[SchumiFan]

Just putting it out there, we are not the only fuel conscious market out there. You have to see car ads in the USA. They all mention the EPA estimated mpg values and manufacturers are trying to increase it as much as possible. Some even getting 40mpg without a hybrid (Mazda 3 for example). It's not like we are penny pinchers here and world over they have happy to pay for the fuel.

So let's stop insulting ourselves and try forcing the manufacturers to serve us instead of landing something that they already have at exorbitant prices.

And when it comes to safety, we have Toyota Etios which is able to get 4 stars (or was it 5?) in NCAP while Renault are making money by cutting down on Airbag size.

If anyone is cheap, it is the manufacturers, not the customers.

[sgmuser]

Originally Posted by Nagesh Bhatt

You said it !!!
Indian consumer wants to look at the Maruti Badge & possess one, period ! All those Indian consumers wanting to upgrade from Two wheelers to Four wheelers, it's only Maruti. The consumer here is not ready to venture really & goes for safety first !

This automobile phenomenon exists in every market! Mostly ruled by Toyota! There are people (who are majority somehow!) just want to buy badge T.

Are they super safe? No.
Are they super luxury... kidding me...?
Are they refined - what?
Are they cheap? - nope
Are they reliable? - take my cheque!

Somehow, in India Toyota missed the boat big time which Maruti managed to cling on and make further in roads by introducing no-nonsense products which exactly people want.

We are not alone in this - buying badges and not cars! Actually this happens to the Fortuner sales! Otherwise, we would have seen Endy selling atleast half of what Fortuner sells. M2C.

[Coolman]

Originally Posted by wilful

Good points every one of them.
However, my concerns are not totally focused on the dominance of Maruti and Hyundai. It is more on the de-specced, 'not really cheap' nature of the offerings here. Like the aforementioned Duster, with the 'smaller for India airbag', the stucturally enhanced Kwid for the Brazillian market, the same case with the Ecosport for Europe and so on.
The Indian market does pay top dollar for these and should realistically expect similarly featured vehicles in our market but for the lax regulatory regime in place here and to a lesser extent the largely uniformed nature of the market.
Here's hoping that things change for the better.

Yes, that's a gap as of now.

Let us recollect how things were few years back and what the progress has been:

• Automobile models sold in India and the corresponding ones sold outside had bigger differences.
• The models here, by most manufacturers were stripped to a bare minimum both technology-wise and feature-wise.
• Over the years Ford, Volkswagen, Honda etc. made efforts in elevating their Indian models.
• Hyundai and Maruti sensed this shift in momentum and they jumped on the bandwagon as well. Some of their cars launched in the last 5 years are proof.
• I am sure the other players have taken notice and wouldn't want to be left behind.

The market too, even if it has not been very vocal about it, has been sending the right signals when required.

Few cases of over-confidence from the manufacturers, which the market didn't fall for:

• A Mobilio, coming from the makers of City, didn't find enough success
• Hope General Motors knows why we don't enjoy the Enjoy, the way we accepted the Tavera
• The market minced no words in rejecting the Datsun's Go Twins

Today we have cross-overs, Automatics, booster petrol engines, ABS, Airbags, Climate Control, Touchscreens - these were a novelty earlier!

So, with the market signals asking for a better treatment, if not on par and some of the alert manufacturers paying attention, it is just a matter of time, and hopefully the gap compared to international models would reduce further!

God bless competition!

Thanks,
C_

[volkman10]

Three toppers in their respective segments and command over 50% Market share ( Jan - Dec 2016).

1. Maruti Suzuki Dzire



2. Maruti Suzuki Alto




3. Toyota Fortuner



Link

[gurthvader]

Well researched, crisp and bang on target. A very well written analysis thanks!

No offence to anyone, but if we are a VFM market, what is wrong with that, we work really hard to earn our livings & our govt’s take a lions share one way or the other, which leaves us very little choice & the only way seems forward is being price conscious, performance conscious and a wish to extract the best run for our money.

It’s every company’s dream to be able to charge like apple does for their products & to some degree some companies are able to pull that off & actually offering very little in terms of benefits vis-à-vis the premium charged.

Therefore all variables considered, in my humble opinion it is in fact good that we put forth such barriers, but on the same hand honest companies get their rewards here & for the not so honest, we don’t seem to spare the whip.