MAM
Superbrands Council evaluating over 700 brands
NEW DELHI: The Brand Council, a part of Superbrands India is currently evaluating over 700 brands in the country in 95 different categories to identify the strongest among the lot and award them the Superbrands status.
The Superbrands status is internationally recognised as the Oscar in the world of Branding.
Says Superbrands India CEO Anmol Dar, “The Superbrands concept is a winner in 18 countries worldwide. The discipline of branding has matured in India today and it is time to pay tribute to exceptional brands.”
Only the strongest brands will be shortlisted in this evaluation process and will be offered the opportunity to be a part of the first edition of Superbrands the book, a chronicle of India’s strongest brands for this year. The first edition of the book will be dedicated to the late ad guru Shunu Sen. The council members have decided to retain his name on the Council even after his demise as he was deeply involved with the Superbrands project in India since its inception.
The brand council includes executive director (New Ventures), HLL Dalip Sehgal, CEO, J Walter Thompson Mike Khanna, group president & national creative director, O&M, Piyush Pandey, business editor CNBC and MD TV 18 Raghav Bahl.
The members, each of whom is known to have an instinctive “feel” for brands, have been given a list of product categories and brands under each. These brands are being rated on a scale of 1 to 10. To ensure unbiased results, representatives of a brand are advised not to rate the brands in that particular category and the average mean score of the rest of the brand council members is taken as theirs.
The brand council is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss the findings. Once the brand council reaches a consensus that a particular brand in a category deserves to be invited for participation in the Superbrands Book, invitations will be sent out to them. Without the approval of the Brand Council members, no brand will find place in the publication.
An official release informs that in each of the countries that Superbrands operates in, it has an independent Superbrands Council. Comprehensive research is undertaken to identify the brands in various categories and that offer the consumer significant emotional and/or physical advantages over its competitors, which (consciously or sub-consciously) customers want, recognise and are willing to pay a premium for. The Brand Council, composed typically of doyens of business, industry, advertising, marketing and media – then reviews each of these brands and pronounce judgement.
Launched in the year 1993, Superbrands is a concept developed by UK marketing guru Marcel Knobil, the founder of the Superbrands Organisation and the chairman of the Superbrands Council, UK. Over the years, Superbrands has evolved into being a recognised, independent authority and arbiter of branding – it exists to promote the discipline of branding and to pay tribute to exceptional brands. It has been tracking the branding phenomenon for the past nine years and maintains councils in 18 different countries .
Brands
Hyundai Venue crosses 1 lakh bookings, adds HX8 Diesel AT variant
New top-spec automatic diesel trim brings ventilated seats, OTA updates and paddle shifters.
MUMBAI: Hyundai Venue just hit the jackpot and upgraded the prize because when you cross 1 lakh bookings, you don’t just celebrate, you throw in paddle shifters and ventilated seats for the ride. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced that the all-new Hyundai Venue has achieved 1 lakh bookings, cementing its strong position in the compact SUV segment. To mark the milestone and further enhance customer choice, the company introduced the new HX8 Diesel Automatic (AT) variant.
The HX8 Diesel AT is powered by the proven U2 1.5L CRDi diesel engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It adds a host of premium comfort, safety and convenience features, including:
- Ventilated front seats
- Dual-tone leatherette seats with VENUE branding
- Electric 4-way driver seat adjust
- Controller Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
- Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology
- Electric parking brake with auto hold
- Rear disc brakes
- Ambient lighting on crash pad and central console
- Drive mode select (Eco, Normal, Sport)
- Traction control modes (Sand, Mud, Snow)
- Paddle shifters
HMIL, managing director & CEO Tarun Garg said, “We are delighted that the new Hyundai Venue has crossed 1 lakh bookings, reaffirming the strong trust Indian customers place in our brand. The introduction of the new HX8 Diesel Automatic variant further strengthens the Venue lineup, offering customers the perfect blend of diesel efficiency, torque-rich performance and effortless convenience.”
Backed by Hyundai’s extensive sales and service network, the Venue continues to appeal to buyers seeking a feature-rich, comfortable and future-ready compact SUV. The new variant reinforces HMIL’s focus on delivering advanced technology, safety, comfort and value while adapting to evolving customer preferences.
In a segment where bookings are the real horsepower, Hyundai isn’t just counting milestones, it’s handing drivers an automatic upgrade that makes every journey feel like the victory lap.
