C N C
M A C H I N E S
A Quarterly Newsletter
E N G I N E E R I N G
A U T O M O T I V E
Issue 16 | March 2012
NOW A WITH OOK L NEWESIGN D &
Premier Pulse Launch of new employee-centric section
CSR Initiatives Premier gives back
News You Can Use MindSpark ’11 reignited
India’s first and only
compact SUV
gets a makeover
COVER STORY
A New Chapter in
Excellence
122 Dealership enquiries
Premier Ltd. showcased petrol and diesel variants of the stunning, revamped compact SUV RiO at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi. The massive enquiries that came in from customers and dealers at the event proved that the car is here to stay.
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With the makeover of the RiO, India’s first and only compact SUV, Premier Ltd. revives and reiterates its commitment to originality and to delivering products that make a difference and fulfil contemporary needs. The RiO caters to a niche segment between mid-sized passenger cars and larger utility vehicles, and offers the best in both worlds – easy maneuverability of a car and the power styling of an SUV. It is aerodynamic and with its unique styling, the car exudes a quiet strength and sophistication. It also comes equipped with technology that allows it to intelligently switch the engine to standby mode when not required, making it an ecofriendly vehicle.
auto expo in figures
35000 Visitors to the RiO stall
The Story So Far: The RiO timeline... Page 4
In Pictures: RiO shines at the Auto Expo 2012... Page 5
Premier plans 200 Authorised Service Stations for RiO by June 2012... Page 6
The RiO is available in four colours – red, white, silver and black.
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www.premier.co.in
COVER STORY 2011
THE STORY SO FAR...
October
1. Mr. Srinivasan Agaram, Assistant Manager (Automotive), Premier Ltd. giving a box of sweets to the first customer— Mrs. Winne D’Souza.
LAUNCH
2.&3. The first RiO rolls out of the Premier Ltd. Design & Technology Centre, Bangalore.
The petrol engine version of the updated RiO was launched in phases across major metros and select Tier II cities in October. On October 3, a company outlet – Premier Ltd. Design & Technology Centre – was opened in Bangalore.
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2011
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2011
December
November
RiO STEPS OUT
APPEARANCE IN AUTOCAR PERFORMANCE SHOW The petrol variant of the RiO was displayed at the Autocar Performance Show at Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, from November 17 to 20. The dazzling red RiO drew massive crowds and generated tremendous curiosity as show-goers and media persons visited the stall and appreciated the slick interiors and its cute, unique look.
In December, the petrol variant was showcased for two days at various malls in Mumbai (R City – Ghatkopar, Inorbit – Malad, Korum – Thane), Pune (Inorbit) and Indore (C 21). The promotional event garnered an overwhelming response including several on-the-spot bookings and many confirmed future sales. Promos also ran on the well-known FM channel Radio City 91.1 in Mumbai. Print advertisements ran in newspapers such as Mid-Day, Bombay Times, Deccan Herald and Bangalore Times.
RiO IN THE PRESS Autocar India, January issue
The Statesman, January 12, 2012
The Times of India, January 7, 2012 Visitors had the option to take the machine for a test drive.
Premier Today
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AUTO EXPO 2012
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi 1. Crowds at the Premier Ltd. stall curious to find out more about the revamped compact SUV RiO. 2. The RiO gets great feedback from visitors on the graffiti wall at the Premier stall. 3. Mr. Simon Fernandes, Assistant Manager (Sales), Automotive, Premier Ltd. speaks to visitors about the RiO’s new features. 4. Team Premier at the Auto Expo 2012. 5. A German visitor takes a closer look at the RiO engine on display at the expo.
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6. A white RiO takes centre stage at the Premier stall. 7. Premier Ltd. showcased three stunning variants of its new RiO at the event.
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www.premier.co.in
COVER STORY GROWING EVERY DAY Premier Ltd. plans to add 30 dealers to its existing network of 50 dealers, taking its overall network to 80 dealerships by June 2012. Two new dealerships are expected in the East zone in Mizoram and Siliguri. Four new outlets in South are set to open in Srikakulam, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Pondicherry. The North zone is set to have 10 new dealerships in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Delhi, Dehradun, Ghaziabad and Jammu, while the West zone will have nine new outlets.
Rakesh Mehta
VP (Automotive), Premier Ltd.
“We look at spare parts purely as customer service and not as a profit centre. Consequently, our spare parts cost much less than comparable vehicles. RiO customers will not face any problem with sales, parts or service.”
NEW DEALERSHIP
Radhika Motors, Bharuch, Gujarat
Dealership network
The company has also decided to ramp up its after-sale service network all over India by setting up ‘Premier Authorised Service Stations’, branded as ‘PASS’. The company plans to have 200 such service centres for the RiO nationwide by June 2012 in an effort to expand the service network for RiO customers. Its targets include growing to 100 dealerships and 300 service stations by December 2012, for easy service and repair in all major markets. Premier will also offer RiO spare parts at very reasonable prices.
Mr. AP Goel, General Manager, Sales & Marketing (Automotive), Premier Ltd. cutting the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony.
BREAKDOWN SERVICE Premier has also tied up with ‘India Assistance’ to provide 24x7 breakdown service. Additionally, the company has taken further steps to provide 24x7 mobile service attending to service calls within 8-10 hours at any given place across India.
Awarding the dealership certificate to Mr. Bipin Bhai and Mr. Mansukh Bhai.
premier FAN BECOMES PREMIER DEALER How closely can one be associated with his car? Mr. Madan Lamba of Mumbai has been raising the bar since birth. He entered the world in a Premier car, when his mother delivered him in the car on the way to the hospital and he was born into a family that owned 32 Premier taxis. Mr. Lamba even studied in a school known as the Premier High School. He carried on the family business of
Premier Today
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selling spare parts until 1985, when he decided to start Madan Motors – an outlet to buy and sell cars. And in 2009, he became the only Premier dealer in Mumbai. Quite evidently, Mr. Lamba shares a special bond with Premier and it has always been a part of his life. And over the years, he has become increasingly proud of the improved quality of Premier cars and the better profile of its new customers.
Now on Offer The RiO’s fresh look includes new curvy headlamps, an integrated grille and spoiler — giving it a much more sophisticated look. These changes have necessitated a new hood and side panels, which, along with the new bumper, have improved the overall aerodynamic efficiency. And the new beige upholstery has given the cabin a livelier and more spacious feel.
16 4.7 200 Lowest Turning Radius
Highest Fuel Efficiency
metres
kmpl
8
Highest Ground Clearance
mm
1158 LARGEST BOOT SPACE
litres, with folded seats
RiO Petrol
RiO Diesel
1173cc (1.2-litre) petrol engine
1489cc turbo diesel engine
Based on AVL technology Delivers 77BHP Offers 15 kms/litre of fuel efficiency
Based on Peugeot technology TUD5 Delivers 65BHP Offers 16 kms/litre of fuel efficiency
Features:
Features:
GX
DX
GLX
LX w/o ABS, LX
Ex-showroom price (Pune): Starts at Rs. 4.7 lakh (The lowest in the SUV segment and the best compared to other compact SUV cars)
Ex-showroom price (Pune): Starts at Rs. 5.71 lakh
Mr. Deepak Olkar Satisfied customer.
Both the variants are available countrywide with interior colour choice of either grey or beige. All models are equipped with power steering, front power windows, electricallyoperated door mirrors, roof-rails, rear spoiler, central locking systems and CD/MP3 players. The higher models have additional features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), keyless entry and alloy wheels. RiO is also equipped with split foldable rear seats, thereby providing multiple seating configurations. The 1.3-litre CRDI Multijet diesel engine variant is expected to be available by April 2012.
“Wow! I have never really experienced such a smooth long drive before. It is indeed a pleasure driving the GLX model of the compact SUV RiO (petrol variant). I knew I had to own one the moment I got to know about it. The power steering, power mirrors, beige interiors and most of all the boot space is exceptional.”
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www.premier.co.in