Maruti Suzuki Alto Is No.1 Small Car In World
This is first time ever for any Indian car company. Maruti Suzuki Alto has become the biggest selling small car in the world in 2010. Maruti Alto has beaten Fiat Uno and Volkswagen Gol in Brazil and Volkswagen Golf in Germany for the top spot. Maruti Suzuki Alto registered a 25% increase in sales in the previous year to over 300,000 vehicles, helped mostly by a peppier version - the Alto K10 - launched in the middle of 2010. During the same period, the two Volkswagen cars suffered a decline in sales with the Golf slipping down to third spot.
“The K10 has been very well received and has been responsible for the enlargement that we witnessed last year. We are confident it will do even better this year,” said IV Rao, managing executive officer (engineering), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. The success of Maruti Alto can be traced back from the time it was launched as since 2006 it has been able to stand as the largest selling car in India and now recognition at the global level has added further to its success story. The company is still aiming big for the car with a target sales of 4 lakh vehicles for the year 2011.
Toyota Liva To Hit Indian Roads By April This Year
Toyota Kirloskar Motors launched the Etios in December 2010 and at the same time unveiled the Liva, its hatchback. The Etios which was priced at 4.96 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) certainly got its fair share of attention and now the Toyota India plans to bring the its Toyota Etios Liva into the Indian market in April.
The Toyota Etios Liva will get the 1200cc petrol engine which will help Toyota to get the duty cut. The Etios Liva has been developed on a new platform and has a completely new engine which is not present in any Toyota car so far. The wait for the sedan in the diesel avataar will also be something to look forward to this year(2011).
{Source: Carwale}
Tata Nano To Be Exported To Taiwan Soon
The world’s cheapest car, Tata Nano, will going to be exported to Taiwan very soon, according to some reports in media. A Taiwanese firm, TECO Electric and Machinery Co., plans to start importing the Indian-made Tata Nano targeting the island’s millions of motorcyclists as potential buyers, a company official said on Wednesday.
“We’re working on it,” said an official at TECO Electric and Machinery Co-orporation , a Taipei-based conglomerate with businesses ranging from home appliances and telecommunications equipment to IT systems and commercial electronics. It is being anticipated that if the Taiwan company TECO launches Tata Nano, the mini wonder in their country it will be affixed with few changes such as added air bags, and is expected to be launched with a price tag of 250,000 Taiwan dollars (6,000 US dollars). Taiwan, an island of 23 million, had 14.6 million scooters and motorcycles at the end of December, according to statistics compiled by the transportation ministry.
{Source: Autoplugged}
Nissan India Registers Domestic Sales of 1104 units in Dec 2010
Nissan Motor India Private Limited on Tuesday announced that it has registered total domestic sales of 1104 units for the month of December 2010 as against twelve units in December 2009. Out of the 1104 units, Nissan Micra, the made-in-India Global compact hatchback leads the sales figures with 1057 units in December 2010 as against 1029 units sold in November 2010. Nissan India has so far sold 6441 units of Nissan Micra since sales began on July 15, 2010.
Out of the remaining, Nissan Teana, the luxury sedan (CBU) clocked 14 units in December 2010 as against 6 units in December 2009 and Nissan X-trail; the lifestyle Sport Utility Vehicle (CBU) registered sales of 31 units as against 6 units in December 2009. Nissan also sold two units of its iconic sports car, Nissan 370Z in December 2010. So far, the Nissan has sold eight units of 370Z since its launch in January this year. As part of its after-sales commitment, in an effort to handhold the consumers and provide them with round-the-clock assistance, Nissan has introduced a host of customer care and service schemes including Extended Warranty and Roadside Assistance for its products starting with the Nissan Micra.
{Source: carazoo}
Tata Nano En-Route To Be a Global Car
Amidst the falling sales and loosing consumer interest during in the domestic markets, Tata Motors believes that it can open additional revenue streams by making Nano a ‘Global Car’. Recently we brought you a story about Teco Group’s interests in launching the Tata Nano in Taiwanese markets. Now, many delegates from South American, South East Asian, West Asia and African countries have evinced interested to launch the car in their respective domestic markets. These interests are even coming from companies that are'nt related to the auto industry at all. Based on this overwhelming response, Tata Motors is conducting market research surveys in various countries to fuel its international ambitions.
Tata Motors spokesman - As for exports of the Tata Nano, our focus is right now on India. However, Tata Motors has all along been conscious that the Tata Nano will be appropriate for other countries as well. Hence, even at the time of the unveiling in January 2008, the company had said the Tata Nano will be, over time, marketed in other relevant countries At present, we have started consumer clinics in several countries This comes as no surprise for us because when unveiling the car at the Delhi Auto Expo, Mr Ratan Tata had clearly mentioned that he had keen interest in making the Nano a global product. Exporting it to markets like Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Brazil and Romania is a logical step forward for this city car.
These market research surveys will help Tata Motors customize the Nano to better suit overseas conditions. The car will also have to be modified to meet the pollution and safety norms of the respective countries. As for the Indian market, the company officials are running from pillar to post to bring the sales figures to respectable standards. Their efforts include easy loans for the car, TV commercials, extended warranty and service and the Nano’s sales figure improved quite dramatically in December 2010, clocking 5,000+ units.
Tata Nano shows recovery signs as sales touches 5,000 units in Dec 2010
Tata Nano, touted as the cheapest car in the world, has started showing signs of recovery from its sluggish performance of last few months, as its total sales touched 5,000 vehicles in the month of December 2010. The Tata Nano had earlier witnessed a sharp decrease of about 85% to 509 vehicles in its sales in last second month of 2010, as compared to the peak of 9,000 vehicles sold in July 2010. Most of the company dealers cleared their huge backlog during last month, which has reenergized the production of the car at its Sanand plant, in Gujarat.
The Sanand plant of Nano was inaugurated in the month of June last year. As per the company dealers, the sales of small Tata Nano car picked-up during last 10 days of December. In last one month, the company has offered a range of lucrative schemes and offers to both existing and prospective Nano buyers in the Indian market. These schemes include new additional safety features for all car owners and an extended warranty of 4 years at the payment of just Rs 99 per month. Moreover, the company has also offered a special loan scheme through which buyers can now get a loan on Nano in just 48 hours.
Third-gen Ford Focus will get torque vectoring VSC
To go on sale in the US early this year, the third generation Ford Focus will be available with a brand new vehicle constancy control (VSC) system that will use torque vectoring to develop handling. Apparently, inspiration came from downhill skiing and snowboarding techniques! “The new Focus is the first North American Ford vehicle to offer torque vectoring control. This is a skill that has been offered on high-end sports cars, yet Ford is making it standard on their new small car,” said Rick Bolt, program manager for the Focus.
He added that torque vectoring will be included across the range. “Torque vectoring control elevates the dynamic capability of the entire Focus model range, from an S series sedan through a Titanium Sport Package hatchback.” The principle is simple. The system will apply minor braking on the inside wheel when the Ford Focus takes a bend; this prevents slippage as it then travels a shorter distance while doing the same speed as the outer wheel. It’s not very different from what a mechanical limited-slip differential does, but this is a cheaper solution. Another inexpensive new car that has torque vectoring is the Nissan Juke with All-Mode 4X4-i.
Tata Nano Available Across India
Tata Motors has opened sales of the Nano in all the remaining states of India, making the car available across 874 of its sales outlets in the country. The car was thus far available in only 12 states. The Tata Nano comes with a 4 year / 60,000 km warranty and customers have the option to avail of a comprehensive maintenance contract at Rs. 99 per month. Tata Motors Finance has launched a special Nano finance scheme, under which a customer can get up to 90% loan with select documents in just 48 hours.
Ford India sales up by 184%
Capping up a momentous year in which the Figo won `the Indian car of the Year award (ICOTY 2011),’ Ford recorded an impressive annual sales increase of 184 percent this year. From January to December 2010, the Company sold 83, 887 units and nearly tripled it sales volume against a total of 29,488 cars sold in 2009. Ford India's year-on-year December sales were up 172 per cent compared to December 2009.
With the innovative ‘Midnight Sale’ promotion on December 4, Ford India took record bookings on a single day. During the industry-first ‘Midnight Sale’ event, Ford showrooms remained opened till late into midnight and made the purchase convenient for customers. Ford Figo was selected the `Indian Car of the Year 2011′ by a leading jury of automobile journalists after comprehensive testing. The same week, ET ZigWheels selected the Ford Figo for the twin honours of `Best Premium Hatch’ and `ET ZigWheels Car of the Year 2010.” Sales of the Ford Figo continued to be strong with more than 60,000 units sold in India since its launch in March this year.
Polo & Vento drive in sales growth for Volkswagen
The Volkswagen brand successfully ended the year 2010 with remarkable sales of 32,627 unit vehicles across India. This effectively shows a growth of over 974 per cent when compared to the same period last year (January-December 2009 – 3039 units were sold). Volkswagen brand continued its exemplary growth even in the month of December which ended with 5,772 unit vehicles sold. Commenting on the record sales, Mr. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India said “We are extremely delighted with the response received for our products. This reflects the growing customer confidence towards the Volkswagen carline.”
He further added ”To ensure we are able to reach out directly to this growing customer base, we have further expanded our reach from 40 to 70 dealerships across the country this year. These dealerships are spread not only in major cities but also in the secondary and tertiary towns where demand of our cars are increasing.”
Locally produced products are ace for Volkswagen
The sales champions for the year 2010 was clearly the Volkswagen Polo and the Vento (total units sold: 27,946) which have proven to be the right products for the Indian customers catapulting the Brand’s growth.
Growing brand awareness
A young brand in the market, Volkswagen’s unique marketing initiatives not only helped increase the brand awareness substantially but also was the most talked about brand in the year.