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Volume: IX

December, 2007

 

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Cars

Share Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and Market Share

 

 

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06. Passenger Vehicle Sales Continue To Lead Growth – December 12

Passenger vehicles register a 17.14% growth in sales

According to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger vehicle sales in November 2007 grew at 17.14%. While Maruti Suzuki led the growth in the passenger vehicles by selling 57,554 units, a 27.37% increase over the November 2006 figure, Hyundai sold 19,041 units, recording a 15.46% growth. General Motors sold 3,653 units, compared to 903 units in November 2006.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

 

 

 

Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others

 

 

07. Chevrolet Models Rank Highest In Three Of Seven Vehicle Segments In Automotive Initial Quality In India – November 28

Spark, Aveo and Optra ranked highest in their respective segments by J.D. Power Asia Pacific

According to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Initial Quality Study SM (IQS), released on 28 November, 2007, three Chevrolet models (Spark, Aveo and Optra) ranked highest in their respective segments. While the new Chevrolet Spark leads the compact car segment with a score of 127 PP100, Honda City and Chevrolet Aveo tied for the top rank position in the midsize segment with a score of 109 PP100 each. The Chevrolet Optra (97 PP100) ranked highest in the premium midsize segment. In the premium compact segment, the Maruti Swift (116 PP100) ranked highest, while the new Honda CR-V (50 PP100) topped the SUV segment. In the entry midsize segment, the Mahindra-Renault Logan ranked highest with 65 PP100, while in the MUV/MPV segment, the Toyota Innova (111 PP100) ranked highest for a third consecutive year. The study also stated that initial quality of new vehicles in India averages 173 PP100 in 2007, with more than one-half (54%) of new-vehicle owners reporting at least one problem within the first six months of ownership.

 

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

 

 

 

08. ‘Status’ Symbol Dominates Car Buyers’ Choice – November 16

Status symbol is one of the prominent factors in car purchase

Nearly 19% buyers purchase cars as status symbols, according to a study conducted by TNS Automotive based on the consumer psychology of 2,500 customers. The study divided consumer psychology into six categories – potency, status, control, security, comfort and liberation. Approximately 14% respondents buy cars for their security features and 18% based their choice on inherent comfort features. Further, the study states that approximately 19% buyers in the ‘potency’ category choose a product due to its attractiveness and style. Another 18% consumers in the ‘control’ category use the risk averse and protection parameters for their choice.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

 

 

 

09. Tata-ISRO Team Up To Launch Hydrogen-powered Vehicle – November 22

Tata Motors and ISRO join hands to develop the world's cleanest vehicle

Automobile maker Tata Motors and space agency ISRO have joined hands to develop and launch the prototype of the world's cleanest vehicle by 2008. The proposed vehicle, which will use hydrogen as fuel, would use ISRO's rocket technology and would be completely electric-driven. The vehicle would also feature hydrogen storage and regulatory and control systems, apart from utilising electricity generated from fuel cells. These vehicles would emit only water vapours.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

10. Hyundai’s Contest For i10 Car – December 14

Hyundai Motors launch ‘Chipak Ke Jeeto’ contest

Hyundai Motors, in alliance with Adlabs’ radio channel Big FM, announced a five-city contest, ‘Chipak Ke Jeeto’, across the metros and Hyderabad. The contest will allow the contestant who manages to stay in physical touch with Hyundai’s i10 compact car for the longest time to take it home.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

 

 

 

11. Alfa Romeo, Hummer & Lexus To Hit Indian Roads – December 04

Fiat, General Motors and Toyota plan to test-market their high-end luxury cars in India

Rising consumer spends and the rapidly growing premium car market has led global car manufactures such as Fiat, General Motors and Toyota to plan the test-marketing of their high-end luxury cars – the Alfa Romeo, Hummer and Lexus, respectively – in the next 12-15 months in India. Currently, these companies are conducting feasibility studies and are working to make the products suitable for the Indian market. According to industry sources, these luxury brands are expected to be premium-priced as they would be brought in through the CBU (completely built unit) model.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

12. Hot Wheels Zoom Past Old Faithfuls – December 09

Small car segment dominates Indian auto industry

The Indian auto industry is currently being dominated by small cars such as Swift, Getz, Zen Estilo, Wagon R, Spark, Chevy UV-A, Fusion, I10, and Palio, which account for more than 60% of the market.  To take on new competitors, car manufacturers are launching new models, and revamping the older ones to increase sales volumes. While the automobile industry is showing signs of a de-growth, the small car segment has been growing at an average of 14% with six lakh units sold for the first eight months of FY 2007-08.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

13. New Four-door Electric Car To Hit Indian Roads – December 07

Bavina Industries to launch four-door electric car in India

Chennai-based Bavina Industries plans to launch a four-door steel-bodied hatchback electric car resembling Hyundai Santro and Daewoo Matiz by April 2007. The car will be priced at Rs.2.5 lakh and will feature facilities such as AC, power window, and centralized locking.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

Product Launches

 

 

14. New Version Of Bolero Launched – December 15

On 15 December, 2007, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) launched the Bolero Camper DX, which is priced at Rs. 5.43 lakhs (ex-showroom Ahmedabad).

 

 

 

15. Suzuki Unveils Global Car ‘A-Star’ – December 12

On 11 December, 2007, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) launched A-Star, a five-door hatchback car, which would be showcased at the 2008 Auto Expo. The new car will have a newly developed Euro V-compliant 1.0 litre petrol engine to be produced by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL).

 

 

 

16. Mahindra & Mahindra Unveils New Scorpio – December 04

On 4 December, 2007, Mahindra & Mahindra launched a new version of its Scorpio V-series in Chandigarh.

 

 

 

17. Rolls-Royce Unveils Phantom Drophead Coupe – December 01

On 30 November, 2007, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars launched its Phantom Drophead Coupe, priced at Rs 3.10 crore, in Mumbai. This luxury segment car has been targeted at high-net-worth individuals.

 

 

 

18. M&M Launches Customised Version Of Scorpio – November 22

On 22 November, 2007, Mahindra & Mahindra launched Scorpio First, a customised version of its utility vehicle Scorpio at the Autocar Performance Show in Mumbai.