Mercedes-Benz India Plans 15 New Launches for 2021

The coming July 17, 2024 will see Royal Enfield presenting its long-awaited Guerrilla 450. This new Roadster which has been designed on the Sherpa 450 intends to conquer the single cylinder performance motorcycles market in competition with Speed 400, X440, Mavrick 440 and 390 Duke.

From the latest leaks it was discovered that Guerrilla 450 will feature a compact body and also it will be lightweight. The physical dimensions are 2,134 mm in length, 834 mm in width, and 1,115 mm in height; with a wheelbase of 1,491 mm; which is way smaller than the Himalayan 450. Measuring 183 kg it is 13 kg lighter than the ADV version but still lighter than others such as the Honda CB300R.

The Guerrilla 450 is powered by the same engine as the Himalayan 450, which generates 39.52 bhp at 8,000 RPM and 40 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM. Its tyre profile is also unique for a commuter motorcycle with 120/80R17 at the front and 160/60R17 at the rear, common in touring or racing bikes. 

Talking of the equipment, expect the base model to come with a semi-analog instrument cluster with Tripper Screen provision while the top model is likely to come with the conventional Tripper Dash like in the Himalayan 450. 

It is expected that pricing will be fairly reasonable with projections of the base variant priced at Rs 2.3 lakh (ex-showroom). This positioning makes the Guerrilla 450 distinctive and suggestively positioned in the Increasing performance motorcycle segment in India.

In June 2024, the Indian two-wheeler market saw Hero MotoCorp maintain its top position despite a slight decrease in market share compared to last year. Here's a breakdown of the market share for major players:

This table now includes the units sold by each OEM in both June 2024 and June 2023, along with their respective market shares for comparison.

Hero MotoCorp Ltd

In June 2024, Hero MotoCorp retained its top position in the Indian two-wheeler market despite a slight decrease in market share compared to the previous year. The company sold 3,97,029 units, capturing 28.86% of the market, down from 32.50% in June 2023.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (P) Ltd

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (P) Ltd showed significant growth in June 2024, securing a market share of 25.54%, up from 21.56% in June 2023. With 3,51,422 units sold, Honda expanded its presence in the competitive market.

TVS Motor Company Ltd

TVS Motor Company Ltd maintained a stable position with a market share of 17.17% in June 2024, slightly down from 17.28% in June 2023. The company sold 2,36,180 units during the period.

Bajaj Auto Group

Bajaj Auto Group experienced a decrease in market share, falling to 11.16% in June 2024 from 12.44% in June 2023. The group sold 1,53,535 units, reflecting a competitive market environment.

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd

Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd showed growth in June 2024, capturing 5.31% of the market in June 2024 with 73,048 units sold, up from 4.77% in June 2023. The company's strategic efforts contributed to its increased market presence.

Royal Enfield (Unit of Eicher Ltd)

Royal Enfield, a unit of Eicher Ltd, held a market share of 4.02% in June 2024, slightly lower than 4.74% in June 2023. With 55,249 units sold, Royal Enfield continued to be a significant player in the two-wheeler segment, focusing on its niche market.

Emerging Players

New entrants like Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd made significant strides, capturing 2.67% of the market with 36,723 units sold, up from 1.35% last year. Ather Energy Pvt Ltd also showed growth, securing a 0.44% market share with 6,104 units sold, up from 0.35% last year.

Overall, the two-wheeler market in India in June 2024 saw Hero MotoCorp leading despite a reduction in market share. Honda made significant gains, while new players like Ola Electric Technologies showed promising growth. The market continues to evolve with electric vehicle manufacturers gaining traction alongside traditional players.

Jaguar India has pulled the all-electric I-Pace SUV and the F-Type sports car from its website, which suggests that it has stopped taking orders for these vehicles. This situation reduces Jaguar to a single model in India; the F-Pace SUV.

 The I-Pace came to India in 2021 as Jaguar’s first and only plug-in EV and the second luxury electric SUV under ₹1 crore ($140,000) after Audi e-tron and before Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV. Still, the I-Pace when launched initially did not receive any significant improvements for the three years of its presence in the market, unlike its competitors. It had a 90 kWh battery pack, and twin electric motors that developed 400 hp/696 Nm of torque and an approximate real-world range of around 410 km. 

In FY2024, Jaguar Land Rover’s I-Pace remained unsatisfactory with only 31 models sold contrary to BMW’s iX with 738 models sold in the same year. Currently, the I-Pace can still be bought in foreign markets but it would eventually be replaced by Jaguar’s new electric car lineup expected to be released in the international market from 2025. 

Company vehicles such as the F-Type sports car, whose production for the global market ceased in June 2024, have also been removed from the list. 

Jaguar’s transition to the next generation of EVs is a representation of its forward-thinking strategy, but the transitional period has resulted in the company having a relatively narrow range of products in India.

Mahindra has quietly bid farewell to its slow-selling model, the Marazzo MPV, by delisting it from its official website. This marks the end of a seven-year journey for the Marazzo, which was introduced in September 2018.

The Marazzo was the sole MPV offering from Mahindra, aimed at families seeking a spacious three-row vehicle. Despite its initial promise, the model received little updates throughout its lifespan.

At launch, the Mahindra Marazzo started at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 9.99 lakh, with the top variant priced at Rs. 13.90 lakh. However, sales fell short of expectations, with the automaker managing to sell only about 55-60 units per month on average in recent times. Initially available only with a manual gearbox, Mahindra had plans to introduce an automatic variant. Unfortunately, this never materialized, leaving prospective buyers with only the manual transmission option.

Under the hood, the Marazzo featured a BS6-compliant 1.5-litre diesel engine producing 121bhp and 300Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. Towards the end of its run, the Marazzo was priced between Rs. 14.39 lakh and Rs. 16.80 lakh (ex-showroom).

With the discontinuation of the Marazzo, Mahindra focuses on other models in its lineup, catering to diverse consumer needs in the competitive Indian automotive market.

BMW's popular luxury coupe SUV, the X4, is nearing the end of its production line and is set to be discontinued by 2025. This decision comes as BMW focuses on reshaping its lineup with newer models like the second-generation X2, which debuted globally in 2023 and has grown significantly in size compared to its predecessor.

Motor1 Italy reported that BMW will not be continuing the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe rival, the X4, into the next generation. According to sources, BMW has determined that there is no longer a strategic fit for the X4 within its evolving lineup. The larger and more competitively priced second-generation X2 is set to take its place.

The decision to discontinue the X4 also coincides with BMW's strategy to streamline its offerings. With the X2 now offering increased size and narrowing the price gap with its larger siblings, customers seeking a coupe SUV will be directed towards options like the larger X6 or the versatile X3, which offers both rear-wheel-drive and six-cylinder engine options, including the powerful M50 variant.

While BMW has not officially disclosed the reasons behind discontinuing the X4, industry experts speculate that the revamped lineup, including the new X2 and upcoming updated X3, makes the production of the X4 less economically viable.

Despite the imminent end of the internal combustion engine-powered X4, enthusiasts may find solace in rumors of a potential successor. BMW Blog suggests that a fully electric iX4 is in the pipeline, expected around 2027. This future model, based on BMW's Neue Klasse platform, is part of BMW's ambitious plan to introduce at least six electric vehicles by 2028.

The iX4 would mark a significant shift towards electrification for BMW, leveraging advanced technologies and sustainable mobility solutions to meet evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements.

While the BMW X4 bids farewell to its combustion engine variant, the promise of an electric successor underscores BMW's commitment to innovation and sustainability in the luxury automotive sector.

Car lovers interested in Maruti Suzuki cars should get ready for some irresistible offers in the month of July 2024. The offers extend to popular models like the Fronx, Jimny, Grand Vitara, and Baleno, potentially boosting their appeal in the competitive Indian automotive market.

The Fronx, launched in April 2023, is now available with a discount of up to ₹35,000. You can get an extra ₹25,000 off in showrooms if opting for an AMT variant. Customers can also add on the Velocity Edition accessory kit at ₹43,000.

The company offers an exchange bonus of up to ₹ 55,000 including corporate benefits on Grand Vitara, the mid-size SUV. This model is well-recognized among competitors in its segment due to strong hybrid technology.

The lifestyle-oriented Jimny witnesses the biggest cuts from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.50 lakh, specifically, through Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance.

The most demanded Baleno new generation hatchback presents cost-cutting offers including up to ₹45,000 for AMT versions, ₹40,000 for manual variants, and ₹20,000 for CNG version.

Consumers, long burdened by rising vehicle prices due to market demand and production issues such as the semiconductor crunch, can now breathe easier with these offers. Maruti Suzuki's decision to discount newer SUVs like the Fronx and Grand Vitara, alongside established hatchbacks like the Baleno, reveals a dual strategy of segment expansion and market share retention.