Landrover,Honda,Toyota plan new hybrids

Looks like hybrids it is to tide over the present oil crisis.Whether it is a sustainable long term solution or only a temporary fix is the million dollar question.Manufacturers like Nissan do not think so and are betting on electric vehicles.Even the poster boy of hybrids is talking of electric vehicles and even hydrogen to power its vehicles.However even by the most conservative estimates a Tata Nano powered by hydrogen is not a possibility in the near future[not atleast for the next 15 years says a study].For the time being then we have no option but to depend on hybrids to save the planet and our wallet.

In this backdrop Honda plans to follow toyota and have an exclusive Hybrid only model[like the toyota prius].This after the honda accord hybrid did not bring in the intended sales and had to be discontinued.The civic hybrid too isnt really the dream car of greenpeace activists.What is also interesting is that the civic hybrid too is getting a facelift perhaps Honda are going to come out with a facelift version of the civic[non-hybrid] version too in the near future.

Toyota too are not resting on the back of the sucess of the prius.Toyota now plan a bigger and more powerful[reportedly 2-2.5L engine].Apart from this ofcourse lexus too plans a hybrid only model.

Finally Landrover to have taken the green plunge and although they will initially start with diesels with start-stop technolgy they are heading towards desel -electric vehicles[Would FEV be working on this too is not known at this moment].Landrover say these vehicles would be equipped with e-terrain[electric rear axle drive (ERAD)] technology.What these means is you can drive these cars without starting the engine[it will do it for you].However unlike honda and toyota landrover don't intend a hybrid only vehicle.

Mahindra-Our desi version of Land Rover

Mahindra plans to make it big with its UV's[includes Muv and Suv] and pick-ups.Mahindra plan its own version the difference being we are talking about the cheapest possible UV and not a car.Being a UV prices would be a bit more and are expected to be between Rs.4-5 lakhs.Now although this is a cheap vehicle I hope mahindra designers do keep the Urban markets in mind and the fact that we live in the twenty first century.If mahindra keep this in mind then it will have be a runaway success and it will have to face no competition from any competitors at all.

Not much is known about this vehicle except that it is a five seater and that a prototype is ready so expect a few spy pictures soon.The full production version is expected in our markets by next year[2009].

And now for the next vehicle in the line-up which would surely send Toyota india back to the drawing board as far as their UV line-up is concerned.The innova's magic run could soon end with the introduction of the ingenio and somebody has told me expect some class first features in the ingenio.The ingenio would be powered by the 2.6crde engine[mhawk or not I am not sure].But the killer blow would be on the price front it is expected to be a lot more cheaper than the innova[Business Standard reports Rs.6.5 lakhs].The ingenio is expected by the year end[2008 end] yes that's right the wait is not that long any more.

Mahindra also have a new suv in the pipeline remember[expected in 2010] and it is expected to take on the likes of the Honda crv,Toyota Fortuner.

As far as the Land rover tag don't know if that is a good thing these days Mahindra would like to see themselves more as a successful brand associated with suv's.

Also read:
India: Mahindra looks at raising the bar with its next SUV

Congratulations Tata Motors

Yes this is now no longer a surprise ,Tata are the owners of the Landrover and jaguar brand its just moments away.Congratulations Tata,you have made us feel proud.

But now lets get back to reality.Remember every analyst/critic is against this buying decision of Tata.So what do they have to say.

The first and foremost thing is where is the synergy between Tata motors and Jaguar/Landrover.They are two complete extremities catering to a different set of clientele. Look at the premium brands of the japanese giants Honda/Toyota.Acura/Lexus brands have vehicles which essentially share platforms with vehicles from the parent company.So Tata motors needs to take advantage of the jaguar and Landrover platforms but would people accept expensive vehicles from Tata Motors.

Even on their own while the Landrover badge is not that bad,jaguar is struggling amongst its peers.Competition has left jaguar far behind and the target group of jaguar customers is not what any company would feel good about.Right now Jeremy Clarkson may be the only guy who would go and buy a Jaguar.Considering rising oil prices and green house emissions Landrover is the bad guy as far as environmentalists are concerned.So once again the two badges are not what they were once upon a time.

Cost cutting too is an area where Tata Motors will not have complete freedom since it would not be able lay off people,have to cater to pensions and most importantly depend on Ford motors for major components of the vehicle[Remember Ford will supply engines even after the sale].Outsourcing to India is also not an option.

Neither Jaguar nor Landrover are known for hybrids.So Tata would have to provide something to satisfy the environmentalists.But Tata right themselves do not have anything green to offer.Perhaps the air cars in future.

I don't see anything special that Tata have which manufacturers like BMW or Ford could not offer to resurrect the Landrover and Jaguar brands.

Lastly Tata motors themselves are struggling on their home turf with reducing sales and the ambitous project of the one lakh car which could be a strain on Tata Motors atleast for the immediate future.

Tata Motors is essentially now a complete automobile manufacture offering the cheapest of cars to luxury cars and SUV's as well as trucks and buses.But can Tata Motors remain the only exception and its not that others have not tried.The ones who tried have failed and have had to split the business and in some cases have had to hive off certain units.

All in all what I can say is I am with the analysts/critics in this case and am not too bullish on tata motors for the short term atleast[and by that I mean atleast 3-5 years].But then Tata motors always have this tendency to prove its critics wrong.The tagline impossible is nothing is more apt for Tata than addidas.

Tatas New owners of Landrover and Jaguar says British media

Just a day after Tata launched the cheapest car in the world there is more reason for the company to feel proud[and the whole nation as well].The Birmingham Post reports that Tata are now the official owners of the Jaguar and Land Rover brand.They have reportedly bought both these companies from Ford for USD $2 billion.

No official word out yet,but the Birmingham post expects the announcement to be made in a day or two.Yet another proud moment for the Indian automobile Industry.

Tata expected to become masters at both ends of the pyramid as far as the Automobile industry is concerned.

Chak De Tata.


Update:
The process is taking longer than what a few people anticipated but in all probability Tata would be the new owners.