Maruti Kizashi 2011 launched in India

Small car wizard Maruti launched its most awaited model, the Kizashi in the market at the price of 16.5 lac (for MT) and 17.5 (for AT). The fuel efficiency is guaranteed for Maruti Kizashi is 12.53 (MT) and 12.45 (AT). This Japanese major Auto giant Maruti sells its Kizashi very well in US and its own market Japan. After that it finally launched to India with very affordable price. This Maruti Kizashi would be available both in automatic and manual transmission which is powered by a 2.4 liter and four-cylinder engine.

Maruti created this new invention basically to compete with Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in India. This sporty Maruti Kizashi comes with four door mid size sedan. The seating capacity is only 5 including the driver. The rear view of this car becomes sportier with twin exhaust system. This model is equipped with 17 inch alloy wheels and the steering wheel contains three spokes and electronically powered. It does have sophisticated audio system with 7 speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. CD/MP3 system with FM system is also incorporated to this model. The average mileage that Kizashi shows is 9.5 kmpl in City and 12.5 in Highways.

Tata Pixel Concept at Geneva Motor Show 2011

Tata Pixel Concept has been presented in the ongoing Geneva Motor Show. This model of Tata contains 1.2liter three-cylinder engine. This is an invention from Tata after the Tata Nano. If we analyze the performance of this concept then this model consume 3-4 liters of fuel per 100km, emitting around 89g/km of CO2.

The most important innovation that this Pixel brought is the system of ‘Zero Tum’. This is a system that is flexible for all four wheelers to rotate, reducing the turning radius of 2.6 meters, which is almost helpful to drive and to park in big cities.

Luxury car prices likely to go up in India

With the growing clout in the luxury car segment, a new provision in the Budget could well lead to a hefty hike, over Rs 8 lakh or more, in the prices of entry-level cars of the companies like BMW, Audi and Mercedes. In what appears to be a bolt from the blue for the luxury car makers, mainly from the German stable, a change in definition of completely knocked down (CKD) car is threatening to derail the softer import duty regime.

The provision, hidden in the memorandum explaining the provisions of Finance Bill, has created panic among companies like Audi, BMW and Mercedes as they are scared that a jump in the prices of their India-assembled cars will hit demand.

Models affected could be all entry-level luxury cars. From BMW, these would include the 3-Series and 5-Series sedans and the X1 SUV from Mercedes the C-and E-Class sedans; and from Audi the A4 and A6 sedans and the Q5 SUV. Other companies who are having some CKD models will also be affected and these include Toyota’s Fortuner, Volkswagen’s Jetta and Passat and Ford’s Endeavour.

Source: Times of India (Daily Newspaper)

Mahindra Xylo mHAWK

 Mahindra is planning to unveil its new Xylo in a new designed way to the market soon. The Xylo will be refined with mHawk engine to attract new customers. In the past Mahindra has done well business in Indian market with the supply of Scorpio and Bolero. This time it has also targeted to do good business with this advanced technology. 

Apart from enhancing the performance of this four-wheeler, this new engine will also show better fuel economy. The new Mahindra model is expected to release in May, 2011. And its expected price will be Rs. 7,50,000.

Ford to launch new Fiesta Sedan soon

Recently we have seen too many Ford Fiesta models and this time Ford is going to launch some new and more technically savvy model to the Indian Auto Industry. Ford India is now gearing up to launch a new sedan and it might unveil in June or July.

In 2010 company had launched the Figo model and after that this is company’s first launching. “We are going to launch a model in the second quarter of this calendar year. At present, we are finalising the product launch and other details,” Michael Boneham, president & managing director, Ford India, told Financial Chronicle. This year also Ford eyes for the development of its reliable products.

VW eyes 1 lakh car sales this year in India

The Volkswagen (VW) Group is eyeing a milestone of 100,000 units this year with cars bearing Vookswagen and Skoda badges generating over 90% sales with prestige marques Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti making up the rest.

The group companies sold a shade below 60,000 cars in 2010 with VW and Skoda making for nearly 53,000 units. Group sources said with VW’s volume models—Polo and Vento – set to enjoy the first full year of sales, its sales could grow by 80% to 58,000-60,000 units. Audi is expected to match that growth and matched by a similar growth at Audi to record 5,500-6,000 units and Skoda growing by 50% to touch 30,000-plus units.

Incidentally, the group needs to continue growing at this pace to meet the target of 20% market share by 2012 against a measly 2.8% now as envisioned by group CEO. With the Indian auto industry pegged to reach 5 million units in 2018 from 2.16 million last year, the group has to sell nearly one million units to achieve the target.

Source: Times of India (Daily Indian Newspaper)

Car Sales Highest ever in Jan

According to figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), car sales started the New Year with a band, with total sales touching 184,332 units (up 26%) in January, the highest-ever number for a single month. This heats the previous all time high sales of 182,992 cars last October.

Highest sales by companies like Maruti, Ford, Tata Motors and Toyota led the numbers. The rise in demand has been fueled in rising incomes and economic activity that gelled well with new model launches and comfortable interest rates.

Also, the hike of petrol prices and commodity costs has affected the affordability of vehicles, at a time of high inflation, which will also meet demand. Alarmingly, a major negative blow could come in the Budget if the government hikes excise duty by 2% to bring it back to the pre-slowdown level, something companies say will immediately result in a similar hike in vehicle prices.

While car sales were the highest in January, two-wheeler sales also remained healthy, going up by 17.5%. Motorcycle numbers were up by 15% at 7.47 lakh units against 6.5 lakh units in January last year. Sales of scooters were up 29.5% at 1.8 lakh units.

Overall auto sales in the domestic market, including cars, two-wheelers, three wheelers and commercial vehicles, remained healthy at 13.2 lakh units, a growth of 19% over 11.1 lakh units in January last year.

Source: Times of India (Daily Indian Newspaper)

Car sales take a break in the New Year

Car sales appeared to be taking a breather in the new year as high sales in December and  rapidly rising interest rate seem to have affected the demand.

While Maruti, the car market leader, continued to see healthy demand, companies like Hyundai, GM and Honda saw growth rates coming down to single digits. Maruti’s domestic market numbers were up 24% at 1 lakh units against 81087 units in January last year. The company’s small car portfolio grew at a similar pace as models like Swift, Alto, WagonR and Ritz saw healthy demand.

Hyundai, the second biggest car maker, however, could not maintain the tempo in January as its growth rates shrunk to 2%. The company sold 30306 units in the month against 29601 units in the same month last year. GM and Ford also had single-digit growth rates as their domestic market numbers grew by 6% each in January.

However, Japanese car maker Toyota and Ford saw numbers going strong on the back of their new models. Toyota, that recently launched the entry-level Eitons sedan, saw numbers go up by 53% at 9185 units against 5989 units in January last year. The Etios has proved to be a runaway success for the company and has already seen waiting list bulge to around 6 months.

Ford on the other hand, has been witnessing continued healthy demand on the back of the success of its Figo hatchback. The company’s sales in January stood at 10026 units against 2453 units in the same month last year. The company has said it will launch eight new models by 2015.

Company	Jan’11	Jan’10	Change (%)
Maruti	100422	81087	24
Hyundai	30306	29601	2
Mahindra UVs	16088	14443	11
Toyota	9185	5989	53
GM	9984	9421	6
Ford	10026	2453	309
Honda	6358	5983	6
Skoda	2825	1881	51

Referred From: Times of India

India Second Fastest Growing Car Market

 A surging economy and new models saw passenger vehicle sales in India boom in 2010, making the country the world’s second fastest growing market, ahead of developed ones like Japan, Brazil, US and UK, lagging only to China. If this was not enough, the country grew at the fastest pace in sales of commercial vehicles, even ahead of China, mainly backed by growth of infrastructure.

        Sales of passenger vehicles grew 31% in India in January-November 2010, ahead of the 10% growth in Japan, 9% in Brazil, 5%in the US and 3% in UK. Sales in China that has emerged as the world’s biggest car market grew 39%, according to figures provided by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. Some of the other big markets could not even manage to stay afloat as France shrank 1% and Italy 7%.

But, India beat the dragon in commercial vehicles as sales in this segment shot up by 47% in January-November 2010, ahead of Brazil’s 41%, China’s 25%, US’ 18% and UK and Germany’s 15%. “After slow years in 2008 and 2009, last year saw demand for commercial vehicles shoot up due to the healthy economic growth and infrastructure development as well as the government. All indicators remained healthy, leading to sustained buying,” said Abdul Majeed, a partner at Pricewaterhouse.

        “While the Indian market may be small in absolute numbers compared to some of the above markets, factors like high growth rates as well as low vehicle penetration mean that India may soon catch up with them in the coming years,” analysts said.

India’s rising status in the global auto world can be gauged by the fact that the country now accounts for 5% of the global auto production, much higher than 1.4% at the beginning of the last decade, Siam said. Also, India has broken into the top 10 highest auto producing countries, standing at the seventh position in 2010 against 15^th in 2000.

Source: Times of India (Daily Indian Newspaper)