[vasudeva]

In the mid size segment where NHC competes, let us look at the numbers from around Dec-05 (when Fiesta was launched) to Feb-07. With sales of 3764 in 12/05, NHC ruled with 27% share in segment. However, with the launch of Fiesta and Verna, NHC has lost. During Dec05-Mar 06, its sold around 3800 units per month. This fell to around 3500 pm in Apr-Jun 06, 3400 pm in July-Sep 06, 3000 pm in Oct-Dec 06, and 2900 pm in Jan-Feb07. Its market share declined to around 21-24% during most of 2006 (with highs in certain months), but fell to a recent low of 14.3% in Feb 07, when it sold 2156 units. Sales fell for all in Feb 07 cos of budget expectations.

While NHC has lost some share, it is Fiesta which has gained most. Ford was selling only around 1000 units of Ikon in Dec05. Its sales of Ikon+Fiesta jumped to 4100 pm in Dec 05-Mar06, 3050 pm in 4/06-6/06, 3150 pm in 7/06-9/06, 2600 pm in 10/06-12/06, but suddenly jumped to 4100 pm in Jan-Feb 07. Ford's market share jumped from 7% in Nov 05 to 24.6% in 2/07. Hyundai was also losing ground to Fiesta and NHC. Its accent had a market share of 11.3% in 8/06. It launched Verna in Sep/Oct 06, and sales of Verna and Accent jumped from 1593 in 8/06 (pre Verna) to 3720 in 10/06 (incl. Verna). It then fell during Nov-Dec 06, but jumped again to around 2700 pm during Jan-Feb 07. Maruti's sales have remained up and down in the range of 2000-3000 pm. Tata has also increased monthly sales from 2170 in 8/06 to 3436 in 2/07.

[vasudeva]

The average monthly sales in the NHC segment (mid size, 4000-4500 mm) during July-Sep 06, Oct-Dec 06, and Jan-Feb 07 are as follows:

Fiat 47, 52,44
Ford Ikon & Fiesta 3161, 2607, 4111
GM Aveo 801, 754, 594
HM Lancer, Amby 1148, 1035,961
Honda City 3338, 2983, 2887
Hyundai Accent & Verna 1953, 2544, 2702
Maruti Esteem, Baleno 2796, 2303, 2207
Tata Indigo, Marina 2776, 2219,3322

[pmbabu]

Originally Posted by shuvc

Autocar India April issue.

The NHC has sold 2100 odd numbers in February.
The Fiesta (petrol + diesel) has sold in excess of 3000 !!!

Mods, maybe the thread should be renamed. The NHC is no more the segment leader (considering both diesel and petrol).

Below is Honda's website quoting sales:
Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. :: Press Releases

It doesn't contain the actual number of NHCs sold, I wonder where ACI got its figures. They sold 60% more cars compared to Feb 06. (Wait, I know that Civic wasn't part of Feb 06 sales figures)

Thus, watch the figures for next few months. I am not sure if only one month data should be used to decide the leader (in terms of sales, that is!)

[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by pmbabu

Thus, watch the figures for next few months. I am not sure if only one month data should be used to decide the leader (in terms of sales, that is!)

You have a point there. I would rather wait for at least a year. But still, shuvc's analysis seems to be logical.

[shuvc]

@vasudeva - would you mind sharing the source of your data ?

@pmbabu - @vasudeva's data kind of quantifies what I was trying to say. The trend is not good for the City. It is losing ground. Honda surely will return with a bang and in the process consumers will possibly get a better deal. Cheers to competition.
Btw, as per ACI they sold 1100+ Civics in Feb ! It surely has got the market by the scruff of it's neck. Skoda is selling 600 odd in that segment, even with the advantage of a diesel.
Just goes to show, FE does not rule in all segments.

[GeekSrik]

Personally my feelings about the companies are as under:

FIAT - great cars, same old future!

TATA - good cars, servicing i see will deteriorate, reason being they are concentrating on the partnership more than they are concentrating on the customers

MAHINDRA - will introduce more renaults, and hybrids and more scorpio/bolero/ingenio kinds of vehicles, wouldnt be surprised if they lead by example and customer focus.

HYUNDAI - as always though a bit expensive, they will still keep going ahead and might just pip maruti in terms of sales with their lpg/crdi variants of small cars, but they might lose on the verna side a bit

MARUTI - will launch more models just out of competition and their customer focus as always will be strong

SKODA - might remain where they are now, though with the addition of fabia

HONDA - might face terrible competition from the likes of maruti, GM, and ford, and add to that maybe even toyota might spring a surprise or two for them, in effect either advanced features or lowering of price might happen.

TOYOTA - if they still remain sleeping, perhaps they will get hit the worst a second year in a row, but otherwise can turn tables well.

CHEVY - will have more segment presence but might find it tough to shed their expensive spare parts image and servicing matters could see a betterment, what with their extended warranties getting better by the day.

[rahul_intlad]

What makes this more interesting is Honda has a policy of No discounts[atleast they do not want to publicly accept it],price cuts would that be possible don't know,considering how honda takes pride in the resale value of its cars.

Wonder how Honda will react if this trend continues?

[amit]

April sales figures are what we should wait for. Honda's sales tax holiday ends this month and from media reports City prices will go up by about Rs.12,000(?), if Honda decides to transfer the entire sales tax burden to the customers. Having said that, we should remember that Fiesta's sales are mainly from the diesel version. Whats the comparo between Fiesta Petrol and NHC?

[navdeep]

Originally Posted by amit

Whats the comparo between Fiesta Petrol and NHC?

its about being in the same price bracket..

[rahul_intlad]

Things are not all that rosy for the fiesta either,I know of a few potential fiesta tdci customers who ended up going in for the swift ddis.Will have to wait for a few months to see if the swift diesel would actually affect fiesta sales even if one is a hatch and the other a sedan.Also there is the logan coming up and the maruti sx4 sedan too.

Lot's of people nowadays do not actually need that extra bootspace of a sedan.

[unknown]

Nhc price will hike from tomorrow onwards .

[vasudeva]

[quote=shuvc;402357]@vasudeva - would you mind sharing the source of your data ?

The data source is SIAM to which our company subscribes. They give out monthly and cumulative domestic production, sales, and export figures for all auto manufacturers, based on segments and types-4W, MUV, commercial vehicles, 2W, 3W. March 07 figures shall be available only around 12-15 April.

[zakaaaaasss]

just one month's data cannot justify any market leader.... month of Feb is usually dull because
1) business community usually make decisions and buy in March for deprciation purpose.
2) the income tax filing exercise is vital in the months of Feb- Mar for service class community.
3) people usually wait to see the budget of that FY before investing large sums


As they correctly say, every DOG has its days! anyhow, IMO, whether or not NHC continues to stay as leader or not, but Fiesta does'nt deserve to be leader in anyway.

[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by zakaaaaasss

but Fiesta does'nt deserve to be leader in anyway.

This is just plain arrogance is it not? I again ask, who are we to say whether a car deserves to be the leader in its segment or not?

[SLK]

Originally Posted by typeOnegative

I again ask, who are we to say whether a car deserves to be the leader in its segment or not?

I think.... we all have different opinions about which car should be the segment leader and which not... and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!..... this is a discussion forum!!

What we can't do is... to make a car a segment leader or to stop it from becoming one.