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Monday, 1 June 2009
Ford’s Scheduled Service Plan for its Customers
Customer is King and every industry focuses on building a good rapport with customers. Recently, Ford India launched its newfangled service plan for its customers entitled ‘Scheduled Service Plan’ or SSP. This plan offers Ford car owners a lower maintenance cost. The car service package includes maintenance of vehicles such as engine oil change, air/fuel/oil filter cleaning/replacement, spark plugs, etc. at regular intervals. Besides this, for a limited period, the service charges will be discounted on car maintenance and part replacement will be done. The Service Plan is available across the country in 15 cities - Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad & Secunderabad, Delhi & NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Jaipur, Cochin, Kolkata, and Surat. The SSP is available in a variety of plans to match the customer’s requirement. According to the new scheme, customers are requested to turn their cars in to Ford dealers for servicing by experts and well trained technicians certified by Ford India. This program will allow customers to drive in with their cars for maintenance without the hassle of billing in the regular periodical maintenance service." Besides SSP, as a part of customer service, Ford India also presents a complete package of service products which include car maintenance including Extended Warranty (EW); Total Maintenance Plan (TMP) which will cover all the possible mechanical & electrical failures; wear & tear of the car parts. Labels: Car-Maintenance, Car-Service, Ford
Thursday, 28 May 2009
U.S. Market Still in Crisis but India Recovers
The world’s largest automobile market of the United States has dramatically changed in the past year due to global economic recession. The automotive industry in Amercia has collapsed after the recession brought leading car players GM and Chrysler at the verge of bankruptcy. And, even other car manufacturers were forced to ask for cash support to keep their businesses live. Many of the U.S. auto companies are finding it hard to recover the losses. Chrysler has already succumbed to its losses and now the Italian car manufacturer Fiat plans to take over the company. General Motors has already taken a huge fund from the government to support its business. It is believed that at present Ford is the only manufacturer in America that has successfully retained its independent position in the auto market. The car manufacturer refuses to take financial aid from the government but then till how long will the company carry on with the losses? The situation in American car market has become so serious that in the future months even Ford may need to borrow money from the government to support its successful business. Car manufacturers there are worried that the number of car buyers will decrease as days go by and the investments made on them will go down the drain. But in India, the situation is not the same. The Indian car industry is climbing the positive track with more and more car manufacturers rolling out new cars to spark a new excitement in the market. All the new cars launched in the market are designed with best of cues and packed with host of technologies to entice waning car buyers. Many Indian car manufacturers like Maruti and Hyundai are witnessing positive curves on the sales graph. However, the severe loss faced by GM in the U.S. has put its impact on GM cars in India as well. Despite of GM’s aggressive marketing strategy and promotional campaigns, the car manufacturer is not successful in regaining its lost position. Maybe the future has something good for GM. India has given a new hope to many car manufacturers and GM may also find its way out of recession. Labels: Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, Indian-car-industry, Maruti, U.S.-Car-Market
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Supremacy of Ford Endeavour
Ford Endeavour is an undisputed leader in the SUV segment of the Indian car industry. It proves its supremacy by achieving the highest sales record in the segment during the first quarter of this year. In the Indian car market, Ford Endeavour is available in two variants, 2.5-litre XLT and 3.0-litre Thunder Plus. And both the variants behold a perfect combination of style, power, and performance that continues to generate interest amongst car buyers across the country. In January 2009 the car manufacturer even launched an Endeavour leadership advertising campaign with the “No. 1 SUV” tagline. The advertising campaign featured the Bollywood celebrity Sunil Shetty and this may have contributed to the high sales of the car. There are many car buyers who love the structure, appeal, and outstanding off-road capabilities of the car. Due to its attractive and powerful characteristics many hold their confidence in the Endeavour. And with this confidence Ford actually succeeded to maintain its leadership position in the SUV segment. Labels: Car-Buyer, Ford, Ford-Endeavour, Indian-Car, SUV
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Collapse of Proposed Bailout Endangers Car Industry
We all know that the wind of recession had severely hit the global car market. Big U.S car manufacturers like the General Motors, Ford, and the Chrysler were on the verge of bankruptcy and had asked for financial help. It was a big amount that these three major players in the industry required. They applied for a 14 billion dollar bailout package. But unfortunately, after weeks of long debate and discussions, the Senate refused to provide the said amount to the struggling U.S. auto manufacturers. The General Motors and Chrysler required billion of dollars to forestall a collapse in their business while Ford desired a hefty line of credit. Shockingly, the proposed bailout is rejected. And this has further raised the fear of a deeper economic downturn along with heavy financial crisis. In U.S one out of ten jobs is linked to the auto sector. And any kind of hurdle on the automotive sector would have a direct impact on the job market, which would further jeopardize the persistent efforts to ease the economic recession. With the loss experienced by the Ford, GM, and Chrysler, over ten thousands of jobs are at risk. Adding to that, further financial shocks and disruption in the global auto industry are the most aspirated challenges to overcome. Even the dollar, Asian stocks, and commodity prices have started tumbling in response to the immediate effect of the rejected bailout. General Motors, Ford or Chrysler failure would also aggravate the market situation in India. The Indian auto industry is gradually making efforts to revive its future. But, a bankruptcy in U.S would definitely endanger the Indian car industry. This is because these car companies have a good market share in India with General Motors and Ford accelerating at a faster pace. Even the auto component industry in the country would get affected by forced production shut down of the U.S. “Big Three”. Now, it’s time to analyze and study how the collapse of proposed bailout would influence the Indian car market and to plan strategies to overthrow the challenges in the recent times. Labels: Car-Industry, Ford, General-Motors
Monday, 15 December 2008
Mahindra Denies Bidding for Volvo
Deeply affected by the impact of global recession, the Ford is planning to sell its unit Volvo car Corp. The company is set to dispose of its assets to cope up with the challenges brought by the slowdown in the global markets. Volvo being a big brand in itself has received tremendous response from bidders in the international market. Earlier, it was reported that the Mahindra & Mahindra is bidding for Volvo, which is now clearly denied by the company stating the news as a mere speculation. Media reports unveiled that the Ford is in talks with the Cerberus Capital and Texas Pacific Group to have a joint bid for its Volvo brand. Ford claims this move as an essential survival strategy in the falling car market. Along with Ford, the General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC are seeking for multi-billion-dollar US government bailout as they are suffering from a severe downturn in the domestic market due to recession. Though Mahindra was also looking for the acquisitions to cope up with these turbulent times. But then the company is now looking out for better measures and strategies. To build up its brand reputation in the international market, Mahindra has plans to introduce its popular SUV in the US car market in the upcoming year. Labels: Ford, Mahindra-and-Mahindra, Volvo-Car
Monday, 4 August 2008
Ford Plans to Produce Small Cars
Influenced by Tata, Maruti and Fiat, Ford also plans to roll out some interesting and exciting small cars to India. Ford Motor has shifted all its focus towards the production of small cars with desires to target all the sections of car buyers. The company has plans to roll out a portfolio of small cars in various countries round the world including India. Ford also desires to realign its facilities and factories to manufacture more fuel-efficient engines. The company is also in a mood to make its Mercury brand an essential part of the small car production strategy. This clearly states that Ford plans to imitate some of the attractive features of Mercury and place them in its line of proposed small cars. So many small cars are entering the market. Will this hamper the market for huge sedans and luxury cars? Labels: Ford, Maruti, Small-Cars
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Ford Doubts Industry Growth Due to Inflation
 Indian car industry had witnessed a major growth in the previous year. But this year car manufacturer Ford doubts the growth level because of the inflationary pressures.
Ford, while launching the new variants of Ford Fiesta, was worried about the sale and growth of the car. Everyone associated with the manufacture, design and production of the cars are sure that an increase of almost 10% in the inflation is going to have a great influence on the industry's growth. Rising inflation has also pushed up the interest rates, delivering disappointment and doubts to car manufacturers. It has also deterred new and used car purchases. Now what? Will India beat the high growth figure of the last few years? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Car-Sales, Ford
Friday, 6 June 2008
Tata reiterates commitment to JLR
Jaguar and Land Rover have held their identities even under the ownership of Ford Motors. They have managed to keep their British image intact. Jaguar and Land Rover are well know brands. After all the speculations, it has been clarified by the company that Jaguar and Land Rover will retain their identities. They will continue to pursue their independent businesses.
It was noticed that West Midlands which houses a lot of popular automotive companies were apprehensive about Tata Motors. The take over by an Asian company has not been considered favourable by some quarters of European automotive sector. With this declaration, the European companies might get happy.
Labels: Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Ford Will Follow Small Car Trend In India
The small cars are grabbing most of the attention in the Indian car market. All car manufacturers are now following the trend and launching small car models. Ford India is planning to launch a small car in India by 2010.
They are planning to increase the installed capacity of its manufacturing facility in Chennai from the present 1 lakh units to 2.5 lakh units by 2010. The expansion includes the small car programme and a new engine plant. Labels: car plant, Ford, new car launch, small cars
Monday, 31 March 2008
Ford suffered loss after selling JLR brands
Is any one know that how much Ford spent initially to buy luxury car brands-Jaguar and Land Rover? Ford bought these two high end brands in 1989 at a whooping $10 billion. Ford has invested such a big amount in Jaguar and Land Rover but failed to reap profits. Ford suffered a huge loss by selling its luxury brands to Tata for merely $2.3 billion. As far as global players are concerned, they are firmly committed to make their vehicle more appealing and luxurious than their rivals. It is still not known as to why Ford failed to make these brands profitable. Big wigs of world’s auto industry are now thinking of revamping their brands to avoid selling of their brands to any other company after Ford’s failure in Jaguar brands. Labels: Economical buy, Expansion in Indian auto industry, Ford, JLR deal, luxury cars, Tata Motor
Tata Motors hopes better rating
After getting downgraded by rating agencies, Tata Motors is now hopping for a better rating after announcement of a new refinancing plan. But this may take a few months altogether. The refinance plan is expected as Tata Motors clinched a major acquisition deal with Ford to own the Jaguar and Land Rover. Tata Motors have paid 2.3 billion dollars for the deal. Eventually, the deal will be financed through a mixture of debt and equity.
Last week, Crisil, a rating agency, downgraded ratings on the auto major's cash credit facilities from 'AA+' to 'AA-/stable'. But the agency has removed Tata Motors from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications' list. The auto major has taken a USD 3 billion bridge loan to take over the two iconic brands and meet the working capital requirements with a combination of debt, liquidation of existing investments. The company also plans to raise a fresh equity of USD 1 billion. Labels: Auto market competition, Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Tata Motors
Monday, 24 March 2008
SUV’s the new hot car for men in blue
Think of the ultimate muscle car in India and you will immediately think Ford Endeavour. It is not just its excellent driving dynamics but its rugged looks which has captivated many car enthusiasts. Muscle SUVs have become the latest fascination for all those who want to live life king size. But did you know that the men in blue also had a passion for SUVs. While Ford Endeavour comes first is owned by Bhajji and Kumble and newcomer Praveen Kumar, Hyundai Tucson is owned by Rahul Dravid.
Labels: Endevour, Ford, Hyundai Tucson, SUVs enthusiasts, SUVs in India
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Tata will get JLR on 26th
The process of acquisition of prestigious British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover is finally nearing completion. It seemed to drag on forever. Ford is finally signing on the dotted line to hand over the brands to Tata Motors. They hope to wrap the whole thing up by 26th March. The JLR deal has generated much interest in the global media. Tata Motors got very bad press coverage from US and UK. Inspite of it all, they have finally closed the deal. There were a series of hurdles in Tata’s way towards these acquisitions. After clearing these hurdles one at a time, the company is finally set to acquire Jaguar and Land Rover completely. Labels: Acquisition, british cars, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata Motors
Friday, 14 March 2008
Ford is offering interesting freebies
The month of March has so far been the most exciting for car buyers. Buying a car this month has been like going to a restaurant and finding out that someone else has ordered something better. There’s so much on the menu to choose from. The number of car models on sale is unbelievable. The price cut on small cars after the new union budget has unleashed a car shopping spree. Ever since Maruti, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Tata and Fiat cars have become cheaper, there has been a mad rush at car showrooms.
Now, Ford too has entered the race. Ford’s new March Masti programme is really interesting. Read this - you can get a loan at an interest rate of just 7.5 % and a whole lot of interesting accessories worth Rs 22,000 completely free with a new Ford car! Labels: car buying, Car discounts, Car sales, Ford, small cars
Ikon Flair is govt. car
The good old Ambassador car from Hindustan Motors is slowly moving out of government patronage. It was like the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of the car industry. It was always there when younger and newer car models kept hitting the roads and it hung around for a very long time.
Over the years it came to symbolize bureaucracy. The government has now decided to replace the fuel guzzling ambassadors with the more stylish and fuel efficient Ford Ikon Flair. This comes after a recent approval for the Hyundai Accent. The golden age of the Ambassador is finally at an end. Labels: Ford, Government, Hindustan Motors, Hyundai
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Women with a Spark
The Chevy Spark sold over 2000 cars in February 2008, a majority of which are owned by women drivers. Spark has charmed its way into women’s hearts posting an 80% increase in sales and topping the list of highest-sold cars for the month of Feb. The other car that has women swooning is the cute Chevy Aveo U-VA.
The sudden rush to buy the Spark has increased GMs market share beating that of its US rival Ford. This may very well be the first step towards women turning into major car market swingers – something that was pre-dominantly considered to be “a guy thing”. Labels: Car competition, Car sales, Chevrolet, Ford, Spark
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Will Verve be our new Fiesta?
Ford showcased the Verve sedan at the Detroit Auto Show and now Verve could be our new Fiesta, which will style the popular Mondeo looks. There is no official news, but it is a probable and definite assumption. However, this could take as long as two years! And with the rapid growth of the auto market in India, 2010 is a long way off! With the SX4 biting fast into the sedan market sales with its bold looks, the Fiesta has taken a hard beating in the last quarter of 2007. The Verve sedan is a well designed concept car with sporty and handsome looks; and classy and modern interiors. I would have shown more interest if it was coming out next month, but I think 2010 is just too far away! Labels: Ford, New launch, New look, Upcoming Cars
Friday, 1 February 2008
An orchestra performed by car parts!
I never knew that you can convert a car part into a musical instrument. Don’t be amazed, I recently came across news that Ford is exploring with innovative ideas as a part of promotion and that is why they converted the part of the new Ford Focus into musical instruments. Two creative designers from the US were the brains behind this mechanical musical instrument.
They created musical instrument like Door Harp, Clutch Guitar, and Fender Bass using car accessories. The ad campaign will hit viewers by performing a stage show using this unique instrument. Isn’t it a fabulous way of promotion? Can we expect Indian car makers to come up with this kind of promotion? I doubt. Maybe not this much but Indian car makers can definitely come up with creative ideas. I hope they try. Article Submitted by Divya G Labels: car accessory, Car Design, Ford, Promotional campaign
Thursday, 31 January 2008
It’s all about money honey
The sale process of Tata buying Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) is almost done. Throughout the process, the entire auto industry analysts have unanimously said that the $2-billion reported bid price by Tata is too high and that JLR would be difficult buys at any price looking at their past history. Ford Motors acquired Jaguar in 1989 and Land Rover in 2000. Both companies are now valued at $2 billion. Ford had paid $2.5 billion for the Jaguar and around $2.7 billion for the Land Rover from BMW. It still remains to be seen if Ford will decide to sell these brands to Tata Motors for a loss. The fact that even though these brands saw major losses in 2006, the year 2007 has seen a major turn around. These brands have churned out a profit margin that not only made a mark in 2007, but also covered their losses in 2006. This recently revealed fact is definitely not a good sign in favor of Tata if they are looking for a good bargain. On the other hand, this could encourage Tata to go all guns blazing and acquire the two brands at any cost. I just hope that one of my fav Indian car companies who has seen so much success in the last few years, does not get blinded by the big names that Jaguar and Land Rover represent and dig a hole for itself in the coming year. Article Submitted by J C BoseLabels: BMW, Ford, Jaguar and Land Rover, Submitted Article, Tata
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Jaguar displays new model lines to Tata
I am completely excited about the Jaguar and Tata scenario unfolding in the US. Get set going for the Jaguar-Tata production plan. As per media reports, Jaguar has displayed its new models to the Tata Group, its new parents.
Tata Motors was named as preferred bidder by the car giant Ford for sale of its two Brit luxury brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, after evaluating interests by Mahindra and Mahindra and the private equity firm OneEquity.
This definitely looks like the Ford Group in the US has made up their minds and that soon Indian roads may be swarming with Land Rover and Jaguar brands! Labels: Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Tata
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Canadian auto parts firm planning Indian base
Your NRI uncle’s son can tantalize you no more with his latest gadgets. You probably already have better ones! As the Indian economy is booming, value gap between the US dollar and the Indian rupee is narrowing. The influx of so many foreign car brands in such a short time is nothing short of revolutionary. American and European auto majors are making a beeline for Indian shores. But it’s not restricted to just the car makers. We hear Canada’s second-largest automotive component company Linamar Corp. is exploring opportunities in India and may set up a manufacturing facility here to supply powertrains and industrial components to the local market. This $2.4-billion company is an original equipment supplier to auto biggies like General Motors and Ford. It has 37 manufacturing centres in North America, Europe and Asia. Nice to see growing western interest in the Indian market! Labels: automotive, Ford, General Motors, Linamar, Powertrains
Friday, 7 December 2007
Fiat 500 wins award
The Fiat 500 won the car of the year award for 2008. Fiat is the only automobile manufacturer in the world that has won the coveted European Car of the Year award nine times. It was voted the best by a large contingent of 58 journalists from 22 European countries. The 500 was voted ahead of the Ford Mazda II and Ford Mondeo. It is Italy’s national icon, with the original 1957 version selling close to four million units, until it was phased out in 1975. After its re-launch, Fiat decided to regain its coveted place in the European car market and is offering the largest possible offer of 500,000 different ways to configure the car with its myriad options. It is also offering the electric fragrance diffuser for those who love the smell of fresh morning air in the cabin. The available engines include a 1.3-litre multi-jet diesel that churns out 74 bhp (which also powers the Swift diesel in India) and two types of petrol: a 1.2-litre that produces 68 bhp and a 1.4-litre that generates 100 bhp. Fiat comes with a five-star safety rating and is packed with the latest safety equipments including an ABS with electronic stability program. The interiors have a funky design with high quality elements and a digital instrumental panel. India operations: As far as Fiat India’s plans go, the company plans to turn India into a centre for its Asia operations. Indians have a long association with Fiat, but will have to wait for sometime longer for the Fiat 500 compact car to tread on Indian roads. Labels: auto show expo, Award winning car, Compact cars, Driving imported cars, Fiat, Ford, Foreign cars
Thursday, 22 November 2007
East or West, Maruti is the best
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. Labels: Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Indian car market, Maruti, Maruti Suzuki, Ratings on JD Customer Satisfaction Index, Skoda, Toyota
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
KA or Mazda2?
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. Labels: Fiat, Ford, Honda, Imported cars, Mazda, New launch, Small cars market in India
Monday, 12 November 2007
New Ford Ikon with ‘Ikool music edition’
Ford Ikon turns cool with its new Ikool music edition. It comes with an I-Pod compatible Sony X-plod MP3 player with high wattage rear oval speakers. That’s not it; this limited music model also spoils you with a few other chattels like a Nokia Bluetooth hands free kit, sporty leather vinyl seat covers, and an anti-theft system with remote entry and Ikool decal on front fenders. This ‘Josh Machine’ has dynamic and dashing looks and is one of the first cars in India to come up with different variants. This sedan comes in beautiful color choices such as Copper Rust along with popular colors like Paprika Red, Jeans Blue, Panther Black, Platinum, and Diamond White. This ‘Ikool’ model offers the most desired gizmos especially for music lovers like me giving it a cool and trendy appeal for youngsters. The sedan is attractively priced at close to Rs. 5.08 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). This handsome sedan with an alluring price can be yours as you rock and roll through the trance that is traffic! Labels: Cool cars in India, Ford, Ikool music edition, Improved interior features, Indian car market, New limted edition variant, Reasonably priced
Monday, 5 November 2007
Ford Fiesta to get a new look
Scheduled to be released sometime next year Ford is likely to facelift the Fiesta with a new look probably in the first quarter of 2008. Even with strong rivals such as Honda and Toyota, Ford is a rising hit in the Indian market. The Fiesta is a comfortably luxurious car that won Ford a record market in India. The Fiesta will get more and better standard features and a new exterior styling. Ford announced the Indian auto market as its first target. The global automaker gurus agree that the Indian vehicle market is the perfect place to compete. Definitely a right decision from Ford. The next Ford model to get a facelift is the Endeavour. Labels: Ford, Honda, Indian car market, Leading manufacturer, New Car, New look, Toyota
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Pre-owned car industry to get a boom in India
What you say about used cars? How will it be if you buy a used Mitsubishi Lancer or a used Ford Icon and alter it with sporty designs? Will it look sporty if you put a nice spoiler on the rear of your car and cut short the ground clearance? Go Vroooom. The Indian youth needs more designs rather than the usual black or white or red. It’s time to get your dream cars in India’s used car market at an affordable price. The global auto majors are looking for potential buyers of their vehicles in India’s used car market. India’s used car market has had a lone voyager in Maruti and its TrueValue program. Now, Honda’s Auto Terrace, Toyota You Trust brand, Hyundai’s Hyundai Advantage, and Ford’s Ford Assured used car programs have entered the Indian car market. Statistics say that the used-car market counts for one million units across India. This industry is expected to grow bigger faster than in past years. Here is the current scenario of the pre-owned cars industry in India. Toyota’s You Trust venture is all set to roll out at leading dealerships across the country by October end 2007. Honda is ready with their new team trained to focus only on its used-car program called Auto Terrace. The company’s used-car program is currently running in a small way and is expected to be a success soon. Ford Assurance and Hyundai Advantage programs are also doing competitively well in the industry. Last, but definitely not the least, our car guru Maruti is at the top with more than 90,000 used cars units sold through its True Value network. Labels: Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Programs for used car sales, Toyota, Used car market in India, Used cars
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
GM India celebrates raising car sales
GM India touched its highest sales statistics yet, in India. Since General Motors introduced its vehicles to India, this is the first time the firm has enjoyed a profit with such high margins. General Motors cruises ahead of its competitors with the extremely affordable Chevy Spark and the value-for-money Aveo UV-A. GM has sold more than two times the units it sold last year in the same period. General Motors India for the first time beat Ford Motors India in the market share. With the festive season on in India, GM has cut down the price of Spark by over rupees 50,000/-, which is also one of the reasons for the auto major to enjoy boosting sales. Because the offer is available only for a limited period, no wonder people are rushing to GM dealers spread all over the country. If General Motors consider extending the offer for another few days there is no doubt that our pavements will be full of GM brands. Labels: Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Indian car market, Rising sales, Small Car
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
More Volvos to launch in India
The excitement associated with the Volvo launches has not yet subsided, and you can see the party flare up again. More Volvo cars are now coming into town! Following the Volvo S80 and XC90 is the Volvo C30, a luxury Coupe, and the Volvo C70 that is available in both Coupe and Convertible body styles. It has been rumored that Ford India will join hands with Volvo in India. It looks like both Volvo and Ford will work together on the same platform with shared technologies. Following the success of the XC90 and S80, Volvo might have realized that there are a large number of Volvo fans in India. Those looking to gain a little extra performance from a Coupe or a Convertible should start emptying their garage space now! However, the auto market says that Indians prefer small cars compared to Coupes or Convertibles. Honestly, do we have a choice? Give me a Convertible any day for the price of a Swift and I’ll take it!! If you are a big Volvo fan, log on to the Volvo website for streaming videos of the C30 and C70 models or just check out Carazoo and we will have all the info you need for the new makes as soon as the news breaks! Labels: Convertibles, Coupes, Ford, Imported cars, Indian car market, Launches in India, Luxury car segment, Volvo
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Jaguar to introduce two more models by next year in India
Jaguar is planning to introduce two new models to the Indian market by next year. Invariable of the fact of whether Tata will buy Jaguar or not, the manufacturer is all-set to launch its models XF and X-type by late next year. The models are expected to be sold by the sole Indian Land Rover dealer Navnit Motors. The XF model holds Jaguar’s future, though the model will not be rolled-out before March 2008. XF model will pose a tough tiff to the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6. The X-type is based mostly on the Ford Mondeo model and is likely to adorn a price tag that reads between rupees 35-50 lakh. Next year end is a long time. Maybe by that time Jaguar would have sold itself to one of the other strong bidders. However, Tata should keep its hope alive! Labels: Ford, Imported cars, Indian car manufacturer, Indian car market, Jaguar, Launches in India, Tata
Friday, 5 October 2007
Volvo will outsource auto components from India
Volvo Car Corporation, the Swedish automakers, will outsource components worth $99 million from India this year. To get a grip in the growing demands for automotive parts Volvo will join international automakers like General Motors Corporation and DaimlerChrysler in Outsourcing the auto components. The components that are expected to be outsourced from India are engine parts, steering parts, body chassis, suspension, braking parts, general equipment, and electric parts. In this 36 percent exports are heading for Europe. Due to this new outsourcing, the industry exports will jump from $1.8 billion of 2004-2005 to $5.9 billion in 2008-2009. Such big numbers make my head spin! Volvo is a part of the Premier Automotive Group and one of the luxurious brands owned by Ford Motor Company. The Volvo group of India has been outsourcing components from major Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies such as Minda HUF, Visteon, Arvin Meritor, Sundaram Clayton, and Rico Auto. Labels: Ford, Indian car market, Outsourcing auto parts, Profit industry, Volvo
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
New safari from Tata to launch on October 4th in India
Tata Motors Limited, India’s largest automobile company, is likely to launch its upgraded Safari on October 4. Safari, the big and handsome SUV from Tata, owns eight variants currently that include 5 diesel and 3 petrol variants. The new variant is expected to be a diesel version. The upgrades include an all-new 2.2-litre twin-cam 16-valve diesel engine that churns out 140 bhp, a grille and bumper that gives its front appearance a face-lift, and new seat fabrics. The rest of the vehicle will remain unchanged. A few safety updates are also expected in the new variant to help it compete in the current market. The highlighted update is the all new 2.2 litre twin-cam 16-valve diesel engine which will meet Euro IV emission standards. The price would be higher than the existing variants. This new variant may compete with the likes of Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra Bolero, and Ford Endeavour models in the market. Labels: competition, Ford, Indian car market, launch in India, Leading manfacturer, Mahindra, New variants, Tata
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Vintage cars and their popularity in India
Small, elegant, and sturdy cars manufactured between 1919 and 1930 are known as vintage cars. These cars are very popular among Indians who have the money to buy these vintage cars as a collector’s item. The characteristics of these cars are that they have front engines, closed bodies, internal combustion engines along with multi-valve and overhead cam engines with efficient V-8, V-12 engines and even V-16 engines for the luxurious car models. Popular vintage car models include Austin 7, Bugatti Type 35, Ford Model A, and Cadillac V-16. There are many Vintage and Classic Car clubs in India, which organize exhibitions and rally these oldies for specialty shows. There are also a few dealers who exclusively sell old model cars that have a rising demand. These cars are considerably pricey due to their value as an antique and the attached social standing. Though vintage cars have a booming market, the buyers face a very real problem; mechanical engineers who deal with and repair antique cars are rare to find. They use the modern techniques instead of the old mechanism to keep it moving, which lack the feeling of driving an old car. Now, in India most of the old cars are owned by aristocrats and royal families. The general population enjoys the appearance of these vintage beauties only during parades that happen once or twice in a year. These cars without any doubt draw everybody’s attention and stand like royal figures amongst the new makes. Simple in structure and elegant in gesture, these cars have always been a property of the upper class. In India, however, there are a few middle-class houses who own these noble vehicles for generations. In foreign countries there are workshops, which make fake versions of vintage cars. Most people get their favorite models done here. To a certain extent the mechanism is also copied to retain the novelty of the experience. The Indian market is yet to see manufacturers who can reproduce cars. The reproduction of Vintage Cars is a definite thought. Labels: Ford, Vintage cars still influence Indians
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