Pickup trucks in India have typically been employed by small company owners who did not require a large carrier and whose field of activity was nearby. If these machines were to be utilised by small company owners, the price had to be maintained low; the engine had to be powerful yet efficient, and the product’s longevity had to be unquestioned. This is where the market sector for a primitive yet powerful, mainly two-seater car with a flat-bed at the rear was developed.
We’ve all seen pickup trucks, but usually as business haulers. They are mostly used by small company owners to move items over short distances. Aside from commercial pickup trucks, lifestyle pickup vehicles such as the V-Cross and Hilux are also available.
A pickup truck is typically not the first vehicle purchased by a person; rather, it is an add-on for their company following the purchase of a conventional family automobile. However, lifestyle pickup trucks overcome this problem; Isuzu created this class in 2014 and it has grown in popularity since then.
Although Isuzu has been functioning well with little competition because Tata and Mahindra’s goods are mostly for business use. Toyota has now introduced their market contender, the Hilux.
Let’s look at how the pickup trucks in India has evolved throughout time:
Better Power
Pickup trucks are powered by loud engines that are developed and tuned to haul and carry huge loads. This provides it a torque advantage over other SUVs in the same price range. They are a better value since the ride quality is greater and more stable, besides the powerful engine.
Buying a pickup and another family car may be an expensive affair, resulting in a combination of the family car at a lesser price and sector. By purchasing a single lifestyle pick-truck, business owners on the periphery may kill two birds with one stone.
SUV Capabilities
These vehicles are often significantly larger than SUVs, but they have the same key capabilities as their SUV counterparts. They can easily handle the same tough terrains with decent riding quality and even greater weight.
Pickup trucks are normally AWD throughout the rest of the world, however in India, they start with two wheels and may be upgraded to four wheels. Pickup trucks in India are a good choice for adventurers and off-road enthusiasts; the enormous space in the back allows for more than just camping. Enthusiasts can also utilise the same truck in rallies; these are constructed to handle the most difficult terrains while remaining in one piece.
Market Expansion
According to rumours, Isuzu is planning to build a plant in Andhra Pradesh with a capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year. This will require an expenditure of almost 3,000 crores at the moment; Hindustan Motors manufactures the D-max in Chennai.
The Hilux is the second lifestyle pickup truck to be released in India; the competition will be interesting to watch, but the new Hilux may outperform the Isuzu D-max. According to a 2020 survey, the category would rise by 17 percent, increasing the village economy and catering to rising e-commerce. As consumption rises, so does the market.
Small company owners and adventure seekers will find lifestyle pickup trucks to be a viable choice. They can do anything while still being an ordinary family SUV, whether it’s delivering products or rallying over the desert. Which one would you choose?
Coming on to the Indian Market, if you think about the PickUp trucks in India that have never truly been introduced, you can understand it by looking at it in two categories:
- Livelihood Consumers: In our country, small businesses usually take years to get enough funds to buy a vehicle for commercial, and even if they do, it will be a Tata Ace or a Piaggio Ape, which can carry three times the load, is relatively easier to maintain, drastically cheaper, and has a certain amount of security attached to it because it has been around for a long time.
- Consumers of Lifestyle Goods: This is a category that is still developing in our country. We live in a country with 41 automobiles per thousand inhabitants, and let’s not even get started on how many of them possess two or more cars. So, realistically, a PickUp truck will not be your first purchase, perhaps your second, but those who can afford a second automobile should have a need for it. As is typical for a market this tiny, it is carried by aficionados, individuals who understand the equipment, know what it is to be used for, and then utilise it appropriately.
So, as of today, perhaps we as a society have not yet reached the point where we comprehend a pickup truck and utilise it or need a pickup vehicle enough to purchase one. Without commenting on the commercial utilisation of PickUps (PUPs), if we focus just on the lifestyle component, we see it would be unfair to blame simply the customer for this segment’s failure.
So, as of today, perhaps we as a society have not yet reached the point where we comprehend a pickup truck and utilise it or need a pickup vehicle enough to purchase one. Without commenting on the commercial utilisation of PickUps (PUPs), if we focus just on the lifestyle component, we see it would be unfair to blame simply the customer for this segment’s failure.
Click here to Read SUV vs Sedan which should be your Next Drive
On May 29, 2014, Isuzu, a Japanese utility vehicle manufacturer, introduced the D-Max in two models in Delhi. This is a firm that has had remarkable success in commercial vehicles, utility vehicles, and diesel engine manufacture; what prompted these veterans to abandon a potentially lucrative market for SUVs and instead focus on PickUp trucks?
Statistically, there is an expected increase in demand for PUPs (PickUps) by the year 2023, as India is a developing economy on the verge of becoming a superpower, and the backbone of this growth would be small businesses, so Isuzu intends to use their expertise in this segment and fortify their stronghold in our markets before this demand boom sets in.
They are not just targeting clients who are coming their way because their livelihood depends on it, but also those who will directly profit from a developing economy and would want to have a supplementary vehicle for off-roading or similar activities when their finances improve. It’s a wise move from an old warhorse that knows its way around a burgeoning market.
So what the preceding section shows is that the PickUp trucks that are accessible to us are at a price that you can gain a high quality Compact SUV for or do not have the finishing that is expected out of it, although they are reasonable. The Tata Safari and, subsequently, the Mahindra Scorpio popularised the ownership of SUVs.
They broke through barriers, and the SUV became seen as a personal car, with the manufacturer focusing on building the market for it and producing a high end luxurious product on the inside while preserving its power streak on the exterior.
Why you should choose a pickup truck in India over an SUV
- Comfort: In terms of ride-ability and manoeuvrability in the city, employing superior materials and technology is unquestionably the first step. The driver does not want to feel as though he is sitting behind the wheel of a lorry while driving to work every day.
- Durability: The consumer wants a tough machine that can deliver when fully loaded and resist the conditions it meets on its journey, whether off-road or in the city.
- Designing: The first thing, and typically the deciding decision for millions, is the first sight of the automobile, followed by the engine and stats, but superb eye-catching creative design on the exterior and inside may be a big selling feature.
- Features: This is an unexplored area with our PickUp Trucks at the very least; just because it is a PUP does not mean it cannot have the latest technology and features in the cockpit and console; this is a fertile ground for manufacturers to experiment on.
- Engine Performance: Aside from mileage, the engine should provide regardless of terrain, weather, or load. The engine of a pickup vehicle cannot be slack, thus Co2 emissions must be reduced as well. Hybrid engines will also make it “The” vehicle to buy, and if we’re talking about a car of the future, why not a hybrid?
