Carmakers eye breakthrough win with new models, diesel variants

Recently as we have seen there is a regular increase in the petrol prices in the country. So the leading car manufacturers have totally diverted their minds towards the production of diesel cars. The sales of the major companies had dropped down due to these petrol hikes, whereas it is seen that the demand for diesel cars has increased as The diesel prices have not increased to much extent.

Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Honda and General Motors are already launching the diesel variants of some previous models and also some new models with diesel engines. Sales have also reduced to lowest in their last 20 months time period.

Michael Boneham, president and managing director, Ford India said that they have recorded a decrease in the market sales upto 30%, as recorded in the same month last year. This is mainly due to the tightening of credit, higher fuel prices and interest rates. He also added that the investment and the lined up models are not changed by the company at all and would outperform the market with the launch of Ford Fiesta. He also said that this slowdown is for a short span of time and the market will soon regain its momentum, they will not make any change in their 8 lined up models and are expecting that the Indian car market would double to five million cars by 2015. The company had already registered 20,000 bookings for their new sedan which is going to be launched in the Indian market and the company is working towards the launch of new small car to be placed below the Hyundai Santro. This new car might be seen on the Indian roads next year.

Talking about the Honda India, we can say that it is in full flow to launch its highly anticipated hatchback Honda Brio. The company is trying to expand its dealership in the Indian auto market. Karl Slym, president and managing director, GM India informed that the car to people ratio in the country is 1000:8, so the company aims to reduce this difference by launching new cars at affordable prices in the country. Toyota Motors also aims to double the sales to 140,000 units in 2011. And the major share will be contributed by their new cars Toyota Etios Liva hatchback and the Toyota Etios sedan.

After the increase in the petrol prices the companies like Ford, General Motors, Maruti India and Volkswagen are heading towards the production of diesel cars.