Hyundai plans to roll out BS6 models early next year; to sell BS4 till FY20

In comparison, Maruti Suzuki has seven petrol models that are now BS6 emission norms compliant.

Business Standard : South Korean auto major Hyundai plans to start rolling out upgraded BS6 compliant models, including diesel trims, on a regular basis by early next year, a top company official said.

The company, which is present in the country through a wholly-owned subsidiary, also plans to simultaneously keep selling BS4 vehicles till end of March next year in order to offer lower priced units to prospective customers.

"I estimate that by the end of this year or early next year, the introduction of BS6 vehicles will happen," Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO SS Kim told PTI in an interview.

In terms of technology, the company is ready with most of the work from research and development perspective, he added.

Kim, however, clarified that the ramp up of BS6 models is going to happen in a gradual manner.

Hyundai currently has just one product, the recently launched Grand i10 Nios, that is BS6 compliant. The model's petrol trim is BS6 compliant while the diesel variants are still conform to BS4 regulations.

In comparison, Maruti Suzuki has seven petrol models that are now BS6 emission norms compliant.

When asked if the company's entire current product portfolio would see an upgrade to BS6 levels, Kim said, "As per our plan, all products, including diesel variants, will be upgraded to BS6 level."

He said the company will continue the production and sales of BS4 vehicles until the end of next year.

"With BS6, the prices of cars is expected to go up so if the customer wants to buy some economical product, it is our responsibility to provide and supply that," he added.

When asked if the company expects decent pre-buying of BS4 vehicles taking place before April 1, 2020, Kim said that Hyundai's global experience showed that whenever norms got changed, there were significant sales as people wanted to buy cars at a reasonable price.

With government clearing air on BS4 registrations, there are no uncertain factors left anymore regarding the technology, he added.

Hyundai launches fully electric Kona SUV in India at Rs 25.3 lakh

The company claims that the Kona EV delivers a range of 452 km in one single charge under standard testing conditions.

South Korean auto major Hyundai Tuesday launched its full-electric SUV Kona in India priced at Rs 25.3 lakh, and sought government support for electric vehicles (EVs) for personal usage, not just for fleets.

The company, which is present in the country through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), is also planning to develop a mass market EV for India to add to its newly launched full-electric SUV Kona.

"We have seen some positive development in the form of tax incentives on purchase of EVs as provided in the Budget, but we think more can be done by the government to accelerate adoption of EVs in India," HMIL MD and CEO S S Kim told PTI in an interview.

He said currently EVs are extremely expensive which require economies of scale to make them affordable for mass adoption.

Referring to the FAME II scheme, which provides incentives to four-wheeler EVs only for fleets and public transportation, Kim said, "Our desire is that such incentives should also be extended to personal usage too for the market to develop."

Commenting on the Kona EV, he said, "This will be the game changer in the Indian EV market. We are addressing range anxiety which is one of the biggest issues that consumers have in mind when buying an EV."

The company claims that the Kona EV delivers a range of 452 km in one single charge under standard testing conditions.

"As we embark on the journey of India's future mobility, the launch of country's first fully-electric SUV Kona will be a revolutionary and a definitive forward move to change the perspective towards electric cars altogether," Kim said.

Globally, the Korean firm aims to have 44 environment-friendly models in its lineup, including 23 full-electric models, by 2025, he added.

The model comes with different driving modes, infotainment features, 136 PS of power with an ability to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 9.7 seconds.

Business Standard

Hyundai brings back old warhorse, launches 'All New Santro' at Rs 390,000

Hyundai has invested about Rs 7.4 billion over last three years to develop the Santro, which has got advance bookings of over 23,500 units in just thirteen days.

Korean car maker Hyundai today relaunched the Santro, its compact family car, which was discontinued in 2014 after sixteen years of successful run. The company, second largest in the domestic market, has priced Santro at an all India ex-showroom price of Rs 389,900 onwards for the first 50,000 customers. The top variant of the car comes at Rs 564,900.

Hyundai has invested about Rs 7.4 billion over last three years to develop the Santro, which has got advance bookings of over 23,500 units in just thirteen days. This means the Santro already has a waiting period of approximately three months.

Santro is being positioned above the Eon, Hyundai’s entry car in India and below the Grandi10. The new Santro is designed to meet the needs of Indian families who seek space, comfort, safety and style along with a low ownership cost.

“The Santro is an iconic and legendary brand that has won the hearts of millions of Indian customers for last two decades. The magic of Santro continues with this all new car which has received an overwhelming response in less than two weeks, “ said Y K Koo, managing director and chief executive officer at Hyundai Motor India.

The 1,100cc engine Santro comes in petrol and compressed natural gas fuel variants. The petrol variant claims to offer a mileage of 20.3 km per litre while the CNG trim offers a mileage of 30.48 km per kg. The car boasts of advanced active and passive safety with standard features like ABS with EBD and dual front air bags across variants. The new Santro also meets pedestrian safety norms, the company said.

The Santro played a key role in establishing Hyundai in the Indian car market. It was the company’s first product here launched in 1998. A total of 1.32 million Santros were sold in the domestic market since then and the car maker also shipped 500,000 units to various export markets.

Business Standard

Hyundai may make EVs at Chennai plant, increase capacity to 750,000 units

The company will strengthen its offerings with 8 new products, including an electric SUV, between 2018 and 2020.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMI), the Indian subsidiary of Korean automaker Hyundai Motor, plans to increase its Sriperumbudur facility's capacity by 37,000 units to 750,000 units.

Located near Chennai and spread over 535 acres of land, the plant is running at almost 100 per cent capacity utilisation. Its current capacity of 713,000 units will be expanded to 750,000 by 2019.

The plant is gearing up to produce electric vehicles in India, said Hyundai Motor India MD & CEO Y K Koo.

He added that the company would strengthen its offerings with eight new products, including an electric SUV, between 2018 and 2020.

Further, HMI has decided to send vehicles in completely knocked down (CKD) unit format to select export markets in the backdrop of their increased tax rates for completely built units (CBUs). Using the CKD format will also help the company get additional volumes at its Sriperumbdur facility to cater to the domestic market.

Koo said that CKD export started recently and that the company expected to send around 50,000 units by 2019 in that format.

CBUs refer to vehicles that are directly bought in ready shape for sale, while CKD units refer to vehicles whose parts are officially imported from foreign countries and then assembled in the country of sale.

HMIL's facility near Chennai has been catering to nearly 83 countries, mostly by way of CBUs. After Vietnam and the Philippines increased tax rates for CBUs, the company started exporting vehicles in the CKD format.

Koo said that since more countries in Asia, Africa, and South America were increasing tax rates for CBUs, HMIL was planning to send its vehicles in the CKD format.

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