Five things to know while buying a car

                                                                   

Car companies usually offer big discounts in December to clear their inventories before they hike prices and launch new models in January. If you buy now, your vehicle will bear the registration date of December 2013, and in a few days, it will be last year's model. This should not matter if you are planning to use the car for at least 7-8 years. However, if you plan to change the car in 3-4 years, the registration date will matter. A 2013 model will fetch a lower resale price four years down the line. Hence, it will be prudent to wait till January to buy it. Remember that a new car should be used for at least 8 years to get a full return on investment. Sell it earlier and you could lose out on its value.

Buy within your means

The bigger the car, the fatter the discounts being offered. However, don't let the freebies entice you into making a purchase you can't afford. The golden rule is that the price of a car should not be more than 60% of your annual take-home income. If your take-home salary is 60,000 a month, don't think of buying a car priced at more than 4.32 lakh (60% of 7.2 lakh annual income ). Another time-tested principle is that the car loan EMI should not be more than 15% of your post-tax monthly income, or 40% of your investible surplus after all expenses and mortgage payments. Follow these rules diligently when you choose the car model and you won't regret the decision.

Consider the offers closely

While you should not look a gift horse in the mouth, when it comes to freebies from car dealers, a closer look is necessary. They tend to inflate the value of free accessories to make the deal seem more attractive. This is why it's better to go for cash discounts rather than free accessories. Don't fall for the exchange offers as well. Most car dealers offer to buy your old car, but the price they quote is usually much lower than the one you would get elsewhere. A bit of market research will tell you roughly how much you can expect for your car, and you won't have to run around to find buyers. Avail of portals like Olx. in, which have made it easier to sell used stuff.

Transfer the no-claim bonus

All car owners know that if you don't make a claim in a year, the next year's premium fetches a discount. However, few know that a no-claim bonus can be transferred to another vehicle, bringing down the insurance cost of a new car. You will have to submit the photocopies of the sale agreement, transfer documents, insurance note and the car's registration certificate, along with a letter requesting the policy's termination, to the insurer. The latter issues a no-claim certificate, which will get you the discount on the new car's insurance. If the insurance of the new car works out to 15,000, a 50% no-claim bonus will reduce it to 7,500. This certificate is valid for three years from the date of issuance, but you will have to make things clear to the buyer since it is assumed that the old car comes with insurance.

Petrol, diesel or CNG?

Petrol is the costliest car fuel, but petrol cars are the cheapest. Diesel is inexpensive, but the diesel variants of cars are costlier by 75,000-1 lakh. They also require higher maintenance. Your choice should depend on how much you travel in a day. If you drive more than 80 km a day, go for a diesel car. You will be able to recover the extra cost within two years. This assumes that the gap between petrol and diesel prices will not narrow down further. CNG is a clean and cheaper fuel, but its availability can be an issue. Morever, the CNG cylinder takes up a lot of boot space.

Buying a used car? Here's what to look out for

                                                                           

The used car market in India is still largely unorganised. Although most major auto companies now offer certified used cars, most of the transactions still take place in the open market.

Maruti, Hyundai, General Motors, Toyota, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra etc. all sell certified used cars complete with warranty, not just from their own stable but across brands.

There are different stages of checking and testing that these cars undergo, before being certified by the companies.

However, because these cars go through rigorous testing, the companies charge much more than what the neighbourhood used-car dealer would.

There are also cars sold by these auto companies, without the certifications and the warranty, which cost substantially less, but they would still be more expensive than the dealer operating in the unorganised sector.

There's no reason to be too wary about the unorganised sector, as many a time you can pick up a great deal from there.

Buying a second-hand car is not a bad idea, but if you have the means, most people would suggest you go for a new car- simply because of the fact that there are less hassles involved. A new car is unlikely to give any trouble in the first three odd years at least.

Even if a car is in mint-condition, and has only run a few months or a few miles, it will attract a price much less that its original price, while being sold, because it is a depreciating asset. It is a good idea to keep a lookout for such deals while buying a used car.

"If you buy a new car for around Rs. 10 lakh and want to to sell it off immediately, you can easily shave off a lakh (Rs. 1 lakh)," says auto expert Tutu Dhawan.

The more premium and high-end the car, the better a deal the new buyer stands to get, opines Mr Dhawan.

For cars within the Rs. 5 lakh bracket, Rs. 50,000 can easily be discounted if it is being sold off in a month or two, he says.

My first car was a second hand 'certified' automobile from one of India's major auto companies. Although there were some minor issues with the clutch and brake of the car, which I found out in the course of driving it for the first few days- they were quickly addressed and fixed by the company.  I drove it for a year, and got a good price while selling it off. What worked in my favour was it was one of the more popular cars from one of India's most trusted car makers, it was silver in colour (silver and white have the best re-sale value), it was fuel-efficient, and well-maintained.

While buying a used car, keep re-sale in mind. White and silver, as mentioned earlier attract better prices; a popular car whose spare-parts are readily available and are not very expensive should also be part of the checklist.

When you go to check or test-drive a used car, take somebody along with you, who understands cars well. It is always a good idea to take a seasoned driver or a mechanic along, they would be looking at it sans the rose-tinted glasses which you may have put on- simply because you love the way the car looks.

Even if it is a certified company car, make a checklist about the gears, clutch, brake, accelerator, steering, tyres, headlamps, doors, windows, horn, wiper- check if everything is functioning properly, if anything seems amiss raise it with the dealer or the company immediately.

No Sales but New Cars Aplenty

                                                                       

          


When your returns are not up to expectations, what do you do? Most roll back investments; others play cautious. Some optimists, however, do quite the opposite. They try and up their game by launching a host of new products and embarking on aggressive expansion and marketing strategies. Nothing risked, nothing won, is the name of their game. The automobile companies in India belong to this last category.
The sector, which had enjoyed double-digit growth for the last decade, bucked the trend in 2013 and saw sales plunging to a 12-year low at 25.71  per cent in February.
The downward slide continued over the next few months and sales of passenger cars, including sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs, lagged right through 2013 with volumes touching 6.7 per cent in March, 10.43 per cent in April, 12.3 per cent in May, 9 per cent in June and 7.4 per cent in July. Volumes picked up for the first time in ten months in August at 15.37 per cent on the basis of a low base effect and good monsoon.
But again, in September, sales slid down to 4.7 per cent and to 4 per cent in October, despite the ongoing festive season.
“The auto sector witnessed de-growth of nearly 5 per cent during the first half of 2013-14,” says Pravin Shah, CEO, Automotive division, Mahindra & Mahindra. Not even attractive discounts, exchange offers, lower EMIs, bundled insurance policies or freebies like music players and other accessories could perk up sales as consumers put a lid on discretionary spending to battle high inflation.
Still, seemingly nonplussed, car companies have gone into overdrive and are set to launch a flurry of marketing activities and new releases in the coming year. Maruti Suzuki India, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen all have new models to sell in the new year, while other players are tweaking old cars to revive customer interest—and demand.
Consider the new offerings:  Maruti Suzuki India has lined up a new sedan to replace the SX4 early next year. Nissan’s Datsun Go, Force Motors’ Force One, Tata Nano (diesel), Honda’s Jazz, VW’s Beetle, Skoda’s Yeti and Renault’s Duster are all waiting to hit the market in refurbished form. Honda may have sold only 73,000 units last fiscal; next year, it is targeting 1.2 lakh sales on the back of recently-launched Amaze and the ‘new-improved’ Jazz, Vezel and Accord diesel models.
“We plan to focus on our fresh line of products through extensive marketing activities in 2014 and improve the price value equations by refreshing existing models. We will introduce new models to target existing and emerging segments, while maintaining our modern premium image,” says Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president, sales & marketing, Hyundai Motors India Ltd. “We plan to launch new cars every year for the next few years. Our turnaround strategy for 2014 will be to increase our market share and rural penetration.” Hyundai, which recently refurbished the i20, Verna and Santro, is also working aggressively to increase its dealership network. It is widely anticipated that Hyundai will debut the Santa Fe, i10 diesel and a sedan in 2014.
For its part, Ford India—which claims to sell one Figo (its flagship model) every five minutes globally— intends to double its sales in India by increasing its service touch points from the current 274 to 500 in the next few years.
P Balendran, vice-president, General Motors India, says: “We have always kept up the excitement in the marketplace with new models. We will do so next year as well.” In 2013, GM introduced the Chevrolet Sail sedan and Chevrolet Enjoy MPV and upgraded Cruze and Captiva; next year, it has a new version of Beat lined up.
Can the new and refurbished launches help the players turn the tide? Most companies seem to think so. Honda Cars India says it registered sales growth of 39 per cent in October 2013 on the back of strong demand for Amaze, while Ford India reportedly sold 21 per cent more cars, led by its new compact sports utility vehicle EcoSport. Volkswagen too registered a 6.8 per cent increase in sales, owing to its new Jetta and variants of Vento in October.
Research firm JD Power is gung-ho about the future, saying the Indian market is set to triple to 9.3 million units by 2020.
But despite the overall bravado, a section of the industry admits that market conditions will remain challenging, at least in the early part of next year, owing to high interest rates, rising fuel prices and weak consumer demand. Also, rising raw material prices are forcing players to go for a price hike and some companies have announced a 2-2.5 per cent revision effective January 1.
GM’s Balendran says unless the government offers a stimulus package to the industry in the next Budget, the market is unlikely to pick up.
“In any case, we expect the market to turn around only after a stable government is in place at the centre after elections. So, any signs of revival will be seen only in the second half of next year,” he explains.
SIAM deputy director-general Sugato Sen concurs. “The situation is unlikely to change till a new government comes in. At this stage, this government cannot do anything spectacular to bring about a revival,” he says.
So however fast and furiously the new cars drive in, demand will pick up only once inflation subsides and interest rates are reduced. Watch this space.

Mercedes Benz says 2013 will be its best year in India

                                                                           


 Mercedes Benz India Pvt. Ltd said the current year will be its best ever, following robust sales of its luxury brands, a trend that contrasts the poor showing of the mass car market that has seen sales crimp on the back of a slowing economy and higher borrowing costs.
Mercedes sold 7,138 cars in India in 2012, and envisages crossing the 10,000 mark by the end of fiscal year 2014. The company sold 1.3 million units in the 11 months to November, 11% more over a year ago. Of these, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) accounted for 280,000 units, said Matthias Luehrs, chairman of the board of management, Mercedes India and vice-president, global sales, at Mercedes-Benz.
“It will clearly end up as the best year Mercedes ever achieved in India,” Eberhard Kern, managing director and chief executive of the local arm of the German firm, told reporters in Pune on Wednesday. “In 2014, we aim to expand in double-digits faster than the market,” said Luehrs, who was also in Pune to inaugurate the company’s so-called “Centre of Excellence”.
Dedicated to wealthy customers, which include politicians, film stars and corporate heads, the centre features a dedicated helipad that will be used exclusively by such customers who want to fly in and out, providing them highest level of convenience and ease in purchasing their desired specialty car, said Luehrs.
This is one among the few such centres Mercedes has globally.
Mercedes, which launched eight new models in 2013, has seen sales of its super luxury brands such as the SLS AMG, SLK 55 AMG and E 63 AMG, pick up. The average ticket price of these models is upwards of Rs.1.5 crore.
The firm also got a volume push with the launch of the A Class, its compact luxury model.
In a bid to shake off the old-man image associated with the brand, Mercedes globally sharpened focus on design to woo buyers away from German rivals BMW AG and Audi AG. Emerging markets, too, will play a crucial role in the renewed thrust, accounting for half of global sales, according to company executives.
Elaborating on the model launch plans for the calendar 2014, Luehrs said Mercedes plans to introduce the new S Class in the first quarter. It will also be bring in either the CLA (four-door coupe) or GLA (compact luxury cross over) to India, next year.
“Mercedes in India has bounced back,” said Puneet Gupta, principal analyst at I.H.S, the sales forecasting and market research firm.
According to Gupta, the maker of the car that sports a three-pointed star logo always had the first mover advantage in the country. It had, however, lost traction in the absence of models that can compete with rivals such as Audi and BMW. “They have been very aggressive in 2013 with models like the A-Class that has helped them take competition head on.”
Gupta expects the luxury car market in India, which includes sales from Jaguar Land Rover India, Audi India, BMW India and Mercedes India, to expand to 34,000 units by end of calendar 2013 from 28,000 units in 2012. The market for such vehicles account for less than 2% in the total passenger vehicle market.

Nissan to sell cars online in India

                                                                          

New Delhi: Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. said on Monday that it will start selling its cars online in India, following the example of Skoda Cars India Pvt. Ltd.
Customers will be able to book their cars by paying with a credit card. The car will then be delivered to the customer by the nearest Nissan dealership, the company said in a statement.
Skoda had started this service in October this year. A customer can book a Skoda vehicle by making an advance payment of Rs5,000. The customer will be fully refunded if he chooses to cancel the booking.
Experts said it’s an experiment, which may work for a company like Nissan, which has few sales and service points and it will gain in the smaller cities and towns.
Japanese automaker Nissan was late in entering the Indian market and it started selling its products in India from 2010. It has at least 100 dealerships with only six in the national capital region, a Nissan India spokesperson said It sells models including the Micra, Sunny and Terrano.
Praveen Sinha, co-founder and managing director of Jabong.com, said if Nissan could crack the markets and customize the delivery options to consumers, it has the potential to fulfil a latent demand, especially in smaller towns.
To be sure, websites such as eBay and olx.in sell second-hand cars. Online retail accounts for a minuscule $600 million (around Rs3,600 crore), compared with India’s $518 billion brick and mortar retail industry, according to a report by consulting firm Technopak. E-commerce has a potential to grow to as much as $76 billion by 2021.
Sinha said that in markets where dealers are not present or are scarce, consumers largely travel to larger cities or book vehicles through brokers. “If the company can target such markets then there might be sizable orders.”
Nitish Tipnis, director, marketing, Hover Automotive India, (Nissan’s national sales company), said that buyers doing research about cars on the web before making a purchase prompted the company’s decision to sell the cars online.
Nissan India is putting in place suitable payment gateways with the help of specific car portals to ensure timely delivery and service at the time of purchase.
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group done earlier this year, 56% of Indians who purchased a car had access to the Internet. Of these, 22% used the Internet to do preliminary research.
“It seems like a logical step to take, given that when it comes to buying vehicles a large number of consumers do rely on the internet for research and pricing. Pre-purchase research is a big thing online,” said Arvind Subramanian, partner and director at Boston Consulting Group.

Tata Motors to hike passenger vehicle prices by 1 per cent from January

                                                                                

New Delhi: Auto major Tata Motors plans to hike prices of its passenger vehicles by about 1 per cent from January, 2014.

The Tata Group company, however, is currently reviewing the market situation with regards to its commercial vehicle business for a similar step and will take a call later.

"While there is to be about 1 per cent hike in our passenger vehicles pricing, the commercial vehicles business continues to review the situation and will take a call subsequently," a Tata Motors spokesperson told PTI.

Tata Motors markets a range of vehicles, ranging from passenger cars to heavy duty commercial vehicles.

The auto major's passenger vehicle portfolio comprises models from entry level hatchback Nano, priced at Rs. 1.5 lakh, to multi utility vehicle Aria, priced up to Rs. 14.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Last week, leading car-makers Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai had also announced to hike prices from January, joining the likes of Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Honda.

Maruti and Hyundai had cited rising input costs as the main reason for hiking the prices, across their entire model range, from next month but had not specified the quantum of the expected increase.

Earlier in the month, Honda Cars India had announced to take a price hike from first week of next month to partially offset impact of adverse exchange rate and inflation

Upcoming hatchback cars in India in 2014

                                                                                   

The Indian roads are overwhelming with hatchback car models which justifies their popularity amongst Indian consumers. While crossing the Indian streets, one can say that out of 10 vehicles around 7-8 cars belongs to hatchback segment. This clearly indicates that the compact cars are the rulers of the Indian car market. Even the car manufactures feel most confident to start on any new venture or bring new models in this category of cars. If current scenario is to be considered, then auto companies simply bet on hatchback cars, and are pretty sure to carve a success story with these cars in the market.


However, there are various factors to base the success story of hatchbacks in India. The first obvious factor which every local buyer puts it on priority, is the affordability behind these machines. These models cost low due to the compact size and lesser engine capacity, which allows the manufacturers to comparatively price them cheaper. Well, these are optimally designed to serve every requirement that market demands. The next reason is the high fuel efficiency offered through hatchbacks. This makes Indians cash in on something that offers lucrative return in terms of fuel economy. The third big reason, is the compact size platform on which hatchbacks are developed. This makes them easily cruise through heavy traffic conditions which is a usual scenario in India. This also enables hassle free parking of the car.

After discussing the paramount factors in the success of hatchbacks in India, it makes auto manufacturers continue their business in this segment. The falling year will watch few new launches in this segment. We bring you the list of upcoming hatchbacks in 2014.

One of the top selling hatchbacks in India, Maruti Swift is soon going to receive updates to its exteriors as well as interiors. The competition levels in the B+ segment is stirring up, and so to retain the popularity, Maruti will bring facelift of Swift model. The 2014 model will get LED day time running lights embedded in fog lamps, LED roof mounted lamp, restyled front bumper and 16-inch alloy wheels avaialble in the top variant. On the other hand, the interiors will feature new upholstery, and is expected to receive an Auto-Up one touch function, automatic headlamps, electronically adjustable side mirrors, driver's side power window and several others. Mechanically, the car will remain unchanged and will be powered by a 1.2-litre K-Series petrol and a 1.3-litre Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engine.

From Ford EcoSport to Honda City: Best Car Launches of 2013

                                                                               

The year 2013 saw a mixed bag of disappointments and achievements in all sectors. The scenario was not so different in the auto industry as well. For many car manufacturers in India, the year proved to be mostly unprofitable.

The industry suffered from snarling sales, rising fuel prices and cost inputs, all of which forced the current financial year into becoming the weakest period in the past nine years. Nevertheless, the domestic market was flooded with new arrivals and discount offers. Though many could not mark it as a year of success, companies like Ford, Hyundai, Honda and Chevrolet managed to hit the jackpot with their new offerings. Vehicles like EcoSport, Amaze, Terrano and Enjoy single-handedly changed the fortune of their makers when they took the market by storm.

Ford EcoSport

In the compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment, Ford's EcoSport was the game-changer. By pricing it low, Ford directly challenged Indian market leaders, Maruti and Hyundai, as well as Nissan's Renault Duster, Mahindra Quanto and Premier Rio. Ford registered more than 30,000 bookings for EcoSport within the first 17 days of its launch in India on 26 June. The rising demand forced the auto maker to stop accepting bookings. Ford, a company which held a small share in the Indian auto market, now enjoys nearly a four percent share. The EcoSport contributes more than 55 percent to Ford's total sales, reported The Economic Times.

Premium luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz is banking on 'the performance streak' to bring about change in the fiercely competitive Indian market with the launch of its exclusive AMG sports car outlets.

AMG, the carmaker's performance booster range that derives technology bits from the famed F1 circuit, is expected to have dedicated high-end stores in major metros by next year. According to people privy to the development, Mercedes Benz is driving its top-end brand to take the lead in the  ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/26925274.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Premium luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz is banking on 'the performance streak' to bring about change in the fiercely competitive Indian market with the launch of its exclusive AMG sports car outlets.

AMG, the carmaker's performance booster range that derives technology bits from the famed F1 circuit, is expected to have dedicated high-end stores in major metros by next year. According to people privy to the development, Mercedes Benz is driving its top-end brand to take the lead in the  ..

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/26925274.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Domestic car sales decline in November

Car makers suffered post-festive season pangs in November with major companies Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra reporting decline in domestic sales.

In an exception to the trend, Honda Cars India and Ford, however, reported increase in sales during the month riding on their successful models Amaze and EcoSport respectively.

Country's largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) posted a decline of 5.9 per cent in its domestic sales to 85,510 units during the month.


Similarly, rival Hyundai Motor India saw its domestic sales down 3.6 per cent at 33,501 units during the month.

Commenting on the sales, HMIL Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Rakesh Srivastava, said: "After the festival season, market has been sluggish due to unfavourable macro-economic factors and low market sentiments resulting lower customer enquiries."

General Motors India also reported 14.14 per cent decline in sales at 6,214 units in November 2013. The company had sold 7,238 units in the same month of 2012.

GM India Vice-President P Balendran said that the market continues to remain sluggish due to unfavorable economic conditions and the company does not expect any improvement in the coming months.

On the other hand, Honda Cars India reported over two-and-half fold increase in its domestic sales in November 2013 at 9,332 units as against 3,711 units in the same month last year.

Ford also said its domestic sales grew by 33 per cent to 7,909 units in last month.

Ford India Executive Director (Marketing, Sales and Service) Vinay Piparsania said: "We are happy that we continue to register steady sales growth despite persistent market challenges as Indian consumers respond enthusiastically to our smart, fuel-efficient and dependable vehicles."

Yesterday, Mahindra & Mahindra's (M&M) reported 22 per cent decline in its domestic sales at 36,261 units.

"Post the festive season month of October, auto industry has turned to further de-growth and continues to remain subdued. Unless some concrete measures are provided for its revival, we do not foresee any immediate turnaround," M&M Chief Executive (Automotive Division) Praveen Shah said.

Tata Motors' domestic sales in November this year also slipped by over 40 per cent to 37,192 units in November, while that of Toyota Kirloskar Motor also dipped slightly to 10,208 units.

Two-wheeler makers, including Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Yamaha, reported sales growth in November. TVS Motors, though reported decline in sales during the month.

Market leader Hero MotoCorp reported 5.61 per cent rise in total sales at 5,30,530 units in November, while Honda Motorcycle & Scooter posted 43 per cent jump in sales at 3,19,080 units

Yamaha's domestic sales also increased by 6.5 per cent at 39,777 units as against 37,344 units in the same month last year.

However, Chennai-based TVS Motor's total sales dipped 9.88 per cent to 1,35,218 units from 1,50,056 units in the same month last year.

Mercedes builds helipad to fly in luxury customers

                                                                   

In perhaps the first of its kind in automotive marketing, Mercedes Benz has built a helipad within its factory premise in Pune to fly in potential customers of its coveted AMG brand to a specially-built arena that would house luxury wheels ranging from the Rs 2.5 crore SLS AMG roadster to other power-packed versions from its extensive range of cars.

The company, which is fighting a stiff battle with compatriot Audi for a leadership in the Indian luxury car space, wants to boost the number of super-luxury cars it sells in India and the latest move is aimed at giving an all-new experience to potential customers, company MD Eberhard Kern told TOI after driving in the SLK55 AMG priced at Rs 1.26 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Mercedes has sold more than 200 AMG cars in India since it introduced the line-up around three years back. "It is a small target group, but growing. We see a rising demand for high performance cars in India," Kern said. Speaking about the construction of a helipad within the facility, he said it has been done to offer a unique experience to potential buyers. "Not only that, we have customers who own helicopters and are keen to fly down to our plant."

The company will initially start the fly-in visits to the factory from Mumbai, and later add other cities. "We had to take special permissions to build the helipad, and this will result in providing a high degree of convenience to our customers.

AMGs deliver enhanced power and driving experience. All AMG engines are hand built, using a "one man, one engine" philosophy at the company's AMG plant in Affalterbach, Germany. Each AMG engine builder stamps the engine they produce with an engraved plaque depicting their signature.

Festival season fails to perk up car sales

                                                                             

Car makers suffered post-festive season pangs in November, with major companies such as Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra reporting a fall in domestic sales.

Honda Cars India and Ford, however, reported an increase in sales during the month, riding on successful models Amaze and EcoSport, respectively. The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India posted a decline of 6 per cent in its domestic sales to 85,510 units during the month. Rival Hyundai Motor India saw domestic sales fall 4 per cent at 33,501 units.

General Motors India also reported a 14.14 per cent year-on-year decline in sales at 6,214 units. Ford said its domestic sales grew 33 per cent to 7,909 units last month.

Tata Motors' domestic car sales in November this year also slipped by over 40 per cent year-on-year to 10,376 units, while Mahindra & Mahindra witnessed a 32 per cent drop.

"Post the festive season, the auto industry has turned to further de-growth and continues to remain subdued," said M&M CEO-automotive Praveen Shah said.

Two-wheeler makers, including Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle and Yamaha, reported sales growth in November. TVS Motors, though reported a decline in sales. Market leader Hero MotoCorp reported a 5.61 per cent year-on-year rise in total sales at 5,30,530 units in November while Honda Motorcycle & Scooter posted a 43 per cent jump in sales at 3,19,080 units. However, TVS Motor's total sales dipped 9.88 per cent to 1,35,218 units.

FMC asks NSEL to reconstitute auction panel with more powers

New Delhi: Commodity markets regulator Forward Markets Commission on Monday asked crisis-hit National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) to reconstitute the committee set up to oversee auction-cum-bidding process and give more powers to the panel to monitor the entire cash flow.

Two months ago, FMC had asked the bourse to set up a committee to oversee auction-cum-bidding process of stocks at warehouses of NSEL, which is engulfed in a payment crisis of Rs 5,600 crore after the exchange was shut following a government order due to violation of some norms.

Big demand for Ford EcoSport, Honda Amaze, Renault Duster: One-car wonder story for MNCs

Occasionally, prospects modify overnight. The item took place in order to Renault recently. Inside Indian since 2005, the The french language automaker we hadn't pretty established Native american highways racing. A vulnerable debut using the Logan car (in some sort of partnership using Mahindra & Mahindra which lasted some years), a off traffic presence using the higherend Fluence and the Koleos sports activities utility car or truck (SUV), Renault has been some sort of fringe gambler intending nowhere fast with Indian. Factors transformed significantly when it introduced the Duster, a entry-level SUV, with September 2012. This sleek and stylish SUV needed this market by simply thunderstorm. For just a firm which seldom marketed 900 items monthly, the Duster introduction created the issue associated with loads. Though the corporation ramped up it is month-to-month income in order to 6, 000-odd items, it now needed to grapple with a waiting time up to few months. "Renault observed some sort of nice location. It is Duster has been some sort of message inventor. This requirement spike should be welcomed in this particular light-weight, inch states Versus Ramakrishnan, handling director, Frost & Sullivan Indian, some sort of consulting organization. Inside 06, almost annually in the future, Duster attained it is match up. A fresh experiencing, Ford's EcoSport, one more entry-level SUV, debuted for the Native american highways. Snazzier, listed in a hostile manner (read a lesser amount than Duster), and loaded with a large quanity associated with functions, EcoSport grew to be the speak in the city. "We acquired envisioned very good volumes. But most of us had been surprised with the pace using that the [booking] purchases came with, inch states Vinay Piparsania, management director (marketing), Frd Generators Indian. Frd acquired 50, 000 reservations inside a report seventeen days to weeks. This sleek and stylish SUV these days looks forward to some sort of waiting time up to seven several weeks. Weighed down, merchants get quit taking reservations, and claim they will application all-around Apr subsequent 12 months. Meantime, the news all-around Duster features ceased a bit. Revenue get since moderated, from the high of 6, 313 items with March 2013 in order to some, 657 by simply October. There's no more time some sort of waiting time and it is readily accessible whatsoever Renault merchants.

A closer look at the fourth generation Honda City

                                                                     

          

The Honda City has for long been one of the most desirable, aspirational and popular cars in the Indian market. Since the first generation launched in 1998, Honda has sold 4.3 lakh units of this model in the country.

Over the years though, it has lost its segment leader status as its monopoly was shaken by the likes of the current generation Hyundai Verna, the Skoda Rapid, and the Volkswagen Vento. So it was high time Honda fired a fresh salvo, especially one which included a diesel variant. (Exclusive pics)

The company chose India for the first time to debut a brand new car, and so the global reveal of the fourth generation Honda City was held in New Delhi - unlike the past where Thailand always got to see cars like the City, Brio, Amaze and Jazz well before us. The reason was simple - Honda is even more focused on India now than before, and it wants to regain lost ground by not only reclaiming the segment top spot, but also establishing the segment benchmark once again.

When it came to petrol compact sedans, there was no better alternative to the City. Sure the Vento and the Rapid are well built, the Fiesta has a dual-clutch auto gearbox option, and the Verna is feature-rich, but the City carries with it a premium tag thanks to the high-end appeal Honda enjoys amongst Indian buyers. The third generation City was hailed as a formidable car when it drove in exactly 5 years ago. It went on to win the NDTV 'Car of the Year' award too within a few months of its launch. But soon the market shifted to diesel and the rest as they say is history.

So let's tell you about the new fourth generation. The car will have both 1.5-litre diesel and petrol options. The diesel engine is the same block as that in the Amaze, but will be tuned for higher power I expect. The first thing I want to clarify - the engine noise does not infiltrate the cabin as much as it does in the Amaze, making this a far quieter ride. But the distinct clatter of the 1.5-litre i-DTEC is audible. I cannot wait to drive the car to really test its performance parameters. That is also true for the updated i-VTEC petrol option too.




There is a sunroof and an all new start-stop button too, and some of these features will likely be restricted to the top variants only. The instrument cluster is also more high-end looking, with blue accents and chrome highlights.

Details on how many variants the car will have and the prices for those variants will only be announced in January, which is when the company will also open bookings. I will get a chance to drive the petrol and diesel cars in a few days, which is when I will be able to provide a more comprehensive verdict on the new City. But the first impression tells me that competition will be heading to their drawing boards soon!

The new City is well proportioned, but will come in for some stick on its looks. The car does seem like a face-lifted version of the third generation, rather than a significant design shift - as past generation changes have displayed. But having said that, in the flesh it appears to be larger than the outgoing model.

Most cost-effective and fuel-efficient cars in India

Indian car market is loaded with models that are affordability and fuel-efficient. All players in the market know the role played by price and mileage in influencing the decision of a car buyer. Taking a closer look, it is logical that hatchbacks are the most affordable and fuel-efficient. However, there are certain models in other segments that can be called both cost-effective and fuel-efficient. Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Honda Amaze and Ford EcoSport are models that are considered by many analysts as the most cost-effective in hatchback, sedan and utility vehicle segments, respectively. Alto 800 is a compact hatchback, Amaze is a sedan while Ford EcoSport falls under compact utility vehicle segment. All these vehicles are among the best-sellers of their respective manufacturers and boast of high sale figures when compared to rivals. Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is a compact car that is highly affordable. In fact, it is one of the most preferred cars for customers with low purchase budgets. This hatchback has a retail price that ranges between Rs. 2.45 lakh and Rs. 3.65 lakh. The price range is just suitable to match with requirements of the common car buyer in India. No wonder this compact hatchback has been able to perform really well in the Indian market and has catered to a large group of customers. Alto 800 is powered by an F8D engine with a displacement of 796 cc. This engine is capable of producing maximum output of 46 bhp at 6000 rpm and peak torque of 69 Nm. Alto 800 is definitely a highly fuel efficient vehicle. The petrol version of this compact passenger car is able to offer a mileage of up to 22.74 kmpl while CNG gives 30.46 km/kg. An impressive mileage coupled with a low market price simply means that customers with low budgets can not overlook Alto 800. Amaze is also one of the best-selling vehicles of Honda Cars India. The price of this vehicle ranges from Rs. 5.15 lakh to Rs. 7.77 lakh. This vehicle is available with two engine options, petrol and diesel. The petrol version is powered by a 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that is able to deliver an output of up to 86 bhp. It offers a mileage of up to 18 kmpl, which is pretty impressive. The diesel version of this vehicle is fitted with a 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine with a power output of up to 98 bhp and mileage of up to 25.8 kmpl, which is best-in-class. Just like Honda Amaze, Ford EcoSport too has proved to be one of the best-selling vehicles for its maker in India. This vehicle is put under compact utility vehicle segment and has seen a tremendous response from customers. It comes with a number of high-end features to attract buyers, is reasonable priced and gives a pretty decent mileage as well. The price of this vehicle falls between Rs. 5.82 lakh and Rs. 9.37 lakh. This vehicle is available in three engine trims namely 1.5-litre TiVCT petrol engine, 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine. The petrol version gives a mileage of up to 16.15 kmpl while diesel variant offer a mileage of up to 22.7 kmpl.

Mexico's booming car industry sells unsafe cars at home, safe ones for export to US, Europe

                                                                               

      

RAMOS ARIZPE, Mexico — In Mexico's booming auto industry, the cars rolling off assembly lines may look identical, but how safe they are depends on where they're headed.
Vehicles destined to stay in Mexico or go south to the rest of Latin America carry a code signifying there's no need for antilock braking systems, electronic stability control, or more than two air bags, if any, in its basic models.
If the cars will be exported to the United States or Europe, however, they must meet stringent safety laws, including as many as six to 10 air bags, and stability controls that compensate for slippery roads and other road dangers, say engineers who have worked in Mexico-based auto factories.
Because the price of the two versions of the cars is about the same, the dual system buttresses the bottom lines of automakers such as General Motors and Nissan. But it's being blamed for a surge in auto-related fatalities in Mexico, where laws require virtually no safety protections.
"We are paying for cars that are far more expensive and far less safe," said Alejandro Furas, technical director for Global New Car Assessment Program, or NCAP, a vehicle crash-test group. "Something is very wrong."
In 2011, nearly 5,000 drivers and passengers in Mexico died in accidents, a 58 percent increase since 2001, according to the latest available data from the country's transportation department. Over the same decade, the U.S. reduced the number of auto-related fatalities by 40 percent. The death rate in Mexico, when comparing fatalities with the size of the car fleet, is more than 3.5 times that of the U.S.
Nevertheless, Mexico hasn't introduced any safety proposals other than general seat belt requirements for its 22-million strong auto fleet. Even then, the laws don't mandate three-point shoulder belts necessary to secure child safety seats.
Brazil and Argentina, on the other hand, have passed laws requiring all vehicles to have dual front air bags and antilock braking systems by next year.
An Associated Press investigation this year found that Brazil's auto plants produce cars aimed at Latin American consumers that lack basic safety features. Like Brazil, Mexico doesn't run its own crash test facility to rank cars' safety before they hit the road.
Dr. Arturo Cervantes Trejo, director of the Mexican Health Ministry's National Accident Prevention Council, said the country has a long way to go to upgrade safety standards, but challenging the nation's $30 billion auto industry could be difficult.
"It's a complicated subject because of the amount of money carmakers bring to this country. The economy protects them," Cervantes told the AP. "But there are plans, there is a strategy. We have a working group with the car industry."
Auto plants cover a swath of central Mexico, cranking out about 3 million cars a year while lifting into the middle class auto hubs in the states of Aguascalientes and Puebla. In a matter of a few years, Mexico has become the world's fourth biggest auto exporter, despite having no homegrown brands, and the country's car fleet doubled between 2001 and 2011, the latest national figures show.
In fact, consumers in "first-world" countries are paying the same or even less for safer cars.
For example, basic versions of Mexico's second most popular car, the Nissan Versa, made in central Aguascalientes, come with two air bags, but without electronic stability control systems, which use sensors to activate brakes when a car loses control.
The sticker price of the newer generation of the sedan comes to $16,000. The U.S. version of the same car has six air bags in the front, on the sides and mounted in the roof, in addition to an electronic stability control system. That sticker price is about $14,000.
Similarly, the basic version of the Chevrolet Aveo, which has been revamped and renamed Sonic, sells for about $14,000 in the U.S. and comes with 10 air bags, antilock brakes and traction control. Its Mexican equivalent, the country's top-selling car, doesn't have any of those protections and costs only $400 less.
Nissan Mexicana spokesman Herman Morfin said in a statement it is "common practice" to add different features, depending on the intended market.
"Because there are many choices of specifications and equipment, specific marketing strategies by country, in addition to the tax difference among countries, states and cities, also including transportation and delivery costs, it's not possible to make a direct comparison among vehicles sold in each market, based on the list price published on the Web," Morfin said.

Maruti to recall 1500 cars

                                                                                

New Delhi, Nov. 27: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd will recall around 1,500 units of its popular hatchback Swift, sedan Dzire, utility vehicle Ertiga and the A-Star manufactured in October to rectify a possible problem with the steering column.

India’s No. 1 car maker said it “will inspect the steering column of 1,492 vehicles (which includes 306 Ertigas, 592 Swifts, 581 Dzires and 13 A-Stars), manufactured between October 19 and 26, 2013”.

“If the steering column is found defective, the company will replace the steering column free of cost,” Maruti added.

The company clarified that the inspection was limited to this particular period and to cars sold in India and “does not pertain to any other vehicle of the company or any of its exports”.

Maruti Suzuki dealers will contact car owners, the company said, adding that the new steering column has been despatched to dealer workshops.

“Recalls do not necessarily mean major defects. It is a healthy sign that the auto industry is proactive in addressing potential problems,” market analyst Sudeep Sengupta said.

Maruti manufactured about 6.5 lakh cars between April and October, the most being the Swift and Dzire. It produced nearly a lakh Dzires and about 1.38 lakh Swift, Ritz and Estilos.

Car companies have recently been proactive in recalling vehicles to address safety issues since the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers introduced a voluntary recall policy. Analysts estimate the number of recalls at over 3 lakh cars.

Recently, General Motors India has recalled 1.14 lakh units of its multi-purpose vehicle Chevrolet Tavera, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, to address emission issues. GM has also recalled 4,000 diesel Sails to fix an engine problem.

Earlier in July, Ford India had recalled 1,000 units of the diesel variant of the EcoSport within a fortnight of its launch to rectify defects in the instrument used to start the engine.

In February 2010, Maruti had recalled about one lakh units of the A-Star to replace a faulty fuel pump part. It was the company’s last big recall.

In 2011, too, the company had ordered an inspection of around 13,157 units of the Swift, Dzire and Ritz for possible problems with the connecting rod bolts.

Top cars from the 2013 LA Auto Show

Many observers would agree that the 2013 LA Auto Show was something of a damp squib, a feast of functionality epitomised by identikit modern muscle cars, drab saloons, dull SUVs and ever more boring trucks. The landscape of the bulk of the American auto market is relentlessly uniform, with the only glimmers of interest coming from the big car buying communities on each coast. It's here you'll find streets strewn with sports cars, advanced hybrids, the latest electric cars and hyper-luxury imports. California is also the place that the show's star, Jaguar, hopes to sell most of its latest car, the F-Type Coupé. It's also a perfect environment for sibling Land-Rover's newest model, the vast Range Rover LWB. The two British stars aside, there were other gems on offer, including a return outing for the concept version of Jaguar's new SUV, the C-X17, as well as notable offerings from Porsche and Mini.

As for the rest, there wasn't all that much to see. Most car designers spent the show cloistered within interview suites giving endless answers to familiar questions, courtesy of the world's media. If any of them managed to venture down to the show's basement displays, they would probably have been pitched into a profound depression, such was the prevalence of hideously modified cars in LA's notorious 'aftermarket' section. Here lurked the people who pimp rides, throwing out carefully crafted forms in favour of big rims, faux carbon trim and lashings of dubious taste. The lacklustre showing might also be down to the absence of innovative Euro brands like Citroen, Alfa Romeo and Renault, none of whom have any presence in the US market. Perhaps it's the ongoing dominance of SUVs and trucks in the American market. But whatever the reason for the show's faintly lacklustre feeling, there were a few things that stood out from the crowd. View the image gallery above for our guide to the LA Auto Show 2013

Nissan to sell Datsun cars on its own in India

Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co will sell its upcoming small car Datsun Go and other models from the Datsun range on its own in India and not through its country sales and service partner Hover Automotive. "Selling the Datsun Go and future Datsun models through Nissan Motor represents a natural evolution of the company's operations in India, which are well recognised in the market," Datsun Global Head Vincent Cobee said in a statement. Cobee said an expanded model range will follow the introduction of the Datsun Go, the hatchback that was unveiled in July. Nissan cars are currently sold in India through dealers appointed by Hover Automotive India Pvt Ltd. Datsun will work primarily with existing Nissan dealers, the company said, adding, "This arrangement will in particular allow Datsun to rapidly establish a top quality, expansive retail network and open the brand to a large segment of the potential market straight from the initial launch." In July, Nissan announced the global relaunch of the Datsun brand with the unveiling of Datsun Go, which will be priced at less than Rs 4 lakh. The company is reviving the brand after almost three decades and the car will be available in the Indian market from early next year. Datsun is one of three brands in the Nissan Motor portfolio, joining Nissan and Infiniti. After its introduction in India, Datsun will be launched in Indonesia, Russia and South Africa.

Old cars vanished due to neglect

                                                                                     

TRICHY: According to historian, Kudaivayil Balasubramanian a car festival was held at the Big Temple during the time of Thanjavur Nayaks. The existence of a temple car here is confirmed by a document found in the Saraswathi Mahal manuscript library at Thanjavur.

A manuscript of 1776 reads that the car at the Brihadeeswara temple, temple was pulled by at least 20,200 people, revealed Balasubramanian.

Another document that mentions about developments between 1801-1811 stated 30,850 gold coins were used exclusively for managing temple cars. Documents also point to two occasions during the rule of Sarabhoji II when at least 500 gold coins were exchanged for maintaining the cars.

Balasubramanian noted that the Thirutherettru Mandapam at the intersection of the west main street and South main street used to house two cars -- a big one for Peruvudayar (Shiva) and another one for Periyanayaki (Parvathi). There were at least five cars in use at the temple. The cars would have ruined without leaving any trace due to neglect by kings. Also, invasions by rival armies over the years could have contributed to their damage, said Balasubramanian.

As per Vasthu regulations, the car should be parked at the place meant for it. HRCE officials should take immediate steps to renovate the mandapam to park the car, explained Kudaivayil Balasubramanian.

Bhutan’s taxis, govt cars set to make way for electric vehicles

                                                                         


THIMPHU: Bhutan has drawn up ambitious plans to replace its taxis and government vehicles with electric cars in a bid to make the national capital Thimpu an electric vehicles hotspot and emerge as a global centre for development of green technology.

It will replace the 2,500 taxis in Thimphu with electric cars and also phase out fuel-powered government vehicles used by senior cabinet ministers and officials.

The government has held talks with Japanese car maker Nissan and leading United States electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.

"Everywhere in the world it has been difficult because distances are longer and price of electricity is not cheap and there is lack of political will. Here in thimpu distances are very short, price of electricity is the cheapest in the world and political will is unto us. So we are confident that electric vehicles can take off here," Tshering Tobggay, PM told a group of visiting journalists.

"We want all government vehicles to become electric. We want the cabinet to start driving electric vehicles. We want tourists to start using electric vehicles whether they are cars or they are buses. And then if it works here we want to become a hotspot for electric vehicles so that we attract R&D here for cars, batteries, motors and the also for transforming transport cargo trucks into electric vehicles. A whole industry opens up. A whole spectrum of possibilities open and it begins with being environmentallyeets conscious and accepting that electric vehicles are good not just as and alternative but as a preferred choice," Tobgay said detailing the roadmap for the plan.

The aim is to kick off the programme by replacing 100 taxis and some government vehicles by February 21.

Tobgay has met Nissan CEO Carlos Gohn and a top executive from Tesla. The PM also extended an invitation to Mahindra & Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra to partner and help Bhutan in it's ambitious bid.

"Mahindra does good business here. In India there isn't the incentive (for electric vehicles) in Bhutan there is. So, Mahindra is welcome. Tell him he has an open red carpet invitation," Tobgay said. Officials said that talks are on with Nissan for replacing some government vehicles in the first phase.

The bold experiment by the new government in Bhutan which took office in July is an attempt to reduce its costly fuel import bill and generate surplus funds to take care of it's desperate development needs.

A taxi on an average uses 800 ngultrum (800) worth of fuel but on electric vehicle the cost will come down to 7 to 10 ngultrum.

Japan to Phase Out Automobile Tax

TOKYO--Japan's industry minister said Friday that the car purchase tax will be scrapped in two phases by the time of a planned rise in the country's sales tax rate to 10%. "Taking into account the issue of double taxation, it has been decided to lower it (the car tax rate) in two phases and to abolish it eventually," Toshimitsu Motegi, minister of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday. Japan's leading automobile lobbying group is urging the government to lower the auto tax by 3 percentage points, first when the sales tax rises to 8% next year, and then to scrap it when the 10% consumption tax rate is scheduled to take effect in October 2015. The current rate is 5% for standard-size vehicles. While Japan's auto industry -- one of the country's mainstay industries -- is worried about a possible plunge in auto demand when the sales tax rate is raised in April 2014, some lawmakers are concerned about how to make up for the reduced tax income that would be caused by phasing out the car tax. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association estimates that the consumption tax's rise to 8% will cut annual auto sales by 580,000 vehicles to 4.03 million units compared with levels at the current 5%. The resulting loss of production would cut as much as 0.8% off gross domestic product and prompt the loss of 170,000 jobs. Once the tax rate hits 10%, JAMA predicts sales would fall by 930,000 vehicles, in comparison to the current rate, slicing 1.3% off GDP and resulting in 270,000 lost jobs.

Europe’s automobile sector drops

                                                             

     

Europe’s automobile market shrank by 3 percent in the first ten months year-on-year, Turkey’s Automotive Distributors’ Association (ODD) announced yesterday.

The automobile sector in the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) fell to approximately 10.4 million between January and October of 2013 with a 3.1 percent decrease from the same period a year earlier.

Holland showed the most dramatic fall with 25.4 percent, followed by Romania with 16.5 percent and Slovakia with 8.5 percent. However, Estonia became the country that raised its automobile sale most in this period with 14.7 percent, followed by the United Kingdom with 10.2 percent and Portugal with 8.1 percent.

Also, the automobile sector in the EU and the EFTA showed a 4.6 rise in October from the same month a year earlier, totaling approximately 1 million.

Ford to inspect 386,000 cars for steering trouble

                                                             

DETROIT: Ford Motor Co. will inspect 386,000 large sedans in the US to make sure they don't have a steering problem that caused a recall in August.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says Ford will check 2005 through 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car vehicles that weren't included in the August recall.

Dealers will check and repair steering shafts if needed. The August recall included more than 419,000 of the same cars in 22 cold-weather states and Washington, DC.

Ford determined that the steering shafts could rust and come apart in areas where salt is used to clear snow, causing a loss of steering.

The company later found that steering shafts can separate on cars outside the recall area, if they were involved in front-end collisions.

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association and Gregory Hyundai Team Up to Support The Keystone Foundation

CHICAGO (November 7, 2013) – The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) and Gregory Hyundai presented a check to The Keystone Foundation for $1,500 as part of the CATA’s Chicagoland Dealers Care program.


The Chicagoland Dealers Care program helps to deliver additional financial support and advocacy to local charitable organizations already put forth by Chicagoland new-car dealers. Gregory Hyundai has been a longtime financial supporter of The Keystone Foundation, the fundraising arm that supports Glenkirk and Search, two agencies with 100 years combined service that help people with developmental disabilities.

“The support from Gregory Hyundai and the Chicagoland Dealers Care program is critical in helping fund our programs that empower hundreds of people with developmental disabilities, and their families, every day,” said Rachel Langtry, director of development for The Keystone Foundation.

While charities and civic organizations know that their local automotive dealer is an integral part of the community and deeply involved in its organization, the dealers often don't receive the recognition they deserve.

“The Chicagoland Dealers Care program began in 2008 as an effort to deliver year-round support to local charities and amplify the efforts already put forth by Chicagoland new-car dealers,” said John Webb, chairman of the CATA.

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association has been a longtime supporter of local non-profit 
organizations. Since 1992, the association has raised more than $36 million dollars for significant Chicago charities during the annual First Look for Charity black-tie event, held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public.

For more information on the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, please visit www.ChicagolandDealersCare.com. For more details on The Keystone Foundation, visit www.TheKeystoneFoundation.org.

About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is the nation’s oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. It is comprised of about 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group’s dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit CATA.info.

Car sales skid in October

                                                                             

 The festive season failed to provide the respite the passenger car makers were hoping for. After two months of positive growth, passenger vehicle sales hit negative growth lane in October, while the utility vehicle (UV) segment reported positive growth after recording a drop in volumes for three months. Two-wheelers continued their positive momentum, while all other segments were in the negative growth curve.

Car sales were down 3.88 per cent at 163,199 units in October when compared with 169,788 units in October 2012. However, sales, highest monthly number so far in the current fiscal, were higher when compared with September 2013 volumes of 156,018 units, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (SIAM).

Driven by new models, UV sales saw a rise of 7 per cent at 57,020 units in October against 53,285 units in the same month last year.

The good momentum started in August for two-wheelers continued in October too as overall sales were up 18 per cent at 15,16,291 units against 12,85,015 in the same month of the previous year.

However, economic slowdown and slump in industrial activity continue to haunt the commercial vehicle industry as sales declined by 20 per cent to 53,533 units from 66,722 units. During the first seven months ended October 30, 2013, sales of passenger vehicles (PV) fell by 5 per cent to 14,40,405 units over the same period last year. Cars and utility vehicles sales fell by 4.5 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively, while vans saw a 10 per cent drop in sales when compared with the year-ago period.

Total commercial vehicle sales dropped by 16 per cent.

Two-wheeler sales saw a rise of 6 per cent at 85,33,262 units during the seven month period.

Three-wheeler sales declined by 5 per cent in April-October when compared with the year ago period. Passenger and goods segments registered a fall of 6 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. 

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/domestic-car-sales-slump-in-october/article5343146.ece

 

The Best-Selling Cars Of 2013 Aren't Really Cars At All

                                                                       

The auto industry is on track to have its best year since 2006, with car sales of about 16 million units this year, up from 14.5 million in 2012. While fuel-efficient small cars were all the rage a few years ago, now it is once again pickup trucks and utility vehicles behind the boom.

ales of full-size pickups, buoyed by a steady housing market, the Midwest energy boom, and lower gasoline prices, are up about 20 percent this year, with all three U.S. automakers racing to keep up with demand. The trend has been especially good for Chrysler Group, where sales of its redesigned Ram pickup, up 22.5 percent, have outpaced growth in the segment. Ram sales through October totaled 292,633 and its share of the full-size pickup truck market has grown from 14.5 percent in 2010 to 16.3 percent year to date.

ales of full-size pickups, buoyed by a steady housing market, the Midwest energy boom, and lower gasoline prices, are up about 20 percent this year, with all three U.S. automakers racing to keep up with demand. The trend has been especially good for Chrysler Group, where sales of its redesigned Ram pickup, up 22.5 percent, have outpaced growth in the segment. Ram sales through October totaled 292,633 and its share of the full-size pickup truck market has grown from 14.5 percent in 2010 to 16.3 percent year to date.

China's automobile market steps on the gas

                                                                         

China's economic growth might be under the microscope but no such worry for automobile sales as the world's largest auto market revved into high gear in October, consumers driving sales 20.3% higher than in September.

Number of auto units sold was 1.93 million units, up slightly from a growth of 19.7% gain in September.  Passenger vehicle sales were the main driver.

The sales and production of passenger cars in October rose 23.6 percent and 24.3 percent.

In the first 10 months, auto sales in China rose 13.5% to 17.8 million units.

Production of automobiles rose 20.7% in October to 1.92 million units, faster than 16% seen in September.

Interestingly, sales of Chinese brands stood at 5.8 million units in the first ten months, representing 40% of the total passenger car sales.

China is the world's largest auto market and producer, with sales and production at 19.31 million and 19.27 million units, respectively in 2012.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/50080/chinas-automobile-market-steps-on-the-gas-50080.html