India Indian Automobile Industry: News & Updates

[Jackdaws]

common.. Honda is Honda... Skoda do not hold any candle anywhere...

Not much to choose between the two - it's a matter of preference. Skoda certainly better fit and finish. Honda has more fuss free ownership.

 

[Nilgiri]

while toyota thinks indians do not deserve their cars

India has done well in the automotive industry sector relatively speaking.

There is good diversity and competition for its overall wealth and development level.

Companies that didn't make honest effort to get established here are missing out, and thats on them.

The relative success of automotive industry must be replicated to other manufacturing sectors. India must keep learning and investing.

 

[Gessler]

Royal Enfield revealed their SG650 bobber concept at EICMA-21 - This is a beaut

Plus the 120th Anniversary editions of the Interceptor & Continental GT 650s:

 

[kumata]

India has done well in the automotive industry sector relatively speaking.

There is good diversity and competition for its overall wealth and development level.

Companies that didn't make honest effort to get established here are missing out, and thats on them.

The relative success of automotive industry must be replicated to other manufacturing sectors. India must keep learning and investing.

Perhaps, we are keeping the bar very low.

Nobody invests billions of dollars crores to test the waters. Like of ford / GM were pretty serious with their product portfolio but govt kept changing the goal post. Ultimately, they ended up with huge losses to shut shop . I am surprised nobody reflects on the reasons for same.

TATA / Mahindra have picked some speed in recent only.. TATA got some winds afer JLR and Mahindra adapted quite a few from Ssangyong or they were still selling decades old rudimentary bolero,s ..they are basically assemblers of vehicles ....

 

[Nilgiri]

Perhaps, we are keeping the bar very low.

Nobody invests billions of dollars crores to test the waters. Like of ford / GM were pretty serious with their product portfolio but govt kept changing the goal post. Ultimately, they ended up with huge losses to shut shop . I am surprised nobody reflects on the reasons for same.

TATA / Mahindra have picked some speed in recent only.. TATA got some winds afer JLR and Mahindra adapted quite a few from Ssangyong or they were still selling decades old rudimentary bolero,s ..they are basically assemblers of vehicles ....

Yes I qualified the statement with India's wealth and dev level.

As that flourishes more, there will be more room for more kind of entries (and their entry being sustainable with a solid consumer base for it).

As far as I understand the failed entrants didn't make the commensurate investments in their supply chains locally and pick suitable models to double and triple down on first (for best chance at mass production and competing with maruti-suzuki etc like say hyundai managed).

India's total wealth will have to double and triple and they will likely try again with lessons learned, this time with EV ecosystem (clean sheet) I feel.

Let us see.

 

[Nilgiri]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1464931736563765257

 

[Nilgiri]

What do members think on the following?

What is best relevant way to put assurance route on such companies "if only" promises?:

BMW says lower import duties on EVs for some time can help in boosting demand, local manufacturing

Currently, India imposes 100 per cent import duty on fully imported cars with CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) value more than USD 40,000 and 60 per cent on those costing less than the amount.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

 

[Gessler]

The new BSA Gold Star 650 was unveiled at NEC Birmingham in UK. This is the first model of the legendary British motorcycle marquee developed after the brand was revived by Indian company Classic Legends (subsidiary of Mahindra Two-Wheelers). Must say, this sure looks good:

More details from the Director of BSA, Ashish Joshi:

 

[Jackdaws]

Perhaps, we are keeping the bar very low.

Nobody invests billions of dollars crores to test the waters. Like of ford / GM were pretty serious with their product portfolio but govt kept changing the goal post. Ultimately, they ended up with huge losses to shut shop . I am surprised nobody reflects on the reasons for same.

TATA / Mahindra have picked some speed in recent only.. TATA got some winds afer JLR and Mahindra adapted quite a few from Ssangyong or they were still selling decades old rudimentary bolero,s ..they are basically assemblers of vehicles ....

Yes I qualified the statement with India's wealth and dev level.

As that flourishes more, there will be more room for more kind of entries (and their entry being sustainable with a solid consumer base for it).

As far as I understand the failed entrants didn't make the commensurate investments in their supply chains locally and pick suitable models to double and triple down on first (for best chance at mass production and competing with maruti-suzuki etc like say hyundai managed).

India's total wealth will have to double and triple and they will likely try again with lessons learned, this time with EV ecosystem (clean sheet) I feel.

Let us see.

Ford did make a genuine attempt and reinvented the mini SUV segment with the EcoSport. But it mostly had duds in the market.

GM didn't really care. They started introducing Chinese cars with Chevy badges and assumed that what did well in China would do well in India.

The guys who failed - their biggest problem was two fold -

1. Service centers and cost
2. Resale value

Suzuki and Hyundai understood that. You can get those cars serviced everywhere. Hyundai even has recently started video streaming of your service - so you know what's happening

Europeans are giving it a shot. Their cars are similar to cars in Asia. The American portfolio is very different.

 

[Gessler]

Mahindra has brought back Yezdi!

 

[Nilgiri]

Heh...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1481866117526163456

 

[Nilgiri]

Ford reconsiders India after halting production, this time for EVs

Ford had less than 2 per cent of the Indian passenger vehicle market when it stopped production in the country, having struggled for more than two decades to turn a profit. The restructuring was viewed positively by analysts.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ford Motor Co said on Friday it is considering producing electric vehicles (EVs) in India for export, and possibly for sale in the domestic market, just months after the U.S. automaker decided to stop selling and manufacturing cars in the country.

(More at link)

 

[Jackdaws]

Ford reconsiders India after halting production, this time for EVs

Ford had less than 2 per cent of the Indian passenger vehicle market when it stopped production in the country, having struggled for more than two decades to turn a profit. The restructuring was viewed positively by analysts.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ford Motor Co said on Friday it is considering producing electric vehicles (EVs) in India for export, and possibly for sale in the domestic market, just months after the U.S. automaker decided to stop selling and manufacturing cars in the country.

(More at link)

Unlike GM which brought rubbish into India, Ford genuinely tried to crack the Indian market. They had some fantastic products - it's a shame they never quite got it right at the right time.

 

[Zapper]

 

[Nilgiri]

Tata Motors on track for another record PV sales show

After posting the highest annual sales in the company's history in the calendar year 2021, the maker of the Nexon and Harrier SUVs is eyeing a record January-March period, the fiscal fourth quarter, with sales of 125,000 vehicles, people in the know said. An improvement in semiconductor...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

 

[Zapper]

Tata Motors on track for another record PV sales show

After posting the highest annual sales in the company's history in the calendar year 2021, the maker of the Nexon and Harrier SUVs is eyeing a record January-March period, the fiscal fourth quarter, with sales of 125,000 vehicles, people in the know said. An improvement in semiconductor...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

I hope to see both Tata and Mahindra expand globally on the lines of Hyundai or other Japanese giants. If one has ever been to South Korea, the only cars you see on the road are Hyundais and Kias' with most rich people also opting for the same over German premium brands. The specs of features of Tata and Mahindra's product range are in line with what Hyundai/Kia/MG are offering and often times even better. While a healthy competition is important for the growth and development of the companies and industry in general, I see no reason for Indians to opt for foreign brands

 

[Jackdaws]

Tata Motors on track for another record PV sales show

After posting the highest annual sales in the company's history in the calendar year 2021, the maker of the Nexon and Harrier SUVs is eyeing a record January-March period, the fiscal fourth quarter, with sales of 125,000 vehicles, people in the know said. An improvement in semiconductor...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

I hope to see both Tata and Mahindra expand globally on the lines of Hyundai or other Japanese giants. If one has ever been to South Korea, the only cars you see on the road are Hyundais and Kias' with most rich people also opting for the same over German premium brands. The specs of features of Tata and Mahindra's product range are in line with what Hyundai/Kia/MG are offering and often times even better. While a healthy competition is important for the growth and development of the companies and industry in general, I see no reason for Indians to opt for foreign brands

The problem with Tata and Mahindra is their After Sales Service

This includes billing desks filling out feedback forms, replacing parts from other cars which come for servicing, overbilling for services not asked etc.


They have improved considerably in the bigger cities and social media complaints help. Suzuki sells cars which aren't anywhere as robust, use decade old transmissions and use same parts in their cheapest car that they use in their most expensive. Yet, they command 40% market share. It's just peace of mind, nothing else.

 

[Zapper]

The problem with Tata and Mahindra is their After Sales Service

This includes billing desks filling out feedback forms, replacing parts from other cars which come for servicing, overbilling for services not asked etc.


They have improved considerably in the bigger cities and social media complaints help. Suzuki sells cars which aren't anywhere as robust, use decade old transmissions and use same parts in their cheapest car that they use in their most expensive. Yet, they command 40% market share. It's just peace of mind, nothing else.

After sales issues were a thing of the past. We did own a Tata vehicle back in the late 90s and early 2000s and it was a pain with technical issues and poor response from their service depts. While my fam doesn't own a Tata currently, a lot of my friends did move from Hondas and Hyundais to Tata and Mahindras and all they say is the service/maintenance being on par with South Korean and Japs. Shows how Tata also worked on improving their dealer network, aftersales support and spares availability while improving quality.

Maruti Suzuki still has an edge due to it's extremely cheap after sales with the cars also being priced very low which majority of Indian consumers could afford

 

[Jackdaws]

After sales issues were a thing of the past. We did own a Tata vehicle back in the late 90s and early 2000s and it was a pain with technical issues and poor response from their service depts. While my fam doesn't own a Tata currently, a lot of my friends did move from Hondas and Hyundais to Tata and Mahindras and all they say is the service/maintenance being on par with South Korean and Japs. Shows how Tata also worked on improving their dealer network, aftersales support and spares availability while improving quality.

Maruti Suzuki still has an edge due to it's extremely cheap after sales with the cars also being priced very low which majority of Indian consumers could afford

There is an excellent thread on Team BHP on a guy who has cars serviced in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities - look it up and and see the difference.

 

[Zapper]

There is an excellent thread on Team BHP on a guy who has cars serviced in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities - look it up and and see the difference.

I believe I've seen something similar a while ago unless you're referring to something more recent. There was also another thread on a guy who worked at multiple dealerships just cuz he was passionate about cars and wanted to get the insights...it was a very interesting thread though