It is a well known fact that passenger car industry is desperately seeking ways of overcoming the current slowdown situation, as it cannot afford to stagnate any further, seeing the adverse consequences it has on the economy. Amid the frantic situation, however, the car makers seem to be undeterred, as the market has witnessed the launch of new models time and again. Subsequently, the compact and sedan segments continue to drive the sales volumes ahead, taking into consideration, the upcoming festive season that brings huge demand. While car makers like Toyota, Ford and Nissan have been subjected to positive feedbacks on their lately manifested models, Honda and Hyundai are expecting the same response for their new introductions.
According to Bhushan Gajaria, Auto Analyst, IDFC Securities, “After two months of decline, passenger vehicle segment reports strong growth in September. This was largely on account of the 10 day early start of the festive season as first day of Navratri fell in September this year unlike 2010 when it fell in October. Though consumer sentiments continue to be weak, demand started picking up from Navratri.”
Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director, Ford India, was quoted as saying, “We are working to remove bottlenecks to manufacture more diesel cars and are hopeful of reducing the waiting period on diesel cars and boosting sales.”
Japanese car maker Nissan, is making every effort to bring back the momentum in the monthly sales of its compact car Micra by aiming to sell around 2,000 units in the domestic market. Moreover, it is striving to boost its brand image and car volumes in India using its competitively priced new sedan Sunny. Nissan Sunny, which was officially introduced in India on 20th September, has received bookings for more than 700 units in just two weeks. The company has commenced the delivery process of Sunny, Nissan’s second car that has been manufactured at its plant near Chennai.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor, too, showed exemplary performance in September, owing to the desirable sales figures achieved by Etios models. Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director of the company was quoted as saying, “The growth of 105 per cent in total sales at 12,807 units in September (6,235 units in September 2010) can be attributed to the sales of Etios (sedan) and Etios Liva (hatchback) clocking total volumes of 5,926 units.”
Meanwhile, Honda has a great reason to celebrate the festive season, with the recent launch of its highly relied-upon model, Brio, in the Indian auto market. With Brio, the company made its debut entry in the small car segment of the market.
Jnaneswar Sen, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Sales, Honda Siel, said, “The customer preferences are changing and if the price difference is not much between petrol and diesel cars, customers are keen to buy petrol-driven cars offering host of comfort driving features.”
Thus, as the festive season increases proximity, the car makers are bound to come up with refreshing products, ensuring extraction of maximum advantage that would earn them coveted laurels.
