Team-BHP - E-segment sees fierce action

BANGALORE: Elantra vs Corolla vs Optra vs Octavia — the battle for India's executive car segment has reached fever pitch.

The seven-month period from January to July saw sales in the executive segment swell up to 18,000 plus units. That's a 106% jump from 8,800 cars sold in the same period last year. Considering India is awaiting launch of world-class Honda Civic next year, the plot can only get thicker.

In July, the segment witnessed sales of 2,898 units. For a segment which has a price band of Rs 8-12 lakh, the numbers are quite significant. Segment leader Toyota Corolla, which has a 34% market share in executive category, had to contend with only Skoda's Octavia initially. Chevrolet unleashed Optra, stiffening competition. Hyundai realised the vast potential of the category and pushed in Elantra.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor's deputy MD KK Swamy said the segment attracted maximum public attention in past year. "It has world-class cars and Indians are driving at not-so-expensive prices," Swamy said, while explaining the phenomenal growth in the segment.

Octavia was first to create an impression with its looks and engineering. It captured market, and its share stands at around 24%. Corolla took over, with its brand positioning doing all the talking.

The car now does sales of close to 1,000 units a month in India, and has established its niche.

Optra brought out a cheaper 1.6 litre version and increased volumes. Hyundai's Elantra came along. But customers only liked its CRDi (diesel) models, forcing Hyundai to alter the front grill. Since then sales picked up, and it commands 20% share of the executive segment. Baleno and Lancer stepped down. Both models cut prices, and are operating in upper mid-size segment.

Source:indiatimes.com

Wow a 106% jump in that segment is huge, I am sure in coming time these guys would be selling close to 18,000 units a *month and thats when some of the big players would start coming out with their own manufacturing from ground up..I hope that happens...

Ok if that does happen, what would happen to the prices for that car, almost cut by 66% woudnt it?? How would any company go about with that? Just curious..

Cheers