Since launch in April 2013, 13 months later, Amaze is still amazing folks as it nears the 1 lakh sales mark. A benchmark they would hope to reach within 18 months of launch. Honda Amaze is a reflection of HCIL’s ability to read the need of buyers here. The compact family sedan is available in diesel and petrol options.
Honda was able to take advantage of the government’s set 125 excise duty parameters for vehicles under 4 metre (petrol engine capacity under 1,200 cc or diesel engine under 1,500 cc). In terms of sales volume, Honda Cars India Limited now commands 4th place than its earlier 7th place. In mid April, Honda Cars India introduced Amaze Anniversary edition to celebrate sales of 80,000 units in its first year.
Honda Amaze helped the company reach out to new customers in the Indian auto market. While Amaze’s 1.5L i-DTEC diesel engine and 1.2L i-VTEC petrol engine established its own in a competitive market segment, the success HCIL was met with has propelled its confidence here. Coupled with new Honda City success, Honda is now ready to launch its mid-sized 7 seater MPV Honda Mobilio, followed by all-new 3rd generation Honda Jazz in the current FY. To boost growth,Honda India has planned dealership network expansion by 35% this year by establishing itself in tier 2 & tier 3 markets. HCIL will grow from 172 facilities in 109 cities to 230 facilities in 150 cities.
Sub 4 metre compact sedan segment is attractive to both buyers and sellers because of its price benefits. Tata Motors did try to take advantage of this previously but Indigo eCS being an old product with minor fadelifts didn’t contribute appropriately to sales volumes. Tata Zest hopes to change that. The Indian automaker’s design studios in India, Italy and UK poured through blueprints in getting the car ready for showcase alongwith tata Bolt hatchback at 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Thereafter, Zest has surfaced through plenty of road test spyshots.
Tata Motors is in need of a good car that will help offset its dwindling sales. An aggressive price of Rs 5 lakhs for petrol and Rs 6 lakhs onward for the diesel may be on the cards. Tata Motors is using Fiat’s 1.3l MultiJet diesel engine which returns 90 PS peak power at 4,000 rpm and 200 Nm peak torque at 1,750 rpm. An AMT diesel option is anticipated, which would make Tata Zest the only automatic diesel sedan available at a sub Rs 10 lakh price tag. Decidedly that would be the most affordable automatic sedan in India. Tata Zest petrol engine options include Tata’s 1.2l Revotron engine taht returns 85 PS peak power at 5,000 rpm and 140 Nm max torque at 1,750 rpm.
