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-   -   Which is the perfect car satisfying 'Indian' customer 'wants' ? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/67100-perfect-car-satisfying-indian-customer-wants.html)

Am starting this thread based on a recent discussion I had in another thread. My question is taking into consideration our understanding of the totality of indian market , What do you think is the ideal product offering brought out by a manufacturer . Please mention is segment Wise.

Please dont go by sale figures. Please take into account your understanding of general 'want' of indian consumers.

The reason is to identify products which has a chance of succeeding incase they change their marketing efforts and probably we could give this recommendation to them. Answer in terms of :

1. Segment A
2. Segment B
3. Segment C
4. Segment D

Segment B - Maruti Swift as this car satisfies the needs to the Indian hatchback buyer in terms of looks and features.

Segment C - Fiat Linea !! This car has all the features that the Indian mid size car buyer wishes for. This car also scores on the much publicized and often overrated fuel efficiency front. It is also a very nice looking car and will satisfy this need of the buyer. Fiat just needs some time to build up the confidence in the consumer's mind and they are definitely on the right path.

The problem is that we try to make the Indian Customer a homogenous entity and feel that there should be one car that satisfies all.
Each person has a perfect car for him and sales figures kind of reflect the general statistics.
Do you really think that there is a perfect car in each segment?

if some car manufacturer had come up with the answers to this query, by now that manufacturer would have been the world's most successful car manufacturer!

it is very subjective, this "want" factor and since there are too many intangibles involved it will be very difficult to capture.

Nano with DDIS engine and Linea's accessories + Toyota's reliability and resale value; shodded with Yokos.

Segment A (small hatch I presume) :

1. Alto = VFM+Great service network
2. GM Spark = Greater VFM but limited after-sales.


--Vikrant

There's no answer to this. Every business runs on the philosophy that you cannot satisfy everyone.

Somehow I'm getting the feeling that this will be another pointless thread with unnecessary fights, egos etc. I suggest we better close this thread before we reach that stage.

So now everyone will chip in and declare the car they own as the 'Perfect car that satisfies Indian customer wants."

i agree with blue pulsar.this is a place with different people different intrests in cars but they are like minded :D
this thread ends no where.if you ask an old member who has an ambasador till date for him thats a perfect car though he has to fill water every 100kms in the radiator .lol:

If there was a sure-shot match to Indian customer needs, there would be no market and no competition.

What's wrong with going by sales figures? Its exactly a reflection of what the Indian customer wants. Includes every factor there is to buying the car. The OP's point that some cars are not marketed properly is a reflection of the brand's committment to that model. End of the day, if a car sells, it satisfies our 'want'. If not, it doesn't. This is relative to each segment though

Dont we get to know this by the monthly sales figures?

We can keep discussing what is the perfect car as per us for eons but its the sales figures which tells us which one really is.

Maruti Alto. In the A segment, it has everything the A segment customer wants. Thats why it sets the sales charts on fire.
In the higher segments, every car has something or the other missing. As you rise in segments, expectations rise, and its often not possible to get everything in one segment!

I think it depends on the 'Indian' customer. Different 'Indian' customers look for different things in their cars, some want better FE, some want better quality, some want better luxury, some want better reliability, some want better resale value, some just go with their enthusiasm. In anycase, the customer of one category knows that he cannot expect the other categories to be satisfied with his chosen category. So, my answer to the question you asked is that there is no car that can perfectly satisfy the 'Indian' customer.

And this is valid in every segment that cars in India are sold in.

+1 to that! The car that sells the maximum in a particular segment is the one that meets expectations most, for that segment customer.