IAB Picks - Top 4 car launches in H1 2014
The year 2014 for the Indian auto market started off with a product launching spree across different segments. The momentum grew stronger in the second month of the year, thanks to the 2014 Auto Expo.
While there is still an array of cars waiting to be launched before and during the festival season, here is a compilation of the top 4 new car launches in India, in the first half of 2014.
1. New Honda City
The Honda City became one of the most awaited sedans in India, especially after word got out last year that the new car will offer a diesel engine. The new gen City is an evolution of the older car but it has managed to turn around the company's fortunes quite dramatically. The Honda City has regained its segment leadership with 45,900 units sold in January - July 2014.
2. Maruti Celerio
The Maruti Celerio is another car which created a ripple in the industry on its way in. The global replacement for the A-Star had a safe and conservative styling but its trump card - the AMT - turned out to be the next big thing. As of May, Maruti found itself sitting on over 58,000 bookings for its latest hatchback with only 28,000 of them delivered. Moreover, its acceptance has led every auto maker in the mini car segment toy with the idea of AMT.
3. Hyundai Xcent
The Hyundai Xcent sub-4 metre sedan is another product that made its entry in 2014 and went straight on to sell like a hot cake. It has registered sales of over 20,000 units since its launch in March.
4. Toyota Etios Cross
While its elder siblings are finding the proceedings tough, the Toyota Etios Cross has delighted the Japanese automaker with a strong response from the customers in the first few weeks of launch. Launched in late May, the instant crossover which is essentially an Etios Liva with a rough road package has managed to garner over 5,400 bookings so far.