India, a Country of Hatchbacks or Utility Vehicles?

India is a country of hatchbacks, but with the sort of traffic discipline we follow, it seems “might is always right”. This appears to be the new take for the automotive manufacturers, as we haven’t seen the launch of an all-new hatchback in this financial year. This is despite the fact that hatchbacks have a major stake in the Indian car sales figures, but it seems that the trend could change soon. Manufacturers are now targeting replacements for B+ segment of hatchbacks with compact SUVs and MUVs.

The Ertiga is already here and is making a difference. So far, the response for the Duster has been overwhelming. Ford is working on the EcoSport instead of introducing the Fiesta hatchback. Maruti Suzuki has also showcased the concept model of its compact SUV. Even Premier has upgraded its compact SUV with the multijet engine to make it competitive. Also up ahead are the launches of the Nissan Evalia and the Chevrolet Enjoy.

The Sail will be the first all-new hatchback launch this year. Even Honda is considering introducing a compact SUV, though Indian plans aren’t confirmed yet. Even Nissan will introduce its version of the Duster, early next year. Even BMW and Audi got an upper hand in sales after they introduced the entry-level compact SUVs. So, it seems that the Indian market is now diversifying and companies are introducing replacement for B+ segment in one of the fastest growing car market.