yaris. It is expected to launch at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

Vios has an all in one look of different sedans. This 3rd generation Vios has the same dimensions as that of the Honda City. It has a look similar to that of the Corolla. At the same time it has a Camry-like front fascia. Vios looks large and wide from the front with a large grille and large headlamps. The rear has similar taillights to the Honda City.

Most probably, in India, the Vios will be available with a 1.5 VVT-i engine that produces a power of 109 hp. However, since the City, Corolla, and Camry have already captured the luxury sedan market in India, will Indians show a big interest in Vios is still the big question.

Patience, the saying goes, is a high merit. The Indian car market has come a long way. We’ve seen so many brands – brands rise, brands fall, brands struggle and die and then even more brands being born. Now India is one of the fastest growing playgrounds of Global automakers. Hyundai is one of the most seriously working Korean automakers in India. As a profound effect Hyundai Capital Company, a sister concern of Hyundai Motors, is keen to enter the Indian car financing market.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Capital Company is studying the Indian market very closely. Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) started production in India in 1996. The company recently launched its compact car – the i10, which is being manufactured at its Chennai plant. i10 is the first Hyundai compact car made in India with 94 percent Indianization. The company also has plans to manufacture 2.2 lakh units of i10, out of which 1.2 lakh units will be sold in the domestic market. The rest would be exported to Latin America, Africa, and Italy.

However, there are certain policy guidelines in the country that put hindrances to the Korean company tapping the capital market in Kolkata. But the current scenario of Hyundai Motor India Ltd says India is definitely a market feast for Hyundai.