Besides their country of origin, General Motors, Ford Motor and Harley-Davidson have another trait in common: all three have failed in India, the world's fifth largest automobile market. All three of them took a tough call to de-prioritise India as a market amid disruption from heightened regulations and sharper focus on capital allocation by the parent.
While the latest, fourth-generation Swift makes no pretence of being a performance car or the last word in luxury, what it does stand for is amply evident, notes Pavan Lall.
The German luxury car manufacturer is quietly building on the legacy of the Mini, enticing young, trend-conscious and quality-oriented buyers with the promise of making them stand out in the crowd.
Mercedes-Benz India, BMW India and Audi India have lined up over 50 new model launches as they seek to recoup previous year's loss in volumes, reports Shally Seth Mohile.
A look at India's share of the Frankfurt Motor Show pie!
The entire range of Hyundai's diesel cars - from compact ones to SUV models, including the soon-to-be-launched Aura - will be eco-friendly.
The latest Hyundai i20 is an exciting car, given the overall drive experience, transmission, ride quality and tech. And while it may not be as low cost as a Maruti or come with the "heavy German steel-feel" of the Volkswagen, it does carve out a niche for itself at pole position with a combination of technology, styling, drive and ride comfort, and low cost of ownership, says Pavan Lall.
The recall will affect only the diesel variants of the two models.
With a presence in the value segment, better service quality, and lower ownership cost, Skoda India's director of sales and marketing Zac Hollis aims to make important changes. He tells Arindam Majumder how he plans to make India the company's fifth-largest market by 2023.
Some of the most popular small cars sold in India, including Maruti Alto 800, Tata Nano, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10 and Volkswagen Polo, have failed crash tests showing high risk of life-threatening injuries in road accidents, according to Global NCAP.
The move comes close on the heels of growth in developed auto markets such as the US and Europe dipping in the red. Analysts say that global auto companies are now focusing on developing new models for emerging markets like India, their with main focus on containing costs. The cost of development in India is considered to be the lowest in the world.
The electric vehicle evolution in India's passenger vehicle market has remained frozen in time and may see limited adoption over the next decade, experts say.
A study by second-hand car dealer CARS 24 showed 42 per cent of the consumer feel the need for a car to travel safely now. Those who used cabs to commute before the pandemic want to buy a car for the family and a two-wheeler for shorter runs.
Gear up for the most powerful hatch in the country until Fiat gets its Punto Abarth.
The company said it will inspect and if necessary, replace the clutch pedal lever.
Volkswagen mess costs Germany its strongest nation brand position.
Alisha Abdullah who took to racing at age nine, takes us through the moments that defined her life and career.
It was in the 1960s that the Beetle attained its cult status, when it became almost synonymous with the hippie movement -- and succeeded in shaking off the grim history of its origins. As Volkswagen announces the end of the Bug's journey, Amrita Singh goes down a nostalgic road.
Nissan and Renault say they will compete with new models, especially small cars, and by growing their dealer network.
Global auto companies are investing huge money to build infrastructure in the country despite the slowdown.
What worked for Hyundai in India when so many other auto manufacturers have had to eat humble pie? Pavan Lall finds out.
Reports suggest that this new sedan has a lot of potential to beat its competitors in the segment.
The management feels that environment in India is not conducive to make further investments. It plans to wait until 2015 and hope things will improve by then.
On Day One of the lockdown announced by the Maharashtra Government, it wasn't business as usual for automobile manufacturing units in the State. Confusion prevailed over regulations-what is allowed and what isn't. While some units ran with less than half the workforce, others sought clarity from the government on what is permissible and what isn't.
The Carens is a warning for cars such as the Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar, Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Innova Crista and Mahindra XUV 700, because Kia punches much harder than others in its weight category.
Every M&M car shares a certain DNA which is rugged, with an off-roading quality and built for hard wear and tear. The XUV is all those, but also has a smoother edge for those who want city comfort now offered in competitor vehicles such as the MG Hector, Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Tiguan and Tata's Harrier, says Pavan Lall.
VW cheating a 'well thought-out crime', diesel cars under lens
China's biggest carmaker, which own brands like Maxus, MG, Roewe and Yuejin, plans to invest $1 billion in India manufacturing unit, reports Swaraj Baggonkar from Mumbai.
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.
Big brands like Hyundai, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M), Toyota and Renault have lost share.
There was a time when one roamed the Expo halls at Geneva and wondered what to file back home. Not any more. Almost every serious carmaker worth its powertrain has at least one serious car meant for India.
Maruti Suzuki, with a half a dozen models ranging from the best-selling car Alto to WagonR, Swift and Estilo accounts for around 57 per cent of the small car market in India. In the premium hatchback segment, the company's market share stands at a robust 48 per cent.
German car maker Volkswagen was the first company to offer airbags on all its variants in India from the beginning of this year.
'Had these three farm laws existed it would have become a huge election issue.'
It's in the reverse gear on the list of the most-aspired-for cars in India, but the iconic brand is hoping to regain lost ground with cheaper models.
The car is appealing with its high-speed performance and great interiors, but the price tag might discourage buyers.
Undeterred by global credit freeze, India maintains a bullish outlook on attracting foreign direct investment which may be governed by easier rules, a top government official said.
India is seen as an emerging market for luxury cars.
Internet search giant Google tabulated the searches by consumers in India from January 2010 to May 2011.
The model will be assembled at its 4,000-acre facility coming up at Sanand in Gujarat.
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