Monthly Archives: October 2008

Hyundai Challenges Maruti 800

Seeing the success of Hyundai Santro and Hyundai i10, the company plans to roll out more small cars in the Indian car market.

The company has no plans to compete with the Nano but desires to design and develop a car that falls in line with one of the most successful small car, Maruti Suzuki 800. Definitely lower than the price tag of Santro but falling in the territory of 800, the company aims to produce a baby Hyundai.

It’s more exciting to know that Hyundai Motors has plans to design the car based on the Santro platform and will bring the car close to the price tag of the Maruti 800.

Smaller than the proposed Hyundai i20, this car will rock the Indian market and will definitely drive the car market with its long and accelerated journey.

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Buy a Home to Get a Car

The caption ‘buy a home to get a car’ sounds so simple. But is it that simple.

Along with the car market, the entire economy is dwindling with high inflation and financial crisis.

The middle class section of the society has headed towards a tough, challenging, and strange crossroads, a point where they have to cut down their basic necessity of life. Buying a home has become a challenge and even buying a car. Both are a necessity today.

But, interestingly, today real estate owners are offering special schemes and discounts to lure customers. They are not able to reduce or cut down the actual cost because of increasing inflation but they are definitely offering incentives in terms of interiors and even cars.

Yes, some of the real estate owners are offering cars to all their customers on booking a flat. This means, to buy a car of worth Rs 5 lakh or even Rs 10 lakh, you have to buy a house worth Rs 25 or 40 lakh.

Car manufacturers are simply trying to club promotional activities to push car sales. But is this the right strategy for advertising or branding?

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Blessing for Used Car Business

When the car market is suffering from intense liquidity crunch, used car business is leading the game.

The severe financial meltdown has proved to be a blessing in disguise for pre-owned and used car business. Car financers are moving away from giving car loans, which is pulling car buyers towards second hand cars.

Today, you can get a number of used cars at attractive prices and people are taking advantage of these offers. Successful car models like the Hyundai Santro, Maruti Suzuki Alto, and Maruti Suzuki WagonR are gradually becoming the hottest pick up from the used car market. This is not only because of the low-cost availability of these cars but also for being the most reliable cars.

You would be amazed to know though one or two years old, these car models deliver good performance and fuel efficiency if maintained well. So, if you are one among those who is shattered with financial downturn and is moving towards buying a used car, make sure that you choose a reliable seller or a car dealer.

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Nano Diesel to Arrive Late

We have been hearing about the launch of Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, for quite some time now. This lad, which was supposed to hit the roads by Diwali this year, was forced to hold its launch due to the much talk about Singur issue.

Now the latest update is that the Nano’s petrol version will hit the Indian roads by mid-2009 but the Nano diesel will have to wait for some more time. The company is also planning Nano with turbo charged, 800cc, CRDi diesel engine that will carry two-cylinder and is expected to give 30 percent more mileage compared to 800cc petrol cars.

Many Nano fans were waiting for its launch this Diwali and some had even postponed their car purchase but were disappointed when the news of Nano’s late delay was announced.

Hope Tata will keep up its promise on Nano’s launch, atleast this time!

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Passion for Diamond

If you have passion for diamonds, then a diamond studded car is something that will definitely attract you and your senses.

Yes, it’s astonishing but true. There is a luxury car running on roads completely studded with diamonds. Just imagine how this car looks like.

The proud owner of this car is Prince Waleed, a member of the Saudi Royal Family. He is an entrepreneur and international investor who has earned his property through investments in real estate and stock market and is considered to be one of the richest men in this world.

Amazingly, this rich man has personified his Mercedes-Benz car with diamonds on the car body. Even more exciting is the cost of the car, a sum of 4.8 million dollar. And, if you wish to touch the car, you have to pay 1,000 dollar. Such a big amount just for touching the car, that’s strange!

Wish we could have a car like this in Indian car market.

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Reva Becomes Ambitious

Driven by the growing awareness of eco-friendly cars and increasing demand of plug-in cars, Maini Reva plans to enhance the car production for both domestic and international car market.

These days many car consumers across the globe are heading towards green technology due to high oil prices. Some are even making a sudden shift due to high health concerns caused because of increasing automobile emissions.

Even today, you can see a number of Reva electric cars on roads and a still higher number will definitely make the roads even more crowded. But does that stop Maini from reducing the production. No!

Maini Reva challenges on the availability of eco-friendly range in the next couple of years. Even the government in India and overseas is giving incentives and liberal policies to support such cars. Maini finds it as a good opportunity to expand its car range and announces to increase its car portfolio in the country and attract more car consumers with electric and plug-in cars.

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Another Generation of Honda City

Honda has recently launched an all new Honda City with an arrow shot design and appealing aesthetics.

Immediately after this new car launch, there are speculations that the company is still planning to launch another generation of the City by early 2009. Nothing is there to comment on the speculations. But is it actually right to launch a new generation City at this time, when the recently launched Honda City has not even rejoiced the success on Indian roads.

Since the first generation City was launched in India, it has always been a great success due to its brilliant styling, excellent performance, and unmatched fuel efficiency. The new one is introduced with a completely new face and is sure to beat its segment and enjoy a win-to-win situation in India.

Do you all feel that it is the right time to launch a new generation City? Do you really think that the company should give it a thought at this point of time?

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Fiat Palio Comes with Impressive Offers

Fiat Palio will now be cheaper and more fuel efficient.

Though the company has not reduced or cut down the price tag of Palio, you can buy the car at a much cheaper price. Fiat has cut down the prices of Palio’s spare parts including the ones that are imported.

Cheaper spare parts will obviously reduce the cost of production or the input cost, thereby reducing the price tag of the Palio. The reduction of spare parts price is mainly done with a desire to improve the car’s after-sales service.

For all those who love the new Palio Stile, this is the best time to buy the car at cheaper price tag. You would be even more impressed with the new service policy offered by the Fiat. The company has now announced to give three free services in the first year of car ownership to ensure customer satisfaction.

The new Palio has good fuel efficiency and now coupled with that is the cheaper spare parts and new service policy. This makes the overall cost of ownership even more attractive.

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Banning Small Cars

We don’t know whether it is exciting or astonishing but there has been news that Government was planning to ban small cars. This plan was aimed at easing traffic problems in big cities and expanding public transport system.

Though Government is focusing more on enhancing public transport, tell me frankly how many of you actually use public transport for daily commuting. Yes, today many of you do use but what when there’ll be more small and cheap cars on Indian roads?

After the launch of affordable and small cars like Tata Nano, it will be difficult to judge the actual numbers using the local transport system. So, banning on small cars is simply of no use. Whether more number of cars or more number of buses, the traffic is going to increase anyhow.

Infact, it’s better to have more number of small cars rather than having buses and auto rickshaws on roads.

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Global Small Car

With Oil prices sky rocketing, global economic crisis is hitting every sector, car manufacturers are severely hit across the globe. To add to this, some countries like India, suffer with extreme traffic problems making it even worse. In the next few years, if there is any segment that would benefit it would be the small car. We will see many more variants in the market. And unlike in the past, these variants will not be just 1.4 liter or 1.6 liter but also come out with CNG and Electric variants. Every car manufacturer will need to get more innovative in terms of design, features, ergonomics, and performance. I am however; quite surprised that many car manufactures haven’t considered India yet for launch of their small cars. On road, most of the current small cars don’t differentiate much. So, I personally see a huge scope for the launch of luxury small cars. How many have seen small cars with Sun-roof, ABS, Airbags, side impact bars, alloy wheels, and leather upholstery. Not many? Well, I hope very shortly we all will do. India not only stands a great chance of becoming a platform for global launch of small cars but also design centre for global small cars.

Submitted By: Vikas Valsang

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