Engineers make the marketing look lot easier..
Even before the 'PEOPLE CAR' was out, speculations about its performance were rife and most among the elite (Competitors, reviewers, environmentalists, politicians, journalists etc etc) gave it a big thumbs down. The best comment came from Maharashtra chief minister Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh that " if so many people are going to buy this car, where they will keep it? Where they will run it?" Well, I think that the person who is spending 1 lakh from his/her pocket can figure out all this. They are no fools.
Reports were that this being the cheapest car on the road only few people will want to own it, will be most polluting and has a dabba shape (plastic body). But well, the launch and the coverage thereafter says it all. In the words of RATAN TATA " a promise is a promise". And well, he stood firm on his words.
Ofcourse, it's the cheapest car on the road but is cuter than Maruti 800, Zen Estilo and our big old Ambi and it is lot safer than the 800 and bikes. It can't run at 100 kmph but I can bet my money on the fact that if they say 70 kmph, it will go to that speed without shaking. The Euro IV compliant engine ensures that it remains less polluting that any car on the Indian roads today and the price tag offers unmatched value.
Two days back, we were having a small discussion on the future of the car and most of my friends felt that it's too costly for a bike rider to switch to it and too cheap for a CAR and thus it will be hard for the company to even break even. My personal view was that let's leave the marketing to the company (they can always do the segmentation and targeting) but what is more important is that this car is an engineering marvel adn will bring a new trend of cost efficient design. It will inspire a whole new generation of automobiles (Renault, Suzuki, Ford, Hyundai etc now all aspire to bring their own cutie little bird on the road) and it's a moment of pride as an Indian. With the kind of buzz the cute little bird is creating on the road, it makes me believe that good and sound engineering can make the marketing look lot easier. You never know from where the customers might come.
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