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Gents

We are currently witnessing the invention and establishment of a B+ Segment in the Indian market, started off by the Hyundai Getz but now dominated so comprehensively by the Maruti Swift. This segment will also see some new entrants from the Toyota, GM and other stables soon.

As this segment evolves, its likely to become a threat to C Segment sales, which are currently dominated by (in more or less that order in terms of sales)

Tata Indigo
Honda City (C+, but its not really a premium car - it just sells are a premium price)
Hyundai Accent
Maruti Baleno
Ford Ikon
Maruti Esteem
and others such as the Fiat Petra and the Opel Corsa

Many of these models are ageing and their teeth are showing quite embarassingly. The last 4-5 of them are models that set up the C Segment about 7-8 years back.

Would anyone like to make prediction on what this segment will look like by the end of 2006? Lets see what the options are:

1. Indigo (MINT platform) due for replacement in 2007. They will have to fast forward their development if they are to maintain their current position, because there are a slew of new models coming out.

2. Honda City - the hype over the Honda and City names should die out when there are other (and better) options available in this segment. Facelift later this year may pump up the sales charts again, though.

3. Hyundai Accent - needs a replacement soon, though the CRDi will keep them on the sales charts till others get their act together. 2005 Accent due for launch later this year (?) should be bigger than the current one.

4. Maruti Baleno - will probably be regrilled and sold over and over. Will probably replace the Esteem in this segment? Or will it be replaced by the Liana?

5. Ford Ikon - replacement is apparently ready for launch in India (new Fiesta with a boot). The big question is, will it replace the current model or will the current ikon continue to be sold alongside with the new model taking a premium price point? Engine options are 100 bhp Fusion unit and a 1.4 litre common rail.

6. Maruti Esteem - will continue to be sold as a stripped version to government departments, in an attempt to replace the Ambassador. Consumer sales should taper off dramatically, though.

7. Opel Corsa - dead and buried, replaced by the Chevy Aveo. Again the question is - at what price point???

8. Toyota Echo/Yaris - should come into this segment as its a logical choice if Toyota can get the pricing right.

9. Fiat - will the nth resurrection of the Siena/Petra work? Can an exhumed model carry on till 2007 without any changes? Doubtful. So whats the replacement?

10. Skoda - will the Fabia come or wont it? Skoda HAVE to have a manufacturing plant in place for the C Segment, not an assembly plant for CKD kits. Else they will price themselves out of the market. This will obviously take time.

11. VW - Vill they, Wont they?

12. Mahindra/Renault Logan - Will it be too late into this market? There's no doubt that Mahindra can take the value game right into Tata territory, but the Logan is a joke in most places.


As you can see, the options in this segment are much more than what you will see in any other. Question is, is there space for all of them? How many will survive? Something tells me that the survivors of this segment will be the ones that drive the Indian market in the days to come.

This is happening now. I see lots of people finalize with B+ segment though they evaluate C segment alongside. If there are more players in different company puts their product for sale, certainly the sales of c segment will have an impact. Two top reasons for finalizing with B+ segment

1. Offers all the features that comes in C segment at a lower price
2. Parking (space) and City driving is easier compared to C segment

The Logan has been very successful for Renault. Like the indigo it plays the basic value card. Uses Clio bits but engineered to be assembled cheaply

Looks like I spoke too soon

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/58...s_on_test.html

In Romania - the home of Dacia which builds the Logan (Renault bought Dacia) - Logans are known to have shed a door or a wheel on the way home from the showroom. This is NOT a joke...

Vasistha Wahana Sitaram.

Thanks Steeroid.

That's a very good Write up.

As for me i would love to see how Skoda prices tha Fabia when it's introduced in the Indian market.

Any Car by VW would obviously rock!

As for Logan let's see the value card that they play and the pricing. Maybe they can conquer the C segmant like TATA did playing on the pricing.

rl: lol:

Must be the new congress anthem - Raghupathi Raghav Rajaram....

Since when did the Indian public care about safety anyway...as long as it's cheap, it's good!

BTW, I wonder how the Indica/go, Safari & Scorpio would fair in the NCAP tests? Did the CityROver get tested before it was launched there?