Market leader Maruti Suzuki India today launched its luxury sedan Kizashi. The car would be available in 2 variants: the manual variant will cost Rs. 16.5 lakh and the automatic version has been priced higher at Rs. 17.5 lakh (ex-showroom) in Delhi. There was a lot of expectation over the pricing of the car since Maruti will import the Kizashi from parent Suzuki's facility in Japan. Maruti Kizashi is powered by a 2400cc litre petrol engine that will churn out 185 bhp of power. Kizashi will compete with Toyota Camry and Honda Accord at the upper end and Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta and Toyota Corolla at the lower end. These vehicles are priced between Rs. 12 to 20 lakh.
As per industry estimates, the size of the luxury car segment in the country is over 55,000 units per year. Maruti currently commands nearly 50% of the total Indian car market which was at 1.87 million units in 2010. Maruti India has been trying to get into the bigger car segment for some time now. Its 1st attempt with Baleno did not meet with much success but the company was able to make a mark with the mid-sized sedan Maruti SX4 in 2007.
Between December and January, Ford India and its popular sub-compact car Ford Figo, together lifted 20 Awards in 2010, making Figo the most awarded passenger car in the country. Ford topped up the three 'Car of the Year' titles with the impressive 'Manufacturer of the Year', from a leading, jointly held broadcast and print media house. The definitively popular compact car's laurel journey began with the Indian Cars of the Year 2011' award – measured the most revered car industry award in India. Ford Figo has the largest boot in its segment but is not proving huge enough to hold all the trophies that the car has recently won.
These precious honours have come from across the automotive media industry which runs across print, web-based and broadcast mediums. They soon became infectious and garnered tremendous fame for the brand, building serious recognition and acknowledgement of the Figo's class leading attributes such as space and aesthetic design, best-in-class technology features, fuel efficient powertrains and value for money substantial package - all incorporated to address discerning consumers practical as well as lifestyle needs. Michael Boneham, president and managing director,
Ford India said, We always believed that Ford Figo would be our game changer but this car has performed beyond expectations. We appreciate that our customers had a wide option in the market but they chose to buy the Ford Figo. It is they who have immensely contributed for us to win these awards. Figo attracted thousand of customers, 40% of them, were in fact, first time buyers.
Ford Figo saw support and gained fabulous popularity in social networks. Many well-known automotive blogs and sites conducted their independent polls and guests and customers voted Ford Figo as 'Car of the Year'. More than 60,000 Figos have been sold since March and Ford India recorded an impressive yearly sales increase of 184 percent as compared to 2009. Ford India saw a favourable enlargement across nameplates with the Fiesta, Ikon and the Endeavour faring well in their respective segments in the year 2010, the company sold 83,887 units and nearly tripled it sales volume against a sum of 29,488 cars sold in 2009. It gives us immense pleasure to imagine those who bought the Ford Figo would be proud to have made the purchase decision. With such a massive boost in morale, we are sure of crossing more significant milestones in 2011 – something that we are already known for, concluded Boneham
Ford India and Figo won the following awards:
* All magazine Editor Jury - Indian Car of the Year 2011
* CARS India - Readers Choice Car of the Year 2010
* 2010 ET Zig Wheels Car of the Year
* CNBC TV18-Overdrive – Compact Car of the Year
* CNBC TV18-Overdrive – Viewers Choice Award
* NDTV Car & Bike 2011 – Small Car of the Year
* NDTV Car & Bike 2011 – Design of the Year
* 2010 ET Zig Wheels Premium Hatchback of the Year
* 2010 ET Now Viewers Choice Award
* BBC Top Gear – Small Car of the Year
* Bloomberg UTV-Autocar India - Car of the Year 2010
* Bloomberg UTV-Autocar India – Value for Money Car 2011
* Bloomberg UTV-Autocar India – Premium Compact Car of the Year 2011
* Bloomberg UTV-Autocar India – Viewer's Choice - Car of the Year 2011
* Bloomberg UTV-Autocar India – Ford India - Manufacturer of the year 2011
* Business Standard Motoring – Special Jury Award 2011
* TeamBHP.com - Car of the Year 2010
* Motor Vikatan – Best Car of the Year
* Motor Vikatan – Manufacturer of the Year
* Motorbeam.com - 2010 Car of the Year
Chevrolet India aims to almost triple annual sales to 300,000 vehicles by 2013 as India’s monetary progress and rising incomes boost demand. GM tactics to launch as many as six models, with two commercial vehicles, in India in the next two years, Karl Slym, leader of the Detroit-based company’s local unit, said at a press discussion in New Delhi recently.
A diesel-powered form of the Beat small vehicle will go on sale in a “few weeks,” he said. The automaker and its Shanghai-based partner SAIC Motor Corporation will begin advertising models in India this year similar to those already sold in China. GM entered the South Asian nation in 1994, tactics to boost its 5 percent market share with the new variety and challenge Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the country’s major
cars maker. In India, 40 % of the overall sales of the market are in commercial vehicles, and we don’t sell in that market. That is a big, huge progress area.” India’s domestic car sales rose 29 percent from a year earlier to 148,681 vehicles in December, the group of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said this month. Total passenger-car shipments jumped 31 percent to 1.87 million very last year, according to the group. GM’s sales in India increase to 59 % in 2010 to 110,804, according to the company’s website.
M&M has launched its next gen commercial vehicle, the Genio, in Mumbai. Targeting to a captive segment – small and medium business needs – the Genio pick-up is priced at Rs 4.99 lakh for the BS-III variant (ex-showroom Navi Mumbai). With the open of the
Mahindra Genio, company is expecting to modify the face of the pick-up industry in India. The Genio single cab pick-up will be the 2nd product after Maxximo that will be rolled out of Mahindra’s new Chakan facility. The pickup has been developed from Mahindra’s Ingenio platform (U-platform) – the same program which formed the basis of the Xylo MPV. This 1.2 tonne pickup will also be motorized by the same mDi CRDe motor from the Xylo D2, but in a detuned state. The motor now produces 75bhp, 20bhp less than the Xylo D2, while the maximum torque remains identical at 22kg.
Speaking at the initiate Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, M&M said, The Genio is a result of extensive buyer insight which captured the hidden and expressed needs of the customer. The Genio is an ideal commercial vehicle for businessmen, traders and SMEs. I am confident that it would be a game changer for the pickup section in times to come. Mahindra already has its Bolero pick-up doing duty in the section which the firm dominates with 75 % market share. The segment has seen a growth of 5% in the pervious year and is expected to make in double digits this year. The underperforming segment which had seen no new launches for the previous four years – the most recent being the Bolero pick-up – needed brand new products to help it grow. The newly launched Mahindra Genio will now directly compete with the Tata 207 Di.
On the occasion, Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra said, The pickup industry in India is more than 6500 vehicles per month and increasing With the bulk market share that we command, the onus is on us to suggest superior products thereby driving the industry growth. Launch of the Genio threatens to canablise the market share of own
Mahindra Bolero pickup. Though, Jejurikar is expectant that the new product won’t eat up into Bolero’s market. He added, Genio will not canablise Bolero’s market as they are targeted at different client base. And even if it happens, it will help the section grow overall.
The Genio has been developed with an investment of rupees 225 crore and Mahindra claims that more products on the similar platform are in the pipeline. Looking at the value-for money quotient of CNG powered motor vehicles; Mahindra is also working on a CNG powered variation of the Genio on priority basis, which will be followed by a dual cab pick-up version on the similar platform in future. At present, Mahindra Chakan plant has a capacity of producing 2000 Genios per month, which can be expanded to meet with the market demands.
Mahindra is also eyeing the export markets where it’s already selling the Bolero and the Scorpio pickups. For at the present the Genio has been developed for the Indian market only. We are looking at select export markets, but that will happen only after 6 months, Goenka said. The Genio is available in BS-IV variation as well which will be around Rs 15000-18000 dearer than the BS-III version. Offered in four smart colour options – Silver Shine, Marvel Granite, Diamond White and Skyline Blue, the Genio will be available across 70 dealerships at the time of the launch. And by mid February 2011, the pickup will be accessible across Mahindra CV dealerships pan India.
Ford India is going to re-name the existing generation Fiesta the ‘Fiesta Classic’ when the all-new Fiesta (code: B299) is launched later this year. Instead of giving a completely different name to the B299, Ford wants to stick to the original Fiesta name for its hottest car. The new Fiesta saloon that employs Ford’s global kinetic design theme is attractive as well as instant eye-catcher. It is bigger than the current-generation Fiesta and will acquire a more strong 1.6-litre petrol motor producing 118bhp. The diesel gets 90bhp from its 1.6-litre motor, up from the existing 1.4’s 68bhp and it will have a very useful 20.7kgm of torque. There’s more – this cars interiors are something that’s completely different from what you acquire to see in this class. The funky looking dash and high-class plastics make it feel like a truly modern auto and Ford has tuned this Mazda stage to its own very prominent standards. This should mean it has a comfortable outing and agile handling. Also, this car could get the option of a DSG-like dual-clutch automated gearbox.
Maruti Suzuki India is scheduling to launch the diesel alternative of SX4 in India next month. The diesel variant will also be facelifted with few cosmetic changes inside out, which was also exhibited by Suzuki in China. The Maruti SX4 Diesel will be motorized by the same 90 PS diesel engine which propels the Linea and the Manza. Unlike the permanent geometry turbo on the Swift DDiS, the SX4 diesel will introduce the variable geometry version which not only offers more power, but delivers it more linearly. The business is scheduling to price the diesel alternative of the SX4 aggressively, which has not been doing too well due to the lack of a diesel option. The SX4 is at present available only with a petrol engine, which isn’t quite as fuel effective as some of its other counterparts.
Tata Motors is going to inagurate a revamped version of its entry level sedan Indigo Manza very soon. The new facelifted Manza will come with some enhancive changes in its interior which the company is trying to make more easy for the passengers that the current edition available in the market. But, according to some insider, the company is planning about dropping the Indigo name and rename it with
Manza Elan. According to the some source, Tata Motors wishes to create a new brand identity for Manza. So, it has been mulling over the idea of moving away from the Indigo name for quite a time now.
Tata Motors had launched Indigo Manza in the year 2009 to increase the sales in mid to luxury car segment. The Indigo Manza presents good value for money as it comes packed with loads equipments and features. It competes with the car likes Swift Dzire and Ford Fiesta. Like its offsprings the Vista, the Manza uses Fiat engines – the 1.3-litre multi-jet and the 1.4-litre FIRE engine from the Linea. Indigo Manza comes with class leading feature – steering mounted audio control, integrated MP3 player, electrically adjustable ORVM, height adjustable driver seat, tilt steering, Driver Information system, ABS and double front airbags.
Volkswagen India has registered a sales jump of over 181 per cent in year 2010. The company sold a sum of 53,341 units in the calendar year 2010 as against the sales of just 19,001 units in the calendar year 2009. In adding up to this, the party had increased its manpower by about 100% to 4,537 employees in the year as against 2,116 employees in earlier year. Marking its debut in the swiftly increasing quantity driven mass division of cars in India, the company rolled-out its compact hatchback Polo and early choice sedan Vento in year 2010. Both of these automobile models emerged as one of the best selling cars in their respective segments. According to a announcement given by Mr. John Chacko,
Volkswagen Group’s chief representative in India, “This increase in production facts has made us more certain of our acceptance in the Indian market.” At present, the Volkswagen Group sells a sum of 18 automobile models through three different brands in the Indian marketplace together with Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen. The yearly invention capability of the company’s Pune based manufacturing capacity is 1,10,000 units
Koenigsegg, the Swedish manufacturer of some of the most powerful, the most desirable, the most exotic, and the most unusual looking supercars in the world is new in India with its range of supercars. For all we know, the company may also bring its most recent and to-be-launched Huarya to India as well in due course. The tormenter for the new supercar will follow this post. For now, however, the Koenigsegg company is bringing the Agera here, a supercar with a 4.7-liter aluminium V8 engine with twin-turbo super chargers.
The power is rated at a staggering 910 bhp, with maximum torque, at equally baffling 5,100 rpm. You won’t expect all that performance, power and beauty to come for cheap will you? Well, you would be right, as the car is expected to be priced at close to rupees ten crore on its launch. Delhi based InterGlobe Enterprises, one of the promoters of Indigo airlines, will partner with Koenigsegg in the speculation for India.
Maruti Suzuki has witnessed an increase of 20.34 percent to rupees 5,461.3 crore in its tax payment to the government in financial year 2009-10, as compared to the tax payment in past financial year. Maruti Suzuki company said in its Sustainability Information for the last fiscal, "Driven by large volume growth during the year 2009-10, the company's gross contribution to the National Exchequer (via duties and taxes) stood at Rs 5,461.3 crore in 2009-10, as compared to Rs 4,538.2 crore in 2008-09." According to Mr. S Nakanishi, Managing Director at MSI, "The year 2009-10 was a landmark year for Maruti Suzuki and the Indian commuter vehicle industry.
Maruti Suzuki became the first company in India to sell and make a million cars in a year." The net sales of the company during the financial jumped by 42.2 percent to Rs 28,958.5 crore as compared to previous monetary year. The increment after tax also surged by 105% cent to Rs 2,497.6 crore during this period. MSI's expenditure towards employees' wages surged by 15.8 per cent to Rs 545.6 crore in the fiscal from Rs 471.1 crore in 2008-09.