Hyundai Bringing Santa Fe to India

Somehow big cars from Hyundai do not attract Indian buyers. The first big car they tried selling in India was the Sonata (called Sonata Embera in India). It failed miserably. Hyundai then rolled out the Tucson and Terracan (Hyundai's answer to the Mitsubishi Pajero and the likes), both of which also failed to appease Indians. And very soon, the ambitious Korean automaker is making its third foray into India's large car market with the Santa Fe crossover. Will they succeed this time?

Despite the descending trend of the sport-utility vehicle market being observed in many markets including the U.S., India's is displaying the otherwise with a growing appreciation for rugged vehicles. The Toyota Fortuner has amassed over 7000 bookings within a few months of the vehicle’s launch. With the longer waiting periods for prospective buyers, Hyundai will try to lure them into buying the new Santa Fe.

To reduce costs, Hyundai will utilize the CKD method (complete knock-down assembly) for the Santa Fe. The Indian-market Santa Fe will be powered by Hyundai's new 2.2L turbodiesel that produces 197 horsepower and 311 lb. ft of torque. Pricing is scheduled to be released closer to its sales launch date.

[Source: Rush Lane]

Posted in: Hyundai,India,Sales,Santa Fe