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Volume: XI

February, 2008

 

home

Cars

Share Prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and Market Share

 

 

..Source: Auto News Bulletin Dec 17- Dec 23, 2007 by Murad Baig Associates

 

 

09. January Proves A Good Start For Car Makers – February 02

Automobile companies register a growth of over 40% in January 2008

Year 2008 started with a positive note as most of the automobile companies registered a healthy growth of more than 40% over 2007, except Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. In January 2008, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd’s sales increased by 4.23% to 68,107 units, compared to 65,341 units in January 2007. Hyundai Motor India Ltd announced an overall growth of 41.4% in January 2008 by selling 37,701 units, whereas General Motors India registered a growth of 46% with 5,517 units sales from 3,776 units in January, 2007. Luxury carmaker Skoda India also reported a 47.87% rise in its domestic sales at 1,526 units.

 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

 

 

 

Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others

 

10. Toyota Rolls Out Used Car Business In Delhi – February 03

Toyota Kirloskar Motor launches its used car business ‘Toyota U Trust’ in Delhi

In February 2008, Toyota Kirloskar Motor launched its used car business – Toyota U Trust – in Delhi through its dealership Galaxy Toyota. Already launched in Chennai and Bangalore, Toyota U Trust caters to customers who want to exchange their cars for competitively priced used Toyota cars. In addition, customers would also be provided a wide range of value-added services, including financing options at Toyota U Trust outlets.

 

Source: The Economic Times

 

 

 

Product Launches

 

 

11. Mercedes 'C' Class Launched In Chennai – January 30

On 30 January 2008, luxury car maker Mercedez Benz launched its new 'C-Class' cars. The C-class is priced in the range of Rs 26.5 lakh and Rs 31 lakh (ex-showroom).

 

 
 

12. BMW Launches New3 Series Model – February 15

On 14 February, 2008, BMW launched a new variant in the 3 series, 320d Highline, priced at Rs 30.70 lakh. The new model will have features such as xenon headlights, glass roof and light alloy wheel rims.

 

 

 

13. Ford Introduces New Fiesta Line-Up – February 13

Ford India, a unit of US-based Ford Motor Co, introduced a new line-up of its mid-size sedan Fiesta on 13 February 2008. The three variants – 1.4 EXI, 1.6 ZXI and 1.6 SXI –  have been priced at Rs 5.93 lakh, Rs 6.2 lakh and Rs 6.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively. In addition, the company has also upgraded the variants of diesel Fiesta Duratorq, with its three variant priced at Rs 7.03 lakh, Rs 7.49 lakh and Rs 8.09 lakh.

 

 

Advertising Campaigns

 

 

14. Fiesta Promises The Thrill Of Power – January 30

Ford Fiesta’s new TVC highlights its performance

Ford Fiesta launched a new TVC, an extension of the earlier campaign, which carries forward the ‘5 Minutes Mein Fida’ thought. The TVC talks about the features of the car such as performance, drivability and handling, to entice viewers to test drive it. 

 

Conceptualised by ad agency JWT, the TVC shows a young urban man driving his Fiesta out on a wild and incredible adventure to the outskirts of the city.

 

Setting up a slalom course of torches, the driver uses his Ford Fiesta to light them at high speed, showcasing the manoeuvrability and exact precision of the vehicle, all the while listening to his favourite old Hindi song.

 

Targeted mainly at male audience in the age group of 25-35+ years, the TVC depicts vivacity and impulsive spontaneity.

 

Source: Agencyfaqs

 

 

 

15. Maruti: Ask And You Shall Receive – January 15

Maruti Suzuki’s new TVC portrays the vast network of its service stations

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd launched a TVC which attempts to communicate the claim that the company has the largest service station network across India. The TVC talks about the presence of Maruti Suzuki service stations in the farthest and remotest corners of India.

 

The TVC’s opening shot shows four Rajasthani men sitting at a crossroad in a desert.

 

 

The next shot shows a man and his wife is driving a Maruti car, along a desert road.

 

 

The wife tells her husband to get the car checked as they have a long way to go.

 

 

 

Seeing the four men, the husband stops the car and asks hesitantly whether there is a Maruti service station close by.

 

 

To the couple’s surprise, the four men point in four different directions.

 

 

The voiceover concludes: “Jayenge aap jahan, payenge aap Maruti Suzuki service station wahan.”

 

Source: Agencyfaqs