The Chevrolet Forester, launched last year has received rave reviews by all Auto Journos alike. What better else than CNBC-Autocar handing it the best driver's car last year. But something has been totally amiss.
Last year, Chevrolet managed to sell only 150 odd Foresters during the entire 12 month period. Which is rather surprising, since all its competitors (namely the Endeavour and CR-V) sell the same nos. in just about a month. So what's really gone wrong with this babe of a vehicle that hasn't managed to really set Indian hearts aflutter?
Well here are some assumptions, some views and findings. You may agree or disagree.
1.
Indians are really bad drivers, huh?: Is it really so? C'mon after winning the driver's car of the year award, sure the journos are upto it. But is the normal motorist? At 13 lakhs+, most people who buy these cars can be categorized into three groups.
i) Individual buyers.
ii) Company owned vehicles for top flight execs.
iii) Fleet cars as private taxis.
If we look at nos. 2 and 3, 90% of the times, the vehicles under daily usage are driven by the drivers with the 10% being either emergencies, or Sundays or some picnickers taking it for a long drive themselves (very rich ones in this case). Option 1 also sees it at a slightly less 75% if they are driver driven, which in most cases they are. So who's having fun? The fat cat sitting in the rear completing his work or the driver?
But even if the true owner does drive this vehicle, how many of them really take it to the limit, shift at the optimum point, take the racing line, go a bit offroading etc.? Am i trying to say there are probably only 150 good drivers in the country who have found the right choice b/w performance and handling in an SUV (crossover)? Probably.
2.
GM- An unknown quantity?: Oh well, GM really hasn't been consistent with its sales, after-sales and most of all its India strategy. Being most of the time below industry average in CSS, its used to accepting failure now for quite sometime i suppose. The Astra died a very painful and slow death, the Corsa in all its avtaars is stuck on 800 units a month since i think US decided to go to war with Afghanistan, then Iraq and now with itself (Read national elections), the Optra having a great initial run, then sliding then returning a bit to normalcy (for how long, god knows), the Vectra (who?); the less said the better. I can't comment yet on the Tavera, but seeing GM with few after-sales points and even fewer sales points with barely a reach that can be called national after 9 years of presence in India, i think Toyota with just 4 years is light years ahead.
3.
Is it a good car being launched at the wrong time?: Maybe yes. Well Indians with our driving styles really cant seem to understand the brilliance of this vehicle. And i blame the company more for this. Firstly get rid of that Chevy badge, put a Subaru logo on it, highlight the roots of this vehicle, then get a few Impreza STIs to town, show their capabilities on a track and a dirt track (with Solberg behind the wheel of one of them?) and then just sit back and see the sales charts rise. Maybe also import a limited no. of Impreza STis to town a year (maybe 10-20) for sale. To think of it, as hard as the incumbent ad agency tries, which is brilliant with its work, it can't harp about it unless that Subaru badge lies fixed dead front on that grille.
Honestly, for a car that costs 13 lakhs, is reasonably spacious, is quite fast for 120 bhp and goes around bends and rough roads with the same aplomb, its a very good buy. And if you find one in the used car market going at a steal, pick her up and enjoy the rest of your life believing that the WRC drive isn't very far.
Revv
P.S. Post in your comments.