07-Jul-2009
I look back, peek into my life and see how the automobile industry has molded till this moment. I did not have the luxury to seat in the four or perhaps five door saloon till my uncle catch hold of his new Fiat premier-padmini. I would like to go into the details about how did he ‘traversed’ with that machine and how I enjoyed those rides with him, but I will keep it for some other time.
The then period was quite different. A two wheeler used to take few months, in some cases years to get delivered after you book. Easy installment was not known and there was rarely any awareness about the concepts of loans. So buying a two wheeler was a big achievement. A moment ago, I heard from my papa that when he bought his first Bajaj-Super scooter it cost him 8500 INR, it was a very dear amount when his monthly salary was not more than 800 Rs. Mind you that was a decent fresher salary then. To go into the details about the manufacturing sector I didn’t know perhaps what the problem was then, but if I check my grandfather’s two wheeler deal, anyone from todays generation would have a puzzled face. He booked his Vespa 150 cc two stroke device called god of mopeds in 1962 which he got hold of that 4 years later. I mean what on earth those manufacturing blokes were doing for 4 years? This would certainly sound ultra-strange today. I mean who would believe that it took 4 years of time to get the Vespa 2 wheeler from showroom to home! Outlandish!!
I called the Vespa the god of 150cc league engine because I still see those roam around in the city. It is remarkable to see the 4 years back bought TVS scooties are dying and these grand-dads called Vespa are giving new 100cc bikes run for their money. I time and again think what exactly happened to automobile sector that they have started selling these dispassionately made corporate dead machines which now-a-days get miserably old in a year.
Many say it is new management concept called mature manufacturing. It means that lets say when people have a perfume per home and if it is sufficient for the entire home, then the candy makers would produce that perfume less lasting, so that there would be a need for all the families to buy the perfume as frequently as possible. As a management person this is arguably very clever thought anyone has implemented, but if one sees the passion behind engineering those first stage beasts called Royal Enfield is certainly not in their current version, my 4 yr old niece farts loud than the new version Enfield Electra. Leave alone the Enfields, it was the same thing if you compare a first lot Bajaj Calibre and these new countless Bajaj 100+ cc bikes which die when they are made. Scooters, Mopeds even Hero Honda Splendour have reduced their trust, quality and most importantly the passion of engineering those from their predecessors.
I fear not too ahead, we will ride through the city in fibre made toys which we will have to re-sell within every six months.
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