2013 has been quite interesting in terms of trends that have been spotted in the Indian car market. A majority of the Indian car makers suffered due to the terrible slowdown and the poor condition of economy. The Indian auto industry has, so far, experienced its worst crisis since the bad times during the period 2002-2003. If one was to pick up statistics from any month up till July and compare with figures of 2012, the result would be negative only. Interestingly, the pattern exhibited by the luxury car segment is quite peculiar as companies have recorded good sales figures.
The competition between German firms, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, went to another level. Mercedes-Benz, on the backdrop of meltdown in the recent years, sought to change their performance in India. The Daimler owned car manufacturer, officially, announced the year 2013 as the 'Year of Offensive' for the firm in India. And true to its word, the German giant has launched a number of models in India, some of which have turned out to be winners. Apart from these, some ultra-premium luxury cars entered the Indian automobile market, turning heads all around.
Mercedes-Benz launched a number of models in India in 2013, such as the E-Class, GL-Class Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and B-Class diesel. However, there were two models, in particular, which stood out for the brand with the three-pointed star. The launch of A-Class premium hatchback symbolised the intelligence of the firm. Considering market conditions, it was really important for luxury car makers to target mass buyers by launching low-cost vehicles. Taking first mover advantage, the company introduced the A-Class in the Indian car market. Needless to say, this hatchback has performed exceptionally well, helping the firm to register good sales figures. Another model from Mercedes-Benz that made news was the E63 AMG sports car, which was launched in July at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. Powered by the V8 twin turbocharged 5.5-litre, this vehicle is loaded with several technologically advanced features, such as Active Assist, direct petrol injection and generator management.
Jaguar, the world-known sports car manufacturer, took its legacy in the segment to another level by launching F-Type. Two variants of the F-Type were introduced in India, namely the S and V8 S, which were priced at Rs. 1.37 crore and Rs. 1.61 crore, respectively. The S and V8 S model are capable of generating outputs of 380 bhp and 495 bhp, respectively. At the launch of this car, Rohit Suri, Vice-President of Jaguar Land Rover, said, The Jaguar F-TYPE is our all-new, two seater sports car and we believe it will be a game changer for the Indian sports car market. With its stunning design and driver focused engineering, this car will further enhance the appeal of our brand and I am confident that it will arouse senses and stir emotions like no other car in India.”
No firm focuses more on the luxury aspect of a car than Rolls-Royce, which is known across the globe for being the epitome of class and comfort. Continuing this tradition, the luxury car maker launched the Wraith in the Indian auto market in the month of August. Claimed to be the most powerful Rolls-Royce vehicle produced by the firm, the Wraith has been appreciated by experts and customers alike. Notably, the demand for this car is highly inelastic as it has a niche customer base in India. Rolls-Royce Wraith runs on a 6.6-litre V12 engine that generates an output of 624 bhp and is capable of clock 60 mph from scratch in about 4.6 seconds.
Herfried Hasenoehrl, General Manager Emerging Markets Asia at Rolls-Royce, said, "We believe there is immense potential in India market. In 2005 we started with one dealership. To cater to different regions, we will be opening two more dealerships this year, taking the total number to five. India is still a strong market for us, the biggest in emerging markets. We are optimistic about the growth prospects of this region and Wraith will contribute to it very very nicely. During this three month tour, the new product would be taken to different locations across the country and shown to people.”
Volkswagen Group owned brand Bentley kick started the festive season in India by launching the Flying Spur at a whopping price of Rs. 3.1 crore. The Flying Spur runs on a 6.0-litre W12 engine that is mated to 8-speed gearbox and is delivers a maximum output 616 bhp.
