As the Indian economy is taking a turn for the better, it is changing the lifestyle of the yuppies and the

oldies alike. More and more people are emphasizing on quality with utility. Traveling and outings during weekends is also becoming a growing trend. Sport Utility Vehicles come to the rescue and support these changes in everyday peoples lifestyles. Here is listing the Top 10 SUVs that are revving on Indian roads today.

Rate this Article from 1 to 5, where 5 stands for "Excellent" and 1 stands for "Poor".

Mahindra Thar

Mahindra Thar is the new kid in the block, but this SUV has all it takes. Fitted with a Mahindra Scorpio's 2.5 litre CRDe Turbocharged intercooled diesel engine with a max power of 103.9 bhp with a 5-speed tranny, it boasts of a go anywhere attitude. This seven seater comes with enough legroom and is roomy and spacious. The Thar features the classic ladder frame chassis and body-on-frame construction for strength, rigidity and great shock absorbing capability. Additionally, you have powerful 9 inch booster with disc brakes in front and drum in rear that ensure safe driving in all kind of terrains. Mahindra Thar also is the cheapest 4*4 of the lot in this list with prices starting from Rs 6,27 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Toyota Fortuner SUV has eye-catching exteriors, comfortable, spacious and classy interiors and an extremely powerful diesel engine. Powered by a 3.0 Litre TDCI D-4D diesel engine, the car has 5-speed manual transmission and comes with an All-Time Four Wheel Drive. The SUV has very luxurious leather upholstery and the spacious interiors that seats seven adults comfortably with enough air conditioning for all the three rows. The stylish hood scoop on the bonnet and the powerful headlamps that are curved around

the grille add on to the stance of the SUV. The Fortuner is built on the IMV (Innovative International MultiPurpose Vehicle) platform similar to that of Toyota Innova. MID, touchscreen interface, GPS, Climatronic AC system and 17 inch alloy wheel are among the distinct features of the car. Fortuner is also bundled with safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), SRS front airbags, dynamic safety engineering, front and rear side impact door beams sonar back feature for easy parking. The Fortuner has become a crowd favourite thanks to its butch looks and performance though the price tag of Rs. 20.14 Lakh (ExShowroom) is a little more than a common man can afford.

Maruti Suzuki Gypsy

An eternal favourite with the offroaders and rallyists, the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy is a multi-purpose vehicle, which can be used either as an SUV or a Jeep depending on the users requirements and needs. This sturdy and muscular looking car is built with excellent off-road capabilities with an equally potent engine to take on any terrain without compromising on performance. It is available in three variants: Hard top, Soft top, and Ambulance, Metallic versions are optional. Variants are equipped with a 1298cc, 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, engine that delivers 80 bhp. A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard across all variants. Interior features include reclining and sliding front seats, adjustable head restraints, and a front seat walk-in assembly. It's durability, stability, and well-built structure inspires to take adventures. The Army and Police in India use it as their official vehicle. This sturdy SUV could actually outsell any other SUV in the list if only, there was a option of a diesel engine. The price of the Gypsy starts from Rs 5.44 Lakhs.

The all new tough looking Endeavour offers upmarket interiors and great comfort. The Ford Endeavour is available in three variants: 4x2 XLT, 4x4 Thunder Plus and 4X2 AT. A 2.5-litre I-4 diesel engine that generates an impressive 141 bhp propels the XLT. A 3.0 L TDCi I4 diesel engine that generates 154 bhp of

power and 380 Nm of torque powers thunder+ and 4X2 AT. Thoughtfully designed interior includes cup holders for all the passengers and air conditioning for all three rows providing utmost comfort. Touch enabled satnav and DVD system, electrically-adjustable outside mirrors are some of the standard features for all variants. The front fascia is distinctive with a high bonnet and a behemoth size; handling is superb and steering is responsive. The Ford Endeavour carries a price tag of Rs. 14.04 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) onwards As the Indian economy is taking a turn for the better, it is changing the lifestyle of the yuppies and the oldies alike. More and more people are emphasizing on quality with utility. Traveling and outings during weekends is also becoming a growing trend. Sport Utility Vehicles come to the rescue and support these changes in everyday peoples lifestyles. Here is listing the Top 10 SUVs that are revving on Indian roads today.

Rate this Article from 1 to 5, where 5 stands for "Excellent" and 1 stands for "Poor".

Mahindra Scorpio

No Indian SUV list can be complete without the Mahindra Scorpio. Mahindra, which was until the advant of the Scorpio, was just another Indian auto maker known for their rugged people movers and jeeps, suddenly shot into limelight. The new Scorpio is aggressively designed to reflect the muscular DNA of Mahindra's automotive styling. It comes with a highly toned body and revolutionary new engine technology. The SUV is powered by a 2.2-litre advanced mHawk diesel engine with in-built Micro Hybrid Technology. It is the first car in India to comply with Bharat Stage IV emission norms. Available variants are - LX, SLE, VLX BS3, VLX BS3 HE AIRBAG, VLX BS4, VLX Automatic and VLX BS3 HE AIRBAG Special edition. All variants come with a 5-speed manual transmission as standard. The VLX AT comes with a 6-speed automatic. Mahindra has added striking new features to the latest Scorpio - 'gladiator' like wraparound bumpers, multi-focus headlights with unique 'Sunrays' reflectors, and all-new sporty bonnet scoop that add an aggressive touch to the SUV. The interior is complimented with the fabric seats designed based on Body Pressure Mapping technology to ensure good seating comfort. A classy 2-DIN music system featuring MP3/CD player is provided for entertainment. The Mahindra Scorpio Getaway is the lifestyle SUV cum pick up from Mahindra which shares it gens with the mighty Scorpio. The Mahindra Scorpio has a sticker price of Rs. 8.25 lakhs(Exshowroom Delhi).

Mitsubishi Pajero

The legendary Mitsubishi Pajero is an iconic SUV which has the unique distinction of having won the world's toughest car driving contest, Dakar Rally, as many as 13 times. A stunning SUV with great looks, amazing off-road capability, and an awesome power suited for Indian roads, the Pajero is available as the SFX turbodiesel variant. A 2.8-litre turbocharged engine producing 117 bhp of power and 292 Nm of torque enables this SUV to zoom through the country side. The SUV comes with a 5-speed manual transmission. Sporty cockpit, chrome inner door handles, and dual-tone interiors with plush leather upholstery add to its style and ruggedly handsome good looks. Mitsubishi Montero, which is also is being sold in India is called as Pajero in other countries. The Pajero commands a price of Rs 20.46 Lakhs. As the Indian economy is taking a turn for the better, it is changing the lifestyle of the yuppies and the oldies alike. More and more people are emphasizing on quality with utility. Traveling and outings during weekends is also becoming a growing trend. Sport Utility Vehicles come to the rescue and support these changes in everyday peoples lifestyles. Here is listing the Top 10 SUVs that are revving on Indian roads today.

Rate this Article from 1 to 5, where 5 stands for "Excellent" and 1 stands for "Poor".

Honda CR-V

The all new Honda CR-V is a dynamic combination of urban styling, refined performance and excellent engineering. CR-V has undergone a complete facelift offering a new dimension to the sporty driving experience. Available in three variants: 2WD, 4WD MT and 4WD AT. Dual Climate Control, adjustable tilt telescopic steering, Multi-info display and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction for an ultra silent cabin, all takes the driving experience to a newer height. Though the Honda CR-V does not have a diesel

engine in its portfolio, the SUV is selling in decent numbers. The Honda CR-V commands a price tag of Rs.22,64,038 (Ex-Showroom Price New Delhi).

Land Rover Range Rover

The flagship luxury all-terrain SUV from Land Rover, the Range Rover comes with an improved interior quality, a revised exterior design, and a new top-line supercharged engine. In India the car is available in a petrol and diesel options: 3.6L TD V8 diesel and 5.0L Supercharged V8 petrol. The diesel variant is fitted with a 267 bhp 3.6L V8 engine and the petrol variant boasts a 503 bhp V8 engine. The rich and spacious interior is adorned with real wood veneers and finest quality leather. The new Range Rover is packed with functional features like Thin Film Transistor (TFT) - LCD instrument panel, Touch - screen with dual view technology, Logic 7 Hi-Fi system with 14 speaker surround sound system and a rear seat entertainment pack. Range Rover is a perfect blend of luxury and off-road ruggedness with an improved interior quality, a revised exterior design, and a new engine. The prices of the Range Rover starts from Rs. 98,50,000 (ExShowroom Price New Delhi).

Porsche Cayenne

The Cayenne is a 5-seater luxury SUV from the highly-successful and prestigious German car manufacturer Porsche AG. The car combines superior performance with great off-road capabilities and delivers impressive ride comfort. It comes in 7 variants: Base, S, GTS, Turbo, Turbo S, S Hybrid and Diesel. The Base variant carries a 300 bhp 3.6L V6 engine, the S gets a 385 bhp 4.5L V8 and the Turbo variants come with a twin-

turbocharged 4.5L V8 that outputs an overwhelming 400 to 550 bhp of power. The same size V8 engine produces 405 bhp on the GTS variant. A choice of 2 transmissions is offered - 6-speed manual and 8-speed Tiptronic S and the diesel variant is available in a 3.0-litre V6 engine and has a 8-speed Tiptronic S manual transmission. The car rides on a self-adjusting air suspension that ensures superior ride quality. The SUV has luxurious leather interiors and carries a host of top-class features such as rain-sensing wipers, premium audio system, automatic air conditioning, and power-adjustable seats. All variants of the Cayenne come equipped with class-leading safety features such as Porsche Stability Management, transponder-based immobiliser system and anti-theft alarm, proven braking technology, and all-round airbag protection. The Porsche Cayenne commands a price of Rs 58,00,000 onwards (Ex-showroom Delhi).

Audi Q7

Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury SUV designed with advanced technology, a roomy interior with luxurious equipment, ample cargo space, and advanced on-road/off-road capabilities. The new Audi Q7 can seat seven passengers comfortably in three rows. The third row has split seatbacks that fold flat to increase cargo room. This car, in India, is available in Four variants - 3.6 L FSI Quattro petrol, 4.2L FSI Quattro petrol, 3.0L TDI Quattro diesel and 4.2L TDI Quattro diesel. The new Audi Q7 is offered in an all-wheel drive configuration system. It boasts of four potent engines: 3.6 L FSI Quattro petrol generates a massive 276 bhp, and the 4.2L FSI Quattro petrol engine makes 344.4 bhp, 3.0L TDI Quattro derives 236 bhp and the 4.2L TDI Quattro produces 335 bhp. All engines are coupled to a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The new Audi Q7 can boast of some new features like voice control that can enable the driver to operate a cell phone or music system by just uttering the phone number or the name of a song. The Audi Q7 starts from Rs 55,65,000 (Ex-showroom Delhi).

SUVs are regarded as status symbols of rich and powerful in India. Many prefer SUVs to other cars as they have more space to accommodate, can be used on difficult Indian roads, have higher seating and it is easy to drive them in chaotic traffic and bad roads. SUV in India has a large market base, and the demand is growing exponentially with time. Crossover SUV vehicles are making great waves presently in the automobile scenario. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), had revealed that in the fiscal, April 2009 to March 2010, the sales of SUVs noticed 20.88 percent rise. A total of 272,733 units were sold against 225,621 units in the same period a year ago. Official figures reveal, India has 14 million cars and three million SUVs. Currently the SUV market segment is dominated by Mahindra and Mahindra, the largest SUV producer in the country, Tata Motors and Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Fiat India, Ford Motors, Force Motors, General Motors, Hyundai Motors, Nissan, Porsche, etc. are some of the most well known ones.

Mahindra Scorpio Here is the list of most popular SUV models in the Indian automobile market Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Captiva, Ford Endeavour, and Mitsubishi Outlander. Porsche Cayenne, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Pajero, and Audi Q7 are few of the new SUV vehicles that are also hugely favored by Indian car consumers. Besides the ongoing high growth momentum in the Indian automobile market, the leading luxury car makers are struggling to meet the demand for luxury cars in the country and the waiting period for most of the cars is reached up to six months. So, the automakers have to fill this gap to deliver high satisfaction for the customer.

Thu, 19 Jan 2012

The battlelines are being redrawn in the market for sport utility vehicles (SUV) in India. Even as Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) executives were celebrating the record 5,000 bookings in over a month for its new diesel SUV, Fortuner, segment leader Ford put the spotlight back on itself with a new version of its mid-market Endeavour. And it walked right into enemy fire by pricing the automatic variant of the model at Rs 17.9 lakh and the manual at Rs 15.9 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi), invitingly lower than Fortuners Rs 18.45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). What this all adds up to is a nearly palpable buzz. Industry analysts peg the overall size of the SUV market at a little over 10,000 units annually, and believe TKM, a joint venture between Japan-based Toyota Motor Corp and Indias Kirloskar group, will likely rev up demand for a market hit hard by the general market slowdown. In the January-July period of the current year, SUV segment sales were down 60% compared to the same period last year. The introduction of the Fortuner is likely to heat up competition largely in the mid-SUV market, says Abdul Majeed, partner & auto analyst, PricewaterhouseCoopers. While Ford Motor quickly introduced a refurbished Endeavour, Honda and GM seem to be waiting to gauge the response to Toyotas new offering.

Audi, a German company and part of the Volkswagen Group, recently launched its SUV, Q7, at a price starting Rs 53.4 lakh. In that sense it really doesnt compete with the likes of the Fortuner and the Endeavour, but it attests to the potential of the market. At present, SUVs constitute nearly 2% of the total passenger car market in India. TKL is aiming at a 50% share of that market by the end of the year. Its share in the overall passenger vehicle market, is about 3%. Our strength lies in the dealer network and customer confidence in the Toyota brand name that will help us lead the segment eventually, says Sandeep Singh, TKM deputy MD (marketing). The Fortuner will be assembled from completely-knocked-down or CKD kits at TKLs plant at Bidadi, Karnataka, where the Innova and the Corolla are manufactured. Currently, it has the capacity to produce 550 units of the Fortuner per month. The company is trying to ramp up monthly production figures to 600 units to meet high customer demand. If successful, TKM is likely to sell nearly 2,500-3,000 units of the model by December 2009. In India, the premium SUV market is dominated by two playersHonda CR-V (Rs 22-25 lakh) and Chevrolet Captiva (Rs 21-24 lakh). By aggressively pricing its Fortuner, TKL is hoping to wean away a chunk of this market, says Majeed. On its part, Honda Siel Cars India feels a comparison with other SUVs is a tad unfair because the company has moved to the order-based system since April this year and also because the CR-V is sold as a CBU (completely built unit) import from Japan. This means that the company would import readymade units from Japan only after an order has been placed. A Honda CR-V customer has to wait three months to drive the car home, a reason why its sales have slipped in recent months. The Fortuner is in a different segment altogether, explains Anita Sharma, general manager, marketing communication, Honda Siel Cars India. We are operating in the petrol segment and the others in the diesel segment. On an average, we sell about 60 to 70 cars per month. Before we went on to the order-based system, we were selling about 250 to 300 units per month. Being a fully imported car it is expensiveso we deliberately changed our strategy. In comparison, the Fortuner is a diesel car and is assembled in India. On an average day 30-35 people walk in to check out the Fortuner only, says AK Singh, vice-president, operations, Galaxy Toyota, a Delhi-based Toyota dealer. The conversion

rate is about 50%. These people have already decided to buy the car and come here to just have a look at it with family and friends before booking. They are the serious customers and are enthusiastic. As of now, TKM dealers have been advised to take customer orders without advance payments, while committing to a tentative date of delivery. Certainly, the Fortuner has filled a huge gap in the market. The statistics in other markets where it sells speaks for its potential. According to the company, the Fortuner has already sold over 2.5 lakh units in more than 60 countries since its launch in 2005.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2012

Force One : Be The Force

Brand : Force One Company : Force Motors Brand Analysis Count : # 506 Force Motors which is well known for its commercial vehicles like Tempo Travellor, Trekker etc has made a significant entry into the SUV market in India. The company recently launched an SUV Force One in the Indian market.

Indian SUV market is now appearing lucrative to auto majors. Indian car market is skewed to small cars. The market is dominated by small cars. SUVs were a niche. But recent trend is that consumers are purchasing more SUVs despite the poor infrastructure conditions and rising fuel prices. According to newsreports, 324000 SUVs were sold in India during 2010-2011. The growth of SUVs were infact more than the car segment.

The Indian SUV market is dominated by Mahindra with its flagship brand Scorpio. Toyota Fortuner is the second largest brand but dominates the premium segment of the

SUV market. The market has witnessed a slew of launches from all major brands in the world.Hence the launch of a brand in this segment is very risky and difficult. Force One has took this challenge seriously and has done some serious homework before going for the launch.

Force Motors took a very smart step by collaborating with Mercedes Benz for the engine of Force One. The company has already understood the benefits of tying up with a brand like Mercedes before in the success of its Traveller. So by sourcing the most critical element of the car from World's most respect company, Force One has almost negated the risk of Engine complaints and the Mercedes engine will give confidence to consumers about this newcomer's claims. Second smart move was the design part. Indian SUV consumers like big mean machines. Frustrated by poor roads and rash and arrogant driving of larger vehicles like trucks and buses, most Indian consumers love to have a large vehicle to tame the arrogant truck and bus drivers. Hence Force One deliberately designed itself to look larger and meaner.

The third and most important move was the promotion part. The brand almost shocked the entire auto world by roping Amithabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador. The brand knew that it is fighting with large and powerful brands like Scorpio, Fortuner, Safari etc and needs a trump card to get even with these established brands. The roping in of Big B was a masterstroke and has given a terrific boost to the launch. The fourth factor was the price. Force One has priced itself at around Rs 10 lakh. I am not sure about the effectiveness of the pricing strategy because it seems little pricey compared to Indian counterparts but not that much as compared to foreign brands. But my gut feeling is that it has not hit the sweet spot in the pricing and would have excited the market had it started of with a price of Rs 8 lakh. However, the Mercedes engine

may be the reason for this confident pricing of Force One. It is to see whether Indian consumer is willing to pay that much for a new Indian SUV. With Bachchan as the brand ambassador, one would wonder how the brand is going to structure its message. Force One had to convey a feel of ruggedness and premiumness inorder to gain consumer interest. The presence of Big B will assure eye-balls but if the communication is not right, people are going criticize the effort. In the advertising front, the approach of Force One was surprising. I expected something that would project an international look and feel , something of the sort of a Reid and Taylor campaign highlighting the brand ambassador. But Force One took a very different route. Watch the campaign here : Force one Kids, Force One Clean

The ads are very Indian and focuses on one aspect- Force. The brand has adopted the tagline " Be The Force " . In the ad, Big B says "India mein sirf Force hi Chalta Hai " meaning " In India only Force will work " . This message really strikes a chord with the consumers mind since everyone have felt this at some point in his life in India. With regard to the brand promotion, it is interesting to observe that the brand deliberately chose not to project itself as a premium. The brand I think is targeting those consumers who are pissed off by Indian roads. The brand is talking to the prospective sedan buyers and telling them that only a beast will survive in Indian roads. The brand has started on a rugged communication route hence it has virtually closed its doors on premiumness. Infact this soundness of this strategy is validated by the launch campaign of Mahindra's X500 which calls itself a Cheetah. The brand has chosen " Powerful " as its USP and uses the analogy of " Force " to communicate its positioning. The role of the ads for automobiles serve as a bait for the consumers for a test drive. No on buys a car just because of the ads. The product will sell itself if it excites the consumers and the influencers. Force Motors is a new entrant to the passenger segment. Like its peers Tata Motors and Mahindra, Force will also be perceived as a commercial vehicle manufacturer and the lack of expertise in the passenger car market will be the Achilles' heel for this

company.Product Quality and quality of its after-sales service is going to be very critical in the success of this brand. The brand has got its basics correct. This will be an interesting story to watch.

Automobile Industry in India

26/05/2010 By Sathyanarayanan

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An Overview of the Indian Automobile Industry

Starting its journey from the day when the first car rolled on the streets of Mumbai in 1898, the Indian automobile industry has demonstrated a phenomenal growth to this day. Today, the Indian automobile industry presents a galaxy of varieties and models meeting all possible expectations and globally established industry standards. Some of the leading names echoing in the Indian automobile industry include Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hyundai Motors, Hero Honda and Hindustan Motors in addition to a number of others. During the early stages of its development, Indian automobile industry heavily depended on foreign technologies. However, over the years, the manufacturers in India have started using their own technology evolved in the native soil. The thriving market place in the country has attracted a number of automobile manufacturers including some of the reputed global leaders to set their foot in the soil looking forward to enhance their profile and prospects to new heights. Following a temporary setback on account of the global economic recession, the Indian automobile market has once again

picked up a remarkable momentum witnessing a buoyant sale for the first time in its history in the month of September 2009. The automobile sector of India is the seventh largest in the world. In a year, the country manufactures about 2.6 million cars making up an identifiable chunk in the worlds annual production of about 73 million cars in a year. The country is the largest manufacturer of motorcycles and the fifth largest producer of commercial vehicles. Industry experts have visualized an unbelievably huge increase in these figures over the immediate future. The figures published by the Asia Economic Institute indicate that the Indian automobile sector is set to emerge as the global leader by 2012. In the year 2009, India rose to be the fourth largest exporter of automobiles following Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Experts state that in the year 2050, India will top the car volumes of all the nations of the world with about 611 million cars running on its roads. At present, about 75 percent of Indias automobile industry is made up by small cars, with the figure ranking the nation on top of any other country on the globe. Over the next two or three years, the country is expecting the arrival of more than a dozen new brands making compact car models. Recently, the automotive giants of India including General Motors (GM), Volkswagen, Honda, and Hyundai, have declared significant expansion plans. On account of its huge market potential, a very low base of car ownership in the country estimated at about 25 per 1,000 people, and a rapidly surging economy, the nation is firmly set on its way to become an outsourcing platform for a number of global auto companies. Some of the upcoming cars in the India soil comprise Maruti A-Star (Suzuki), Maruti Splash (Suzuki), VW Up and VW Polo (Volkswagen), Bajaj small car (Bajai Auto), Jazz (Honda) and Cobalt, Aveo (GM) in addition to several others. History of the Automobile industry in India

The economic liberalization that dawned in India in the year 1991 has succeeded in bringing about a sustained growth in the automotive production sector triggered by enhanced competitiveness and relaxed restrictions prevailing in the Indian soil. A number of Indian automobile manufacturers including Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra and Mahindra, have dramatically expanded both their domestic and

international operations. The countrys active economic growth has paved a solid road to the further expansion of its domestic automobile market. This segment has in fact invited a huge amount of India-specific investment by a number of multinational automobile manufacturers. As a significant milestone in its progress, the monthly sales of passenger cars in India exceeded 100,000 units in February 2009. The beginnings of automotive industry in India can be traced during 1940s. After the nation became independent in the year 1947, the Indian Government and the private sector launched their efforts to establish an automotive component manufacturing industry to meet the needs of the automobile industry. The growth of this segment was however not so encouraging in the initial stage and through the 1950s and 1960s on account of nationalization combined with the license raj that was hampering the private sector in the country. However, the period that followed 1970s, witnessed a sizeable growth contributed by tractors, scooters and commercial vehicles. Even till those days, cars were something of a sort of a major luxury. Eventually, the country saw the entry of Japanese manufacturers establishing Maruti Udyog. During the period that followed, several foreign based companies started joint ventures with Indian companies. During 1980s, several Japanese manufacturers started joint-ventures for manufacturing motorcycles and light commercial-vehicles. During this time, that the Indian government selected Suzuki for a joint-venture to produce small cars. Following the economic liberalization in 1991 and the weakening of the license raj, several Indian and multi-national car companies launched their operations on the soil. After this, automotive component and automobile manufacturing growth remarkably speed-up to meet the demands of domestic and export needs. Experts have an opinion that during the early stages the policies and the treatment by the Indian government were not favorable to the development of the automobile industry. However, the liberalization policy and various tax reliefs announced by the Indian government over the recent past have pronounced a significantly encouraging impact on this industry segment. Estimates reveal that owing to several boosting factors, Indian automobile industry has been growing at a pace of about 18% per year. Therefore, global automobile giants like Volvo, General Motors and Ford have started looking at India as a prospective hot destination to establish and expand their operations. Like many other nations Indias highly developed transportation system has played a very important role in the development of the countrys economy over the past to this day. One can say that the automobile industry in the country has occupied a solid space in the platform of Indian economy. Empowered by its present growth, today the automobile industry in the country can produce a diverse range of vehicles under three broad categories namely cars, two-wheelers and heavy vehicles. Exports of Automobile Industry

Today, India is among the worlds largest producers of small cars. The New York Times has rated India as a very strong engineering base with an incomparable expertise in the arena of manufacturing a number of low-cost, fuel-efficient cars has encouraged the expansion plans of the manufacturing facilities of a number of automobile leaders like Hyundai Motors, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Suzuki. On 22 February 2010, Hyundai motors exported its 10,00,000th car, the feat which was achieved by the firm in just over 10 years. Hyundai Motors is the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in the country. In the similar lines, General Motors has announced its plans to export not less than 50,000 cars made in India by the year 2011. In yet another proposal, Ford Motors is to setup a manufacturing facility costing about US$500 million in India with an annual capacity of 250,000 cars. The firm has stated that the facility will play a major part in its strategic plan to make India a hub for its global production business. In yet another significant move, Fiat motors has stated that it will source a big volume of auto components from India worth about US$1 billion. In the year 2009, India overtook China by emerging as the fourth largest exporter of cars in Asia. Various Segments of the Indian Automobile Industry

Motor cycles manufacture makes up the major share in the twowheeler segment of the Indian automobile industry. About 50% of the motorcylcles are manufactured by Hero Honda. While Honda manufactures about 46% of the scooters, TVS produces 82% of the mopeds running on the Indian roads. About 40% of the three-wheelers manufactured in India are used for transporting goods with Piaggio manufacturing 40% of the vehicles sold in the Indian market. On the other hand, Bajaj has emerged as the leader in manufacturing three-wheelers used for passenger transport. The firm produces about

68% percent of the three wheelers used for passenger transport in India. The Indian passenger vehicle segment is dominated by cars which make up about 80% of it. Maruti Suzuki manufactures about 52% of passenger cars while the firm enjoys a complete monopoly in the manufacture of multipurpose vehicles. In the utility vehicles segment Mahindra makes up a 42% share. Tata Motors is the leader in the Indian commercial vehicles market while it holds more than 60% share. Tata Motors also enjoys the credit of being the worlds fifth largest manufacturer of medium and heavy commercial vehicles. Potential of Indian Automobile Industry There is a very stiff competition in the automobile industry segment in India. This has helped many to realize their dreams of driving the most luxurious cars. During the recent past, a number of overseas companies have started grabbing a big chunk of the market share in both domestic and export sales. Every new day dawns in India with some new launches by active players in the Indian automobile arena. By introducing some low cost cars, the industry had made it possible for common men to buy cars for their personal use. With some innovative strategies and by adopting some alternative remedial measures, the Indian automobile industry has successfully come unaffected out of the global financial crisis. While the automobile industry in India is the ninth largest in the world, the country emerged as the fourth largest automobiles exporter on the globe following Japan, South Korea and Thailand, in the year 2009. Over and above, a number of automobile manufacturers based in India have expanded their operations around the globe also giving way for a number of reputed MNCs to enthusiastically invest in the Indian automobile sector. Nissan Motors has revealed its prospective plans to export 250,000 vehicles produced in its India plant by the year 2011. General Motors has also come up with similar plans. During the current fiscal year, the Indian automobile industry rode high on the resurgence of consumer demand in the country as a result of the Governments fiscal stimulus and attractively low interest rates. As a result the total turnover of the domestic automobile industry increased by about 27 per cent. A reply produced in the Lok Sabha recently has quoted data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and has revealed that the total turnover of the Indian automobile Industry in AprilFebruary 2009-10 was 1,62,708.77 crore. This is a remarkable achievement compared with the total revenue of Rs 1,28,384.53 crore reported during the same period of last fiscal year. Specifically, the segment of commercial vehicles witnessed the biggest jump in revenues by 31 per cent by reporting Rs 38,845.09 crore. During the same period, the passenger vehicle segment in the country witnessed a growth of 27 per cent over the last fiscal

year by reporting a total revenue of Rs 76,545.96 crores. These figures imply a highly prospective road lying immediately ahead of the Indian automobile industry. Predictions made by Ernst and Young have estimated that the Indian passenger car market will have a growth rate of about 12 percent per annum over the next five years to reach the production of 3.75 million units by the year 2014. The analysts have further stated that the industrys turnover will touch $155 billion by 2016. This achievement will succeed in consolidating Indias position as the seventh largest automobiles manufacturer on the globe, eventually surging forth to become the third largest by the year 2030 behind China and the US. The Automotive Mission Plan launched by the Indian government has envisaged that the country will emerge as the seventh largest car maker on the globe thereby contributing more than 10 percent to the nations $1.2-trillion economy. Further, industry experts believe that the nation will soon establish its stand as an automobile hub exporting about 2.75 million units and selling about a million units to be operated on the domestic roads.
Broadly speaking, an automobile review is the review done by media in general or by an independent, credible agency that we get to see in various newspapers, television and last but not the least the automobile magazines. In today's world, automobile reviews play a major role in either making or breaking the brand image of an automobile in the market. With the changing times, more and more models and makes of automobiles are flooding the Indian automobile market. In such a situation, it often becomes difficult on the customer's part to take the right decision. That brings us to the need for automobile reviews. Be it buying a car or a two-wheeler, automobile reviews come as a handy guide to help take the decision and make an informed choice amongst the many brands of vehicles available in the market. From technical specifications to a model's style quotient or its ergonomics, you name it and they have it all! Buying a vehicle was never this easy before. Just going through the pages of a well-known automobile magazine such as Autocar or Overdrive saves the interested buyer a lot of time and energy of visiting the various automobile showrooms to collect all that data. Now, one can have all of that in the comfort of one's house just by leafing through the pages of an automobile magazine or by watching the automobile review programs that are aired on different business channels on the television. On the other hand, from the automobile industry's perspective, automobile reviews help in understanding the drawbacks of less-successful models. It thus gives an opportunity to the auto maker to improve the standards in line with the consumer expectations. Also, a positive review of a car can push up the sales to greater heights and establishing its brand identity. On the flip side, a negative review can mar the image of a vehicle in the market and can bring down its sales dramatically. Though there are many independent agencies which carry out objective reviews periodically without taking any sides. There are a few others which publish cooked and tampered reviews to earn more money. So, it is important that we make the right choice while selecting the media for ascertaining automobile reviews. The role of automobile reviews has become an important component in the overall scheme of growth of the industry. Such reviews help the consumer to get informed, make a comparison of existing models and identify the best one to suit him. The industry also gets a feedback and uses that to make further improvements in the cars and automobiles and offer the consumers a better choice.

Broadly speaking, an automobile review is the review done by media in general or by an independent, credible agency that we get to see in various newspapers, television and last but not the least the automobile magazines. In today's world, automobile reviews play a major role in either making or breaking the brand image of an automobile in the market. With the changing times, more and more models and makes of automobiles are flooding the Indian automobile market. In such a situation, it often becomes difficult on the customer's part to take the right decision. That brings us to the need for automobile reviews. Be it buying a car or a two-wheeler, automobile reviews come as a handy guide to help take the decision and make an informed choice amongst the many brands of vehicles available in the market. From technical specifications to a model's style quotient or its ergonomics, you name it and they have it all! Buying a vehicle was never this easy before. Just going through the pages of a well-known automobile magazine such as Autocar or Overdrive saves the interested buyer a lot of time and energy of visiting the various automobile showrooms to collect all that data. Now, one can have all of that in the comfort of one's house just by leafing through the pages of an automobile magazine or by watching the automobile review programs that are aired on different business channels on the television. On the other hand, from the automobile industry's perspective, automobile reviews help in understanding the drawbacks of less-successful models. It thus gives an opportunity to the auto maker to improve the standards in line with the consumer expectations. Also, a positive review of a car can push up the sales to greater heights and establishing its brand identity. On the flip side, a negative review can mar the image of a vehicle in the market and can bring down its sales dramatically. Though there are many independent agencies which carry out objective reviews periodically without taking any sides. There are a few others which publish cooked and tampered reviews to earn more money. So, it is important that we make the right choice while selecting the media for ascertaining automobile reviews. The role of automobile reviews has become an important component in the overall scheme of growth of the industry. Such reviews help the consumer to get informed, make a comparison of existing models and identify the best one to suit him. The industry also gets a feedback and uses that to make further improvements in the cars and automobiles and offer the consumers a better choice. Broadly speaking, an automobile review is the review done by media in general or by an independent, credible agency that we get to see in various newspapers, television and last but not the least the automobile magazines. In today's world, automobile reviews play a major role in either making or breaking the brand image of an automobile in the market. With the changing times, more and more models and makes of automobiles are flooding the Indian automobile market. In such a situation, it often becomes difficult on the customer's part to take the right decision. That brings us to the need for automobile reviews. Be it buying a car or a two-wheeler, automobile reviews come as a handy guide to help take the decision and make an informed choice amongst the many brands of vehicles available in the market. From technical specifications to a model's style quotient or its ergonomics, you name it and they have it all! Buying a vehicle was never this easy before. Just going through the pages of a well-known automobile magazine such as Autocar or Overdrive saves the interested buyer a lot of time and energy of visiting the various automobile showrooms to collect all that data. Now, one can have all of that in the comfort of one's house just by leafing through the pages of an automobile magazine or by watching the automobile review programs that are aired on different business channels on the television. On the other hand, from the automobile industry's perspective, automobile reviews help in understanding the drawbacks of less-successful models. It thus gives an opportunity to the auto maker to improve the standards in line with the consumer expectations. Also, a positive review of a car can push up the sales to greater heights and establishing its brand identity. On the flip side, a negative review can mar the image of a vehicle in the market and can bring down its sales dramatically.

Though there are many independent agencies which carry out objective reviews periodically without taking any sides. There are a few others which publish cooked and tampered reviews to earn more money. So, it is important that we make the right choice while selecting the media for ascertaining automobile reviews. The role of automobile reviews has become an important component in the overall scheme of growth of the industry. Such reviews help the consumer to get informed, make a comparison of existing models and identify the best one to suit him. The industry also gets a feedback and uses that to make further improvements in the cars and automobiles and offer the consumers a better choice.

Domestic Market Share for 2010-11 Passenger Vehicles Commercial Vehicles Three Wheelers Two Wheelers 16.25 4.36 3.39 76.00

2011 NOVEMBER U.S. AUTO SALES

Ford says small SUVs leading monthly sales gain

Ford sold 206,896 Escapes in the U.S. through October, a 31 percent gain over the same period a year ago. November 29, 2011 - 12:34 pm ET Add a comment Recommend DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. expects U.S. auto sales to rise in November, led by sales of small sport-utility vehicles. "There's reason to feel good about November," Erich Merkle, Ford's sales analyst, told reporters today at the company's headquarters. "We think there's probably a level that would put us in the mid-13-million range as an industry." Sales of small SUVs, which include Ford's Escape, "reign supreme," he said. Ford sold 206,896 Escapes in the U.S. through October, a 31 percent gain over the same period a year ago, according to the Automotive News data center. Ford includes medium- and heavy-truck sales in its industrywide annual selling rate, which adds about 200,000 to the total. The November 2010 sales rate was 12.3 million, according to the data center.

General Motors Co. also has said it expects an increase this month. Don Johnson, vice president of U.S. sales, said Nov. 15 at an investor conference that the November sales rate may reach 14 million, which also includes medium- and heavy-duty truck deliveries. Ford's U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 6.2 percent in October, less than the industrywide gain of 7.5 percent. Ford's U.S. market share rose to 16.8 percent this year through October, from 16.7 percent last year, according to Autodata. Ford earned $6.6 billion in the first nine months of the year, as new models like the Fiesta subcompact and Explorer sport-utility vehicle attracted buyers.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20111129/RETAIL01/311299772#ixzz1jtiITkTy

Sales of Compact SUVs Skyrocket

by David Aretha 2 Inside This Article 1. Sales of Compact SUVs Skyrocket 2. Explaining the Surge 3. See all Featured Articles articles

New-vehicle sales are higher than last year, but the compact-SUV segment has seen the most growth. The 2011 Kia Sportage is shown. Tea Partiers arent the only Americans enamored with Liberty, Patriots, and going Rogue. The car-buying public in general is agog over these compact SUVs--and the entire segment in general. While Honda sold 11,828 CR-Vs in February 2010, the total increased to 19,096 in February 2011. Over the same time period, sales of the Nissan Rogue soared by 86 percent. Kia sold just 1,088 Sportages in February 2010, but this February that number bungeed up to 3,965--an increase of 264 percent.

More Information
y y y 2011 Best Buy and Recommended Awards The Consumer Guide to 2011 Compact SUVs Vehicle Class Buying Guides

Sure, sales of U.S. light vehicles (cars, minivans,SUVs, and pickups) all increased over the same period. Car sales were up 22 percent, and the sales of light trucks (minivans, SUVs, and pickups) rose 34 percent. But compact SUVs were the real winners, with a combined sales increase of a whopping 47 percent. Below are the sales numbers for all vehicles that Consumer Guide Automotive classifies as compact SUVs. The list does not include the Mini Countryman(data not available) or premium-compact SUVs. Compact SUV Sales Increase, U.S. Market

Feb. 2010 Kia Sportage Mitsubishi Outlander/Outlander Sport Nissan Rogue Toyota RAV4 Dodge Nitro Honda CR-V Jeep Liberty Jeep Patriot Honda Element Volkswagen Tiguan 1,088 993 6,143 6,799 1,201 11,828 3,659 2,986 919 1,690

Feb. 2011 3,965 1,919 11,427 12,562 1,969 19,096 5,896 4,153 1,241 2,172 7,636 374 3,342 18,005 2,267 204 102,562

Percent Change +264% +93% +86% +85% +64% +61% +61% +39% +35% +29% +28% +27% +22% +19% +19% -17% +47%

Jeep Wrangler/ Wrangler 5,967 Unlimited Suzuki Grand Vitara Hyundai Tucson Ford Escape Jeep Compass Mazda Tribute Overall 294 2,741 15,156 1,911 246 69,936

Small SUV Models | Best Small SUV with Good Gas Mileage

The search for the best small SUV modelscontinues to increase as motorists and the market reduce demand for full-size SUVs due to higher costs and fuel consumption. This article has information about the SUV market and the reason why when it comes to SUV, small SUV models are in high demand. SUV is an acronym for the Sports Utility Vehicles. It is a vehicle that resembles the station wagon but it has towing capacity of full-sized truck. In fact it is built on truck chassis. The storage and passenger capacity even for compact SUV models is like that of the minivan.

Why Small SUV Models Are So Popular?

Consumer Demands The towing capacity of an SUV is no longer the main focus for the manufacturers as the consumers now have more interest in the best small SUV models with good gas mileage. The other thing that the motorists are looking for is the riding and driving comfort and this is something that they can get with the small SUV cars. The typical features that have made the SUV to stand out are still found in the small SUV hybrid. This includes the seating capacity of five or seven passengers with a roomy interior. The original SUV features include road positioning, non dedicated space for the trunk and four wheel drives. The engine on these vehicles has a high capacity including the one on small SUV automatic gear that are preferred by those who want to capitalize on their fuel economy capabilities. Although the originals purpose of the SUV was to combine sporting and off-road purposes, the popularity has spread to different breeds including luxury and best rated small SUVs. Compact SUV The sports utility vehicle sector has changed since the invention of the small SUV models. From year 2000 to 2005 the compact SUV which is the smallest of the SUV models have been recording more sales. In order to meet the demands, the manufacturers have developed non four wheel drives small SUV for sale. Most of the vehicles have different features from the small SUV models 2004 to 2006. There are many SUVs that are two wheel drives. Some of them are front wheel drives while others are rear wheel drives. A small SUV comparison to the SUV that were developed earlier shows that there have been many changes as the traditional sport utility vehicles were all four wheel drives. A compact SUV has a length that is approximately 4.25 and 4.60 meters. However, this class is different from the mini SUV as this refers to vehicles that are even smaller and this is clear even when going through small SUV reviews. Origin Countries As the popularity of two and four-wheel-drive models continues to rise there are many countries where one can get the best small SUV models and those which were released to the market in the recent years from 2008 onwards.

Most of the compact SUVs are from Japan and also Thailand. There are other suppliers who are based in Europe at countries like Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and France and United Kingdom. Other suppliers can be found in China, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States. Some of the SUV models that produce a good performance are: 1. Subaru Forester 2. Ford Escape Hybrid 3. Honda CR-V 4. Toyota RAV4 5. Hyundai Tucson 6. Nissan Rogue Advantages of Small SUVs Most of the vehicles in the small SUV models list have several advantages over the full-size SUVs. The good thing with these vehicles is that they possess very innovative designs that are combined with smart engineering thus overcoming any drawbacks that they might have. There is a lot of improvement from 2010 onwards. The advantages are: Fuel Economy Small SUVs use less fuel. This is assisted by its small frame. As a vehicle moves, there is air passing over it and a larger vehicle has to displace more air and this makes it consume more fuel when driving at a speed of 60 mph onwards. A heavier SUV also consumes more fuel as it is pulled more by gravity than a smaller car. This makes the engine to work more and if you compare gas mileage consumption, a small SUV is more economical. Seating Some of the best small SUV models have superior seating capacity when they are compared to big SUVs and other smaller cars. They cater for various seating arrangements. There are some models with adjustable seats that slide backward or forward if there is a need to create more room. There are small SUVs that can accommodate seven passengers. Many models now have the third row seating. The small SUVs are adequate even when you compare cargo space. Cost The cost of the best small SUV whether used or new ones is affordable as the rising demand for small SUV models has made the manufacturers to lower their prices. The prices are competitive compared to the amount that the large SUVs are selling at.

Maruti XA Alpha Compact SUV concept unveiled at Delhi Auto Expo

Write a review | January 5, 2012 | Article by Vinod Khanchandani | 8,628 views |2012 Auto Expo, Featured, Latest News

At last, the day has arrived which we all have been waiting for. The 2012 Auto Expo begins today amidst a huge hullabaloo and we have a grand new from Maruti Suzuki India, Indias largest automobile manufacturing company. It pulls the wraps off the compact sport utility vehicle at 11th Auto Expo. The carmaker has finally done the honours to reveal the compact sport utility vehicle concept called XA Alpha, which will provide comfortable seating capacity for five passengers under three-door SUV and four meter in length at the moment. The XA Alpha measures 1.6 meters tall, 4 meters in length and 1.9 meters wide and features 19 inch wheels; all of these are more likely to see a sea change once the company plans to send the sport utility vehicle for production. The domestic automobile manufacturer hasnt revealed the engine specifications and price of this concept vehicle, but will be well within the limits of 1.5 liter diesel and 1.2 liter petrol powerplants. The automaker obviously intends to keep the suspense intact with new models and on the 2nd day of 2012 Auto Expo the car maker has chosen to make large impact with Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, one of the most anticipated multi purpose vehicle.

Skoda Fabia Scout

Skoda Fabia Scout is the upcoming affordable price compact SUV in India . Skoda , a subsidiary of Volkswagen , already has Fabia hatch-back car in India . Skoda is targeting the sub-10 lakh SUV market segment in India which currently has only Indian companies SUVs like the Mahindra Scorpio , Xylo , and the Tata Safari . Most of the International auto companies has the SUVs in the 15-20 lakh price segment like the Hyundai Tucson , Toyota Fortuner , Mitsubishi Outlander , Chevrolet Captiva , and Skodas own Yeti . Skoda Fabia Scout will be a robust built car like its hatch-back sibling Fabia . It will not be much spacious like the premium SUVs but will still have enough internal space and also large boot . It is expected to be powered by a

90bhp 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine and 1.6 L MPI petrol engine (similar to Fabia hatchback) . Skoda brand is not much popular in India (Volkswagen popularity is rising) mainly due to high price tag vehicles and bad after sales and service . The Fabia would have been a hit if the Skoda service (franchise) was competitive (satisfactory) like that of Maruti and Hyundai in India .

enault Duster, Compact Premium SUV in India Affordable SUV!

Posted by brajesh on June 23, 2011 in Car 2 Comments Renault Duster, a compact premium SUV will run on Indian roads soon Hopefully, the most affordable SUV will become the second name of Renault Duster!

The French auto maker Renault bringing a compact premium and already popular SUV called Duster in India.Renault always wish to grab its share in high potential auto-market in India. Rather than only eying to small and affordable cars Renault has identified SUV marketing opportunity in India with increasing millionaires count and is likely to offer it on feasible price. Initially, the Mahindra Renault Logan was failed to dent its rivals in that particular segment in India. Renault plans to revamp Indian roads with the launch of five new cars under Renault brand

umbrella in couple of months. Renault Duster will be the first out of five cars to be launched in India. The small SUV based on the Logan platform will be manufactured in India and will come with a 1.5 diesel engine. Renault Duster is a top competitor for worlds most cheapest SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) and the launch of the SUV in India will give it an edge over Honda CRV, Toyota Fortuner, Tata Safari and others. The small SUV will be manufactured in India and will come with a 1.5 diesel engine (same as Renault Logan and Nissan Micra). The Renault Duster would have 4 airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control and also parking sensors on its top end models in India. Higher Fuel efficiency since the Renault Duster is lighter than most of its rivals in India.

Some of the Indian automobile industry experts says, Renault Duster sport bifocal head lamps at front, the 16 inch wheels attached with the thick rubber and the bumper area is covered with black plastic that gives a new look and muscularity to the SUV. Renault mission is to make it so popular like Mahindra Scorpio racing everywhere on Indian roads.

Carmakers out to sell compact SUV dreams

Published: Thursday, Dec 15, 2011, 8:00 IST By Yuga Chaudhari | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

There is a mad rush among automakers to line up products in the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment as no one wants to miss out on its promising growth prospects. Compact SUV as a market category may be relatively new, which explains its limited product offerings. But the upcoming Auto Expo may change all that. Companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai India, Ford India, Renault are all working overtime to showcase their smaller SUVs, which will open up a new front for auto makers as well as customers. The SUV segment as a whole is moving more or less at a fast clip, growing at about 12% this year compared to 13% last year. This is in stark contrast to small cars which continue to contract. In fact, in terms of growth, SUVs have outpaced all other formats, making it an attractive model for

companies to step up. It all started with the sub-4 meter Premier Rio. With other market players now gauging the market potential and plotting their steps with care, the competition is bound to hot up in days ahead. SUVs have gained a lot of acceptance in India in the past couple of years. Compacts will be more preferred as SUVs generally are bigger and more expensive. For a city customer, it can be an ideal product, said Arvind Saxena, director, sales & marketing, Hyundai Motor India. The company is planning to come out with a compact SUV concept during the Auto Expo in Delhi. Saxena said the product would take at least 3-4 years to hit the market. Similarly, Maruti Suzuki will take the wraps off its smaller SUV concept at Delhi Expo. That the carmaker is aggressively pushing things forward became clear when it announced its designs about the multi-purpose vehicle, Ertiga, and the compact SUV. We will see the feedback for the compact SUV at the Expo and accordingly, take a decision of manufacturing the same, said Shashank Srivastava, chief general manager (marketing) for Maruti Suzuki. Other automakers like Ford India and Renault India are stepping on the gas, too. It is expected that Fords EcoSport will be its next big thing after Figo. According to AutoCar India, the American automaker will unveil the product at the Auto Expo and will price it at Rs7-9 lakh. After India, this sub-4 meter SUV will then be headed for Brazil. Ford refused to comment on the future product offerings. Nigel Wark of Ford India said, Every segment has changed and customers requirements are also changing. There are opportunities in future in a segment like this if a product offers value for money and is stylish at the same time. Abdul Majeed, Auto Practice Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers sees price here as a big determinant as far as buyers are concerned. It is a niche segment, which has a potential to grow. It is a good option for many customers who cannot buy bigger SUVs. OEMs are showing interest, too. Pricing will play a major factor, said Majeed.

Honda Motors plans compact SUV for India

Write a review | December 19, 2011 | Article by Kaushik Chakraborty | 1,299 views |Latest News

The auto markets across the globe is about to witness strong competition in the segment of compact SUVs. Most top car manufacturers across the globe are willing to register their presence in this segment. The latest among all these key manufacturing giants that has jumped into the fray is Honda Motors. The company is undertaking aggressive efforts to design a suitable vehicle that could compete with the Nissan Qashqai, a car which has performed appreciably in European auto markets. The question that is arising in the minds of Indian auto

lovers is whether Honda is specifically designing this vehicle for the European market or is it going to suitably follow it with plans for the Indian auto market as well.

The only information that is till now available with Indian Drives is that the CEO of Honda Motors, Takanobu Ito commented vaguely on the success achieved by the Nissan Qashqai. This has given birth to a lot of speculations. Honda Motors is equipped with a diesel engine of 1.6L that would prove very useful in powering this SUV. Although the Nissan Qashqai would be its only major competitor in the European market, the Indian auto market is already witnessing a lot of brands cropping up. The US auto giant, Ford Motors has nearly equipped itself to announce its latest Ford EcoSport. The largest car manufacturer of India, Maruti India is also ready with its concept compact SUV that is going to be showcased at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo 2012. Nissan and Renault are both going to be ready with their respective versions of the Duster SUV within mid-year 2012. This makes it all the more imperative for Honda Motors to have its representation in the segment of compact SUVs in the Indian market. The Nissan Qashqai is referred to as the Nissan Dualis in the Japanese and Australian markets and comes in both diesel and petrol variants. This could probably be the reason thatHonda Motors has thoughts of having a diesel variant in its proposed compact crossover. However, the time is quite early for making inference on proposed pricing or detailed engine specifications that the latest Honda

SUV will be provided with. Honda has numerous petrol variant vehicles running in the market. The entire car range offered by Hero India, in fact, runs only on petrol.

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