India is a fast maturing car market but it's also a very price sensitive one which somtimes can be frustrating for both car buyers and car manufacturer's. Isn’t it time, India too had the option packs system available on cars abroad? Sure, no system is perfect and westerners do argue that car manufacturer’s sneakily “force” buyers to take luxury features making some packages very expensive thus forcing buyers to shell out much more then their budget but IMO, overall, option packs allow buyers to pick and choose features they would like to have.
Of course, simplicity is important here. Taking the example of the Swift, this is how MUL can design packages making the car more attractive to the buyer.
Maruti Swift
Standard features:
1. Body coloured bumpers, door handles, door mirrors, mud flaps.
2. Tilt telescopic steering
3. Tachometer, twin trip meters, digital odo.
4. Air conditioning
5. EPS
6. Inside fuel lid opener and boot release.
7. 4 way Manually adjustable front seats.
8. Front and Rear Power Windows. (Petrol model only.)
9. Rear wash wipe with de froster. (Petrol model only)
10.Basic stereo with single Casette, CD , FM radio with 4 speakers. (Petrol Only)
Front and Rear Power Windows for Swift DDis : Rs. 20,000
Rear wash wipe with defroster for Swift DDis : Rs. 12,000.
Basic stereo with single Casette, CD , FM radio with 4 speakers for Swift DDis : Rs. 20,000.
Note: Prices are pure guesstimates and assumptions. Safety package.
1. ABS, EBD.
2. 2 airbags.
3. height adjustable seat belts
4. door mirrors with integrated blinkers.
5. Securtiy System with Immobilizer.
6. Fog lamps.
Style package.
1. Alloy wheels.
2. Power tilt and slide Sunroof.
3. Tinted glasses
4. rear spoiler.
5. 6 way manually adjustable front seats with manual lumbar support.
6. Alpine/Pioneer stereo with single CD, FM, MP3 with 6 speakers.
Comfort Package.
1. Climate Control
2. Power seats with 3 memory positions. (Including powered lumbar support)
3. Smart Key with security System, immobilzer and integrated boot release.
4. Power mirrors.
5. Alpine/Pioneer stereo with single CD, FM, MP3 with 6 speakers.
Premium Package (Buyer has to take any 2 of the above 3 packages if he opts for Premium package.)
1. Xenons.
2. Rain sensing wipers
3. tyre pressure monitoring system.
4. Power seats with 3 memory positions for seats and door mounted rear view mirrors.
5. 6 CD, MP3, FM Radio with 8 speakers.
6. Leather Seats.
So, a buyer could buy the basic Swift or Swift with safety package or Swift with Safety plus comfort package and so on. Abroad car manufacturer’s bunch packages together but we can leave that out in India and give the buyer total freedom over what package he wants.
What do you guys think? Would such a set up be attractive to you as car buyers? Let’s brainstorm and design packages for the cars we own.
EDIT: I actually wanted to create a poll alongwith the discussion but looks like I bungled up. We could have 3 poll options. (1) Yes, I'd love option packs system. It gives the buyer freedom to choose the features he likes. (2) No. The current system of Lxi, Vxi, Zxi, Sxi is fine and (3) Yes, I'd like option packs but the market is not yet ready for such a system. Maybe the Mods could help out.