Micra crosses the 100,000th mark

A couple of years ago, global economic meltdown had the world crying. But the industry has recuperated and economies are back in good shape. Demand for automotive products has increased – GM’s robust comeback being a case in point. New chapters in sales are being written – Toyota’s global sales in 2010 touched 8.4 million despite all the chaos surrounding the recalls, Skoda, more recently, crossed 100,000 unit mark for its Yeti and, in the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki touched the magical number of 2 lakh units.

This reflects the solid health and appetite of the global automotive market – and also the potential of developing markets like India. Nissan is leaving no stone unturned to capitalize on it. After a relatively sluggish start in the Indian market, Nissan is now gaining ground with its small car – Micra – which has been received with fair bit of enthusiasm. The Japanese car maker is going full swing to expand its dealer network and footprint in India. Nissan has sold 100,000 units of the Micra worldwide, and the Chennai factory setup added another feather to its cap by rolling out the 100,000th unit of the Micra.

Nissan has invested Rs.4500 crore in the Indian facility, the company has sold 15,000 units till now and has exported nearly 70,000 units. The company claims that with the scale up in production, they should be able to produce 400,000 units of the Micra to be supplied to over 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Ferrari finally in India

Every teenager’s wet dream from Italy is here – and no, it’s not Monica Bellucci. One of the most iconic automobile brands ever, Ferrari, has launched in India. The brilliant showcase facility (located in central Delhi) was inaugurated by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari’s Commercial and Marketing Director Enrico Galliera, and Ashish Chordia, Chairman of the Shreyans Group, the Ferrari importer for the country.

The 500 square meter dealership is split into two floors – one for showcasing the cars while the other will be a personalization area. The dealership will also provide service support to cater to their customers.

The Ferrari California would be available for an ex-showroom cost of Rs.2.23 crore while the 458 Italia and 599 GTB are priced at Rs.2.57 crore and 3.38 crore respectively. Ferrari’s latest – and the only 4-wheel drive – car, FF is priced at Rs.3.42 crore.

Having secured the number one spot in the luxury car market in India, BMW have recently launched a 24-hour service called Secure Advance for its customers. The announcement comes keeping in mind their recent success in sales as the German manufacturer recorded the highest number of sales for the first quarter by selling 2147 cars for a period of January to March 2011. In fact, what was more interesting was the figure of 1027 units that the company sold in the month of March itself.

Moving in line with the introduction of their financial services earlier this year, the Secured Advance facility aims to provide additional services and benefits beyond the warranty of a normal motor insurance policy for BMW’s customers. The manufacturer says that these benefits are available on all BMW vehicles for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase. The parts that fall under this cover include tyres, alloy wheels and free repair of parts damaged in the event of a hydrostatic lock, which normally can be a frightfully expensive repair. The package allows up to 4 tyres and 4 rims to be changed and also offers 24x7 roadside assistance for a duration of 2 years from the date of purchase.

1-800-103-2211 is BMW’s dedicated toll free number for road side assistance that offers facilities like towing assistance, taxi benefits and hotel accommodation for the customers in case of a breakdown. BMW assistance will also be provided in situations where the battery conks off, if there is a flat tyre or loss of the key for which a spare key can be provided by the nearest dealer. In case of a medical emergency, online assistance is also provided to secure the safety of the driver and passengers of the vehicle.

With so much being offered, BMW is definitely looking to set a benchmark by trying to get up and close with customers. Since they are number one in India in the luxury segment when it comes to sales, it is presently looking at topping the after sales satisfaction ratings too. It’s time Mercedes and Audi watch out for BMW’s revolution.

Catching a Rio on the road is a tough job! But some of our friends did just that – and it’s not your regular Rio. This was a test mule that Premier will be introducing soon. By the pace and refinement of the car, it is immediately clear that the engine has either been worked on for more power and refinement, and the TuD5 motor has been dumped in favour of a new common rail unit. Though the overall shape and look of the car remains unaltered to a large extent, subtle changes like the twin-pod headlamps and rear bumpers make the car look more grown up. A brief glance at the interior suggests that the trim levels have been beefed up, and quality has improved, while the new alloy wheels add a pinch of muscle. The car looks market-ready, and should be launched by Diwali this year. The price difference from the current model should be negligible as well, ensuring that the value for money element is kept well intact.