The Indian automobile market has been rejoicing about the latest sales figures during the festive season. Automakers in India have every reason to rejoice with depleting inventories and increasing waiting period for their successful models. Automobile manufacturers from around the world are now looking at the Indian market with a new vigor and fresh perspective which has encouraged them for new investments, new launches and expansion of their dealer network. Moreover, with Delhi Auto Expo 2010 coming up just at the right time, nearly everyone is prepared to put their best foot forward to lure the Indian car buyers. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the various upcoming cars in the Indian Market in 2010.
Maruti Suzuki is India’s most popular car manufacturer and holds two-third of the market share. Nearly every second car sold in India is from the Maruti stable. The company has already launched a number of new models this year and they have been quitesuccessful. The Maruti A-Star and Ritz both come with the latest K-series engine from Maruti. Maruti will be revamping all its models in 2010 and make them adhere to the new emission norms that come into effect from April 2010.
The only new model presently expected from Maruti is its APV that will replace Versa in the Indian market. Technical details of the model are not available but Maruti has been working on a model codenamed as O2. Maruti is also working on another ‘made-in-India’ car codenamed as YP8 that will be exclusively designed, conceptualized and built in India. It will be developed on the new Ritz platform and will be fitted with K-series 1.2L engine. Suzuki Kizashi has already made its foray in the US market and in Japan. Now the company is also contemplating its options to launch the model in India by end of 2010. However, the details and finalization of the product is still not confirmed. Auto buyers in India will definitely get preview the model at the Delhi Auto Expo.
Hyundai aims to bring its new Santa Fe to India. The Hyundai Santa Fe is the most successful SUV from Hyundai and has been favored globally. It will be powered by 2.2L R diesel engine but will be a little detuned as compared to the European model that delivers 194 bhp. It is also rumored that Hyundai is developing a new micro-car codenamed as GB or Green Baby. Although the car will not be a direct rival to Tata Nano, it will be competitively placed with an 800cc or 1000cc petrol engine. A diesel model of the new micro car is also expected which will be exported to the European markets as well.
Hyundai has been basking in the success of its i-series models – i10 and i20. Now the Indian market may also expect the i40 model (instead of the i30) coming to India. Hyundai has already launched the i40 model in Korea and is being exclusively sold in Seoul currently. In India also, the i40 model is expected to replace Hyundai Sonata model. The model is expected to be priced around Rs. 6.5 – 7 lakh.
Chevrolet
General Motors has made a great come-back and GM India was already a successful venture for the parent company. General Motors acquired GM India and its operations earlier this year and the company is directly under parent company supervision now. GM India has recently signed a deal with Reva Electric Car Company from Bangalore to produce electric model of Chevrolet Spark using Reva technology.
Recently, the company launched the Chevrolet Cruze, and a new launch is soon to come. The Chevrolet Beat is slated for India launch next year powered by two engines – 1.0L and 1.2L petrol. There is no diesel model planned currently for Chevrolet Beat but it will be the third small car in India from General Motors. It already has Chevrolet Spark and Aveo UVA in its small car product portfolio.
Tata Motors
Tata Motors launched a car, this year that marked history. The Tata Nano, after facing many teething problems, has entered the market and the attention for the car is unfettered.
Towards the end of the year, the company launched the Tata Indigo Manza, an attractive sedan proving the company’s movement into a more higher segment of quality.
Tata Motors is further improving the Tata Nano and the mother plant for Nano will be ready by March 2010. Tata Motors will roll out a revised and improved model of Nano from its mother plant in India. Apart from an updated Nano, Tata Motors also intends to introduce Tata Indicruz which is a crossover model and Tata’s first MPV. It will be powered by 2.2L common rail diesel engine that currently powers Tata Safari.
Ford launched an updated model of its SUV Ford Endeavour this year, to counter the very popular Toyota Fortuner. Ford recently displayed its new Figo, and it is planning to start selling the Ford Figo in India from the first half of 2010 onwards. Ford has indicated that it plans to introduce a new model in India every 12-15 months. An updated model of Ford Fusion is also expected in 2010 which will have better power train with enhanced performance.
Ford Figo, 
Ford Fusion
The Volkswagen Group has stepped up its pace in India and is now massively spending on various media and advertising campaigns. Volkswagen is seriously concentrating on emerging markets and India remains its center of attraction. It is planning to boost its production capacity to 240,00 units annually to export small cars from India.
Volkswagens is planning to introduce Beetle in India. It is also planning another small car model Up! to be launched in the latter half of the year. Up! is likely to be priced at Rs. 3 lakh and above powered by 1.0L engine. It will be the cheapest model in VW’s product portfolio. Volkswagen Polo is the most awaited model in India. Beetle and Polo are slated for an early launch and will be previewed at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. Polo will be aggressively priced at Rs. 4.5 lakh considering the features offered by the company in its small car model. It will come in petrol as well as diesel variant.
Volkswagen Polo, 
Volkswagen Beetle
Volvo has made a late entry in the Indian market but that does not keep it from being optimistic. It is planning to launch Volvo XC60 next year. It is a crossover vehicle that is smaller than XC90 and will be priced below Rs. 30 lakh. It will come with a range of four and five cylinder engines and will compete with Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The design is slick and stylish as exteriors are similar to Ford Iosis concept. Volvo XC60 is based on the platform of Land Rover LR2 and shares technology with the Land Rover Freelander of 2007, using a modified version of the Volvo P24- platform.
BMW is the leader in the luxury car market in India. It has surpassed Mercedes’ sales figures earlier this year and is expanding its base in India. It plans to launch Mini in India in 2010 which is the small hatchback model priced under Rs. 20 lakh. Indian luxury car buyers can expect the same in 2010.
Skoda Auto India is coming up with at least two new models in India next year. Skoda Yeti SUV model and Skoda Fabia Combi hatchback model are slated for a launch in the country next year. Both the models will be previewed at the Delhi Auto Expo in January. Skoda Yeti is expected to be priced around Rs 13 lakh and will be a crossover model that will come with petrol engine. The car is likely to be launched in both petrol and diesel versions with 1.6L to 2.0L petrol engines and a 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine. Skoda Fabia is already a successful model in premium hatchback segment that competes strongly with Honda Jazz and Hyundai i20.
Japanese carmaker Nissan, which has had a niche position in India, is now strongly contending its position in the Indian auto market. It is planning to launch its own small car Nissan Micra which will be built on the new global V-platform. Nissan Micra will be produced in India and Thailand initially. Later Nissan will launch other model built on this platform. The new platform has been specifically developed for the developing markets where the models produced can be later fine-tuned for the developed countries. Nissan also intends to introduce its large crossover vehicle Murano priced at Rs. 40 lakh. The model may be produced at its new Chennai plant being developed with Renault. Murano was named the best premium mid-size SUV by AutoPacific and was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2003.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi had been planning to launch Lancer Evo X in India in 2009 but held back its plans owing to the economic crisis. Now the company intends to preview the model at Delhi Auto Expo and then later launch it in India market by end of the calendar year.
Mahindra Renault
Mahindra Renault already has its entry level model Logan in India which faces a tough market. Now the company may introduce its new hatchback model Sandero in India which is long time over due. The model is expected to be assembled at its Nashik plant.
Another long awaited car, Toyota is planning to bring a small car model into India next year. However, the model has not been confirmed so far. It will preview its hybrid model Toyota Prius at the Delhi Auto Expo as it intends to roll out hybrid vehicles in India.
Obviously carmakers around the world are specifically looking at the upcoming Auto Expo in India. Most of them, especially the European car makers, were conspicuously absent from Tokyo Motor Show held in October 2009. Most of them cited economic crisis and their cost-cutting measures for their absence. However, industry experts feel that nearly everyone projects India, China Brazil and Russia to be the healthiest upcoming markets and intend to focus their energies in these countries including India. It’s an opportunity no-one can afford to miss!
