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| From the desk of Strategic Resources For any query, discussion or feedback, please contact Pavan Chandra, Head of Strategic Resources at pchandra@zenithoptimediaindia.com, +91-124-4195100. Office Address : 10th Floor, Vatika Tower, Block-B, Sector 54 Gurgaon -122002, Haryana, India. |
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| Volume: IV |  |
July 25, 2007 |
| CLICK ON ANY OF THE ABOVE |
Ringside is a report that provides an overview of
happenings in categories of Airlines, Alcohol, Cars, Computers, Consumer
Durables, Financial Services, Food and Beverages, Hotels, Real Estate,
Retail, Telecom Service Providers, Two-wheelers, Skin Care and Athletic
Shoes.
Each of these will have sections on 1. Sales and market share 2. Trends
3. Launches 4. Advertising campaigns
Navigation is easy. Simply click of any of the categories of interest to
you and you will have the latest news in front of you.
Drop in a mail at
pchandra@zenithoptimediaindia.com with your suggestions and
comments.
Cars
Share Prices
Sales and Market Share
17. Automakers Get Sales Math All Wrong In Q1 – July 11
Rising interest rates and lack of buying sentiment hit the automakers
Rising interest rates and lack of buying sentiments impacted the compact cars and entry-level sedans in Q1 of FY 2007-08, with sales declining by 5.47% to 22,75,595 units from 24,07,336 units in Q1 of FY 2006-07. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Maruti 800’s domestic sales were down by 2,306 units to reach 17,994 units, whereas the combined sales of Santro and Getz fell by 1,050 units.
Source:
DNA
18. Hyundai India June Sales Up 1.5 Pc YoY – July 02
Hyundai sells 16,335 cars in the domestic market
Hyundai Motor India Ltd. sold 27,653 cars in June 2007, up 1.5% from June 2006. The company sold 16,335 units in the domestic market. According to Arvind Saxena, vice president, Marketing and Sales, the company plans to increase its dealer network to 250 and its service network to approximately 1,000 in 2007.
Source:
The Economic Times
19. Maruti June Vehicle Sale Up By 25 Pc – July 02
Maruti Udyog registers a 25% increase in sales in domestic market sales
Maruti Udyog sold 56,000 vehicles in the domestic market in June 2007, a 25% increase from 44,626 vehicles in June 2006. Compared to June 2006, the company’s domestic sales grew by 38.3% in the A2 segment (Alto, Wagon-R, Zen and Swift models), 46.4% in the A3 segment (SX4, Esteem) and 24% in the C segment (Omni, Versa).
Source:
The Economic Times
20. GM India June Sales Up 43 Per Cent – July 02
General Motors records a 43% increase in sales
General Motors India recorded a 43% increase in sales during June 2007, primarily due to its newly launched Chevrolet Spark. The company sold 4,779 units in June 2007, compared to 3,346 units in June 2006.
Source:
The Hindustan Times
Trends, Marketing Initiatives and Others
21. Anti-Theft Devices To Be Must For All Vehicles From Oct – July 14
Anti-theft devices to be made mandatory from October 2007
To counter the growing number of vehicle thefts, which have been increasing at an average of 25 % since 2002, the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) plans to mandate the installation of anti-theft devices in passenger cars and light trucks (up to two-tonners) by October 2007. Though many companies, such as Maruti Udyog, Ford India, Honda Siel Cars and Mahindra Renault (in its Logan sedan), have standardised security equipment, the absence of clear norms has created problems. No minimum standard is specified for the equipment to be fitted into vehicles, and companies avoid anti-theft systems because of cost issues.
Source:
The Economic Times
22. Bajaj May Ride Ghosn Dream – July 13
BAL may tie up with Nissan Renault to develop a $3000 small car
India-based, Bajaj Auto Ltd. (BAL) may enter into a partnership with France-based Nissan Renault for its $3,000 car project. According to industry experts, this partnership could be part of a larger alliance between Renault and Bajaj Auto, covering commercial vehicles as well. However, BAL’s Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj has not confirmed the same though is CEO of Renault and Nissan Motors, Carlos Ghosn announced that they would develop a $3000 small car using Indian expertise.
Source:
The Economic Times
23. Mitsubishi Set To Drive In SUVs – July 12
Mitsubishi Motor plans to widen portfolio in luxury car segment
Japan’s Mitsubishi Motor Corporation is planning to widen its portfolio in the luxury car segment in India. The company plans to introduce Outlander, its compact SUV, by 2007-end, which will be followed by Lancer Evolution 9 (also known as The Evo), a sporty sedan. "We will introduce an all new model from the Mitsubishi product line in Japan by 2007-end, taking our total number of models to five”, says R Santhanam, managing director, Hindustan Motors.
Source:
The Times of India
24. Audi Aims To Sell 3,000 Cars In India By 2010 – July 11
Audi aims to sell 3,000 cars in India
Audi, a Germany based automobile manufacturer, plans to sell approximately 3,000 cars in India by 2010. Benoit Tiers, managing director of Audi India, said, "We are firming up our production and assembly plans in India. We will be setting up an exclusive plant at Sibling Company Skoda's facility and hope to sell about 3,000 units by 2010". The company also intends to expand its marketing and dealer networks by setting up dealerships in Chennai, Gurgaon and Hyderabad.
Source:
Datamonitor News and Comment
25. Auto Makers Eye Malls To Speed Up Sales – July 10
Automobile sector now eyes malls to increase sales
With increased competition and declining sales in the automobile sector, automobile manufacturers are looking at a presence inside malls to take advantage of the retail boom. Rolls Royce entered Mumbai's Atria Mall, and BMW plans to showcase its products in Ambi Mall, Gurgaon. Maruti and Toyota as well as the two-wheeler manufacturers are also considering opening showrooms in malls.
Source:
The Times of India
26. Maruti Beats Monsoon Blues With Filmi Deals – July 04
Maruti introduces innovative marketing schemes
To increase its sales in the rainy season, Maruti Udyog introduced innovative marketing schemes involving vendors, suppliers, sub-vendors, dealers and employees. The vendor scheme, called Hum Saath Saath Hain, launched in June 2007, has resulted in the sales of 450 units. The employee scheme has helped Maruti sell 2000 cars. The brainchild of Maruti Udyog MD Jagdish Khattar, these schemes, valid till August 2007, are planned to complement Maruti’s other long-term initiatives such as its rural scheme Mera Sapna Meri Maruti and the NRI offer Dil Se.
Source:
The Economic Times
27. Maruti On Overdrive Mode In Rural India – July 01
Maruti focuses on rural market to increase sales
Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) has entered into an understanding with regional rural banks (for car finance) and village panchayats to increase sales in rural areas. MUL Managing Director Jagdish Khattar said that the rural scheme, which began in April 2007, has resulted in the sale of 2,700 cars (comprising 50% Alto and 23% M800). In addition, MUL has asked its dealers to appoint rural sales executives (RSEs) to build and maintain relationships with potential customers. The company also organised roadshows with approximately 45 floats (vans on which the company's cars are displayed) across the country.
Source:
The Economic Times
28. Bajaj`S First Car To Be Priced At Rs 2-5 Lakh – June 26
Bajaj to showcase its passenger car in January 2008
Bajaj Auto plans to showcase the concept vehicle of its proposed car in January 2008 at the annual Auto Expo. Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto said, ““We are aiming to come up with a concept passenger vehicle by January 2008 and if the response is good, it will take us three years to go in for commercial production”. The company plans to price its first car between Rs 2-5 lakh.
Source:
Business Standard
29. Auto Majors Go Aggressive On Marketing, Raise Ad Spend – June 24
Auto companies are spending more on marketing and advertising
With a spate of vehicle launches, auto companies are combining innovation and aggression in their advertising and marketing initiatives to create distinct identities for their respective models. For instance, Hyundai Motors has increased its advertising and marketing costs by 10%. It is also considering increasing radio and internet advertising, apart from region or state-specific campaigns, to effectively reach its target audience. Maruti is introducing a new product portfolio, and is also utilising new communication channels such as SMS, radio and digital media in addition to traditional advertising.
Source:
The Hindu Business Line
30. Luxury Car Sales Hit The Fast Track – June 22
Sales of luxury cars on an upswing
According to industry estimates, the luxury car market in India is growing 30% annually. Manufacturers of Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari & Maserati, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and BMW are improving their sales targets. Mercedes-Benz sold 1,020 units in the first five months of 2007 and hopes to surpass its 2006 sales of 2,100 cars. Porsche, which entered the Indian market in 2004, has sold 200 sports cars and aims to sell another 150 by June 2008. According to Peter Kronschnabl, President of BMW India, BMW has revised its sales target for 2007 from 1,000 to 1,200 units.
Source:
Business Standard
31. Xenitis To Roll Out Small Car With Chinese Alliance – June 22
Global Automobiles to manufacture entry-level car
Global Automobiles, a subsidiary of the Kolkata-based Xenitis group, has collaborated with China's Guangzhou Motors Group Co for the production of entry-level cars in India. With a price range of Rs 1 lakh–1.25 lakh ($2,400-$3,000), affordability will be the major criterion determining the car’s positioning in the Indian market, according to Suparna Maitra, head, Corporate Strategy, Xenitis.
Source: The Hindustan Times
Product Launches
32. New Versions Of Fiesta And Logan – July 08
Ford India
has launched a limited edition of its Fiesta sedan to commemorate the
rollout of 50,000 units of the model in India. The limited edition would be
available on the Exi and Zxi variants for both petrol and diesel.
33. Maruti Grand Vitara To Cost Rs 13.8-14.8 Lakh – July 05
On 5 July,
2007, Maruti Udyog Ltd launched the new Grand Vitara, a five-seater sports
SUV, with a 2-litre VIS engine in Mumbai. The company has priced the manual
transmissions model at Rs 13.80 lakh and automatic at Rs 14.80 lakh.
34. Hyundai Motor India Introduces CNG Variant – July 04
On 4 July,
2007, Hyundai Motor India introduced the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)
variant of its car Santro.
35. Mahindra Renault Unveils Logan Variants – June 30
On 29
June, 2007, Mahindra Renault unveiled two new variants of the Logan, the 1.6
GLX (petrol) and the 1.5 dCi DLX (diesel).
36. Skoda India Reveals Plan To Launch Small Car – June 27
On 27 June, 2007, Skoda India announced that it will launch Skoda Fabia, its
first small car in the Indian market, by 2007 end.
37. Hyundai Unveils Diesel Sonata – June 27
On 27
June, 2007, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) launched a new automatic variant
of its diesel-powered luxury sedan Sonata Embera CRDi, which is priced at Rs
15,71,656 (ex-showroom Delhi).
38. Mitsubishi Plans To Launch Another Car By Year-End – June 26
On 25
June, 2007, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation launched its Montero (with a
3.2-litre common-rail direct-injection system) in the SUV segment. The
company also plans a new car in next few months.
39. Scorpio Stings, In Style And Price – June 24
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) launched two new variants of the Scorpio–Lx and Gateway.
40. Ford To Launch Diesel Variant Of Fusion By Q3' FY 08 – June 20
On 20 June, 2007, Ford India announced that it will launch the diesel variant of its mid-size vehicle Ford Fusion by the third quarter of FY 2007.
41. Fords New Endeavour – June 21
Ford India relaunched its premium action sports utility vehicle (SUV) Endeavour, priced between Rs 14.72 lakh and Rs 15.62 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi), on 20 June, 2007.
42. GM India Launched Optra Diesel Sedan In Rajasthan – June 18
General Motors launched its Chevrolet Optra TCDi Diesel sedan in Rajasthan on 18 June, 2007.
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