What Happened To Japanese Products? | ThisConnect S02E02 |  

*Explore MotorInc memberships at* RU-vid.com/@motorinc/join *Chapters* 00:00 Rising Sun? 02:40 Going Gets Tough 04:05 What Japan is Like 09:18 Can't Drive In Japan 10:16 Process Orientation 12:15 Do We Need Japanese CEOs? 16:23 Broken Systems Persist 18:12 Breaking Expectations 20:15 Changed Expectations 21:32 Japan Can't Manage Change 25:32 Respect Is a Two-Way Street 28:24 Japan's Money Problem 30:30 Not Cutting Edge Any More 31:39 India vs Japan 33:32 Strange Decisions 35:30 Is Japan Just Old? 37:07 Generation Gap 40:05 The Experience Problem 43:20 Lack of Innovation 46:00 Japan Knows Better? 47:20 How Change Will Happen 49:40 Are These Strong Brands? 52:35 Can Japan Innovate? 54:10 The Next Episode 55:47 Closing Comments

The helmet vs cellphone argument was so right. People will spend insane amounts of money to buy phones to flex on social media, but become extremely frugal when it comes to everything else, including yes, safety

I am an employee of one of the big japanese auto makers serving my notice period and i have witnessed all of these firsthand. I read somewhere that Japanese culture is like an onion and the more you peel the different layers you encounter. For me the peeling process took a couple years and to realise I donot fit into their way of doing things. In one of the international trips I met a French guy who was also an employee of a japanese giant and he too had the exact same things to say. He said when he was sent as a trainer to Japan he had to face this subtle "racism" that how can this person know better than "us" and apparently the competitiveness was insane. He also echoed my thoughts- No matter what your country of origin, as long as you are not japanese you will never become the decision maker in a japanese company. You might become a part of their management but you will at best be the implementing guy not the decision guy. So sometimes when i see comments saying its the indian management building bad quality cars or deciding to not get the best products which are available outside, i feel disappointed that had it been actual competent people taking decisions these products wouldve already been here.

Wasn't expecting Prof. Sheumi giving us an economics//history lesson in the middle of an automotive podcast, & I'm all for it!!!

If you guys don't give us a studio tour, then I'm gonna report this channel for being utterly refreshing and unequivocally the best automotive content on RU-vid.

Honda vs Hero is a great example about Japanese CEO's sticking around only for a few years thingy. It was Honda who developed Splendor which is Hero's and India's most selling motorcycle since last 30 years. And even after 30 years, Honda India hasn't been able to come up with a proper slopper engined competitor to Splendor, despite global Honda having a full range of slopper engined machines viz. Super Cub, Grom, Monkey, etc on sale. Similar case with Xpulse 200. Impulse 150 (Honda NXR150) was a great bike, but it failed miserably in india. Even after failure of Impulse, Hero went ahead and developed the Xpulse. That was an Indian CEO (Mr. Pawan Munjal) taking a huge gamble. Whereas despite having access to a large portfolio of dualsports and ADV's like XR's, XRE's and CRF's, Honda India is playing safe with imposter bikes like CB200X. Show's how risk averse Japanese CEO's of HMSI are.

Fantastic open-minded discussion without the sugar coating of the mainstream auto journos. Thank you guys! Much needed.

The quality of content on this channel would give a Japanese product a serious inferiority complex. And the depth of conversation, I can’t think of any other podcast coming from Indian channels where the insights, expertise, wisdom are at this level or curated in this flawless and fluid way. Seriously, Kudos to you guys! Also, you’ve hit the nail on the head and as someone who started his career in a tier 1 Japanese automotive parts manufacturer, I’ve seen all the happen at workplace and it got so frustrating that I had to quit.😅 Be it 2 MDs in a span of 2 years, flanked always by Japanese consultants, obsession with processes, contrasting culture, communication gap during formal Asa-Ichi or informal meetings, customer-supplier linkages where all our customers were Japanese OEMs and suppliers were either Japanese or parts were imported from Japan.

I Bet this video will go viral, internationally. This will come up in every "Rise and Fall of Japan" videos and discussions.

my suggestion for Thisconnect episodes 1) Bajaj- What the hell they are doing? 2) Automobiles Journalism- How it was and How it is now 3) Riding Gears and Accessories- Past Present and Future ( busting some myths along the way) 4) Tech Invasion in Bikes and Cars

*Working in a Japanese company myself, I can really relate to the snail speed changes and work methods we use with our Japanese bosses on daily basis. Loved the details!!*

A few things to say here 1. I became a member to MotorInc - after Schumi's satire on one of the last episodes saying. "We won't bring ads, but as soon as you bring paid memberships, barely anyone joins". It made me think that if I can't support some of the best auto-journalists at this stage in life for something that I value so much then it probably isn't worth it. So Schumi -- satires work and I for one , am all for it. On to the podcast 2. Part of Japanese culture is spot on - They would always, always, always prefer to work with a japnese partner 3. Indian guys are not being listened to - See what Suzuki ended up doing with Jimny. It could be have been such a BIG success , not just for Suzuki but the Indian market in general. I'll keep updating this comment or keep adding to it, as I complete the podcast Dream country -- Japan's processes but China's agility in manufacturing... wonder which country could pull it off.. hmph

I grinned all the way watching this podcast. I have worked closely with Japanese clients and their leadership as a Transformation and change consultant and agree to everything you guys discussed. The problem is, they get stuck in the process loop and need EVERYONE’s alignment to make a decision. We would iterate our approach everyday. An approach agreed on the previous day would change overnight and they would want additional details because some important stakeholder requested. Thus, your argument of “how do you deal with a slow process when you need a fast change” is so spot on. Ironically, Japanese are known for on-time delivery and zero delays, but this whole problem pushes the project timelines by months. Also, the Japanese are bad at feedback. They aren’t direct, will say “no comments” during meetings and next day it will be an escalation. I thanked my stars that my project ended. Also Shumi, cool AW watch face. :D

This is literally my only subscription ( no netflix, or any other OTT, not even youtube premium) , but wanted to listen to the season 1 of this connect for the nth time, and realised its for members. I learnt so much from that season, that i felt its the least I can do for Motorinc. Massive respect for both of you guys. And the day I took the membership, you guys posted the 1st episode of this connect. good timing. And may be you can explore in future episodes , about route planning and how to manage ( how to plan a route when a direct highway is not an option). I am a new rider and I do struggle in planning out routes, especially when direct highways dont exist.

Such an awesome podcast !! I work in the Japanese Maritime Industry and its bang on point. They need 5-7 years to change any process. All ships have the same manufacturing issues unless some decides to change process. But Japanese Ships the basic ones are way better than most other in the world just like their cars. I have only had Japanese stuff in India ( Rx 100 and Suzuki Shogun and a Honda Civic ). Excellent stuff. Hence after shifting to Dubai also went for the NISSAN patrol . Nissan(Y62) and Toyota ( LC300) are way ahead and made for the Middle East ❤ Also Karthik if you are reading this its Jaydeep Ambetkar here ! Recollect you and Indra learning ISCE HINDI 1996 at home listening to songs ! Hahaha So happy to see you do soo welll.

Is it only me or everyone got multiple goose bumps listening to this particular podcast and multiple times nostalgia kicked in. I would rate this particular podcast as one of the best (not limited to motorInc only)

Loved the podcast! So glad ThisConnect is back. On the Japanese thing, some great points made especially with their reluctance to change what they perceived as winning formula. Stability always thrives over risk of change aka innovation as per their culture as you had stated. But even in this day and age, as per me atleast, on the motorcycle side of things, Kawasaki and Yamaha are still very much relevant in being perceived as an enthusiast’s brand. I am currently 24 and own a 2022 Yamaha YZF-R15M. In fact I learnt to ride a geared motorcycle on an R15 V4 coming from a 2017 Honda Dio. I bought the bike in Oct 2022 and currently into 1.7 years of ownership and here are things I have done with it: 1. Daily Commutes 2. Long rides on Highways and Mountain Roads ( recently did a 474 km round trip ) 3. Race Track - MMRT - one of the best experiences of my life so far. Before the R15, I had no interest in seeing motorcycling as a hobby. I always saw them as a tool to beat traffic and a mode of commute. Everything changed when the R15 happened. It introduced the most important aspect for someone to get into this hobby- FUN! To me atleast, I don’t see myself becoming the motorcycle nut I am today without it. Sure, there are the Pulsars, the Apaches, the Karizmas, the Dukes and the RCs. Would I have had the same emotional attachment I have with the R15 if I had gone with any of the others? Probably not. There is something deeply, deeply special about the R15. Something you can’t see by reading a piece of paper but only when you experience it. I have been reading quite a lot of comments stating - “Yamaha is milking the R15 just like how Honda is milking the Activa”. To the first part , to an extent I agree. Probably because it is the only product from Yamaha that revs your heart. But the second part? What? How the hell is milking the R15 same as the Activa?! So coming back to the point. Yes, overall the Japanese need to change at least a little bit. They have rich heritage and if history is anything to go by, they are most certainly capable of pulling of something special. The reluctance to adapt is hurting them and I hope they realize it asap. They just need some young age thinking and take inspiration from what they did in the 80s,90s and of course 2008! I am certainly hopeful and currently I am so deeply in love with my R15 that I have absolutely no regrets or even the remotest idea of moving on be it the NS400 or anything else. Most likely the only bike which might replace it will most likely be a Yamaha.

"it was not a tOtAl RoSs" is so out of pocket but that realness is why we're here! Absolutely loving this season! Have already become the biggest fan two episodes in!

As for the next episode on advice for first-timers, please include "If/whether one should buy a car, or rather when one absolutely must." Not just because it's a 'mere paas gaadi hai' thing. Thanks you two. Lovely banter

Its been sometime that I watched your videos and what a way to restart. Amazing discussion. For the next topic of first time car buyers, following was my thought process. FYI I ended up buying the XUV 700 AX7:- 1. I always wanted a SUV, reason so that I dont have to awkwardly align my car over humps and fret about scrapping my floor on a pothole. And call me old school for me SUV means diesel. 2. I started scoping from the Nexon class that included Brezza, Venue, Xuv300 etc. I loved the XUV 300, my wife loved the Brezza. I realized that am more of a driver enthusiast and wife is into space. That pushed me to look for the next Class that is the Creta class. 3. In creta class again, I somehow didnt like the fit and finish, plus there was vibration in the footwell for the diesel variant. Seltos was good but then at the same time the viral video of a split Seltos made me worry about Safety. Kushaq had just been launched, I test drove it 1.5l I loved it again, but my wife didn't connect with it. May be this time it was more like the Koreans spoilt us looking for features, and the czech/germans didn't. This pushed me further to the next class, the Harrier class 3. At the same time XUV700 had just come out of the cover, but not yet available for booking. Hated the exterior design and the variant that I liked didnt have a 5 seater option. Harrier, loved the design, interiors, space etc but the refinement was not upto the mark in comparison to XUV. Then I thought the costliest part of a car purchase is the engine and thus reluctantly settled for the XUV. My ideal car would have been a Frankestien combo of Harrier with a XUV 700 engine. So yeah here goes my thought process for my first car.

When you get notified for a video that's on a subject that you don't think of on your own but once you get to read/hear it you realise you gotta watch it - That's what Motorinc does and has been doing since the beginning. I never pay for any OTT apps and watch whatever is available to me without the subscription BUT this is one channel which would change that. Keep up the good work legends 👍

Great session, another pile of thoughts to run in deep on..!! On the next session inputs for first time buyers- 1) Assessment on need analysis vs influence ( Brand/ subordinates/ market perception on the buy/ status) certainly a discussion point 2) Not trying to be a pack of herd and following the trends, but to understand the products and not go by the louder social voice of being judgmental on product quality and perception created around them 3) Understanding of maintenance schedule as they differ and the spent behind them, irrespective of the ownership experience post buying a product and service experience 4) Clear thoughts in the spread of EV's to petrol to diesel to hybrids to other fuel options, and understanding the Proo's Cons in them 5) Sales advisors across dealership are a mess these days and anything apart from features in the product vs competition is what they care as a part of sales. Mechanical jargon without any key inputs of understanding them as alien topics, so a buyer needs to work his way out on that aspect as well of understanding the value proposition of the vehicles as it's just not the fancy technology gimmicks that charge premium.. Would be waiting to hear the next one..a hour long just leave it there..I am sure there would be enough ears to listen it through..cheers and amazing job guys..!!

Nice episodes, as always great to hear you guys. Regarding 1. First time car buyers : we bought our 1st car 10years ago. At that time, we thought that our decision was best..as of today we bought 3 cars in our family with latest being 6 months ago..When we look back, it's the past mistakes and experiences which made us to evolve and learn which helped us to take matured decisions today in car selection.Just wanted you guys to discuss on this bit as well. 2. My topic suggestions are - A. Case study of Korean manufacturers and their Indian success story. B. Differences in approach, business models of different manufacturers across the World and their Indian footprint story. C. Discussion on Usage of personal transports like car, bikes in family in Indian context. And balancing with usage of public transport in India with current messed up public transport situation in cities like my Bengaluru. If possible can u cover also national expressways and it's advantages for us on a wider context. D. Indian car makers and their success story, their service related issues, their customer experiences etc.

‘I think the automatic respect for the Japanese brand should stop’ the like really pinched the romantic in me, but that’s only because deep inside I knew how true it was.

Mr. Shumi is so frustrated with japanese and it shows. Honestly... So am I

My day is brightened up seeing a new ThisConnect episode early in the morning!

I bought myself a Kwid climber recently. Big struggle me and my wife had was why does Suzuki give a basic car for 7-7.5 lakhs and we have to pay extra for everything. So I tried going to a few 2nd hand dealers including true value. Either the prices were too high or the car quality would be too low or too old to the extent where we would have to make our FCs in a year or so. I ended up going to Renault and loved the fact that Kwid has more features than any other in the 7-8lakh cars at that point (2023). Coming back to the questions: 1. 2nd hand VS 1st car? 2. When to even buy a car? 3. What should the first time buyer look for if we are going for the lowest segment car? 4. What are the kind of accessories we should use in our first car to ensure an enjoyable and safe journey?

At the conclusion of each and every episode, I always find myself wearing a smile. So, Thank you

Love these conversations and for everyone who is listening only, you are missing out on the glint in both their eyes which adds so much to the podcast. On the topic of Mediocrity, we Indians have gotten so used to with mediocrity, that not just Japanese brands, but a lot of brands in the transport space are doing just that. Bajaj with Pulsars, Honda with Activa, Maruti with all its cars. On the question at the end: The biggest issue with the first time cars is just the variants. For eg. I recently was in the market to buy a hatchback, with priorities being an automatic gearbox, with a turbo engine (petrol only) and decent suspension. I loved the Fronx (know its not really categorised as a hatch, but it is) for design and interior space, the altroz for driving dynamics, but then had to settle for the i20Asta(o) as that was the only one which gave me a DCT (though dry clutch) with a Turbo. So its always the brands telling you, kindly adjust! (subtle nudge to Shumi's Apache RTR video) They seem to know what the consumer wants and we as buyers, have been so used to just adjusting! The one piece of feedback for the background, and it might just be me, when you have both of them in 2 halves, the very distinct background (Shumi with the sticky notes and Kartikeya relatively plain) is very disconcerting to the eyes.

The love was always there, but respect for you guys have increased 10 folds. I believe very few people have the capacity to understand something this deep and make others understand too. A perfect blend of education and experience. I am in a totally different field of work and you guys inspire me to do my work better.

Honestly guys, I just love this podcast so much. There were always these great podcasts pertaining to automotive content, but none of them were Indian or to put it more aptly they weren't about Indian automotive market/perspective/wants/requirements/passions/desires etc etc. It's so good to see something homegrown, authentic and real. Keep up the great work you guys. Cheers!

Japan is a country which I personally look upon. The mighty Americans feared this tiny island during the 2nd world war.... Sometimes I get jealous of them.......Their punctuality, technology, efficiency, cleanliness, Animes.......It's like a model country despite its flaws.....Wonder why we can't develop a culture of punctuality and cleanliness here in India...these will clear the maximum problem that we have at least on roads.........

The biggest factor going for most Japanese products (especially automotive) is its reliability and longevity. I believe that innovation comes with risk and that could hinder one of its best selling points, reliability and inherently its quality. Better to be a slower adopter than an early adopter that could have negative ramifications on the brand.

Another excellent episode for a recent first time buyer of a honda car which offer insight on some decisions about the car don't make sense. For the first time car buyers episode, I feel like you guys can cover 1.Explain the fundamentals - HP, Torque, Engine capacity, suspension etc that are core components of a car. 2.Budget and Financing options - First hand vs second hand, total cost of ownership including post purchase, loan alternatives such as Car lease policies 3. Car size i.e. sub 4m vs others - 10L to 16L (ex-showroom) has a lot of options across sizes, How to prioritize features vs space, also the taxation system which many are unaware. 4.Weightage to Safety & Reliability - I believe they are over-indexed leading to either or choices among brands 5.Timing of purchase - waiting for feedback instead of buying the shiny new toy (Im a victim of this). first time car owners dont have the luxury of an alternate car if anything fails 6. Test drives importance and points to look out for.

Great to have two journalists deep diving into the matters of automotive world. (Otherwise same boring repetitive points made on the products/news) Sir, I did face problems selecting for the 1st car. The most complex part was to decide which variant to go for , not technical aspects b/c I prefer Manual over automatics or hybrid. Another way I was a bit astonished was that how the price of a car skyrockets as we climb the ladder of variants and also the amount of taxes and other items make the price so high, the product price is otherwise so reasonable. Hence, I went for Hyundai hatchback where everything seemed okay as a package. Till now satisfied. Thanks a lot for your knowledgeable conversation.... sir your experiences teach me a lot...😊

Long long awaited episode. So stoked you guys delivered on your promise 🔥🔥🔥

One of my cousins wanted to buy a compact SUV and is currently searching for one. However, he's quite a worrier. He prioritizes safety, which is why he's leaning towards Tata. Yet, he's concerned about the service and reliability. He appreciates the service offered by Maruti/Hyundai but is worried about safety. He enjoys the drivability of European cars, but he's anxious about maintenance costs and expenses. In short, he's absolutely clueless! 😅

Karthik and Shumi are in their most blunt avatars here . All of us enthusiasts are equally frustrated about japanese automobile products and all of the frustrations are correctly condensed into this video 👍

the amount of perspective gained from this video and Ryan f9's video about 50 year old Honda still working is so good for the motorcyclist/motorist audience. Doing god's work, these guys.

What a great conversation, very good insight & perspective great video guys 👍 Also waiting for NS400 review

Finally the episode released. Was waiting for this since the first season 🤩

This episode was the prime example of what makes this channel shoulders above most motoring channels. I am not an Indian but coming from that region surely can relate to a lot being said here. You guys have hit the proverbial nail on its head when it comes to decline of Japanese brands in the last 20 or more years. I remember growing up we had Tvs, VCRs, Cd Players then dvd players, sound systems, fridges, washing machines, pretty much everything Japanese. But today the only thing Japanese in my home are PS consoles, printers, cameras and that is pretty much it. I have had the displeasure of dealing with Japanese businesses and I can tell you even the little interaction I had with them, I hated every second of it. Their demand of "sticking to processes" which at times are truly not only outdated but just in place to frustrate innovation turned into a chore. I am glad I don't have to do that any more. Another thing the culture of looking busy and doing nothing is really prevalent in Japan, I people there are the kings of such behavior. If one takes an honest look at their actual productivity, it will make your head spin. Now I am noy trying to takr a huge dump on Japanese work culture but its truly mind numbing soul sucking experience. One last point, as consumers you're absolutely right if we dont demand innovation these companies will keep on selling us outdated garbage and tell us its kosher. Its nice to see that in India we have motoring journalists like you two calling these companies out and increasing customer awareness. Keep em coming.

As someone who is total a fan of the Japanese ways for operational excellence, loved this conversation. Very insightful. Looking forward to the new car buyer podcast next!

Guys, even the view on 400x scrambler was put behind the membership?? Had been waiting/commenting months for it!

Toyota was not ready to go all electric in the US. Now they are being praised for that decision because hybrids are gaining traction. Was that a strategic decision by Toyota or because of their old, slow decision-making style, and they got lucky? Is Toyota ignoring only India, or is that a worldwide phenomenon?

This is perhaps the only channel where I can watch an hour long video without getting bored. Can't wait for first time car buyers podcast because I've never owned one!

This has been a very much well narrated & well equipped podcast with so so much relevant info brought on to the table, awesome execution Kudos to the team behind...Karthik & Shumi as always. Just a suggestion: Why not do a similar kind of episode on our Indian Brands - Tata, Mahindra, Bajaj, TVS etc. ( only the indigenous ones & not any JV thing)...problems they face, how are they surviving, what actions need to be undertaken to stand unique in the crowd, actionable insights if any from the market & also on global level etc etc. Thank You

Next podcast on *American* automotive

You didn't hear about Xbox shortages because no one buys them enough for there to be shortages. 😂 I mean Xbox is literally imploding right now...

On point topics discussed, very much pleased and I'm happy that I'm following a community or some number of people/organisation who are very much concerned about the actual issues hidden by ourselves

First-time car buyer 🙋‍♂. Currently window-shopping. Questions which keep me pondering: - Top variant of a car VS mid variant of a car from the next-higher segment - Insurance: choosing an insurer, which add-ons, what to skip, what to watch out for - How much money to set aside for maintenance every year? - Start with a cheap hatch or get what you want in the first place? - Types of automatic transmissions- reliability, suitability, maintenance, history in India etc.

Personal observation: I feel that the expression "think about it" is quite patronizing. Might be perfectly fine among friends who might know each for years, but whenever I have heard this phrase it is quite jarring for me. Before anyone get riled up/offended, let me add the disclaimer that this is purely my personal thinking. 🙏🏼

Shumi's one liners really make the video spicy 🔥🔥

Potential points for your next discussion about 'First Time Car Buyers'. I wish I'd paid attention or known better... - Having a extra wide internal rear view mirror gave me a lot of confidence when moving in a dense traffic environment. - Would have seriously considered a underbody spray just for the sound dampening benefits. - Sit in the driver's seat and pay attention to how much the A/B/C pillars restrict your vision and if you are OK with it. - Frequency with which I should be paying attention to parts of the vehicle - fluids, air, grit under the wiper blades etc... Your team might miss a couple of basics simply what's automatic to you [due to years of driving / owning] wouldn't even have occured to a novice driver / new owner. I have certainly missed a lot since I am purely a city driver who takes the vehicle out only to get from point A to B. Minimal use, avoid driving if possible. The traffic and road conditions can be nuts!

great explanation of Japan and problem they facing currently. It's an amazing country.. the culture , the food, weather and the villages.. everything is beautiful. I had stayed in tokyo for 4 years and experienced it all. One thing I can related with whoever I hear talking about Japan is they never forget their experiences even after 2 or 3 decades. all memories remain fresh and loving.. 🙂

Totally understand why the Japanese won't allow Indians to drive on their road. It is incredibly difficult to get a driving license over there and how Us Indians get the license, well we all know that. 😕.

It’s just only started but I love the angle of foraying into not just car talks

I do worked with a Japanese Automotive company, as much as their process is very good, they are stuck there. Hope they change it soon. It was a very good and insightful podcast. Thanks for sharing.

I am so proud that I subscribed to this channel. Kudos to both of you. Qualtiy content

This episode about Japanese culture is truly intriguing. As I was considering purchasing my dream car, the Honda City iVTECH, a few years ago, I ended up choosing the Kia Sonet after thorough research. The Koreans have shown remarkable agility and adaptability in refining their products, with Hyundai serving as a prime example. Witnessing their transformation from inception to now is truly impressive. I'm particularly looking forward to episodes tailored for first-time buyers, as they often prioritize making financially sound decisions, whether it's regarding a car or a bike. Perhaps that's why models like the Activa and Alto remain top sellers in India.

This is by far the best podcast I’ve seen. Great job guys. I’ve seen RomRom Ji’s vlogs, he shares a lot about Japanese corp work culture. Now I see the broader picture.

Watching this channel is seriously as refreshing and engaging as reading a nice book..great job guys! Absolutely love the content...you are really pushing me to buy that membership 😂

Again a great conversation as usual. Thanks Shumi, Kartik and the team. I have honda twister. It's been more than 13 years. Really good machine, ahead of its time for indian market. I still enjoy riding it even though I have bigger bike. I think now theyare afraid of trying new things and failing. They want to stick to the process and make sure nothing fails. But sometimes taking a decision in time is more important than it being right or wrong. And that seems to be lacking from japanese brands.

ok one topic for what needs to discussed, why Indian brands don't cut it? why dont we buy Indian brands? Why are we attracted to European and American brands more?

Among plethora of point to consider on first time car buyer topic, do include the reliability, comfort, AT v MT, long term ownership cost and budget

A friend’s criteria 2 is automatic transmission. But Criteria 1 is Sun Roof. Please elaborate on what are needs, wants and “bells & whistle” (to show off) .. First Time Car Buyer!

Fabulous conversation, felt like I was part of this discussion. About a month ago, a friend was looking to buy his first car and obviously Japanese brands were his first choice. We had a discussion on similar lines of how Japanese brands are pale shadow of there marvelous engineering and technological history. Remeber, they had made the deathly underwater aircraft carrier (sub) during WW2 and these massive subs were first ever and left the US in total fear.

Great stuff guys. Your podcasts/discussions have helped increase my attention span across all aspects of my life. It feels quite therapeutic. Love the frank and unapologetic views by you both. Kudos. (Also - waiting for the RIZTA discussion as well- I know that the media rides haven't been done yet, but still - much excitement)

Oh god, you guys really won't have any idea that how much i started liking your channel. Its refreshing at the same time getting to know a lot about how the things are going and what sort of perspectives one should have on what ever they do. Kudos

Its crazy how cold fusion released a video on Japan, and so did you ! What a morning, all about Japan !

My enduring affection for Japan began with Pokémon and other anime, and deepened when my father purchased a used RX100 in 2003. We vowed to explore Japan together to immerse ourselves in its culture, society, cars, and motorcycles. My father's description of Japan, echoed by Kartikey's experiences, emphasized the country's distinctiveness compared to India, with pockets of lush greenery amidst other areas. Reflecting on these memories, I'm transported back to our conversations, even though it's been almost 15 years since I lost my father.

The amount of knowledge and the things that these two role models remember and cherish is just so heartwarming and just energizing in general. I have started loving motorcycles because of Shumi and started to aspire to buy big bikes. Kartikeya's emotional connect to the vehicle is just amazing. I just finished the episode and these are the thoughts that come into my mind again and again when I think of these two. Thank you everyone. ❤

Absolutely love this. Totally resonate with the helmet vs phone conversation. I've made it a personal mission to change that and have succesfully had a few of my friends switch from a crappy helmet to atleast an entry level ECE certified helmet. Might I request that you guys make a podcast on what makes a truly safe helmet? Have watched the powerdrift podcast, but wanted something more in depth. Your podcast style would help the masses grasp this information and make a more informed choice!

Brilliant discussion would love to see an episode on Indian manufacturers and their approach towards the markets.

Lovely absolutely lovely. It's just so nice to hear two people talk so vividly about the things you love to talk about. ❤❤

Amazing topic to be picked up and even more amazing pointers discussed. Please do keep bringing up these kinda content. Rise and shine!!

Loved the details and how the automotive industry has changed. Also, “reliability being the norm now” is such a strong statement and true!!! A missed opportunity which Kartik touched upon for just a bit was “Kawasaki”. There was a generation of people including myself (and Kartik from that bit) who dreamed of Kawasaki’s and even today it’s nearly the same machine and today the bar has gone up so high that Kawasaki almost feels like out of the game. A fun observation throughout this episode was watching Shumi’s watch and figuring out how much time did these two talk about a topic 😂 Love the candid, important and thought-provoking discussions like always - “That’s becoming the norm now!” That said “I am just an Indian and I wouldn’t know any better than Japanese” 😂😂

Amazing session! It’s great to see two people going beyond automobiles but keeping the conversation relevant to their forte! I’ll be a first time car buyer and I’m feeling a bit lost in this whole process , there is this safety situation , and also the economics of running a car (mileage). Just wanted to understand your perspective around how the safety conversation is happening in the country , there is no study saying that the 0 star cat people are dying more than the 5 star rated ones and even though the tech has been improving , accidents are still accidents. Are we being made to think in one direction and not considering the other ? E.g : if one car is able to give more mileage and the other car does not but provides better safety rating , I’ll say that the latter has not engineered the car well. Economy and safety should go hand in hand. It would be great if we can have an episode on that!

- Another great podcast! While listening to it I imagined a class of students (Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Yamaha, Nissan) being taken to task by Kartikeya & Shumi, and a student named "Isuzu" contemplating while sitting at backbench should be happy that he has been forgotten or sad. 😆 - While discussing the "partnership" angle, I would have loved to know your thoughts on the Renault-Nissan partnership. Maybe next time - For the "first-time buyer" podcast, my 2 cents would be to cover some points for a buyer who sees "car" as a "great tool". For example, a friend who is trying to buy his 1st car acknowledges that they are a "necessity" in a family nowadays, but also sees them as a "depreciating asset"; so what should these people look out for might also be something which can be covered.

I have worked with Ishikawa San when he was in India... I can relate to what you say completely.

I bought my first car last year. My father owned, in succession, a Maruti 800, a Hyundai Accent, and a Chevy Tavera. I did drive all of them but then I moved out for college and by the time I wanted to buy my own car, I hadn't driven regularly for almost 10 years (barring the odd rental car). So even though I knew about cars, I was not an experienced driver. One big issue for which I sort of blame the automotive media is engine performance. When a reviewer says something like "the engine feels underpowered" or "the gearbox is sluggish", they are most likely correct. However most car buyers have not driven the spectrum of cars available on sale (from econoboxes to luxury vehicles) and will have a completely different definition of what adequate power or responsiveness is. Some people like to drive sedately, some people like to swerve between cars and ride your bumper. They will have different requirements for their ideal car and automotive journalists can do a lot better when it comes to this. This is also why I really like that Shumi says "take a test drive" in almost every review. Another area where I would like to see improvement on is critiquing the interiors. A lot more time should be spent on if interiors are designed well from a usability and durability standpoint (Rohit Paradkar from Overdrive consistently does a great job with this).

Sunday morning done right! Looking forward to the First time car buyers episode, even though I now have 2 cars, that I actively took part in purchasing. The latest of the two is a 2018 purchase, but cars have changed so much between today and 2018, Ill need some guidance before that upgrade comes about.

From a New car buyer in the family. The issue of variant choice vs variant availability vs waiting time. That is something that will make or break an experience. The family member bought a Scorpio N. Wanted a petrol, mid row bench with split third. Due to impatience and long wait times, settled for a diesel captain mid with a bench third row, effectively reducing his carrying capacity to 4+ luggage.

Oh I was waiting for this. Great episode guys being associated with Automobile industry this is is very helpful for me as now I can explain the first time buyers better

I have been a fan of your channel after watching 1st video itself. Your contents have been well detailed, staright to the point and no sugar caoting.. Very crisp and quality content. Great work guys..

Great guys, discussion on these sensitive topics like this you need to have a lot of courage and criticising on the true facts on the current automobile industry is some thing I think u have communicated in a very good manner

I agree with Shumi sir. I am in the market looking out for my first car. I recently took driving lessons and would love to hear the different aspects of first time car buying from the experts. In addition to the points mentioned in the end, i would also love it if the MotorInc team discussed on what to look for while test driving a car. Cheers!!...great episode!

Bought my first car 3 months back, first car in the family. Being a motor head since i was a kid, chosing the car wasn't the problem. The problems that i faced: 1. Convincing the family that an SUV isn't the end all be all of car purchase, be it a sub 4 metre or a C-SUV. 2. Climbing up the variant ladder/class ladder. I initially started with a used hatchback which my family quickly convinced me against. We then went for an i20, then the NLine and then the Verna and finally ended up buying the Verna Turbo SX(O). I am insanely happ with my purchase, don't get me wrong, but my budget essentially 4x'ed and if we had any D-Segment sedans in India, i am sure i would have ended up buying an Elantra NLine or something. Climbing up the ladder is probably the biggest problem i feel most people will face.

I could see Shumi sirs' passion for automobiles well in this episode. I will look forward for the brand loyalty discussion

A 24M, who had a Maruti Omni as a kid. We upgraded to a Dzire (not my choice) in '21. Which means, I have a little experience with cars and am aware of a new car buying experience. Now, I feel a need to buy a car for myself. Perhaps a cheap yet bulletproof hatch like Alto or a pre-owned car, maybe a last gen hatch/sedan that has decent economy, comfort and reliability/safety, IMO, basically all the things one would need to do their duties. I guess, the next episode would be helpful. I remember an older episode of This Connect that revolved around pre-owned vehicles, I probably should revisit.

so cool !!! Show me another automotive channel who goes this deep . Hats off .

I think the Japanese brands should watch ThisConnect episodes. Your quality just keeps increasing with each episode setting a bechmark everytime. 😁 Coming to your question of buying a new car. I bought Ignis last year in July, as my first car, when I was still going for driving classes. 😅 It was a fun experience to learn driving on my first brand new car. I would recommend people creating an excel for car buying process with their priorities listed. For me, buying Ignis was based on: 1. Design: I liked unlike most people 2. Reliabilty: Suzuki cars just run and run. I have seen many issues with brands like Tata with their new cars which are just the result of quality control. 3. Value proposition: Since the car sells in lesser numbers, it always has a discount. I got it for about 1 lakh less than the on road price, and that engine in this price was awesome. 4. Fuel: I did the math, according to my running which is about 5-7k km per year, buying CNG with some other model(Ignis doesn't come with CNG kit), I'd have to pay extra 1.5-2 lakh which I would recover in 8-10 years, so I went with the petrol. 5. Size: It is a smaller car, but comparing it with the sizes of my family members, it was never an issue. 6. Finances: Again I calculated the EMI, went with a 5 year loan for 70% of vehicle cost (although the interests are on the higher side). I did make a mistake in this, by going with the loan from the dealership, I'd like you to touch upon this point. I could have got cheaper loan from other banks but the dealerships create such a situation that you end up taking the loan from them, since they get a commission in it too. 7. PDI: Please tell what all to do in PDI. I got my car home deliveres solely trusting the dealership, I didn't even know there was something as PDI back then. I am lucky to have got a perfect new car without any faults. 😅

Great talk, as always! I mean wow. You guys covered so many points. I'm amazed. Love MotorInc.

I genuinely loved this episode. So much nuance to the almost perfect image of Japan.

This is going to be a long comment. This episode stitched all the issues that is stopping a Japanese auto manufacturer from finding success in the current times. I am mechanical/industrial engineer and huge fan of the Toyota Production System. Have learnt and practised TPS is some roles I have handled. It is such a shame that the system that is all about creating less obstruction to generate revenue is causing the obstruction. This is because the plot is lost in following the SOPs and not thinking of the premise, context and applicability for a product/process. You rightly brought up stability vs agility topic. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (Stability) and Standardise-Do-Check-Act (Agility) should go hand in hand, succeeding each other to maintain the balance, but improving all along on both aspects. The superiority complex is prevalent in both Japanese and South Korean companies that operate in India or sell their products here. High time to discard the attitude and do real engineering.

Absolutely love this channel! Great work guys, easily the best automotive content online... "Karthik, you are being too generous, Honda has to something" absolutely hilarious Shumi!😂

I’m back from the last year’s ThisConnect when you were gushing over the GT86 as well. Would’ve loved to hear more about your experience with it. The fund for it is still going strong. We’re 30L in! Please have Toyota bring that thing to India!

Felt great after seeing this video, The knowledge that is passed to the viewers and the your perspective about it is great!

Points for first time car buyers (answered for myself): 1. For single person, how much long term should I think? 2. Sedan vs compact suv, is there any difference in today’s products? 3. What all should I consider in the budget, except cars showroom price? @Kartikeya’s advice in previous episode helped. Thanks!! Points for first time bike buyers (I want answers to): 0. As a first time bike buyer one of the most important things concerning me is safety. What all would I need to buy as I purchase it? 1. How do I decide where to start? Price? horsepower? 2. Which brand gives better service? 3. If I already have a scooter do I need a bike? 4. 160cc New scooter vs new bike? What is each of them capable of today? Please help answer this guys! :)

This is an amazing episode.. Just loved the way you to dissected the Japanese both their culture and business, and how they are entwined. Solid stuff. Now there is another topic that has puzzled me many times over in the past and still does. Why the step through bikes are a rage all over South East Asia but a failure in India? If I am not mistaken, scooter consists of about 35% of the entire two wheeler market in India, but then Step Through bikes could have taken up this space with their practicality, larger wheels and better suspension. However thats not the case except may be the TVS XL100. I will be happy if you do a podcast on this topic.