The Hindu Business Line : Hyundai puts off Getz launch due to truckers' strike

Mr B.V.R. Subbu, President, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, talking to newspersons at the newly-inaugurated service centre of the company in Hyderabad on Wednesday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Aug. 25

HYUNDAI Motor India Ltd (HMIL), set to log exports of Rs 1,000 crore on August 27, will now be launching its latest hatchback Getz by September 15 instead of the proposed launch either late this month or early next month due to the ongoing transporters' strike.

The President of HMIL, Mr B.V.R. Subbu, said the ongoing strike has forced the company to rework the launch date and that suits the Indian calendar as well. Even after the transporters call off strike, the company would need about a week's time to ensure that the new vehicles reach all the dealers across the country.

Addressing a press conference, he said Hyundai has become the first carmaker in the country to cross the figure of Rs 1,000 crore in exports and would perhaps close the year with overall exports of about Rs 1,700 crore. "Getz is being offered between Santro and Accent variants of Hyundai and would initially come with petrol power plant. Initial estimates show that we would be able to offer about 1,500 Getz a month. Given the projected demand, we could perhaps not be able to match up to the market demand. That means, possible wait list for the new car," he said.

"While the CRDI engine powered diesel cars would also be a possible option for Getz, we have problems of supplies for such engines. The CRDI versions of Accent have a wait list of over three weeks and we do not want to add to this by bringing out a CRDI variant of Getz. We may possibly consider this later during the year or next year," he said.

With the expansion of the manufacturing base near Chennai, the company expects to produce about 2,40,000 cars this year, reflecting an increase of over 20 per cent over last year. Including all variants, it may possibly roll out about 23,000 cars a month.

Announcing the launch of its two major service centres in the city to be managed by Lakshmi Hyundai, Mr Subbu said that the company plans to have at least one service centre on the highway for every 50 km. This would be possible either directly or through tie up with Indian Oil Corporation, where a service touch point would be located in the bunk.

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