Car News - Latest Indian Car News & Views | CarWalehttp://www.carwale.com/news/Latest news updates on Indian car industry, expert views and interviews exclusively on CarWale.Copyright 2012 CarWaleCarWale RSS Generator8805<![CDATA[Hyundai launches the new Sonata at Rs 18.5lakh]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/8805-hyundai-launches-the-new-sonata-at-rs-185lakh.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/8805-hyundai-launches-the-new-sonata-at-rs-185lakh.htmlCarWale Team3/22/2012 2:34:00 PM3383http://img.carwale.com/ec/8805/img/m/8805_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/8805/img/m/8805_lHyundai announced the price of the all new Sonata today, the manual transmission is priced at Rs 18,52,979 and the automatic transmission at Rs 20,61,272 both prices are ex-showroom Delhi. The all new Sonata was unveiled at the 11th Auto Expo in January this year. “The all new Sonata powered by our GDi engine offers best-in-class features. Competitively priced the Sonata offers a stylish new choice to the premium customer,” Mr. B S Seo, Managing Director and CEO, HMIL said. Post the Sonata’s launch in January this year the company has received a large number of enquiries.                     

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Hyundai announced the price of the all new Sonata today, the manual transmission is priced at Rs 18,52,979 and the automatic transmission at Rs 20,61,272 both prices are ex-showroom Delhi. The all new Sonata was unveiled at the 11th Auto Expo in January this year. “The all new Sonata powered by our GDi engine offers best-in-class features. Competitively priced the Sonata offers a stylish new choice to the premium customer,” Mr. B S Seo, Managing Director and CEO, HMIL said. Post the Sonata’s launch in January this year the company has received a large number of enquiries.                     

Like HMIL’s recent cars, the Sonata too is crafted on the design philosophy of ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ where contrasting surfaces create a sense of constant motion. This sixth generation Sonata, which sports features like front and rear seat ventilation, front seat warmers, high intensity Xenon head lamps, cruise control, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumbar support and a 4-way power adjustable front co-driver seat.

The new Sonata is high on safety and is equipped with 6 airbags, electronic stability program (ESP) with traction control system (TCS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), rear view camera and smart key with push button start apart from a host of features that enhances the driving experience like the VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) cluster and a X-shaped centre fascia. The 2.4-litre GDi petrol engine is mated to 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions. To read more on the new Sonata, read our review.

 

]]>7078<![CDATA[Hyundai Motors invites select Journalists to its Chennai Plant]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/7078-hyundai-motors-invites-select-journalists-to-its-chennai-plant.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/7078-hyundai-motors-invites-select-journalists-to-its-chennai-plant.htmlCarWale Team12/8/2010 7:40:09 PM4426http://img.carwale.com/ec/7078/img/m/7078_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/7078/img/m/7078_lHyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL) played host to a limited audience for a visit to their plant in Chennai. The ride from the airport to the plant was estimated to be around an hour and a half. We passed the roads of a state where politics was defined by a demigod named Karunanidhi and regional films boasted of a God named Rajnikanth. With posters pasted on either side of the road which lead to the plant, the beginning of the hour long journey already looked interesting. The Hyundai H1 that we were travelling gave the word ‘comfort’, a whole new meaning and the somewhat long journey was a breeze.

]]>Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL) played host to a limited audience for a visit to their plant in Chennai. The ride from the airport to the plant was estimated to be around an hour and a half. We passed the roads of a state where politics was defined by a demigod named Karunanidhi and regional films boasted of a God named Rajnikanth. With posters pasted on either side of the road which lead to the plant, the beginning of the hour long journey already looked interesting. The Hyundai H1 that we were travelling gave the word ‘comfort’, a whole new meaning and the somewhat long journey was a breeze.

As we headed towards the Sriperumbudur Taluk on the Bangalore highway, we noticed a Rajiv Gandhi Smarak on the right, which brought back memories of the ex-Prime Ministers assassination in the region. We couldn’t help but visit it on our way back and we owe it to Hyundai to have complied with the request. Our eyes turned back on the highway and within minutes we noticed the SIPCOT Industrial Park and seconds later we stopped at the Hyundai gates. Hyundai Motors India opened the doors to their factory after the regular security checks and welcomed us into the land were cars were built from scratch.

The land on which the plant is set up was allotted to Hyundai Motors India in the year 1996 and from then on there was no looking back. Hyundai setup a factory on the 550 acre land in a span of 18 months and production of vehicles started then on. As we were briefed about the company by R. Sethuraman, Sr. VP Finance and Corporate Affairs, that this was the largest investment made by Hyundai in India and looking at the way the Indian car market was growing, it would be only time that Hyundai pumped in more money.

“Hyundai has plants in other countries like Russia, Turkey, China, Korea and the U.S. and as the markets expand Hyundai will make look at expansion plans.” added R. Sethuraman. Banking on the 20% growth that Hyundai India saw in the domestic market, the company has reduced their exports to 45% from 60% and are now concentrating on the increasing demand for their cars in India.

With two fully functional and half robotic plants churning out 2200 cars a day, not only do they need to employ trained technicians but also take care of the 10,000 employees that work in the plant in 3 shifts. It indeed is a huge responsibility to make sure that all the employees are taken care of and the company in fact does a lot in doing just that. To start off the company employs students from the neighbouring Engineering Colleges and thus helps generate employment locally. Once recruited the new technicians head off to Korea where they are trained, after which their expertise is put to use in the Chennai plant. Another step that helps the employees is a fleet of 125 buses, that ply to and fro to pick up and drop them as and when their shift begins or ends. Canteens in the plant premises also are a great help to the employees.

We headed to Plant 2 where the Hyundai i10 and the Verna are assembled. Once there, we were informed about the way the plant functions. We were told that things were easier because the platform was automated and their technicians were efficient enough to handle the load of the day. During our visit we got to see the Hyundai i10 and the Verna taking shape as cars in front of our eyes. The R&D followed by the making of the actual product was something that we had only heard of and now as we saw the i10 chassis lined up to be fitted with everything from the dashboard to the engine to the doors, gearbox, pedals, tail lamps and to witness the pace at which the technicians work and at the end of it all give us a product that is not only foolproof but good to go.

The robots operate sequentially and are programmed to singularly handle the welding of parts. The assembly line too is programmed which moves the cars on a platform and the technicians work hand and glove in piecing together the parts of the car. It is indeed like a magic trick and at the end of the day voila! a car is born. It is easier said than done but the i10 that one drives on the road goes through some stringent quality check and if there is a flaw in the product, it is immediately addressed.

We were informed that a car is born every 55 seconds and looking at the way in which the people in the plant dedicatedly pieced the jigsaw, well we were left in shock and awe. The other plant, Plant 1, we were told, manufactures the i20, the Accent and the Sonata Transform. We did not get to visit the plant but we did get to understand the effort that went into in the making of a car.

The plant also houses two test tracks where the cars undergo testing for performance, suspension, turning radius and safety. There is no dearth of greenery around the plant but there is a special place indeed which is greener than the rest. A small green spot amidst the concrete plant brings out a whole new side of the plant itself. An artificial waterfall, a few fountains, and a garden just help put your mind to rest.

The plant visit was an enlightening experience and car manufacturers do put in a lot of sweat and blood to get these beauties on the road. A plant visit does change your perception about the car as you see it pieced together part by part. We thank Hyundai for making us a part of this experience and we sure hope to get similar opportunities in the future. We have a few videos that would show you what we experienced.

So, if you are a proud owner of a Hyundai car, watching your baby being pieced together would just give you an idea of how your car was treated. It’s a few good things that matter and if you ‘Drive your Way’ you always will enjoy the ride and we hope this experience that we share with you not only enlightens you but also makes you aware how precious your car really is!

Check out our videos here

Hyundai Chennai Visit Part 1

Hyundai Chennai Visit Part 2

]]>6186<![CDATA[Hyundai Registers 24.2% Sales Growth in July]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/6186-hyundai-registers-242-sales-growth-in-july.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/6186-hyundai-registers-242-sales-growth-in-july.htmlCarWale Team8/2/2010 11:55:17 AM2382http://img.carwale.com/ec/6186/img/m/6186_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/6186/img/m/6186_lHyundai Motor India Ltd registered its growth in the domestic sales by 24.2% over the same month last year.  HMIL’s total sales for July, 2010 stood at 50,411 units as against 45,539 units in July, 2009 registering a 10.7% cumulative growth over the same period last year. The domestic sales accounted for 28,811 units as against 23,193 units in July, 2009 while the exports declined by 3.3% from 22,346 units in July, 2009 to 21,600  units in July, 2010.

]]>Hyundai Motor India Ltd registered its growth in the domestic sales by 24.2% over the same month last year.  HMIL’s total sales for July, 2010 stood at 50,411 units as against 45,539 units in July, 2009 registering a 10.7% cumulative growth over the same period last year. The domestic sales accounted for 28,811 units as against 23,193 units in July, 2009 while the exports declined by 3.3% from 22,346 units in July, 2009 to 21,600  units in July, 2010.

Commenting on July, 2010 sales, Arvind Saxena, Director - Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, "The recently launched Verna Transform along with the tried and trusted Accent helped us consolidate our position in the mid segment."

He further added saying that, "The increased demand clearly shows that the recently launched Verna Transform has been well received by our customers. The market continues to be positive and in the next quarter we expect the trend to continue with the onset of the festive season".

The segment-wise cumulative sales for the month of July, 2010 are as follows: A2 segment (Santro, i10 & i20) 44,522 units; A3 Segment (Accent & Verna) 5,858 units; A5 segment (Sonata Transform) 31 units. The i10 and i20 along with the new Verna Transform and Accent, have given Hyundai the edge in both the car segments. Hyundai, with its firm base in India, will certainly look to bring a new car soon.

Read our Verna Transform Roadtest here.

]]>5394<![CDATA[Hyundai Domestic Sales Up By 18.9%]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/5394-hyundai-domestic-sales-up-by-189.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/5394-hyundai-domestic-sales-up-by-189.htmlCarWale Team7/1/2010 12:38:01 PM1832http://img.carwale.com/ec/5394/img/m/5394_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/5394/img/m/5394_lHyundai Motor India Ltd, continued to be on a growth trajectory with the domestic sales growing by 18.9 % in June 2010 over the same month last year.

]]>Hyundai Motor India Ltd, continued to be on a growth trajectory with the domestic sales growing by 18.9 % in June 2010 over the same month last year.

HMIL sales          June , 2010        June , 2009           (%)

Domestic              27,366               23,016              18.9

Exports                 18,888               24,250             -22.1

Cumulative          46,254                47,266               -2.1

HMIL’s total sales for June, 2010 stood at 46,254 units as against 47,266 units in June, 2009. The domestic sales accounted for 27,366 units as against 23,016 units in June, 2009 registering a growth of 18.9 % while the exports declined by 22.1% from 24,250 units in June, 2009 to 18,888  units in June, 2010.

For the first half ending June 30, 2010, the domestic sales accounted for 175,121 units as against 135,751 units (Jan-June 2009) registering a growth of 29 % while the overseas sales grew by 9.2 % from 121,074 units (Jan-June 2009) to 132,226 units in Jan-June 2010.  The cumulative sales saw a jump of 19.7% with total of 307,347 units in the first half of this year against 256,825 units over the same period last year.

Arvind Saxena, Director - Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, “The domestic market continues to show a steady growth but the exports have slowed down especially in the EU countries in the absence of any fresh incentives from the respective governments there. Our new products have also helped us grow the market here and the recent launch of the Verna Transform should help us to improve our figures in the mid segment further in the coming months. We expect the domestic market to continue to grow in double digits in the second half of this year as well.”

The segment-wise cumulative sales for the month of June, 2010 are as follows: A2 segment (Santro, i10, Getz & i20) 42,099 units; A3 Segment (Accent & Verna) 4,137 units; and A5 segment (Sonata Transform) 18 units.

]]>4453<![CDATA[Hyundai Clocks Another Good Month; Sells 31,501 Units in March ]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/4453-hyundai-clocks-another-good-month-sells-31501-units-in-march.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/4453-hyundai-clocks-another-good-month-sells-31501-units-in-march.htmlCarWale Team4/1/2010 2:18:57 PM2141http://img.carwale.com/ec/4453/img/m/4453_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/4453/img/m/4453_lHyundai Motor India Ltd, achieved sales of 31,501 units for the month of March, 2010 in the domestic market, registering 27.3% growth over the same month last year.

]]>Hyundai Motor India Ltd, achieved sales of 31,501 units for the month of March, 2010 in the domestic market, registering 27.3% growth over the same month last year.

HMIL’s total sales for March, 2010 stood at 55,035 units as against 46,159 units in March, 2009 registering 19.2% cumulative growth. The domestic sales accounted for 31,501 units (which is the highest since HMIL started operations in 1998) as against 24,754 units in March, 2009 while the exports grew from 21,405 units in March, 2009 to 23,534 units in March, 2010 reflecting 9.9% growth YOY.

For the quarter ending Jan – March, 2010 HMIL registered a positive growth of 33.5% with total sales of 162,273. For the same period last year sales stood at 121,565 units. The period of April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010 saw HMIL clock 600,588 units which is a substantial growth of 103,382 units and 20.8% over the financial year April 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 which saw sales of 497,206 units.

Commenting on HMIL’s sales performance Arvind Saxena, director - Marketing and Sales, HMIL said, “As we close the financial year it is reassuring to see the market retain its buoyancy which was triggered by the Government’s timely announcement of the stimulus package and the consequent reduction in interest rates for car finance. These factors positively affected the market and kept demand high over the last year.”

The segment-wise cumulative sales for the month of March, 2010 are as follows: A2 Segment (Santro, i10, Getz & i20) 50,715 units; A3 Segment (Accent & Verna) 4,276 units; A5 Segment (Sonata Transform) 44 units; and SUV Segment (Tucson) 0 unit.

]]>4246<![CDATA[Sonata Recall Won't Affect India ]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/4246-sonata-recall-wont-affect-india.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/4246-sonata-recall-wont-affect-india.htmlSreehari Nair2/25/2010 1:40:07 PM1433http://img.carwale.com/ec/4246/img/m/4246_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/4246/img/m/4246_lThe recall saga continues. After Honda and Toyota recalled their cars due to technical glitches, it is now turn of Hyundai to recall their Sonata for a fault in the door latch.

]]>The recall saga continues. After Honda and Toyota recalled their cars due to technical glitches, it is now turn of Hyundai to recall their Sonata for a fault in the door latch.

According to information available, Hyundai has recalled about 1,300 vehicles produced in the US between December 1 last year and February 16 this year, and another 47,000 manufactured in Korea from September 3 to December 6 last year.

The fault as per company officials is: When the front door is closed when stationary, the latch gets stuck and the door can't be closed. The officials said that the company decided to recall the cars as a precautionary measure and that no untoward incident has been reported so far.

Meanwhile back in India, Hyundai officials have maintained that there is no problem with the Sonata sold in India and that the two are completely different models. India gets Sonata Transform models while the recall has happened with the YF model.

"The brand image of the company remains in tact. There are two ways to look at: one is consumers can be sure that the company will always be there for any problem and second is the problem can be viewed in a negative way but since we have recalled the cars even before the problem escalates, I am sure it would only help the brand grow," said Rajiv Mitra, corporate communication head at Hyundai.

When asked about the plans for Sonata brand in India, he said that the car is doing as per the company expectations and that they are expecting the next generation to come only after a couple of years.

]]>1444<![CDATA[Sonata Transform(ed) by Hyundai ]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/1444-sonata-transformed-by-hyundai.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/1444-sonata-transformed-by-hyundai.htmlCharles Pennefather1/16/2009 11:16:14 AM4632http://img.carwale.com/ec/1444/img/m/1444_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/1444/img/m/1444_lHyundai Motor India Limited launched the new Sonata in Delhi yesterday, priced from Rs 13.90 lakh to Rs 15.90 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi.

]]>Hyundai Motor India Limited launched the new Sonata in Delhi yesterday, priced from Rs 13.90 lakh to Rs 15.90 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi.

The Sonata Embera, while terrific value for money, was getting a little long in the tooth. We did like its interior space when we road-tested it, but missed an automatic for the diesel. We're happy that the diesel auto is now back, and many features that weren't on the earlier model are now present: keyless ignition, six airbags, and an mp3 player that has a USB port, to name a few. A price hike seems imminent across the Hyundai range, so now might be the time to get yourself a good deal from the value-for-money Sonata Transform.

]]>1059<![CDATA[Hyundai’s November '08 sales figures ]]>http://www.carwale.com/news/1059-hyundai-november-08-sales-figures.htmlhttp://www.carwale.com/news/1059-hyundai-november-08-sales-figures.htmlRachit Hirani12/5/2008 6:09:11 PM2559http://img.carwale.com/ec/1059/img/m/1059_mhttp://img.carwale.com/ec/1059/img/m/1059_lHyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) registered an overall growth for the month of November, 2008, even though the domestic sales dipped by 23%. The exports grew by 188%.

]]>Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) registered an overall growth for the month of November, 2008, even though the domestic sales dipped by 23%. The exports grew by 188%.

HMIL sold 43,105 units in November’08. The domestic market accounted for 14,605 units, compared to19,052 units for November’07, while the exports tallied 28,500 units in November '08, as against 9,898 units. 38,216 units of the Santro, i10, Getz, and i20; 4883 units of the Accent and Verna; 2 units of the Sonata Embera and 4 units of the Tucson were sold in November’08.

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