Pavan Lall

Stories by Pavan Lall

Carmakers believe market for pricier sedans is at tipping point

Carmakers believe market for pricier sedans is at tipping point

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2018

Right now, the 'Lower D' or LD segment -- which the industry defines as a sedan that costs between Rs 1.5 million and Rs 2 million, is longer than 4.5 metres, and powered by an engine of 1.8 litre or larger -- has barely three cars, all of which have been around for over a decade in India. Nevertheless, at least one foreign auto player is looking to bet big on the segment.

When few design nips and tucks make a car truly Amazing

When few design nips and tucks make a car truly Amazing

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2018

All the minor irritants can be overlooked when you can get automatic transmission, diesel fuel efficiency and a Honda badge, all for less than a million rupees, says Pavan Lall.

Homegrown PE funds learn how to cash in on fast exits

Homegrown PE funds learn how to cash in on fast exits

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2018

Players such as Kidaara, True North, and Multiples Alternate Asset Management move outside the confines of just being a family-style financial office and become a true PE heavyweight.

What went wrong for Videocon

What went wrong for Videocon

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2018

Blind spots of the company were two-fold - managing cash flow and investments to upgrade technology and continue research and development.

Can the Mercedes Benz S-Class Maybach S650 be made better?

Can the Mercedes Benz S-Class Maybach S650 be made better?

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2018

The Maybach S650's focus on luxury would make a private jet's interiors appear pedestrian, says Pavan Lall. Does it mean it has no room for improvement?

Nature's Basket wants to be the 'friendly neighbourhood store'

Nature's Basket wants to be the 'friendly neighbourhood store'

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2018

Nature's Basket is changing its offering. Its new strategy zeroes in on pushing joint ventures, focusing on private labels and reentering Delhi.

Why premium car dealers are seeing an unprecedented churn

Why premium car dealers are seeing an unprecedented churn

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2018

Higher costs of car inventories, missing sales targets and manufacturer expectations, and soaring rentals, are eating into dealers' margins.

How to breathe life into dead malls

How to breathe life into dead malls

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2018

What's the mantra for reviving ghost malls? Most important, a right mix of products. They also need to transform into community spaces.

'It unfortunately became a feud between brothers'

'It unfortunately became a feud between brothers'

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2018

'... And I don't think it really is that despite a lot going wrong.' 'Naiveté or stupidity or trusting the wrong person, the outcome is the same, which is that the group has gone to trash.' 'I'm not OK with people saying I had a role to play in crooking the system, which is not what I did.'

Aman eyes Mumbai/Delhi for urban hotel

Aman eyes Mumbai/Delhi for urban hotel

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2018

'We have never compromised on the location of properties and that won't change.'

What's driving the large pay-outs of Indian CEOs?

What's driving the large pay-outs of Indian CEOs?

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2018

Like their international peers, Indian CEOs too have a significant portion of their incomes coming from stock options and performance-linked bonuses

4 mn garments. 300 stores. Rs 6.8 bn. The Anita Dongre story

4 mn garments. 300 stores. Rs 6.8 bn. The Anita Dongre story

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2018

'Fashion changes fast and if you are not keeping up you're getting left behind,' design diva Anita Dongre tells Pavan Lall.

Why Indians are one-brand car customers

Why Indians are one-brand car customers

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2018

'More than one brand in a showroom is too risky because customer loyalty in this market is low. Most people don't drive different cars made by the same manufacturer for a lifetime, they experiment.'

Discover India's poshest homes

Discover India's poshest homes

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2018

These exist in a unique world of by-invitation-only properties -- those that are never advertised and which money alone cannot buy. One cannot simply walk in for a tour of these apartments. A buyer must first meet the developer's targeted social criteria to get invited for a walkthrough of the property.

Is Mahindra Roxor a copy of Fiat Chrysler's Jeep?

Is Mahindra Roxor a copy of Fiat Chrysler's Jeep?

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2018

FCA has alleged that the Roxor, which M&M imports in the US from India as knocked-down kits, was "a nearly identical copy of the iconic Jeep design", adding that the product was modelled after the original Willys Jeep.

Why ICICI Bank selected Sandeep Bakhshi to fix its crisis

Why ICICI Bank selected Sandeep Bakhshi to fix its crisis

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2018

Of the existing set of potential leaders, Bakhshi was clearly the only choice as he beat out other high-level candidates that included executive directors Anup Bagchi, Vishakha Mulye, NS Kannan, and Vijay Chandok who were lacking the all-round game that Bakhshi has.

Under new boss, Ginger hotels to expand in asset-light mode

Under new boss, Ginger hotels to expand in asset-light mode

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2018

The renovations at the old hotels will be complete in two and a half years and tariffs will range between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000

Lamborghini races to the top in India's super sports cars segment

Lamborghini races to the top in India's super sports cars segment

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2018

Buoyed by the success in a tiny but exclusive market, Lamborghini India, which operates dealerships in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru, is going to roll out another two, in Kolkata and Chennai, in the near future.

Only 25% of India's workforce is female, says McKinsey report

Only 25% of India's workforce is female, says McKinsey report

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2018

The report suggests India in the longer term needs to create far more jobs in the formal organised sector -- 97 per cent of all female worker activity is in the informal sector

The judge who will decide Chanda Kochhar's fate

The judge who will decide Chanda Kochhar's fate

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2018

'It's still very early. I have just been handed over the matter and therefore I haven't formed any views on it as yet,' Justice B N Srikrishna tells Pavan Lall.