International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 3, Issue-4, April-2015 IN INDIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

1MUKESH RAO SHINDE, 2PROF (DR) M.L. JAIN

1,Research Scholar, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Pacific University, Udaipur 2 Professor & Head, Mechanical Engineering Department, SGSITS, Indore (MP) Email: [email protected]

Abstract: A is a type of self-propelled recreational or RV which offers living accommodation combined with a vehicle engine. Motor is equipped with a lounge, a tiny kitchen, , a and separate shower and a luxury bedroom to provide the personalized comfort of home and office for people even when travelling. Motor offer a very safe and comfortable travelling option. In our country, Bollywood stars, high profile politicians, business tycoons, and sports personalities so far prefer to use vanity /motor homes/recreational for their respective objectives. Big corporate houses are exploring the marketability of motor homes /caravans. Over the years, it is observed that owning to the rapid growth in Indian industry, there is shortage of accommodation at tourist destinations, especially in remote areas, in such condition; Motorhome/Caravan/RV Tourism can effectively meet the growing demand. At this backdrop, the present paper makes an attempt to study Motorhomes in India and its emerging issues and challenges.

Keywords: Motorhomes, Recreational Vehicles, Travelling, Comforts, Tourism.

I. INTRODUCTION crosses many income brackets. Now, one can buy a car for Rs 3 lakh, or Rs 3 crore. Not only this, there is The term motorhome is most commonly used in the a significant growth in the used-car sales which is , United States and Canada. The around 20% a year.Factors affecting demand for four term motorhome is often used interchangeably with wheelers equipped with luxuries and comforts as: (American) RV and , though the terms are not entirely synonymous. Their term Recreational  Life standard of people. Vehicle (RV) is actually a blanket term that refers to  Income of people. all forms of mobile, temporary dwelling vehicles of  Prices of the four wheelers. this type (and as such includes motorhomes, as well  Price of fuel. as travel trailers and fifth wheelers and truck  Family size. campers). Motor homes offer a very safe and  Number of buyers. comfortable travelling option. It is a very common  Price of other four wheelers. assumption that travelling should be a pleasurable  Future prices. experience, irrespective of whether it is a short drive  Quality of the four wheelers manufactured for a family picnic or reaching an important by different four wheeler companies. destination to strike a business deal. Motor homes are designed around customers needs and crafted to perfection with style and imagination. Figure 1: Indian Four Wheelers Sales Analysis Feb, 2015 and Feb.2014

II. INDIAN FAMILIES AND USE OF FOUR WHEEL VEHICLES

In the context of Indian families, transportation plays a very pivotal role in their sustainable social and economic growth. It is quite evident that most of Indian families prefer to travel by road and while obtaining this mode of transportation, they have a wide variety of vehicles such as two-wheelers, four wheelers and so on so forth. The selection of any vehicle depends on factors like family size, family Source: Autocar Pro News Desk March 03, 2015 income, nature of work, importance of work, time, comfort, safety, security, facilities, entertainments III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE etc. Moreover, there is a stupendous rise in the number of high middle income class in Indian society Mc. Clanagham and Associates (2007) put as per capita income has gone up. Around 1.65 crore emphasis that manufactured home parks are a viable Indian families in the country own a personal four and important source of affordable home ownership. wheeler out of which, 11 crore urban families have a Municipalities and Provincial agencies should four wheeler. Generally, owning of cars are regarded consider ways to strengthen the creation of additional an emblem of progress in India, and surprising housing supply using manufactured homes. Brendan

Motorhomes In India: Issues And Challenges

76 International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 3, Issue-4, April-2015 T. Chen, Carol Y. Lu and Homer Wu (2010) application of the caravan as a has to be added assessed a sample of what the next generation of on the registration of the prime mover after applying Taiwanese recreation and tourism-related majors to the RTO. expected from a potential recreational vehicle (RV) experience. Figure 2: Market Share of Automobile in India Marke Dawn K. Fredrickson and C. Randal Vessell ategory t Other (2011) revealed that RV manufacturing has evolved leader dramatically in the past 90 years, far from the days of Ford Maruti Hyund Tata the “tent and bed” Model T. New technology has Passenge India Suzuki ai – motors produced the vehicle that offers every comfort of r Car – 4.1 44.8% 20.4 % – 9.7 % home while at the same time stretching the limits of % acceptability regarding size and service requirements. M & Renaul Toyot Maruti Rishi Agarwal (2013) remarked that the price of a Utility M – t – a – - 13.11 motorhome is even lesser than some high-end cars vehicle 49.75 13.24 10.60 % sold in India. Motorhomes may become popular in % % % India and may have same success as in and Ashok VECV SML America. Anne Hardy (2014) found that MCVs & Laylan Tata – Either Isuzu Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are a rapidly emerging HCVs d–38 33 % – 15 % – 9 % market within tourism. Despite their growth, little % research has been conducted into RVers motivations, Mahi experiences and the diversification of the RV market. Force VECV ndra Tata – LCVs motor Either Navis 40 % IV. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND – 32 % – 13 % tar– OBJECTIVE 9% Three Bajaj Atul This paper is based upon review of literature and Wheeler Piaggio Mahin Auto – Auto secondary data collected from various websites, s- – 30.07 dra – 52.46 – 4.44 journals, magazines, newspapers and reference books. Passenge % 9.07 % % % Literature review has shown prior research work done rs in this area. The present paper makes an attempt to Scoot study Motorhomes in India and its emerging issues Piaggi Mahin Atul ers Three and challenges with the help of review of literature. o – dra – Auto – India Wheeler 55.57 20.99 15.75 – s-Goods V. MOTORHOMES IN INDIA: GROWING % % % 7.35 CONCERNS % Hero – Bajaj – Honda TVS Motorcy The Indian automotive market is one of the most 53.60 23.88 – 11.67 – 5.78 cles competitive markets with low costs, which make it an % % % % attractive assembly base for foreign automotive Honda Suzu manufacturers. The Indian car industry is witnessing – Hero – TVS – ki – Scooters a shift in demand going from two wheelers to cars 50.92 21.07% 11.65% 8.77 due to rising availability of low cost cars and the car % % being a symbol of high prestige. Along with this, the Source: Report of Indian Automobile Industry concept of motorhomes is becoming popular in the (SIAM)-2014 country, just as it has gained popularity in the West, especially in Europe and the United States and As the Indian economy grows, there are more people Canada. who move into the higher middle class bracket. They

open up a new customer base altogether for Travelling should be made a pleasurable experience, Motorhomes/recreational vehicles market. irrespective of whether it is a short drive for a family picnic or reaching an important destination to have a V. MOTORHOME: FUTURE PROSPECTS IN business deal. Motorhomes are designed to cater to INDIA the needs of customers and crafted to perfection with style and imagination. Owning an RV motorhome is In India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is an experience to cherish for a lifetime. It is just like working on norms to make recreational vehicle based traveling from location to location and explores the tourism more user-friendly. It is at an advanced stage world. In India, registration application of the caravan of tying up the loose ends of the draft standards for as a trailer has to be added on the registration of the caravans under the Central Motor Vehicles Act. At prime mover after applying to the registration present time, in our country, such multi-utility

Motorhomes In India: Issues And Challenges

77 International Journal of Mechanical And Production Engineering, ISSN: 2320-2092, Volume- 3, Issue-4, April-2015 vehicles are regarded are clubbed under the trailer and all Motorhome-related businesses need to not category and along with the prime mover are only survive but adapt to the changing economy, the categorised under articulated vehicles. The Society of changing social environment and relentlessly Indian Automobile Manufacturers has already increasing technical innovation. recommended to the ministry the standards required for caravans. Industry persons are very much concern Over the years, it is observed that owning to the rapid about Parking spaces, restrooms and other amenities growth in Indian tourism industry, there is shortage of to run the caravans on the roads. At present cost of accommodation at tourist destinations, especially in motorhomes that are available in India, ranges mostly remote areas, in such condition; from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 22 lakh plus taxes. But it is Motorhome/Caravan/RV Tourism can effectively expected that once such vehicle will be entirely meet the growing demand. This would surely divert a manufactured/assembled in India, it is hoped to tweak wide range of market segment including young the models for India. More light-weight, cost- people, families, senior citizens and international effective models with a flat top to facilitate proper tourists. The Motorhome/Caravan/RV tourism policy air-conditioning, customized wiring and TV facilities issued by the Ministry of Tourism may be successful are expected to be developed as European caravans in promoting, facilitating development of: are more egg-shaped and fitted with heating ducts and Motorhome/Caravan/RV Parks in the public sector, satellites are customized for those markets. private sector and in PPP mode and In this changing scenario, the companies like Motorhome/Caravan/RV in the public sector, private Basecamp is hoping to sell 600 caravans in the first sector and in PPP mode as well. It is very important year of operations and is targeting a revenue of to mention here that India, Madhya Pradesh becomes around Rs 100 crore once it achieves this number. the first State in the country to introduce Motorhome/Caravan/RV Tourism. CONCLUDING REMARKS REFERENCES The use of motor homes is increasing in India and across the globe as well. Indian automobile industry 1. Clanagham Mc. and Associates (2007), “Manufacturing as a whole is expected to carry on growing Home Study”, Housing Policy Branch, Vancouver. 2. Brendan T.Chen,Carol Y. Lu and Homer Wu (2010), “ An throughout the next few years. For this immense Exploratory Study on RV Travel in Taiwan: College growth to continue, the industry will have to make Students’ Perceptions”, Journal of Hospitality Marketing changes, stream lining and becoming more cost and Management efficient. Manufacturers have to increase productivity 3. Dawn K.Fredrickson and C. Randal Vessell (2011), “Missouri Department of Natural Resources” in order for them to achieve more sales at reduced 4. Rishi Agarwal (2013), ” Price of A Motorhome is Even prices. If customers wish to continue receiving great Lesser than Some High-End Cars Sold In India” value it means employment in the industry may well 5. Anne Hardy (2014), “Does Size Matter? Exploring have to be trimmed. Manufacturers, dealers, suppliers Experiences of Large Recreational Vehicle Users”.

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Motorhomes In India: Issues And Challenges

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