Hyundai India will launch its ‘small car' by the year-end, according to Mr H. W. Park, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

This will, however, be preceded by the unveiling of the new Verna, Mr Park said on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of Pothen's Hyundai, a new dealership in suburban Thiruvananthapuram.

The small car from Hyundai will compete with the Maruti Alto, Mr Park said, and added that it would help boost sales of its compact offering, Santro, wherever found lagging.

Kerala is one such market where he assessed Santro's share as 13 per cent. This is now expected to reach 19 to 20 per cent by the year-end when the small car rides in.

The company intends to open two more showrooms in Kerala, one each in Ernakulam and Malappuram, Mr Park said.

Pothen's Hyundai is the 50th Hyundai dealership in South-1 region (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), taking the total number to 78. The new dealership is spread across a total built-up area of 44,000 sq ft with ‘3S' facilities (sales, service and spares), said Mr Ashok Harry Pothen, promoter.

According to Mr Park, Thiruvananthapuram is an important market for Hyundai and ‘the opening of the new dealership signifies our eagerness to strengthen the presence in the region.'

In fact, Hyundai feels that given the average time a customer spends at the showroom, he and his family should be taken care of in every way, he added.