Is there anything like too many options for a car?

The good old days were quite good and simple when you had one variant of the car to purchase with a fixed price and discount. As the automotive industry has progressed further, to boost sales, companies want to cater to a large audience. Car variant options proved to be a blessing for both budget and rich car buyers. But can has this blessing turned into a boon in the present times. Find out below if there is anything like too many options for a car.

Where is the issue?

The best example of too many options is the hugely popular sub-compact SUV, the Hyundai Venue.  The Hyundai Venue comes with three engine options, five transmission options, nine trims offered in a combination of 19 variants.  Readers should note that we have the colour choice parameter here. While on paper, it sure sounds exciting and attractive, it turns out to be a nightmare for first-time car buyers. For many Indians, a car is one of the largest investments in their life, and they don’t plan to mess up here.

This is not the case only for Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Ford Ecosport and the likes. Consider the Maruti Vitara Brezza for example. Surely it’s starting price is more than the competition but the SUV comes with a single petrol engine option, two transmission options, four trim levels combined to make 7 variants. Surely Maruti as a brand has more popularity too, but the ease of choosing a variant is much more here.  And if you thought more variant lead to large sales, think again as Maruti is the highest car seller in the country with its limited variants options car.

What is the disadvantage?

Too many options can be counterproductive for both seller and buyer. As a manufacturer, you’ve got to track the supply of multiple components, and possibly from multiple suppliers too. Furthermore, there’s the added cost of training service manpower in different systems and tech and also the added complexity to your parts inventory and supply chain. Too many different components can also mean a lower economy of scale, potentially reducing profit margin. The massive task of predicting the sale of these versions and getting the production mix just right, is also a headache. All these things lead to additional costs and now you know why Maruti cars cost cheaper.

What does the customer feel?

For many car buyers, questions like petrol or diesel, turbocharged or naturally aspirated, manual or automatic transmission, iMT or CVT, and various other options can lead the consumers to easier options like the Brezza.  Providing so many options also does not guarantee that all your customers will be happy.  Genuine issues like no Diesel-automatic in the Hyundai Venue, and 1.2L engine only in the lower trims also do not get addressed in this marketplace of options.

Also read: Kia Sonet Variant breakdown for India 2020

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