DriveBlog

The one where GM gets the drift

Industry pundits and market-watchers alike have long since been critical of, and been puzzled by, GM's determined non-participation in the high-volume compact car segment in India. Save for a rather lacklustre showing in the hatchback segment in the form of the Opel Corsa Sail, the world's largest carmaker has had us believe that the lack of its presence in the entry, B and premium-B segments has been part of a well thought-out strategy.

Well, you know that bit about doing as the Romans do. With every carmaker worth its salt scrambling over the other to grab a piece of the small car pie, it probably didn't take a genius to figure out and tell GM what they were missing out on. Ergo, very soon, car buyers in India will have the Chevrolet Aveo and the Chevrolet Spark (nee the Daewoo Matiz) add to what is increasingly becoming a bewildering (in a good way, you understand) range of small and compact automobiles to choose from.

Also see:
The Fiat Palio 1.6 GTX vs. the Opel Corsa Sail
The small shape of things to come

Let's have ourselves a mela!

I'm whack in the middle of a 'Blog Mela' hangover, thanks to an utterly enjoyable post from over at Yazad's. That being the case, I thought I'd fashion this post of mine on similar lines. What follows therefore, is an attempt to bring you the best of the web from over the past few days on what's been happening on the Indian car scene. So belt up, tilt that seat back, play your current favourite road-tune over in your head, stretch those legs deep into that footwell and enjoy the ride.

The folks at Autocar India have traded in their old Palio 1.6 GTX for a newer 1.2 nv which they'll be putting through their long-termer test in the months to come. Though they do miss their old, bigger-hearted buddy, it's smaller cousin hasn't done much to disappoint so far.

I wondered aloud a little while ago as to whether the Indian passenger car market had such a colourful history of 'auto recalls' as compared to the West. Well, evidently not - and more so, for a variety of interesting reasons.

There's a new Accent on the horizon - and am I the only one who likes the looks of it?

It seems like the beginning of a SUV-eet summer for sports utility vehicles in India - we just can't seem to get enough of them, their prices notwithstanding. Take your pick: the current hot favourite Honda CR-V, the 'freshened-up' Scorpio Sportz, the just-launched Hyundai Tucson or the upcoming Toyota Fortuner.

Ford India rolled out their 100000th unit of the Ikon sedan earlier this month. And as it is their wont to do everytime they reach a landmark of this kind, Ford's celebrating with a limited period, limited edition offer. This time it's called the 'Josh100' series. For me, Ford sets the bar when it comes to staying top of mind through consumer-driven promos and special offers. Remember the 'Ikon Anniversary' and 'March Masti'?

4 Indian cars - the Alto, the M800, the Hyundai Santro and the Tata Indica - are now in the 'over 100000 units sold in the year 2004-05' club.

A couple of fellow bloggers post on a couple of topics that are right down my alley. Jamshed Rajan of 'Ouch, My Toe!' goes people-watching and introspecting every time he spends 2 and a half minutes at a traffic signal. And Abhi of 'A Tyrovial Pursuit' (honestly, I'm still trying to figure out what kind of a chase that is) reckons that the least desirable part of Indian roads is, well, the people that drive on them.

And finally, would you sign up a deceased family member for one helluva joyride? =)

India Shining, Maruti Rising

As part of a special issue on India's emergence as a global superpower, Outlook Magazine has Jagdish Khattar, MD of Maruti Udyog looking back on the decade that was and the one that will be for the Indian passenger car industry.

"If there is one example where competition and opening up have benefited industry, economy and the consumer, it is the Indian passenger car sector. Yet, the more things have changed, the more they retain the flavours of the past."

He also has a bit to say about how his company plans to address the challenges that he foresees cropping up in the years to come, not the least of which is competition from global auto biggies. But then, that's something that MUL's been doing, and doing well, for a while now.

Also see:
Do you know what your 'opportunities share' is?

Getting back on the road

Coming back to post on your blog after a long break feels somewhat like driving your car for the the first time after a long holiday. Starts are iffy, it takes a while to stay on a straight line and you sometimes get into the whole thing with absolutely no idea of where you're headed. So, in the blogging equivalent of driving your down a quiet, uncrowded street just so you can 'get the feel back', here are some quick and easies:

• The Toyota Innova is out. Base models of the petrol and diesel were launched today with the promise of even better things to come. Toyota has, quite clearly thrown the gauntlet to General Motors' Tavera and Mahindra's Scorpio.

In passing...

Cutting very quickly to the chase:

• Hyundai India will partner with Tata Indicom to implement and maintain their Global Dealer Management System (GDMS). Hyundai will make use of a web-based backbone to help their dealers be 'more connected' with the HMIL mother ship.
• Closing out last year on 1 million units, motown's still walkin' on sunshine as it finished January 2005 with a sale of 1 lakh units, also a first. As expected, Maruti, Tata and Hyundai lead the pack.
• Small things are now beginning to come in much safer packages. Though it's never been too high on the average Indian carbuyer's priority list, carmakers are starting to take safety very seriously. And they're starting right at the bottom.
• Tubeless tyres are finding the Indian roadscape a tough hill to climb.
• They're calling it 'one country, one price'. Wherever in in India you buy it, the 'new' Mitsubishi Lancer LX is yours for Rs. 693000. Hindustan Motors is hoping that this 'affordable' price point wil help double sales.
• For the first time since mid 2004, the Alto upstages the M800 as the best selling car from the Maruti stable.
• Toyota has 'small' plans for India.

Pre-owned problems

The Indian used car market continues to go through what seems like an 'performance-appraisal' crisis. Is it doing well or isn't it? While a veritable barrage of new product / variant launches, difficult-to-refuse new car finance options and the city dweller's 'need to be seen' in the latest set of wheels seem to be pushing it to the fringes of extinction in the urban market, it's increasingly looking at rural segments and a revival of demand via the likes of Maruti's and Hyundai's (expected) pre-owned car ventures to bring it back to fighting fit.

What's your choice? Cheaper second-hand or is 'new' you?

Related: How to buy a used Hyundai Santro.

You've come a long way, baby

You just gotta believe that the Indian car industry is in overdrive when you consider the following:

• Passenger vehicle production has quintupled (yes children, that's 5 times) in the past decade
• Car loans cost anything between 18 and 26% in the early 90s. Compare that with car financing available today at 6.5%
• Delivery time for a new car has reduced from a few weeks (months even) to a few hours
• Competition's so fierce that carmakers are today selling cars at the same price, or even cheaper, that they were 7 to 8 years ago, technological advancements notwithstanding
• Customer satisfaction levels are at an all time high