Nov 16

Small car revolution is about to hit the Indian car industry. The new and sparkling age of small cars has fortunately positioned India as a global leader.

Economic growth in the country is also set to usher the sparkling age as most of the Indian car manufacturers are embracing the era with the launch and announcement of small, affordable, fuel-efficient, and low-cost cars. The increasing demand of such cars is attributed to the desire and need of smaller and ultra-cheap cars with respect to the rising inflation, congested city conditions, and high fuel emissions.

Remember the old golden days when Maruti Suzuki 800, the smallest car on Indian roads, was the only car listed under small car. Though the car is still found zipped on roads, it has lost its dominance with the entry of new cars adorned with advanced and innovative technology.

Keeping pace with the advancing technology, car manufacturers later introduced many new small cars in the country. Some of the biggest hit among those are Hyundai car, Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Alto, Chevrolet car, Chevrolet Aveo, and the electric car. Though these small cars are not as small as the old warehouse, Maruti 800, they have been successful in winning people’s heart with their compact dimension and improved fuel efficiency.

The upcoming car model, Tata Nano, is again a small car that is expected to completely revolutionize the entire car market. It seems to be a live example of India’s potential capabilities to deliver the best design and engineering in accordance to the need of the next generation customers.

To create a full time service and value chain, Indian car manufacturers are working day and night to have the best in-class infrastructure, technology, designing, engineering, and auto components. The Indian leaders are also expected to be masters in branding, purchasing, and selling. Today, a large domestic market is supporting burgeoning engineering talent pool in the country. This talent pool coupled with a strong supplier base has carved a niche for the global auto industry.

Apart from the proposed Tata Nano, many other car manufacturers like Honda Seil India, Hyundai Motors, General Motors, Nissan Motors, Ford Motors, and Bajaj-Renault also have their small cars in pipeline. All these small cars will soon roll out on Indian roads, zipping them on the congested city roads.

In time, India is likely to lead the small car market and become a hub for small car production. The small-car focus has an incredible potential to reduce country’s trade deficit and promote fuel-efficient cars. The fulfillment of this realization needs a smart move by car manufacturers in collaboration with the government.

Nov 6

We’ve all seen the commercials talking about how technology was all going to be about flying cars and cold fusion. In reality, though, we have our very own science-fiction-turned-fact in looking at hybrid vehicles which are taking over. They truly are efficient and are money-saving at some levels, but most consumers assume that the concept of electric motors is brand new, but the first experiments with electric motors began in the mid-1800s. Going as far back as 1832, locomotives and carriages were already using electric motors, considering that lead-acid batteries were already being used.

In the 1890s, though, the first electric cars for sale were actually built at home in the U.S. and actually shown to the general public. To thank for that first electric car we have William Morrison, whose electric car was one of the first to be successfully tested. By the time 1893 had rolled around, there are already several models of electric-powered cars that were showcased in Chicago.

If you have the impression that electric cars are solely known to the public as the new economic fad, think again.

While most consumers think of old hybrids as being the 1998 Toyota cars, the first actual hybrid vehicle was constructed from a Buick by a man named Victor Wouk in 1972. The Federal Clear Car Incentive Program in 1970 brought forward this need for hybrid cars, and Wouk’s hybrid was no different, having been built specifically in response to this Act. Later, in 1974, Vanguard-Sebring built an electric vehicle known as the CitiCar, and was another attempt to respond to the Incentive Program. Unfortunately, the company and program were both out of the picture by 1980.

Toyota was able to make a breakthrough, and the Toyota Prius was released to the commercial mass-market, selling over 18,000 vehicles in one year alone. It didn’t take long after that, and in the next three years, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and GM began to release hybrid vehicles, but they were full of kinks and problems.

Hybrid vehicles began to see a resurgence in production. This time, the kinks were worked out and now, hybrids will soon become the new standard. The fact of the matter, though, is that while the packaging may be new, the actual technology behind the hybrid has spent a century being developed.