Mahindra & Mahindra's (M&M) Qaunto is all set to fly to Italy by this year end.
The company had indicated earlier that it planned to export this sports utility vehicle (SUV) to countries in Europe and Latin America. Pravin Shah, chief executive (automotive), M&M said, "In the next four to five months we are planning to start exports of the vehicle to Europe and Italy is likely to be the first destination. The XUV 500 was launched in Rome on September 24 and will sell as Mahindra XUV in the Italian market. This would be followed by the Quanto."
Shah added that the company has received good response for the newly launched vehicle which has garnered 3200 bookings since its launch in the third week of September. He, however, did not wish to comment on the initial export volumes, but added that for starters M&M plans to make 2500 Quantos at the Nashik facility per month.
The company has kept provisions for making 7000 units of the Xylo and the Quanto combined every month at Nashik, which can be tweaked according to market demand.
According to industry insiders, M&M plans to position the Quanto against the Renault Duster in Europe which sells under the brand name of Dacia in the European Union. As for the Quanto, it would sell under the name Mahindra Quanto in Europe, Shah said.
"We are keen to promote the Mahindra brand in the overseas markets and all our offerings named as Mahindra products. Only, the Scorpio sells under the name of Mahindra Goa in Europe as there is an already existing Ford model by that name", he explained.