60% Sales From SUVs Likely Post Exter Launch For Hyundai

Hyundai India is betting big on SUVs and with the launch of the Exter, that is quite evident. The Micro SUV is going to be a strong seller for the company and these are not our words, but this is what Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India said on the day of the launch. In an exclusive interaction with Acko Drive, Garg said, "If you see our SUV portfolio, it's almost 55% (of overall sales) and I believe now (with the launch of the Exter) we will move to 60%, so very clearly, the customer wants an SUV and this vehicle, I believe, will connect all segments."

The Exter was launched in India at Rs. 5.99 lakh going all the way up to Rs. 10 lakh. The company in fact even introduced a number of variants on the car including CNG and also an AMT. Till the Exter came into the picture, the company's smallest SUV in the country was the Venue. But now, as the company widens its SUV portfolio, we will see more cars entering into the market.

The fact that this segment does well, is seen in the number of bookings that the company has already received for the car. Hyundai announced that it had received more than 10,000 bookings already and it has invested heavily into its Chennai facility to ensure that there is a ramp up in production when needed.

A ramp up will anyway be the need of the hour, considering that the Exter will be exported from India. Garg says "The Exter is a game changer not only for Hyundai, but also for the Indian Automotive industry. This segment, I expect the volumes to double in the next few years." So, 20,000 units a month for the Exter, is likely the target, Hyundai India is set to achieve.