The MD of Kia feels there is a lot of growth potential in the mid-SUV segment, and the new Seltos will further grow the premium end of it.
04 Jul 2023 | 7492 Views | By Ketan Thakkar
South Korean car maker Kia has announced a new transformation plan for India called Kia 2.0 which aims to target 10% market share of the highly competitive market by 2028.
With plans of doubling the touchpoints to 600 and the expansion of product portfolio, it is planning to further ...
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South Korean car maker Kia has announced a new transformation plan for India called Kia 2.0 which aims to target 10% market share of the highly competitive market by 2028.
With plans of doubling the touchpoints to 600 and the expansion of product portfolio, it is planning to further grow its volumes and market share in the country. The new plan was announced on the sidelines of the new Seltos unveil in the national capital on Tuesday. The bookings for the new Seltos start from July 14, 2023, and the pricing will be announced a month later.
These initiatives demonstrate Kia's commitment to expansion, customer satisfaction, and market leadership,” the company said in a statement.
Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, ”Seltos is the product with which we entered India, and since then, the journey of Kia India and the Seltos has been almost identical.”
“We have a segment disruptor and a segment winner in the new Seltos, and are confident of taking forward the strong legacy of the Brand Seltos, to lead the premium RV market. This strategic launch is key to our India ambitions of attaining 10% market share soon," added Park.
In the last fiscal year, the company sold 2.7 lakh units with a market share of 7%. Including exports, Kia produced over 3.59 lakh units.
According to people in the know, the South Korean car maker has plans of producing over 4 lakh units in the current calendar year. The MD of Kia feels there is a lot of growth potential in the mid-SUV segment, and the new Seltos will further grow the premium end of it. Last year, Kia averaged about 8,500 units of Seltos and the company is planning to cross five digits mark with the new Seltos.
“With the refreshed look, most powerful engine in the segment, and host of safety and smart features, the new Seltos inevitably will emerge as the most preferred drive for our new-age customers," asserted Park.
One in every ten Kia cars sold globally is its popular mid-SUV Seltos Made in India.
The core SUV model for the South Korean car maker in India also accounts for a third of the growing mid-size SUV market. The company claims Kia Seltos is bigger, safer, and high on tech. The brand currently contributes about 55% to Kia India’s overall sales.
Since its launch in August of 2019, Kia has already sold over half a million units, and as part of its initiative to reward existing Seltos owners or loyalists, the company is coming out with a unique high priority delivery access with K code.
The company boasts of having the most powerful offering in the mid-size SUV segment, with the SUV being powered by a Turbo 1.5L turbo GDi petrol engine. The SUV continues to offer the widest choice of 3 powertrains and 5 transmission options for prospective buyers to choose from.
In its new avatar, Kia has enhanced active and passive safety with 32 safety features, including the most evolved Level 2 ADAS with 3 radars and 1 camera that is present in its premium EV – the Kia EV6.
The safety features include standard 6 airbags and 3 point seat belts for all the variants. This is supported by 11 active safety features, including ABS (Anti-lock Brake System), BAS (Break force Assist System), All Wheel Disc Brakes, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), and VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), to name a few.
The new SUV comes with a redesigned bumper, a new skid plate, and a sportier-looking signature Tiger Nose grille. This is complemented by a 50-mm increase in the length.
It also has a redesigned tailgate and new star map LED connected tail lamps with new 17-inch alloy wheels and the segment-first 18-inch crystal cut glossy black alloy wheels. The company has introduced a new colour - Pewter Olive to offer wider options.