In Romania, Dacia wore a comedy tragedy mask as the Logan was the best selling car shifting 15,808 units in 2011 yet representing almost a 31 percent drop in sales compared to 2010. Skoda managed a sale of 4,138 units of Octavia [Laura] putting it in the second position trailed by the Renault Clio in third with 3,920 units sold.
The Logan is a product of Renault’s Romanian car company Dacia. In India Mahindra manufactures the Logan as the Verito and has announced that a sub-4 meter model will be launched in early 2013.
Dacia has used the Logan platform to build the Sandero hatchback, Duster SUV and the Lodgy MPV that will be sold from August. A pickup and a MPV version of the Logan are also available in Romania and some other parts of Europe.
We’ve been treated to interesting advertising concepts from Mahindra over the last few years. In 2010 they took a dig at the Tata Ace and used an AutoBot character to market the Maxximo as an advanced and sophisticated goods carrier. The background music, visuals of the Scorpio bashing the sand dunes and the stylish characters in the Scorpio’s “nothing else will do” ad broadcasted a high-energy and ambitious product.
Another recent example we liked was of the new Mahindra Bolero with a trained dog in the lead role. It was a good attempt to mix humor and tell viewers the kind of person they’d want to see buy their product.
This morning we put out two updates on the Ford Fiesta facelift, one carrying a set of images of the test mule, and one speculative rendering presented by our Brazilian friends at Autos Segredos illustrated using design cues of the Ford Evos concept.
On closely inspecting the spyshots and reading accounts of spy photographers, we’re convinced that Ford is turning to the Fiesta ST concept for inspiration rather than the brand new Evos concept that previewed the Mondeo. With our findings, we rang in Shoeb R Kalania to show us and the readers the how things will pan out.
With 3/4 citizens of this generation lurking full time on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter et al, auto companies are now seeing these hubs as their potent tool to woo prospective customers.
Almost all of the major players have doubled their investment so as to market their products via sites like these. Manufacturers also believe social media will play crucial role for brand-building in the coming years.
A senior marketing official of a top auto manufacturer was heard saying “You cannot avoid social media anymore, with increased sales of smart-phones and internet penetration all over the country, no marketer can afford to ignore it..”
Just hours ago we brought you a speculative rendering of what the new Fiesta hatchback could look like and what do you know – Our good friends at WorldCarFans have spotted a test mule of the 2013 Fiesta hatchback. The marque that was born in 1976 is all set to enter the second phase of its 6th generation. The current Fiesta was launched in 2008 and flaunts the old design language based on the Verve concept.
The new Fiesta will don a design language influenced by the Fiesta ST Conceptshowcased last year’s Frankfurt Motorshow. The broad grill on the test mule, slimmer headlamps garnished with a string of LEDs are design cues lifted from the Fiesta ST Concept.
After keeping their word to the Indian common man, Tata Motors think it’s about time to entice Indonesian masses with the launch of its home-grown hero, Nano. As per the reports on local newspapers, Tata Motors have already set up an office in Jakrata and intend to launch the car for the Indonesian market, sometime later in 2012.
At the initial sales stage cars will be imported directly from Tata’s Sanand plant in India. Later as the sales drive up the demand Tata Motors plan to assemble the Nano in Jakrata. The decision to build an assembly line will be taken only when Tata senses growing demand.
For many of us, it’s very hard to stomach down the fact that Fiat with such sparkling cars in the Linea and Punto are back markers in India, one of the world’s largest growth markets. Despite having some gorgeous and all-round brilliant cars in its portfolio, Fiat simply failed to captivate the imagination of Indians. Why? Well, let’s leave this discussion for another day and concentrate on finer bits and Fiat’s newer models.
So, let’s kick off with the news of the brand new Siena that’s ready to set foot in Brazilian roads.
At the unveiling of the Bajaj RE60, the company’s CEO Rajiv Bajaj told reporters that they were open to talks with Renault-Nissan for the use the RE60′s platform to manufacture a compact car. Officials from Japan and France were invited to see the RE60 at the Bajaj stall in the Auto Expo. The RE60 was completely developed in-house by Bajaj with no assistance from either Nissan or Renault.
Since Mr Bajaj’s invitation, we have not heard anything from the Franco-Japanese camp.
It is now being reported in some sections of the media that the visitors are yet to confirm their interest in using the platform to roll out an inexpensive vehicle.
In Romania, Dacia wore a comedy tragedy mask as the Logan was the best selling car shifting 15,808 units in 2011 yet representing almost a 31 percent drop in sales compared to 2010. Skoda managed a sale of 4,138 units of Octavia [Laura] putting it in the second position trailed by the Renault Clio in third with 3,920 units sold.
