Hyundai gears up for full play in SUV segment in Indi

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NEW DELHI :  Eyeing a sales milestone of 5 lakh units in the domestic market, Hyundai Motor India is gearing up for a full play in the fast emerging sports utility vehicle segment to add volumes.
The company, which will launch the latest model i20 Active – a sports-styled version of its premium hatchback i20 – next week, will introduce iX25 SUV in India ahead of the festive season.
“In the sedans, we have the full range from Eon to Elantra. However, we have only the Santa Fe in the premium SUV segment, which is one of the fastest growing segments in India. It’s our endeavour to complete the range,” Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Senior Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) Rakesh Srivastava told PTI.
Elaborating the company’s strategy, he said the i20 Active will address the section at the lower end of customers, who are looking for a sporty and stylish vehicle.
“The i20 Active will be our 9th model in India and we are confident of getting a good response from the market,” he said.
The i20 Active will compete with the likes of Toyota Etios Cross, Volkswagen Cross Polo and Fiat Avventura which are priced in the range of Rs 6.23 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
When asked about a model to fill the gap between its premium SUV Santa Fe and i20 Active, Srivastava declined to share details but said the company would plug that gap too.
Sources, however, said the company is set to introduce the ix25 SUV in India around August-September ahead of the festive season this year. This would then complete HMIL’s range of SUVs in India.
Last month, the company had launched the new updated version of its mid-sized sedan Verna as part of plans to cross the 5 lakh sales milestone in India. HMIL had sold sold 4.11 lakh units last year. (PTI)