CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS

SMALL CARS: SURVEY OF MARUTI

UDYOG LTD.

COMMENCED AT HIRA AUTOMOBILES, PATRAN

A training report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of

Bachelors of Business Administration

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CHAPTER -1

INTRODUCTION

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1: INTRODUCTION

INDIA IS the world’s largest small car market and is now all set to gain from an increased

demand for small cars from East Asia and European countries. The country is well known in

automotive circles as the world’s largest small car manufacturer.

Small cars in India are the most common mode of personal vehicles. The use of small cars as a

reliable mode of private transportation system is well suitable to the economic state and transport

conditions in India. In various cities of the country the use of small cars has been popular due to

narrow roads, excellent fuel economy of these cars, and price of these small cars.

The Indian automobile market is largely contributed by the

small cars. There are some prominent small car

manufacturing companies both from India and abroad, who

have established their production, sales, and service centers in

the country.

Maruti, Suzuki, Hyundai, TATA, and GM are some of the

small car manufacturers in India. TATA, one of the major

international automobile companies has brought the recent

sensation to launch the most inexpensive car of the world.

Priced at Rs 1 Lacs, the TATA Nano is expected to hit the

Indian automobile market early in the year 2009. This will

remarkably change the popularity of small cars among Indian

automobile lovers.

Small cars have suddenly become popular in many wealthy

western countries after the recent revelations of global

warming. People now prefer the small car for their mileage

and easy usability. In countries like Germany, France, United

Kingdom and Italy, the local governments are promoting use of small cars. This was evident as

Maruti Suzuki reported a hike in exports to 1.5 lakh units in the new fiscal year 2009-10.

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The South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai Motors has exported 2.53 lakh units to it overseas

markets in the last fiscal year.

Most of the exports are results of European government policies.

Germany, France and Italy have devised methods of scrappage of old car in exchange for new

cars. According to Industry sources, nearly two lakh cars were swapped under the scheme and

nearly 90 per cent of them purchased small cars. Germany is paying €2,500 for the exchange

scheme to every car owner. The South Korean government offers 70 per cent rebate on taxes to

car owners who exchange their 10 year old cars for smaller or hybrid cars.

The UK government offers a discount of  2000 pounds on new cars in exchange for their old

cars.

According to an estimate the country produces 15 lakh small cars per year. India is in a position

to take advantage of the surging demand and cater to the world markets. Indian exports have

grown by 54 per cent in the last fiscal year and is valued at six billion dollar. If more cars are

exported, it means increased revenue for India. The country can sail on top of the small car wave

spread across the world.

SMALL CARS are attracting Indian buyers and are also becoming a

vogue on Indian roads. Leading players like Hyundai Motor, Maruti

Suzuki, and General Motors are broadening and setting up research

and development (R&D) operations in India. Their dream is to make

India a manufacturing hub for small cars.

Hyundai is ready to set up a four-fold increase in headcount at its R&D

division to boost models for both local as well as worldwide markets.

Maruti has also made huge recruitment this year. Around 250

engineers are recruited and have set a target of going up to 1,000

engineers by 2010 to make new models for Suzuki.

According to HS Lheem, managing director and chief executive officer

(CEO), Hyundai Motor India Limited, “We will increase headcount

from 200 now to 800 in 2009 at our R&D centre in Hyderabad with

focus on developing new models for the Indian market.”

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According to S Nakanishi, managing director, Maruti Suzuki, developing Maruti R&D is among

the company’s top priorities to meet the aggressive plan for new model launches. Of late even

General Motors India has set up an R&D centre in Bangalore and the centre targets to obtain the

headcount up to 500 to deliver needs to global markets.

Car manufacturers are geared up to provide the best cars to the Indian market. This definitely

proves that they also want to increase their share in the market and give a fair competition to

other manufacturers.

Small Cars in India

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd

Maruti 800 STD BS III

Maruti 800 AC BS III

Maruti 800 Duo

5 seater Maruti Omni

8 seater Maruti Omni

LPG Maruti Omni

Alto

Alto Lx

Alto Lxi

Maruti Zen Estilo

Reva Electric Car Co.

Reva AC

Reva Standard

Reva Classe

Reva i

HyundaiSantro

Santro Xing Hyundai i10 Gets Prime

TATA Indica

Chevrolet Chevrolet Spark Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

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CHAPTER 2

COMPANY

PROFILE

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2: COMPANY PROFILE

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL, formerly known as Maruti Udyog Limited) is a subsidiary

of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan. Maruti Suzuki has been the leader of the Indian car market

for over two and a half decades. The company has two manufacturing facilities located at

Gurgaon and Manesar, south of New Delhi, India. Both the facilities have a combined capability

to produce over a 1.5 million (1,500,000) vehicles annually. The company plans to expand its

manufacturing capacity to 1.75 million by 2013.

The Company offers 15 brands and over 150 variants ranging from people's car Maruti 800 to

the latest Life Utility Vehicle, Ertiga. The portfolio includes Maruti 800, Alto, Alto K10, A-star,

Estilo, WagonR, Ritz, Swift, Swift DZire, SX4, Omni, Eeco, Kizashi, Grand Vitara, Gypsy and

Ertiga. In an environment friendly initiative, in August 2010 Maruti Suzuki introduced factory

fitted CNG option on 5 models across vehicle segments. These include Eeco, Alto, Estilo,

Wagon R and Sx4. With this Maruti Suzuki became the first company in India to introduce

factory fitted CNG vehicles.

In terms of number of cars produced and sold, the Company is the largest subsidiary of Suzuki

Motor Corporation. Cumulatively, the Company has produced over 10 million vehicles since the

roll out of its first vehicle on 14th December, 1983.

Maruti Suzuki is the only Indian Company to have crossed the 10 million sales mark since its

inception. In 2011-12, the company sold over 1.13 million vehicles including 1,27,379 units of

exports.

The Company employs over 9000 people (as on 31st March, 2012). Maruti Suzuki's sales and

service network is the largest among car manufacturers in India. The Company has been rated

first in customer satisfaction in the JD Power survey for 12 consecutive years. Besides serving

the Indian market, Maruti Suzuki also exports cars to several countries in Europe, Asia, Latin

America, Africa and Oceania.

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3.1 HISTORY OF MARUTI SUZUKI COMPANY :

Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) was established in Feb 1981 through an Act of Parliament,

to meet the growing demand of a personal mode of transport caused by the lack of an efficient

public transport system.

Suzuki Motor Company was chosen from seven prospective partners worldwide. This

was due not only to their undisputed leadership in small cars but also to their commitment to

actively bring to MUL contemporary technology and Japanese management practices (which had

catapulted Japan over USA to the status of the top auto manufacturing country in the world).

A license and a Joint Venture agreement were signed between Govt of India and Suzuki

Motor Company (now Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan) in Oct1982.

The objectives of MUL then were:

Modernization of the Indian Automobile Industry.

Production of fuel-efficient vehicles to conserve scarce resources.

Production of large number of motor vehicles which was necessary for economic growth

Maruti created history by going into production in a record 13 months.

On 14 December 1983, the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs Indira Gandhi,

released the first vehicle for sale by handing over the keys of a Maruti 800 to

Mr.Harpal Singh of Delhi.

Volume targets were routinely exceeded, and in March 1994, we became the first Indian

company to produce over one million vehicles, a landmark yet to be achieved by any

other car company in India. Maruti is the highest volume car manufacturer in Asia,

outside Japan and Korea, having produced over 4 million vehicles by April 2003.

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Maruti (subsidiary of Suzuki), has made profits every year since inception except 2000-01. In

2001-02, we made a profit (before tax) of Rs 1183 million. In 2002-03, the profit (before tax)

rose to Rs 2821 million, recording a growth of 138.4%over the previous year.

Maruti revolutionized the way Indians looked at cars. "No other car company so completely

dominates its home market" - (The Economist). MUL is the first and only car company in the

world to lead its home market in terms of both market share and in the JD Power Customer

Satisfaction study (JD Power Asia Pacific 2000 India Customer Satisfaction studies). It is also

the only car company in the world to be Top ranked four times in a row (2000, 2001, 2002 &

2003).

Present Status

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Manufacturing Excellence

They began our operations in 1983, with the first Maruti 800 rolling out from our Gurgaon plant.

Over the next two decades Maruti Suzuki car models led by Maruti 800 brought about a

revolution in the Indian car market.

As the automobile market grew so did our production capacities, production process and

infrastructure. Our scale and manufacturing today is completely different from when it began.

Today, Maruti Suzuki's plants are comparable with the best in the world in terms of quality,

productivity and operational efficiency.

3.2 TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY OF THE MARUTI SUZUKI COMPANY :

Every minute two vehicles roll out of the Maruti Plant. It is therefore imperative that the

transfer of contemporary technology from our partner Suzuki is a smooth process.

Great stress is laid on training and motivating the people who man and maintain the

equipment, since the best equipment alone cannot guarantee high quality and productivity.

From the beginning it was a conscious decision to send people to Suzuki Motor

Corporation for on-the-job training for line technicians, supervisors and engineers. This helps

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them to imbibe the culture in a way that merely transferring technology through documents can

never replicate. At present 20% of our workforce have been trained under this programme

Gurgaon Facility

The Gurgaon facility spread over 300 acres is located around 25 kms south of Delhi. This facility houses

three fully integrated plants. Together the three plants churn out around 9 lakh units annually.

K- series Plant

The Gurgaon premises also houses the 'K Engine' Plant. Commissioned in 2008, the K-series engine plant

has an installed capacity of over 7.7 lakh units per annum. Since the launch of the engine cumulatively,

over 10 lakh K-series engines have been rolled out.

K-series engines are available in 1 litre, 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre capacities. The highly fuel efficient,

technologically advanced K-series engines have been very well appreciated by our customers for their

performance.

Several Maruti Suzuki cars such as the Alto K10, A-star, Estilo, WagonR, Swift, Swift Dzire, Ritz and

Ertiga are powered by the K-series engines.

Manesar Facility

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The 600 acre Manesar facility located around 25 kms south of Gurgaon facility was inaugurated in February 2007.  The Manesar facility houses two fully integrated plants with a capacity of 5.5 lakh units annually. The third assembly line is in advanced stage of completion and is expected to be completed in the year 2013.

Both manufacturing facilities are highly automated with advanced robotics, contemporary paint,

weld and machining infrastructure. While the different models can be assembled on same lines,

inter plant flexibility helps to increase productivity. On a single line diverse car models can be

made conveniently. Automatic tool changers, centralized weld control systems and advance

numerical control machines help for quick change over between models.

Suzuki Powertrain

Suzuki Powertrain India Limited is a joint venture of Maruti Suzuki with Suzuki Motor Corporation,

Japan.at Manesar. It manufactures world class diesel engines and transmissions for cars.

SMC holds 70 per cent equity in SPIL the rest is held by Maruti Suzuki.

3.3 ETHOS OF THE MARUTI SUZUKI COMPANY :

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Our employees are our greatest strength and asset. It is this underlying philosophy that has

moulded our workforce into a team with common goals and objectives. Our Employee-

Management relationship is therefore characterised by:

Participative Management.

Team work & Kaizen.

Communication and information sharing.

Open office culture for easy accessibility

To implement this philosophy, we have taken several measures like a flat organisational

structure. There are only three levels of responsibilities ranging from the Board Of Directors,

Division Heads to Department Heads. Other visible features of this philosophy are an open

office, common uniforms (at all levels), and a common canteen for all.

This structure ensures better communication and speedy decision making processes. It also

creates an environment that builds trust, transparency and a sense of belonging amongst

employees

3.4 Products

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CHAPTER -3

REVIEW OF

LITERATURE

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3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Analyzing consumer behaviour is perceived as cornerstone of a successful marketing strategy

(Papers4you.com, 2006). Consumer behaviour is ‘the mental and emotional processes and the

observable behaviour of consumers during searching purchasing and post consumption of a

product and service(Batra & Kazmi, 2004) . Similarly Engel (et al, 1990) refers consumer

behaviour as the action and decision process of people who purchase goods and services for

personal consumption.

Now if these defining criteria are closely observed, it is evident that analyzing consumer’s

decision making process is the foundation of entire notion of consumer behaviour.

There are four different views related to consumer decision making process and behaviour

(Schiffman & Kanuk, 2004). It is argued that first of them is ‘economic view’ that consumers are

primarily facing imperfect competition and they are always expected to make rational decision

on the basis of assumptions that they are aware of all product alternatives, they can rank benefits

and limitation of each alternative and are able to identify one best alternative. Second ‘Passive

View’ is absolutely opposite to economic view and suggests that consumers are irrational and

impulsive as they are submissive to self-centered interests of marketers and got influenced by

marketing tools. Similarly third, ‘ Emotional View’ is related to perceive consumer’s decision

making based on their emotional association or feeling about some products and services. For

instance, a person loosing red colour specific pen neither go for rational decision by evaluating

alternatives ( economic view) nor will the person get influenced by marketers ( passive view).

Rather the person will try to purchase any pen closely resembled with his favourite possession.

Fourth and arguably most acknowledged view is ‘Cognitive View’ where consumers are

considered as “thinking problem solver’ which are receptive as well as actively searching for the

products and services that can fulfil their need. Consumer’s behaviour under this view is based

on information seeking and processing attributes usually directed by a goal. For instance, buying

a tooth paste from shop can have a certain goal of choosing product that can taste good

(Papers4you.com, 2006).

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Despite of critiques for each viewpoint, it can be considered a valid argument, that all four types

of decision making behaviour exist and provide marketer guidelines to analyze consumer

accordingly.

Based on general perception about most acknowledged and common ‘cognitive view’, Batra &

Kazmi (2004) asserts broader stages of a consumer’s decision making process that includes

problem identification (feeling need of a new car), information search ( on internet and

showrooms), evaluation of alternatives (comparing brands, for instance’ on basis of repute and

features), outlet selection and purchase ( purchasing selected item) and post-purchase action

(satisfaction or dissonance).

The discussion may be concluded on the notion that no matter which view point out of four

discussed above is common; it is an imperative fact that marketers have to realize existence of all

of them to analyze consumer behaviour effectively.

Three concepts of marketing and consumer behavior are presented, including (1) Demographic

factors (2) Marketing Mix (3) Consumer decision making process concept.

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

This study seeks to account for the effects of age of the respondent, gender, education,

occupation level and income seriously considered by the respondents on the amount of search.

Age

Consumers of different are groups obviously have very different needs and wants. Although

people who belong to the same age group differ in many other ways, they do tend to share a set

of values and common cultural experiences that they carry throughout life. (Natalie Perkins,

1993) .

Gender

Within every society, it is quit common to find products that are either exclusively or strongly

associated with the members of one sex. Sex roles have an important cultural component. It is

quite fitting to examine gender as a sub-cultural category (Schiffman, Kanuk, 1997)

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Education

Education levels vary substantially among regions of a nation and affect considerably on need

and wants of each region (Proctor, 1996).

Income

The effect of wage rate on search is less clear. While one may assume that the higher the hourly

wage rate, the less search one can expect owing to the greater opportunity costs of search, the

opposite may also be true. Studies have shown that lower income consumers are less efficient

shoppers owing to a lack of search resources or a lower ability to process information in the

search rather than a lack of motivation to search ( Andreasen, 1975; Goldman, 1976; Sturdivant,

1973), leading to a smaller propensity to search. In addition, some consumers may treat the

search for a new car as a highly pleasurable activity, thus further negating the economic effect on

search.

MARKETING MIX

1. Product

A product is a physical good, service, idea, person or place that is capable of offering tangible

and intangible attributes that individuals or organizations regard as so necessary, worthwhile or

satisfying that they are prepared to exchange money, patronage or some other unit value in order

acquire it. (Brassington and Pettitt 2000). For a product such as a car, consumer choice decisions

are likely to be more elaborate than for products that are generally less costly and less

complicated (Engel et al., 1990; Howard and Sheth, 1969). A car is a complex product with

many salient attributes, which consumers may use in product evaluations and subsequent brand

preference formation. However, product attribute information used in these evaluations may not

be easily accessible without involving consumers in relatively extensive information search.

Hence, the full information disclosure assumption associated with many experimental studies is

tenuous at best.

2. Price

Price is the amount of the money a buyers pays to a seller in exchange for products and services.

It reflects the economic sacrifice a buyer must take to acquire something. (William O. Bearden et

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al., 2004). Price is what a buyer must give up to obtain a product. It is often the most flexible of

the four marketing mix element the quickest element to change. Marketers can rise or lower

prices more frequently and easily than they can change other marketing mix variables. Price is an

important competitive weapon and very important to the organization because price multiplied

by the number of units sold equals total revenue for the firm. (Lam, Hair, and McDaniel, 2002).

3. Place

Distribution channels are designed to give customer ready access to goods and services at a

minimum cost. The choice of distribution method begins with a decision on planned market

coverage. Depending on the product and the number of customer, the organization must decide

whether it wants broad distribution or more selective coverage with a few dealers. (Dalrymple

and Parsous, 2000).

4. Promotion

Sale promotion is a range of tactical marketing techniques designed within a strategic marketing

framework to add value to a product or service in order to achieve specific sales and marketing

objective. (Brassington and Pettitt, 2000). The promotion mix is the direct way in which an

organization attempts to communicate with the various target audiences.

CONSUMER DECISION MAKING PROCESS CONCEPT

The consumer decision making process model represents a roadmap of consumers’ minds that

marketers and managers can use to help guide product mix, communications, and sales

strategies. There are fives stages when making decisions: need recognition, search information,

pre-purchase evaluations, consumption, and post-consumption evaluation. (Roger D. Blackwell,

Paul W. Miniard, and James F. Engel, 2001).

Figure 2.1: Customer Decision Making Process

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1. Problem Recognition

The buyer decision process begins with problem recognition (Douglas J.Dalrymple and Leonard

J. Parsous, 2000). This occur when a person perceives a difference between he or she has and

what he or she would like. Problem recognition can be awakened by information on past

experiences stored in memory, basic motives, or cues from reference groups. Motives are

enduring predisposition toward specific goals that both start and direct behavior.

2. Information Search

Once buyers become aware of their needs, the next step in the decision process is to gather

information on products and alternative solutions to the customer’s problem (Douglas J.

Dalrymple and Leonard J. Parsous, 2000).

3. Evaluation Of Alternatives

The evaluation phase of the consumer decision model is the most complex and the least

understood part of the process (Douglas J. Dalrymple and Leonard J. Parsous, 2000).

4. Purchase Decision

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Once consumers have selected a product alternative, the next step in the behavioral model is to

complete the purchase (Douglas J. Dalrynple and Leonard J. Parsous, 2000).

5. Post purchase Behavior

Once the choice has been made, a number of post-purchase processes occur. These processes

encompass the customers’ feeling of consonance or dissonance about the purchase, satisfaction

or dissatisfaction with the purchase, and communication to other customers or potential

customers regarding the positive/negative experience, product disposal and so fourth. After

purchasing the product, the consumer will experience some level of satisfaction or

dissatisfaction. The consumer’s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the product will influence

subsequent behavior. If the consumer is satisfied, he or she will exhibit a higher probability of

purchasing the product again. If they are dissatisfied, the customers respond differently such as

complain to the company, go to a lawyer, or complain to other groups, stopping using products

and so on (Kotler et al., 1994).

References

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CHAPTER -4

STATEMENT OF

THE PROBLEM

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4. SMALL CARS AND THEIR CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

Consumer behaviour also called as Consumer Psychology is a branch of applied Psychology,

marketing and Organizational Behaviour. It examines consumer decision making process and

ways in which they gather and analyze information from the environment. See the consumer

behaviour article for an overview. Consumer behaviour is a multidisciplinary field which is

integral to Psychology and aspects of household economy studied in microeconomics.

Top 10 Small Cars in India

So many small cars swarming around the Indian auto market truly makes it a Confusions Galore.

Here is identifying the Top 10 Small Cars that have influenced the lifestyle of an everyday

person.

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Tata Indica

Tata entered the car market in 1998 with the launch of the Indica. Earlier this model had some

flaws and was notorious for breaking down, until Tata launched an improved version in the form

of Indica V2. Now it comes with a newer face and slightly updated interiors as the Indica Xeta.

A 5-speed manual transmission is standard. The Tata Indica plays host to a 1.4L diesel engine

that gives 53 bhp and this engines Turbo version churns out 67 bhp. The 1.2L Xeta petrol engine

generates 64 bhp. Tata Indica provides a great mileage compared to other cars of the same

segment. The estimated fuel economy average is 13 km/l in the city and 17 km/l on the highway.

The starting price tag is Rs 2.56 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Design and Interior

The car has features like block shock absorbers, easy shift gears, a smooth ride suspension, a

super drive engine and wide tread tyres. The tea-drop headlights and bison tail lamps are its

striking features. Tata Indica comes with attractive exteriors which include powerful fog lamps,

rear spoiler with integrated LED stop lamp and chrome lining on grill and bonnet.

The vehicle accommodates five people comfortably. The car boasts spacious interiors. It is the

first compact car to offer air conditioning and electric windows in India. Its rear seats of this

vehicle are fully foldable, providing space for extra luggage.

Variants and Price

The car is available in petrol and diesel versions. The price tag begins at approx Rs 3.3 lakhs.

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Engine

The 1.4L diesel engine of the car produces a power of 54.2 hp @ 5000 rpm and 85.0 Nm of

torque @ 2500 rpm. The petrol engine (1.4L) of the vehicle delivers a maximum power of 60.8

hp @ 5000 rpm and a torque of 105.0 Nm @ 2500 rpm.

Safety

For safety, the car has been equipped with driver/passenger seat belt warning and door open

warning. It also has side-impact beams, rigid monochrome frame and child safety locks to ensure

a safe and secured drive. The car has disc front and drum rear brakes which can bring car to a

rapid halt. Rack & Pinion makes it easy for the driver to control the car.

Specifications of Tata Indica V2

Engines

Type 475 IDI with Microprocessor based Engine Management System

(ECU)

No. of cylinders 4 inline

Piston Displacement 1405 cc

Maximum Power 53.5 PS @ 5500 rpm

Maximum Torque 85 Nm @ 2500 rpm

Compression Ratio 22:1

Suspension

Front Independent, Wish Bone type, with McPherson strut, Antiroll

Bar

Rear Independent,Semi trailing arm with coil spring mounted on

hydraulic shock absorbers

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Steering

Type Rack and pinion

Turning Radius 4.9 m

Brakes

Type Dual circuit, diagonally split, vacuum assisted, with PCR Valves

Front Ventilated disc

Rear Drum

Tyres & Wheels

Type Radial

Size 165 x 65 R13

Seating

Capacity Five

Weight

Kerb Weight (kg) 995

Fuel Tank

Capacity 37 litres

Dimension

Ground Clearance 170 mm

Wheelbase 2400 mm

Length 3675 mm

Height 1485 mm

Width 1665 mm

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Maruti Suzuki Alto

Alto is Maruti Udyog’s subcompact offering to India and has become the most popular design

and sold like ‘hot cake’ in the small car segment. This hatchback can be described as a small &

cute car with adequate power, low maintenance, and awesome fuel economy. A 5-speed manual

transmission comes as standard. The 796 cc engine produces a maximum power of 46 bhp and a

torque of 62 Nm giving fuel economy of 18 km/l. Its interiors are satisfactory with comfortable

seating and good upholstery. The styling is conservative but tasteful for the common man who

thinks that a car is an extension of their personality. The starting price tag is Rs 2.68 Lakh (ex-

showroom Delhi).

POWERTRAIN

Engine: 796cc, Inline-three, petrol

Transmission: 5-forward, 1-reverse, manual

Max power: 47 bhp@5000 rpm

Max torque: 6.7 kgm@3000 rpm

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 3495/1495/1460

Wheelbase: 2360 mm

Ground clearance: 166 mm

Turning radius: 4.6 m

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Kerb weight: 725/740 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 35 litres

Boot volume: 175 litres

Tyres: 145/80 R12

PERFORMANCE

0-60 kph: 6.9 secs

0-100 kph: 20.4 secs

Top speed: 138 kph

Mileage (overall): 15 kpl

PRICE: Rs 2.36 to 2.86 lakh

Hyundai Santro Xing

Hyundai Motors India Limited launched its hatch ‘Santro’ in 1999. Along with the Maruti Alto

and WagonR, Hyundai Santro is India’s most popular ‘B’ segment car. The Santro was

revamped in 2003 and was renamed ‘Santro Xing’. Xing comes with a 1.1L Inline-4 engine that

provides 62 bhp and has an estimated fuel efficiency of 9 km/l in the city and 11 km/l on the

highway. CNG variants are also available in appropriate cities. Santro Xing comes with a 5-

speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. A three-spoke power steering wheel with

central locking and front power windows was the selling point when Santro was first launched.

The starting price tag is Rs 2.7 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

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POWERTRAIN

Engine: 1086cc, Inline-four, petrol

Transmission: 5-forward, 1-reverse, manual/ 4-speed auto

Max power: 62 bhp@5500 rpm

Max torque: 9.1 kgm@3500 rpm

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 3565/1525/1590

Wheelbase: 2380 mm

Ground clearance: 172 mm

Turning radius: 4.4 m

Kerb weight: 854/868 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 35 litres

Boot volume: 218 litres

Tyres: 155/70 R13

PERFORMANCE

0-60 kph: 5.5 secs

0-100 kph: 14.6 secs

Top speed: 150 kph

Mileage (overall): 13 kpl

PRICE: Rs 2.72 to 4.00 lakh

Chevrolet Spark

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GM launched Chevrolet Spark in India as a come-back vehicle to the long forgotten Matiz.

Chevrolet Spark is produced at GM's Halol factory near Baroda. The first striking feature in the

Spark is its unconventional interior layout with a gracefully designed, clear, and easy-to-read

instrument panel placed in the center of the dashboard. Flexible seating options with spacious

head and leg room make the drive comfortable. The Spark comes with a 1.0L Inline-4 petrol

engine that generates 63 bhp and is coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. The estimated fuel

economy is 12/17 km/l (city/highway). The Spark is easily the cutest looking small hatch today,

but the recently launched i10 is definitely a competitor for this position now. The starting price

tag is close to Rs 3.1 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

POWERTRAIN

Engine: 995cc, Inline-four, petrol

Transmission: 5-forward, 1-reverse, manual

Max power: 62 bhp@5400 rpm

Max torque: 9.02 kgm@4200 rpm

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 3495/1495/1518

Wheelbase: 2345 mm

Ground clearance: 170 mm

Turning radius: 4.6 m

Kerb weight: 840 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 38 litres

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Boot volume: 170 litres

Tyres: 155/70 R13

PERFORMANCE

0-60 kph: 6.4 secs

0-100 kph: 15.2 secs

Top speed: 164 kph

Mileage (overall): 12 kpl

PRICE: Rs 2.92 to 4.01 lakh

Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Launched in the year 2000, the Maruti WagonR met with a lukewarm response from the market

and the initial sales were sluggish at best largely because the Hyundai Santro was launched much

before and was still in the spot light. However, in recent times, WagonR has picked up its

popularity and become a fast moving car in the small car segment. It is available in petrol and

LPG versions with a 1.1L Inline-4 engine that produces 64 bhp (petrol) and 57.5 bhp (LPG). A

5-speed manual and a 3-speed automatic are available as transmission options. Interiors are at its

best with a three spoke steering wheel, an auto lock system, enhanced front power windows, and

rear door pockets. The car gives fuel economy of 13.1 km/l in LPG variant, 17 km/l in petrol

variant with manual transmission and 13.7 km/l in petrol variant with automatic transmission.

The starting price tag is Rs 3.28 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

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Design and Interior

Interior of the car has accessories like Plush Upholstery, Front Ashtray, Front and Rear Door

Pocket, Cup Holder, Moulded Roof Lining, Rear Split Seats, Front Seat Head Rest, Rear Seat

Head Rest, Reclining and Sliding Front Seats, Moulded Floor Carpet, Luggage Compartment

Carpet, Door Trim Fabric, Front Door Arm Rest, Cabin Lamps, Console Box, Vanity Mirror,

Boot Lamp etc, which make traveling in car absolutely comfortable.

The plush upholstery lures the customers, while the door trim fabric looks trendy. Interiors are

adorned with an elegant instrumental cluster. The rear seat can be folded to accommodate

luggage. The vehicle has little but useful facilities in nook and corners of the cabin.

Variants, Price and Mileage

The car is available in the variants of

WagonR LX E3 MINOR-06

WagonR LX LPG BS III

WagonR LXi

WagonR LXI LPG BS3 MINOR-06

WagonR VXi ABS

WagonR AX

The car is available in the price range of Rs 3.2 lakhs to Rs 4.5 lakhs.

Engine

Wagon R is equipped with1061cc MPFI low friction engine which delivers an awesome

64bhp@6200rpm power for smooth pick-up and fast acceleration. Equipped with 1.1-litre MPFI

ignition system, the engine delivers maximum power of 64 bhp @ 6200 rpm. The maximum

torque is 84 Nm @ 3500 rpm.A 32 bit on-board computer with diagnostic capability monitors

the air-fuel ratio for maximum fuel efficiency.

Safety

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is equipped with myriad safety features. Systems incorporated are

36

Antilock Braking System (ABS) and iCAT intelligent computerized anti-theft system. The VXi

variant of the vehicle is equipped with dual SRS airbags to safeguard the occupants in case of

collision.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF MARUTI WAGON R

Dimensions in mm

Length 3495

Width 1495

Height 1660

Wheelbase 2360

Front Track 1295

Rear Track 1290

Min. Ground Clearance 165

Weight in kg

Kerb Weight 825 (LX, LXi), 830 (Vxi), 840 (AX)

Gross Vehicle Weight 1225 (LX, LXi), 1230 (VXi), 1240 (AX)

Capacity

Seating Capacity 4 persons

Fuel Tank Capacity 35 litres

Engine

Swept Volume 1061cc

Engine Type 4 cylinder in line, FC Engine, 4 Valves per cylinder, MPFI

Engine Control 16 - Bit Electronic Control Module (ECM) in Bharat Stage II variant 32 - Bit Electronic Control Module (ECM) in Bharat Stage III variant

Max. Power, bhp 64@6200 rpm

Max. Torque, Nm 84@3500 rpm

37

Power Steering

Type Electronic Power Steering (EPS) (LXi, VXi & AX)

Transmission

Type Manual (LX, LXi, VXi) 5 speed, All- synchromesh with two overdrive gears Automatic (AX), 3 speed

Suspension System

Front McPherson Strut with torsion type roll control device

Rear Coil spring, gas-filled shock absorbers with three-link rigid axle and isolated trailing arms

Hyundai i10

The Korean auto major launched the Hyundai i10 at the end of 2007 to bridge the gap between

the Getz Prime and the Santro Xing. Compact cars being India's favourite, Hyundai has chosen

the right place to launch the model. The wheels pushed out to the corners to maximize interior

space. i10 is available in two major choices: iRDE and Kappa. The basic variant level includes

air-conditioning, electric front windows, central locking, tinted glass, body-coloured bumpers,

and an integrated six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo. Sunroof, auto dimming interior lights, and a rear-

window wiper are optional features available in the car. Doors are large with body-coloured door

handles and power door locks. It has total five doors including a large hatchback door in the

back. The 5-speed manual transmission is standard with a choice of two engines: 1.1L iRDE I4

and 1.2L I4. i10. The car gives an impressive fuel economy of 12/15 km/L (city/highway). The

price starts with Rs 3.39 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

38

Skoda Fabia

The Czech car manufacturer, Skoda Auto of the Volkswagen Group has introduced its second

generation Skoda Fabia in India as a 2008 model. Fabia comes in both diesel and petrol variants

with 4 options: Classic, Ambiente, Elegance and Active. Fabia offers a choice of one diesel and

2 petrol engines. A splendid 70bhp 1.4-litre PD TDI Inline-3 diesel engine, an 86bhp 1.4-litre

MPI Inline-4 and a 70bhp 1.2 MPI I4 petrol engine are available across all four variants. The

engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The Skoda Fabia stands apart for its plush

interiors include convenient height-adjustable driver and co-passenger seats, easy-to-read

instrumentation with multi-information display system, power windows, optional parktronic rear

parking display, optional electric sunroof and lots more. Standard features in the Fabia are fog

lamps, rear defogger, power steering wheel, and single CD/MP3 audio player with 4 speakers.

The starting price tag is Rs. 5.38 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Design and Interiors

Skoda Fabia is equipped with appealing external colors and high-quality material in the interiors.

The car has available boot capacity of 300 and when the rear seats of Fabia are folded down, it

increases it to 1163 litres. The car has larger legroom for all passengers. The driver and front

passengers have high seats, making driving easier for them. Space in the Front and Rear Seat has

been effectively used.

Newly designed taillights add to the appeal of rear part. Alloy wheels with wide tyres look

39

stylish. The design element of Skoda Fabia also includes an electrically controlled sunroof,

which can be slide-opened with a push button. The dual tone designed interiors of Skoda Fabia

looks pretty to the passengers.

Variants, Price and Mileage

The two variants of the car are

1.2L (1198cc) Petrol

1.4L (1422cc) Diesel

It is priced between Rs 5-6 lakhs.

Engine

The car has 3 cylinders/1.2 litre engine in Petrol and 3 cylinders/1.4 litre engine in diesel version.

diesel engine produces a maximum power of 68 bhp at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of

155nm at 1600-2800rpm. The 1.4L MPI petrol engine on the other hand, delivers a maximum

power of 85 bhp and 132 Nm of maximum torque.

Safety

The car has Electronic Control for opening & closing of windows and elbow rest at rear. Side air

bags reduce the risk of injury for the passengers. Seat Belt on the rear seat reduces the risk of

forward movement for a child in the event of collision. The car is equipped with ABS (Anti-

Lock Braking System), Dual Rate brake booster, ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) and ESP

(Electronic Stabilization Program).

40

Hyundai Getz Prime

Hyundai Motors India Ltd (HMIL), the third largest car manufacturer in the country and the

largest exporter of cars from India, launched the new and improved hatchback called Getz Prime

to replace its not-so-hot Getz model to compete with the Maruti Swift and Chevrolet Aveo U-

VA. Engine options of the Prime include a 1.3L petrol engine that produces 82 bhp, a 1.1L petrol

engine that churns out 66 bhp, and a 1.5L diesel engine that generates 108 bhp. The Prime comes

with a 5-speed manual transmission and an estimated fuel efficiency of 12/15 km/l

(city/highway). It is one of the most spacious cars in its segment. A tilt steering ensures easy

maneuvering. The starting price tag is Rs 3.95 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Design and Interior

The car has impressive sleek design and delicate looks. The front grille has been given a new

look. The chrome strip of the grille enhances the sporty look of its exteriors. Sleek tail-lamps and

tilted add to its distinct look. It is equipped with features like Air-conditioning, Heater,

Adjustable Rear Seat Inclination, Full Door Armrest, Utility Tray, Luggage Tray, Parcel Shelf,

Room Lamp, Low Fuel Warming Lamp, Double Folding rear seat, and many more, which

combine to make the car a delightful entity. The car has enough space to take five people on

comfortable ride. Higher seating arrangement supports an easy ingress and egress.

Variants, Price & Mileage

The car is available in variants like

GLE

GVS

41

GLS

GLX

Price tag of the car is between Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 5.25 lakhs.

Hyundai is available in color variants of Bright Silver, Ebony Black, Noble White and Electric

Blue.

Engine

A 12V, 4 Cylinder Inline, MPFI, 1.3-Litre SOHC engine runs the car. It delivers an amazing

power of 82.9 ps at 5500 rpm and a torque of 11.8 Kgm at 3200 rpm.

Safety

The car is equipped with Rear Bumper Reflectors which avoid any hazardous situation by

reflecting the light falling on them from the trailing vehicle. It has energy absorbing collapsible

steering, clutch lock and anti lock brake system. The Front Ventilated Disc & Rear Drum Brakes

contribute to GETZ's surefooted, confident braking ability. The optional Anti Lock Brake

System (ABS) modulates brake pressure in sudden braking situations and prevents wheel lock or

skidding.

Classification Feature GL GLS GLS With ABS

Dimensions

OverallLength (mm) 3810

Overall Width (mm) 1665

Overall Height (mm) 1515

Wheel Base (mm) 2455

42

Engine

No. of Cylinders 4

Displacement (cc) 1341

Max Power (ps @ rpm) 82.9@5500

Max Torque (kgm @ rpm)

11.8@3200

Tyres

Size 155/80 R13

175/70 R13 175/65 R14

Brakes

Front Ventilated Discs

Rear Drum

Suspensions

Front Mcpherson Strut

Rear Coupled torsion beam axle

Rear -Shock Absorbers Gas Filled

43

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Suzuki’s position as the world leader in manufacturing compact cars is well known. 21 engineers

and designers in India got together to create a unique model and design. ‘Swift’ was created with

Japanese technology and European styling. It is an attractive upgrade for small car owners.

Clever pricing makes it fantastic value for money. It is highly desirable, fun to drive, and very

cool. The 1.3L engine generates 87 bhp in the petrol version and 75 bhp in the diesel version

with fuel economy of 15.9 km/l and 21 km/l, respectively. The cabin is well designed and

controls are well laid out which gives the interior a classy look. A well-designed instrument

cluster with digital tripmeter and tachometer provides precise information to the driver and a

three-spoke power steering ensures responsive handling. Swift comes with a 5-speed manual

transmission with cable-shift mechanism. The starting price tag is Rs 3.96 Lakh (ex-showroom

Delhi).

Design and InteriorsThe car has great design and equally good interiors. It has a clean-sheet design, built on a newly developed platform with three and five-door models on offer. It has adopted contemporary mechanicals. Features like torsion beam rear suspension and electronic brake force distribution have been incorporated. Enough legroom and luggage space is available in the car.The automobile has fabric accented trendy looking door trims. The boot can accommodate plenty of luggage. The long wheelbase and width of the car mean high level of comfort and spaciousness.

Variants, Price and MileageVarious variants of Maruti Suzuki Swift on availability are

Swift LXiSwift VXiSwift ZXi

44

Swift Diesel LdiSwift Diesel Vdi

The car is available in the price tag of Rs. 4 Lakhs to Rs. 5.60 Lakhs.

EngineThe car is equipped with 1298cc engine with 4 cylinders and 16 valves. The maximum power is 87bhp @ 6000rpm, and maximum torque 113Nm @ 4500rpm. As for fuel distribution, it is Multipoint injection.

SafetyA range of safety features have been incorporated in Maruti Suzuki Swift. The car is available with a number of safety features like collapsible steering column, front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load limiters, and energy absorbing trim all around. Active safety technologies include dual front airbags, and antilock braking system together with electronic brake-force-distribution have been roped in.

Technical Specifications Of Maruti Swift

Body Type Hatchback

Numbers of Doors 5

Seating Capacity 5

Tyre 165 / 80 R14 / 185/70 R14 (tubeless)

Weights

Kerb Weight 980 kgs. (LXi) / 1000 kgs. (VXi) / 1010 kgs. (ZXi)

Gross Vehicle Weight 1415 kgs.

160 kmph

Fuel Tank Capacity 43 litres

Engine

Capacity 1298cc

Number of Cylinders 4

Number of Values 16

Bore x Stroke 74.0 x 75.5 mm

Compression Ratio 9.0:1

45

Maximum Power 87bhp @ 6000rpm

Maximum torque 113Nm @ 4500rpm

Fuel distribution Multipoint Injection

Transmission

Type Five-speed manual with syncromesh in all gears, one reverse

Gear Ratios

1st 3.545

2nd 1.904

3rd 1.280

4th 0.966

5th 0.757

Reverse 3.272

Maini REVAi

Reva, the India’s first electric car is a 2-door fully automatic hatchback that is fun to drive and

easy to maneuver. Reva is available in 3 variants: Standard, AC, and Classe. The REVAi runs on

batteries that deliver 18bhp peak power with 52 Nm torque and is equipped with an on-board

charger that can be plugged into a 15-amp socket. It has a completely automatic transmission

involving no clutch or gears. The car delivers an estimated 80kms on full charge. The comfort

and convenience on the new REVAi include an on-board mobile phone charger and foldable rear

seats for extra luggage space. The Maini REVAi Seats are in dual-tone and the driving position

46

is elevated. Climate controlled seats are optional. The starting price is close to Rs. 3 Lakh (ex-

showroom Delhi).

Reva Car

Rewa is a battery operated electric car, specially designed for city roads. A totally pollution free

vehicle, it has an onboard charger to facilitate easy charging, which can be carried out by

plugging into any 15 Amp socket at home or work. A fully automatic car, it has no clutch or

gears.

Design and Interior

The Classe variant of the car has body colored bumpers, with trendy hub-caps and stylish Decals.

Maintenance cost is low. The hatchback version provides comfortable ride for the passengers.

With high seating position and wide doors, passengers have easy ingress and egress. All seats in

the car have adjustable head-rest, making the journey comfortable.

The car has well-appointed interiors, with ample space for the passengers and luggage. All the

three models have foldable rear seats, which means that you can make extra room for the

luggage. Small storage spaces have been placed tactfully in the car. An efficient air conditioning

system has been mounted on Rews AC. The compressor is powered by a separate electric motor.

AM/FM stereo system ensures that you have music to listen while you journey. Accoutrements

like dual-tone leather eats, floor mats and luxury carpets have put in the Classe variant.

Variants and Price

Reva is available in three variants - Reva Standard, Reva AC, and Reva Classe.

Safety

The car has safety features like dent-proof ABS body panels, side-impact beams, a steel space

frame and dual-braking system. The steel space frame protects the passengers in the event of

collision. All models have scratch proof ABS body panels. The cars can withstand small impact

collisions. Side impact beams are fitted on the doors. Large crush zone in the front ensures that

the passengers do not get a serious injury in the event of a collision.

47

Technical Specifications of Reva

Type Two door hatch back

Payload 4 persons (227 Kg)

Top Speed 65 km/hr

Charge time 80% charge in 2.5 hrs; 100% charge in 6 hrs

INTEGRATED POWER SYSTEM

Motor High torque (70 Nm), separately excited DC motor, 13 KW peak

Controller 400 Amp microprocessor based with regenerative braking

DIMENSIONS

Length 2638 mm

Width 1324 mm

Height 1510 mm

Ground Clearance 150 mm

Wheel Base 1710 mm

Turning Radius 3505 mm

Unladen Weight 750 kg

TATA NANO

Manufacturer Tata Motors

Parent company Tata Sons

Also called The People's Car

48

Production 2008—present

Assembly Charodi, near Sanand-Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Predecessor none

Class City car, Unlocalized, Tier 0

Body style(s) 4-door saloon

Layout RR layout

Engine(s)2 cylinder SOHC petrol Bosch multi-point fuel injection (single injector) all aluminium 623 cc (38 cu   in )

Transmission(s) 4 speed synchromesh with overdrive in 4th

Wheelbase 2,230 mm (87.8 in)

Length 3100 mm (122 in)[1]

Width 1500 mm (59.1 in)[1]

Height 1600 mm (63 in)[1]

Kerb weight 580 kg (1,300 lb)-600 kg (1,300 lb)[2]

Fuel capacity 15 L (4 US gal; 3 imp gal)[2]

RelatedMaruti AltoChevrolet Spark

Designer Girish Wagh, Justin Norek of Trilix, Pierre Castinel

The Tata Nano is a rear-engined, four-passenger city car built by Tata Motors, aimed primarily

at the Indian market. The car is very fuel efficient, achieving around 78mpg on the highway and

around 92 in the city. It was first presented at the 9th annual Auto Expo on 10 January 2008, at

Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.[4] Nano had a commercial launch on March 23, 2009 and ,a 49

booking period from April 9 to April 25, generating more than 200,000 bookings for the car. [5][6]

The sales of the car will begin in July 2009,[7] with a starting price of Rs 115,000 (rupees), which

is approximately equal to UK£1,467 or US$2,421 as of June 2009. This is cheaper than the

Maruti 800, its main competitor and next cheapest Indian car priced at 184,641 Rupees.[8][9][10]

Tata had sought to produce the least expensive production car in the world[11] — aiming for a

starting price of Rs.100,000 (approximately US$2,000 in June 2009).

POWERTRAIN

Engine: 624cc, Parallel twin, petrol

Transmission: 4-forward, 1-reverse, manual

Max power: 34.5 bhp@5250 rpm

Max torque: 4.9 kgm@2500-4000 rpm

50

DIMENSIONS

L/W/H (mm): 3099/1495/1652

Wheelbase: 2230 mm

Ground clearance: NA

Turning radius: 4 m

Kerb weight: 600 kg

Fuel tank capacity: 15 litres

Boot volume: 80 litres

Tyres: 135/70 R12 (F), 155 R12

PERFORMANCE

0-60 kph: 8.66 secs

0-100 kph: 31.3 secs

Top speed: 106 kph

Mileage (overall): 23 kpl (claimed)

PRICE: 1.25 to 1.75 lakh (estimated)

MORE RECENT CARS

1) Chevrolet

CHEVROLET AVEO U-VA

Incredibly Spacious

51

The Hatchback car family of India has got a new member

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA from the world's largest car maker General

Motors (GM). This small car in the B segment is big in space and

comfort & better in performance and safety. U-VA boasts roomy

and premium quality interior with sporty speedometer,

tachometer, comfortable seats for all occupants, convenient cup

holder (front & rear) has been nicely graced with peppy and

attractive hatchback. Chevy U-VA With its comfy spaciousness and attractive features may pose

a tough competition to its rival models from Maruti and Hyundai.

Chevy Aveo U-VA has been designed thoughtfully to deliver hassle free riding experience in different

Indian road conditions. Launched in three variants Chevy U-VA is available for sale throughout India in

beautiful color options bearing a price tag of Rs. 4.0 lacs. .

Company Name Segment Maximum Power

General Motors India Pvt.Ltd. Hatchback 76 PS @ 5500 rpm with 110 Nm @ 4400 rpm

Striking Features of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

Attractive sporty looks

Body coloured bumper with catchy front chrome grill

Bright grey interior color scheme

Convenient cup holder at Front and Rear

Remote fuel filler and tailgate release

Engine check lamp

Door ajar warning lamp

Equipped with headlamp levelling device

Front and rear bumpers resistant to 2.5 MPH collision

52

Variants and Their Price

Variant Price (ex-showroom Delhi)

AVEO U-VA 1.2 Rs. 3,99,869.00

AVEO U-VA 1.2 LS Rs. 4,40,385.00

AVEO U-VA 1.2 LT Rs. 4,80,437.00

(Please Note: The price range is ex-showroom and based on the close approximation. Please

check the latest prices and variant specifications with your dealer)

Color Options in Chevrolet Aveo

Blazing Red

Platinum Metallic

Icy Blue

Intense Black

Cashmere

Rainforest Green

Quote-Unquote

"We have re-engineered the car to suit Indian conditions and it carries a local content of less than

50 per cent, which we plan to take up to about 55 per cent in the coming time."

Said Mr Rajeev Chaba, General Motors India President and Managing Director

Technical Specifications of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA

53

Dimensions & Weights

Overall Length 3880 mm

Overall Width 1670 mm

Overall Height 1495 mm

Wheel Base 2480 mm

Ground Clearance 188 mm

Kerb Weight 1075 kg

Seating Capacity 5 person

Engine

No. Of Cylinders 4 cylinder/In line

Configuration SOHC

Torque 127 Nm @ 3400 rpm

Displacement (cc) 1150 cc

Transmission 05 Gears Manual

Top Speed 148 Km/Hour

Suspension

FrontMcpherson Struts with Anti Torsion roll bars, Hydraulic shock-absorbers

Rear Torsion Beam, Gas Filled shock-absorbers

Steering

Steering Type Power Assisted

Brakes

Front Ventilated Disc

Rear Self Adjusting Drum

Tyres

Type Steel

Wheels Size 5.0Jx13"

Performance

Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm)

76 PS @ 5500 rpm

Max. Torque (kg m/rpm)

110 Nm @ 4400 rpm

2) Hyundai

HYUNDAI i20

54

In the phase of dipping sale figures, India's leading automaker

Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), has stepped-up its

existing car model i10 with the refined one i20. The all new

Hyundai i20 car model is an another addition in the company's

hatchback cars stable that has been launched with more room for

the luggage, higher-quality interiors with the flexibility of seating that is near to its predecessor

i10. Hyundai i20 car was first showcased in the Paris Motor Show 2008 and in India it was

launched in the end of December 2008 meeting all existing emission norms including the Euro-

V. The newly launched Hyundai i20 car is equipped with the latest technology 1.2 litre Kappa petrol

engine that pumps out maximum power of 80 ps @ 5200 rpms. Hyundai i20 is up for sale throughout

India in three variants with seven colors and carries the ex-showroom price range starting from 5.0 Lacs

going upto 6.0 lacs for the top version.

Company Name Segment Performance

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Hatchback80 ps @ 5200 rpms (Max. Power)

11.4 nm/ 4000 (Max. Torque)

Striking Features of Hyundai i20 Car

Electrically adjustable outside mirror on both sides

Top variant features five spoke light-weight alloy wheels

USB port at the centre console for playing music on the i-pod

Globe box connected with the air-conditioning system of the car

Adjustable steering wheel for better riding comfortable

The seats with head rests can be adjusted at different angles

Safety of the car is assured by the responsive systems of ABS with EBD

55

Six air bags dual front, side and curtain keep the occupants safe in case of head-on

collision

Variants of Hyundai i20 Car

Hyundai i20 Magna

Hyundai i20 Asta

Hyundai i20 Asta (O)

Color Options in Hyundai i20 Car

Crystal White

Black Diamond

Sleek Silver

Silky Beige

Sparkle Blue

Berry Red

Dark Grey Metallic

Quote-Unquote

"Designed to meet the high quality standards, i20 is developed to meet the increasing customer

expectations in terms of styling, features and safety standards."

Said, H.S. Lheem, HMIL Managing Director.

Price of Hyundai i20 Car

56

The ex-show price of all new ranges between Rs. 5.0-6.0 Lakhs.

(Please Note: The price range is ex-showroom and based on the close approximation. Please

check the latest prices and variant specifications with your dealer)

Technical Specifications of Hyundai i20 Car

Dimensions & Weight

Length (mm) 3940

Width (mm) 1710

Height (mm) 1505

Wheelbase (mm) 2525

Seating Capacity 05

Engine

Type DOHC

Engine Configuration All Aluminium Engine, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve

Displacement (cc) 1197

Transmission 5-Speed Manual

Suspension

Front MacPherson Strut, Coil Spring

Rear Double Wishbone, Coil Spring

Brakes

Type Disc

Front / Rear Brakes Drum

Tyres

Size 175/70 R14, Tubeless

Type Steel Wheel

Performance

Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm) 80@ 5200

Max. Torque (Nm/rpm) 11.4@ 4000

Fuel Tank Capacity (ltrs) Fuel Tank Capacity (ltrs)

57

3) Maruti Suzuki

MARUTI SUZUKI 800

Change Your Life

For years Maruti 800 has remained the right opening car for

people who look for low cost of ownership and fuel efficiency. It

is a car perfectly made for the Indian roads. It goes in any

location, be it in town, around town, highways, busy streets,

narrow lanes... anywhere and everywhere.

In order to make the car more attractive, new engine has been

installed in M800. The M800 E 2 AC has been a major success.

Company Segment Biggest USP

Maruti Udyog Ltd. 'A' Best value for money on Indian roads.

Striking Features

Sleek

Slim dimensions.

Short turning radius of 4.4 m.

Unbeatable purchase price.

Hassle-free maintenance.

Model Variants

Maruti 800 Std - Bharat III

Maruti 800 AC - Bharat III

58

Color Variants

Icy Blue

Caribbean Blue

Super White

Silky Silver

Bright Red

Crystal Gold

Awards and Accolades

Maruti 800 stands tall as the most preferred automobile brand of over 23 lakh customers

across india by the Awaz Consumer Awards'06.

Price Tag

Variant Colour Type Ex-showroom Price (Rs.)

Maruti 800 Std -

Bharat IIINon-Metallic 191646

Maruti 800 Std -

Bharat IIIMetallic 194134

Maruti 800 AC -

Bharat IIINon-Metallic 213062

Maruti 800 AC -

Bharat IIIMetallic 215550

(Please Note: The price range is ex-showroom and based on the close approximation. Please

check the latest prices and variant specifications with your dealer)

Maruti Helpline

59

1800 1800 180 (Toll-Free)

Alternative Drives

Maruti Alto LX

Technical Specifications

Dimensions & Weight

Overall height 1405 mm

Overall length 3335 mm

Overall Width 1440 mm

Wheelbase 2175 mm

Minimum turning

radius4.4 m

Ground Clearance 170 mm

Seating Capacity 4 persons

Unladen weight 665 kg (AC BS III), 650 kg (Std. BS III)

Laden weight 1000 kg

Engine

Type 4 stroke cycle, water cooled SOHC (1C2V)

No. of cylinders 3

Piston

displacement796 cc

Maximum output

(Std.,AC)37 bhp at 5000 rpm

Maximum torque

(Std.,AC)59 Nm at 2500 rpm

Power Transmission

Std., AC 4-forward, all synchromesh, 1 reverse

Steering

60

Steering Rack & pinion

Suspensions

Front McPherson strut & coil spring

Rear Coil spring with gas filled shock absorbers

Brakes

Front Brakes Disc

Rear Brakes Drum

Tyres

Tyre Size (Radial) 145/70 R-12

Capacity

Fuel tank capacity 28 liters (BS III)

MARUTI SUZUKI ZEN ESTILO

Shape Your World

Maruti Suzuki has launched a new model to replace the existing

Zen with a new name Estilo which has been derived from Spanish

word 'style'. Estilo is all set to compete against the Hyundai

Santro, Tata Indica and possibly can eat into the sales of its own

model, the Swift. It will be somewhere between 3 and 4 lakh.

Maruti Udyog launched the Zen to cater to a slightly upmarket

customers then that of the Maruti 800 had. Estilo will also

capitalise on the same formula.

Justifying its name 'style', Zen Estilo wears an aerodynamic body in unique bean shape with stunning

body line complimented nicely with sizzling color options. The interiors of Estilo boasts a rich fabric

upholstery, ergonomically designed seats that adds up to the comfy driving pleasure for all occupants.

Just step inside Zen Estilo which is soft-plush from inside and sleek-dynamic from outside, would shape

your world in new dimension of comfort, style and performance.

61

Company Segment Maximum Power

Maruti Udyog Ltd. Hatchback 64 bhp @ 6200 rpm

Striking Features of Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

All new body line up in bean shape

Seats with adjustable head restraint

3 spoke Electronic Power Steering wheel

Side door beams and rear door child lock

Highly efficient Air conditioning with heating ventilation

Soft touch rich upholstery

Electrically adjusted rear view mirrors

Advanced engine technology and DDLI ignition system

Variants of Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

Maruti Zen Estilo LX

Maruti Zen Estilo LXi

Maruti Zen Estilo VXi

Available Colors of Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

Brilliant Yellow

Champagne Beige

Sparkling Olive

Virgin Blue

Purple Fusion

62

Pearl Silver

Bright Red

Pure White

Midnight Black

Price of Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo: The stylish, dynamic and efficient Zen Estilo is available

for sale throughout India having a price tag between Rs. 3.0-4.0 Lacs.

Technical Specifications of Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo

Dimensions & Weight

Length (mm) 3495

Width (mm) 1475

Height (mm) 1595

Wheelbase (mm) 2360

Ground Clearance

(mm)165

Turning Radius 4.6

Engine

Type 1.1L, 4-Cyl, F10D Petrol

Drive 2 Wheel Drive

Displacement (cc) 1061

Transmission 5 Speed Manual

Fuel System MPFI

Suspension

Front McPherson strut with torsion type roll control device

Rear Coil spring, Gas-filled shock absorbers with three link rigid and

63

isolated trailing arm

Brakes

Front Ventilated discs

Rear Drums

Tyres

Wheel Size 4J x 13

Tyres 145 / 70 R13

Performance

Max. Horsepower 65 PS @ 6200 rpm

Max. Torque 84 Nm @ 3500 rpm

Capacity

Fuel Tank (Litre) 35

Seating Capacity 05

Maximum Speed 148 Km/Hour

Maruti Suzuki A-Star

Stop @ Nothing

India's largest automaker Maruti Suzuki India Limited has

unveiled its much awaited hatchback car, A Star in the Indian

auto market. A Star was first showcased in the Indian auto expo

in New Delhi, as a concept car and after launch A Star from

Maruti would be its fifth car model slated to be exported in the

International market as well. Maruti Suzuki A Star, the all new

entrant into the hatchback car segment in India, promises to

become the most fuel-efficient car in its category with an exceptional mileage of 20 kmpl. The

launch of A Star Car, which is the eighth consecutive car launch by Maruti, denotes the key

positioning of the market leader in the A2 car segment with 55% market share.

64

The all new Maruti Suzuki A Star features a sporty-designer looks and equipped with state-of-

the-art technology that promises to deliver a wonderful driving experience. A Star houses a

brand new KB series 998 cc engine under its hood that delivers 67 PS @ 6200 rpm and an

exceptionally good torque of 90 Nm @ 3500 rpms. Being light in weight this engine lowers the

vibration or noise and provides more fuel-efficiency in every litre. The A Star has been launched

as the next generation model of Alto car and would be built completely at the company's facility

at Manesar, Haryana.

A Star comes equipped with modern safety features including sound body teamed with lightness of the

structure, the airbags and ABS for diversion of aftermaths in case of the collision. It reflects the Total

Effective Control Technology (TECT) that absorb the shocks generated during the collision and keeps it

away from the reach of the occupants. The striking new A-Star is available for sale in nine sizzling colors,

three variants with the price range starting from Rs. 3.47 Lacs (ex-showroom Delhi).

Company Name Segment USP

Maruti Suzuki India Limited Hatchback67 PS @ 6200 rpm

90 Nm @ 3500 rpm

Striking Features of Maruti Suzuki A-Star

Powered with new-generation three-cylinder, light-weight aluminum K10B engine

Small turning radius of 4.5 meters

All-round gas damped suspension

Front suspension frame for better handling

Lightweight and Highly rigid body structure

Airbags and ABS

Comes with an integrated music system

Digital Console, Sporty Steering and short throw 6 gear shift

65

Available in nine sizzling colors

Variants of Maruti Suzuki A-Star

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Lxi

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Vxi

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Zxi

Color Options of Maruti Suzuki A-Star

Desert Brown

Supreme White

Bright Red

Paradise Blue

Sunlight Cooper

Midnight Black

Healing Green

Silky Silver

Azure Grey

Price of Maruti Suzuki A-Star

The sporty and futuristic Maruti Suzuki A Star Car is available for sale with a price range of Rs.

3.67-4.28 Lakh (ex-showroom).

(Please Note: The price range is ex-showroom and based on the close approximation. Please

check the latest prices and variant specifications with your dealer)

Technical Specifications of Maruti Suzuki A-Star

66

Dimensions & Weight

Length (mm) 3500

Width (mm) 1600

Height (mm) 1490

Wheelbase (mm) 2360

Kerb Weight (kgs) 870

Ground Clearance (mm) 170

Seating Capacity 05

Minimum Turning Radius (m) 4.5

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litre) 35

Engine

Type KB- Series

Displacement (cc) 998 cc

No. of Cylinders 03

Fuel Distribution Multi Point Injection

Transmission 05 Gears Manual

Suspension

Front McPherson sturt & coil spring

Rear Isolating trailing link & coil spring

Brakes

Front Ventilated Disc

Rear Drum

Tyres

Type Tubeless 155/80R13

Performance

67

Max. Horsepower (ps/rpm) 67/6200

Max. Torque (kg m/rpm) 90/3500

Steering

Steering Type Rack & Pinion, Power Assisted

4)Tata

INDICA VISTA

Tata Motors launched Vista, the next generation car in the Indica series, in August 2008. Vista is

nothing, but the revamped version of the Tata's first passenger car - Indica. The automobile

comes with refreshing looks, capacious interiors and attractive exteriors. State-of-the-art

technology has been used in its engineering. Tata Indica Vista truly fulfills the needs of those

Indian buyers who expect their cars to be spacious, stylish, and graceful.

Engine

The petrol-driven models of Tata Indica Vista are powered by 1.2L CVCP Safire engine, which

produces a maximum power of 65 bhp 5500 rpm and torque of 96 Nm @ 3000 rpm. The two

diesel variants of Tata Indica Vista are 1.4L turbocharged inter-cooled TDI engine and 1.3L

Quadrajet Common Rail diesel engine. With 71 bhp @ 4500 rpm of power, the TDI engine

delivers a maximum torque of 135 Nm @ 2500 rpm. The Quadrajet engine delivers a higher

torque, of 190 Nm @ 1750 rpm, and churns out a power of 75 bhp @ 4000 rpm. All the engines

of Tata Indica Vista have five-speed manual transmission.

Design And Comfort

The contemporary exteriors of Tata Indica Vista make a bold style statement. Adding to the

beauty of the vehicle are its new central character line on the hood and sharp crease lines on the

door below the beltline. The petal shaped headlights also look stunning. The 'trademark' smiling

front grille and tall taillights make the car stand out from the crowd. A comfortable ride for five

people is assured by Tata Indica Vista.

68

Interiors

The dual tone grey and beige interiors of Tata Indica Vista are elegant and spacious. The

instrument cluster is positioned in the centre of the dashboard. This enhances the in-driving

passenger involvement and improves driving visibility. There is a utility space in the floor

console under the seat. The deep glove box is spacious enough to store a number of small items.

Ride And Handling

The driver's seat of Tata Indica Vista is height-adjustable, while the steering wheel is tilt-adjustable,

ensuring an effortless driving experience. Transverse stiffness is enhanced by a sub-frame construction.

A better ride, comfortable drive and improved handling are facilitated by the new twist beam

suspension and gas-filled shock absorbers. High strength steel panels have been used in the body of the

car, to enhance the bending stiffness.

Safety

Although Tata Indica Vista is not equipped with safety features such as airbags and ABS (Anti

Brake locking System), the vehicle offers a safe and comfortable ride for its occupants.

Variants, Price And Color

Aqua, Terra and Aura are the three variants of Tata Indica Vista. Each of these three variants is

powered by a different engine - TDI, Safire, and Quadrajet. Tata Indica Vista is available in a

variety of vibrant colors, including cavern grey, infinity Black, Noble Blue, Arctic Silver, Solar

Orange, Marine Silver and Gala Red. The variants of the automobile are priced between Rs 3.49

lakhs and Rs. 4.88 lakhs.

69

70

CHAPTER -5

RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES

71

5: OBJECTIVE

Objective of the Projected Study and Analysis the Market assessment of the Consumer

Behaviour Towards Small Cars: A Case Study of Patran City and their advantages.

1. To study the small segment cars and their purposes.

2. To study the main information services for choosing the small cars and important factors

in consumer behaviour.

3. To study the reason for switching to different model of vehicles and the features of small

segment cars.

4. To study the problems faced by travelers with the launch of Tata Nano and its effects on

the small segment cars.

72

CHAPTER -6

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

73

6: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The Research Methodology used by me for the purpose of this project is as follows:-

Research Design:-

The research design used here for this project is a combination of Exploratory & Explanatory

designs. First a general know about of the Small Segment Car Models and their market

structure. Then a personal interaction with the people concerned are made to figure out the

results.

Data Collection Method:-

According to the needed research of the project; I pursued both primary & secondary data

collection methods. I have used Auto web sites related to Small Segment Cars, some

publications on the net, & Small Car information broacher for secondary data collection. To

ensure the accuracy of the results the primary data collection method used is the structured

interview method.

Sampling:-

The sampling units in my project are Consumers. The sample size was small by following the

convenience sampling method. There were queries for the persons interacted & the questionnaire

have been attached at last.

Sample Size — 100

The sample size of my research is 100 consumers. Large samples give more reliable

results that is why I tried my best to cover more users (consumers) in Patran.

74

Sample Unit – Users (consumer)

Area of Survey — Patran

Data Availability: Data has been collected from the Users (Consumer) of Patran City.

The Research stands for :-

1. To know how of the actual phenomenon occurring & exploring the new ideas with a clear

& precise insight.

2. To test the hypothesis with being variables to be compared within their relationship.

Data Analysis & Interpretation:-

The statistical tools used by me are mainly average, Percentage, & comparisons etc. I would like

to give a brief points about

1. Questionnaire :- The questionnaires are given to respondent with no pressurization at all,

i.e. he/she is free to provide the information whatever the concern is. One thing to be kept

in mind that personal questions apart from name, address etc. should not be included.

2. Direct Interviews :- The direct interviews are one up against all the data collection tools

just because one can judge that what a person is telling to the surveyor. Although it is

time consuming but the information gathered is of much more weightage than others.

3. Sampling design, Procedure & Sample size :-A sample is always a part of the desired

universe & it should represent each & every aspect of the study being conducted. The

only thing is that the sample being chosen is of relevance & accurate source of

information. My sampling design is based on random sampling because each element

gets probability to be included & all choices made are independent of each other.

75

CHAPTER -7

DATA INTERPRETATION

& ANALYSIS

76

7: DATA INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS

1. Age Group

Table 1:

20-30 Years 26

30-40 Years 43

40-50 Year 21

50 Above 10

Graph 1:

Interpretation: With the results of the analysis, it is clear that most of the car users are from

the age 30-40.

77

2. Income Group

Table 2:

10000-20000 26

20000-30000 42

30000-40000 21

40000 Above 11

Graph 2:

Interpretation: The main group is the one who has the salary between 20000 and 30000.

78

3. You belong to the following category of the society?

Table 3:

Professional 39

Student 18

Govt. Service 21

Businessman 22

Graph 4:

Interpretation: Car is the need of the professional ones and businessman too, thereby this

category has maximum ownership of car alongwith Govt. Service man also.

79

4. Your Educational Background

Table 4:

Matric 2

Higher Secondary 12

Graduate 42

Post Graduate 44

Graph 4:

Interpretation: Maximum respondents are graduate and post graduate ones i.e, 42 % and 44 %

other are the high secondary ones.

80

5. Which company car you have in small segment

Table 5:

Maruti 39

Hyundai 26

Chevrolet 11

TATA 17

Fiat 4

Skoda 3

Graph 5:

Chart: 1

81

From the analysis it has been clear that most of the Indian People Segment like to purchase Maruti Suzuki. We have concluded the survey and asked the question from 100 candidates and 39 responded that they have Maruti Suzuki as their home car.

6. What according to you are the main leader of small segment cars?

Table 6:

Maruti 41

Hyundai 34

Chevrolet 7

TATA 11

Fiat 3

Skoda 4

Graph 6:

82

The main leader of the small car segment cars are Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai

7. How long you have been driving this car?

Table 7:

0-1 Yrs 39

1-3 Yra 32

3-5 Yrs 18

More than 5 Yrs 11

Graph 7:

0-1 Yrs39%

1-3 Yra32%

3-5 Yrs18%

More than 5 Yrs

11%

0-1 Yrs

1-3 Yra

3-5 Yrs

More than 5 Yrs

Interpretation: Out of 200 respondents, 11% of the respondents are driving this car for more

than 5 years, 18 % are driving for 3-5 years, 32% for 1-3 years and the rest 39 % for 1 years.

83

8. What is the purpose of using this car?

Table 8:

Business 23

Heavy Works 3

Journey 12

Family Purpose 62

Graph 8:

Interpretation: Most of the respondents use the cars for Business purpose that is 31 % and more

in case of journey that is 39 %, for heavy works 24 % and least for family purpose.

84

9. What are the main information services for choosing the small cars exploring their

features?

Table 9:

Manufacturer 39Dealer Website 21

Family and friends 47

Information Website 15

T.V Advertising 49

Print Advertising 22Car Dealers 19Financial Service Broker. 3

Graph 9:

85

10. What are different important factors in consumers choice of small cars.

Table 10:

Reliability of brand 67Safety cars 49Price of Vehicle 71Fuel Economy 66Quality of Interior Styling 41

Extra Options at no extra cost 39Brand name of vehicle 54After sale services 61Vehicle Availability 23Environmental Factors 25Additional warranty coverage or services credit 42Ability to research information on the internet 14

Graph 10:

86

11. What are the reasons for switching to a different make of vehicle

Table 11:

Vehicle Quality 57Fits Needs 65

Reliability of make / brand 58Wanted to try new 33Enjoyment of vehicle 26

Fuel economy / Gas mileage 67Safety 43Customer Service Quality 63Manufacture Incentive 21

Graph 11:

87

12. What according to you are the main features of small segment car?

Table 12:

Design 56

Performance 41

Safety Features 39

Variants & Colour 47

Fuel Efficient 43

Graph 12:

Chart: 5

88

Main features of Small Segment cars are design, performance, safety features, variants and colours and also main feature is fuel efficient.

13. What actual problems are to be faced by travelers with the launch of small cars like

Alto 800?

Table 13:

Traffic Congestion 43

Parking Facility 36

Rise in Pollution 21

Graph 13:

Traffic Congestion

43%

Parking Facility36%

Rise in Pollution

21%

Traffic Congestion Parking Facility Rise in Pollution

Interpretation: According to 100 respondents, 21 % replied that with the launch small cars like

Alto 800 there will be rise in pollution, 36 % replied that there will be a problem of parking

facility and the rest 43 % replied that there will be traffic congestion.

89

14. What will be the effect of Alto 800 on the small segment cars?

Table 14:

Cut prices 27

Herald a new economic race 43

Exploit Emerging Markets 30

Graph 14:

Cut prices27%

Herald a new economic race

43%

Exploit Emerging Markets

30%

Cut prices Herald a new economic race Exploit Emerging Markets

Interpretation: According to 100 respondents, the effect of Alto 800 car on small segment car

will be 27 % that there will be cut prices, 30 % that it will exploit emerging markets and the rest

43 % replied that herald a new economic race in the automobile industry.

90

CHAPTER -8

SUMMARY AND

CONCLUSION

91

8: CONCLUSION

Small Car Segment have to provide better facilities like free testing camps and

gifts so as to raise the sales and promotion

Small Car Segment are launching their new models with variant colours to make

the consumer feel free from the choices.

Being in the market of hype competition car companies making brand positioning

of their models. They used to put free test camps and use actors and actresses,

even fashion models in the Auto Expo events.

Checking complaints have now become the first priority of the company, for that

they install call centers to rectify those problems.

At present Small Car Segment sales are high due to their better service providing

factor and rectifying problems.

With the launch of Tata Nano, respondents responding that there may be a effect

on the sales of the small segment cars of other companies

92

SUGGESTIONS

93

SUGGESTIONS

Small Car Segment have to come with an idea to launch a low cost Small car

segment with style and elegant features so that it can reach to each and every class

of the society.

Average or mileage of the Small Car Segment is the main criteria for the sale of

cars as petrol and Diesel prices are hiking like anything, companies have to

provide a technology for better mileage and less fuel consumption.

The complaints of the consumer should have to be rectified by the companies for

better CRM (Customer Relationship Management).

Companies have to arrange free testing camps to rectify the problems and

efficiency of the Small Car Segment.

If given better facilities and services, the consumer do recommend it to the nears

and dears, so in return it will raise the sale of the Small Car Segment.

Mostly driven by the family members.

94

LIMITATIONS

95

LIMITATIONS

Nothing is perfect in this mandate world and this study is no exception. Given below

are the limitations of the study so that the findings of the study may be understood in

their right perspective.

1. The result of this research cannot be termed as making a fair representation of the

perception of the population.

2. Study was confined to the Patiala city.

3. Language problem was there as some of the respondents facing problem while

filling the questionnaire in English.

4. Sample size taken was 100 respondents, the result might have varied had there

been a larger sample size.

5. It is very much possible that some of the respondents may have given the incorrect

information.

The last but the most important point to that survey was carried through Questionnaire

and the Questions were based on perception. Most important is positioning. But there

may be certain aspects not taken into consideration.

96

BIBLIOGRAPHY

97

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books and Journals

Batra, S, K & Kazmi, S,H,H ( 2004), ‘Consumer Behaviour- Text and Cases’, New

Delhi: Excel Books

Engel, J, F, Blackwell, R, D & Miniard, P, W, (1990), ‘Consumer Behaviour’ London:

Dryden Press

Papers For You (2006) "E/M/68. To what extent does Advertising affect Consumer

Behaviour?", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtmrk38.htm

[19/06/2006]

Papers For You (2006) "P/M/551. What influences consumer behaviour?", Available

from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtmrk38.htm [19/06/2006]

Schiffman , L, G & Kanuk, L, l, (2004), ‘Consumer Behaviour’ New Jersey: Prentice-

Hall Inc

Library Resources

MSN Encarta

Auto India

AdEx India

AutoExpo, 2009

IndiaInfoline Journals, February, 2009

Internet Resources98

http://wwwtatamotors.com/itw_industry.htm

http://www.carazoo.com/smallcars/sml0701200810/Maini-REVAi

http://auto.indiamart.com/cars/small-cars.html

http://specials.rediff.com/money/2009/mar/24sld2-the-nano-versus-other-small-cars.htm

http://www.zigwheels.com/Features/Small-Cars-of-2009/Smallcar_20090430-1-1

http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Automobiles/Small-Cars.html

http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Automobiles/Small-Is-Getting-Big.html

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/the-wonder-cars/352657/

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=141571

http://www.automobileindia.com/cars/small-cars/

http://autos.maxabout.com/cvid0000818/maruti-a-star-lxi.aspx

99

ANNEXURE

100

ANNEXURE: QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Age Group

A) 20-30 B) 30-40 C) 40-50 D) 40 Above

2. Income Group

A) 10000-20000 B) 20000-30000 C) 30000-40000

D) 40000 Above

3. You belong to the following category of the society?

(a) Professional (b) Student (c) Govt. Service

(d) Businessman

4. Your Educational Background

(a) Matric (b) Higher Secondary (c) Graduate

(d) Post Graduate

5. Which company car you have in small segment

Maruti Hyundai

Chevrolet TATA

Fiat Skoda

6. What according to you are the main leader of small segment cars?

Maruti Hyundai

Chevrolet TATA

Fiat Skoda

101

Name: _______________________________

Contact: ______________________________

______________________________

7. How long you have been driving this car?

0-1 Yrs 1-3 Yra

3-5 Yrs More than 5 Yrs

8. What is the purpose of using this car?

Business Heavy Works

Journey Family Purpose

9. What are the main information services for choosing the small cars exploring their features?

Manufacturer Dealer Website

Family and friends Information Website

T.V Advertising Print Advertising

Car Dealers Financial Service Broker.

10. What are different important factors in consumers choice of small cars.

Reliability of brand Safety cars

Price of Vehicle Fuel Economy

Quality of Interior Styling Extra Options at no extra cost

Brand name of vehicle After sale services

Vehicle Availability Environmental Factors

Additional warranty coverage or services credit

Ability to research information on the internet

102

11. What are the reasons for switching to a different make of vehicle

Vehicle Quality Fits Needs

Reliability of make / brand Wanted to try new

Enjoyment of vehicle Fuel economy / Gas mileage

Safety Customer Service Quality

Manufacture Incentive

12. What according to you are the main features of small segment car?

Design Performance

Safety Features Variants & Colour

Fuel Efficient

13. What actual problems are to be faced by travelers with the launch of small cars like Alto 800?

Traffic Congestion Parking Facility

Rise in Pollution

14. What will be the effect of Alto 800 on the small segment cars?

Cut prices Herald a new economic race

Exploit Emerging Markets

103