MARKETING ASSIGNMENT

SUBMITTED TO Prof Sundar Rajan 14.03.2013

SUBMITTED BY: ANSHUL JAIN 10BIT0257 A2 SLOT

Automotive Companies Of India

The automotive industry in India is one of the larger markets in the world and had previously been one of the fastest growing globally, but is now seeing flat or negative growth rates. India's passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturing industry is the sixth largest in the world, with an annual production of more than 3.9 million units in 2011. According to recent reports, India overtook Brazil and became the sixth largest passenger vehicle producer in the world (beating such old and new auto makers as Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Spain, France, Brazil), grew 16 to 18 per cent to sell around three million units in the course of 2011-12. In 2009, India emerged as Asia's fourth largest exporter of passenger cars, behind Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. In 2010, India beat Thailand to become Asia's third largest exporter of passenger cars.

Fig: Developments in the Indian automotive Industry

BRAND: Hero Honda

HISTORY
Hero Motocorp Ltd., formerly Hero Honda, is an Indian motorcycle and scooter manufacturer based in New Delhi, India. Hero Honda started in 1984 as a joint venture between Hero Cycles of India and Honda of Japan. The company is the largest two wheeler manufacturer in India. The 2006 Forbes 200 Most Respected companies list has Hero Honda Motors ranked at 108. In 2010, when Honda decided to move out of the joint venture, Hero Group bought the shares held by Honda. Subsequently, in August 2011 the company was renamed Hero MotoCorp with a new corporate identity. On 4 June 2012,Hero Motocorp approved a proposal to merge the investment arm of its parent Hero Investment Pvt. Ltd. into the automaker. The decision comes after 18 months of its split from Honda Motors.

Companies Profile
Hero is the brand name used by the Munjal brothers for their flagship company, Hero Cycles Ltd. A joint venture between the Hero Group and Honda Motor Company was established in 1984 as the Hero Honda Motors Limited at Dharuhera, India. Munjal family and Honda group both owned 26% stake in the Company. In 2010, it was reported that Honda planned to sell its stake in the venture to the Munjal family. During the 1980s, the company introduced motorcycles that were popular in India for their fuel economy and low cost. A popular advertising campaign based on the slogan 'Fill it Shut it Forget it' that emphasised the motorcycle's fuel efficiency helped the company grow at a double-digit pace since inception. The technology in the bikes of Hero Honda for almost 26 years (19842010) has come from the Japanese counterpart Honda. Hero MotoCorp has three manufacturing facilities based at Dharuhera, Gurgaon in Haryana and at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. These plants together are capable of churning out 3 million bikes per year. Hero MotoCorp has a large sales and service network with over 3,000 dealerships and service points across India. Hero Honda has a customer loyalty program since 2000, called the Hero Honda Passport Program. The company has a stated aim of achieving revenues of $10 billion and volumes of 10 million two-wheelers by 201617. This in conjunction with new countries where they can now market their two-wheelers following the disengagement from Honda. Hero MotoCorp hopes to achieve 10 per cent of their revenues from international markets, and they expected to launch sales in Nigeria by end-2011 or early-2012. In addition, to cope with the new demand over the coming half decade, the company was going to build their fourth factory in South India and their fifth factory in Western India. There is no confirmation where the factories would be built.

PERFORMANCE
During the fiscal year 200809, the company sold 3.7 million bikes, a growth of 12% over last year. In the same year, the company had a market share of 57% in the Indian market. Hero Honda sells more two wheelers than the second, third and fourth placed two-wheeler companies put together.Hero Honda's bike Hero Honda Splendor sells more than one million units per year. On 1 June 2012, Hero MotoCorp reported its highest ever monthly sales at 556,644 units in May, registering a growth of 11.28%.

Fig:Highlights(as per annual report of 2009)

The SWOT Analysis of HERO HONDA Strengths:

Huge brand equity/reputation among customers Models/products in almost all bike segment Healthy growth in profits Strong resale value International technology with international collaboration Awareness in the people Quality product for wach category Dedicated human resources High competitive features

Weakness:
Hero is very much dependent on Honda Low cash reserves due to massive payouts Very diddicult to cope up if contract discontinues Imports >31% of its spare parts requirements Slow to react to market changes

Oppurtunities:
Bike segment is still fast growing sector 125cc bike segment-this segment is yet to pick pace Exports market is yet to be properly exploited Strong brand follower Hero Honda is most reliable manufacturer in india

Threats
Hero Honda will need to have a bigger presence of executive segment It will be great threat for Hero Honda if collaboration breaks up Low cash reserves Strong competition from bajaj,Yamaha & TVS

Dealer Network
The relationship of Hero Group with their dealers is unique in its closeness. The dealers are considered a part of the Hero family. A nation-wide dealer network comprising of over 5,000 outlets, and have a formidable distribution system in place. Sales agents from Hero travels to all the corners of the country, visiting dealers and send back daily postcards with information on the stock position that day, turnover, fresh purchases, anticipated demand and also competitor action in the region. The manufacturing units have a separate department to handle dealer complaints and problems and the first response is always given in 24 hours.

Financial Planning
The Hero Group benefits from the Group Chairman's financial acumen and his grasp on technology, manufacturing and marketing. Group Company, Hero Cycles Limited has one of the highest labor productivity rates in the world. In Hero Honda Motors Limited, the focus is on financial and raw material management and a low employee turnover.

Quality
Quality at Hero is attained not just by modern plants and equipment and through latest technology, but by enforcing a strict discipline. At the Group factories, attaining quality standards is an everyday practice - a strictly pursued discipline. It comes from an amalgamation of the latest technology with deep-rooted experience derived from nearly four decades of hard labor. It is an attitude that masters the challenge of growth and change change in consumers' perceptions about products and new aspirations arising from a new generation of buyers. Constant technology up gradation ensures that the Group stays in the global mainstream and maintains its competitive edge. With each of its foreign collaborations, the Group goes onto strengthen its quality measures as per the book. The Group also employs the services of independent experts from around the world to assist in new design and production processes.

Segmenting, Targeting and Positioning (STP)

Primary Segments (Geographic)- Domestic and International Customer Segments: First Class Premiere Class (Business) Economy Class

Target Segments Premiere Class- Business travelers, contribute 48% of passengers and 66% of revenues, ready to pay higher prices, last time booking, and it doesnt like transit. Economy Class- Leisure travelers prefer low cost airlines, ready for transit if there is cost advantage, large % of passengers.

Seat Allocation follows the yield Management Technique and Positioning focuses on High Value for High Price. Its Unique Selling Price gives a overview of the Customer relationship and Punctuality.