Fuel efficiency to play a major role in car sales in India

The Indian auto market, which is home to a large number of middle class buyers is also one of the most cost and mileage sensitive auto-markets in the world. The major auto makers around the world have been mulling over launching their low cost fuel efficient cars in the Indian market, so that they can capitalize on this high growth potential that exists here. Now, as the price of petrol has increased to a considerably high level in the last few years, the high mileage cars are definitely going to be among the first choices of the buyers.

The Tata Nano, which was launched in the Indian market in March 2009, has set a benchmark for major auto makers around the world to develop low-cost compact cars for the emerging markets like India and China with incredibly high fuel efficiency. The upcoming ultra low cost car in the country from the Nissan-Renault-BajaJ Joint Venture, which claims to offer a mileage of 30 km/l, can be seen as another trend setter in this direction.

Besides this, the diesel run cars, which are way more fuel efficient than their petrol counterparts, have been emerging as another preferred option for the buyers. Cars like Ford Figo and Volkswagen Polo, the new entrants in the compact car segment, have been launched in both diesel and petrol versions in the country so that no stone is left unturned in attracting the maximum possible buyers.