Mahindra to touch 500 used car outlets in two years

Coimbatore: Mahindra First Choice Wheels Ltd, a leading multi-brand certified used car company, on Friday said it would touch 500 outlets in the next two years from the present 368 dealerships.

The company, which has its footfalls in 210 cities across country, has expanded its presence by opening its first authorised dealership in nearby Tirupur, in a sprawling 4,000 sq.Ft area in GTC Cars, last evening, a company release said on Friday.

The company already has a significant presence in Tamil Nadu with 22 outlets and this new dealership will help the company make further inroads in the state, it said.

With a used car market size of over 400 cars per month, the company saw immense untapped potential in the region, it added.

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Tata Kite spied testing; to be pitted against Maruti Celerio?

New Delhi: Domestic auto major Tata Motors is working on a new small car called 'Kite' with an aim to regain its lost market position in the small car segment ruled by Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors, Ford India and other companies.

As per reports, the car has been spied testing showing its air-conditioning vents and a new steering wheel. Reports claim that the Kite will get Zest’s steering wheel to ensure easier handling. The car will also be powered by Revotron petrol engine.

Speculations are also rife in the media that its straight competitor will be Maruti's newly launched Celerio. Though the Kite will also compete with Hyundai i10, Datsun Go and Chevrolet Beat in the range.

The small car segment was once ruled by Tata Motor's Indica. The new car is set to launch in 2015 and will be rolled out from the Sanand plant, Gujarat.

It is expected that the Kite will use up majority of the company’s production capacity in the Sanand plant. Kite will be the second tallboy from Tata Motors after Tata Nano.

A lot of investment was made by Tata Motors for the Sanand plant for the assembly of Nano, which Tata Nano failed to achieve. This is also a major reason for the company to introduce a mass production car.

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Maruti XA Alpha to hit Indian roads in 2015?

Maruti Suzuki India is poised to launch its much awaited compact SUV- XA Alpha in India next year. As per latest reports the company is also planning to launch 6 more models in the next 2 years. The car may follow Maruti's first ever crossover- S-Cross which may be launched this year end.

XA Alpha was unveiled at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo for the first time. The car which wears an innovative and ultra modern jazzy look is set to compete with Ford Ecosport and Renault Duster in the compact SUV segment.

Meanwhile as per recent reports, the company's internal sources have revealed that the car will be completely manufactured in India with the official launch slated for end 2015.

Recent reports also suggest that Suzuki is developing 3 variants of engines for the car- 0.8 litre, 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre. But auto experts are suggesting that the car must come with a fuel efficient diesel engine to make its mark in the Indian car market. Recent reports also suggest that the vehicle may come with a 1.5 litre turbo-diesel engine. The engine supply agreement between Maruti-Suzuki and Fiat also ends in 2015.

Moreover, sources have revealed that the car may be competetively priced in the range of Rs.7 lakh to Rs.10 lakh which may make it a favourite choice of urban middle class customers.

The vehicle will come with wide alloy wheels which makes it suitable for long drives on Indian highways.

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Maruti Suzuki launches limited edition of Ertiga

New Delhi: The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, has launched limited edition variants of the multi-purpose van Ertiga, which will be priced up to Rs 8.05 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

MSI, which is launching the limited edition Ertiga to mark the milestone of 150,000 unit sales in the Indian market, said it would be shortly available in petrol, CNG and diesel variants.

The petrol variant would be priced at Rs 6.76 lakh, CNG would be at Rs 7.34 lakh and diesel would be at Rs 8.05 lakh.

The models would be available in new pearl blaze blue colour with several factory-fitted high-end features. It would also be available in superior white and silky silver metallic colours.

"This is in line with the company's vision to offer product differentiation to customers who aspire for features over and above the product strengths of high fuel efficiency, interior comfort, ease of driving and flexi seating," the company said in a statement.

MSI Vice-President (Marketing) Manohar Bhat said: "The new Ertiga Limited Edition, with a sleek chrome grille, plush interiors, aesthetically designed spoilers with classy body graphics and decals is a tasteful product.

"The additional features on the Ertiga Limited Edition highlight the company's focus on product differentiation for the customer".

Limited editions help us strengthen the brand and enhance the overall appeal of the car, he said.

"Overall, we have sold over 150,000 units in domestic market. Ertiga was the fastest to achieve this milestone in B segment. Customers have appreciated the Ertiga for its compact size, contemporary looks, ergonomic design and the flexibility of 5+2 seating," Bhat added.

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Maruti Alto crosses 25 lakh unit sales mark in domestic market

he country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said its compact car Alto has become the second model from the company's portfolio to cross the 25 lakh unit sales mark in the domestic market.The Alto has entered the 25 lakh club, where the only other car is the Maruti 800, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.
"Launched in 2000, the Alto has attained the 25 lakh milestone in less than 14 years, the fastest by any brand; we are overwhelmed and humbled by its popularity," MSI Vice President (Marketing) Manohar Bhat saidOver the years, the Alto has retained its numero uno position even amid intense competition in the small-car segment, he added. Besides, the company has exported over 2.85 lakh units of the compact car.
The Alto range now has eight variants, with prices starting at Rs 2.41 lakh. MSI launched the Alto in September 2000. The company then introduced a 1,000-cc version of the car, the Alto K10, in August 2010.
The company said it has sold more than four lakh units of the Alto K10. MSI introduced an all-new Alto 800 in October 2012, which sported a fresh look. "Within 124 days of its launch, the new Alto 800 attained the milestone of selling 100,000 units," the company said.
In January, MSI stopped production of the Maruti 800, the small car that was the carrier for millions of Indian middle-class families.

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Maruti Suzuki Launches the Limited Edition Ritz Elate

One has to say that the hatchbacks in India have been feeling a tad bit ignored, considering how the sub-4 metre and the sedan segments have taken off ever since the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. However, that hasn't stopped Maruti Suzuki from launching a limited edition of the Ritz.
Christened the 'Ritz Elate', the car comes equipped with new decals and an extra kit. This, however, will be available only on the mid-level VXI and VDI variants. Cosmetic enhancements like orange graphic decals, the 'Elate' logo at the rear, along with equipment upgrades like a JVC 2-DIN music system with Bluetooth, reverse parking sensors, and ambient lighting, make the Ritz a much more feature-packed offering than before.
Of course it comes at a price, and that of the limited edition Elate has been decided at Rs. 19,990 over the standard car.
There will be no mechanical changes to the car, so the VXI will come powered by a 1.2-litre K-series, 85bhp churning engine, while the VDI gets a 1.3-litre DDiS engine that produces 73bhp and 190Nm of torque.
The Ritz doesn't have much of a sales figures as compared to the numbers that other Maruti Suzuki products get, so this is clearly an attempt to boost sales.

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Country's largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today reported a 33.5 per cent increase in its total sales for June at 1,12,773 units as against 84,455 units in the same month last year. The company said its domestic sales rose by 31.1 per cent during the month to 1,00,964 units as against 77,002 units in June 2013. Sales of mini segment cars, including M800, Alto, A-Star and WagonR, rose by 52.1 per cent to 47,618 units as compared to 31,314 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement. The company said sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz rose by 6.2 per cent to 22,293 units in June this year as against 20,996 units in the same month a year ago. MSI said sales of its popular compact sedan Dzire rose by 27.4 per cent during the month under review at 15,990 units as against 12548 units in June 2013. The sales of company's mid-sized sedan SX4 rose by 2.5 per cent to 322 units in June as against 314 units in the same month last year. There was no sale of premium sedan Kizashi during the month. Sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga, rose marginally at 5,003 units in June this year from 4,997 units in the corresponding month last year. Sales of vans - Omni and Eeco - increased by 42.5 per cent to 9,738 units in June this year as compared to 6,833 units in the same period of the previous year. Exports during the month rose by 58.4 per cent to 11,809 units as compared to 7,453 units in June last year, MSI said.

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