One word that could be used to describe the month of August for auto makers operating in India would be – Hope. Each year, August, in a certain way, marks the beginning of the festive season with a bunch of holidays on offer, wherein companies tend to capitalise on gaining maximum consumer mileage by way of schemes and new launches. 2014 is no different and a wide range of launches await customers throughout India, both of bikes and cars. While some like Fiat Punto Evo and Audi A3 Sedan have already entered the market, others are on their way to showrooms.
Hyundai i20 Elite – The legendary i series from the South Korean manufacturer is perhaps the single most reliable series in Indian market. Hyundai Grand i10 won the award for Car of the Year last year and now it seems as if another winner is on its way, the i20 Elite. India’s second largest passenger car maker has gone all out to promote this vehicle and its television commercial is quite catchy as well. This car will feature loads of cosmetic changes, which are expected to attract customers while the mechanical configuration will remain the same.
Bajaj Discover F150/S150 – India’s second largest bike manufacturer is planning to fight the Hero MotoCorp Splendor series by adding another model to the Discover range of bikes. Bajaj Discover F150 will make its way to the market along with the naked version called the Discover S150 and both these bikes will be introduced on 11th August. Based on a completely new platform, these bikes are expected to rival Honda Stunner and Hero Ignitor, which have done reasonably well in India.
Tata Zest – Tata Motors endured a really tough time in the car market last year and many thought it would not be able to get out of doldrums. Being such a big company, they are not going to sit back and will officially launch the much awaited Tata Zest on 12th of August across India. A compact sedan, this car will be available in both petrol and diesel versions, thereby giving multiple choices to customers. The petrol version will feature a 1.2-litre Revotron engine while the 1.3-litre engine will be fitted with a 1.3-litre Quadrajet engine.
Suzuki Gixxer – Though no official confirmation has come from the Japanese automobile manufacturer but Suzuki Gixxer, a 155 cc bike, is set to be launched in the month of August. Expected to be a top class model by many, this bike is set to rival the likes of Honda CB Unicorn, Bajaj Pulsar 150 and Hero Hunk. It will also compete neck to neck with fellow new launched rival Bajaj Discover F150/S150.
With so many launches waiting to take place, it is surely a prosperous time for Indian auto makers and a happy occasion for customers, especially first time buyers. Some sources claim that companies, in order to give a launching pad to their products, will introduce a bevy of schemes, which would attract customers and provide them with more choices.
