While 2013 isn’t exactly what we would call the year of automobiles, there have been quite a few launches which have helped companies show growth despite the poor market sentiment and decrease in overall sales. We have a look at the 5 cars which really made a difference this year.
The Ford EcoSport has proven to be a stellar offering by the American automaker in the Indian car market in 2013. The sub-4 metre SUV ticks all the right boxes and deserves to hold a unique position in the competition. It has made a substantial impact in the market right from the hatchback segment to the SUV segment and caters to a wide audience. Ford India offers exactly 10 different variants with three engine options (includes the state of the art 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine) and two transmission including 5-speed manual and 6-speed PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmission. The aggressive new Ford styling makes the EcoSport look smart and it comes loaded with convenience and safety features. The neat handling and balanced ride makes it a fun-to-drive car in addition to strong performance and refined engines. All this comes at a very attractive price that has been achieved through high localisation by Ford India.
The Indian audience appreciates Honda brand right from the beginning when the Japanese automaker entered the Indian market in 1998 with the Honda City. Honda India was having a serene sales performance with its petrol-only lineup until the demand started shifting to diesel rapidly. In April 2013, Honda launched their first diesel powered car, Amaze that took the market by storm. The sub-4 metre saloon received enormous response by the market with its great value for money package. The Honda Amaze is known for its punchy diesel engine, impressive fuel economy, spacious interiors and neatly designed exteriors despite being a sub-4 metre sedan. Honda India managed to achieve 90 percent of localisation with the Amaze, pricing it spot on against its direct rival. Within 5 months of its launch, Honda Amaze gathered 30,000 bookings.
Hyundai is one of the largest carmakers in India, reason being, wide service network, aggressive pricing, feature loaded offerings, imposing quality levels, VFM packaging and low maintenance. Taking these attributes forward, the Korean carmaker introduced the Grand i10 as an India specific product in September 2013. Introduced as an entry-level premium hatchback, Hyundai positioned the Grand i10 between the existing i10 and the i20. Along with the 1.2-litre petrol engine, the Grand i10 was launched with a 1.1-litre diesel engine that fired up the sales chart, achieving a position in the top 10 selling cars right away. The cleverly positioned Grand i10 is appreciated for its smart fluidic design, class leading quality, segment first features, spacious cabin and relatively mature driving dynamics with an affordable price tag. Within a few months of launch, Hyundai India considered increasing the production capacity because of the tremendous demand.
Mercedes-Benz seldom managed to attract young and enthusiastic buyers in India until they launched the A-Class. The alluring design language and the desirable package of the three-pointed star made the Indian buyers spellbound. The Mercedes A-Class was launched in India in May 2013 and within 10 days of its launch, the Stuttgart based automaker received an astonishing 400 bookings! The concept of a premium hatchback in our country is indigestible to most of the buyers but with the introduction of the A-Class, Mercedes-Benz has managed to dissipate that point of view to a great extent. The Mercedes A-Class comes with both diesel and petrol engine options, is loaded with high-tech equipment and performs well on Indian roads. Despite being a CBU product, Mercedes-Benz India has managed to price the snazzy hatchback aggressively, which makes the A-Class a blockbuster.
Skoda introduced the Octavia nameplate back in 2001, when it entered the Indian market. Within no time, Volkswagen’s Czech unit acquired a strong foothold in our country. The confident styling, tank like build quality, strong performance and excellent dynamics of the first generation Octavia fascinated Indian buyers. In October 2013, Skoda brought back the Octavia nameplate with its third generation model based on the new MQB platform. Despite having a premium price tag, the Skoda Octavia has been accepted by the Indian audience with high regard. The new Skoda Octavia comes with elegant styling retaining the original DNA, offers well balanced ride and handling, provides strong performance, embellished with rich and spacious interiors having a long list of equipment and superior quality levels. With the latest generation Octavia, Skoda India has set a new benchmark in the D-segment.
