Even though Hyundai India is gearing up to shift one-third of the i-20 model’s production (the export-driven version) to Europe by 2010-mid due to logistical reasons and tax benefits, it has also decided to put curtains on its less-than-a-decade-old model Getz by 2011 owing to dwindling demand.
H.S. Lheem, managing director of Hyundai Motor India Limited told reporters, “We are withdrawing the model from market with sales averaging between 500 and 1,000 vehicles per month. Production of the Getz would be stopped shortly and it will be gradually phased out from the market,’’ as Lheem said on the sidelines of the SIAM annual conclave in New Delhi.
It may be recalled that Hyundai India had rolled out Getz in 2004, but failed to sustain its momentum due to an avalanche of launches by its competitors in the same segment like Maruti Suzuki’s Swift, etc. Hyundai sold around 120,000 units of the Getz, both in the domestic and export markets, since its launch. With the phasing out of the car, Hyundai will be left with the i10 and the i20 models only in its stable of premium A2 compact cars.
Furthermore, the Indian arm of the South Korean auto giant is also looking to ramp up i20’s production due to its burgeoning demand in the domestic market. ‘‘The i20 has been doing well for us and against a projection of 12000 units initially, we plan to sell 40,000 units his year,’’ Lheem said, adding that the company will increase the production capacity at its Chennai plant from the current two shifts to three, bringing the total output to 2,500 units per day.
India’s largest car exporter has also announced that it will be rolling out a facelifted Santro in the coming days. According to sources privy with the news, there will be some stylistic changes, but the price of the new variant may not vary much. Sources said that there will be some tweaking done in the overall appearance of the car, but no engine change is on the cards.
The country’s second largest carmaker has also announced that it will launch its Santa Fe SUV in India in 2010, which will be fitted with a brand-new 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and would be pitted against Honda CR-V, and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. Also, the company plans to launch an all-new small car – perhaps one with an 800cc engine – in India by 2011.
Hyundai, which sold 2.45 lakh cars in India in 2008, is looking at sales of 2.8 lakh cars this year. The company is also looking at exporting around 2.7 lakh units from India this year, as compared to 2.45 lakh units which it exported last year. HMIL has also said that it would invest US$ 40 million for setting up an R&D centre in India next year, which will involve roping in up to 1,000 engineers in phases. The research and development centre would be used for computer analysis and design of new vehicles. However, the company has said that there is no plan for actual testing.
Source:[wheelsunplugged.com]
{ 0 comments… add one now }
Leave a Comment