Hyundai drops plan of bringing i10 to US, mulls i20/i30

A Hyundai executive has stated that the automaker has dropped considerations of bringing its exceedingly popular subcompact, i10, into the United States.

"The i10 is too small for the American market," says Brandon Yea, senior vice president of product planning at Hyundai and Kia. He was quick to say the official decision has not been made yet.

Instead of the i10, Hyundai is mulling the subcompact's larger siblings: i20 and i30. Hyundai has already unveiled the 2009 Elantra Touring, which is essentially the European-designed i30 CW, for the North American market. The i20, slated to debut at the upcoming Paris Motor Show and due to go on sale in Europe in December, slots between the i10 and i30 and will also be built in India. As an immediate plan, Hyundal also plans to import more Elantras into the U.S. from South Korea in November, when Hyundai opens its new plant in Czech Republic.

Assembled in Chennai, India, the i10 has broken unparalleled sales records in some countries such as India. Demand for the i10 has also been very high in Europe, where Hyundai previously struggled.

[Source: Autoweek]

Posted in: Hyundai