Accent to be the official babu car...so bye bye Amby?

ashutoshb · 14th February 2008, 17:34

The Hyundai Accent will be the official babu car from now on, with the red/blue beacon on top!
So what does this mean? Since, the Govt was the biggest customer of the Amby, does it mean it is the end of the day for the Amby? Will HM now finally think of putting the old warhorse to sleep?

Quote:

Hyundai gets nod to supply for govt purchases

Hyundai on Wednesday said it has got approval for supplying vehicles to government institutions.
The mid-sized sedan Accent GLE, has been selected by the Government of India for its fleet of official cars, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said in a statement.
The Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals in the Department of Supplies under the Ministry of Commerce, the central purchase and quality assurance organisation of the Union Government, has approved the Accent GLE for use by all government departments across the country.
The Accent will be supplied to all government agencies at the Union and state levels at a special rate, it said without specifying details.
The DGS&D is also currently evaluating the Hyundai Verna and Sonata models for registration as approved automobiles for acquisition by government bodies.

Full Article: Hyundai gets nod to supply for govt purchases- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

theMAG · 14th February 2008, 17:37

Yes, bye-bye Amby. But, after its long stopped selling, expect it to become a collector's item - from the zero mindspace it occupies now.

Sahil · 14th February 2008, 17:44

Will be sad to see the amby go. Although accent is generations ahead I am not totally for a Korean make to be indias offical vehicle.
Tata Indigo or Scorpio fit the bill better as Indian brands

GTO · 14th February 2008, 17:55

Actually, I feel terrible for the babus. Having become accustomed to the supremely comfortable back seat of the Ambassador, the low crouched seat of the Accent is a huge step backward. Makes you wonder if the Government even bothered to do some research before releasing the P.O. Our "what car" section would surely have lead to a more appropriate car for their usage

benbsb29 · 14th February 2008, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Actually Our "what car" section would surely have lead to a more appropriate car for their usage

Such as possibly the Indigo XL?

nitrous · 14th February 2008, 17:59

A few days back, I was amazed at the sight of 3 Accent Police cruisers parked side by side in their "livery".
It would be a very pleasant sight to see them all over the country.

mobike008 · 14th February 2008, 18:00

Probably they looked at the external factors like the broad shouldered design and decent looking sedan as their main criteria for selecting this car for the "official babu".

Though being an accent user, i agree that the back-seat is pretty low and makes it difficult for elderly people to get in and out ( and we know all our babus are above 45 age minimum)

In a way, i am glad they selected this car, purely because i use it and have absolutely no complaints from it.

maddy42 · 14th February 2008, 18:06

Well half the Ministers have been using the Lancer in Karnataka.
The Amby was great vehicle for them and also low on maintenance and the way the driver drives them! God save Accent

ashutoshb · 14th February 2008, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

A few days back, I was amazed at the sight of 3 Accent Police cruisers parked side by side in their "livery".
It would be a very pleasant sight to see them all over the country.

Hyundai donated those cars to the Chennai Police. We even had a thread on that.

If you ask me, I would have recommended a diesel Logan/Indigo. Both have great rear seat comfort.

The diesels would have been better for the Government and better for us, afterall it is our money that puts in petrol in these cars.

Indigo definitely has more workshops in the country, and since the Accents will be bought all across the country, the Indigo would have been the best bet.

Mpower · 14th February 2008, 18:35

You would think they would have picked a Tata or Mahindra product based on nationalistic sentiments.

Zappo · 14th February 2008, 18:36

Actually i do not think this is the end of the road for the trusted war-horse Amby. Its just that the government has approved the purchase of Accent for governmental usage. Already Lancers, Indigos (petrols) are some of the cars which are approved vehicles for governmental procurement. Accent just joined that list. Thats about it.

In government procurements any order can only be placed to a listed vendor and approved products. So this small GO probably means only that the Accent is also available now as an option in the catalog while placing the order for the next department car. That however does not mean the Ambys go out.

In fact knowing the way things perform in the governmental departments for regular procurements the Accent will still be a tough ask because it will cost more than the Ambys. And most departments work on fixed budgets.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 14th February 2008, 18:44

Relax guys. This just means that Accent has been included under the DGS&D scheme. Means babus do not have to invite tenders to buy Accents. When any thing in included in the DGS&D scheme, (Directorate General of Stores and Supplies), the manufacturer enters into a contract, usually valid for one year, to supply that item for one year at the contracted rate.

This really does not mean that Amby is out.

When a babu wants something not listed in the DGS&D contract, he has to invite tenders. If you look out in the tenders section of news papers, you should see ads asking for supply of things like computers with "AutoCAD 2000" or "Osciloscopes of 'foo' make". So, no more ads inviting tenders for "Accent GLE".

ankit.jhamb · 14th February 2008, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

Relax guys. This just means that Accent has been included under the DGS&D scheme. Means babus do not have to invite tenders to buy Accents. When any thing in included in the DGS&D scheme, (Directorate General of Stores and Supplies), the manufacturer enters into a contract, usually valid for one year, to supply that item for one year at the contracted rate.

This really does not mean that Amby is out.

When a babu wants something not listed in the DGS&D contract, he has to invite tenders. If you look out in the tenders section of news papers, you should see ads asking for supply of things like computers with "AutoCAD 2000" or "Osciloscopes of 'foo' make". So, no more ads inviting tenders for "Accent GLE".

,there are other cars like maruti esteem which were being used.Also maruti baleno was used before.it is just that they have different models to choose from.

Steeroid · 14th February 2008, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

A few days back, I was amazed at the sight of 3 Accent Police cruisers parked side by side in their "livery".
It would be a very pleasant sight to see them all over the country.

Wouldnt that be part of the 500 Accent CRDis that were gifted by Hyundai to the TN Police?

nitrous · 14th February 2008, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashutosh

Hyundai donated those cars to the Chennai Police. We even had a thread on that.

Oh really!

Quote:

Originally Posted by steer

Wouldnt that be part of the 500 Accent CRDis that were gifted by Hyundai to the TN Police?

Yes.Not 500,but just a hundred that I know. They would be maintained by Hyundai till the warranty ends after which it is the maintenance depot of the Police dept. which will taking the job.

One very surprising thing is that these are really well kept and Im yet to see one with a dent or peeled paint.

14th February 2008, 17:37	#2
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Yes, bye-bye Amby. But, after its long stopped selling, expect it to become a collector's item - from the zero mindspace it occupies now. Last edited by theMAG : 14th February 2008 at 17:39.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 17:44	#3
Sahil Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 6,292 Thanked: 7,605 Times	Will be sad to see the amby go. Although accent is generations ahead I am not totally for a Korean make to be indias offical vehicle. Tata Indigo or Scorpio fit the bill better as Indian brands
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 17:55	#4
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,496 Thanked: 300,299 Times View My Garage	Actually, I feel terrible for the babus. Having become accustomed to the supremely comfortable back seat of the Ambassador, the low crouched seat of the Accent is a huge step backward. Makes you wonder if the Government even bothered to do some research before releasing the P.O. Our "what car" section would surely have lead to a more appropriate car for their usage
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 17:59	#6
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	A few days back, I was amazed at the sight of 3 Accent Police cruisers parked side by side in their "livery". It would be a very pleasant sight to see them all over the country.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 18:00	#7
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,694 Thanked: 14,783 Times View My Garage	Probably they looked at the external factors like the broad shouldered design and decent looking sedan as their main criteria for selecting this car for the "official babu". Though being an accent user, i agree that the back-seat is pretty low and makes it difficult for elderly people to get in and out ( and we know all our babus are above 45 age minimum) In a way, i am glad they selected this car, purely because i use it and have absolutely no complaints from it.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 18:06	#8
maddy42 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Coorg Posts: 2,131 Thanked: 1,328 Times View My Garage	Well half the Ministers have been using the Lancer in Karnataka. The Amby was great vehicle for them and also low on maintenance and the way the driver drives them! God save Accent
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 18:35	#10
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,729 Times View My Garage	You would think they would have picked a Tata or Mahindra product based on nationalistic sentiments.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 18:36	#11
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,919 Thanked: 2,652 Times	Actually i do not think this is the end of the road for the trusted war-horse Amby. Its just that the government has approved the purchase of Accent for governmental usage. Already Lancers, Indigos (petrols) are some of the cars which are approved vehicles for governmental procurement. Accent just joined that list. Thats about it. In government procurements any order can only be placed to a listed vendor and approved products. So this small GO probably means only that the Accent is also available now as an option in the catalog while placing the order for the next department car. That however does not mean the Ambys go out. In fact knowing the way things perform in the governmental departments for regular procurements the Accent will still be a tough ask because it will cost more than the Ambys. And most departments work on fixed budgets.
	() Thanks

14th February 2008, 18:44	#12
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	Relax guys. This just means that Accent has been included under the DGS&D scheme. Means babus do not have to invite tenders to buy Accents. When any thing in included in the DGS&D scheme, (Directorate General of Stores and Supplies), the manufacturer enters into a contract, usually valid for one year, to supply that item for one year at the contracted rate. This really does not mean that Amby is out. When a babu wants something not listed in the DGS&D contract, he has to invite tenders. If you look out in the tenders section of news papers, you should see ads asking for supply of things like computers with "AutoCAD 2000" or "Osciloscopes of 'foo' make". So, no more ads inviting tenders for "Accent GLE".
	() Thanks