Article on Honda's research (for their new small car)

pk_del · 16th February 2010, 10:20

mail.jaiswal · 16th February 2010, 11:16

About time they realized the disaster of Jazz. India could possibly accommodate another small car with Honda's finesse as long as they price it right.

Just hope its not too much Jazz'ed up this time

GTO · 16th February 2010, 17:00

Super article, typical Honda product research.

However, on the pricing & strategy planning, I'm sure the Jazz' market performance taught them more than all the research they'd have spent months on. Sure, focus groups, statistics, planners, excel sheet projections etc. count. But at the end of the day, it's all about common sense.

Quote:

Honda has decided to price it below Rs 500,000. “This will be the cheapest Honda anywhere in the world,” says Honda Director (marketing) Tatsuya Natsume.

Important public statement.

fiat_tarun · 16th February 2010, 17:04

Quote:

Sen admits that the conversion ratio (purchases divided by enquiries) for the Jazz is 12.5 per cent, which is way below the industry average of 25 per cent. But the sales have met the target, says he. Though it was built on the City platform and shares 70 per cent of its components, the price of the Jazz was high because of the reinforced hatch, which caused the rest of the body also to be beefed up. As Honda has decided against selling any car at a loss, it could not price it lower. “However, it has given us a foothold in the hatchback market. People now know that we too can make hatchbacks,” adds Sen.

They will never admit that the Jazz is a flop. Sales have met their target it seems..!

anekho · 16th February 2010, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

They will never admit that the Jazz is a flop. Sales have met their target it seems..!

aim low and you'll always exceed your expectations

pacman2881 · 16th February 2010, 18:00

Very interesting to see the attention to details from Honda. An easier option will be to replicate what Suzuki and Hyundai have done

. I hope the final product doesn't look like the one displayed at Auto Expo!

shortbread · 16th February 2010, 18:49

I get tickled when companies come out with really dumb press releases like saris for Indian woman friendly design, send sardars to Japan for more punjabi friendly design etc..etc...
The point is Honda had announced their small car plans way before Toyota but come the New Delhi expo all they had was a amateurish mock up while Toyota had production ready concepts in place.
High time that Honda realises that its strategy to milking a brand name and overpricing its products wont always work, sooner or later the customers are going to catch the bluff.

extreme_torque · 16th February 2010, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortbread

I get tickled when companies come out with really dumb press releases like saris for Indian woman friendly design, send sardars to Japan for more punjabi friendly design etc..etc...
The point is Honda had announced their small car plans way before Toyota but come the New Delhi expo all they had was a amateurish mock up while Toyota had production ready concepts in place.
High time that Honda realises that its strategy to milking a brand name and overpricing its products wont always work, sooner or later the customers are going to catch the bluff.

ditto... couldnt have put it better. By the way saree thing is indeed hilarious and hardly believeable. The article reads like a paid advertisement.

aargee · 16th February 2010, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Super article, typical Honda product research.

Yes, but I still love the way Japanese approach.

rpmx1000 · 16th February 2010, 19:15

This article is the perfect answer to my "honda life" thread

sbraj · 16th February 2010, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacman2881

An easier option will be to replicate what Suzuki and Hyundai have done

.

It would take a monumental effort to replicate what Suzuki and Hyundai have done. IMO, Honda is some years away from doing that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortbread

High time that Honda realises that its strategy to milking a brand name and overpricing its products wont always work, sooner or later the customers are going to catch the bluff.

I read in another thread that some Bangalore Honda dealers are charging a non-refundable deposit of INR 50,000 for a test drive of CRV. One needs to pay up this amount upfront, it seems, to get a CRV test drive.

Honda took Indian buyer for granted, and reaping the price for that. All it would take is some serious competition in the C segment for Honda's market share to go down. Right now, it is their City all the way in that segment. An Octavia repositioning or Toyota sedan would change the story.

rpmx1000 · 16th February 2010, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbraj

IAn Octavia repositioning or Toyota sedan would change the story.

Small correction..The Etios does not certainly look like it's going to dislodge the ANHC. It's not even close. It's an even bigger con than Honda's alleged take-indian-customer-for-a-ride, as some posts on this thread seem to suggest. Our bhpians have called it similar to a logan and I partly agree.Not too much to show for all those so-called years of research. See the Toyota Auto expo threads.

Octavia within reach of honda city - maybe yes.

AbhiJ · 16th February 2010, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbraj

I read in another thread that some Bangalore Honda dealers are charging a non-refundable deposit of INR 50,000 for a test drive of CRV. One needs to pay up this amount upfront, it seems, to get a CRV test drive.

WhAT??

Thats propostorous... Non refundable deposit for a TD?? What if i TD the car and dont like it!?? Is that even legal??

If any dealer would have said that to me, I would have simply laughed uncontrollably and walked off while showing then obsene gestures (Sorry ... I am still a child)!!

rohanjf · 17th February 2010, 10:54

So, if you indeed go ahead and book a CRV after the test drive, would they give you a 50,000 Rs discount on it? (That also saves you some tax ;-) )

sbraj · 17th February 2010, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbhiJ

WhAT??

Thats propostorous... Non refundable deposit for a TD?? What if i TD the car and dont like it!?? Is that even legal??

If any dealer would have said that to me, I would have simply laughed uncontrollably and walked off while showing then obsene gestures (Sorry ... I am still a child)!!

I read this in another thread.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...ml#post1678217

Quote:

I didn't consider Civic just because of Dealer attitude as I was also interested in considering Honda CRV. They had insisted to pay booking amount of 50K prior to test drive, only after paying the amount they will allow test drive of CRV and the amount is not refundable if decided not to buy after the test drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpmx1000

Small correction..The Etios does not certainly look like it's going to dislodge the ANHC. It's not even close. It's an even bigger con than Honda's alleged take-indian-customer-for-a-ride, as some posts on this thread seem to suggest. Our bhpians have called it similar to a logan and I partly agree.Not too much to show for all those so-called years of research. See the Toyota Auto expo threads.

Octavia within reach of honda city - maybe yes.

I did not mean/say Toyota Etios. A Toyota sedan (and others as well) competing seriously with Honda City would change the story. That is all.

16th February 2010, 10:20	#1
pk_del BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 200 Thanked: 522 Times	Article on Honda's research (for their new small car) Honda's 'small' move
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 11:16	#2
mail.jaiswal BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 82 Thanked: 50 Times	About time they realized the disaster of Jazz. India could possibly accommodate another small car with Honda's finesse as long as they price it right. Just hope its not too much Jazz'ed up this time
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 18:00	#6
pacman2881 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 411 Thanked: 529 Times	Very interesting to see the attention to details from Honda. An easier option will be to replicate what Suzuki and Hyundai have done . I hope the final product doesn't look like the one displayed at Auto Expo!
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 18:49	#7
shortbread Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: KL 7 Posts: 2,390 Thanked: 6,276 Times	I get tickled when companies come out with really dumb press releases like saris for Indian woman friendly design, send sardars to Japan for more punjabi friendly design etc..etc... The point is Honda had announced their small car plans way before Toyota but come the New Delhi expo all they had was a amateurish mock up while Toyota had production ready concepts in place. High time that Honda realises that its strategy to milking a brand name and overpricing its products wont always work, sooner or later the customers are going to catch the bluff.
	() Thanks

16th February 2010, 19:15	#10
rpmx1000 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 396 Thanked: 36 Times	This article is the perfect answer to my "honda life" thread
	() Thanks

17th February 2010, 10:54	#14
rohanjf Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Adelaide Posts: 1,193 Thanked: 706 Times	So, if you indeed go ahead and book a CRV after the test drive, would they give you a 50,000 Rs discount on it? (That also saves you some tax ;-) )
	() Thanks