New Delhi, October 31, 2007: Hyundai Motor India Ltd., India`s fastest growing auto manufacturer and largest passenger car exporter, today launched the i10 in a glittering launch function in New Delhi. The i10 is the first car from Hyundai which makes its world debut here in India which will be the sole production and export hub for the car.
Hyundai Motor India came in to India in 1996 and launched its first car - the Santro which became a runaway success in 1998. The company today makes a full range of cars starting right from the Santro Xing to the top end premium luxury car Sonata Embera and the SUV Tucson at the top end. Hyundai has been a company which believed in bringing in the latest in technology and design wrapped in a value for money package.
Present on the occasion of the launch was the President of Hyundai Motor Company, Jae Kook Choi who commented “Hyundai Motor India is poised to play a very important role not only in India but also in HMC’s global plans and we hope that with India becoming the hub for small cars we would see a significant increase in the company’s presence in many more countries. We are very proud of the i10 as it brings the best of Hyundai’s design and technology and I am confident that it will be a very big success.”
The launch of the i10 symbolises the second phase of operations for Hyundai Motor India in the country where it enjoys a market share of well over 18% and which is poised to grow to 20% in the next calendar year. The i10 marks the entry of stylish, performance driven compacts from Hyundai which offer the latest to its customers.
Speaking at the launch function, Hyundai Motor India Managing Director, H. S. Lheem commented “Hyundai Motor India is starting its second phase of operations with the launch of this brand new compact i10 today. The i10 symbolises what Hyundai Motor India stands for today. Great design, latest technology and performance with a price tag which is affordable. The Indian operations will become the global hub for small cars and after the launch of the i10 today we at Hyundai Motor India and all Indians can take pride in the fact that we make world class cars which are driven across the world.”
The new i10 is powered by a 1.1 litre, iRDE petrol engine which will offer great performance along with an unmatched fuel economy. The unit develops 66.7PS@5500 rpm of maximum power and a peak torque of 10.1Kgm@2800 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with a console mounted ergonomic, short throw, i-shift gear box which frees up the space between the driver and the passenger seat and also gives an unique look - a first for this segment. To make in-city driving effortless it comes with an electric power steering.
The i10 has attractive exteriors and plenty of cabin space. All the i10 models have AC/heating, folding rear seats, dual tone beige interiors, rear seat belts and an electronic trip and odometer as standard equipment. While the top-end model of the i10 comes with features like a panoramic sun-roof (a first for this class of cars), rear spoiler , leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, keyless entry, 2-DIN audio system The sleek, flowing contours and large clear eyed headlamps with an attractive front grille give the i10 a distinctive look. The light-weight steel body is reinforced by body coloured bumpers with detachable inserts and an integrated air dam for the front bumpers.
The suspension set-up with Macpherson struts in the front and coil springs coupled with torsion bar in the rear ensures that the ride is supple and the passengers travel in comfort. Features like full front and rear arm rest, plenty of leg and shoulder room for the rear seat increases the comfort factor making it easy for 5 adults to sit comfortably. A tilt steering wheel makes it easy for the driver to find the spot-on driving position. A wheelbase of 2380 mm which is the longest in this segment gives it the additional stability and added cabin space.
Tubeless tyres are a standard on all trims. The i10 also offers top end safety features like Anti-lock Braking system (ABS), seat belts with pretensioner, Dual Airbags for the driver and the front passenger with impact sensing autodoor unlock which automatically unlocks the door on impact and a high mounted stop lamp in the rear.
A range of 10 exciting exterior colours and the well crafted dual tone interior fascia provides a grand touch to a car which has it all. Looks, performance, features, safety and economy which customers are sure to find very attractive. The i10 comes with a 2 year, unlimited warranty package. The i10 will be sold in four trim options – the D – Lite, Era, Magna and the Auto. The Magna will also be available in a high-end option pack. The i10 is certain to re-define the segment and set a new benchmark for this class of cars.
About HMIL Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea and is the second largest and the fastest growing car manufacturer in India. HMIL presently markets 22 variants of passenger cars in six segments. The Santro in the B segment, Getz Prime in the B+ segment, the Accent and Verna in the C segment, the Elantra in the D segment, the Sonata Embera in the E segment and the Tucson in the SUV segment.
Hyundai Motor India, continuing its tradition of being the fastest growing passenger car manufacturer, registered total sales of 299,513 vehicles in calendar year (CY) 2006, an increase of 18.5 percent over CY 2005. In the domestic market it clocked a growth of 19.1 percent a compared to 2005, with 186,174 units, while overseas sales grew by 17.4 percent, with exports of 113,339 units.
HMIL’s fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Chennai boasts some of the most advanced production, quality and testing capabilities in the country. In continuation of its investment in providing the Indian customer global technology, HMIL is setting up its second plant, which will produce an additional 300,000 units per annum, raising HMIL’s total production capacity to 600,000 units per annum by end of 2008.
HMIL is investing to expand capacity in line with its positioning as HMC’s global export hub for compact cars. Apart from expansion of production capacity, HMIL plans to expand its dealer network, which will be increased from 183 to 250 this year. And with the company’s greater focus on the quality of its after-sales service, HMIL’s service network will be expanded to around 1,000 in 2007.
The year 2006 has been a significant year for Hyundai Motor India. It achieved a significant milestone by rolling out the fastest 300,000th export car. Hyundai exports to over 65 countries globally; even as it plans to continue its thrust in existing export markets, it is gearing up to step up its foray into new markets. 2006 saw Hyundai Motor India attain other milestones such as the launch of the Verna and yet another path-breaking record in its young journey by rolling out the fastest 10,00,000th car.
The Hyundai Verna has bagged some of the most prestigious awards starting with the title of "Car of the Year 2007" by India`s leading automotive publication – Overdrive, the “Best Mid-size Car of the Year” award by the NDTV Profit C&B Awards 2007, the “Best Value for Money Car” by the CNBC Autocar Auto awards and ‘Performance Car of the Year 2007’ from Business Standard Motoring.
Last Year Sonata Embera won the ‘Executive Car of The Year 2006’ award from Business Standard Motoring Magazine and NDTV Profit – Car & Bike declared the Tucson as the ‘SUV of The Year 2006’.
HMIL has also been awarded the benchmark ISO 14001 certification for its sustainable environment management practices.
For further information contact:Naina Aidhi (011- 41599926)
Hyundai Motor India Ltd.
email: prdelhi@hmil.net
V Anand (011-41599919)
Hyundai Motor India Ltd.
email: anandv@hmil.net
Arun Shaw (011-42492100)
IPAN
email: arun.shaw@ipan.com
Aparna Srivastava (011-42492100)
IPAN
email: aparna.srivastava@ipan.com
