Renault KWID: The Game is still on

The new Renault KWID is pleasant surprise to the budget car industry in India. Equipped with extraordinary features those are not only best in class, but also in cars from segments above. It includes seven-inch touch-screen navigation system, a boot capacity of 300 litres, and the best in class ground clearance of 180 millimetres. The SUV look of the car is unique and attractive, with the best in class length & breadth offers a superior interior space, which is unusually rare in this segment. A three-cylinder 0.8-litre Smart Control Efficiency engine (799 CC, which is tuned to churn out 54PS and a peak torque of 72Nm with a 5-speed manual gearbox) enables it to generate a mileage of 25.17 kmpl, again the best in class.

With an affordable price of Rs 2.56 lakh to Rs 3.53 lakh, Renault KWID stands far ahead in the category of mini hatchbacks. The big question is now that whether KWID will be able to revive the dying mini car segment in India. With the changing preferences, increase in income level, availability of so many variants and easy bank financing options, the Indian consumer has already started to make a shift to the next level of owning a car.

The buzz that Renault has created with its online marketing efforts and India as a choice to be the first in global launch of KWID, reflects that seriousness of Renault towards the Indian market. The concept of virtual showroom, online demos and others communication efforts are worth appreciable and it also clicked for Renault as a flying start having managed to get 25,000 bookings within two weeks since its launch.

Surely, a well equipped mini car has everything to make a mark but isn't it too late for Renault to cater the segment? Or Renault is just trying to list the presence in the category? Though less price would enable it to fetch the market share but competition is already intense with Maruti Alto and Hundai Eon. The miserable journey of Tata Nano so far has already proved that even a college going boy is not much interested in mini cars. Sluggish sales of mini cars in India and falling market share of the segment (mini car segment constituted 30% in 2010-11, which is continuously on downfall with 21% market share in 2014-15) and comparative increase of market share of compact hatchbacks and sedan cars is the biggest challenge for Renault.

Despite of a few weak points and potential threats, Renault KWID has the mind-blowing strength to utilize the available opportunity in the dynamic market of India. 

WHY NOT HUMANITY?

This blog was also appeared in one of India's leading blogging platform riseforindia.com

We men and women are filled of profuse love and competent of give-away tons of love to each & every creation of Mother Nature. Even our birth is the result of the most intimated and sacred form of love. Why violence?

World has witnessed the greatest of the greatest leaders who have embraced the path of non-violence and made the significant contribution to make the world a better place. Why do we forget about it, and we always forget about it. The blood-drenched sword is double edged and it justifies Newton’s third law of motion.  Violence serves no one; even the aftermath of the great battle of Kurushetra was grief-stricken to the Pandvas. Though the violent battles fought in ancient times were mostly, good versus evil, and the purpose always remained unique i.e. to prevail peace. But in today’s era, things are worst; we fight for baseless things, which have no relation to the accomplishment of peace.

Let me share my own story with you, I had a very tragic road-accident in the year 2014 and the credit of my survival goes to the generous humans who overlooked the conundrum of religion, caste, creed etc and made every possible effort to keep me alive. My Boss, who is a believer of Sikh faith, was among those angelic humans who donated me the blood. My fracture leg was precisely treated by a Muslim doctor, I was mentally supported by my friends across the globe and all of them are Christians. Do I need to say that how much I owe to them?

There are so things in this world like poverty, education, hunger to care about except the fanaticism of violence and inhumanity. Religions were made to serve humanity, not to lynch it.   In his book Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India, Dr Kalam wrote, ““For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.”   To a thirsty, the religion is water, to a hungry, the religion is food; above all is humanity that serves the needy.

In her letter to me, Irom Sharmila writes, “What we really need to do now is to inculcate the art of love and kindness for others around the world, so that the world be the real sole-abode of a civilised generation of ours, without madness of killings and supremacy in dealing with other fellow beings. Why not it is possible?”

We, the citizen of this planet, are desperately in need to salvage the pearl of tolerance. Our minds should be broad enough and our hearts must be warm enough; to act or react without harming others, to analyse precisely before making pre-emptive notions, to help the feeble with all our strength, to think positive and TO make a constructive change.

After all, life is too short to be lived with hatred.

This is my first poem I ever wrote, I shall dedicate this to 'humanity' within us:

मैं इंसान हूँ।

(I Am Human)

सोचकर आज मैं बात यह परेशान हूँ, कि मैं एक इंसान हूँ।

(Thinking about it today, I am worried that I am a human-being)

मुझे दफनाओगे या जलाओगे?;

(Will you bury me or burn me after death?)

ना मैं हिन्दू हूँ, ना  मुसलमान हूँ।।

(I am neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim)

भगवान ने मुझे इंसान बनाया, लेकिन जग ने मुझे हिंदू या मुसलमान बनाया।

(God has made me a human, but the world has made me a Hindu or a Muslim)

लहू दोनों का है लाल, वही आखें वही बाल।

(The color of blood is same, same hair & eyes)

फिर क्या है अलग कि तू हिन्दू है, मैं मुसलमान हूँ।।

(What's different is that you are a Hindu, I am a Muslim)

राम भी वही, रहीम भी वही

(God is one)

फिर भी क्यों तू हिन्दू है, मैं मुसलमान हूँ।।

(Why are you still Hindu, I am a Muslim)

शायद यही समय है बदलने का दुनिया की रीत को,

(Maybe it's time to change the way of the world)

गाने का इस गीत को

(....and to sing the song)

"ना मैं हिंदू हूँ, ना मै मुसलमान हूँ,

(No, I am a Hindu, a Muslim, I am not)

मै इंसान हूँ, मै इंसान हूँ।।"

(I am human, I am human)

China’s Quest of Innovation

The attitude of a typical consumer (may be outside) China; a Chinese product means something cheap, sub-standard and a “mimic” innovation, which may last up-to a certain level of uses. Unknowing the fact that almost everything (which we consider a product of high quality) is directly or indirectly associated with Chinese markets, in one or other way, includes assembling, manufacturing or labouring.

Slowing economic development and looking for future prospects of healthy growth forcing China to transit itself into an innovation driven economy. It is spending $200 Billion (an increase of up-to four fold in less than a decade) on R&D, a year, which amounts 2% of its GDP and further increase is possible in upcoming years. It is almost at par with the R&D spending of USA and far greater than which India spends on R&D (0.9% of its much smaller GDP).

The China’s quest of innovation is moreover lies on the legal framework, financial functioning and its acknowledgement to the private sector. To establish the credibility of its ‘own’ products outside China will be the biggest challenge, apart from the global ‘technical- co-ordination’ to produce better products.

The issues with India and China on their respective R&D endeavour are alike. The majority of innovations-hubs in both the countries are state driven and politically dominated, which allow the least; freedom, funds & fun of doing innovation. Often the private firms include marketing research and other such initiatives under the umbrella of R&D, in order to exempt tax obligations.

The most effective way to indulge innovation into the thinking process starts from the basic, i.e. inclusion of universities and colleges in R&D initiatives. 4 out of 5 university graduates in India are not unemployable as they do not have right skills. Better R&D facilities at university and college level can be the game-changer for both India and China.

Both the countries do not lack in resources but proper planning and effective implementation of R&D friendly policies are required.