Hyundai Motor India’s premium hatchback car i20 will be available in Australia and New Zealand before the year-end. The company is all set to export its Hyundai i20 model and expand its business internationally.

The company hopes to ship the car by November this year to Australia and New Zealand, so they can start to sell as Year 2010 model. The premium hatchback is a significant segment in Australia and New Zealand and Hyundai Motor India will sell its premium hatchback car i20 by using the distributor network built by its parent Hyundai Motor Company of Korea.

Hyundai already sells the Getz in Australia, which competes with the Toyota Yaris, the Ford Fiesta and the Holden Barina. Though Europe remains the biggest export destination for the i20, Hyundai is exploring several non-European countries such as Vietnam and Taiwan, as potential markets for the car. Kia Motors is the subsidiary of Hyundai Motors, present in Australia.

Mr H.S. Lheem, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) says that, “the Hyundai i10 would be shipped to Mexico, for which country Hyundai had an agreement with Chrysler.” Santro was already sold in Mexico known as Dodge Atos by HMIL. 

Mr. Lheem also said that, “South America was a large export market for Hyundai, with the Santro (called the Atos Prime) being sold in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador too. In the Colombian taxi segment, the Santro held a more than 50 per cent market share”.

Due to the economic crisis, most of the countries have withdrawn the scrapping incentives offered by many European countries, but still Mr Lheem did not lose hope that the export volumes would not be affected drastically. He added, UK still offered the incentive.

Hyundai is planning to shift its some production of the i20 from next year to its plant in Turkey to save on freight costs and import duty. Hyundai India is panning to produce and export Hyundai i20 cars to other export markets including UK.

The company has full confident of selling its i20 model to international market in greater numbers than its current sale figures.

Best Selling Hyundai Cars:
Hyundai Santro
Hyundai Santro Xing
Hyundai Getz Prime
Hyundai Verna
Hyundai Sonata Embera
Hyundai i10
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai i20

Related News:
Hyundai’s Blue Drive products and technologies to lower CO2 emissions
Hyundai launches 7th nationwide Free Car Care Clinic
Hyundai India introduces new stylish Santro
Hyundai India August sales up 10.8%

Related Books:
Hyundai Excel & Accent: 1986 Thru 1998
Hyundai: Coupes/Sedans 1994-98
Korean Dynasty: Hyundai and Chung Ju Yung

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Posted by Naresh Koshti on 16 September, 2009 11:29:37 AM IST #