Carnation Auto, DC Design tie up to sell customised cars

Carnation Auto, the multi-brand car sales and services outfit promoted by the former chief executive of Maruti Suzuki, Jagdish Khattar, has tied up with automobile designer Dilip Chhabria's DC Design to provide customisation services for car owners, the companies announced in New Delhi on Monday.

Khattar said the two partners would provide full and semi-customisation solutions to enable customers to re-design their cars, beginning with the Toyota Innova, Maruti Swift, Honda City and Tata Nano.

Under the partnership, DC Design will sell its customisation equipment through Carnation's outlets across the country. Apart from the four models, DC Designs plans to offer solutions for eight new models every year.

''This is a unique business model tried out for the first time in India wherein an independent design studio has joined hands with an independent network. Our aim is to cater to niches, which are not viable for original manufacturers but yet have a huge demand,'' Khattar said.

He refused to give any indication of projected demand. However, a complete customisation job on the Innova, for example, comes with a steep Rs4.95 lakh price tag, which could go up depending on the requirements.

''These solutions will answer the need for distinct identity, space, privacy, comfort, entertainment and utility. Additionally, these options will receive personalised attention at Carnation's world-class car care back-up network anywhere in the country,'' said Khattar.