Every auto major in the country is coming up with its own Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) or Crossover in order to lure buyers. This can be accounted to the fact that there is a shift in the consumers buying trend which has moved from small hatchbacks, to compact MPVs, the compact SUVs and compact sedans. The recent compact vehicle launches include Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Mahindra Quanto and now the reports suggests that Tata too is developing two compact UVs – Aria Mini and Sumo Mini, to take on the likes of the compact vehicles launched by Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki.
The Aria, despite being among the most modern and well sorted cars from the stables of Tata, could not catch sales. The company, therefore, is working on a mini version of this car to make it as successful as the Quanto, which is the compact version of Xylo. The Aria is expected to be of less than 4 metre in length and would carry a price tag lower than Rs. 10 lakhs. The compact version may not have the expensive hydro-formed ladder-frame chassis and might instead use the ladder-frame chassis, which is currently being used in the Safari. The Aria, which currently houses a 2.2 litre engine, is also likely to be replaced by the 1.3 litre MultiJet VGT engine that is currently powering Fiat.
The other mini car, which is likely to make its debut in the country next year is the sub 4 metre Sumo Gold, also called as Tata Sumo Mini. The compact vehicle has been developed jointly by the Tata's design team in India and Tata Motors European Technical Centre.
Tata would be looking forward to increasing its sales through the launch of these compact vehicles. Tata's sales in the last few months have seen a downward trend, which has forced the company to plan its strategy all over again. The company's passenger vehicle sales figure for the month of November stood at 18,031 units as against 27,735 units in the same month last year.
Tata Sumo Mini, which is likely to make its way on the Indian roads in the first quarter of 2013, will, however, face stiff competition from Mahindra Quanto and Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which have already made their name among masses. Tata will have to, therefore, bring its compact vehicles with some additional features if it wants the customers to prefer its compact cars over those from the stables of Tata's competitors.
