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Tuesday, 2 March 2010
The Union Budget 2010 has brought in a slew of price rises in the Indian car industry, which is deemed beneficial by the industry experts. Even the government claims that the post-budget price hike is going to bring long term benefits for the industry. All things considered, the budget has done nothing to bring a smile on current or future car owners.
Post-budget, fuel prices shot up and the other thing that has shot up along with it is the pressure on the Union Government to reduce the fuel prices. But Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, is not someone who gives in to the pressure of Opposition or his own allies, for that matter.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the general price hike has been brought about keeping in view the long-term benefits of the country. He also said that populist policies, if persisted with for a long time, will lead to erosion of the investment climate, our capacity to create new jobs, and of our ability to invest in flagship programmes for the poor people. Manmohan Singh also said that the hike in fuel prices would not add-up to the already-high inflation.
So much for the effects of increased prices on the country’s economy. Now let’s take a look at the effects of increased prices on present and future car owners.
There has been a hike in excise tax on prices of large cars, sports cars and MUV’s. However, the Indian government has taken into consideration the people who want to own smaller cars and spared them by sticking to the old excise duty. But, that has been balanced by hiking the fuel prices.
The fuel price hike may be conducive to the growth of Indian economy but it will definitely bring down the morale of vehicle owners. The general instinct of consumers may be to shift towards fuel efficient diesel vehicles, since diesel prices are relatively lower than petrol and even mileage-wise, diesel wins over petrol. But, the diesel prices have gone up too.
Excise duty on electric cars has been waived off by 4 per cent and they also get exemption from custom duty & other special duties on the components used. Now, that does bring a sigh of relief, considering that the hybrid car segment is going to touch a new high in India.
Labels: Budget-2010, Car-Sales-In-India, Cost-of-Car-Ownership, Diesel-Prices, Electric-Cars, Fuel-Prices, Indian-car-industry, Small-Cars, Union-Budget-2010
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
There was once a time when India’s mode of transportation was referred to in German industrial circles as the ‘world’s bullock cart’. But now things have utterly changed. At the 63rd IAA that concluded on Sunday, it has been noticed that the German car makers are very much interested to be a part of the ever growing Indian car market. One of the reasons is these car manufacturers are having a tough time in the markets of Europe, Japan and the US. German carmakers are trying to grab the attention of the markets in the so-called BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. And India is the favourite destination of the global car makers as the country clearly stands out with a large cash-rich middle-class whose appetite for luxury products, including foreign brand-name cars. Hence it was no surprise that India was the centre of attraction at the Frankfurt's International Motor Exhibition, popularly known by its German acronym IAA. Moreover, a special India Day was organised to highlight the opportunities and challenges of the Indian market. The ten-day Frankfurt Motor Show which ended on 27th took place under a dark and uncertain atmosphere because of the dismal economic condition as a major crisis still continues to haunt the West's automobile industry. Germany's car industry continues to bleed with declining sales and revenue therefore the German carmakers feel that one "simply cannot bypass the future market India". To highlight the market potential, it has been mentioned at the India Day that whereas one out of two Germans drives a car, in India the ratio is 11 cars to 1,000 people. India is at present the world’s eleventh largest automobile producer and is poised to take up the seventh position by 2016. Moreover, Management consultancy Deloitte predicts that by 2020, consumers will prefer small and energy-efficient cars and production will take place mainly in Asia, another reason to woo India. It has been predicted that turnover volume in the Indian market in the coming seven years would rise from $36 billion to $115 billion. That would account for a 10 per cent share of India's GDP by 2016. The number of workers directly or indirectly employed by the automobile industry would double to 25 million. Besides, it has been revealed that Europe’s and Germany’s number one car maker Volkswagen will join hands with Japanese carmaker Suzuki which has a tie-up with India's Maruti. Indian carmakers at the Frankfurt event appeared confident and bullish, buoyed by the unprecedented attention they received at the exhibition. Consultancy firm Management Engineers has estimated that India's small-car market is the world's second fastest growing after China. The annual growth rate, it says, is 7-8 cars per 1,000 residents in India. Small cars presently account for some 61 percent of India's automobile market while vans and SUVs make up some 13 percent. But German automobile experts are aware that India is not a "cakewalk" and German automakers such as Audi, BMW and Daimler have experienced that Indians wanted "the best product at the lowest possible price". Labels: Frankfurt's-International-Motor-Exhibition, Frankfurt-Motor-Show, German-Car-Makers, IAA, Indian-car-industry, Indian-car-market
Thursday, 28 May 2009
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
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Indian car market being the fastest-growing car market in the world has captivated many western auto biggies. Interestingly, the Chinese car leaders also couldn’t stay away from the alluring and rising Indian car industry. Realizing the prominence and potential of the Indian car market, Chery Automobile and Great Wall Motors of China is planning to enter the market through a joint venture. Currently, these manufacturers are seeking a local partner to make their debut. Till date, Chinese car manufacturers were focusing in the markets like U.S. and Europe. And since the volume started falling down because of the economic crisis, they are forced to divert their attention from these markets. Nothing is confirmed yet but it is said that Chery is in talks with the Sonalika group for introducing small cars in India. The company is expected to introduce their cars by 2010 with competitive price. Great Wall Motor (GWM) which primarily into SUV and utility vehicle production is also in talks with various local vendors for partnerships. Recently, the car manufacturer has also expanded its portfolio with MUV and hatchback. The company is looking for a partner in India which is already involved with model assembling. Labels: Chinese-Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Small-Cars
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
When the car industry is singing praises for the Nano, it’s giving a tough time for urban transport planners who predict the worse city traffic condition once the car hits the road. Surprisingly, the car is expected to expand the Indian car market massively which will definitely flood the tier II and III cities in the coming times. With no proper traffic strategies and large number of Nanos, the Indian roads will have a tough time. It is believed that the Nano is likely to imitate the 215 percent growth in annual volumes of cars seen between 1998 and 2008 within around ten years time. The figure clearly forecasts the condition which will engulf the Indian roads soon. The bulk sales of Tata Nano are expected in commercially active areas including small towns. It will hinder smooth traffic flow as the roads will get congested with increased number of vehicles. City planners say that it is not possible to widen the roads any further as there are limitations to number of flyovers and bringing down buildings is not possible. Moreover, it attracts huge investments that is difficult to get sanctioned from the government. The city planners can only create more one ways and put in more traffic signals to ease traffic congestion and avoid accidents. It would require some real planning for a new urban transport facility in India. But will the pace of development by government line up with the market conditions is a question that every Indian will ask soon after the 1st allotment of Tata Nano is made. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Indian-car-market, Tata-Nano
Despite the prevalent recession, few car models are still experiencing good sales with long waiting list and manufacturers struggling to meet the demand. The shinning car models in this time of downturn are Maruti Suzuki Swift's two versions- hatch and sedan, Mahindra Xylo and Hyundai i20. The newly launched Xylo has a waiting period of two months. Amazingly, the demand for Xylo is not affected even after Mahindra and Mahindra increased the price of the car by Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 in March. Sales continue to be strong inspite of all odds. Though Mahindra and Mahindra upped their production targets from 120 units per day to 135 units per day, it is still struggling to narrow the demand-supply ratio. It is noticed that the Xylo is snatching the market share of its siblings like the Scorpio and the Bolero. The two models of the Maruti Suzuki Swift are also witnessing a great demand with a waiting period of 3-4 months for each model. The company has recorded a booking of over 10,000 vehicles a month. Initially, the company produced 3,000 Swift DZires a month which is now scaled up by 7,000 cars due to the surge in demand. Hyundai is also celebrating the success of i20 bagging 2,000 bookings for the car every month. Hyundai i20 was launched in December last year and had not expected to sell more than 1,000 units a month. The company has scaled up the production to meet the increased demand for the car. These are signs that depict that the Indian car industry is doing roaring business despite of the slowdown. It also proves that some models do well in any market conditions. They are the winning models for this year. Labels: Hyundai-cars, Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki-Cars
Monday, 13 April 2009
With the moving wheel of time the economic scenario is changing and the car industry is gradually climbing up. There are speculations that after months of falling sales the domestic car market will now drive on a positive track with an expected growth of 3 to 5%. We all have a misconception that the year 2008 was the worst year for the car industry. But if we estimate and compare the figures revealed by the SIAM then we’ll come to know the actual truth of passenger car sales in 2008. Though the growth rate was slow infact the slowest in the past five years the overall passenger car sales experienced a rise of 1.3% in 2008 as compared to the previous fiscal. Despite of all the challenges and hurdles on its way the domestic car market ended with a positive note in the year 2008. Now when new cars are continually launching in India with more and more numbers of small compact cars the growth rate is expected to rise further by the end of this year. It is also believed that the key factor that may bring the car industry on a positive track would be the compact cars that are receiving demands from small towns and cities of the country. A wide range of small cars are now not driven within any restricted boundaries but are driving to small towns and are really doing wonders there. Labels: Car-Sales, Indian-car-industry
Monday, 6 April 2009
Automatic cars have taken the latest trend in the Indian car industry. Automatic transmission is one of the best features a car can have it as its make the driving a stress free. Many car manufacturers are introducing the car with automatic gear shift. The automatic SUVs are becoming very popular now and there is a speculation in the Indian car industry that even Ford is planning to introduce the automatic version of Endeavour. The new version of Endeavour would have a have a 5 speed automatic transmission and will be based Ford’s patent technology Transmission Control Module (TCM). This technology can automatically sense and quickly adjust to the changing speed of the engine speed as well as the driving condition. There is no confirmed data about its engine specification but it said Endeavour is expected to be powered by a 2.5L and 3.0L engine option which is same as the existing model of Endeavour Thunder. Coming to its price tag, Endeavour AT is expected to additional cost of Rs 50, 000. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Ford-Endeavour, Ford-Endeavour-Automatic, Indian-car-industry, SUV
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Even amidst recession the Indian car industry has witnessed a good growth. When the global car markets are experiencing slop under the clutches of financial meltdown, the Indian car market seems to be headed towards positive scale. Many new car models and variants were launched this year proving to be mascots for the car manufacturers. The Indian car market was dull for more than eight months but as every dark cloud has a silver lining, the slagging car market too bounced back with impressive sales. The February sales rose to double digits. Surprisingly, India’s leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki reported a jump of 20 percent in sales in February in contrast to last year. International car giants like General Motors and Ford too saw high sales figures in India while they are struggling with the Japan and the U.S. markets. Luxury car manufacturers are also happy with the Indian car market and want to expand their networks in the country despite the global downturn. For instance, Mercedes-Benz India has registered a growth of five to six per cent compared to the other countries. Seeing the market potential, Rolls Royce and Bentley are planning to foray the Indian car market with their upmarket cars. It is learnt that this was possible due to the strong government’s support that ensured excise duty cut by four per cent, lower interest rates on car loans, and easy export operations. India proved itself globally that even at the time of downturn, it is sanguine and capable to withstand the crisis. Labels: General-Motors, Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki
Friday, 20 February 2009
After reducing the prices of its homologated car models in India, Audi has come up with another scheme on A6. Audi's captivating A6 model is now available with a fabulous zero percent financing rate and an extended four years warranty schemes. Incredibly, this package includes 0% rate on finance for customers and an extended warranty of two years in addition to the normal two years warranty. The extended warranty is applicable for all the items which are covered in the initial two-year manufacturer warranty. A6 is one of the popular sedans with a synthesis of passion, comfort, power, driving dynamics. It comes in four variants 2.8 FSI, 3.2 FSI quattro, 2.7 TDI and 3.0 TDI quattro. Audi has extensive plans to rule the flourishing Indian car industry and these are the initial steps to occupy the centre stage. The company is using its powerful car models to gain volume market share. Apart from this, it has also introduced a customer-centric programme “Audi Top Assist” which provides round-the-clock emergency road side assistance services across 95% of the main route in India. Well, this scheme offers a symbiotic benefit for the company as well as the customers. Labels: Audi-A6, Audi-Cars, Indian-car-industry
Thursday, 19 February 2009
The first car safety feature in the car industry ‘seat belts’ turns 50 ensuring the protection of occupants as well as driver. Volvo cars were the first to get this safety device in 1959. During that time, no one had ever imagined that a simple innovation like this will continue to be tagged as one of the biggest life saver behind the wheel. The three point seat belt was invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin. It was first fitted in the car models PV544 and Amazon 120s sold in Nordic countries in Northern Europe. Since then, it has saved millions of life. Car passengers buckled with seat belts have 50% better chances of surviving during a car accident. There are no exact figures as to how many lives this safety feature has saved since its inception. But it has drastically reduced the number of road fatalities across the globe over the years. Still in the modern era when a host of advanced safety features have been introduced, cars can be seen plying on roads fitted with safety belts. It is incredible that the legendary seat belt still holds its position in the market and continues its noble tradition of saving lives. But a question arises is it facing a trouble time amidst various new safety devices in the market? There is one simple answer to this is 'No'. No new car safety feature in the market has ever been able to overpower the significance of seat belts in terms of safety and even today the basic fundamental design of the seat belts is the same. The only difference is that they have witnessed few added innovations and minor modifications. New technical solutions have interacted with seat belts to improve safety standards across the industry. Today, seat belts are loaded with pre-tensioners and force limiters for improved safety of car passengers. Wide and unavoidable use of safety belts around the globe will never make it loose it significance even if in the era of supercomputers and time machine. Submitted By : Ashish Trivedi Labels: Indian-car-industry, Seat-Belts, Volvo-Cars
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Maruti Suzuki’s famed and winning hatchback Swift has again heralds its success by bagging an impressive sales number of 3 Lakh. Amazingly, this car only took three years and eight months to reach the 3-lakh milestone. Since its launch in May 2005, the car has always seen an upward trend in terms of sales. In less than 21 months, it achieved sales figure of one lakh and progressing in the same success lane it again reached the sales number of one lakh in just 13 months. The car has received many accolades in India as well as in other countries. Incredibly, Swift was crowned with the title of ‘Car-of-the-Year’ in 11 countries including India due to its sporty looks, superior safety features, and dynamic driving. Swift has set a radical new trend in Maruti Suzuki’s image representing a new philosophy and fresh thinking of the company. Maruti has intelligently launched both the petrol and diesel variants of the car to lure car buyers. The Swift diesel variant also marked new benchmarks for diesel cars further increasing its popularity. This is not the end, the car has a long way to go and it is certainly going to keep its eminent image in the Indian car industry. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki-Cars, Maruti-Suzuki-Swift
Friday, 13 February 2009
 Rightly said “Every cloud has a silver lining” and we can now evidence this idiom. Take the instance of aftermaths of recession on the car industry. Surprisingly, when the credit crunch has highly impacted on the price of new cars, the price of used cars went down by whopping 30%. It’s more shocking to know that for the first time over 1000 cars are lined up in the Bangalore’s market in a span of only four months. This situation is created mainly due to the increasing job layoffs in the IT industry. IT professionals holding pink slips are no more capable of affording expensive four wheelers and are damping their cars into the used market. Even multinational companies and real estate developers are disposing luxury cars from their fleet. This scenario has flooded the pre-owned car market with huge population of cars and as the number of car inventory in the market is increasing, used car prices are falling down. Just imagine a used BMW 3 Series clocked just 300 km is available at Rs 25 Lakh and a used 2008 Honda City at Rs 6 Lakh. Even the three months old Maruti Suzuki Alto is tagged with a price of Rs 1 Lakh. There are people who are benefiting from the downturn and buying luxury and high-end used cars at a much affordable prices. So, it’s the best time for those who desire to buy high-end cars at affordable prices. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki-Cars, Used-Cars
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
BMW and Mercedes-Benz are competing with each other to conquer the Indian car market. Though both the car manufacturers hold the same position and brand image in the country, Mercedes-Benz has outshined BMW in terms of car sales. Surprisingly, the sales figure of Mercedes-Benz saw a positive growth even in the time of financial meltdown in 2008. All Mercedes cars including the E-Class, C-Class, SLK-Class, and the recently launched high-performance AMG cars have winning characteristics that has taken the brand name to the top position. Comparatively, even the new BMW cars like the 3-Series and 7-Series have set new benchmarks in the industry. Then why the sales figure of Mercedes is high? Is it the brand name or the competitive bar posed by performance, luxury, fuel efficiency, and ride quality making the rivalry more strong? BMW also has no clue for the reason of low sales report. But still the company aims to climb higher and take over its biggest rival Mercedes-Benz. BMW is gradually expanding its roots on the Indian soil to plant the seed of success in the country. After the launch of new 3-Series and 7-Series, BMW has even planned a slew of launches in near future which include the models Z4 and X6. It is also. It seems that the competition between the two car giants is aggressively building and it is yet to see who will dominate the promising Indian car industry in future. Labels: BMW-Cars, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
BMW is well known for incorporating innovative and advanced technologies in its cars. This is again proved by BMW with the introduction of the latest ‘Pedestrian Recognition System’ in the recently launched BMW 7-Series model. This system is first of its kind in the car industry which ensures an impeccable safety of the car users as well as the pedestrians. This amazing system uses FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) technology which alarms the driver of obstacles by identifying any human body shapes like torso, head, arms, and moving limbs. The HUD system fitted inside the car scans the road up to 300 meters and alerts the driver of oncoming obstruction on the way of the car. Interestingly, a passive infrared scanner identifies heat signals by humans which precisely spot pedestrians present even at far away distances. This new technology combines iDrive display console that visualizes the road ahead and the Night Vision system highlights which senses pedestrian's shape and heat sources present in the path of the car. Additionally, the HUD system notifies of any object that appears to be in the lane of the car and signals the driver by flashing an indicator in the instrument panel. The most surprising thing about this system is that it’s much cheaper than its earlier versions and thus does not add any extra cost in the manufacturing of the BMW 7-Series. Labels: BMW-7-Series, BMW-Cars, Indian-car-industry
Friday, 30 January 2009
There was a time when India was learning from the West and was picking their expertise, knowledge, and talents to graduate from the low technical profile. But now the trend has changed as the West is smitten by the ideologies and talents of India. India is gradually moving up the value chain in all areas. Today, the country is proudly known for its calibre to produce technological marvels as well as the low-cost cars. India is even supplying its expertise and engineered car components to the international car market. A glance back to January 2008 reminds us of the day when Ratan Tata unveiled the world's cheapest car in the Delhi Auto Show. Though the car has not yet rolled out but it has created several lucrative opportunities for auto engineering and designing as majority of the vendors are based in India. A significant milestone in automobile engineering is marked by Tata reportedly filing 34 patents with regards to design innovations of the Nano. Going further back down the line about two decades ago, we could see only the Fiat Premier Padmini and the Ambassador with restricted number of component manufacturers in the country. The actual race that took India towards a brighter future began in 90s. It was a time when component manufacturers started jostling for space and signing partnership with leading global players. Counting on the present state of the global car market, big players like General Motors and Ford take their car components from India. Infact some of the foreign car manufacturers even outsource engineering and designing talents from the country. Some of the leading cars like the Hyundai i10, Tata Indica Vista, Mahindra Scorpio, Reva Maini, Maruti Suzuki A-Star, and the Hyundai i20 are also manufactured in India utilising country’s best expertise. Labels: Indian-car-industry
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Despite the existing recessionary affect in the car industry, Audi India being optimistic has decided to assemble 1,000 units of the A4 and the A6 in 2009. These cars would be assembled at the Aurangabad plant of Audi. Though the car industry is mourning over the pain of drowning car sales caused by economic slowdown, it is said that the luxury car segment was least hit compared to the other segments. Inspiringly, car manufacturers did not lose their spirit and continue to go ahead with their proposed plans. Audi remains stiff with its expansion plans for India and still aims high to spread its network in the country. The energy to drive out 1000 units of A4 and A6 in the uncertain market condition is fuelled by Audi’s excellent threefold growth in car sales in 2008. This is an appreciated result as Audi succeeded in achieving a decent sales volume amid downturn compared to other car brands. Looks like it is the time for Merc and BMW to tighten up their strategies! Labels: Audi-Cars, Car-Sales, Indian-car-industry
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
At the time when only a few conventional car models were available in India, no car manufacturer thought of bringing a convertible to the Indian car market. Indian car industry during that time only comprised of cost effective car models. When globalization happened in the country, it witnessed a plethora of car models covering all shapes, sizes, designs, and price range. But the convertible segment was completely ignored which was though prevalent in the overseas market. Interestingly, during the early 90s, Mumbai based car manufacturer San Motors Ltd. ventured into this segment. The company launched the model San Storm with all the qualities that give a sense of ownership pride. This convertible model comes with dynamic style, unmatched comfort, and good performance. It was designed by the world famous Le Mans Design Group which is known to sculpture the French supercar Venturi and a number of cars for many renowned car manufacturers like the Peugeot and the Renault. With affordable price tag the car suits well in the price conscious Indian car market. The standard version of the car comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, central locking, and leather seating. The 1149cc engine generates a maximum power of 58.5 bhp. The company exports Storm to countries like Nepal, Cyprus, Malta, Bermuda, and UK. Its Bangalore plant is also an auto component supplier to many automobile companies in India and abroad. Currently, they are in the process of designing their next model that is a Sport Re-Creationary Vehicle (SRV) expected to arrive within a year’s time. Labels: Convertibles, Indian-car-industry, San-Motors
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Future of Nissan in India seems to be bright with a portfolio of new car ready to enter the Indian car market. Today, we have only two cars from the Nissan's stable in the country, the X-Trail and the Teana. But now the car manufacturer makes big plan for the country. Along with its global alliance partner the Renault, Nissan has signed a joint venture with Bajaj to introduce its ultra-low-cost car. Though the car is yet in the realm of imaginations, it will soon crack the Indian car market. In near future, Nissan also plans to introduce new versions of its X-Trail and Teana. The new X-Trail will hopefully be a CBU from Nissan's Kyushu plant. It will be built on the platform of Nissan Qashqai and will have a new four-cylinder, 2-litre turbo diesel common rail engine. It also plans a new Teana for India with similar dimensions and significant interior modifications. Even the design will be modified to contemporary European styling. The new Teana will be powered by an extremely popular 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Then in line, Nissan also has the Murano that is again in association with its alliance partner Renault. It will thankfully be introduced with new design, features, and technologies to suit the taste of Indian car buyers. It will be powered by an advanced VQ-series 3.5-litre, DOHC, V6 mated with Xtronic CVT and Adaptive Shift Control for smoother driving experience. Labels: Indian-car-industry, New-Car-Launch, Nissan-Cars
Signs of growing popularity of green cars in the car industry are slowly getting prominent.
And the only reason behind this is the rising mass concern on global warming. You would be shocked to know that vehicular pollution contributes about 70% to the total air pollution. Therefore, there is an immediate requirement of more environment friendly cars across the world. Earlier, car manufacturers and car owners were completely dependent on gasoline. But now, with the advent of new technologies, the dependency on conventional fuel has been reduced. No wonder why car manufacturers are heading towards the production of electric and hybrid cars. The Reva Maini and the Honda Civic Hybrid being the first electric car and hybrid car, respectively, in the country have gathered overwhelming response from Indian consumers. The success of these cars has inspired other car manufacturers to introduce green cars in the Indian car market. Presently, many car manufacturers are developing their future green cars. Mahindra after flavouring the success of Scorpio hybrid is now planning to gift more green cars to the Indian market. This time its green profile includes both electric and hybrid cars. The company has recently launched the scintillating Mahindra Xylo with the punch line ‘the era of sedans is over’. Truly, this MUV will give complex to sedans with its design and performance that are a blend of MUV and sedan. It seems Mahindra is in the process to overtake its rivals as it has also announced to launch 10 new car models in the coming time. Labels: Hybrid-Car, Indian-car-industry, Mahindra-and-Mahindra
Thursday, 15 January 2009
In-flight technologies are gradually taking their position in the car market in line with plenty of innovations and advancements. For the first time in the history of Indian car industry, a joint venture between DSK Digital Technologies and Taiwan-Based Funtoro have introduced a in-flight entertainment technology for luxury cars. Funtoro is tagged as a leading designer and manufacturer of impressive and functional in-car entertainment systems and car telematics. Just take a flash back and remember some of your most entertaining air journey. Aircrafts provide high-end entertainment system so that passengers can enjoy a comfortable and luxurious journey. Now, the same enjoyment and excitement can be felt in luxury cars with the new technologies designed by the joint venture. With this technology, you will be able to enjoy unlimited movies, slide shows, games, music and much more inside the cosy cabin of your luxury car. Adding a new dimension to in-car electronics, this innovative technology will soon take a flight above all other entertainment systems. Labels: Car-Market, Indian-car-industry, luxury cars
Thursday, 8 January 2009
It's incredible that cars would now be made of coconut. Researchers at Baylor University have introduced a innovative way to transform coconut husk into automotive interiors. Researchers believe that the coconut husk can be used to design the trunk liners, floor boards, and car door interior covers replacing the synthetic polyester fibres. Most of the people will wonder that why only coconuts were selected among a long list of plants grown across the world. But the leading researcher, Walter Bradley, has the answer. He says that coconuts has been picked up from the long list because it is grown in abundance. And about 96% of the total coconut production is taken over by poor farmers who don't even manage to earn their basic living requirements with this plantation. The idea to utilize coconut fire to build automotive interiors will create a viable new market for these poor farmers along with making the cars more environment friendly. In addition, coconuts having better mechanical properties not only preserves natural resources but are also cost effective and comparatively reduces a car weight. Adding to the green concept, coconut do not emit toxic fumes and are thus light on environment. Though this concept is new for the Indian car industry, in the global car market Mercedes-Benz is know to be the first to use natural fibre in cars. The exterior of Mercedes-Benz A-Class Coupé is manufactured using the abaca banana plant replacing the traditional glass fibre. Labels: Car-Market, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
The rat race among car manufacturers to rule the top position in the car industry is on. With the presence of so many domestic as well as foreign car manufacturers imparting pathbreaking models in the market, the competition among them has become very tough and rigid. Maruti Suzuki dominates the Indian car market with 50 percent share in the industry. Whereas car brands like the Hyundai and General Motors are very close to Maruti Suzuki with their small cars acting as atom bombs in the Indian market. When speaking about small cars, we can't even think of neglecting the winning model 'Hyundai i10'. The car has captured everyone's attention with its style, performance, and reliability. Wagon R standing against the Hyundai i10 has maintained the brand image of Maruti Suzuki with comparable sales score. Whereas in the premium hatchback segment, Hyundai Getz petrol variant scores higher than the Maruti Swift petrol variant. Though Maruti Suzuki could not defeat Honda and Chevrolet in sedan segment, its has rolled a new weapon in the hatchback battle field with the launch of the A-Star. The hatchback segment also witnessed the new Indica Vista, a product of Tata-Fiat alliance in India. With its improved design and performance, the new Indica Vista is known to give a strong sense of enmity to its rivals. Maruti Suzuki being the leading car manufacture of the country still dominates the small car segment. Now the company's grip is loosen due to tough competition. As the competition gets tougher, the car manufacturers are thinking of different ways to be on the top position. Only the time can tell, who will rule the Indian car industry? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
The calender year 2008 turned out to be a year of see-saw for the car industry stung by the inflation and global recession. These all has compelled car manufacturers to hike their car prices. Many car manufacturers including the Honda Motors, General Motors, and the Maruti Suzuki have plans to increase the prices of their car models. Recently, as part of Christmas and New Year celebration car manufacturers have announced attractive discounts and schemes to push car sales amid sluggish car market. Alluring discounts and schemes attracted buyers and the car manufacturers did saw some silver lining on the dark clouds. But now the New Year is going to play a little harsh on consumers with the expected increase of car prices. Hyundai has declared to hike its car prices by 2 percent from January 2009. The price hike is said to be the result of increasing price of raw material, labour costs, and other input costs. Presently, Hyundai is one of the leading players in India with many popular and admired car models. Its cars has steal the hearts of many and with the latest addition of Hyundai i20 in its car portfolio, Honda will definitely climb a step forward on the ladder of success. Labels: Car-prices, Hyundai-cars, Indian-car-industry
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Brand Lorinser, worldwide known for customising Mercedes-Benz cars has made its entry in the country to cater the affluent Indian customers. Since 30 years, the firm is renowned for tuning the entire range of Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs. Depicting a distinctive presence and uniqueness, Lorinser is lunched in July 2008 in India. Hailing from Germany, the brand specializes in modifying exteriors, interiors, and mechanical aspect of cars that includes aerodynamic body components, light metal rims, and performance boost engine modules. The Lorinser has created wonders to Mercedes-Benz models with its creativity in many countires like Europe, USA, Japan, and China. Excitingly, they have tied up with an Mumbai based dealership called Automania providing an opportunity for the Merc lovers in India to exceed the limit of their desire for excellence in terms of both luxury and style. Lorinser will definitely create a sensation with its products in the country as the trend of designer and customised cars are buzzing in the car industry. Isn't it great! now Merc owners can be able to enjoy the essence of German elegance here in India with re-defined Merc models adorned with luxurious comfort and style keeping the prestigious Merc status intact. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz-Cars, SUV
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
With so many car manufacturers announcing price cut on their car models, the Indian car market is now on a toss. At one end car companies are reducing their car prices and on the other end speculations of increase in car prices by January 2009 are high in air. Indian car manufacturers including the Maruti, Honda, Hyundai, General Motors, and the Hindustan Motors have announced a cut in their respective car models in response to the excise cut benefits announced by the government. All these players including the German car manufacturers, Audi and Volkswagen, aim to pass the complete benefits to their customers. According to them, this may boost the falling car sales further accelerating the slow moving car market. But, then there are confirm news and few speculations that states that many of the car models will become costlier by January 2009. Some Indian states are planning to increase their local taxes which would eventually increase the price of all car models in those corresponding states. Talking about Honda and General Motors, they have already announced that they are increasing the prices across the entire portfolio of their car models. Even Maruti is speculated to increase the car prices of its car by January next year. With this, the car market is placed on a toss with an imbalance in the expected market performance. If the speculations of price hike are true, the short-term price cut in December this year would not put any major impact on the position of the present day car market. And if speculations are just to gain back the waning car buyers, car sales may boost to some extent without actually reviving the fortune of the Indian car industry. Car manufacturers definitely have to hunt for a fresh approach and innovative strategies to bring back the lost status and position of the Indian car market. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Car-prices, Indian-car-industry
Monday, 15 December 2008
Potential car buyers in the country are rejoicing the recent price cuts announced by the car companies in response to the reduced taxes. But, there are speculations that this celebration will get over by January 2009 as most of the car manufacturers are set to raise their car prices to about 2 to 3% in January. This will then neutralize the benefits of excise cuts and bring back the car market to its original position. Though the move is taken with a view to improve the profit margins. There are speculations that almost 31 car models in the Indian car industry will experience a lift in their prices. Major car companies like Maruti, Honda, General Motors, and Toyota feel that now it is difficult for them to hold the current price levels of their car models due to increase in the input cost of production with prices of steel and aluminium soaring high. All these car companies are planning to increase the prices of their respective car models in the range of Rs 6000 and Rs 58,000. But, we wonder whether this is true or not. There are possibilities that the car manufacturers have announced the proposed price hike just to threat and awaken the waning car consumers so that they can clear their inventories. With a thought that cars would become costlier in January, many car consumers may purchase cars this December. And this in turn will help the car companies to have good sales in December. Labels: Car-Manufactures, Car-prices, Indian-car-industry
Friday, 12 December 2008
The Mumbai International Motor Show 2009 (MIMS 09), powered by the Times of India, opens a new gateway to the Indian car industry. After huge amount of blood sheds, panic, and fear, the financial capital of India, Mumbai, is set to awake for another rendezvous, MIMS 09. The city will witness this show with poignant fervor from January 15-18, 2009 at the popular Bandra Kurla Complex. The show will be an ideal platform for automobile manufacturers and auto accessories manufacturers to showcase their wares, skills, and productions, thereby reviving their business. The event promises display of spanking new cars, SUVs, and bikes that are expected to hit the car market in the coming years. You can also enjoy there the virtual glance of an impressive display of latest and modern automotive technology including auto accessories, in-car entertainment system, and design concepts. The major highlights of this impressive and large auto show will be the stunt bike show, simulator zone, Bollywood car pavilion, and Formula 1 car display. This is the first such event in the history of Indian auto industry that will definitely revitalize the gloomy environment in the car industry, opening a whole new automotive world especially for Western India. With a plethora of events, exciting displays, gaming sections, and promises made by big names of the automotive world, this show will worth the visit. If you are a car enthusiast and have a passion for bikes, then MIMS 09 is an ideal avenue for you. You can even get an opportunity to interact with the automotive experts from around the country. Mumbai International Motor Show 2009 would definitely invigorate the depressive and slow-moving car market. Hope the Indian auto industry witness a new dawn lightened with rays of new hopes and aspirations along with the new calendar and the tantalizing show. Labels: Auto-Shows, Indian-car-industry, International-Motor-Show
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Technologies and innovations are ruling every sector including the car industry. Today, cars are no more only a means of transportation. Car consumers have put in high aspirations and demands from car manufacturers. They want cars that are equipped with more technically advanced and modern features. Car telematics is a blend of computer technology and wireless communication that works in association with electronic sensors. The key objective of telematics is to connect cars to mobile networks. These play an integral role to improve communication between a driver and a car with regards to roadside assistance and remote diagnostics. Telematics also help car drivers to perform functions like exchanging mails, downloading digital audio and video files, accessing Internet, and searching a perfect route to a desired destination. These applications further help to improve safety and comfort level while driving. The U.S was the first market to adopt telematics in car. Following the U.S market, even European and Indian markets have started adopting this technology to introduce improved standards in the car. In India, the worth of telematics can be seen in high-end luxury cars like that of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Even Volkswagen, Volvo, and Mahindra have introduced electronic sensors in few of their car models. Car telematics is though a new word in the car industry but a significant one as all the latest technologies including the Driver Information System in New Logan, Brake Assist in Mercedes-Benz cars, or the GPS (Global Positioning System) in quite a few of the cars in India, all are works on the principle of telematics. Indian car manufacturers are still in search of better car-telematics to improve the movement of car on roads to ensure improved safety and better driving experience. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Mercedes-Benz-Cars
Thursday, 4 December 2008
The new Honda CR-Z is believed to be the coolest car in the future. It’s a concept wrapped with futuristic styling, hybrid technology, and advanced interiors. It draws its inspiration from the need to deliver dynamic performance in an efficient manner. The CR-Z stands for "Compact Renaissance Zero,” a cute expression that defines renaissance in compact car design. This means that the car will be unveiled with an idea of reviving the designs of compact cars in the global car industry. Still in the concept stage, this beautiful car is expected to hit the European market in 2009 and in rest of world in the following year. It will be available with a host of green technologies without any compromise on performance and style. Designed to be revolutionary and energetic, the CR-Z rolls around two keywords, hi-tech and sport. The interiors of the car give a sporty appeal along with the feel of airy spaciousness and blissful driving experience. Other design details including the LED headlights, jaunty fin-shaped sub-lights, and large 19-inch wheels ensure dynamic driving performance. No fixed dates have been revealed for introducing this clean, fast, light, and impressive hybrid in India. But whenever it rolls out, it will definitely set a niche in the Indian car industry. Labels: Compact-Car, Honda-CR-Z, Indian-car-industry
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Indian car industry is really facing a tough time. In the early fiscal, the industry faced the challenge posed by inflation, then the high fuel prices and high interest rate. After all this, when the auto industry was just managing to combat the impacts, a severe liquidity crunch made a hard hit. While the challenges are still on, again a breeze of gloom has entered the car industry accelerating the hurdles with the recent imposition of restrictions on import of certain key auto components in India. Till date bumper parts and transmission shafts were considered to fall under free import category. But according to the recent notification of DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), these basic automobile components have been pushed under restricted category. Not only these, even components like iron products or non alloy steel coated components have been placed under the restricted import category. All these components are used to create car chassis without which the car cannot be designed. Being an essential part of the car, the taxes, and charges on these components will further increase the cost of production. So, there are possibilities that cars prices may hike. If you are planning to purchase a car, then get one now before the prices goes up. Labels: Auto-Components, Fuel-Prices, Indian-car-industry
Monday, 17 November 2008
The count 98 in one day is commendable! It’s incredible to believe that Honda has sold off 98 cars in just one day. This awesome sales figure was recorded after the company has slashed down the price of its Civic Hybrid by Rs 8 Lakh. This high sales number is obviously attributed to the sharpest and steepest decline in price tag of any car in the history of Indian car industry. A discount of nearly 40% in the price of the hybrid has lured many waning car customers. The demand has increased so much that Honda is struggling to keep the delivery in pace with the customer’s demand. It’s more exciting to know that the number sold in one day is much higher than that sold in the entire span of six months since the car was launched in June 2008. Honda still aims to sell 100 more cars and now let’s see how much hybrids ply on Indian roads. Labels: Car-Sales, Honda-Cars, Indian-car-industry
Friday, 14 November 2008
There are speculations in the car industry that the Tata Motors is prepared to introduce India’s first fuel cell car in association with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation). ISRO works to developing space technologies. This organization is working with Tata to produce this new prototype that would be tagged as the world’s cleanest car. Fuel cell technology is a rocket fuel technology completely based on a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. A combination of two will be placed in the fuel cells to propel the car by generation of electricity. And when the mixture is expelled from the car, the environment will get nothing more than crystals of water vapour, something that won’t create an ecological imbalance. It is also believed that this hydrogen-powered car would have hydrogen storage, regulatory and control system, all driven by the electricity generated from fuel cells. Happily, the hydrogen-powered car will have zero emissions. Whenever this car will make its debut to India, it will definitely change the image of Indian car industry. Labels: Fuel-Cell-Car, Indian-car-industry, Tata-Motors
 Indian car industry was eyeing the new car launches with hopes and aspirations that the new excitement will enlighten the slow moving market. But all the expectations are shattered as manufacturers are postponing their car launches to combat the economic recession. First in line are Fiat cars, Linea and Punto. Fiat has postponed the launch of Linea to December and even the launch of Punto is pushed to next year. The company fears the poor sentiments of the prevailing car market but is optimistic that the situation will improve. Next in pipeline is the Bravo, a luxury hatchback, that was supposed to be launched early but now the manufacturer refuses to give a final date for the launch. Even the launch of Tata Nano is on a continuous delay. Earlier the launch was delayed because of the Singur issues but this time, the reason may be different. Maybe the company is not willing to capture the market with the present scenario. Even Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai have pushed their launches from the festive season to year end. Maruti A-Star was planned for launch in October during the celebrations of Diwali but now it will make its debut in November or early December this year. Hyundai has also announced the commercial launch of i20 in the domestic market by early 2009. So, with delayed car launches, new excitement and thrill have also been pushed back. Labels: Fiat-Cars, Indian-car-industry, New-Car-Launch
Friday, 7 November 2008
Forget the downturn! Welcome 50 new cars! Though the entire economy is shaken by the global economic recession, Indian car industry is on a leap. Not in terms of car sales but definitely in terms of car launches. The year 2009 promises to change the look and faith of the car industry with half century of car launches that await you. Everything from the world’s cheapest car Tata Nano and the fuel-efficient Hyundai i20 to the high-tech and premium luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz New E-Class and Audi R8 are on the industry’s radar. Excitingly, all these will roll out on Indian roads in the next 12 months. Just imagine the number of cars on road if 50 car models are to be launched. It would far beyond the counting ability. And if in case, in the next couple of months car manufacturers announce the launch of more cars, the numbers on road will reach its peak. Labels: Indian-car-industry, New-Car-Launch
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Motorsports in India, isn’t it paradoxical? Motorsports have never gone hand in hand with the Indian economy. But today, motorsports have made its way through the growing economy. You would be amazed to know that motorsports entered the Indian market in 21st century, a recent entry. Then too, the industry has spread its tentacles across the territory. The key reason behind the growth is the Indian car industry. The industry has become so advanced that every now and then some or the other car manufacturer put its hand on the sports segment with a desire to promote brand among a huge number of sports enthusiasts. You talk about Volv o, who recently gifted a Volvo car to the winner of the Olympic Gold medal, Abhinav Bindra. Then what say about the Honda Accord gifted to Digvijay. Similarly, many car manufacturers have associated themselves with the sports and are introducing fast cars that are capable to run across all kinds of roads and terrains. Have anyone heard about the vintage car rally, a rally that displays a perfect assortment of vintage cars. Then we have the Monsoon rally where car drivers participate in big numbers and finally the Himalayan car rally, a tough raid where car drivers have to run their cars on challenging mountain ranges across the Himalayan. You must also be aware of the recent raid introduced by Maruti Suzuki, ‘Maruti Suzuki Raid de Himalaya’. It was an interesting raid but the most challenging one. If you really have the heart to face challenges in life then motorsports in India is a fun. Labels: Car-Manufacturer, Indian-car-industry, Volvo-Car
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
We feel good to announce that the great Maruti Suzuki Swift is redesigned to a sports coupe. The transformation from four to two-door racing car will be gifted to the winners of F1 racing. It’s even more amazing to know that this sports coupe is sponsored by a renowned brand, Royal Challenge. You all must be aware by this big name. Recently, the company has associated itself with the India's Formula 1 team event. The company wanted a car that can emanate pace and passion of all the sports enthusiasts especially the ones involved in the Formula 1 racing. The brainchild of Prashant Chandra created a bang in the Indian car industry by introducing a sporty and high performance revamped Swift, renamed as RCFI. This sports coupe has burrowed the best of designs from the top leading and quintessential supercars available across the world. Adorned with a vibrant combination of black and red, the remodeled Swift has appealed the youth. This new invention has forced the global players to comment that only Indians can do such wonders. Labels: Formula-1, Indian-car-industry, Maruti-Suzuki-Swift
Monday, 13 October 2008
 Car manufacturers are rolling ahead with dissatisfactory sales figure and a drowning smile. This fiscal has seen a great variation in the sales graph due to ups and downs in the fuel prices. But…Mercedes-Benz takes a toll above all. Yes! Mercedes has showcased an accelerated growth with the car sales figure crossing about 3,000 so far this year. The Mercedes-Benz car range including C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class dominates the high sales growth. Doesn’t that dictate the changing face of the Indian car industry? Car customers being least concerned about the high fuel prices are increasingly buying luxury cars. As it is the people who can afford Mercedes can easily manage to pay for the high fuel prices. Infact, we feel that the luxury car market has nothing to do with inflation. Does it? Mercedes still has many more plans behind the veil to strengthen its foothold in India. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars, Mercedes-Benz Car-Manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz-Sales
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Robotized Car Parking! Does this sounds strange? Well folks, this is nothing strange, it’s just an advancement of technology and innovation in the country. Gradually, the Indian car industry is pacing with innovative technological advancements. The advancement in the industry is not restricted to the entry and exit of cars but much beyond that. Innovations are also noticed in the field of car accessories, car designing and even car parking. Speculations are in the air that Mumbai is soon going to become robotized with a fully robotized car parking. The prime objective of the robotized parking is to reduce the parking hassles. With a robotized parking, a driver just needs to drive to the check in point and after that everything becomes automatic. A rotating carousel takes place of human. The carousel hands over a parking ticket to the driver. After that a robot comes into picture. Robot with sensors identifies the dimensions and size of the car and then determines the perfect parking place for that particular car. Even during exit, the driver just needs to place the parking ticket on the sensor and the rest is done by the rotating carousel. There is news that such robotized car parking work has been started on Bhulabhai Desai Road in posh South Mumbai. This work is undertaken by a joint venture between Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Akruti City Labels: Car-Parking, Indian-car-industry
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
This Diwali may light up the darkness of Indian car industry. The current quarter of the fiscal has paved a rocky path for the Indian car industry. But now, the industry wakes up with a slew of launches due during the festive season of Diwali. The start up of the launched was kicked by Tata Motors with its recently launched Tata Indica Vista. Vista is kitted with the Fiat multijet engine and the company is sure that the sale of Vista will reach a peak during the Diwali season. Indica Vista is to be followed with the launch of Tata Nano. The company is also planning to launch Land Rover and Jaguar models during the same period in order expand JLR’s footprints in the country. Meanwhile, the Toyota Motors is ready to launch its Corolla Altis and Honda Seil India is ready with its new generation Honda City in September. The Maruti A Star is also lined up for launch in October, right during the festival time. Mitsubishi plans to drive the Lancer Gallant and the SUV Outlander to India in October. With all these scheduled launches, the Mahindra & Mahindra also makes a decision to roll out its new platform Ingenio MUV. Other cars lined up for the season are Fiat Linea, BMW 7 Series and Hyundai i20 hatchback. Car manufacturers are desperately looking for incremental sales with the forthcoming launches. Most of them are sure that the festive season will boost the sagging fortune of Indian cars manufacturers and will definitely reap good benefits. Will the expectations of car manufacturers get fulfilled? Will Diwali really lighten up the darkness of Indian car industry? Labels: Indian-car-industry, New-Car-Launch
The German car manufacturers like BMW, Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz are dancing on the Indian continent. These manufacturers have spread their wings wide in the Indian car industry and are gradually emerging as renowned luxury brands. Today, if you take a survey of all ardent car lovers, then 99% of the fans will speak praises and verses of the German technology installed in Indian cars. At some point or the other everyone must have dreamed to own high-end luxury cars like Mercedes-Benz C Class, Mercedes-Benz M Class, BMW 530 D, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Audi A 4, Porsche Cayenne, and Porsche Cayman. Indian buyers have a range of these cars when it comes to luxuries and comfort. The range also includes some incredible athletic cars, magnificent sedans, sport coupes and excellent convertibles. Many Indian car buyers are so much fascinated with the in-built German technology that they are not bothered about the high price tag for the extent of luxuries and comfort they are getting. That’s the place of ‘German’ in India! But do you really think that German technology have overpowered the Indian car industry? Or is it only a part of the entire industry platform? Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars
Monday, 18 August 2008
The market of car customisation is on the cards. The Indian car industry is now dominated by customised cars. Legendary cars are undergoing customisation to meet the changing needs of individual customers. The art of customising cars has also given an opportunity to the industry to produce better and more reliable car models. Now you can jazz up your car with anything you like. Most of the car manufacturers including the Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet and the Mitsubishi offer all its customers an incredible opportunity to customise their own cars. The major areas where customisation can be done are car wheels, entertainment systems, restyling products, suspension pieces and under the hood. Today, the car customisation industry in India is powered with vibrant hot rod, street rod and muscle car culture. Hot rods and street rods are adorned with better and more powerful engines whereas muscle cars behold powerful engines. All the modifications are made with deep consideration of the choices, likes and desires of the customers. The Ambassador, Fiat Padmini and the Mitsubishi Lancer are some of the best modified and customised Indian cars if you are hunting for a hot rod or a muscle car. Labels: Car-Customization, Indian-car-industry, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
India will be soon turned into a global hub for small cars! Hyundai Motors has recently announced to make India its global hub for small car. The company has a very transparent picture about the Indian market. The Hyundai i10 is successful in gathering the customers’ attention and now i20 is on the way to roll out. The car will be solely manufactured in India. Hyundai i20 is a hatchback sedan from the “B” segment and will compete with Skoda’s Fabia and Ford Fusion. This auto player from South Korea had entered the Indian market ten years back and has rolled out successful models to country. The brand also carries an attractive campaign with the heartthrob bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan and the bubbly tennis ace Sania Mirza as its brand ambassadors. Labels: Hyundai, Indian-car-industry, Small-Cars
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Garuda, a super mileage car, is finally ready to be launched! The launch of this super mileage, fuel-efficient car in this era of rising fuel prices and high interest rates is a big revolution in the Indian car industry. The launch of this car is also credited to the various issues including oil crisis, environmental pollution and aggressive search of alternative fuel sources. The new electric car is manufactured by students of Mechanical Department of RV College of Engineering in Bangalore and is expected to be unveiled in August, 2008 at the college campus. This super fuel efficient car is designed and manufactured with latest cutting edge technology. This will be the first Indian car that is completely ready to participate in the "SAE Supermileage International Competition" in USA and "Shell Eco-Marathon" in the UK. Will the proposed launch of Garuda threaten the only electric car Reva Maini in India? Reason being that both the cars have a common start, from the Indian IT hub, Bangalore. Labels: Electric-Cars, Fuel-efficient-Car, Indian-car-industry
Friday, 25 July 2008
With the hassles of inflation and hikes, the car market in India is facing a tough time. The first quarter of the fiscal year has brought agony in the market. In India, car prices are now observing a next hike in all the car models. Increasing raw material cost is compelling car manufacturers to go for regular hike in car prices. First time, the car prices were raised in January by almost 3%, next time the prices were raised in May-June by almost 4% and now this month is experiencing the third round of price hike. This time the reason for increase is the high cost of all metals used in the automotive industry. Prices for aluminium, copper, nickel, plastic, steel and rubber have increased all of sudden, resulting in more input prices. This has eventually forced all car manufacturers to raise their car prices. The net turnover of the average cost of raw materials has gone up to almost 74% from about 69% within two years. Apart from increasing manufacturing costs, the industry is also facing problems with oil shortage, to be increased road tax and many more factors that are actually hampering the growth and success of Indian car industry. The expected increase of car prices is about Rs 5000 for small cars and Rs 12,000 for the luxury brand models. The price of the Honda City has already been increased by Rs 15,000 and the new Honda Accord by Rs 30,000. Maruti and General Motors are trying to evaluate their best option to provide the affordable price to their customers. Labels: Car-Manufacturers, Indian-car-industry, New-Cars
Thursday, 10 July 2008
After the production of Nano, global auto players have their eye on Indian engineering skills. Car manufacturers from all over the world are sourcing our country for competence and components. Global car manufacturers now have a perception that India can be a hub for the production of small cars. They are confident that by outsourcing their production to India, they will benefit a lot in terms of efficiency and cost cutting. Maruti is ready to come up with its ‘A-star’ model. The company is also laying focus on research and development for developing a unique engineering pool in India. Other car players like Hyundai, General Motors and Honda have also accepted India as a sourcing hub for next generation small cars. The road is not long for India to become the small car hub. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Small-Car-Hub
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Luxury car manufacturers are continually lining up new cars for India. Even after such a high inflation, the luxury car segment is not affected. This segment is constantly growing in India. Earlier, the Indian luxury car market was headed by Mercedes-Benz. It was the only brand name in luxury segment. But, now many models and makes have emerged. Some of the popular and leading luxury car makers today are BMW, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Audi. All these manufacturers have come up with unique, stylish and elegant cars like Audi A4, Porsche 911 Carrera, BMW 5 series and Mercedes E class. Mercedes-Benz is also planning to roll out its spruced up M class and SLK models. All the models are priced between Rs 37 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore depending on the make and luxury features. Most of the car manufacturers are moving towards small car segments and hybrids but luxury car manufacturers are still happy with the sale. Even the car dealers emphasise more on luxury cars. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Luxury-Cars
Friday, 27 June 2008
Good to know that major car makers and auto suppliers are entering the Indian market and making the industry more competitive and winning. Magna, North America's largest auto parts supplier, is now planning to open a new factory in India. This plan is implemented with a desire of boosting car sales in Asia. India being the cheapest resource for production and manufacturing is targeted by the company. The factory is expected to start next year in Pune and will produce powertrain parts for Indian car industry, cutting its dependence on North America. Do you think the expansion plan of Magna will be successful? We definitely think so because so much efforts and investment can never go waste. This factory will definitely bring a win-win situation for the Indian car industry. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Magna
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Good news for car lovers! Proton, a Malaysian national carmaker, is planning to launch three of its models, Savvy, Saga and Persona in India. These models are expected to enter the Indian car market next year. Currently, these models are undergoing trials and technical evaluation to meet the demands of Indian roads. Savvy is a 5 door mini car with an engine of 1.2 liter, Saga is a sedan with an engine of 1.3 liter and Persona is a mid-size car with an engine of 1.6 liter. Falling between the price range of Rs 3.7 lakh and Rs 6.5 lakh, these cars are expected to compete with the highest selling cars of Tata, Maruti, Hyundai and General Motors. Labels: Indian-car-industry, Launch of new car in India
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