Companies, which are jumping into the bandwagon, include MNCs. For instance, the world's leading component company Bosch has committed an investment of Rs 2,650 crore (Rs 26.50 billion) through four subsidiaries in India. Funds will be used to set up manufacturing facilities for gasoline systems, electronic control units and ABS systems.
Call it an impact of the hopes of rate cuts in the country or renewed interest by foreign investors, BSE's Realty Index has outperformed big brother Sensex in the last 11 trading sessions - from the day when the Maharashtra government scrapped the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act (Ulcra), which is expected to free 17,000 acres of land in Mumbai.
The ongoing credit squeeze in the sluggish two- and three-wheeler markets may affect the March sales targets of the three leading domestic players in the country. Taking the cue from a buoyant FY07 where the two-wheeler industry grew by a healthy 11.42 per cent, companies such as Hero Honda, TVS Motors and Bajaj Auto were hoping to surpass the FY07 target of 7.8 million units this year.
According to India Retail Report prepared by Images, discount stores are expected to grow 30-40 per cent every year. Of the total organised apparel, footwear and accessory retail market of Rs 26,400 crore (Rs 264 billion), discount retailing already accounts for Rs 11,880 crore (Rs 118.80 billion), or 45 per cent. Analysts said this segment will easily become a Rs 26,000-crore (Rs 260 billion) market in the next three years.
The industry will see as many as 24 new launches in 2008, from 14 car makers across the country, with nearly all of them being unveiled at the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi. New model releases from the top three manufacturers will include Tata's much awaited 'One lakh car' concept (almost production ready), new compact car Indica, mid-sized car Indigo and the Sumo multi-utility vehicle.
The Tata-Fiat combine's plant at Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, may see huge capacity additions as new models line up to go under production at the site.
The country's second-largest commercial vehicle maker, Ashok Leyland is pitching for an aggressive drive through the bus segment as work on newer projects for the segment picks up pace at the company's research centre.
When French Retailer Carrefour enters the Rs 1,200 crore (Rs 12 billion) cash and carry segment in 2009, it would face tough competition from established players such as Germany's Metro, Bharti-Wal Mart, Reliance, Pantaloon, Wadhawan Retail and others entrants like Tesco and Costco.
Taking a cue from heavyweights such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi, Ford Motor Company-owned Volvo Car India may use the parents' India facility in Chennai to manufacture and assemble some of its products, reducing their prices substantially.
On the sidelines of the opening of its Mumbai showroom, Deesch Papke, managing director, Porsche Middle East and Africa, spoke about the company's India plans to Business Standard.
The deal size ranges from $200 million to $300 million. The 27-year-old S P Metal Forgings has been a large exporter to Europe, the UK and Israel for over three years. It provides parts for BMW, Peugeot and Renault and also services the after-market and non-automotive companies.
In the first of its kind among property consultants, the UK-headquartered Knight Frank Group will launch a $250 million India-focused real estate fund.ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund recently launched its real estate securities fund, which is the first real estate mutual fund in India.
US automobile manufacturer Ford is studying the feasibility of launching a compact car in India that will be imported as a completely-knocked-down kit from a manufacturing hub in Thailand.
Corporate houses getting into music retail are turning the outlets into multi-product stores that will offer apparel and even perfumes.
Cars from Infiniti are priced in the range of $34,000-$52,000 (Rs 16 lakh to Rs 21 lakh) in the US market.
Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen stitch plans for country-specific mall car models. With India increasingly becoming the production and sales hub for all major car manufacturers, international giants like Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen are pulling out their drawing boards for an all-new India-specific car model.
Germany's Daimler AG, known for its luxury cars and high-end commercial vehicles, has pulled out of the race to acquire a strategic stake in the Delhi-based commercial vehicles maker Eicher Motors.
Hyundai Motors India hopes to export over 250,000 cars next year from India, twice this year's number. Yet, Managing Director H S Lheem said this performance will not be without its problems. In fact, ebullient exports may end up denting the company's bottom line.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMI) and Yamaha Motor India (YMI) are building motorcycles and scooters to suit the Indian market. The models will be manufactured at the company's research and development centres in Japan and will use new platforms.
Even in the face of protests from trade groups, escalating real estate costs and pressure on margins, the march of domestic retail chains continues unabated.
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