Quote:
Originally Posted by aseem  Do you own a Hyundai?
In any case, its the same for all manfacturers from the likes of Skoda (Laura and Octi), to Hyundai (with Accent and Verna, i10 and Santra), to Tata's, they keep selling the the old model and position the new model along as a new entry in the market. Why just blame MUL.
Rather when companies like Honda and Toyota (like Qualis) discontinue old models and bring newer models, most ppl complain like crybabies that why discontinue something that sells good and runs well..
So one can keep arguing on this. What we should appreciate is that manf should keep giving us new offerings, whether they keep continuing with the old ones or not, is their call. |
But I guess MUL takes the cake when it comes to replacing older models with newer ones.
Guys : This is what I have read over the years. Please correct me if I am wrong on this.
Considering the first ever Maruti 800 to be introduced in India as the baseline - first generation small car, the next 800 was second generation with its various iterations [ MPFI, 4-speed, 5-speed]. For the world markets, the 800 was replaced by the Zen [not the Estilo] - the third generation. Then came the Alto - Fourth generation - to replace the Zen. Today with the the A-Star launch, MUL is launching the 5th Generation of the car that set on India on wheels.
Had MUL not discountinued the earlier Zen, India would have been in a unique position as the only car market in the world to have 4 generations of the same car family selling side-by-side. We would probably be breaking our own record - set by MUL itself while selling the 800 / Zen / Alto - cars from 3 generations.
Put together they were selling in substantial numbers, helping MUL retain the numero uno postion in this market.
For a moment consider, if Toyota had been selling 3 generations of the Corolla at the same time in the US. But they wouldnt.
Government regulations on emissions & safety, consumers' appetite for improved car designs & comfort, competition and Toyota brand building exercise are some of the reasons I can think of for Toyota to stop selling older cars.
So where does this leave MUL, the current competition in India and India as an automotive society as a whole.