Honda- Hero separation on the clouds

With difference of options regarding the share stake persisting still, the proposed breakaway by Honda from the 25year old tie with Hero is not materializing as expected. The deal, on the basis of 26.21% stake hold by Hero’s Munjals is yet to be finalized and any final outcome will be made only after proper discussions. Hero group has been in hectic parleys with giants like Carlyle, KKR, Blackstone, Clayton Subiller &Rice and Temasek in this regard. In the Rs9000 crore share worth for Honda, the price of Hero Honda’s share is Rs1736. The share field foresees a fall of this price in the event of a break between these two companies.

Though the part away is getting much focus now there has been a strained relation between these two companies ever since HMSI started its own production some ten years ago. HMSI has secured a sound position in the scooter segment of India and now it is time for it to toll the bell for the motorcycles. It is to be seen whether Hero would easily give up its stake in this segment, in which its net sale tune is 5 million units. The PE people view the deal might take long time for Honda to decide and any proceeds from this break away process will be invested by Honda in its HMSI, said the industry analysts.

The separation will not in any event be a grave loss for Honda, as it can run the show with its own might under Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India. But Hero group would suffer a great loss since it has no technological strength and R&D facilities. Hero has strengthened its dealer network only.

Car service alert, PUC renewal alert, Warranty alert and Insurance expiry reminder

Greetings from vicky team, Vicky.in today announces launch of 4 new services for the benefit of its customers. The four new services are car service alert, PUC alert, Warranty alert and Insurance expiry reminder. As the name of the services denote, these services are meant to prevent customers from missing the deadline through timely notifications. It is not just unsafe to drive a vehicle without PUC certificate and valid insurance but illegal too as per Motor Vehicles Act. Vicky’s alert system notifies you prior to your service expiry date and gives you time to take the required action.

“Vicky alert service aims to give customers peace of mind by putting them in control of all the important dates that are regular part of car owners life” Vignesh Annamalai, Co-Founder & CEO of Vicky.in said.

“Because of modern life style, majority of car owners forget the deadline of car service or insurance expiry or PUC renewal. The lapses end them up in paying extra cost or losing the service completely. Many customer miss the deadline and the lapse of service like warranty and Insurance cost a bomb when the need it most. Vicky alert system will ensure the customers, they never miss these deadlines and get peace of mind” Karthick Annamalai, another Co-Founder & CBO of Cellbharat.com said

Car owners can avail these services for free of cost. Register your details here for car alerts and

J.D.Power’s Sales Satisfaction Index for 2010: Maruti, Honda and Skoda among top three ranks

Catch the J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index for this year, which has ranked 11 Indian car makers, entirely based on the customer feedback @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/jd-powers-sales-satisfaction-index-for-2010/ and know where your favorite car maker stood in the ranking.

Introduction | JD Power Study: Sales Satisfaction Index | Maruti Suzuki | Honda | Skoda | Toyota | Rest of car makers

Bike Sales Analysis: August 2010

Are you eager to know about your favourite bike-maker’s sales statistics? Catch the information @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/bikes-sales-report-august-2010/

Introduction | Hero Honda | Bajaj Auto | Honda Motorcycles | TVS | Yamaha | Suzuki

Maxximo launched in Tamilnadu

Maxximo, M&M’s sub—2-tonne mini truck is launched in Tamilnadu recently. M&M’s assessment for this vehicle is 2500 monthly units out of which Tamilnadu is expected to contribute the major share. The reasons cited for Tamilnadu’s contribution are well planned retail set up, increased urbanization and extended infrastructure and construction. With the previous launches, M&M has secured 20% share in this segment.

M&M is making this launch as an experimental phase before going pan-nation, said its Chief Exective. Currently Tata Ace is dominating this segment and Maxximo may give tough fight for Ace. M&M’s Chakan plant, where this Maxximo is to be made, will be increased with production of 3000 monthly units on single shift from the current 2000 units. The production may increase in the event of more demand for the vehicle, he added. The BS IV based Maxximo will cost Rs3.03 lakh on the lines of Ace, said its Senior VP for marketing and sales. The vehicle will have a 2 cylinder CRDe engine containing 4 valves on single cylinder. The operation cost is highly meager, at Rs3500 for a run of 4000 km per month. Maxximo offers that much of fuel efficiency and economy. The carrying capacity too is splendid.

New Super Splendor from Hero Honda

India’s largest two wheeler maker Hero Honda recently launched its 125cc Super Splendor at Rs45950 allied with self-start and drum brakes. The first Splendor came in 1994 and the first version of Splendor 125 came five years ago. The bike is aided by Honda Intelligent Ignition System for carburetor for enabling BS III norms. The bike has a 5-step adjustable rear shock absorber. The net design wears a new outlook with seat, windscreen and tail light. The company’s Senior VP for marketing and sales said Hero Honda’s volume is ever increased by this Splendor which fulfills the expectations of customers in all terms. The bike meets the demands of customers in its style and performance, he added. He expressed the hope about large response during the ensuing festival season.

Passenger vehicle from M&M in 2011

M&M is planning to offer a passenger vehicle on Maxximo platform in another one year with an investment of Rs300 crore at Chakan plant. The facility will offer vehicles on this platform said its Chief Executive. More investments would be made on the occasion of introducing more products, he added. M&M, he said, ison the verge of launching more vehicles on its brand. The Chakan facility will be pressed into service with more production from September, from the current 2000 monthly units to 3000. The company’s farm division is to take care of the tractor manufacture under farm division, he further said. For M &M Tamilnadu seems to be a highly potential market with 20% of the net sales for the company in India and recently Maxximo truck was launched. Maxximo has been brining home good response all over where it has been launched with 23% share in mini-truck segment. M&M believes this might increase by 20%. M&M is happy with its recent launch of Geo 0.5 tonne compact truck.

MUV segment to get key players in Maruti,Skoda and Tata Motors

The Multi Utility vehicle segment is to bloom with the new entrants in the form of India’s top players Maruti Suzuki, Skoda and Tata Motors. These were in display in the Delhi Auto Expo.The move comes in the wake of unprecedented growth in this segment in which Toyota’s Innova and M&M’s Xylo dominate and are not in a position to clear the backlog the demand. Innova is making a wait for three months while Xylo comes after two months. Whereas Tata plans to make Aria in a bigger space at 4.85mt length with comfortable seating for 7 adults in addition to cargo space.

This is an ideal timing for these companies amidst the growth rate being more every month at 41% (1.5 lakh units constituting 10% of the nation’s car market) To start with, Tata Motors is introducing its Tata Aria based on the Xover and is expected to roll down by the year end. Skoda will come out with its Roomster in 2011 and Maruti is aiming to deliver as usual on low priced version at Rs3 lakhs. In the car market, this cross over breed comes in between smaller hatchbacks and large SUVs designing them on sporty performance and luxury comforts. The Dy Manager of Toyota said that the MUV segment is getting hot since the major chunk is diverted to small cars.

The response to this MUV is alluded to the financial stability and high aspiration among the potential customers that make them to afford Rs6 – 11 lakhs. This costs reasonable than a SUV at Rs8-25 lakhs and the mixed preference among the rural and urban customers made MUV to rise high. Further, MUVs extend good support for commercial operations and this is one among the best reasons for its growth. The industry analysts see further growth in this MUV sector as a result of global economy revival and customers’ choice to prefer this crossover. To be surprise, VW is also set to enter this segment on Suzuki SX4 platform during next
year.

August 2010 Car Sales Report

Catch your favorite car-maker’s sales report @ http://www.vicky.in/slideshow/car-sales-analysis-august-2010/

Introduction | Maruti Suzuki Sales Report | Tata Motors Sales Report | Hyundai India Sales Report | Mahindra & Mahindra Sales Report | GM India Sales Report | Ford India Sales Report | Conclusion