Mitsubishi may launch Thai eco-car in India

Mitsubishi Motors, Japan’s fourth largest carmaker, is looking to grab a slice of the 1.2 million per year Indian small car market and is mulling the launch of a compact family hatchback over the next three to four years.

Although the company has been in India for more than a decade, the absence of a compact car has affected its market share. Mitsubishi is present only in the premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) and upper mid-size sedan segment.

According to sources, the company is planning to bring in the new compact car it is developing for the Thai market under the eco car project banner floated by the government there, aimed at attracting investments into the Southeast Asian country.

The Japanese company, which has a technical tie-up with the C K Birla Group-promoted Hindustan Motors, aims to launch the small car in Thailand in the first half of 2012. This car is built on a entirely new platform and sports a 1.3-litre petrol engine.

The company may have to retune this engine and decrease its capacity in India, to take advantage of the excise duty norms laid out by the government. In India, cars lesser than four metres in length and with engine capacity of not more than 1.2 litres in petrol and 1.5 litres in diesel fall under the lowest tax bracket for passenger vehicles.

When asked, company officials declined to comment.

The small car project was indefinitely put on the back burner by the company last year, as scarcity of funds following the economic meltdown forced it to freeze earlier plans, which included the launch of the compact car in 2011-12 in India.

The plans also included infusion of fresh capital to increase the capacity of the Chennai vehicle plant multi-fold to 1,00,000 units from about 12,000 units annually.

It actively pursued plans of having a ‘world car’ from India for which it was looking at many of its existing small car models. Mitsubishi presently sells the Pajero, Outlander, Montero, Lancer and Cedia in the Rs 7.75 lakh to Rs 38 lakh range.

The development of the eco-car is funded by the Board of Investment of Thailand. A total outlay of Baht 8 billion (Rs 1,100 crore) is earmarked for the project. The project also complies with the condition earlier set by the board, which requires a minimum production capacity of 1,00,000 units per annum.

Nissan Motor Company, Japan’s third largest car producer, was the first company to have developed the eco car when it successfully launched the ‘March’ compact car last month. The same car is slated to hit Indian roads in June but will be renamed Micra.

The eco-car project offers car manufacturers significant corporate tax exemptions for at least five years, provided production reaches 1,00,000 units per year within the five years. Besides, car manufacturers are supposed to meet the Euro-IV norms.

Cars Launches in India in 2010

The auto market in India is getting more competitive by the day and auto enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath for the release of upcoming cars in 2010. There are a slew of launches slated for this year and among the list of upcoming cars in 2010, are cars from various categories having innovative features, in tune with the current user needs. The assorted list comprises family cars, sports utility vehicles and the highly resourceful multi-utility automobiles. The article explores few of the much awaited upcoming cars in 2010.

Hyundai Avante:

Hyundai Avante will be the refurbished version of the Elantra. The innovative details and contemporary looks have added to the appeal of Hyundai Avante. Hyundai Avante will have a roomy cabin, advanced instruments and soothing blue backlighting. Twin front airbags, digital climate control and refined machine make up the other features. The car looks best from the rear with the corolla type tail lamps and chunky bumper. Hyundai Avante would have 2 litre DOHC petrol engine and a 1.6 liter CRDi diesel engine. It would be priced between Rs. 9-11 lakh.

Nissan March:

Nissan March marks Nissan's entry into the automatic passenger car market and it will be launched in the A segment and will have 80% of localization. Nissan March is one of the nine cars the company plans to launch in the Indian auto market.

Skoda Fabia Combi:

Skoda is set to launch Fabia Combi at a price less than Rs 10 lakh with main focus on comfort, mileage and performance. Although Ford Fusion might pose a challenge, Fabia Combi will create its own place in the heart of Indian car lovers. Fabia Combi will compete with Tata Indigo Marina and Chevrolet Optra SRV. Fabia Combi is 7 mm longer and 46 mm higher and has headlamps that carry a distinct look and traditional front grille. The vertical bars and Skoda logo complete the look of the car. Additionally there will be some radical changes in the interiors of the Fabia Combi.

Audi A5:

Audi A5 is a delight for Audi lovers. Audi A5 is a coupe that changes the concept of car design and it is in sync with the modern designs. Audi A5 has a vintage appeal which is accentuated with the uber chic charm and flat roof enhanced by a sweeping touch of the roofline. Audi A5 has grace and charisma and the broad bumpers and striking spoiler lip augment the look. Audi A5 also commands attention by its sheer presence. Long wheelbase, broad wheel track, 360 degree safety concept, two-stage full-size air-bag for the driver's seat are the other features included.

Maruti Kizashi:

Maruti is contemplating a D segment entry with the all new Maruti Kizashi. Maruti Kizashi is slated to be launched in early 2010 and it is likely to compete with Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Skoda Octavia and the upcoming Volkswagen Jetta. Maruti Kizashi will have a list of innovative features like six speed transmission, 21 inch alloys, and six-speed transmission. Maruti Kizashi will be produced at the company's Manesar facility in Haryana.

Volvo XC60:

Volvo XC60 is a slick and stylish concept car by Volvo with great exteriors bearing resemblance to the Ford Iosis concepts. Volvo XC60 is based on the Land Rover LR2 platform and is available in gasoline - and diesel-burning engines but is region specific. Volvo XC60 employs the modified version of Volvo P24- platform.

Volkswagen Up:

Volkswagen Up is the small car from Volkswagen and the cheapest car from the Volkswagen stables. Volkswagen Up debuted at the2007 Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany and the cars name is synonymous with departure, activity, dynamics and the future. Volkswagen Up has unique central displays, two monitors; one 8 inch monitor which displays the vehicle speed, fuel level and range, as well as the CO2 emissions. The 7 inch monitor controls climate control, radio volume, music selection, telephone, navigation, photos and movies.

Volkswagen Polo:

Volkswagen Polo is developed from the principles of the new Volkswagen "Design DNA". The Volkswagen Polo is a purposeful and impressive car, which measures 3,970 millimeters in length and is 1,682 millimeters wide. It offers space for up to five people and a lot of luggage with its 280 to 952 liters capacity. Volkswagen Polo has a more dynamic stance and purposeful appearance with sharp designs, precise lines sans the stylistic gimmicks. Volkswagen Polo has two different headlights and integrated in the headlights are the turn signal lights. Volkswagen Polo has external and internal design features of the headlights with different lighting elements that combine with the lines of the radiator grille to form one unit.

Toyota Prius:

The 2010 Toyota Prius is a hybrid model with a powerful 98-horsepower and 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle engine. Toyota Prius is combined with electric motor hybrid system, 134 horsepower and improved fuel economy to an EPA estimated 51/48 city/hwy mpg and a combined 50 mpg. Toyota Prius has new Hybrid Synergy Drive system, new inverter, 20 percent weight reduction and new electronically-controlled regenerative braking system. Toyota Prius has three driving modes like EV Mode on battery power at low speed, Power Mode with increased throttle response and Eco Mode for best fuel efficiency.

Skoda Yeti:

Skoda Yeti is the much awaited SUV from Skoda. Skoda Yeti is the cheaper alternative to Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva, Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Mitsubishi Outlander. Skoda Yeti will reflect the beauty and power of both Fabia and Octavia and will be placed in between these two cars. It will be predominantly built with a front wheel drive configuration. Skoda Yeti is 4.2 meter long, has five-door and impressive front end with a ribbed grille and stylish headlamps. Skoda Yeti has innovative seating options like three bucket seats in the last row. Skoda Yeti will be priced around Rs 10 lakhs.

Tata Indicruz:

Tata Indicruz MPV is a much awaited vehicle from the Tata stables. Tata Indicruz will compete with Honda CR-V and Volvo XC90. Tata Indicruz will have airbags, ABS, automatic climate control and cruise control. The current version of the Tata Indicruz seems much like the more rounded, Innova look alike. The car would be priced at just 20 per cent above that of the recently launched Tata Sumo Grande Mark II.

Hyundai i30:

After the success of i10 and i20 cars in India, i30 is going to be the next big launch for the company. Hyundai i30 will be available in both petrol and diesel versions. Offering a class leading combination of comfort and refinement, interior space, economy and exceptional levels of standard equipment, the car is a complete all-round package. The launch of i30 is likely to be successful in the country, more so, considering Hyundai's strong network of dealers as well as its past successful stint.

Tata Aria:

Tata Aria is slated to be launched in the second half of 2010 and was unveiled at the Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010. Tata Aria is a crossover between a sports utility vehicle and a multi utility vehicle. Tata Aria will offer robust performance with comfort, owing to its unique design. The interiors of Tata Aria will offer three rows of theatre style seating, 3D surround sound, dimming roof lamps, built in GPS and a state-of-the-art infotainment system. Tata Aria is equipped with multi functional steering wheel, air conditioning with automatic climate control and cruise control. The high end version of Tata Aria comes with 6 airbags.

Maruti Cervo:

Leading family car manufacturer Maruti is planning to launch Maruti Cervo by the end of this year. Maruti Cervo will be equipped with 54bhp 660cc engine. It will bear resemblance to Honda Fit and the interiors will resemble Swift or SX4. K6A DOHC engine with VVT, 4-speed auto gearbox and bluetooth capabilities are the other features included. Maruti Cervo will be priced between Rs 2 Lakh to Rs 3 Lakh.

The wide range of cars that are geared up to hit the Indian roads in 2010, are awaited with much fervor by auto enthusiasts.

Nissan New Small Car Project on Track

The Japanese car maker Nissan stated that its project to launch small car in India is on track and it will be ready to bring its new car in India by early 2010. Nissan Motor India’s Managing Director and CEO Kiminobu Tokuyama said: “There is no delay, our plans are on track and Nissan India will come out with its next-generation A-segment car- Micra, on schedule before summer 2010.”

Both the companies intend to make India as their next favorite car manufacturing destination and also intend to increase their market presence in this region. The company is currently working with the French car maker Renault and has a manufacturing unit in Chennai. The plant is being set up to manufacture four lakh cars annually but Nissan said that it shall initially manufacture only 200,000 units annually. Nissan is ready to bring the new small car model – Nissan Micra or Nissan March. The Micra hatchback car is named March in Japan and the Indian version would be christened either Micra or March, said Tokuyama. Nissan also intends to add nearly 4 to 5 models in its product portfolio in India in next 5 years.

Nissan to launch supermini March in India by 2010

Thanks to the Singur imbroglio and the shifting of the plant site to Sanand in Gujarat, by the time the Nano hits the road in India, its competitors will be much closer to launcing on their versions of small cars.

One such rival is Japanese automobile company Nissan Motor, which plans to launch a supermini, March, in India. According to Nissan the March will hit Indian roads by March 2010 or just 12 months after the Nano's launch.

Speaking to the press Nissan Motor India managing director Shouhei Kimura, ''The small, next-generation car 'March' will be launched in India by 2010 in the 'A' segment category. The car would be manufactured at the company's plant situated at Oragadam in Tamil Nadu, though initially the car would be rolled out from the company's Thailand facility followed by India.

He said the development of an 'A' platform is one of various initiatives taken as part of Nissan's new five year business plan the GT 2012.

Kimura said, ''We would have a total of nine Nissan models by the year 2012 in the Indian market and this car would be one of the new models."

The compny says the March would have a local content of 80 per cent. Kimura said India is one of the five leading competitive countries for manufacturing and exporting the car from Nissan's global manufacturing network.

Last week the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ennore Port in Tamil Nadu from where the company would export cars. (See: Nissan to be first automaker to export from Ennore Port)

Kimura said that by 2011 Nissan would be exporting around 110,000 units, which would include this new model. Primarily the exports would cater to European markets from the second half of 2010.

Nissan also proposes to widen its dealership network in order to sell higher numbers in the country. ''We would increase our dealership network from the present 5 to 55 by 2012," Kimura said.

Kimura declined to comment on the timing of rolling out of the car from the other three countries. He also did not announce the number of cars to be rolled out saying it is too early to say.




The Nissan 'March'

The Nissan March supermini is being produced by Nissan since 1982. Since 1992 the car has also been made in Europe, the US and the UK. Outside Asia mainly in Europe and US it is known as the Nissan Micra. The last time the company gave the March a facelift was in late 2007. The next model is expected to be launched worldwide in 2009.

Starting with the K10 model in 1982 successive March models have been code named K11, K12 and so on.

The March / Micra K10 first went on sale the UK in 1983, and met with instant success. In 1990 the March was the eleventh most popular new car in the UK with having sold 50,000 units. It was a popular choice due to its ease of driving, solid build and durable mechanical components.

The second incarnation of the March / Micra was launched in 1992, production baing in Britain and at its Washington plant rather than in Japan. Like its predecessor, it remained a very popular car thanks to its fuel economy. However, it was available with a limited range of engines: 1.0 and 1.3 petrol units.

The car received a facelift in 2000 which saw the 1.3l engine being replaced with a 1.4 unit. This upgrade, after a previous makeover in 1998, enhanced the car's appeal and it was still fairly popular on the launch of its successor in December 2002.



The third generation model of the March / Micra was made at the Sunderland in the UK. It had a wider range of engines, including Renault-sourced 1.2 petrol and 1.5 direct-injection diesel powerplants, and offered an improved driving experience. This stylish, all-new Micra helped Nissan bolster its market share in the supermini space. The March has been among the best-selling 10 cars in Britain among private buyers for virtually all of its production life.

The March / Micra is known for its reliability, excellent build quality, and user friendliness. The K12 model that came out in 1990s received consistently good overall reviews, main criticisms being its lack of headroom and luggage space in the rear. Another criticism that came its way in the UK was from insurance company that rated it as a dangerous car in case of crash in 1988-1995.

However, its safety specification has improved with successive models. The K12 Micra came on top of its class in What Car? magazine's Security Supertest in 2003, passing both entry and driveaway tests and achieving a maximum score for its locking system and immobiliser.

In an independent test, the Micra was found to be more secure that certain BMW and Mercedes models.

In British magazine's What Car?' Reliability Supertest in 2007, Nissan ranked 6th out of 26 manufacturers overall, with the K11 Micra (1998-2002) being its most reliable model.

The next generation Nissan March (W02A) will be unveiled in Feburary 2009. Globally it will be based on a revamped B-platform with a new 1.2-1.3l engine.

It will be built in Japan, UK, Thailand and in Chennai, India in partnership with Nissan shareholder Renault. The company's US plant in Washington will manufacture an entirely new model that will compete in the same market segment as the March/Micra.