Why do old Car models never phase out in India?

WindRide · 8th February 2010, 11:32

Simple:
1. The avg indian customer doesn't mind old things as long as it comes cheap and provides proper 'paisa vasool'.
2. Unlike the westerners, the avg indian doesn't chase the sun and look forward to the newest, latest and greatest.
3. The slightly older cars suddenly fall in the radar of those customers who otherwise wouldn't have upgraded from their Chetaks and Splendors.

My colleague booked Santro GLS last week; he didn't bother with the i10. Why? Coz it was affordable and had everything he needed in a car.

dude131 · 8th February 2010, 11:35

I hope that with the new emission coming into effect soon. Maruti will finally phase out the 800 & the Omni van. Which in my opinion are 2 extremely unsafe vehicles.

Some might say that these cater to the poor Indians who can't afford a car. I say to them that these individuals can easily pay a couple of thousands more and buy the Alto and Ecko instead. If not go in for the Nano.

It is high time Maruti retires these vehicles. Their sales have already fallen sharply and they hurt the Maruti brand as a whole.

KALINGA · 8th February 2010, 11:56

I beleive india is a country where the market is very wide for auto companies. Still the old HM ambasador, M800, Santro is selling. Though Upgraded versions are available in the market(except HM), companies still keep their old line up.

WindRide · 8th February 2010, 12:29

Manufacturers are adopting the 'horses for courses' strategy since the Indian market supports it.
And hey, we should be rejoicing at the plethora of choices we have instead of cribbing

KALINGA · 8th February 2010, 12:42

Still HM is selling in a good number. Amby is a old design but the build and back seat comfort is the best. O.T

kenpachigamer · 8th February 2010, 13:01

Yep fits well with Indian scene. Also an old saying goes like
"Naya nau(9) din, Purana sau(100) din"

kiku007 · 8th February 2010, 14:28

We don't ignore these products cause of their low cost advantage.
The Govt isn't too serious about Safety, Pollution Laws etc. Bring them on and we can have some relief of not seeing the unsafe tinboxes from Maruti for eg.

Because of this trend we see that each new version of a car seems to have a jacked up price. See how the Fiesta & Verna have been priced wrt the Ikon & Accent.

AyAn! · 8th February 2010, 16:39

Going by the latest trends,international replacement models are always bigger/faster/expensive than the model it replaces.

So what it boils down to India is both the outgoing(possibly successful) and the new model fall into two different segments.So its not feasible for manufactures to phase out an old but successful model and usher a new model but in a segment above it.So the best bet is to keep flogging the old one.Case in point:Octavia/Laura,Accent/Verna..

If it ain't broke why fix it?!

Aravindpn · 8th February 2010, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by WindRide

Manufacturers are adopting the 'horses for courses' strategy since the Indian market supports it.
And hey, we should be rejoicing at the plethora of choices we have instead of cribbing

A big chunk of a automobile market is located in urban small towns and rural areas. Purchase decisions in these markets are through personal advices and mouth publicity. An advice is based on "old" experience and personal preference. Hence an advice from owner of santro can easily influence a potential I10 sale. Automobile manufacturing company has a win win situation here because new model has wide market at the same time old model also brings in contribution to profit with suburban sales.

Jayabusa · 8th February 2010, 23:01

Ans: Indian consumers are extremely price sensitive. VFM is what matters most.

rjalihal · 9th February 2010, 14:09

Older models can handle the rough stuff unlike the newer/younger ones who are delicate!

8th February 2010, 11:32	#46
WindRide BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 682 Thanked: 479 Times	Simple: 1. The avg indian customer doesn't mind old things as long as it comes cheap and provides proper 'paisa vasool'. 2. Unlike the westerners, the avg indian doesn't chase the sun and look forward to the newest, latest and greatest. 3. The slightly older cars suddenly fall in the radar of those customers who otherwise wouldn't have upgraded from their Chetaks and Splendors. My colleague booked Santro GLS last week; he didn't bother with the i10. Why? Coz it was affordable and had everything he needed in a car.
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 11:35	#47
dude131 BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Goa / Melbourne Posts: 125 Thanked: Once	I hope that with the new emission coming into effect soon. Maruti will finally phase out the 800 & the Omni van. Which in my opinion are 2 extremely unsafe vehicles. Some might say that these cater to the poor Indians who can't afford a car. I say to them that these individuals can easily pay a couple of thousands more and buy the Alto and Ecko instead. If not go in for the Nano. It is high time Maruti retires these vehicles. Their sales have already fallen sharply and they hurt the Maruti brand as a whole.
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 11:56	#48
KALINGA BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: PUNE Posts: 724 Thanked: 374 Times	I beleive india is a country where the market is very wide for auto companies. Still the old HM ambasador, M800, Santro is selling. Though Upgraded versions are available in the market(except HM), companies still keep their old line up.
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 12:29	#49
WindRide BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 682 Thanked: 479 Times	Manufacturers are adopting the 'horses for courses' strategy since the Indian market supports it. And hey, we should be rejoicing at the plethora of choices we have instead of cribbing
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 12:42	#50
KALINGA BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: PUNE Posts: 724 Thanked: 374 Times	Still HM is selling in a good number. Amby is a old design but the build and back seat comfort is the best. O.T
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 13:01	#51
kenpachigamer BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 66 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Yep fits well with Indian scene. Also an old saying goes like "Naya nau(9) din, Purana sau(100) din"
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 14:28	#52
kiku007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: AU Posts: 2,322 Thanked: 7,193 Times	We don't ignore these products cause of their low cost advantage. The Govt isn't too serious about Safety, Pollution Laws etc. Bring them on and we can have some relief of not seeing the unsafe tinboxes from Maruti for eg. Because of this trend we see that each new version of a car seems to have a jacked up price. See how the Fiesta & Verna have been priced wrt the Ikon & Accent.
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 16:39	#53
AyAn! Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Durgapur/Calcutta/Pune Posts: 2,169 Thanked: 869 Times	Going by the latest trends,international replacement models are always bigger/faster/expensive than the model it replaces. So what it boils down to India is both the outgoing(possibly successful) and the new model fall into two different segments.So its not feasible for manufactures to phase out an old but successful model and usher a new model but in a segment above it.So the best bet is to keep flogging the old one.Case in point:Octavia/Laura,Accent/Verna.. If it ain't broke why fix it?!
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 23:01	#55
Jayabusa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,448 Thanked: 69 Times	Ans: Indian consumers are extremely price sensitive. VFM is what matters most.
	() Thanks

9th February 2010, 14:09	#56
rjalihal BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 713 Thanked: 100 Times	Older models can handle the rough stuff unlike the newer/younger ones who are delicate!
	() Thanks