Latest news with #C-SUV
Auto Car
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Dacia's secrets to success: how it makes its cars so cheap
Adapting it for Duster duties cost a little more, mainly for the reinforced sills and ride height, but from there, for the extra-large Bigster, the only major change has been to extend the A-pillars by 50mm. Every kilogram is managed, too. The reason the Bigster doesn't offer a seven-seat interior is because Dacia worked out only 25% of buyers in the segment consider them but the added weight would require strengthening for the rear axle, which would add expense across the range. Ergo the Bigster is a five-seater only, being ruthlessly focused on the main audience. Which brings Le Vot to his second point: the importance of learning what the intended buyer really wants and then not straying beyond that kit level by so much as an additional USB-C port. 'We've been studying the Germans, I must confess,' he says, smirking. The Germans are the big market for cars like the Bigster. They're also fussy, which is crucial. If our German chums 'need' something in their C-SUV, you damn well better offer it. And if they don't, nobody else will want it and you're off the procurement hook. 'If the car doesn't have AC [air-con], then it's disqualified. But if I offer, whatever, electric seats for the front passenger or AC in the seats? No need: it's not disqualifying. So we have dual-zone AC [in the Bigster], which we've never had before, and we have two-tone paint and an electric tailgate. These are the things we will offer, and if we don't, they will say 'I'm not buying'. Hundreds of people. It's complicated; new territory for us.' The final part of the equation is the supplier negotiations, where Le Vot's sojourns in hard-nosed Russia has fortified his resolve. By all accounts, this charismatic Frenchman and his accomplices in accounts are utter bastards. Le Vot says: 'We define the car [at] €25k and the hybrid [at] €30k, then we split this price. It seems obvious, but most manufacturers don't do that. "They design the car they want to have, then give the parts to suppliers, negotiating like hell to get the best price, but the best price is a surprise. When you expect €100, you get €110 more often than €95.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
India's flagship EV policy may struggle without major players like Tesla and BYD
The Indian government unveiled an EV incentive program last year which offers to slash duties on imported EVs to 15 per cent if the manufacturer sets up a local plant within three years. (AFP) Notify me India is rolling out a new flagship electric vehicle policy that aims to lure global automakers into making cars locally. It knows Tesla Inc. may still not bite. The Narendra Modi-led government will soon start accepting applications under the EV incentive program that was unveiled in March last year, HD Kumaraswamy, India's heavy industries and steel minister told reporters in New Delhi on Monday. Bloomberg News reported on this earlier in the day. The policy offers to slash duty to 15% on any imported electric car priced from $35,000 if the maker invests at least 41.5 billion rupees, or about $500 million, to set up a local plant within three years. Up to 8,000 cars yearly can be imported at this reduced rate. But Tesla is unlikely to participate as it isn't keen on manufacturing locally and instead wants dealerships and showrooms to sell imported cars, Kumaraswamy said, without elaborating. Tesla has long wanted to enter India, but disagreements over import duties and local manufacturing commitments have stalled progress. BYD Co. is a no-go for the South Asian nation, showing New Delhi's lingering angst with China. India's commerce minister said in an April interview that the country needs to be 'cautious" about who it allows to invest. VinFast Auto Ltd. is already building a factory in India, even before the new policy kicked in. Non-Starter 'The EV policy could be a non starter," said Jay Kale, sector analyst at local brokerage Elara Securities India Pvt., explaining that there was little benefit in terms of 'pure-play" EV makers without Tesla, BYD and VinFast in the fray. Also Read : Nissan India plans four new models including C-SUV, Triber-based MPV and mass-market EV Some global legacy automakers could benefit by setting up EV-only plants in India and importing electric cars initially under this policy, according to Kale. 'However, how these models pan out in India have to be seen as most of these carmakers haven't been successful in their home markets in EVs," he said. While the government is keen to boost manufacturing in the world's third-largest car market where demand for EVs is still rising, it faces stiff resistance from domestic heavyweights including Tata Motors Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., which have long been protected by a wall of high tariffs. Stringent Conditions 'The policy will likely draw limited interest from foreign automakers as the investment and revenue requirements are too stringent," said Komal Kareer analyst at BloombergNEF in New Delhi. It mandates a minimum revenue of 50 billion rupees ($586 million) in the fourth year and 75 billion rupees a year later for any applicant approved under this policy. Those falling short will face a penalty of up to 3% on the revenue gap. 'Most automakers either do not have an eligible model that they can import for the customs' duty exemption or they will not be able to meet the revenue requirements," Kareer said. Applications may open as early as this month and extend till March 15 next year, according to people familiar with the discussions who did not want to be named. Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India. First Published Date: 05 Jun 2025, 08:59 AM IST
Mint
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Nissan teases new SUV and MPV based on Duster, Triber platforms. Check details
Nissan Motor India has teased its future products which includes a compact SUV and a B segment seven seater MPV. The company had first shown both these products in March 2025. The company said that the new MPV will be launched towards the end of 2025 as a brand new product in the India portfolio. The 5-seater C-SUV (compact sports utility vehicle), will be launched in early 2026. The SUV will rival the likes of Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq and others. Nissan Motor India stated it is on its way to introducing 4 products by FY26 for Indian Customers, with the B/C and D SUV segments. The MPV will compete with the Renault Triber in the meantime. Nissan's compact SUV model will be based on the future Renault Duster. The company has claimed that the new C-SUV will borrow its design language from Nissan Patrol. The C-SUV will use that firm's SUV DNA and will be reincarnated with built-in ruggedness, reliability, quality of materials and must relied upon technology to ensure that it adheres to the Nissan badge. The new C-SUV which will be launched is said to have a high approach and departure angle in an effort to handle the Indian road conditions. Meanwhile, the Nissan MPV will be a mechanical sibling of Renault Triber. The Nissan B-MPV will have a robust styling that is unique to Nissan's own design philosophy, the company has stated. The automaker noted that this vehicle was designed to ensure that all-passenger rows are comfortable without sacrificing driving pleasure. The company has claimed that the two upcoming Nissan products will have distinct exterior and interior designs for different customers' preferences, but would be based on the same platform. In addition to this, Nissan Motor India is also working on an electric SUV that is expected to debut after the compact SUV, in 2026. First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Nissan teases Duster-based SUV and Triber-based yet again. Here's what to expect
Based on the same platform, both the Nissan MPV and the compact SUV will have distinct styling Nissan Motor India has teased its upcoming products which includes a compact SUV and a B segment seven seater MPV. The company had first revealed both the products in March 2025. The company noted that the new MPV is scheduled to launch in 2025 as a brand- new addition to the India product portfolio. Meanwhile, the 5-seater C-SUV (compact sports utility vehicle) will be launched in early 2026. The SUV will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq and others. Nissan Motor India said that it is on target to have 4 products by FY26 for Indian customers in the B/C and D-SUV segments. In the meantime the MPV will compete with the Renault Triber. Also Read : Nissan bets big on Magnite facelift to kickstart its turnaround journey Upcoming Nissan MPV and Compact SUV design The compact SUV from Nissan will be based on the upcoming Renault Duster. The company noted that the new C-SUV would borrow its design elements from the Nissan Patrol. The C-SUV will incorporate that firm's SUV DNA and will be expected to provide solid reliability, high-end craftsmanship and technology. The soon-to-be-launched C-SUV is reported to have a high approach and departure angle in an attempt to accommodate the Indian road conditions. In the meantime, the Nissan MPV will be a mechanical sibling of Renault Triber. The Nissan B-MPV will receive a strong styling unique to Nissan's own design philosophy, the automaker announced. The automaker said that it has been designed so that it can keep passengers comfortable on all rows without losing driving pleasure. Also Read : Nissan X-Trail available with a massive ₹ 21 lakh discount. Here's how you can get one During an earlier interaction with HT Auto, Saurabh Vatsa, MD, Nissan Motor India, shared that the two new upcoming Nissan products will have separate exterior and interior designs to meet different customers' tastes but on the same underpinning. Vatsa has said that with an outlay of $600 million, the C-segment Nissan SUV will be 'made in India, made for the world products', similar to the Magnite. The five seater C-SUV will be the second model from the Chennai plant to adopt the 'One Car, One World' strategy. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 04 May 2025, 13:14 PM IST
