Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement

sparkplug · 19th January 2009, 17:54

Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement

As auto makers slug it out in a difficult environment for market share, Honda Siel Cars India has sent a legal notice to Maruti Suzuki
India over an advertisement that compared "falsely" company's sedan
new Honda City with the latter's SX4.

Taking exception to an advertisement by Maruti Suzuki India in November last year in one of the newspapers published in Chandigarh, HSCI's notice said a comparison between SX4 and the new Honda City was made, which had "given completely false figures of new Honda City in order to show superiority of your product SX4".

When contacted, a spokesperson of MSI said: "We have received the legal notice. We are examining it and will respond to it appropriately."

The comparison relates to height and length of the new Honda City as well as 'absence' of integrated stereo systems.

"The comparison drawn in the advertisement and published in the newspaper as "SX4 bigger than expensive City" itself is bad and the same cannot be sustained in law as well as well as facts. The above unfair method and deceptive practice of promoting the product by you is illegal," the notice said.

HSCI accused MSI of intentionally making "false projection" in order to bring down its reputation and cause adverse effect to the sale of new Honda City.

It said MSI was indulging in "unfair trade practice" by giving false projection about HSCI's product to the people at large.

Asking MSI to withdraw the advertisement immediately, HSCI's notice demanded an apology from the country's largest carmaker, failing which it said it would initiate legal proceedings.

Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement -India Business-Business-The Times of India

kbalii · 19th January 2009, 19:17

Lower sales numbers driving auto companies to concentrate on market share and over take competition.

Was this compared to the NHC or the ANHC?

aaggoswami · 19th January 2009, 19:24

Hyundai also did the same. This just goes on. Its not low sales, but matter of attitude. I wonder how Maurti did this. I think if not SX4, the Dzire is also doing good numbers. So I think its not entirely for sales. And these comparisons are not uncommon.
Nothing new except that its now Maruti instead of someone else.

narayan · 19th January 2009, 20:14

many such comparison ads are also posted by dealers and not necessarily manufacturers. I wonder whether it was the case in this one also

Rocky_Balboa · 19th January 2009, 20:18

I wouldnt put it on MSI yet, some dealers make their own advertisements to get business. If only we had a copy of the advertisement, would we know who did it.

Edit: Narayan beat me to the post.

bblost · 19th January 2009, 20:21

I remember reading an advt which said, " Men leave the new city behind".

It was quite cheeky and I like it.

Did not pay any attention to the tech comparison.

supremeBaleno · 19th January 2009, 20:23

I saw an innovative ad by Ford for the Fiesta1.6 recently in some magazine with the tagline being "Leave the City far behind".

It is kind of surrogate advertising because they do not really refer to the Honda City as such, but then when they quote from various auto-mags about Fiesta1.6 being the "driver's car" and about its quickness etc, we can surmise that the City in question is the Honda City.

Liked the ad.

EDIT : @bblost, was it for the SX4 ? If so, looks like everyone is targetting segment leader City. :-)

Sowmya · 19th January 2009, 20:30

Hmmm... At last this Car company has also started war on each other. I think its time HONDA should see the PEPSI-COLA add

Rudra Sen · 19th January 2009, 20:30

Is there anyway we can see this particular ad? Probably key number of the ad can throw some lights as who's the agency.

bblost · 19th January 2009, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

EDIT : @bblost, was it for the SX4 ? If so, looks like everyone is targetting segment leader City. :-)

of course it was.
The men are (finally) back.

As my wife keeps saying, why can't you just ask for directions.

ImmortalZ · 19th January 2009, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

of course it was.
The men are (finally) back.

The men never left. (Baleno)

manolin · 19th January 2009, 22:02

This is should at least teach these fellows to come up with better names for cars..city is just such a generic word to be name of car which was one of the faster cars around.

SumitBahl · 19th January 2009, 23:24

Speaking about MSIL ads. I remember I clicked photograph of an A-Star advertisement once, which was displayed at a maruti service center.
It was comparison with i10. A-Star features a KB series engine, MSIL calls it "Kappa ka Baap".

All the comparisons are hilarious.
Download the image, zoom it and read.
(Clicked from phone camera, quality not that good).

redrage · 19th January 2009, 23:34

LOL Sumit, nice find. Thats downright mudslinging....

amtak · 19th January 2009, 23:43

Will Honda get any money out of this?

19th January 2009, 17:54	#1
sparkplug BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 42 Thanked: Once	Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement As auto makers slug it out in a difficult environment for market share, Honda Siel Cars India has sent a legal notice to Maruti Suzuki India over an advertisement that compared "falsely" company's sedan new Honda City with the latter's SX4. Taking exception to an advertisement by Maruti Suzuki India in November last year in one of the newspapers published in Chandigarh, HSCI's notice said a comparison between SX4 and the new Honda City was made, which had "given completely false figures of new Honda City in order to show superiority of your product SX4". When contacted, a spokesperson of MSI said: "We have received the legal notice. We are examining it and will respond to it appropriately." The comparison relates to height and length of the new Honda City as well as 'absence' of integrated stereo systems. "The comparison drawn in the advertisement and published in the newspaper as "SX4 bigger than expensive City" itself is bad and the same cannot be sustained in law as well as well as facts. The above unfair method and deceptive practice of promoting the product by you is illegal," the notice said. HSCI accused MSI of intentionally making "false projection" in order to bring down its reputation and cause adverse effect to the sale of new Honda City. It said MSI was indulging in "unfair trade practice" by giving false projection about HSCI's product to the people at large. Asking MSI to withdraw the advertisement immediately, HSCI's notice demanded an apology from the country's largest carmaker, failing which it said it would initiate legal proceedings. Honda slaps legal notice on Maruti over SX4 advertisement -India Business-Business-The Times of India
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 19:17	#2
kbalii BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 100 Thanked: 25 Times	Lower sales numbers driving auto companies to concentrate on market share and over take competition. Was this compared to the NHC or the ANHC?
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 19:24	#3
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,930 Times	Hyundai also did the same. This just goes on. Its not low sales, but matter of attitude. I wonder how Maurti did this. I think if not SX4, the Dzire is also doing good numbers. So I think its not entirely for sales. And these comparisons are not uncommon. Nothing new except that its now Maruti instead of someone else.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:14	#4
narayan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,114 Thanked: 2,372 Times View My Garage	many such comparison ads are also posted by dealers and not necessarily manufacturers. I wonder whether it was the case in this one also
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:18	#5
Rocky_Balboa BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Namma Bengalooru Posts: 676 Thanked: 358 Times View My Garage	I wouldnt put it on MSI yet, some dealers make their own advertisements to get business. If only we had a copy of the advertisement, would we know who did it. Edit: Narayan beat me to the post.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:21	#6
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,000 Thanked: 15,305 Times View My Garage	I remember reading an advt which said, " Men leave the new city behind". It was quite cheeky and I like it. Did not pay any attention to the tech comparison.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:23	#7
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,546 Thanked: 2,697 Times View My Garage	I saw an innovative ad by Ford for the Fiesta1.6 recently in some magazine with the tagline being "Leave the City far behind". It is kind of surrogate advertising because they do not really refer to the Honda City as such, but then when they quote from various auto-mags about Fiesta1.6 being the "driver's car" and about its quickness etc, we can surmise that the City in question is the Honda City. Liked the ad. EDIT : @bblost, was it for the SX4 ? If so, looks like everyone is targetting segment leader City. :-)
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:30	#8
Sowmya BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 493 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	Hmmm... At last this Car company has also started war on each other. I think its time HONDA should see the PEPSI-COLA add
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 20:30	#9
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,588 Thanked: 6,530 Times View My Garage	Is there anyway we can see this particular ad? Probably key number of the ad can throw some lights as who's the agency.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 22:02	#12
manolin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delhi/Cuttack Posts: 390 Thanked: 202 Times	This is should at least teach these fellows to come up with better names for cars..city is just such a generic word to be name of car which was one of the faster cars around.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 23:24	#13
SumitBahl BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chandigarh Posts: 976 Thanked: 230 Times View My Garage	Speaking about MSIL ads. I remember I clicked photograph of an A-Star advertisement once, which was displayed at a maruti service center. It was comparison with i10. A-Star features a KB series engine, MSIL calls it "Kappa ka Baap". All the comparisons are hilarious. Download the image, zoom it and read. (Clicked from phone camera, quality not that good). Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 23:34	#14
redrage BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 553 Thanked: 106 Times	LOL Sumit, nice find. Thats downright mudslinging....
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 23:43	#15
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,914 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	Will Honda get any money out of this?
	() Thanks