German automotive giant Volkswagen (VW) has said it will focus on the premium sedan/sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment and avoid the mass hatchback segment. "Customers don't expect anything less than a premium product from VW. "Customers expect a certain level of quality and driving dynamics. We have to stay true to that DNA. "The day we go mass, customers will reject us," says Ashish Gupta, brand director, VW India.
The scandal has also rocked the wider car market, with manufacturers fearing a drop in diesel car sales.
Reflecting the woes of the Indian automobile industry, the country's car exports remained flat at 550,466 units in 2013-14, during which domestic sales fell for the second consecutive year.
German prosecutors launched an investigation on Monday into fraud allegations against former Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn.
Passenger vehicle exports from India increased 43 per cent in FY22, with Maruti Suzuki India leading the segment with dispatches of over 2.3 lakh units, as per the latest data by industry body SIAM. The total passenger vehicle (PV) exports stood at 5,77,875 units in 2021-22 fiscal, as compared to 4,04,397 units in 2020-21. Passenger car shipments saw 42 per cent growth at 3,74,986 units, while utility vehicle exports rose 46 per cent at 2,01,036 units during the last fiscal, the data by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.
'We are seeing one of the highest discounts in recent years across companies.' 'October is a crucial month with several festivals coming up.'
The carmaker was presenting itself as being run by technological diehards obsessed with building the world's best cars.
VW kept set aside 6.5 billion euros just to cover the potential costs of recalling and fixing the affected cars.
Nissan and Renault say they will compete with new models, especially small cars, and by growing their dealer network.
Volkwagen tells dealers in India to stop delivery of Polo
Volkswagen overtook Toyota as the world's largest carmaker by sales.
Compact sedans (Maruti Dzire, Hyundai Aura, Tata Tigor)' share in the overall sedan category grew from 68% in 2021 to 74.6% in 2024. Mid-sedans' (Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Volkswagen Virtus) share declined from 26.2% in 2021 to 20.2%.
Exports in October and November fell 28 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.
Even as domestic passenger car sales declined 29.4 per cent between April and August this year, exports grew 6.5 per cent, partially cushioning the blow from slowing sales.
The stock of the country's largest passenger vehicle maker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), has been hitting successive all-time highs over the past three trading sessions. The rally in the scrip has helped it notch over a 21 per cent gain since the start of February, outperforming the National Stock Exchange Nifty Auto Index. The gains for the leader of small passenger cars have been more recent, as the company still trails the Nifty Auto over one- and two-year periods.
'This is purely a brand sale. It includes the Ambassador with its variants. Peugeot is likely to relaunch the brand with multiple variants.'
The models from Hyundai and Maruti, which might go on sale in October 2018 and February 2019, respectively, are set to revive a segment that had lost sheen to the compact SUV segment, lately
The car promises to offer oodles of performance and fun, but at a price. Is it worth all that money? Indian automobile website MotorBeam finds out.
Maruti Suzuki is the big exception, with double-digit surge in volume
During the six-day-long event, automakers have planned 10 global launches, 26 India specific launches, six concept vehicles, seven facelifts and 21 vehicle unveilings.
From discounts to hundred per cent financing to talks of a price hike, companies are doing everything to ensure retail sales pick up this month.
Let alone a discount, they might not even get the model, variant or colour of choice in BS-IV-compliant vehicles.
Automobile exports from India recovered in the first quarter with all vehicle segments, including passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, witnessing growth following an improvement in the pandemic situation across various international markets. As per the latest SIAM data, total vehicle exports during the April-June quarter this fiscal stood at 14,19,430 units as compared with 436,500 units in the same period of 2020-21 which saw massive disruptions due to the COVID lockdowns across the country, hampering sales as well overseas shipments. SIAM director general Rajesh Menon told PTI that while two-wheeler shipments were better than previous three years, passenger vehicles, three-wheelers and commercial vehicles export numbers were yet to catch up with numbers in the first quarter of 2018-19 fiscal.
So far, the current year has not been great for the leading car exporters from India. In the top five list of exporters -- Hyundai, Ford, Maruti Suzuki, General Motors and Volkswagen -- it is only Hyundai which is clocking a growth.
The total number of passenger vehicles (cars and utility vehicles) sold annually in the 1970s was 32,000 units - less than even one week's sales today.
Ford is among several multinational automobile companies in India for whom exports now bring bigger volumes than local sales.
VW cheating a 'well thought-out crime', diesel cars under lens
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.
Ford Motor Co plans to triple exports from India.
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.
Seven years after it announced Nexa, there's no mistaking the seriousness with which Maruti wants the segment to grow, says Pavan Lall.
The petrol versions of the car are priced between Rs 5,05,000 and Rs 6,66,000.
Joint crack team of Maruti, Tata Motors, M&M to develop hybrid cars in India
Suspension that has fully acclimatised to Indian roads and handles potholes and bumps with ease, plush interiors that feel premium beyond just surface level, and aggressive and imposing design cues give this SUV a presence and profile that has little competition, says Pavan Lall.
One can see the scale of recalls going up as the market expands.
RIL is also more profitable than Tata Motors.
Strong festive demand in October helped carmakers register a seven-per cent volume growth in the domestic market, even as the largest player, Maruti Suzuki, reported low single-digit growth.
Over 22 passenger and commercial vehicle makers and 18 two- and three-wheeler makers will take part amid proximate security.
Carmakers fear an increase of Rs 35,000-40,000 per vehicle for safety equipments.
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