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Daewoo slashes Matiz prices; GM's Opel Astra sales rise; Fiat sews up Siena promos

Having failed to prop up sales for its small car, Daewoo Motor India Limited today announced launch of three additional stripped down versions of the Matiz with the base model priced nearly Rs 100,000 lower than the existing variant.

The 796cc Matiz would now be available in the range of Rs 250,000 to Rs 327,000.

The stripped down base version of the car -- Matiz Standard, which is a non-air-conditioned version, has been priced at Rs 250,778 (ex-factory). The Matiz Deluxe offers air-conditioning and a stereo system and is priced at rs 285,963 (ex-factory) while the Matiz Executive (SE) will have power windows and a central door lock with a music system. The SEe would carry a price tag of Rs 327,630 (ex-factory).

The high-end version of the car -- Matiz Premium (SP) -- is the fully loaded version with power steering, rear window defogger, rear wiper and a roof rail and has been priced at Rs 346,148 (ex-factory).

Order acceptance for all the four value-options of the Matiz would commence from April 12, 1999 and deliveries would begin in the first week of May this year.

DMIL chairman Sung-Hak Park said, ''This is in keeping with our Long-term vision for India, wherein we have a commitment to provide the Indian consumer with the best choices.''

Since its global launch last year, the Matiz has been adjudged the world's most beautiful automobile at Milan, Italy and the best small car at the British international motor show in Great Britain.

The company pointed out that due to high global demand, there were supply constraints. However, an increase in capacity of Daewoo plants in Korea has resulted in a corresponding increase in supplies to DMIL.

Further with indigenous vendor development, the company can now supply the Matiz in larger numbers in the Indian market and cater to a wider segment of the Indian car market and Daewoo's global demand as well.

''Feedback from consumers for wider options, which our research revealed, has led us to offer the four new value-options that extend our flagship product line,'' DMIL managing director S G Awasthi said.

Meanwhile, General Motors India Limited has recorded an over 151 per cent surge in sales of Opel Astra during March 1999 to touch 402 units from 160 units in February this year.

The sales figure during the month also represents a 53 per cent jump over 263 units sold in March last year.

GMI associate vice president P Balendran attributed the surge to its latest introduction the top-end Astra Club. ''This clearly demonstrates that Astra continues to be the most preferred car in the mid-size segment.''

The Club offers unique features like electric sun roof, special two-tone paint, leather seats, special alloy wheels, chrome exhaust tip and a special badging. The Astra Club, carrying a price tag of Rs 875,000 is nearly Rs 100,000 dearer than the current model.

This year, Opel is celebrating 100 years of automobile manufacturing and GM India, he said, has initiated a number of activities to celebrate the occasion.

As part of the programme, the company had earlier announced that a sports model of the Astra would be rolled out by the third quarter of 1999.

The Opel Corsa, which would be the next offering from the company's stables, would hit the streets by the year-end.

Gearing up against the competitors, Fiat India Automobiles Limited today announced details of its advertising strategy for its mid-sized car Siena.

Seina would be promoted as a car, high on safety, security, reliability and not to mention looks, besides being low on the price tag.

''We are targeting an upmarket audience with our ads,'' the company said in a statement.

The series would revolve around the phrase ''Secure with Siena''.

''It is this image of a safe and secure car, an investment, which would become an integral part of the family, that we intend to create through our campaign.''

Maruti Esteem, Daewoo's Cielo, Honda's City, Mitsubishi's Lancer, GM's Opel Astra are some of the mid-size cars.

Fiat had earlier this week announced that the petrol ELX version of Siena would carry an ex-showroom (Delhi) price tag of Rs 550,457 while the ELX-PS version has been priced at Rs 574,995.

The Siena diesel EL-PS would sport a Rs 614,235 price tag while the ELX-PS version would be priced at Rs 668,254.

With this pricing, Siena has become the second cheapest car in the petrol category in its segment and the cheapest in the diesel version.

Order booking for the car would commence from April 15 on a first-come, first-served basis. The company intends to deliver 2,000 cars in the next three months, 7,000 within this calender year, appropriating 18 per cent of the three-box car market in the country.

Fiat is seeking to steer clear of the problems faced with its small car the Uno. As a result, Fiat India has decided to bypass the booking route entirely and has put in place a dealer direct purchase programme driven by customer interface.

''Our customers can enter into an immediate contract with our dealerships, guaranteeing the delivery of their cars at the contracted price and stipulated time.''

Under this, a dealer has been allotted a quota which will be made available in three months' time. He will accept customer orders only so far as he remains within the quota limit. If enquiries are received thereafter, no fresh orders would be booked.

UNI

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