Bullish on the long-term progress prospects of the Indian automotive market, South Korean auto maker Kia plans to introduce new fashions, improve gross sales community and likewise ramp up manufacturing capability to scale back the ready interval on the present product vary, as per senior firm officers. The carmaker, which at present sells three merchandise, Seltos, Sonet and Carnival, is getting ready to drive in a mid-sized multi function car (MPV) within the nation early subsequent yr because it expects the market to start out recovering from COVID-19 influence from the festive season this yr.
“We are right now focusing on SUV and MPV segments and as part of that we are looking at the feasibility of some kind of a MPV. So we are looking at that possibility and preparing,” Kia India Executive Director and Chief Sales and Business Strategy Officer Tae-Jin Park informed in an interplay.
The firm already sells a premium MPV, Carnival, and is now wanting to usher in a mid-sized product to garner volumes.
When requested if the corporate can be contemplating launching an electrical car within the nation, Park stated that with the federal government specializing in the section, the corporate can be wanting on the market state of affairs intently.
“What I can say right now is that we are analysing what kind of an EV can be launched in this market. We have not finalised it yet but we are looking at it,” he famous.
With COVID-19 state of affairs deteriorating and impacting auto gross sales, Park hoped for an enchancment within the state of affairs by festive season.
“The current situation is impacting sales but we already have some experience from last year so it will not take a very long time. We will overcome this difficult time. I think maybe before the festival season the market will recover again,” he stated.
Elaborating on the state of affairs, Kia India National Head of Sales and Marketing Hardeep Singh Brar stated the market has been very resilient up to now.
“One thing which is different … is that last year there was a complete lockdown and now there are partial lockdowns so the overall impact on business is less as compared with last year,” he stated.
He, nevertheless, cautioned that if issues stay the identical then there may be undoubtedly going to be an influence on the trade volumes.
“From our perspective we are purely dependent on how much we are able to produce and whatever we are producing we are able to sell because of the long waiting period on products,” Brar stated.
He added that the corporate is now seeking to ramp up manufacturing additional in addition to improve penetration in smaller cities.
“We are looking at how we can ramp up our production further to reduce the waiting period so that we can offer cars to customers at the earliest. We are planning to do it over the next couple of months so it requires few things like increase in manpower, increase in logistics capability etc,” Brar stated.
He famous that “everything seems to be under control and we seem to be headed towards that but one thing which is not certain is the global supply chain.”
“Semi conductor supply is a question mark so if that is solved in next couple of months; we will be able to increase the production by July. We are ready to go ahead in the next few months,” he added.
Currently, the corporate’s Anantapur-based manufacturing plant has an put in manufacturing capability to roll out 3 lakh vehicles each year.
On gross sales community enlargement Brar famous: “Our plan is to have 350 dealerships this year. We are close to 300 number right now. So the plan is to increase the network by 50 odd outlets especially in Tier 3, Tier 4 areas. We have a lot of demand coming from those markets.”
The firm final week unveiled its new branding technique in India.
Removing the ‘Motors’ from its title, Kia now goals to broaden into new and rising enterprise areas by creating modern mobility merchandise.
