Buyoed by the success of the latest i10, Hyundai Motor India is gearing up to launch the other ‘i’ series models in the Indian market and the overseas market. The first to come in the Indian market would be the i20 hatchback which will compete in the B+ hatchback segment and will be unveiled in the festive season of october. The other i-series variants, namely the i30 and the i40 will be launched in the following years.

The  new hatchback, i20 is expected to replace the Getz though going by the business practices of Hyundai and other makers in India, Getz might continue to be sold alongside the i20 albeit at a lower price point. Hyundai is also readying to launch the i10 with a bigger 1.2 litre engine soon which makes 13 bhp more than the existing 1.1 litre iRDE (Intelligent Repressive Drive Engine) engine.

Hyundai is also serious about the burgeoning premium car segment in India which has been its achilles heel ever since its has stepped into the Indian market and will launch its Avante Sedan for which the feasibility study is already under the final stages. The launch of its new SUV, the Santa Fe has been pushed to next year due to recent hike in crude prices and excise duty on high powered cars.

“We have renewed our emphasis on premium cars after maintaining a stronghold in the compact car segment. We are studying the market potential and analysing the new launches of the competitors in the C and D segment this year. The demand for premium cars is increasing in small cities and towns, and we are planning to focus our new products in such markets,” Mr Lheem said.

Hyundai has involved the Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association of India (ACMA) demanding the Indian government to pursue a free-trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea on the lines of the Thailand FTA for low tax on automotive components. Hyundai plans to export engines and critical parts from India to its global subsidiaries. It has set a target to export 20,000 engines to its sister concern Kia Motors in South Korea this fiscal year.