The automobile industry has braved the downward slump and is in no mood to buckle under the downward spiral, although in the month of Dec 2008 there was a 14 per cent drop in primary sales. The used car market continued with increased sales volumes and there are expectations that the New Year would keep the wheels moving since there are many new launches slated. 

 

About six new launches have taken place in January itself. One of them was the Mahindra & Mahindra Xylo launch, followed by the release of Hyundai Sonata Transform, GM SUV Captiva+, and the revamped Toyota Innova. Also included in the list are the Fiat Linea and the BMW 7 and 3 series.

 

Media reports have indicated that another 44 new launches of either new car models or corresponding variants of existing models are expected all through this calendar year. The much awaited Tata Nano is now scheduled for a first quarter release, followed by Fiat's Grande Punto hatchback and premium sedan Bravo; new version of Indigo range built on the platform of Indica Vista; the crossover Tata Indicruz and Maruti Ritz or the Splash as it is known globally.



The other vehicles that will hit the Indian roads are the Honda Jazz; Hyundai sedan Avante and SUV Santa FE; GM Cruze; Skoda Yeti, Roomster and Fabia's Combi variant; Megane hatchback and Sandero sedan from Renault and the much awaited Micra hatchback and Murano SUV from the Nissan portfolio.