Exclusive | Racing ahead: ZigWheels' Akshay Chaturvedi

Premier online destination for automobiles, ZigWheels.com is one of the most comprehensive websites on motoring with a special focus on India.  The website covers a range of news and views on motoring - reviews, road tests, technology, tools and tips as well as special features on cars and bikes. ZigWheels.com has a depth of information to reach out to the car  and bike buyers as well as enthusiasts. Beginning online operations July 2008, “the vision behind ZigWheels.com was to create a one point destination for all things auto whether people looking to buy vehicles or auto enthusiasts wanting to fulfill their passion. The same was achieved by creating the most comprehensive product with content covering new car research, used cars, sell car, reviews, news & features, motorsport, car prices, bikes and shootouts,” says Akshay Chaturvedi, Business Head, Zigwheels.com while speaking to Adgully. 

It is no wonder then that the website has catapulted into the country’s most loved auto portal and continues to remain the leader, bagging no 1 position in 7 out of 12 months including 5 back to back No.1’s from September’11 to January’12. Commenting on the growth, Chaturvedi says, “we have now reached into a definitive leadership status. In FY 12, ZigWheels had the highest average category traffic share (unique visitors) of 30 % and was No.1 for 7 out of 12 months as per Comscore India.  In the first half of current fiscal year i.e. H1 - FY 13, ZigWheels.com already has been No. 1 in 4 out of the 6 months and has the highest average category traffic share at 32 %. We have not only outperformed the competition but have been growing faster than the category and in that sense it definitely is a satisfying thing,”

The reasons behind success are not far to seek. Right from day one, ZigWheels.com has been user centric. The product complements the same through the width & depth. The portal offers cutting across cars & bikes. ZigWheels.com is today positioned uniquely where one can do a new car research or buy a used car, sell a car, read a review, do a comparison, ask an expert, read news & features, watch a video or catch a slideshow. And if that’s not enough there is a complete section on bikes, motorsport & specialty content that guides one in living with his car with informative guides on tyres, fuel efficiency, DIY car care among many others.

ZigWheels.com at this point in time is predominantly India centric though it does get traffic from across the globe. The audience is primarily male and split over car buyers and car enthusiasts with both crossing in to each other’s territory over time. 

On being asked about value add from a customer's perspective, Chaturvedi says, “from a customer’s perspective the main advantage is that ZigWheels.com offers in one window all that he may need w.r.t. anything automotive.” So if a customer is in his purchase lifecycle, ZigWheels.com offers most exhaustive coverage across cities for on road prices of new cars or comprehensive listing of used cars, if he is in a decision mode he can read reviews, make comparisons, check ratings or better still ask  experts. For enthusiasts ZigWheels.com has all the latest news from launches, events & anything that is breaking in car & bike space. To top it all there is stuff on Motorsport & specialty guides.

Concludes Chaturvedi, “We would keep focusing on our users as they are always at the forefront of all our plans and create meaningful products and usable information to keep them updated and help in taking them the right decisions on their purchases.” In the days to come, Zigwheels.com plans to launch of some exciting new products & services, have a larger use of technology and a rounded presence across all digital platforms.