Hyundai i20 to Get into the Indian Market in the First Quarter of 2009?

In my earlier entry, I wrote that Hyundai i20 will launched in Indian market on 8 November 2008. Well, just after uploading the post, I came across an article in internet that claims Hyundai i20’s launch in Indian market might be delayed and rescheduled to the first quarter of 2009. The report published in Car Trade in India website says that they have got to know from a reliable source of Hyundai that the proposed November 8 release for Hyundai i20 in Indian market might be rescheduled to early next year. However, as nothing is officially announced yet, I think, it is better to stick to November 8 as the launching date for Hyundai i20 in the Indian car market.

Hyundai i20 is a five-door hatchback car that has been launched in the Paris Motor Show last month. Hyundai i20 is a model in between i10 and i30. Hyundai i10 saw huge success in Indian market. Now, many people in India are waiting for the release of Hyundai i20. The passenger car features more space and flexible seating system than the model like Hyundai Getz. Designed by Hyundai’s European Car Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany, Hyundai i20 follows European standard of style and ride. The car will be manufactured in Hyundai’s Chennai manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudu.

Car users can choose between petrol engine and diesel engine as Hyundai i20 offers both petrol and diesel versions. New 1.2-litre petrol engine will be available for those who want to use petrol version of Hyundai i20, while a new 1.4-litre CRTD plus a 1.6-litre engines are for those who prefers diesel engines. Hyundai i20 will compete with Maruti Swift in Segment B. The price of the car has not been revealed officially, but it could be in the range of Rs. 5.5 lakh and above. However, nothing is confirmed yet about the price of the car. Hyundai will launch a 3-door variant of i20 early 2009 for the European market.

Hyundai i20 to Get Released in Indian Market on November 8

Hyundai i20, the upcoming hatchback car from Hyundai’s volt, is expected to go on sale in India from 8 November. The five-door hatchback car sports some eye-catching features and car users are eagerly waiting for the release of Hyundai i20 in Indian market. The passenger car was launched in Paris Motor Show recently and is expected to grab a chunk of market share soon after it becomes available in Indian market.

With 2525mm wheelbase, Hyundai i20 is spacious enough for a B segment car. Hyundai i20 features a seven-strong line-up of petrol and turbodiesel engines for European market. Users can choose between manual transmission and automatic transmission.

Car Wale reported:

For Europe, the i20 will have a seven-strong line-up of petrol and turbodiesel engines, with the choice of manual or automatic transmissions. The Euro IV-compliant petrol line-up comprises the 78bhp 1.2, 100bhp 1.4 and 126bhp 1.6 all available with five-speed manual transmissions, with the option of four-speed automatic gearboxes on the 1.4 and 1.6 models. The Euro IV -compliant turbodiesel engines are fitted with CPF diesel particulate traps as standard for the 1.6l (115bhp and 128bhp) diesel engine. The 1.4 comes in two specifications – 75bhp and 90bhp – while the flagship 1.6 is available in 115bhp and 128bhp trim. We’re expecting the 78bhp 1.2 and 115bhp 1.6 to make it here, but the 75bhp 1.4 would make a lot more sense for our market.

Hyundai i20 provides enough safety measures too. High-tensile steel has been used in the frame of the car and it offers six airbags, active headrests, front seatbelt pretensioners and latest generation ABS anti-lock brakes along. Hyundai i20 also comes equipped with ESP electronic stability control, EBD Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. However, the fact is that it is not yet confirmed how many of these features will be available for the Indian market.

Hyundai India to Begin Third Shift in the Second Plant ahead of its i20 Launch

Hyundai Motor India Ltd is planning to open up a third shift at its second plant in Chennai after seeing tremendous success in its small car i10, which has seen a growing demand both in domestic and export markets. In fact, more than 100,000 units of Hyundai i10 has been sold in the last six months and that gave enough ground for the company to launch its second plant in February. So far, there have been two shifts in its second plant, but three shifts have already been underway in its first plant.

However, with growing demand of i10 and a possible launch of i20, another launch from Hyundai in small car segment, there is no doubt, Hyundai India has enough justification to begin a third shift in its second plant as well. With this expected move, it is pretty much sure that Hyundai India is firmly going to hit its 2008 production target of 530,000 cars, which will be extended to 600,000 by the next year. Even that could be extended further up to 630,000 cars, by running one or two shifts on Sundays. However, still there will have scope to increase its production in India thanks to the growing demand of Hyundai’s small segment cars in India as well as in abroad.

The Hindu business line reported:

Some stretching — such as working a shift or two on Sundays — would enable to Hyundai to raise capacity to 630,000.

But with the growing demand for the i10 and the proposed launch of i20 (a car like the ‘Hyundai Accent’) by the end of this year, even that capacity would not be enough.

For beyond next year, the company will need to expand capacity further, Mr Lheem said.

According to Mr Lheem, there is scope for adding capacity for another 100,000 cars — incidentally, the capacity with which Hyundai began its show in India 10 years ago — by putting up a body shop and a paint shop in the vacant space behind the Plant-II.

Hyundai i10 was launched in India last year and instantly created a boom in the market. The car is produced from Hyundai’s two plants currently running in India. The increasing demand of Hyundai i10 has boosted up Hyundai’s sales growth in India this so far this year. In the first two months of the current fiscal year, Hyundai India saw 49 per cent of sales growth compared to the sales margin of the same period previous year. In the first quarter of the year, Hyundai India’s sales increased to 120,444 cars (including sales in both domestic and abroad market), 48 percent growth compared to last year.

The South Korean company is opening production plant in other growing markets like in Russia. However, it is expected that it would not affect the growth of Hyundai India Ltd. India one of the growing car market in the world and it is a price sensitive market as well. Naturally, small cars are quite popular in India. So, it is pretty much certain that Hyundai India has already made a strong ground in the small car market in India thanks to its i10 cars.

Hyundai i20 is expected to be launched in the festival season in India this year. The small car already attracted many people with its eye-catching features and stylish look. It is needless to say that the launch of i20 this year would only further boost up Hyundai’s sales this year, making its presence more vibrant in the small car segment in India.