Some upcoming trends in Delhi:
SUVs. The roads are filled with a mix of compact cars, bicycles, auto rickshaws, dogs, goats, pedestrians, and camels. A few companies are beginning to sell SUVs, and in a city this noisy and bumpy they will be well regarded. Provided the prices drop (2x US prices right now), the roads could quickly be more impacted.
Tuner cars. No one seemed to have their cars customized, and the auto shops only sold stereos and seat covers. One easy sell: louder exhausts would make drivers feel more powerful in a crowded street.
Coffee. In two weeks, I went to at least seven cafes, but none offered drip coffee. Starbucks has been trying to enter the market since 2007: I expect their status will encourage more drip coffee consumption.
3G internet. There were a lot of smartphones, but no one seemed to be using 3G. This will be a market to watch for truly social mobile apps.
The theme from my trip to India was how quickly they are modernizing certain parts of their society. Here are a few trends I see in the next few years, based on observations in Delhi:
- Reverse migration. When the recent recession started, many American engineers responded to layoffs by returning to India. This reflects some of the economic successes there in the last decade, and where the economy stands now .
- Housing. From my understanding, India is in a real estate boom/bubble in many markets: this is only increased by the reverse immigration of educated citizens. Though they don’t flip houses as much as Americans, expect the equity pulls to artificially prop the economy, and with it an eventual readjustment.
- SUVs. The roads are filled with a mix of compact cars, bicycles, auto rickshaws, dogs, goats, pedestrians, and camels. A few companies are beginning to sell SUVs, and in a city this noisy and bumpy they will be well regarded for safety. Provided the prices drop (2x US prices right now), the roads could quickly be more impacted by SUVs.
- Tuner cars. No one seemed to have their cars customized, and the auto shops only sold stereos and seat covers. One easy sell: louder exhausts would make drivers feel more powerful in a crowded street. Expect to see more of this.
- Coffee. In two weeks, I went to at least seven cafes, but none offered drip coffee. Starbucks has been trying to enter the market since 2007: I expect their status will encourage more drip coffee consumption, because its easier to make.
- 3G internet. There were a lot of smartphones, but no one seemed to be using 3G. This will be a market to watch for truly social mobile apps.
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Steven,
3G internet is on its way but after the 2G scandal which rocked the nation (whopping 22Billion pounds (est)) either the nation gets the 3G faster than any other developing nation faster (election is on May)or it will never sees the light of the day.
India’s real estate bubble is always one in question ..you have to give the benefit of doubt to the nation’s population and the Govt’s strong hold of banking system there. During the worst recession in U.S India’s real estate market was not affected as much as it was expected. But I agree the whole credit based society is on the rise which may bring the whole nation on it’s knees. And who knows Goldman Sachs is growing big in India and aren’t they capable of bringing a whole nation to bankrupt (after Greece)?