HM to launch Lancer in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka soon

Chennai, Aug 8: The Indian made “Mitsubishi Lancer” of Hindustan Motors (HM) is all set to make forays into the neighbouring markets of Nepal, Bangaladesh and Sri Lanka shortly.

“The export plans are likely to be finalised in 12 days”, Mr S Vasudevan, general manager, sales and services, HM said after launching the company’s new “My Lancer Initiative” in the city on Wednesday.

Mr Vasudevan said HM’s international partner, Mitsubishi, had already given the nod for exports to these markets, which were hitherto being catered to by Mitsubishi’s plants in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Philippines.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, he said Mitsubishi Lancer, being produced at the Thiruvallur plant in Tamil Nadu presently, had a leading 44 per cent share of the domestic mid-size premium cars segment.

“My Lancer Initiative” of the company which facilitated customers to book orders for Lancers with choice of options like colour, interiors and exteriors was likely to raise the market-share for Lancer by three to four per cent.

At present, 500 Lancers were being sold a month and the total sale of the product stood at 20,000 units since its Indian launch in 1998.
Mr Vasudevan said for the second year in succession, Mitusbishi Lancer had been ranked as the best premium mid-size car on Indian roads by the ‘JD Power Asia-Pacific 2000 India Initial Quality Study.’

“My Lancer” was presently being made available through 13 special kiosks set up for the purpose across the country, he said, adding delivery would be made within 10 days of confirmed order. “We are also planning to introduce “My Lancer” online on the net at the earliest,” he said.

In Chennai, two kiosks had been set up for “My Lancer”, he said, adding the Thiruvallur plant has capacity of 12,000 Lancers “per shift basic” per year.

-- PTI