Hyundai i10 to succeed Santro in taxi/cab market - Report

18/12/2014 - 10:42 Hyundai i10, Hyundai Nithyanandh K

A taxi-specific variant has been developed.

The Hyundai i10 is pushed to the sidelines after the arrival of the Grand i10. The range-topping 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine was removed from the lineup to make way for its new gen hatchback and now the South Korean automaker is targeting the taxi market with the older car.

new Hyundai i10 VTVT — The old i10 now has its eyes set on the taxi segment.

Taking to Economic Times, Mr. Rakesh Srivatsava, Senior Vice President, sales and marketing, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., (HMIL), stated that the i10 will be introduced for the taxi segment in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. The move comes right when 7,843 taxi permits are up for grabs in Mumbai in the next six months.

The aging Hyundai Santro proved to be immensely popular in the taxi segment after its heyday in the private car segment and the i10 aims to tread along the same path. To make it more tempting for prospective customers, Hyundai has created a taxi friendly variant without power steering and AC.

Hyundai Grand i10 front three quarters right at the 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show — The Grand i10 with an upmarket appeal will keep the private segment buyers entertained.

Also read: Hyundai announces price hike across range

The hatchback will be available in CNG option although the alternative fuel kit will be retrofitted at the dealer level. With the i10 taking this route, Hyundai will not only manage to boost its overall volumes but also have specific work cut out for the old and new avatars of the i10.

[Source: Economic Times]