Please help: car models available in India

[TheOne®]

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing a little research on the Indian car scene for work and could use a bit of help.

Basically, I would need to know if:

- you do get all of the models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi in India or only a limited number
- which of the models you get are manufactured in India (I know manufacturing plants were opened by all three companies)
- if you get any special models from those three brands that we do not get in Europe or the U.S. (special productions for the Indian market)

Whereas my questions focus on the above mentioned three car manufacturers, feedback on Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, Fiat, Ford or Opel are also appreciated though not extensively.

Moreover, which car models would you say are the most common ones you see on the streets in India?

Thanks very much for your help in advance.

[Sam Kapasi]

Hello honey

Before the experts answer - I will tell you one thing from what I do know.

All 3 German manufacturers you mention produce cars that are termed as premium just by brand itself. Very few can afford anything made by Mercedes, BMW and Audi in India.
Manufacturing is a must because import duties are prohibitive. Also now you are no longer allowed to import left hand drive cars (the kind you normally drive)

The most common car brands you will see on Indian streets are Japanese, Korean and Indian brands. Not German.

Also, the most appreciated (earlier Czech, now) German cars are made by Skoda (probably due to the luxury vs the price), which you have not mentioned.

[TheOne®]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The most common car brands you will see on Indian streets are Japanese, Korean and Indian brands. Not German.

That is fine, my question about which are the most common cars to see did not aim at any of the specific car manufacturers I mentioned in my questions before. I just want to know the actual truth, such as the Indica (by Tata right?) etc.

[amitoj]

If you dont consider the taxis, then i think Santro from Hyundai and Alto from Maruti Suzuki would be the most common cars seen on the roads. If you take taxis also into consideration then Indica from Tata and Omni from Maruti Suzuki also come into the picture.

But i am no expert either.

So, wait for the experts to answer.

[NetfreakBombay]

Most common car in India is Maruti-Suzuki hatchback (either 800 or Alto)

This thread has actual numbers : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...-analysis.html (Indian Car Sales Figures and Analysis)

[Elito11]

Originally Posted by TheOne®

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing a little research on the Indian car scene for work and could use a bit of help.

Basically, I would need to know if:

- you do get all of the models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi in India or only a limited number

- We get a select number of models from all the three carmakers. Infact this is also the case with other global manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford etc. Mostly India gets 'regular' or 'family' aimed models. WHat we miss out on are sporty models, large SUV's, coupe's etc

- which of the models you get are manufactured in India (I know manufacturing plants were opened by all three companies)

- Mercs - most 'regular' models are manufactured in India, expect a few which are either CKD's or CBU's

- BMW - CKD's and CBU's

- AUdi - CBU's only
Basically BMW and AUdi assemble rather than manufaturer in India.


- if you get any special models from those three brands that we do not get in Europe or the U.S. (special productions for the Indian market)

- Not that i know of!

Whereas my questions focus on the above mentioned three car manufacturers, feedback on Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, Fiat, Ford or Opel are also appreciated though not extensively.

Moreover, which car models would you say are the most common ones you see on the streets in India?

Most common would the Maruti's, Hyundai and Tata. AGain cheaper cras sell more, so mdels like ALto, Santro, i10, Wagon R, Indica, Swift etc are largest selling and most common.

Thanks very much for your help in advance.

This is a very basic info. I COULD be wrong at someplace, so you would need to double check. Rest i guess you can get this info by accessing the india specific websites of these comanies and looking at sales figures (availaible on TBHP).

Elito

[rudrah]

Originally Posted by TheOne®

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing a little research on the Indian car scene for work and could use a bit of help.

Basically, I would need to know if:

- you do get all of the models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi in India or only a limited number
- which of the models you get are manufactured in India (I know manufacturing plants were opened by all three companies)
- if you get any special models from those three brands that we do not get in Europe or the U.S. (special productions for the Indian market)

Whereas my questions focus on the above mentioned three car manufacturers, feedback on Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, Fiat, Ford or Opel are also appreciated though not extensively.

Moreover, which car models would you say are the most common ones you see on the streets in India?

Thanks very much for your help in advance.

I can put bit of a light here...

1. Limited Models from the 3 German car manufacturers
2. Not much idea abt it
3. No special models here in India which are not available or released in Europe/US, only those which are successful outside and compatible with Indian market price and standards, u will find here.

Most common car manufacturer u wd find here is Maruti Suzuki for Car example, Maruti 800, Alto, Esteem etc etc etc

Cheers~

[dhaval]

The most common models would be:-
-Almost all models from the Maruti Suzuki stable- Altos, Wagon Rs, Swifts(diesels are getting popular), SX4s all this are sorta IndoJapanese cars

-Indian:- from the Tata stable; Indica/cab call centre favorite, Indigo


-Japanese:- Mostly the Honda Citys, Civic numbers have started increasing
same with Toyota, mostly you would find more Corollas then Camrys on Indian roads.

-Korean:- I think the most common is the Hyundai Santro


Mercedes are too common now, E and C class are common sight on Indian roads. Offlate one can even see lots of BMWs on Pune roads; especially the 3 and the 5 series.
Hope that helps.

dhaval

[Rotorhead]

Hi there,
the most common cars that you will see in a metro are typically maruti 800, maruti alto, hyundai santro, tata indica(a lot of these are cabs) ..these are all 4 door hatch backs with cc's within 800 to 1300. Apart from these the most common sedans are hyundai accent, ford ikon, chevy aveo, the older generation mitsubishi lancer etc. In the SUV side you will see a lot of tata sumo's(these are mostly used as taxi's), tavera's , mahindra scorpio and offlate quite a few tata safari's. You dont get to see too many estates or sports coupe's and if at all these are the rare imported ones. You will get to see a lot of mahindra jeeps and tata sumo's that are used again as taxis in smaller towns and villages. In luxury sedans you will see a lot of corolla's, civics, few accords, hyundai elantra's, chevy optra's.

[ajmat]

You get more details over here on cars available

else, ask the friendly yeti to fax the sales figures as given in his free autocar copy

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by TheOne®

- you do get all of the models from BMW, Mercedes and Audi in India or only a limited number
- which of the models you get are manufactured in India (I know manufacturing plants were opened by all three companies)

1. Mainstream models like the 3/5/7/X5 series, A4/A6/A8/Q7 & C/E/S/ML are available off the shelf but with limited engine options. Specialist/Niche models like the Z4, M3/M5, SL/SLK etc. are imported on order.

2. BMW/Mercedes/Audi/Volvo - None of these manufacturers manufacture cars in India. They are only 'assembled' here (and that too only some models), the kits for assembly are shipped from their plants in other parts of the globe. Very few local parts are used in the assembly, most are imported.

Originally Posted by TheOne®

- if you get any special models from those three brands that we do not get in Europe or the U.S. (special productions for the Indian market)

None from the German brands. All their models available here are also available worldwide.

Originally Posted by TheOne®

Whereas my questions focus on the above mentioned three car manufacturers, feedback on Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, Fiat, Ford or Opel are also appreciated though not extensively.

Land Rover/Range Rover/Jaguar have no official presence in India as such. Land Rover/Range Rover has a distributor in Mumbai though but don't know what the latest status on them is.

Opel was sold in India for a few years when GM first entered the market but was soon phased out in favour of Chevrolet's (which are basically rebadged Daewoo's).

Toyota sells their global Camry, Corolla (last gen in some markets now) & their Asia specific Innova which is an MUV. They plan to bring in a small car especially developed for India but God only knows when.

Fiat sells their 178 platform cars here which were designed for third-world countries & AFAIK are not available in Europe. They also plan to being in the new Linea, grande Punto, 500 etc.

Ford sells a big SUV here which is based on their Ranger pickup & I don't think is sold anywhere outside of Asia. Also they have their Fiesta which is a sedan version of the Fiesta which is again not available in Europe.

Originally Posted by TheOne®

Moreover, which car models would you say are the most common ones you see on the streets in India?

That would have to be Maruti Suzuki's, mainly small hatchbacks like the 800, Alto, Zen etc.

[TheOne®]

Thanks to all for your help and for the links sent.

Your feedback is really great and I really appreciate it.

So, to put it in very general words:

No special models produced for the Indian automobile market, except for Ford and Toyota.

Cars of nearly all mentioned brands available though sometimes only limited models. Wider range for more money possible (imports).

Focus on "normal" small and family cars, hardly any sports versions or coupés available.

Asian cars still outweigh all others.

Mercedes more common to see than BMW or Audi?!

All of the above correct?

[V-16]

Hi,
Regarding your query about the German Cars Available in India, I will add my two bits of information that I am aware of, hope it is useful

Firstly, None of these companies "manufacture" any cars in India in the strict sense of the word. They all Import kits which are then assembled in their Indian Factories.


1) AUDI Audi does not assemble any cars here as of now. so all are CBUs or Completely Built Units

A4 available in 1.8 Petrol and 2.0 Tdi

A6 available in 3.2 Petrol and 3.0 Tdi-Quattro

A8 available in 4.2 (V-8) 6.0 (W12) Petrol and 3.0 Tdi-all Quattro

TT 3.2 coupe

Q7 SUV available in 4.2 Petrol and 3.0 Tdi


2) MERCEDES BENZ:
Assembled in India:

C Class:
C 200K and the C220 CDI.

E Class:
E 200K, E280 Petrol and E280 CDI

S Class:
S 350L, S 500L and S 320L CDI

CBU: (Completely built Unit/imported but available in India).

CLS 350 and CLS 500
SLK 350
SL 500
ML 350 and 320 CDI

The Maybach.


BMW

Assembled in India:

3 Series:
320i, 325i and 320d

5 Series:
523i, 525i, 530i 525d,

CBU:

M3
M5

7 Series:
740 Li, 750Li, 760 Li and 730 Ld

SUV:

X3- 2.5i
X5- 4.8i and 3.0d


VW:

Volkswagen also makes cars in India.

Passat 2.0Tdi which is assembled and

the Touareg SUV 3.0Tdi which is a CBU.

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by amitoj

If you take taxis also into consideration then Indica from Tata

Hey not all of us are cabbies !

No special models produced for the Indian automobile market, except for Ford and Toyota.

a big omission is the Maruti Swift Dzire , which is a popular india specific sedan version of the suzuki swift. ( would you believe that in some places , there is an 8 month waiting list for it ? )
In addition, there are some asia specific models like the Suzuki SX4 sedan(yes, Indians have a soft corner for sedans- They're seen as status symbols, especially since the average indian drives a hatch) , And some models which have been discontinued elsewhere still living on - the previous generation Mitsubishi lancer, skoda octavia and Hundai accent ( and some others) are sold alongside their current versions

[ajmat]

A6 available in 3.2 Petrol and 3.0 Tdi-Quattro

A6 is assembled in India by Skoda a la VW Passat