Hyundai Motor India to roll out i20 in December

28 July 2008

Buouyed by the success of its 'A' segment i10 and the Santro, Hyundai Motors India, wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Korean auto maker Hyundai, now plans to introduce the i20 hatchback sedan in the 'B' segment in India by December 2008, after its debut in the Paris Motor Show in September.

Earlier in January the company had disclosed that it would reduce the weight of the car to boost engine performance, for which it was collaborating with Saudi Arabia's SABIC Innovative Plastics (earlier GE Plastics).

Inaugurating the company's dealership  in Srinagar, B K Lee, regional director north India said the i20 the final pricing had yet to be decided. The i20, is a more more spacious than the Getz, is said to be priced in the Rs 5-6 lakh range and will be made only in India from where it will be exported to other countries.

The Hyundai i20 has been largely built on the lines of the company's premium hatchback - i30 that has already been launched in Europe and Korea. This car will be manufactured with a high degree of specifications in the model to meet European Pedestrian Phase I and II requirements

This model will be rolled out from the company's second plant at Sriperumbudur near Chennai, which was originally scheduled to commence operation by January. Once the new plant is operational, the company's manufacturing capacity would double from 3,00,000 units to 6,00,000 units per annum, with the i10 accountoing for a third of its production.

Being the fifth largest automotive group in the world and the largest passenger car exporter from India, Hyundai was earlier thought to have wanted to replace the Getz with the i20. However, managing director HS Lheem says the i20 would strenghen the company's portfolio in the segment.