The automobile companies have made it a habit to recall their vehicles or is it the season of recalls. This time it is neither Toyota nor Ford but it is India’s largest seller of passenger cars Maruti. Last year it launched its A-Star in Europe to cater to the entry segment cars. The Indian version of this car already has a big pie in the small car segment. However, the 100,000 A-Stars exported is said to have some problem with oil seals (o-rings) which failed in a number of instances.
Why so many recalls?
I think that the quality checks performed before launch of the cars are not being followed religiously or there is a loophole which is being exploited liberally or the recession has made the companies to cut cost at the cost of quality. In-spite of knowing the fact that such recalls may tarnish the brand image of the company, the companies give green flags to new models to reap the benefits of first mover advantage in respective segments. Let us hope that these organizations at least continue to own responsibilities for such debacles.

Rogues