Hyundai Santro back in race

The Santro is catching up again. Hyundai’s bread-and-butter model, which had taken something of a backseat after the next generation hatchback ‘i10’ was launched, seems to be back in favour. So much so that the company is now looking at generating almost equal numbers from both, the Santro and the ‘i10’, in 2009.

HS Lheem, managing director, Hyundai Motor India, said, “The Santro is doing much better than our expectations. In 2009, we are looking at almost the same overall sales number as last year or around 2.3 lakh units. Of this, Santro and ‘i10’ are expected to contribute 85,000 units each.” In December, the Santro overtook i10 sales for the first time since the i10 launch on the back of a hefty discount scheme where the Santro was offered at a decade-old price. Dealers point out that though the ‘i10’ is more in vogue because of its superior Kappa engine technology, Santro sales haven’t suffered as much as was expected earlier.

On an average, the Santro sold 7,500-8,000 units a month in 2008 against about 10,000 units of the i10. Together, the two models have helped Hyundai beef up its share in the hatchback market. A similar strategy has been used for the ‘Accent’ and ‘Verna’ sedans where again, the late entrant Verna was expected to hog the limelight but the Accent has been holding its own. Together, in this segment, too, the company has gained with combined monthly sales of 4,000-4,700 units.

Meanwhile, Hyundai on Thursday launched an upgraded version of luxury sedan Sonata, called Sonata Transform. In the 8,000-unit luxury car segment, Hyundai is targeting sale of 1,000 units this year through the refreshed Sonata.