Hyundai Motors India has launched the redesigned fifth generation Sonata – called ‘Sonata Embera’ here – and announced an investment of $US600 million in India to the end of 2007.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The new Sonata has been introduced with the new four cylinder 2.4 litre VTVT (Variable Timing Valve Train) engine developing 165PS and 231Mn of torque of 231Nm.
The car is available with manual transmission for INR1,369,000 (€24,890) or automatic (INR1,459,000 (€26,527) and is positioned to compete with the segment leading (US version) Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Mondeo and Mercedes C-class.
Hyundai expects to sell around 150 units a month and is initially importing the car in SKD (semi knocked down) kit form. If it sells well, the automaker will switch to CKD kits and carry out more of the assembly stages locally. Since the existing Sonata line is being used for SKD assembly no major investment was made for the new model in India.
Nonetheless, Hyundai Motors India has pledged an investment of $600million over the next two years and that will include a second assembly plant.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe 150,000-unit second plant will boost output to 400,000 by 2007 and will be built on a 2.1 million square metre site alongside the existing plant near Chennai.
Beginning with the new Sonata Embera, Hyundai plans to refresh up its entire Indian range of vehicles by 2007. This will include replacement or a facelift for the Santro Xing (Atos Prime), Getz, Accent and Elantra models. Other models like the Tucson and Terracan are fully imported.
Deepesh Rathore / Tilak Swarup
