Yesterday I had been to a Tata showroom to see if I could buy a Nano. I had to make 3 attempts to get in. The first time, I was rudely chased away by the watchman saying that I could not park my car where I did because that slot was reserved for the showroom manager. The second time was when I was told to wait outside as the show room was being cleaned, an hour after the scheduled opening time. I was lucky the third time but had to present my case to 4 different salesmen before I could get the attention of the right one.
Nano is spacious, unlike many who think it is not. It is comfortable to drive and has some saftey features that would put Maruti 800 to shame. I was convinced that it was worth paying Rs 2.48 lakhs to be the owner of a world known Indian car. I have booked one for our office. Guests who travel in it are sure to have a good conversation subject when they arrive and I will train Suresh, our driver, to engage them usefully in this topic.
Most of us who live in India have outgrown the Tata's, atleast for their cars. This is in spite of the fact that they make good value-for-money vehicles. You need to visit their showroom to understand how much they matter to their clients, who are all first time buyers of new cars. In their own way, they are indeed doing their bit to upgrade an average Indian's life.
When I upgraded from a Maruti Esteem to a Bolero, India Garage, who are the distributors of M&M in Bangalore were surprised. Perhaps Anand Mahindra took notice of this and he launched Scorpio, one of the best that I have used. Mahindra's are smart that way. Did you know that they added 12 new features to the Scorpio to upgrade it and yet reduced Rs 70,000?
Tata & Mahindra are typical case studies of how Indian companies position themselves. Mahindra's are quick learners and they work to broadbase their customers by positioning new products and services. Tata's on the other hand, offer new products to cater to their broad customer base. Mahindra's are proactive and Tata's reactive?
It is amazing how much our country has changed. The common thread of all these changes have been that it has carried the common man. Tata's & Mahindra's are no exception to this. The Future Group has been a front runner to this shift.
I had a visitor from Yorkshire about 3 weeks back and we went out to the jungles beyond Mysore. He had a heavy helping of our spicy food and was 'destroyed' when we set off back home. I had the presence of mind to detour and have him checked up at a Colombia Asia Hospital in Mysore. In two hours that we were there, he was put on to the best treatment that was ever possible, in conditions so hygenic that I would write in my will that if I were to be ever hospitalised, it should be CA. The bill was Rs 539, which included an ECG and medecines. "Less than 10 Pounds?" asked Patrick.
Have you ever stopped to think how much our middle class matters? In a way they carry us. If you are in business and if you employ people, pay them well. Empowering them is empowering yourself. Tata's and Mahindra's are doing it.
No comments:
Post a Comment