Attracts talented designers from all over the world - leading companies hire foreign specialists to cooperate in the production of new models, while the largest Indian corporations acquire foreign design companies.
India's booming automotive sector is constantly on the lookout for international automotive professionals and recently many of the largest manufacturing corporations cars hire designers and engineers from around the world. Unlike the United States, where the auto industry is in crisis, Indian production of two- and four-wheelers Vehicle is booming with record sales in fiscal year 2009-2010.
The best in their field, including designers, engineers and researchers who recognize the huge growth potential in India's emerging automotive sector, are ready to move to the country to work on medium and long term contracts.
The chief executive of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL), the country's largest car manufacturer, visited Detroit earlier this year to meet designers and engineers in Engine City and offer them jobs in India. MSIL's Executive Director (Engineering Department), Mr. I.V. Rao, has accomplished his mission - eight Detroit engineers specializing in the design, styling, and modeling of new vehicles, as well as engine development and manufacturing, are now employees of MSIL. Some of the US engineers and designers are of Indian origin and readily accepted the offer to work for Maruti.
According to Mr. Rao, those international talents currently being recruited by the company will help launch new innovative models, as well as help train engineers already working in the company.
"Very for a long time our resources were limited,” said Mr. Rao. “We received new developments from Suzuki and tested and improved here. We had very few experienced designers, which greatly complicated the implementation of new projects.
“Engaged designers from other countries will help manufacturing companies train their designers and will be able to transfer the latest scientific and technical data to them,” emphasizes Mr. Rao.
Other major Indian car manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and Royal Enfield, are also in talks with overseas car designers to engage them and expand their in-house design capabilities.
Recently, many overseas designers are also visiting India to meet with top officials of domestic Indian car design and manufacturing companies. These designers have vast experience and knowledge in the design and simulation of hybrid drives, engines and transmissions.
The world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto recently partnered with Edgar Heinrich of BMW Motorcycles, who is now Head of Development and Design. “The global community is beginning to recognize the changes that are taking place in the Indian automotive industry, in which innovative developments in the field of design are playing a key role,” emphasizes Heinrich. The company, headquartered in Pune, launched a range of the latest motorcycles to keep up with international giants including Harley-Davidson who are looking to enter the Indian market.
To manage the car design and development process, Royal Enfield hired Venki Padmanabhan, offering him the position of Chief of Operations. After receiving his PhD in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, Padmanabhan worked as part of the advanced engineering team at an American company. General Motors, participated in the work of the automotive department Daimler Chrysler Mercedes, and also served as Executive Director for Global Logistics Strategy in the countries southeast Asia, and finally became head of the production department at Royal Enfield.
“We plan to start producing models from electronic injection fuel in India,” says Padmanabhan. Royal Enfi eld plans to sell around 50,000 motorcycles this year.
According to V. G. Ramakrishnan, Senior Director, Automotive and Transportation, Frost & Sullivan, the new focus on engineering and design reflects Indian automakers' intention to expand into global markets. Changes in the global auto industry that have taken place as a result of the economic downturn in the US and Europe have simultaneously contributed to a “reverse brain drain”, with many designers looking for work in India and China. Pininfarina, the legendary Italian car design company, is now also on the lookout for a "knight on a white horse" to help deal with the crisis. At one time, there were reports that a major Indian car manufacturer was going to acquire an Italian company, but since many of the leading specialists had already left it, the deal never took place.
Design aspects such as prototyping and clay modelling, which are commonly used in France, the UK and Italy, are now used in many automotive companies and in India. Both domestic and foreign car manufacturing companies are investing heavily in design centers in India, both to develop and optimize the workforce.
While GM and Chrysler opened scientific and technical centers in Bangalore, Renault has set up a design center in . These R&D and design departments not only deal with projects exclusively for India, but also carry out projects for their parent companies.
“The main goal of organizing a full-fledged design studio in India was to gain experience from Indian designers, as well as knowledge about local market, tastes and preferences,” says Jean-Philippe Salard, Lead Designer and Head of Design Renault Design India. Renault's design studio, which employs 16 people, acts as a subsidiary center of the main company in Paris, he said. “Over the past 30 months, our studio has been performing complex model design for Indian market, and now it is ready to carry out Renault projects for any country,” he emphasizes.
Some major Indian car manufacturers have also begun acquiring overseas design organizations. A series of partnerships formed between local and foreign companies over the past few months highlights the importance of this aspect of the automotive industry, while a global consolidation trend is shifting the focus to ultra-modern, eye-catching car bodies.
Indian automakers are now seeking to acquire overseas design centers to reach the heights of modern product manufacturing, modernize their R&D departments, and become more competitive through better cost sharing.
The largest manufacturer of technological vehicles Mahindra & Mahindra recently acquired the Italian company for automotive design, development and styling of bodies, as well as analysis of the technical implementation of G.R. Grafi ca Ricerca Design Srl (GRD) headquartered in Turin. With this move, M&M plans to set up an overseas design center for the group, as well as meet the needs of foreign manufacturers automotive equipment.
“The synergies that will result from this acquisition will not only help us improve our design capabilities, but will also help us develop our company as a major international center automotive design”, explains Pawan Goenka, President of the Automotive Sector, M&M.
“Additional capabilities from both Mahindra and GRD will help modernize new vehicle development capabilities, provide solid ground for M&M's activities in Europe and will allow the maximum use of technology, as well as the full use of the knowledge of highly qualified specialists, namely talented designers and engineers, attracted to work in the company.
While foreign companies are moving their automotive bases to Asian countries, design firms are opening their offices in India with the aim of fulfilling ancillary work after the model development stage. Many foreign design centers are now also going through a period of crisis, in part due to the fact that car manufacturers have begun to do most of the design work within their organizations. More and more of these firms are now willing to sell blocks of shares in their company in the hope of restoring their position in the market.
The design will be the main element that distinguishes the company in the international market, since such indicators as the dynamics, quality and cost of the car have already become categories of wide demand.
Arun Jaura, Head of R&D at Eaton Corporation, says: “The main goal of Indian manufacturers now is to increase resources, and the acquisition of design organizations in economically developed countries is the most fast way achieve this goal. Since talented engineers and designers are always in high demand, international car manufacturers and suppliers will establish affiliated design centers in India and other developing countries.”
Dilip Chhabria, CEO of DC Design, adds: “The current trend of Indian manufacturers to acquire design companies is essentially offshoring.”
S.D. Pradhan, Chief Executive Officer of Argentum Engineering Design - which was organized by B.W.R. Subbu, former head of the Indian branch Hyundai Motors - says the organization positioned itself as a design organization and worked with prototype manufacturers on a contract basis. Argentum partnered with Dassault Systemes, a French design firm software, with the aim of providing various companies advanced power transmission solutions.
While the Indian automotive industry is stepping on the gas pedal with confidence and adding speed on its way to the goal, research, design and development have a strong place in the country's overall strategy to reach the top of the world leadership.
Indian cars are a very mysterious transport for the whole world. Most of us have never seen these cars live, so we can not talk about any relation to this transport. But everyone is well aware that Indian production is hardly capable of pleasant surprises. If you buy a car only on the basis of cost, then the Indian corporation TATA is ready to surprise you with its cheapest car in the world - TATA Nano.
The model was originally developed only for the Indian market, to allow those people who receive meager minimum wages to buy a car. Therefore, the main goal of the production of the machine was maximum savings. What came of it? Let's talk more about the cheapest car in the world.
Appearance of the Indian car TATA Nano
The design of the car was developed by several eminent studios in the world of passenger transport, but it is impossible to call it successful. The task of saving on everything that could be saved on made the appearance of the car disgusting and impractical. But on the price tag it was reflected very well. Perhaps this is exactly what Indian buyers needed.
The incredibly low income of an ordinary Indian citizen simply cannot become the basis for buying a foreign car, and there have never been domestic offers in a low price class in the country. But TATA Nano has become a rather specific option, because its appearance has a lot of dubious moments:
- there is no trunk lid - a motor is installed in the rear of the car;
- miniature wheels are created only for ideal European roads;
- eccentric body shape does not fit with strange small wheels;
- the interior design boils down to the fact that it has a steering wheel, seats of dubious comfort and a gear lever;
- in the basic configuration, the bumper is black, which further spoils the already unpleasant appearance of the car.
Despite all the disadvantages of the TATA Nano design, the first years of sales were incredibly successful. Already in 2008, when the company just presented the release of new items, they ordered new car more than two hundred thousand Indian families. Then the basic equipment of the car cost only $ 2,500.
Dubious design and rather strange technical solutions have done their job - today Nano is bought only when it is absolutely necessary to purchase a car. Sales throughout India do not exceed 2000 copies per month.
Technical features of a small Indian car
In technology, there are also no special pleasant surprises, which could be considered the advantages of the small TATA Nano. The car has a two-cylinder engine with a potential of 33 horsepower. The volume of the power unit is 0.6 liters, but it consumes about 5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers of travel. With such characteristics, the consumption should be about 2.5-3 liters per hundred.
It's all about that notorious economy. Poor materials for the manufacture of the unit, simple and outdated technology make the car representatives of the last century. In good times Indian company developed a plan to capture the world market, assuming the development of the following versions:
- TATA Nano for the domestic market was planned to be equipped with the same two-cylinder engine for the next ten years;
- The Nano Europa was supposed to be a 0.6 liter three-cylinder unit with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions;
- the diesel version of the miniature Indian car assumed the use of an engine that would consume 2.5 liters of fuel;
- was also supposed special version for the USA with slightly improved specifications.
But all these plans have not yet been destined to become a reality, because the concern was not even able to fulfill the planned sales in India. Every now and then there is information in the press that TATA Nano cars passed the NCAP crash test with a score of 0, showing the worst results, or the cars started to ignite for no good reason.
Such features become a factor in negative sales, and for the time being, Indian manufacturers will have to forget about conquering the markets of Europe, the USA or the CIS. In 2013, the corporation decided to restyle the model, during which some technical characteristics may be changed.
This is how TATA Nano drivers light up Indian roads:
Summing up
The car, which costs $2,500, is indeed the cheapest large-scale vehicle in the world. However, the low price is the only advantage of the TATA Nano. If this car appears on civilized markets, its only buyers will be lovers of experiments. Given the high cost of transportation and organization official salons in all developed countries, the cost of a car in European states projected at 5,000 euros. For this money it is better to buy a full-fledged normal car in the secondary market.
Would you like to have a stool on wheels like India's cheapest TATA Nano car in the world?
The Russian consumer is almost unfamiliar with the products of the Indian automobile industry. And in rare cases, when the Russian motoring community talks about cars that came off the conveyors of India, this news is most often perceived with a tangible amount of skepticism and irony. But it's really not all that bad. However, about everything - in order.
Features of the Indian car market
It just so happened that the models produced in this country are a priori perceived in the same vein as an infinite number of faceless Chinese brands designed and assembled on hastily. But today India is the concentration of huge industrial capacities. Its industry demonstrates one of the highest growth rates in the world, like China.
However, unlike the automobile industry of the Celestial Empire, such a high growth dynamics of the industrial sector did not lead to the appearance in the Indian automotive market many similar brands.
Although for the most part the cars are designed in a general spirit. The main differences between Indian cars are high efficiency, comical compactness, characteristic even cargo models, and in most cases - low quality products.
Local designers do not shun plagiarism methods in the development of their machines, which was especially pronounced in the period from the 1980s to the 2000s.
All small-sized Indian cars until the early 2000s were designed in a conservative spirit. With body outlines and fabric roofs, they were very reminiscent of rickshaws.
Starting from 2003, the automotive industry in this country begins to rebuild in accordance with the guidelines for the European consumer. It is from this moment in Indian cars features of modern European models begin to be traced. Basically, of course, it is the gloss and smoothness of the lines.
Leading brands
The Indian auto industry forms a number of machines of the regional giant manufacturing companies, the main of which are the Mumbai-based Chinkara Motors, Force Motors, Hindustan Motors, Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, and Tata Motors.
The model range of cars of most of these manufacturers, compared with Chinese or Korean stamps, is rather narrow, except for the last one listed.
However, between 2003 and 2012 all of them have occupied their niche in the global car market and have established the production of sufficiently diversified products. As for the type, so for the price and quality.
Therefore, Indian cars should be considered based on several key features. These include price, dimensions, technical indicators, demand, diversity model range. Based on these criteria, the corresponding ratings will be built.
The cheapest and smallest models
It is worth starting with them. The cheapest Indian car is Tata Nano from Tata Motors.
This machine is distinguished by both a low price (within $ 2,500) and miniature dimensions. Among the main advantages of a car, it is worth mentioning only bright design, which was developed with the assistance of Italian designers. Otherwise, even a small price for a car is offset by customs duties, increasing by 2 times.
In India, the model is in great demand due to the economy and maneuverability, which are so valued in urban traffic.
The strength of the machine is minimal, as is its weight (600 kg), but the top speed does not exceed 100 km / h. Vehicle length - 3.1 m, width -1.6 m. Low price The machine is provided with minimization of parts: bolts, seals, luggage partition, mirrors and power steering.
Mahindra Gio is often the preferred car of Indian taxi drivers in countryside. A minimum of frills and bells and whistles - a maximum of open space.
There are no doors or air conditioning in the car, it is used mainly for private transportation or tourist excursions as an alternative to the Indian elephant. The cost is 2800 thousand dollars. The height of the car is 1.6 m, the length is 2.4 m, the width is 1.5 m. And this is with a weight of 700 kg.
Quad bike and three-wheeled "Ant"
Another Indian car that can be purchased not only in its homeland, but also in the CIS countries is Bajaj Cute from Bajaj Auto.
It's worth saying that given manufacturer initially specialized only in the production of motorcycles, and this was reflected in the release of their first budget car Bajaj Cute, weighing only 400 kg, reaching speeds within 70 km / h and representing an ATV in a light car body.
The price rarely exceeds 320 thousand rubles. As befits an ATV in a car body, the product does not have much interior space, but it is quite suitable for trips around the farmland. In general, the Indian car Bajaj is more like a golf cart.
Another cheap car is the three-wheeled Force Minidor, which ceased production in 2009. From 1996 to 2009, a huge number of this Indian version of Ant was released. Its price ranges from 950-1300 dollars depending on the year of issue. The model has a large load capacity and poor cornering stability. The weight of the Minidor is so small that 2 adults can easily lift it.
Best Large Vehicles
Now it is worth paying attention to them. Force Motors, Mahindra, Tata Motors are the leaders in deliveries of large-sized Indian cars.
Force Motors are largest producer trucks and passenger minibuses. Two of their most popular products: Tempo Excel Commuter - powerful seven-meter buses with seats from 18 to 30. They are used in enterprises and for scheduled passenger transportation. The second is Citiline School Bus. This is a large school bus with a capacity of 24 people from the same manufacturer.
Mahindra Maxximo is a small but heavy duty vehicle in demand by Indian construction companies. The robust structure of the load compartment and the configuration of the wheels, combined with a reliable undercarriage, makes it indispensable for Indian farmers and builders.
Tata Magic is a small van with a quirky design that pleasantly surprises with its functionality. It has only three doors, but the build quality of the car is quite high for the Indian car industry. For its unusual body shape, this Indian car, the photo of which is presented above, was called the "Wild Indian Boar". The main percentage of buyers of the model are bakers and owners of small grocery stores, since the cargo compartment of the machine can be quickly and easily equipped with shelves for products.
Crossovers
In India, SUVs and SUVs are very popular. Mahindra Bolero, for example, has gained a reputation as the Indian "Jeep". Moreover, both due to good cross-country ability, and on the basis of external similarities. All-wheel drive crossover equipped with seats for 7 people, assembled using the technology of full automatic assembly in accordance with European standards, and is quite a decent, comfortable car, designed for some foreign markets.
In the exterior of the Tata Safari, the image of the English Land Rover is clearly visible, the mesh radiator grille, which the developers give out their own, is especially striking. This SUV is distinguished from other crossovers by the presence of a three-liter turbodiesel engine 150 horsepower, ABS system and high-quality mechanical transmission. In Russia, an Indian car can be purchased for 950 thousand rubles (basic equipment).
The Scorpio is another creation from Mahindra. The car is similar in characteristics to the Safari model. It has a diesel engine, is represented by versions of automatic and manual gearboxes. Scorpio has the widest variety of engine modifications among all Indian crossovers. This model is also popular Russian market. The price of a car in Russia is from 850 to 950 thousand rubles.
Tata Sumo Grande is another seven-seater crossover from Tata. The first thing that catches your eye when you get acquainted with the car is the interior, which is atypically luxurious for Indian cars. Impressive upholstery made of quality leather, neatly trimmed panels and torpedo, full uniformity of textures. A properly working air conditioner, power windows and mirror adjustments are nice little things that make the car stand out from other Indian crossovers.
Top Selling Models
The leader in sales among Indian cars in 2016 is Tata Indica - one of the most interesting hatchbacks (photo above). Functional small Indian car. In 2016, the car was sold in the amount of 48 thousand units worldwide.
Mahindra Bolero sold 100,214 copies in 2016.
Tata Vista was slightly behind Indica and posted a sales figure of 42,163 units.
Another sales leader from India is Mahindra Scorpio, which has become a strong competitor even to mass Chinese SUVs. The indicator for 2016 is 160 thousand cars sold.
The most expensive models
Despite the fact that India in the auto industry is based mainly on budget developments, they have some cars that go beyond the usual prices.
Tata Aria is one of the most luxurious Indian crossovers equipped with climate control system, airbags, navigator, ABS, turbocharged diesel engine and leather upholstery. Price - 970 thousand rubles.
Mahindra Verito is another car whose characteristics more or less bring it closer to international automotive standards. 5 airbags, relatively decent electronics and pleasant salon. Price - from 870 to 920 thousand rubles.
The remaining positions are assigned to Tata Sumo Grande, Tata Safari, Mahindra Bolero (in the range of 800-950 thousand).
About competition
In conclusion, I would like to note that the largest Indian automakers are actively acquiring shares of Korean and Chinese manufacturers operating in India.
As a result, SsangYoung and Daewoo models produced in India are positioned as products of local manufacturers. Mahindra, for example, holds an 80% stake in SsangYoung and a 73% stake in Daewoo, which allows them to build convenient commercial policies and control foreign competition.
Indian Bajaj Auto will introduce the world's cheapest car, the Qute, to the Russian market. The price of new items starts from 250 thousand rubles. By far the cheapest new car in Russia - Chinese Lifan Smily for 320 thousand rubles.
Automobile Bajaj Qute(Photo: AP)
Qute sales in Russia will begin in March-April 2016, Alexander Alekseev, CEO of East West Motors (EWM, Bajaj distributor in Russia), told RBC. in winter the car will pass series of tests for Russian roads. In 2016, the distributor plans to sell 200-300 Indian Qutes.
Up to 70 km/h
Qute entered production in September 2015. This is a four-seater car with a single-cylinder gasoline engine from a motorcycle with a capacity of 13.5 hp. With such power unit A 400-kilogram car can accelerate to 70 km/h. Claimed fuel consumption is less than 2.8 liters per 100 km. Versions on methane and propane are planned. In India, the model costs $2,000, making it the cheapest in the world. Until now, this title belonged to another Indian " people's car"- Tata Nano, the cost of which starts at $ 3 thousand.
According to the documents, Qute is classified as a quadra And cycle (this category of vehicles in Russia is allowed to drive on roads common use). To manage it in Russia, an automobile category of rights is required - B. The car will be sold at a price of 250 thousand rubles.
It is unlikely that Qute will be popular in Russia, says Sergey Udalov, executive director of Avtostat: for the same money you can buy a car with great functionality and comfort in the secondary market. The machine may be of interest as commercial transport due to the low cost of operation, for example for courier delivery Alekseev says.
In September, EWM launched Bajaj Auto's Pulsar motorcycles in Russia. The company now has eight dealers in eight cities. Qute will be sold through the same dealers, and Bajaj tricycles are also planned. In 2016, EWM plans to expand its dealer network to 50 stores. In the future, if sales grow, the distributor does not exclude the localization of Qute in Russia.
Cheap cars from Asia
Tata Nano
The Indian company Tata Motors presented Tata car Nano in 2008. In 2009, the car went on sale in India for a minimum price of 100,000 rupees ($2,500). By February 2015, the price had risen to around $3,000. The Tata Nano's engine power is estimated at 33 hp and top speed is 100 km/h. The car successfully passed the Indian crash tests, but the test according to European standards showed extremely low level security.
Chery QQ
Chinese Chery Automobile manufactures Chery car QQ since 2003. The price of the car on the European market is estimated at about €5,000. The car is sometimes called a pirated copy of Chevrolet/Daewoo Matiz. Engine power is 53 hp, and maximum speed- 100 km / h.
Maruti 800
The Indian company Maruti Udyog produced the Maruti 800 from 1984 to 2007, producing a total of 53.2 thousand cars. From 1988 to 1992, the car was sold in some European markets under the name Suzuki Maruti. The price of the car is about $ 5 thousand. In 2005, a version of the car appeared on the Indian market that meets Euro-3 standards. The car is capable of accelerating up to 125 km / h.
Bajaj Auto is the largest Indian manufacturer of motor vehicles (motorcycles, auto rickshaws, etc.). The annual production capacity reaches 4 million pieces. It is part of the diversified holding Bajaj Group, founded in 1926. In 2014, Bajaj Auto ranked third among motorcycle companies and 97th in the top 100 according to Research & Markets. largest companies world, according to Forbes. Bajaj Auto owns 47% of the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM, cooperates with the Japanese Kawasaki in Asian markets.
In 2015, the manufacturer entered foreign markets, hoping to increase deliveries to other countries (there are 55 in total) to 1.5 million motorcycles - this is 62% of all motorcycle exports in India, according to local business publication Business Standard. Since 2013, Bajaj has been supplying motorcycles and auto rickshaws to Ukraine.
There are more than 40 car manufacturing or assembly plants in India, so apparently this review will not be the only one. One way or another, you have a serious "ten" in front of you: the largest and most famous car factories, plus a few little-known companies as a bonus as a seasoning.
Mahindra Group is a giant conglomerate with more than 200,000 employees and produces absolutely everything - cars, motorcycles, spaceships, ships, and agricultural equipment. Founded in 1945, today it is one of the technological leaders in the Indian market. The picture shows a fresh, 2016 model Mahindra KUV100.
Tata Group is the country's largest technology conglomerate, founded in 1945, with 600,000 (!) employees. Minerals, steel, automotive, food products- all this is Tata. By the way, Jaguar, Land Rover and Daewoo are owned by Tata. The illustration shows one of the latest models, Tata Bolt.
Premier is a company founded in 1941, now specializing in the assembly of Dodge, Fiat, Peugeot and producing a number of models under its own brand. Pictured is a timeless classic, the Premier Padmini, licensed by Fiat from 1964 to 2000.
Hindustan is probably the most legendary Indian brand. Founded in 1942, the company became famous for the “eternal” model Hindustan Ambassador (pictured), based on the classic Morris Oxford series III and produced from 1958 to 2014 (!), However, with light facelifts every 10 years. Today Hindustan is essentially assembly plant Mitsubishi.
Rajah is a now forgotten company that produced trucks and vans exclusively for the domestic market from 1981 to the mid-2000s. Pictured is a 1981 Rajah Kazwa model.
Eicher is a plant completely unknown to us, which has been successfully producing trucks since 1948. The illustration shows one of the new models, the Eicher Pro 6031. In addition to trucks, Eicher makes the Eicher Polaris Multix, a lightweight farm utility vehicle.
Force is another not too well-known manufacturer of passenger cars and special vehicles. Founded in 1958, until 2005 it was called Bajaj (and under this name a little more often met in the press). Pictured is the Force Gurkha SUV.
