After Kia SP launch later this year, Kia is planning to launch two more new models in India by late next year
Kia Motors will kick start its Indian innings with the launch of a compact SUV based on the SP Concept showcased at the Auto Expo 2018. Rivalling against the likes of Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier and Nissan Kicks, the SP SUV is expected to make a significant impact in India and Kia has already said that it will target 85-90 per cent top car buying cities in India right from the outset with a big chain of sales network.
Ever since displaying its product lineup at the 2018 Auto Expo, Kia has sped up its operations in India with a number of roadshows to lure in dealers as well as customers. The South Korean auto major has long term plans for India and it has been investing one billion USD in the newly established Anantapur facility in Andhra Pradesh.
With the annual production capacity of three lakh cars, Kia has a range of new launches waiting in the horizon. It has also been confirmed that one new product will be launched every six months until 2022 but details regarding the exact outline of what they are have not been known yet.
Kia appears to be preparing a sub-compact SUV to compete against Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, Mahindra XUV300 and Hyundai Venue. It was widely reported to debut at the 2020 Auto Expo and could share plenty in common with the Hyundai Venue.
The latter will be launched in the coming months adorning latest global design language adopted by Hyundai. Kia’s version, on the other hand, will more likely be introduced with BSVI compliant engines. The second of the two vehicles arriving next year could be brought into the country via CKD route.
The Kia Grand Carnival MPV rivalling Toyota Innova Crysta is a possible option or Kia might stick with heavy localisation for another volume-based product to strengthen its position in the Indian market.
Speculations surrounding the Picanto or Sportage, the brand’s best-selling model globally, have refused to go away either and Kia could pursue hybrid or electrification route with the mystery model. The crosshatch variant of the next-gen Rio is expected to go on sale in 2021.
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