News

Indian auto industry in 2025: What are your expectations & wishlists?

3rd January 2025, 10:33 by Rahul Nagaraj

View Forum Discussion

If Maruti can build a 5-star car, expecting good service from TATA isn't unreasonable.

BHPian ramki.grandhi recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

From me, here are my expectations. Some might sound unrealistic but hey, atleast I can wish for those.

TATA really have to fix the service issues and emerge as best service provider. If Maruti can build 5 star car, expecting good service from TATA isn't unreasonable.
Mahindra is doing perfect, may be they can increase their production output and booking problems.
Maruti should bring more models that gets 5 star safety ratings. Revive CIAZ, and bring atleast 1-2 models that offer good performance.
Nissan/Renault - Come on, please, give us one more model in 2025.
Honda - Just stay alive.
VW/Skoda - increase the sales and service network. Fix your AC and other issues. Also stop being greedy with CKD/CBU models. Wishing grand success with Kylaq.
Toyota - Stop being greedy, continue being reliable. Bring more Lexus models.
Hyundai - Good start with Verna but bring more models that gets 5 star safety ratings.

MG, Citroen, Jeep -- I do not have much opinion.

And all of us have one wish from government and ofcourse it wont happen anytime soon! Advanced happy new year everyone.

Here's what BHPian Silverfire replied:

Allow customisation while picking a model. Some low hanging fruit:
1. Interior colour scheme: Across most countries manufacturers allow customers to chose the interior trim. Beige, Tan, Black pick what you want. Here, we have progressed from one interior option to interior based on variant. But what if I like the Tan seats from the mid variant, but
want the rest of the features from top variant. Nope! Sorry - can’t do that.
2. Sunroof: Make it an optional feature. What if I like the base variant with Sunroof, or top variant without sunroof. Enable it!
3. Safety features like ADAS: Allow me to add ADAS from the base variant. This I feel is better than some companies which make safety features the same across all variants, thereby inflating the cost of the base variant or even worse reserve the safety features only for the topmost variant (which can be double the price of the base variant in some cases)

Here's what BHPian jagan88 replied:

I bet big on EVs for the next year. Mahindra's new EVs are going to do good - based on what's showcased and the initial euphoria.
Mahindra, Tata, BYD, MG - Get us a EV sedan at about 20L ex-showroom. Something in the Slavia/Virtus class.

Here's what BHPian drift2race replied:

To all the car makers :
1. Introduce plug-in hybrid vehicles otherwise known as strong hybrids for the Indian Car Market
2. Make safer cars for the Indian market
Individually :
Tata Motors -
1. Improve your service and spare parts support
2. Offer AWD in your so-called SUV's
3. Improve reliability across the range of vehicles offered
Mahindra & Mahindra -
1. Offer Thar Roxx with petrol 4x4 option
2. Less thirsty petrol automatic combo
Maruti Suzuki -
1. Permanent price correction for Jimny instead of these so-called offers
2. A viable full-size SUV alternative to Tata and Mahindra
Hyundai & Kia -
1. Better built 5-star rated cars
2. A lifestyle vehicle with AWD or 4x4
3. Please bring in the Palisade with a strong hybrid powerplant and AWD options
Skoda & Volkswagen -
1. Update the current lineup to better compete in the market
2. Lower maintenance cost and improve reliability across the range
3. Bring in a few halo models and improve the brand image
Toyota -
1. Bring the Landcruiser 250 to the market in CKD Format and more numbers
2. Bring full-size SUVs with a strong hybrid powertrain
3. More models from the acclaimed Toyota international lineup
MG Motors -
1. Focus on fuel-efficient vehicles otherwise known as strong hybrids to sell ICE vehicles in India in huge numbers
2. Bring boxy SUVs from your international stable as they are known to perform well in the domestic market
I have intentionally left luxury car manufacturers and other low-volume players out because they don't have mass market penetration in India.

Here's what BHPian saket77 replied:

I don't have any wish 'from' the industry to be fulfilled. Because the industry churns out what majority wants. I have a wish from the car buyers.
People, please keep the sedans alive. The fad of (pseudo) SUVs are killing some very good sedans in the market. All 4 proper sedans- The City, Verna, Slavia and the Virtus are excellent cars in their own rights- they don't deserve to be treated with the sales numbers that they are scoring.
If this trend continues, 5-7 years down the line, we may not have any sedans left below the 45-50L price bracket.

Here's what BHPian V.Narayan replied:

My wish - simplicity of controls, minimalistic dashboards. - that would be my wish for both ease of driving and driving safety by avoiding driver distraction.
Our OEMs have converted our dashboards into that of a supersonic jet fighter* with complex multi page touch screens, non-tactile controls and their warped belief that we are not driving a simple car but a James Bond vehicle that swims and flies.
Bring back tactile controls and toss that horrid screen out OEMs, please. A person should be able to drive in the dark without taking his/her eyes off the road knowing by heart where each control is.
A car is a relatively simple mode of transportation - an engine, gearbox, accelerator, brakes, clutch sometimes, lights, indicators and now almost always an aircon and a music baja box. Photo below of a Standard Herald on which I learnt to drive. That's how simple a car's dashboard & controls need to be.
*Even the pilots of the vaunted Lockheed F-35 have been complaining that touchscreens distract them and with little or no feednack {when touched} they have to look twice to check button press hua ki nahin!!!