Suzuki Motors Sales Figures See 5.3% Rise Despite Indian Strike!!

Japanese Suzuki Motor giant has reported a 5.26% hike in their net income for the six-month period ended September 30, despite the persisting operational strike in India during the same period. This makes it one of the other success story of the year.

During the period of April-September, the company's net income has reported an increase to 32.01 billion yen (about Rs 2,010 crore) from 30.41 billion yen (about Rs 1,910 crore) in the same period last year, Suzuki Motor said in a statement.

The net sales during the period, however, declined by 6.82% to 1.23 trillion yen (about Rs 76,907 crore) from 1.32 trillion yen (about Rs 82,715 crore), it added.

"The domestic economy is somewhat recovering from the stagnation following the Great East Japan Earthquake, but it is exposed to a downward pressure from various factors including the flood in Thailand and a further appreciation of the yen," the company said. It also said the decreased sales in India had an impact on its net sales. "...sales amount (in Asia) decreased by 36.1 billion yen to 427.6 billion yen year-on-year due to decreased sales of Maruti Suzuki India and the exchange rate factor following the Yen appreciation," it added.

Whilst it is interesting to note that the Maruti Suzuki India had posted 59.81% fall in its net profit at Rs 240.44 crore for the quarter ended September 30, in the global spectrum Suzuki still manages to be a leading brand.

Hyundai Launches Eon Hatchback, Its Cheapest Vehicle Yet!!

The Hyundai Motor Company has now began selling the new Eon hatchback. This new version of Eon is priced even lower than the Santro, company’s cheapest vehicle to date, selling for around a mere Rs. 280,897. This is sure to give Maruti a run for their money as it has previously held the record for India’s best-selling car, with Alto, which sells from Rs. 235,413. 
Eon hatchback is sure to cause some major issues for the Maruti Suzuki clan, especially since it is still trying to resolve the labor issues at its production plant. Hyundai is expected to reveal the new vehicle for the first time this week at a press conference which is by invitation only. 

Maruti Suzuki had around 43 percent of all the sales of passenger vehicles for the past six months, while Hyundai has only around 20 percent. The head of sales for Maruti Suzuki refused to comment on the new Eon hatchback until he has had a chance to see it. He commented that everyone has always known that India is a good market for small vehicles, and now everybody ts to be a part of it. 

The deliveries of vehicles are expected to grow slowly due to the fact that the India Reserve Bank has recently raised its interest rates 12 different times, since last year in March. This was done in an attempt to slow down the inflation, and it hugely brought down the demand for vehicles because in India around 80 percent of all vehicles purchased are funded by loans. 

Chevrolet Celebrating It's 100 Years Of Excellence...

Chevrolet celebrates it's 100 years this week. So,m as a tribute to Louise Chevrolet, the great man who started it all we'll take you down the memory lane to show you where & how it all started...Check out this video to embark on the Chevrolet journey...

Since it's advent 100 years ago, Chevy has come a long way ahead. Wherein as a brand Chevy has made a mark globally as a result of the strong emphasis it places on fuel efficiency and fuel alternatives. The new Chevy models for 2012 include the much awaited 2012 Cruze Eco and the 2012 Chevy Sonic.

As for what can we expect from Chevy in the next 100 years? Only time will tell if there will ever be an actual transforming Bumblebee Camaro on the market one day.

Lamborghini Launches Aventador LP 700-4; Priced At Rs 3.69 cr

To lure the growing billionaire club of Asia's second-fastest growing economy, Italian luxury sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini SpA has rolled out the envious and rather dominating Aventador LP 700-4 model for the Indian roads which is priced at Rs 3.69 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi) on Thursday.

Aventador was first saw the day of light at the Geneva Motor show earlier in March this year and since then had more than 20 Indian customers demanding it. The company claims to have received over 1,500 bookings globally.


This beast is powered by a 12-cylinder and 6.5-litre engine making it one of the fastest street-legal cars in the world as it has the ability to touch a top speed of up to 350 km per hour. Crafted from composite carbon materials that are used in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Lamborghini the Scissors Doors, Aventador accelerates to 0-100 km/hour in just 2.9 seconds.

Don't believe us? Check out this video:

Lamborghini is reported to open its second facility in Mumbai by next year. "India is one of the fastest emerging markets for sports car for us. Aventador is a consistent continuation of Lamborghini's brand values something that now has a huge potential after the success of the recent Formula 1 race. Taking the brand further, we plan to extend our reach in the Indian market by starting the next showroom in Mumbai in early 2012," said James Page, Marketing Manager for SE Asia and Pacific, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

SKODA Rapid's 'Worldwide First Drive'...

Skoda has announced the launch of it’s new sedan called Skoda Rapid 2011 in India this year in India. It is based on Vento’s platform and has already created a lot of buzz since it was debuted earlier last month.

Rapid features a new front profile that is emphasized by a wider front grill and the complimented bold lines. The sedan is powered by a 1.6 litre petrol engine which is estimated to deliver a decent 105 bhp. Skoda Rapid is placed underneath Vento in the hierarchy and is designed to compete directly with Maruti SX4.

Rapid is Skoda's 6th attempt at wooing the Indian drivers. It is all set to hit the Indian roads soon. So we decided to give you a taste of what it would look like if you were to drive it. 

Check out this latest video from Skoda...

Let us know what you think about the car? Comment below....

FYI: October Auto Sales Figures

Volkswagen has reported a souring 67.30% increase in its India sales to 7,266 units in October as opposed to the 4,343 units in the corresponding period last year according to a statement given by Volkswagen. Compact car Polo and sedan Vento continue to be the flag bearers for the brand, with a total of 6,814 units sold in October, 2011, the company said. "Our action model strategy has once again proved to be very successful, with the Polo and the Vento Breeze being a huge attraction for customers during the festive season," Volkswagen Group Sales India Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Neeraj Garg said.

Toyota Kirloskar sales have also seen a whooping jump of 63% in October. Despite the Tsunami effect and the resulting delays in the delivery the company's sales stats makes Toyota one of the major players in the industry.

Also, according to the latest figures, Honda Siel Cars sales jump 5% in October as a result of selling 1,220 units of its new compact car Brio, 463 units of hatchback Jazz, 3,376 units of its flagship sedan City, 281 units of premium sedan Civic, 172 units of luxury sedan Accord and 14 units of its sports utility vehicle CR-V.

Other figures reveal:

• Hyundai Motor India sales down 7%
• GM India Oct sales rise marginally
• Tata Motors sales rise 5% in October

Research Reveals Top Wheels For India...

One of the most common question posed to the Mr.Car team is which is the best car according to you? One of the reason's why it puts us in a fix is because there is no one definitive answer to it as there are numerous factors involved; best car as per budget, car types etc. And so we decided to carry out an extensive research and below is our list of the best cars in the country across various segments.

• India's Top Premium Hatchback
  Ford Figo: Fords sensational entry into the most competitive segment in India. All thanks to the smart repackaging of the last-gen international Fiesta platform the American carmaker has been able to position the Figo at a phenomenal price point.

• India's Top Compact Hatchback
  Maruti Suzuki WagonR: Maruti's tall boy's success story continues and it is definitely in its best avatar yet.

• India's Top Entry Level Compact Sedan
  Maruti Suzuki D'zire: The Swift D'zire came as a replacement for the popular Esteem, and has proved to be even more popular than its predecessor.

• India's Top Entry Level MPV
  Maruti Suzuki Eeco: Introduced to replace its long time predecessor the Maruti Omni, this MPV segement new comer speaks of great volumes, thus making it an ideal long distance carrier vehicle.

• India's Top Premium Luxury Sedan
  Mercedes-Benz E-Class: The E-Class sedan is one of the best examples of the new age sedan equipped with great performance and just the right amount of styling.

• India's Top Prestige Sedan
  BMW 7 Series: This chauffeur driven beauty has its backbenchers sinking into the comfort of its plush interiors, while enjoying a comfortable smooth ride.