Thursday, January 19, 2012
By Manoj Kumawat
Hatchbacks, sedans make way, SUVs are coming in India
The Indian SUV market is on the brink of a radical change. The very pricing definition is ready to change and starting this year there will be SUVs that are priced under Rs 10 lakh. With this pricing, it can be said that SUVs in India will no longer be the prized possession of the rich and even a middle class family can afford to have it. Maruti will soon be coming up Maruti XA Alpha and American car maker Ford will be coming up with Ford Ecosport SUV and the list does not end here and almost all the car makers have decided to pitch in their SUVs in India.
See More Auto Expo Pictures
However, is there really something in the new SUV apart from their pricing that will reform the market that is governed by hatchbacks? Where India has been the mainland for hatchback cars, the industry has witnessed a recent shift in preference towards sedans and SUVs. Experts believe that responding to it the car makers have also made a shift of focus and are ready to bring SUVs in India. This is due to the fact that the average car buyer in India has become younger. Where over a decade ago the average age of a car buyer was 39 years, it has come down to 31 years in a recent survey. And, for the young, SUV power machines is the first pick.
| See More Ford Ecosport Pictures | Get Ford Ecosport Price |
On the other hand, if this trend of a preference for SUV continues, this will the impact the sales of small hatchback cars in India. The Auto Expo 2012 has clearly defined the trend of launched in this year and the list consists mostly of SUVs. The day is not far when there will be lots of SUV offerings in India. However, the pricing factor is the sole factor that will drive the hatchback or sedan buyer to buy an SUV. Thus, if the car makers are able to price their SUVs in India attractively, the country is surely going to award them with tremendous sales.
