Audi says Covid-19 pandemic has hit the luxury car segment in India, pushed it back by 5-7 yrs
Sales will witness growth next year, albeit on a lower base.
By PTI |
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In 2014, luxury car sales in India stood at around 30,000 units, while it was at around 31,000 units in 2015.
NEW DELHI: The coronavirus pandemic has hit hard the luxury car segment in India, taking it back by five to seven years, and it will take two to three years to reach the levels witnessed around 2014-2015, according to a top official of German auto major Audi.
With gradual recovery taking place post COVID-19 induced disruptions, sales will witness growth next year, albeit on a lower base.
"While we all are saying that sales are growing and there are positive sentiments and we will also grow next year...the base has become lower," Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon told PTI.
"The number of cars that were sold in 2014-2015, we are not going to reach those levels immediately next year. So pandemic has actually taken us back by five-seven years," Dhillon added.
In 2014, luxury car sales in India stood at around 30,000 units, while it was at around 31,000 units in 2015.
When asked how soon the luxury car industry can turn around and recover the lost ground, he said, "For sure not next year, for the luxury segment (it will take) two to three years to reach those levels again."
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Indian luxury car market, comprising top five players -- Mercedes, BMW, Audi, JLR and Volvo, is estimated to have sold nearly 35,500 units in 2019, down from 40,340 units in 2018.
Dhillon said the entire automotive sector has taken a big hit this year and "even last year for the luxury segment was also a degrowth year".
So in terms of volume growth, it is going to start from next year, he said.
"We are not coming back to the best of our years, but we are happy that we are moving in a positive direction," Dhillon said, while exuding confidence about the long-term potential of Indian automobile market.
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Stating that motorisation level in India is very low, he said, "We have less than 30 cars for every 1,000 people as compared to other developing or developed countries where it is somewhere as high as 800 in China...We still have a lot of motorisation to happen."
"What India offers at this point of time is a lot of potential for the long term. Economy for sure is going down, but every estimate shows that there will be a V-shaped recovery in 2021 on the base of a lower economic activity this year, which will definitely improve the market," Dhillon said.
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The other thing, he said, is the demographics of India with 65 per cent of population under the age of 35 years.
"These are those individuals who are ready to experiment, these are those individuals who do not believe in only saving but also in spending, these are those individuals who want to experience things other than put the money in their bank accounts.
"So for them, experience matters more than ownership of goods. These are all positive things, which we think will continue to give positive energy to the automotive energy," Dhillon added.
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It is that time of the year when all the automobile buffs and car aficionados are at the Auto Expo to witness the biggest cars launches.
This year, much like other years, Auto Expo went big and featured some of the most-awaited cars, MUVs/SUVs, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, concept cars, vintage cars and more. The event kickstarted on 7th February and will conclude on 12th February.
The likes of Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Renault, Great Wall Motors, Kia, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Morris Garages attended the event and showcased their automobiles.
Giving the Auto Expo a miss this time, are Honda and BMW.
If you don’t know about the cars and bikes that dropped at Auto Expo, fret not because we have got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about the car launches at the mega event.
It is that time of the year when all the automobile buffs and car aficionados are at the Auto Expo to witness the biggest cars launches.This year, much like other years, Auto Expo went big and featur..
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Like every year, SUVs are quite the rage at Auto Expo. The folks at MG Motors are all set to step into the coveted SUV segment with Hector Plus.
Hector Plus is a 6- and 7-seater addition to the Hector brand that the company claims is India's first internet car. Hector Plus is designed to build on the success of Hector and has a more premium look and customisable seating configuration, along with revamped interiors and exteriors,
Hector Plus comes with a dual clutch automatic transmission, dual pane panoramic roof and built-in voice assistant. The petrol hybrid is powered by 1451 cc engine and has a maximum torque of 250 Nm at 1600-3600 rpm.
The price of the SUV is Rs 12.73 lakh.
At Auto Expo 2020, the carmaker showcased a total of 14 internet, electric and autonomous cars across hatchback, sedans and utility vehicle segments.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Like every year, SUVs are quite the rage at Auto Expo. The folks at MG Motors are all set to step into the coveted SUV segment with Hector Plus. Hector Plus is a 6- and 7-seater addition to the Hecto..
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Perhaps, no segment generated as much buzz at this year’s Auto Expo as electric vehicles did. German auto major Volkswagen on Thursday unveiled its concept electric vehicle ID.CROZZ based on the company's modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform.
The ID.CROZZ is a cross of four door coupe and SUV with an electric drivetrain delivering power of 225kw with a top speed of 180km/hr, the company said.
The battery of the car can be charged to 80 per cent in 39 minutes covering a range of 500 km. Now, that’s something!
"The ID. family comprises a range of vehicles across segments, starting with the recently introduced ID.3 to the ID.SPACE VIZZION," Volkswagen Passenger Cars India Director Steffen Knapp said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Perhaps, no segment generated as much buzz at this year’s Auto Expo as electric vehicles did. German auto major Volkswagen on Thursday unveiled its concept electric vehicle ID.CROZZ based on the comp..
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Chinese automotive manufacturing company Haima automobile is all set to venture into the Indian market. The manufacturer showcased its next-generation family electric car - Bird Electric EV1 at Auto Expo. The hatchback will be available in the range of Rs 10 lakh on Indian roads.
It will be offered in two variants with a driving range of 200 km and 300 km per charge, respectively.
Bird Electric EV1 is fitted with a lithium battery and electronic control system and has a torque output between 95Nm and 150Nm.
The official Twitter handle of Auto Expo tweeted out an image of the EV, captioning it. “Bird Electric EV 1 is not only stylish and equipped with modern and practical features but is attractively priced too.”
Chinese automotive manufacturing company Haima automobile is all set to venture into the Indian market. The manufacturer showcased its next-generation family electric car - Bird Electric EV1 at Auto ..
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What makes Auto Expo exciting is not just the new launches but also the prototypes and facelifts that cars get. Maruti Suzuki’s acclaimed subcompact crossover SUV, got a facelift at this year’s Auto Expo. Unveiled at the 13th Auto Expo in 2016, the SUV made a comeback at Auto Expo 2020.
The vehicle comes with a 1.5 litre petrol engine with higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions, the company said. The automatic trims come with progressive smart hybrid technology.
The all-new Vitara Brezza offers a host of convenience and safety features including auto-retracting outside rear view mirror (ORVM), auto-dimming and anti glare inside rear view mirror (IRVM) and gear shift indicator.
The new vehicle is also loaded with the latest safety features including dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, driver and co-driver seat belt reminder, rear parking assist, high speed warning alert, reverse parking sensors as standard across all variants.
The all-new Vitara Brezza will be available with a 5-speed manual and 4 speed automatic transmissions.
(With inputs from PTI)
What makes Auto Expo exciting is not just the new launches but also the prototypes and facelifts that cars get. Maruti Suzuki’s acclaimed subcompact crossover SUV, got a facelift at this year’s Auto ..
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Auto Expo 2020 saw plenty of luxury two-wheeler launches. However, it was Italian two-wheeler maker Piaggio’s premium scooter Aprilia SXR 160 that ended up stealing the limelight. The scooter has been specially designed keeping in mind the Indian conditions.
As per a ToI report, Aprilia SXR 160 comes in two BS-VI options - 160 cc and 125 cc, equipped with 3V Tech fuel-injected technology. The sporty scooter gets twin head and tail lamps, lit up storage under the seat, split glove box, USB charging up front, integrated fly screen, steering handle bar and all-digital cluster.
Aprilia SXR 160 would be launched in the third quarter of 2020 and booking would commence in August. Piaggio also displayed limited edition Vespa Racing sixties and Vespa 2020 facelifts, which are expected to launch in quarter 2, 2020.
(With inputs from PTI)
Auto Expo 2020 saw plenty of luxury two-wheeler launches. However, it was Italian two-wheeler maker Piaggio’s premium scooter Aprilia SXR 160 that ended up stealing the limelight. The scooter has b..
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In what can be called a camper’s dream come true, German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz launched luxury multi purpose vehicle, V Class Marco Polo, in India with price starting at Rs 1.38 crore (ex-showroom).
The new model, which takes its body design from the V-Class, comes in two variants - Marco Polo Horizon priced at Rs 1.38 crore and Marco Polo tagged at Rs 1.46 crore.
The vehicle comes with camping features making it suitable for vacation and weekend trips. The new vehicle is nothing short of a home away from home. It comes with space for up to four people to sleep, a kitchen area with a hob, two gas burners, a sink and a refrigerator.
The performance of the vehicle is exceptional as it comes with a 1950 cc diesel engine that churns out 163 hp and 380 Nm of torque.
(With inputs from PTI)
In what can be called a camper’s dream come true, German luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz launched luxury multi purpose vehicle, V Class Marco Polo, in India with price starting at Rs 1.38 crore (ex-sh..
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The folks at Auto Expo sent out a tweet to announce the arrival of Race Polo. Race Polo is a car that comes with utilises an electronic shift actuator for quick gear changes and has safety features that protect the driver from changing down gears. “It will be a game changer for all the racers, #FutureIsComing”, read the tweet.
As per ETAuto, The Race Polo is powered by a 1.8l, 4-cylinder TSI engine delivering a power of 233 ) and a torque of 320nm. The engine is mated with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and more features.
The folks at Auto Expo sent out a tweet to announce the arrival of Race Polo. Race Polo is a car that comes with utilises an electronic shift actuator for quick gear changes and has safety features t..
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Everything was not just about cars at the Auto Expo 2020. The folks at Olectra decided to take the notion of ‘electric mobility on wheels’ and made it into something highly innovative. They are all set to launch their electric bus today at Auto Expo.
As per Olectra’s website, these are flagship buses designed for India with extreme performance with fast charging capability and long distance on single charge. It is the vision of good folks at Olectra to support the environment by developing new visions for the society.
Everything was not just about cars at the Auto Expo 2020. The folks at Olectra decided to take the notion of ‘electric mobility on wheels’ and made it into something highly innovative. They are all s..
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Talking of buses, Mahindra & Mahindra, on Wednesday, introduced Cruzio range of buses at the Auto Expo and has formally entered into the passenger bus segment.
The company has launched two variants Cruzio and Cruzio Grande having a seating capacity of 15 to 65, respectively and would be compliant with BS-VI emission norms.
Mahindra Truck and Bus (MTB) has also launched BS-VI emission norms compliant range, which includes the BLAZO X range of HCVs, FURIO range of ICVs & LCVs and CRUZIO range of buses.
They come with comfortable seats, roomy interiors for a pleasant journey and USB charger
(With inputs from PTI)
Talking of buses, Mahindra & Mahindra, on Wednesday, introduced Cruzio range of buses at the Auto Expo and has formally entered into the passenger bus segment.The company has launched two variants Cr..
