Wheel Industry

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Once again Kawasaki-Bajaj

Just more than 25 years back Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries introduced a high-powered motorcycle in the Indian market with the help of its Indian partner and long-time collaborator, Bajaj Auto.

We have seen that Bajaj and Kawasaki had built up various motorcycles during their coalition of just about two decades. In fact, Kawasaki never set in motion a product under its own brand name without share-out it with Bajaj.

The bond of Kawasaki – Bajaj will see the launch of, maybe, the 250cc Ninja model of Kawasaki. The model will be made at Bajaj’s Chakan facility near Pune. This will help the company save on the high duties imposed on imported bikes.

The 250cc, 30 bhp bike will be imported as completely knocked down kits from Kawasaki’s Thailand plant. This model will be set up before the end of the year.

Masanobu Kawaguchi, Manager (Sales and Operation Control, Asia Division), said that they are still developing to launch the Kawasaki model (most probably the 250cc model) will be in this year.

It is nice to see here that, now Indians can recall their memories what they had experienced while launch of Bajaj-Kawasaki 4S Two Wheeler segment. I have seen that 4S motorcycles running on the road to impose the sweet memories of Kawasaki-Bajaj alliance.

Sports Roadster, Ninja ZX-6R, Z1000 and Vulcan Cruiser are the few names of next generation high-performance bikes of the Kawasaki-Bajaj collaboration. The important thing is, before buying any vehicle modern customer immensely thinks on the availability of its spare part. For above variants, Kawasaki will provide the necessary training and parts back-up to the regional dealers. Such bikes cost around Rs. 1 Lakh.

These bikes can be available for customers at Bajaj’s Probiking showrooms and after some days one can get it from Bajaj’s other dealerships.

Again, Bajaj and Kawasaki organizations come together to develop the miracle in the segment of 2 Wheelers and they are working on technology and design development of such vehicles.

Now, Bajaj has been facing barky upwind in the domestic market. It quite happened worldwide that everybody under the pressure and impact of today’s recession. I am sure, after some days Bajaj proved his words “Naye Bahart Ki, Nayi Manzil ….. HAMARA BAJAJ!”. And I am waiting for the day that explains the true meaning of this advertisement that deeply imposed in everybody’s heart and mind. Yeah! It was the past that, I was also the part of Bajaj family and visiting Bajaj factory to represents my organization at Waluj, Aurangabad frequently to get solved customer complaints. Still I have kept Bajaj’s remembrance – A Chetak Scooter - for that I called it “LAXMI – the goddess of wealth!”

Global Car Majors to Follow Maruti Route

Global carmakers looking to the blasting Indian car market to relieve their destinies are planning to simulate Maruti Suzuki’s plan of action of establishing hatchback and sedan variants of the same model, as they research ways to cut costs.

Maruti’s Dzire, the highest selling sedan in the country, builds upon its origin to another best-seller, the Swift hatchback. Now companies like the world’s largest carmaker Toyota, Europe’s largest car maker Volkswagen, Japan’s Honda and America’s Ford Motor plan to use the same technology to make both hatchbacks and sedans for their future launches in India.

Toyota’s will use its small car platform, Yaris, to launch a small and a big car in India next year. Volkswagen’s small car Polo as well as Ford’s new small car will have additional sedan variants.

Dzire, priced at Rs 4.6 lakh - 6.7 lakh (diesel and petrol) sold 60,000 units in the last financial year, and some of its variants have a delivery lag of over two month owing to high bookings.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s deputy MD for marketing Sundeep Singh says that the company hopes to achieve its sales target in the country with the twin hatchback-sedan strategy. “We have already begun ground work for the small car. While the premium hatchback is for customers upgrading from entry-level cars, the sedan will target customers wanting a bigger car,’’ he says.

Volkswagen, after launching Passat and Jetta sedans in India, will add a third sedan based on the Polo platform. Its main model under the same brand will be a hatchback. “India will be the only market where both versions of the Polo will be made available. Both cars will be positioned in a way to avoid competing with Skoda Fabia,” said Jorg Muller, Volkswagen India president and managing director. The hatchback will be launched later this year and the sedan version will follow after few months.

Auto analysts tracking the Indian market said that as competition intensifies in India, manufacturers will find ways to cut costs and multi-product platforms will be used to remain competitive. “Dzire is just the beginning and we will see many more companies rolling out two or more cars from a single platform,” says Mohit Arora, senior director, JD Power Asia Pacific.

Honda Siel Cars India has gone a step ahead to launch two different cars from a single platform. Its soon-to-be-launched premium small car, Jazz, will be based on the Honda City platform.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Maruti 800 : Still run on the road

Yeah! It is my attachment with "Maruti" (still I am not able to buy Maruti Alto - LXI due to some reasons) the get-go car of the world. I have booked this car just 2 months back. My car loan also has been allowed and waiting for disbursement but mean while some unavoidable circumstances resist me to take it at my home and still I am just dreaming about my dream car. It is my "Maruti Alto - Lxi". I am still trying to collect some amount to buy it within next 3 months. Let us see what happens? (God! Pleeeeeeease help me! My kid asking me everyday about it! Just do something for me.)

Actually some days before I have also read out the news that Maruti 800 phased out from the market coz the BS IV norms. But I thinks that one day comes and the Maruti management take out some strategic decision to alive this basic model for the Indian people. Till time Nano may runs on the road to show its importance but I feel and sense that there is no such vehicle made till date that competes my Maruti.

I have firm on my decisions because I have seen that my cousin sister's Maruti 800 AC still running without any difficulties on the road of Chembur. It is actually 10 years back model. I have just finished my driving class and it is the first day I am on driving wheel to take a ride of Maruti 800. It just simply marvelous. See, just pass out student from the driving class who has been trained within a month on another car i.e., Santro Zing and having 100% experience about the Power Steering technique. No! I do not face any difficulty while the rid of 10 years old Maruti 800 AC. It is the reason I have bound on my decision to buy only Maruti 800's variant - the "Maruti Alto - Lxi".

Now, one news knocked at the door whiles I am reading a newspaper that Maruti 800 never phased out from the market and really I am very glad to read it. I just say here, thanks to Maruti's management, especially, Mr. I V Rao, Managing Director, MSIL that they just alive the people's dream.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Tata's Air Car - Is it the next big thing?

Now a day we are facing so many problems like increase in rates of petrol and diesel. But here is an one solution because of the 'PUSHPAK VIMAN' is coming, to solve the problems.

Tata Motors to introduce Air Car - Is it the next big thing? Yeah! Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Landrover-Jaguar deal, then the world's cheapest car and now it is also set to introduce the car that runs on air, compressed air to be specific.

With fuel prices touching nearly $150 per barrel some time back, it is about time we heard some breakthrough! India's largest automaker Tata Motors is set to start producing the world's first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine's pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets by August of 2009.

The Air Car, called the MiniCAT could cost around Rs. 3,50,000 ($ 8177) in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels.

The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 ($ 2). Tata motors alrady launched the world's cheapest car, Tata Nano priced famously at One lakh rupees by October.

The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc.

There are no keys - just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 105 kmph. Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometers.

As an alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours. Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000Km.] The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Hero Honda contributes climb up in two-wheeler sales

Continuing the positive sales performance seen in February, Hero Honda, the country’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, posted 10.3 per cent growth in sales for March this year, selling 353,342 units against the 320,574 units sold in the same month last year.

While the entire two-wheeler industry grew by 1.7 per cent for the 11-month period beginning April 2008, Hero Honda grew an impressive 11 per cent.

Analysts say the company, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has managed the downturn in the industry in three ways. One is its unparalled rural network, which roughly translates into a rural-urban sales mix of 50:50. Most rural customers make cash-down payments. The second is its bestselling 100cc motorcycle brands like Splendor and Passion, the largest selling models in the category. This segment contributes over 60 per cent to the company’s sales. The third is the brand equity of Hero Honda.

Chennai-based TVS Motors posted 2 per cent growth in March this year, selling 105,648 units as against the 103,975 units it sold in March last year. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter (HMSIL), which makes popular scooter brands like Activa and Dio, recorded 2.4 per cent growth in March, selling 81,865 units of motorcycles, scooters and CKDs. The figure includes domestic sales and exports.

“Once the RBI’s repossession norms are finalised, repossession of vehicles in case of loan defaults will become easier. Then, financiers, especially those from non-banking finance companies and private banks, will come back to the market to lend,” said Venu Srinivasan, CMD, TVS Motors. Srinivasan had earlier said that sales of two-wheelers depended on the cost and availability of funds.

Recovery could also come from the slew of new models that are in the pipeline. In addition to launching its bestselling XCD 135 this year, Pune-based Bajaj Auto plans to launch four brand refreshes and two new models in the high-power category. Others like Honda, TVS Motor and Hero Honda also plan to launch either newer versions of existing models or new models in 2009.

The car of the mile Maruti will not sell 800 in 11 cities from 2010

You never buy a beloved Maruti 800 in the year of 2010. Yeah! It is true. Maruti Suzuki has decided to stop selling its 800 model, that changed the face of the Indian car market, from 11 cities, including the four metros, from 2010 due to tighter emission norms. Maruti chairman RC Bhargava said the company will also stop selling Omni van in cities where stricter Bharat Stage IV (BSIV) norms will be implemented from next year.

Maruti chairman RC Bhargava said, "We will not be selling the M800 and Omni vans in the 11 major cities where BSIV norms set in from next year. However, this in no way means that we will discontinue or phase out the models, as these would continue to be sold in other cities and towns where BSIII norms would be applicable".

The cities where BSIV norms will set in from April 2010 are Delhi , Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore , Hyderabad , Pune, Kanpur , Ahmedabad, Surat and Agra . Other cities will come under BSIII norms, making it possible for the company to sell the cars. However, these would also come under BSIV norms by around 2015-16, that would finally mean phase-out of the two models.

Bhargava said Maruti had no plans to further invest in engine modernisation for the M800 or the Omni, the longest-standing models for the company. "We are not looking at this option. To continue the models in BSIV cities, we have to not only make changes to the engine but also take care of other issues. We do not want to do this. Anyway, they are old cars," he said.

M800, that once used to be the bread-and-butter model for the company, has sold over 27 lakh units since its launch in 1983. However, with the cut in prices of Alto, the demand for the car had gone down, though it still averages 4000-5000 units monthly.

But the absence of the models from 11 major cities, just when Tata would strengthen and boost the numbers of the Nano, is expected to make things tough for Maruti. The company is believed to be working on a new strategy to tackle the Nano phenomenon, though officially it has refrained to admit so.

Bhargava, however, said the exit from the cities would not be a big dampener for the company. "The demand for these models here is not that big anyway. So the impact will only be marginal," he said.

So, your dreams about Maruti 800 not comes true in the year 2010.

Related Articles : Wheel Industry
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03. Mahindra and Mahindra : A New Scooter Segment

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