Sonalika Group, one of India’s leading tractor manufacturers, has been focusing on its core strength and has made smart gains in both the domestic as well as international markets.
But not many are aware that the tractor maker had once tried its luck in the highly competitive MUV (multiutility vehicle) segment with the Rhino, and if things go as expected, it could be looking at bringing it back to Indian roads.
The Rhino MPV which had seen some levels of success in the tier 2 and 3 markets could be redrawn and make a comeback. In an earlier interaction with Financial Express Online, Gaurav Saxena, Director – International Business, Sonalika Tractors stated that “It was very close to our hearts (Rhino), but currently, we have so much on the table in terms of the tractor business. We are not saying that we will not look into this possibility. At present, our focus is on the tractors and we expect that soon you will definitely get some news.”
Sonalika Rhino history
It was back in 2006, India was seeing a divide among two popular vehicle types, with the small car segment dominated by Maruti Suzuki India and a handful of competitors. On the other hand, the MPV segment was becoming popular with demand coming from the cab segment. The Toyota Qualis had just been discontinued and the Toyota Innova had just been launched. The market was dominated by the Chevrolet Tavera, Mahindra Bolero, and Tata Sumo at the time, collectively heaving a sigh of relief with the Qualis’ exit.
For Sonalika Group, the Auto Expo 2006 was the time when it introduced the Rhino MUV as an affordable utility vehicle in India. Its design could easily pass off for a Toyota Qualis with few changes but at a price tag nearing that of a Tata Sumo. The Rhino came at a starting price tag of around Rs 5.45 lakh (OTR Punjab) and went upto Rs 7 lakh+ for the top-end variant. This was still cheaper than the over Rs 6 lakh price tag of the Toyota Qualis.
The tractor maker under the International Cars and Motors wanted to spruce up the competition and had lined up an aggressive plan to compete in the passenger vehicle segment. The company had roped in Lotus Engineering, considered one of the best automotive talents globally for fine-tuning and developing the Rhino MUV. The erstwhile MG Rover was also the brain behind the Rhino’s direct-injection turbocharged diesel engine.
The company had also set up 24,000 units per-annum manufacturing line specifically for the passenger vehicle offering. Later it also supplied engines to General Motors for the Tavera.
Interestingly, the company had even roped in Italian car designer firm Pininfarina for a sedan codenamed – Sonalika EVO – which never saw the light of the day. Co-incidentally, the EVO too had some underlying resemblance to the first-gen BMW X6.
One thing is for sure, with several automakers reviving classic badges and brands, a Sonalika Rhino in a refined avatar could also find its niche in the fast-growing Indian passenger vehicle market.
