Maruti Suzuki :

Maruti is an Indian brand, But Suzuki owns more than 50% shares of Maruti. So Suzuki sells its cars in India in partnership with Maruti motors. Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest automaker. Suzuki had change the automotive industry with it’s Maruti 800 and Alto in the 90’s and then the Swift changed the game in the early 2000’s. Suzuki makes some of the most, low priced, fuel efficient cars in the Indian market till date . It is the only brand that can answer the question of “Kitna deti hai ?” with confidence. Suzuki manages to give some of the most mileage efficient cars with very refine engine options. But is that enough in 2020?

Being the largest automaker in India already is a big title to hold on too . But the brand lacks to study the Indian customer interest and cater on it. In 2020 it is hard for a brand to rely only on mileage supremacy to get an edge in the market. It sad that the brand doesn’t care about customer safety and just offers 2 air bags in car which are rated only 2 stars in NCAP crash tests. It’s a shame, that where companies like Ford provide 6 airbags in their smallest cars like the Figo and Almost all Tata scoring more than 4 stars in NCAP crash tests . The 2 star rated equally priced Swift fails to cater a good build quality. It is not that Suzuki can’t make safe cars . The same Suzuki Swift abroad scores 5 stars in safety. It’s Suzukies poor trick to bring the cost down , that may cost the customers his life . Suzuki should know that safety is not a place to save money on. It’s a big trade-off for the customer . Plus lack of data analysis on the market is also a let down to the brand. As we know that compact Suv’s are the trending territory in Indian auto market. But India’s largest brand makes only one offering in this segment the Brezza. Honestly the Brezza loses on styling and also on technology as compared to its rivals. It also lacks engine options. Where as the competition manages to get a variety of them. The brand needs to work on their safety and design language for the brand to grow. The brand needs to stop making a ton of average cars and focus on making few cars with really good features . This will make the brand save money instead of making a lot of average cars .

LIFE >>> COST CUTTING

Toyota :

Toyota is a brand well established in India because of it’s MPV the Innova and SUV the Fortuner . Toyota is one of the largest manufacturer in USA. Toyota corrolla is the highest sold car abroad. But the brand has an completely different role in the Indian market. The brand for some reason neglects the Indian small car market completely, because of it’s great run abroad. Toyota has only two successful cars in India. The brand had attempted to enter the small car segment, but their cars failed. As they where not quite appealing and not priced as per competition. The Failure in small car segment has bought the company to a point, where it has stop trying. Which has forced Toyota in selling other manufacturers cars in the lower segments . (For example the Glanza ) . It’s a shame that the company with such a good reputation abroad has decided to stay depended on other manufacturer . If Toyota manages to get the line-up of cars from abroad. It will have a very good comeback. We know the capabilities of the brand. It is just a mater of execution and strategy in this market.

Nissan:

Nissan is an other Japanese brand that has high capabilities but poor execution. Nissan has a very poor line up of cars in India . The brand some-how managed to keep only one Hatchback in India for a decade . The Nissan Micra was a overpriced, poorly equipped Hatchback at the time of it’s release. It also had only one sedan the sunny which was also a overpriced, poorly equipped Sedan. The companies SUV Terrano was same as the Renault Duster with a costlier price tag . The brand is selling the same cars as Renault with different naming. For example : Duster = Terrano , Scala = Sunny . Nissan copying other brands technology left a very bad image of Nissan in the auto Industry. Nissan has a very capable SUV The Nissan Kicks but poor brand reputation and high competition has taken away the Nissan customers. We know that Nissan can do better. Just a mater of execution. A brand capable to make the Godzilla can make better cars independently.

Honda:

Honda is comparatively doing doing a better job in India . Honda has some of the finest engines, IV-Tec are really sporty and powerful engines. But the brand really underestimates it’s competition. It’s Korean rivals cater the public one car with a variety of engine trims and lets the customer choose their preference . But Honda just sells only the IV-Tec cars in India, even though it has a very good line-up of turbocharged cars abroad . So where Hyundai is providing a variety of engines there Honda isn’t. And an non car guy will judge a cars power just listening to turbos. Honda just needs to bring the turbo technology to India. Then only we can move on from the phrase “No more waiting till the V-Tec kicks in”. Honda also needs to focus on Suv’s and Compact Suv’s . It needs cars, which are bigger and more Suv-ish . AS we don’t really need crossovers like WRV. We know Honda can do wonders.They just need to listen to it’s customers . Japanese really need to create an Independent identity.

Conclusion:

The Japanese companies need to watch out for customer safety along with the customer interest. The Japanese companies need to innovate rather than selling same cars with different names. The companies need to provide the customers a variety of engine options that they deserve. Their presentation needs too match modern Customers style. The need to keep the price within the competition for results. Most of the Japanese manufacturers are making alleys. I suggest the allies to work on innovation rather than selling one car with different branding.

THANK YOU FOR READING:

For more information on Suzuki and Toyota alliance check out my old blog by clicking on the following link: https://automobiles.news.blog/2019/03/12/maruti-suzuki-and-toyota-alliance/. Also give me your feedback to improve.