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The Renault Kwid is a 100% hit in the Indian auto space based on the feedback since its launch and on the 25,000 bookings it has managed to ink from prospective car buyers in 14 days since launch – it is yet to hit the road, even though test drives have generally elicited a thumbs-up and any one who has seen it in physical avatar is all ga-ga over it. It has a spectacularly 'affordable' price and massive features that are tailor-made to allure. Renault Kwid car is priced at a starting Rs 2,57,000 and goes up as high as Rs 3,53,000. In comparison, Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is priced at Rs 2,50,000 – Rs 3,70,000. But more than that, there is danger looming for the vehicle, as the Indian car aficionado is maturing fast and s/he is looking away from the small-car segment towards the larger hatchbacks and even sedans. Check out top points that indicate the Renault Kwid has boldly entered the market with a big vision and great specs into a slowly-dying segment:
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Renault Kwid
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2. Renault Kwid's India drive: Wider choice and bank financing seems to have made consumers move to compact hatchbacks or sedans. The era of the mini car, as such, which put the majority of Indians on roads with the iconic 800 from Maruti is over. In January 2014, Maruti completely phased out the 800. The Alto, which was born in 2000 and was supposed to replace it, continues to sell but was last spruced up in 2012.
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3. Renault Kwid's India drive: Others who raced into the segment looking to displace Maruti Suzuki with swanky small cars have burned their fingers. To tap the mini car segment Hyundai launched Eon in 2011 but sales have been lacklustre. Tata Motors’ Nano was never close to setting the market on fire. General Motors also entered the market with its 1-litre engine Spark in 2007 but phased it out early this year. (Image: CarDekho)
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4. Renault Kwid's India drive: Check out the stats. The micro and mini segment constituted 21% of the total passenger car segment in 2014-15. This stood at 30% in 2010-11. In the same period, the share of compact cars has risen to 41% from 33%. And finally, sales of mini and micro cars remained flat during the April-August of the current fiscal. The reason why? Read on. (Image: CarDekho)
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5. Renault Kwid's India drive: “The mini car segment is easily impacted by high inflation and low savings growth. A lot of customers in the segment have moved to the used car segment for owning a superior product. In future this segment will be outgrown by hatchback and premium hatchbacks,” said Kumar Kandaswamy, partner, Deloitte and Haskins. (Image: CarDekho)
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