New Wheels at the Auto Expo

Image: Amit Verma

If the first day was about power and superior technology, day two was more about affordability, and about models targeted at the price-sensitive Indian market. It was also about an Italian company making a comeback in the scooters segment, this time on its own.

Chevrolet:  The product of its alliance with the Chinese company SAIC is now out – Chevrolet Sail, a premium hatchback and the Chevrolet MPV
Concept. For the MPV, British automaker Lotus worked with the GM Technical Centre in Bangalore for more than a year and a half to tune the chassis. Chevy’s Lowell Paddock, president and managing director of General Motors India, said that the Sail hatchback, which will go on sale later this year, is built for the world’s emerging markets and that both Sail and the concept are undergoing further trials across India.

Renault: Clearly, the French firm is getting more aggressive with a further two models adding to the slew of launches we saw in the last six months.  The company launched its hatchback Pulse, and a crossover called ‘Duster’ which will be launched before Diwali in the domestic market. The Pulse, has been priced between Rs. 5.77 lakh and Rs. 6.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Maruti: Maruti Suzuki drew the covers off its first MPV Ertiga, which has perhaps the best chance of being seen on the roads first among all, as the company plans to get the model on sale by March-end or early April, said Managing Director and CEO, Shinzo Nakanishi. This will pose stiff competition to Innova, both because of its looks and because it is sure to be priced very competitively.

Ducati: The iconic maker of racing motorcycles announced a model targeted at Asia—‘Monster’ 795 is an entry level urban bike priced at Rs. 6.99 lakh. This is the bike maker’s cheapest model to date.

Mahindra: M&M launched a revamped Reva, which is a marked improvement in design over the last Reva model, which was launched before its acquisition and had failed to make a mark. Group company, Mahindra 2 Wheelers, re-launched the 'Stallio' bike and a new version of its scooter Duro.

Image: Amit Verma

Piaggio: Piaggio Vehicles, the wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Italian Piaggio group, unveiled today the all new Vespa at the Auto Expo. With this launch, Piaggio hopes to re-enter the scooter segment as a premium brand. Earlier Piaggio had been in India through a tie-up with LML. This tie-up broke up some years ago and now the company is making a fresh foray. The vehicle is set to hit the road by April this year, and will initially be available in 35 cities.

View Our Slide show of the new launches