India-made Hyundai Elite i20 not safe enough for Hyundai Australia - Report

16/02/2015 - 16:04 Hyundai i20, Hyundai Anjan Ravi

Indian model would score only about 3/5 in ANCAP.

The Australian market is still selling the previous generation of the Hyundai i20, which is supplied by Hyundai's plant in Chennai, India. According to a report on The Motor Report, Hyundai Australia is finding it difficult to launch the new generation i20, or the Elite i20 as it is called in India.

2015 Hyundai i20 front three quarter view at the 2014 Paris Motor Show — Unfavorable exchange rates prevent Hyundai Australia from importing the Euro spec car (pictured) from Turkey.

The Australian arm of the Korean car maker doesn't plan on importing the India-made Elite i20. According to Hyundai Australia product planner Andrew Tuitahi, the India-made Elite, which only offers two airbags even on the top-spec variant, will score about 3/5 in the ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) crash test, whereas the European-built i20 would score a perfect 5.

Logistics being one factor, Hyundai Australia says an unfavorable exchange rate between the Euro and Australian Dollar is preventing the company from sourcing the Turkish-built i20. Tuitahi also says that the cars built at the Turkish plant need to go inland up to Germany and up to Bremerhaven towards the North Sea Coast, and then begin a long journey towards Australia.

2015 Hyundai i20 rear at the 2014 Paris Motor Show — The new i20 is unlikely to go on sale at least until the end of this year in Australia.

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India will continue supplying the older i20 to Australia at least until the end of this year, according to the official. The hatchback is powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine paired to a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

[Source - The Motor Report]