Hyundai Getz facelift for small car norms

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) is planning a Getz model with a lower engine configuration to qualify for excise benefits on small cars.

"We are planning to introduce a facelift version of the Getz sometime in the third quarter of this year. The new car will have a 1.1 litre or a 1.2 litre engine, depending on market response, and the model will conform to the government's small car criteria,"H S Lheem, MD& CEO, HMIL, told Business Standard.

The current Getz has a 1341 cc engine, which is bigger than the 1200 cc configuration mandated by the government to qualify for concessional excise of 16 per cent. Bigger cars are taxed at 24 per cent.

The change will allow Hyundai to make steady gains in the premium hatchback segment as the smaller engine Getz could allow for a price cut of Rs 30,000 to 40,000.

Hyundai is trying hard to sweep the small car segment which accounts for about 70 per cent of the Indian passenger car market.

Its entry-level Santro already commands a sizeable share of 14.4 per cent, selling 110,905 units in the April-December period last year.

However, Getz has a 1.4 per cent market share, with sales of 10,429 for the April-December period.

After the new Getz, Hyundai will launch a 1.1 litre hatchback code named Pa sometime later this year.

The car will be positioned between the Santro and Getz and will also attract small-car duty benefits.

Hyundai announced a price increase of Rs 2,500 to Rs 30,000 for its range of cars effective 1 February.