Hyundai Motor India, the country?s second largest passenger car manufacturer, has indefinitely postponed the launch of Santa Fe in the country. The vehicle, which is a compact/mid size crossover SUV and was showcased at the auto expo last year, was to be sold in the country as a completely build unit (CBU). However, because of slowdown in the overall demand in the sector, the company is not sure of bringing the vehicle into India, at least in the near future.
?Since the automobile industry in India is in the recession phase, Hyundai has decided to postpone the launch of Santa Fe in India as the high import duty on CBUs make the vehicle very expensive,? says HS Lheem, MD, Hyundai Motor India (HMIL).
The company, had some time back, undertaken a study to understand the demand for Santa Fe in India. However, now HMIL is not even considering it and has no definite plans for the vehicle. But the company is still assessing the Indian market to bring a replacement for its mid-end sedan Elantra either with i30 or Avante in the executive sedan segment where it is absent since the company phased out Elantra from the domestic market.
Hyundai Motor India, on Thursday, launched the upgraded version of its premium sedan Sonata. The new Sonata Transform will be available in 2.4 litre petrol engine priced at Rs 13.9 lakh and 2.0 litre diesel engine priced at Rs 14.89 lakh and Rs 15.9 lakh. ?With the new Sonata we are looking to enhance our position in the luxury sedan segment,? Lheem said, adding the company aims to sell about 1,000 units in 2009.
According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers?, the premium car segment in India, which comprises of the BMW 5&6 Series, Honda Accord, Mercedes E-Class, Skoda Superb, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry, registered a growth of 24.1% between April-December at 6,090 units as against 4,906 units in the corresponding period in 2007-08.