HYUNDAI TO LAUNCH ALL NEW SANTRO ON 1ST SEPTEMBER, TO PHASE OUT GETZ BY 2011

Hyundai will launch the revised version of its best seller Santro in the Indian market on September 1st. The launch looks to have been pre-poned due to competition from the just launched Maruti Suzuki Estilo which comes with revised styling and interiors and an all new 1.0 Litre K-Series engine which is more fuel efficient, powerful and also meets the stringent Bharat IV emission norms which will be applicable in all the metros from April 2010.

“We will launch a revised version of the Santro on September 1, and an 800 cc car in a few years,” said Hyundai India, Managing Director, H.S. Lheem at the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). The move is typically aggressive Hyundai which doesnt want to give the first mover advantage to the arch rival Maruti Suzuki which commands a huge brand premium in India.

“The Getz will be phased out in two years,” he added.

source: ibnlive

Lheem also said the company will shift some of the production of the i20 model to Europe mid next year due to logistical reasons. The company is expecting better sales in the upcoming festive season.

“We expect to sell around 40,000 i-20s this year,” Lheem said.

Hyundai is also ramping up the production from two shifts to three for the i20 which will increase the capacity from 2000 units a month to 2500 units a month to meet the increased demand.