Hyundai to sell Sonata through select dealers

Ravichandran

Hyderabad, June 6: IN a cautious but well-planned move, Korean major Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has decided to sell its much-expected premium car - Sonata through select dealers all over India to test the market for the car. Based on the performance, the company would extend to all the dealers.

In a bid to identify the right dealers to launch the car in all major metros, the company had recently despatched a questionnaire to all the dealers asking them sales performance, consumer satisfaction index, sales satisfaction index, financial capability (in case to refurbish the showroom) and workstation infrastructure, reliable sources told The Financial Express.

The company has decided the right way to test market reactions to its premium product through select dealers to avoid a slow start, identify the right consumer segment and the necessary feedback from the customers.
The company has also taken into consideration, the price tag on the aggressive launching, the sources pointed out.

Apart from the dealers have also been asked to inform their ability to set up select sales force, separate area/space and separate manager/officer to look after Sonata exclusively, the sources pointed out. According to the sources, the car is expected to be launched by the end of July or first week of August in metros like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Calcutta and Hyderabad.

The company has also decided to send the selected dealers for extensive training to Australia, which is considered to be the biggest market for the original Korean version of Sonata in July.

According to the sources, the company is expected to launch the premium car in July end or in August first week. The car is expected to carry the price tag between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 14 lakh and would be placed between higher-end Lancer and Mercedes Benz, the sources further added.

It comes with the special feature like ABS (anti-lock braking system) and TCS (traction control system) to avoid panic braking, which is only seen in Mercedes Benz and an additional optional feature of TCS is to control wheel-spinning, the sources claimed.