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<div type="image" title="Indians are getting fancy, and they don&amp;#39;t mind paying a little extra if it means quality and luxury. Most consumer brands are witnessing an uptick in their premium product segment" msid="115018213" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Indians are getting fancy, and they don&amp;#39;t mind paying a little extra if it means quality and luxury. Most consumer brands are witnessing an uptick in their premium product segment&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It's time to move over from plain, vanilla budget basics! Indians are no longer looking for “best purchases and value buys under Rs 1,000”—at least not as much as before. <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s getting fancy, and how! From gold-flaked chocolates to swanky SUVs that look like they’re wheeled straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster, Indian companies are rapidly jazzing up their product lines, even faster than you can say the word "premiumization." But what does this mean for Indian companies and consumers? What is this jazz about premiumization all about? Is it just urban India that’s riding this wave, or has rural India also joined the bandwagon? We decode for you. <h2>What's premium, really?</h2>Imagine you’re eating Pav Bhaji at a roadside thela. Later during the day, you decide to dine out at a fancy, upmarket cafe, only to find Pav Bhaji Fondue on the menu. Same same, but much more expensive—often 5 to 10 times higher—for a little more hygiene and some better ambience! Think of premium products as this fondue. They are a notch up your regular, daily-use products soaps or shampoos, and even cars, all packaged luxuriously, offering just about the right touch of quality. The main differentiator, though, would be the price range. <h2>Driving home premium wellness</h2>A recent report by Nielsen suggests that over 70% of urban Indians are okay with paying a premium for their products. And companies are cashing in on this sentiment like never before. This explains why 58% of new products launched so far this year have been in the premium+ segment, as opposed to just 38% of new launches in regular, traditional trade. Take cars, for instance. Indians are no longer vying for a good old <keyword id="19950117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti" source="keywords">Maruti</keyword> 800 or <keyword id="20400567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="alto" source="keywords">Alto</keyword>, traditionally known for their healthy mileage, but are rather happy investing in more swanky features that come along with high-end cars. In October 2024, India’s largest car manufacturer, <keyword id="19909974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="keywords">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>, sold 65,948 units of its compact cars like Swift, WagonR, Dzire, and more. Compared to the year-ago period, which saw sales of 80,662 units, this was an 18% dip. But take a look at their SUV (sport utility vehicle) sales for the same period. Cars like Brezza, Ertiga, and Grand Vitara sold about 70,644 units, a 19% uptick from the sales made in October 2023, i.e. 59,147 units. Simply put, when it comes to cars, Indians are saying the bigger, the better! The same is true for India's second biggest automobile manufacturer, Hyundai. Its SUV lineup made up a staggering 68.2% of the firm's total sales made for October 2024. What's more, SUV demand remained largely consistent across urban and rural markets. <h2>Consumers are inching up</h2>FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) are also riding the premiumization wave, with Indians prioritizing their health and wellness and not bothered about dishing out a few extra bucks for the same! You’ll find no dearth of words like organic, vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free, peppered generously over every product you’ll see today, be it soaps, juices, or more. No wonder then, sales from premium segments in 2024 make up around 27% of all FMCG sales and even contribute a massive 42% to the sector’s value growth in India. Nielsen report further adds that luxury brands that position themselves at twice the price of their category’s average are even witnessing stellar growth. In fact, for most FMCG brands like Tata Consumer Products, <keyword id="20002610" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hindustan-unilever" source="keywords">Hindustan Unilever</keyword> (HUL), Dabur, and Nestle, it is this premium segment that is growing much faster than their regular ones. And it's not just about daily-use products; Indians are also taking their celebrations a step over. Spirits manufacturer <keyword id="20125704" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="radico-khaitan" source="keywords">Radico Khaitan</keyword> highlighted that for the first half of 2024, their prestige &amp; above segment made for 88.4% of its net sales value. In the same period, the regular popular segment accounted for just 9.1% of their net sales. From Hindustan Unilever, which saw its premium products grow 30% over the last quarter, to <keyword id="20521971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kingfisher" source="keywords">Kingfisher</keyword> beer's parent company, <keyword id="20124009" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-breweries" source="keywords">United Breweries</keyword>, whose premium product sales volume jumped by 27% during the quarter as opposed to just a 5% rise in overall volumes, everyone is seemingly taking their lifestyle a notch above. Per the Nielsen report, in 2024, a typical global consumer spends about $13.7k per year. This is set to grow by around 2.4% to $14k as early as next year. Even a report by Goldman Sachs also highlighted a similar trend, noting that India’s affluent class, or those earning over $10,000 (Rs 8,42,694.97), is set to reach 100 million in the next 3 years. And where will this consumer spend? On premium products! <h2>Online shopping shifts from mass to class</h2>Amazon’s Great Indian Shopping Festival, which was live between September 27 and October 29 this year, saw 140 crore customers, more than 85% of whom came from non-metro Indian cities. On the site, there was a 400% spike in sales in premium sales across categories like watches, fragrances, handbags, jewelry, and more. Rival <keyword id="19896939" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flipkart" source="keywords">Flipkart</keyword> noted a similar trend, recording 1.8x growth in premium beauty and personal care products during the first half of this year. <h2>Dialing in premiumness</h2>The Indian smartphone ecosystem has always been dominated by basic phones, or those entry- and mid-range phones that are priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 6,000. But that has changed in recent times, with premium smartphones (i.e., those priced over Rs 60,000) registering 20%+ growth in 2024. During the first quarter of this year, sales of mass phones (priced between Rs 10,000 and 20,000) reached 44%, compared to 51% in the year-ago period. But it's all sunny and shiny in the mid-premium (priced between Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000) and super-premium segments (priced above Rs 60,000). Sales growth has burgeoned by as much as 27% and 86% in these categories, respectively. As India continues its march toward becoming the world's third-largest economy by 2027, the premium party is just getting started. Industry experts predict that premium segments will grow faster than you can say "sustainable organic handcrafted artisanal batch of coffee." So the next time you see someone dropping serious rupees on a fancy bottle of black water that also somehow plays music and tracks their hydration (yes, that's a thing), remember: This is just the trailer. Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost! Do you have a topic in mind you'd want a simpler explanation for, or insights or experiences to share on personal finance and more? Contact us at businessinsider@timesinternet.in.

Simply Put: From Dal to Dolce—India is loving its luxury life

Both <keyword id="20204377" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indices" source="keywords">indices</keyword>, <keyword id="19896381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nifty" source="keywords">Nifty</keyword> and <keyword id="19896382" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sensex" source="keywords">Sensex</keyword> opened the day in red. As of 9:30 am, Nifty was down by 0.05% trading at 24,420.30 points, while Sensex was down by 0.15% and was trading at 80,254.37 points as of 9:30 am. All broad market indices opened the day in the green, except for Nifty 50, 100, 200, 500, and midcap and smallcap 50 opened in red. India VIX was up by 1.17%. Amidst sectoral indices, Bank, auto, metal, financial services, PSU, and <keyword id="61519" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Private-banks" source="Orion">private banks</keyword> opened the day in the red. Continuing its momentum from yesterday, <keyword id="6912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti" source="Orion">Maruti</keyword> opened the day in green and was up by 1.66%. Grasim, Divis Labs, Eicher Motors, and Britannia were the top gainers in early trade this morning. On the other hand, Mahindra and Mahindra, JSW Steel, Axis Bank, Dr. Reddy, and Kotak Bank were among the leading laggards. As Mr. Aditya Gaggar, Director of Progressive Shares, notes, "A strong rally in the auto counters helped the index end on trade at another record level of 24,433 yesterday. The index has breached its previous high convincingly by forming a big green candle and opening the door for further rallying towards the 24,520–24,600 zone. At the same time, 24,340 will be considered strong immediate support. BankNifty oscillates in a well-maintained range of 52,260–52,720; a breakout on either side is a must (mostly on the higher side, considering the strong uptrend). The auto segment ended its consolidation of over 2 weeks with a strong breakout indicating the resumption of its uptrend". "Post the strong breakout, follow-up buying was witnessed in the <keyword id="20421583" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FMCG-segment" source="keywords">FMCG segment</keyword> which boosted our confidence to remain bullish on the sector (ITC is on the verge of a major breakout). Sugar counters regained their momentum and some of them have already given a strong breakout (Andhra Sugar and Dalmia Sugar) and some are at the cusp of a major breakout (Balrampur Chini and Renuka Sugar). We continue to remain positive in the <keyword id="20350923" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pharma-space" source="keywords">pharma space</keyword>", he continued. Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research, Kotak Securities noted that among sectors, the auto index gained over 2% while intraday profit booking was witnessed in select IT, oil, and gas stocks. "Currently, 24,300/80,000 would act as a key support zone for trend-following traders. We believe, that as long as the market is trading above it, the bullish sentiment will likely continue. On the higher side, 24,500 -24,600/80,500-80,800 would be the immediate resistance zones for day traders", he said.

Stock Market Today: Maruti, Grasim, and Eicher Motors take lead in early trade

April Auto Sales: Maruti Suzuki flags decline in bookings in April, electric two-wheelers lose momentum due to FAME-II irregularities

<ul><li><keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> reported a loss of ₹249.4 crore between April and June quarter compared to the same time last year. However, the street was expecting<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/maruti-suzuki-india-first-quarter-preview-sales-and-share-price-chart/articleshow/77216142.cms"> a 96% fall in its profit.</a> </li><li>The company’s total revenue was down over 79% to ₹4.1 crore.</li><li>The share price of the car major is still down over a percent post its earnings.</li></ul>India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki reported a loss of ₹249.4 crore between April and June quarter compared to the same time last year. This is the first time in at least a decade that the carmaker has reported a quarterly loss. The company’s total revenue was down over 79% to ₹4.1 crore. “It was partially offset by lower operating expenses and higher fair-value gain on the invested surplus,” the company <a href="https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/1f1ba134-3174-48a4-806a-6944f2c15d70.pdf">said in its filing to stock exchanges</a>. <div type="image" title="Maruti Profit" msid="77238693" hostid="261"></div> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maruti </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Q1 (YoY) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Revenue </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-79% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Profit </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-82% </td></tr></tbody></table> The street was expecting<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/maruti-suzuki-india-first-quarter-preview-sales-and-share-price-chart/articleshow/77216142.cms"> a 96% fall in its profit.</a> The share price of car major is down over a percent after the earnings. <div type="image" title="Maruti Stock Price (1)" msid="77238712" hostid="261"></div> Indian automobile sector experienced a major setback in the wake of coronavirus induced lockdown, and Maruti wasn’t immune to this slowdown either. The quarterly sales for Maruti were down over 81%, while compared to the year earlier. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Maruti </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">April to June 2020 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">April to June 2019 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Growth % </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sales </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">76,599 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">402,594 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-right:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.9960975000000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">-81% </td></tr></tbody></table> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/burman-family-owned-dabur-first-quarter-results-preview-sales-and-share-price-chart/articleshow/77234046.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Dabur Glucose and Chyawanprash to boost its immunity in the times of coronavirus</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indigo-airlines-first-quarter-preview-and-share-price-chart/articleshow/77219527.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">IndiGo’s ‘grounded quarter’ may lead to more loss than all the profit in the last three years</a>

Maruti records its first quarterly loss in at least a decade - lockdown pain drags revenues lower by 79%

Back in the 90s, the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Maruti+800&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Maruti 800</a> was the car to own. Frugal, conservative and potent, it was the first four-wheeler for the masses. Three decades on, the dynamics of the entry level hatchback market has shifted completely. 
 
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/Maruti800_manhan.JPG">Image Source</a> 
People now want hatchbacks for the convenience they offer. One can always book an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=UberPOOL&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">UberPOOL</a> or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ola+Share&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Ola Share</a> otherwise. There are a lot of expectations from small cars these days. They have to be something that’ll make their owner proud, while still being affordable. 
 
With a steady influx of new auto manufacturers, and smart cost-cutting, car companies today are churning out hatchbacks that’ll put ones from a higher class to shame. 
 
We took the top spec versions of three of the best to find out which one’s best suited for you. 
 
Competition: 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Hyundai+Eon&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Hyundai Eon</a> caught the imagination of small car buyers since its launch. While none of the ones in this test can match the Alto 800 or Alto K10 in terms of sales numbers, it’s no point denying Hyundai offered a delicious combination of features, refinement and practicality that was hard to miss. 
 
Then came the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Renault+Kwid&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Renault Kwid</a>, with its tall boy design with SUV-ish looks and completely stole the Eon’s thunder. Even the sales numbers say so. In Oct 2015, Eon sold 6479 units, while the Kwid sold 5195 units. Last month (May 2016), the Eon sold just 3634 units, while Kwid saw 5600 units. 
 
So what’s there to die for in the Kwid? Have a look. 
 
For a car in this price range you get a large touch-screen infotainment system, class-leading boot and an engine tweaked for best-in-class fuel efficiency (over 25 kmpl). 
 
The recently launched <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datsun+Redi-Go&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Datsun Redi-Go</a> is the Kwid’s sibling in more ways than one. The two cars share the same engine, body frame and much more. The Redi-Go and it’s trying to carve a place for itself in the most popular automotive segment of the country. That means it’ll have to take on its own kiln to really leave a mark. Nothing like sibling rivalry. 
 
Engine Specifications On paper, the <keyword id="778281" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Hyundai-Eon">Hyundai Eon</keyword> is the most powerful car in the segment while the Kwid and Redi-Go share the identical 3 cylinders 799cc petrol engine. While none of these are really driver’s cars, I’d choose the Eon over the competition on this front. In terms of refinement, newer doesn’t necessarily mean better as the Kwid and the Redi-GO leave much to be desired. No complaints about the Hyundai here though. 
 
Coming to the all-pervasive figure of fuel efficiency, the Redi-GO and Kwid take the lead with their class-leading 25.17 kmpl, while the Eon returns 21.1kmpl. 
 
Dimensions &amp; Space 
 
The Kwid has the biggest boot in the segment (300 lts), while the Redi Go comes in second (222 lts) and the Eon trails in third (215 lts). The Kwid is also the longest and widest of the lot. The Redi-GO is the tallest, and has the best headroom. 
 
The Eon is fine when looked in isolation, it’s just the competition has moved further ahead. 
 
Features 
 
The Kwid dominates the pack again with its seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system with navigation. The Eon offers nifty features like Internally Adjustable Outside Mirrors, while the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datsun+Redi-Go&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Datsun Redi-GO</a>, for that price offers Front Power Windows. 
 
In terms of quality, however, the Eon feels more premium, the Kwid comes in a close second, while the Redi-GO trails behind with its spartan interiors. 
 
Overall, the Kwid has the best features. The Eon comes in a close second, while the Redi-Go is good, but not outright impressive. 
 
Verdict 
 
The Eon desperately needs an upgrade to keep up with the Jonses. The Redi-GO has a fresh design, and is yet cheaper than the Kwid. If the company’s after-sales service can keep up, the Redi-GO can potentially see serious on-road numbers In India. 
 
However, as things stand, there’s not toppling the Kwid.

The battle of India's best entry-level hatchbacks. Which one to pick?

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Maruti+Suzuki+&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Maruti Suzuki </a>launched <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ignis&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Ignis</a> on January 13, 2017 and in just about 18 days, the company says that it has managed to sell over 4,800 units already. 
 This proves that the <keyword id="101015" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ignis">Ignis</keyword> has had a fantastic start to its sales. The car was launched amidst much fanfare and an EDM concert which featured international music artist <keyword id="1323440" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Axwell">Axwell</keyword> too. The company was also more than successful in creating a positive buzz around the Ignis. 
 The plus points were the funky design and a long list of features set the Ignis apart from competition. <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> was very clear that the Ignis was a car aimed at the millennials and it designed the ad and social campaigns accordingly. 
 <keyword id="6912" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="maruti">Maruti</keyword> <keyword id="6911" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="suzuki">Suzuki</keyword> is one manufacturer that has always had a finger on the pulse of the car buyer's sentiments. Maruti received over 6,000 bookings before the car was launched and another 15,000 bookings after the car was launched. Currently, there is a waiting period of almost 3 months.

This newly launched car by Maruti Suzuki is selling like hot cakes, 4,800 units sold in just 18 days

Passenger car major <keyword id="44883" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="Orion">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> India Ltd had transported over 3.2 lakh vehicles in 2022 through Indian Railway and is setting up dedicated railway sidings at its facilities in Haryana (Manesar) and Gujarat, said a top company official. The company last year transported over 3.2 lakh vehicles using rail wagons, the highest in a calendar year since 2013 when the company got the Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) license. "Going forward, we aim to further increase these numbers. For this, we are setting up dedicated railway sidings at our facilities in Haryana (Manesar) and Gujarat," <keyword id="13455711" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="hisashi-takeuchi" source="Orion">Hisashi Takeuchi</keyword>, Managing Director &amp; CEO, said. "Aligned with the Government of India's aim to reach net zero emissions by 2070, we have enhanced our efforts to reduce carbon footprint in our business operations. Our strategy to increase the use of rail mode in outbound logistics has resulted in dispatching record 3.2 lakh vehicles using railways in CY2022," he said. According to him, the use of railway wagons instead of trucks has resulted in offsetting around 1,800 MT of CO2 emissions. "In addition, we have been able to save over 50 million litres of fuel during the year which contributes to enhancing the energy security of our country," <keyword id="333559" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="takeuchi" source="Orion">Takeuchi</keyword> remarked. The share of railways in carrying Maruti Suzuki's cars is on the rise and last calendar year it was 17.1 per cent up from 13.9 per cent/2.2 lakh units in 2021. The AFTO license allows Maruti Suzuki to fabricate and operate high speed, high capacity autowagon rakes on the Indian Railways network. Maruti Suzuki uses 40 specially designed railway rakes to transport vehicles across the country. Each rake has a capacity to carry over 300 vehicles. Presently, the company uses loading terminals across Delhi-NCR and Gujarat and 18 destination terminals - Bangalore, Nagpur, Mumbai, Guwahati, <keyword id="46519" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mundra-port" source="Orion">Mundra Port</keyword>, Indore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi-NCR, Siliguri, Coimbatore, <keyword id="2094" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pune" source="Orion">Pune</keyword>, Agartala, Silchar, Ranchi and Ludhiana- Maruti Suzuki said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/french-automaker-citroen-has-unveiled-its-ec3-electric-hatchback-ahead-of-its-india-launch/slidelist/97048865.cms">Citroen eC3 electric hatchback unveiled – range, booking date, and everything you need to know</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/mahindra-xuv400-electric-suv-launched-starting-at-15-99-lakh-range-specs-and-more/slidelist/97046819.cms">Mahindra XUV400 electric SUV launched starting at ₹15.99 lakh – range, specs and more</a>

Maruti Suzuki to increase transport of cars through rail wagons, to set up dedicated railway sidings

If there’s one car maker in India who’s been consistent in its quality, production and innovation – it’s of course <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword>. The <keyword id="6355311" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Japan">Japan</keyword> born Indian bred automobile manufacturer had made it’s presence felt in the 80s when Ambassador and <keyword id="6454902" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fiat">Fiat</keyword> ruled the roost. 
 And now after 3 decades have passed, as per a news report by PTI, Maruti <keyword id="6911" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="suzuki">Suzuki</keyword> India has crossed a major milestone of 1.5 crore units of cumulative production since its <keyword id="85080" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Inception">inception</keyword> in India. 
 <keyword id="569015" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Cars">The cars</keyword> that have contributed to the major success include <keyword id="43041" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maruti-800">Maruti 800</keyword>, Alto, Wagon R, Omni and newer ones such as Swift and DZire. 
 
The company's first car, a Maruti 800, had rolled out from the Gurgaon facility way back in December 1983. 
 
"The 15 millionth car, a DZire, rolled out from the company's Manesar facility last week," the company said in a statement. 
 <keyword id="2847785" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="MSI-Executive-Director">MSI Executive Director</keyword> (Production) <keyword id="12596" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajiv-Gandhi">Rajiv Gandhi</keyword> told the news agency, "Maruti Suzuki's <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> has been one of Kaizen and continuous improvement. Our people on the shop floor make enormous contribution so that we can offer more and better to our customers, and fulfill their needs and aspirations." 
 
On the achievement, the company said it produced 31 lakh units of the Alto series, 29 lakh units of its iconic Maruti 800 model and 17 lakh units of Omni van during the 31-year period. 
 
Besides, the company manufactured 16 lakh units of compact car Wagon R and 13 lakh of premium hatchback Swift and 10 lakh of compact sedan DZire. 
 
On future plans, Gandhi said the company is eyeing a 2 crore production figure. 
 
 
The news report further said, MSI's medium-term goal is to clock sales of 20 lakh vehicles per annum by 2020 and to achieve that, the car maker is expanding its product portfolio, foraying into new segments, strengthening the sales and service network and enhancing capabilities across the value chain. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

No car company produces as many cars as this Indian company does

After making its maiden foray in Gurugram in 1983, country's largest car maker <keyword id="6363602" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki-india-ltd" source="Orion">Maruti Suzuki India Ltd</keyword> is going to set up its third facility with an outlay of Rs 18,000 crore in <keyword id="41646" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="haryana" source="Orion">Haryana</keyword> that will give boost to the auto industry. The automaker already has two manufacturing facilities in Haryana. The upcoming facility will have a production capacity of 250,000 vehicles per annum and is expected to be commissioned by 2025. In the past few years, Haryana has made rapid strides on several fronts, including industrial development, under the leadership of Chief Minister <keyword id="2458540" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="manohar-lal-khattar" source="Orion">Manohar Lal Khattar</keyword>, an official statement said on Tuesday. Haryana is well on its way to inclusive growth driven by a strong commitment of the government towards public welfare and ensuring the advanced facilities to its citizens. Likewise, the government is actively working towards making the state an industrial and automobile hub. The growth in automobile sector in the state can be gauged by the fact that <keyword id="44883" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="maruti-suzuki" source="Orion">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> is coming up with its third plant in the state. <keyword id="6912" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="maruti" source="Orion">Maruti</keyword> Suzuki India Ltd, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Ltd and Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HSIIDC) will sign an agreement for the allotment of 800-acre and 100 acre land at IMT Kharkhoda, respectively, at a ceremony on May 19 in Gurugram amidst the presence of the Chief Minister. The event would also celebrate the four decades of Haryana-Japan business relationship, which began in 1981 and continues to flourish even today, says the statement. Chief Minister Khattar said this is a huge achievement for the state as Maruti is setting up its third plant in the state. He said Maruti Suzuki has purchased an additional 800 acres at IMT Kharkhoda for its proposed new car manufacturing facility. The total project cost is estimated to be Rs 18,000 crore. It has the potential to generate employment for 11,000 skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled persons. Along with Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Ltd has also purchased a 100-acre land parcel for setting up an integrated manufacturing facility for two-wheelers, including engines. The total project cost is estimated to be Rs 1,466 crore, with a potential to generate employment for 2,000 skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled persons. "India is performing well in the ease-of-doing business and the ease-of-living index and Haryana is considered the fastest in both these respects. Haryana is one of the favourite destinations for global investors. Maruti played a major role towards development in the automobile sector and overall progress of the state," said the Chief Minister. "This will give a huge boost to the automobile sector and will motivate multinational companies in other sectors to set up their headquarters and manufacturing plants in Haryana. Along with this, new employment opportunities will also be created for the youth of the state. "Haryana has emerged as a magnet for the industry due to its enabling policies, availability of quality infrastructure, ease-of-doing business, conducive business environment and incentive structure. In Haryana, work was done to develop the industrial areas near the GT Roads and its proximity with Delhi other states too made it more preferred destination for industrial projects and there are dozens of industrial areas in multiple districts," said Khattar. The Industrial Model Township (IMT) at Kharkhoda, where Maruti Suzuki will be setting up its project, is an integrated industrial township with world-class infrastructure, being developed over an area of approximately 3,217 acres. It is strategically located on the Delhi-Haryana border, adjoining the western peripheral (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) Expressway and State Highway 18. The IMT has abundant water and power supply from the NCR canal and the electricity utilities. Due to its proximity to Delhi and direct connectivity with Delhi Bahadurgarh, Gurugram and Sonipat via the KMP Expressway, Kharkhoda IMT will emerge as the next node for industrial development in Haryana. Regarding the expansion of Maruti Suzuki's foothold in Haryana, a spokesperson for the carmaker company said the company was in discussion with various state governments for their expansion plan but they find Haryana a suitable destination. "This first manufacturing facility at the site will have a production capacity of 250,000 vehicles per annum. It is expected to be commissioned by 2025. The land site will have space for capacity expansion and will include more production plants in the future," said the spokesperson. Notably, after setting up its first car plant at Gurugram in 1983, Maruti has steadily expanded its manufacturing footprint in Haryana by setting up a production facility at Manesar and a state-of-the-art R&amp;D centre in Rohtak. The two plants in Haryana - Gurugram and Manesar - together roll out around 15.5 lakh units annually. Today, the Gurugram-Manesar-Bawal belt is acknowledged as the auto hub of northern India. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/tamil-magazine-editor-s-gurumurthy-pressurised-to-take-up-rbi-board-position/articleshow/91613225.cms">Tamil magazine editor S. Gurumurthy 'pressurised' to take up RBI Board position</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/four-in-ten-american-users-thought-that-facebook-should-have-blocked-trump-sooner-reveal-leaked-internal-documents/articleshow/91610652.cms">Four in ten American users thought that Facebook should have blocked Trump sooner, reveal leaked internal documents</a>

Maruti Suzuki India to set up its third facility with an outlay of ₹18,000 crore in Haryana

The newly appointed, <keyword id="1374901" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Honda-Cars-India-Ltd">Honda Cars India Ltd</keyword>'s boss, <keyword id="2786761" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Katsushi-Inoue">Katsushi Inoue</keyword> is sure that his company would register profits in the country in coming days with the help of new launches, better capacity utilization and investment in some states. 

	In one of the very first interviews to the media after taking charge in April this year, Inoue told the Economic Times that his company had recorded profits last year after a gap of several years, which is a good sign. "We have just got into the black, and should be able to register profits this year - even if meager - as we are still in investment mode," said Inoue, who had visited India 20 times, right from the days when <keyword id="43041" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Maruti-800">Maruti 800</keyword> and <keyword id="596" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Hyundai">Hyundai</keyword> Santro blazed the streets. Inoue further said he is focused on selling three lakh units, and set up a new factory in Gujarat that would make strong foundation for <keyword id="20630" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Honda">Honda</keyword> in India. He also stressed that he would try to optimize the 3-lakh unit plant capacity in Greater Noida and Rajasthan in the next two to three years. He said the Indian company will eventually become a manufacturing base for exports to <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword>. "Yes, India can become a key base for exports to Africa, as our completely built exports are not that big. However, we don't have enough capacity to serve the global markets yet, and there's still a big potential for India to grow," Inoue said. 

	The current capacity in India is just enough to cater to the domestic demand, but once the new plant in Gujarat is up and running, Honda will have spare capacity to cater to foreign markets, he said. 
	 

	Honda Cars India grew 41% till March '15, and with new models lined up for launch, he is confident that the carmaker's "growth momentum" would continue. 
	 

	The new Jazz premium hatchback will be launched in the next 4-8 weeks before the company enters the lucrative compact SUV space next year, based on its popular Brio platform. Inoue, who sees the large population of youth in India as the "biggest sweet spot and opportunity", said Honda will introduce models which will meet the needs of today's youth and expects the new Jazz to serve this purpose. 
	 

	He, however, said Honda is yet to take a call on a small car for India. "We have no concrete plans for India as yet," he said. For Honda, Brio could be the entry model for the "near future", and whether the company needs something in the lower price segment than Brio is something they have to decide. 
	 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

Honda India's new boss is confident of his company’s good performance

Auto sales remain buoyant in September with reports of a good festive season ahead

Just when the wind of change was sweeping across India and Narendra Damodardas Modi-led <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> was getting elected to power, a part of India’s legacy folded up, probably never to return again. But the legacy had nothing to do with the monarchy of India or the country’s historical diamonds even though the latter had graced the overseas museums for long. No, the legacy was all about India’s very own love affair with automobiles. 
 It was a day that would go down in the history of modern India. The iconic <keyword id="2722" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="ambassador">Ambassador</keyword>, manufactured by <keyword id="132800" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hindustan-Motors">Hindustan Motors</keyword>, ended its journey on May 24, at the factory that once rolled out the puffed-up version of Great Britain’s long-defunct <keyword id="309121" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Morris-Oxford">Morris Oxford</keyword>. India has been driving these cars manufactured at Uttarpara in West Bengal since 1957. 
 But the decision to stop production was taken after the abysmal drop in sales figures of <keyword id="1236214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ambassador-cars">Ambassador cars</keyword>. Only 2,200 units were sold in the last fiscal even though <keyword id="25903" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indians">Indians</keyword> bought nearly 1.8 million four-wheelers during that period. With business hitting rock bottom, the writing was already on the wall and Ambassador had to wrap up its journey. 
 
The only breather is a statement from Hindustan Motors that says: Production closed until further notice. Does it signify chances of resurrection? That just might be the case – at least those who want to cling to some ray of hope believe so. Most of the fans believe that the beautiful, bountiful Ambassador will be back on the Indian roads again. 
 
As we all know, a car signifies mobility and class. But in the case of Ambassador, it was not a mere vehicle that carried people from point A to point B. In those early days, when India was just waking up to the fact that it was a free state and scales of hierarchy had to be created from the starting point onwards, the Ambassador played a very significant role in fixing that scale. 
 In fact, Ambassador spoke the language of metaphors. It signified ego, power, money, class, close-knit families and much more. It was the tugging string that still linked us to <keyword id="988054" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="British-India">British India</keyword>. It was also about the all-powerful babudom that had taken over (it was the ultimate status symbol for every government official and even the elected representatives of the country). 
 At a time when branding was never done by hired agencies, Ambassador stood for majesty and elegance. When on the move, it could easily attract a glance of appreciation from all and sundry and ruled the Indian roads for nearly three decades till it was done in by a low-cost hatchback. The Ambassador began to lose its sheen from the 1980s when <keyword id="44883" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maruti-Suzuki">Maruti Suzuki</keyword> introduced its first <keyword id="43041" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maruti-800">Maruti 800</keyword>, touted as the people’s car. 
 The Ambassador manufacturers had failed to see the fast-changing consumer map pervading the entire country. We no longer had cities with large joint families. <keyword id="400822" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Industrialisation">Industrialisation</keyword> had started to eat into the family space and migration in search of greener pastures had begun in villages and semi-urban areas. Joint families had begun to move out with their ‘share’ of property. The phrase ‘invasion of privacy’ had just entered lives, with the term privacy gaining its own definition. 
Image: Wikipedia

RIP Ambassador: India Won’t Be The Same Without You

Most of us have grown up drifting in these cars. They have transported us from the plains to the hills or to the seafront in a matter of hours. We loved the colours they came in and aspired to own one when we become adults. The story changed slowly and more cars were added to the Indian roads. But these cars never said die and the companies (and drivers) behind them stayed strong. 
 
Many families still own or want to buy these marvels, which is why the factories still make them for the Indian traveller. We bring you 5 such cars that have stayed alive for more than 25 years on the Indian gravel. These are the iconic marvels from the 1980’s that changed the way we drive now:

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