subject: Cars in India [print this page] Cars in India Cars in India
India emerged as a winner from the recent financial downturn. The Indian car market remained unharmed. Now, after it's all over, analysts predict tremendous car sales in the country. The last financial year that ended in March 2010 witnessed record sales for most car makers in India. However, there was none that could beat the unbeatable Maruti Suzuki which has been royally occupying the top space in the car market. Over 50 per cent of the cars sold in India roll out of Maruti Suzuki dealerships.
The two wheeler users have already begun moving towards the four wheelers. Such car buyers who look for the entry level models usually come from middle class Indian families. They would want the luxury of a car, but at an affordable price. Cars like the Tata Indica, Maruti Suzuki Alto, Nissan Micra, Hyundai Santro and a few others are thus a blessing to the average car buyer in India. The Alto, no wonder, bags the highest number of car sales in the country. Around 25,000 Alto units get sold every month.
The hatchback segment does not lie far behind. With the launch of plenty of cars in the segment in the past few months, the segment has been a boon to car makers. We had the launch of simple yet sophisticated vehicles equipped with all the advanced features. The Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and the Maruti Suzuki WagonR are most recent entries and have been alluring quite a big number of buyers in India. The specialty of all these cars lies in the cost. In spite of the ground-breaking technologies they carry, they are very light on the average Indian's pocket.
The next segment that has begun gaining importance of late is the mini MPV segment. We have the Maruti Suzuki Eeco and Omni. These cars again are priced just right for the Indian car buyer. Very soon the three-way joint venture of SAIC-GM-Wuling will be bringing in the Sunshine, Sail and Hong Guang. Many more cars from other manufacturers are believed to make their entry too.
Coming to the luxury car segment, it certainly looks like India is growing richer by the day. Luxury cars too have been witnessing surging sales figures. Recently we had the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, the Mercedes Benz E-Class Coupe, the Volkswagen Phaeton and many more making their debut on the roads in India. BMW too had its share of luxury car launches.
So, we now have a clear indication that India is no way behind when it comes to the automobile industry. During the first quarter of 2010, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country's second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter recorded record sales of 162,273 against 121,565 units for the same period in 2009. Nissan Motors India has plans of exporting 250,000 cars produced at its plant in India by 2011. Meanwhile, GM too has announced its plans of exporting nearly 50,000 cars manufactured in India by next year.
