Getting ready for big cats

With the formal launch of Mitsubishi Pajero by Hindustan Motors, the segment of high end imported sports utility vehicle (SUV) is going to w...

With the formal launch of Mitsubishi Pajero by Hindustan Motors, the segment of high end imported sports utility vehicle (SUV) is going to witness a spate of new launches this year.

HM launched Mitsubishi’s Pajero in the capital on Tuesday. Equipped with a 3.2 litre engine and priced at Rs 34 lakh, this 3200 cc vehicle will be imported straight from Mitsubishi, Japan. By October-November this year, HM also plans to assemble 2800 CC Pajero at its Chennai plant, which will be priced at Rs 25 lakh.

Daimler Chrysler India Ltd (DCIL) has already introduced its M class in India. These vehicles are imported in the form of completely build units (CBUs) at 121 per cent duty and are available in two variants of 2700 CC diesel and 3200 cc petrol.

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India’s second largest car maker Hyundai Motors is also planning to join the race soon by bringing its SUV named Terracan. The company has already sought FIPB’s permission to bring 3.5 litre Gasoline and 2.5 litre/2.9 litre (diesel) between the price tag of Rs 15.2 lakh to Rs 23.5 lakh.

Toyota will add more excitement by launching its Landcruiser Prado by early next year. They will again come into the CBU form, said a senior Toyota official while adding ‘the market is so small for such vehicles that it doesn’t make much sense to manufacture them in India’. Toyota is reportedly looking at the price band of Rs 24 lakh to Rs 28 lakh for its three variants all with 3200 cc engine.

Even country’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Udyog Ltd is working closely on its Grand Vitara project. During a carnival held in January this year, MUL had displayed 2000 CC Grand Vitara just to gauge customers’ response.

According to sources work on getting homologation certification from ARAI is on and Maruti is looking at a vehicle within the price band of Rs 15-16 lakh. General Motors India Ltd (GMIL) has also decided to bring in 8-9-10 seater multi purpose utility passenger vehicle. However, unlike others it’s not looking at importing CBUs but will be manufacturing them in India. For this, GMIL has tied up with Isuzu Motors of Japan.

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Justifying such hectic activities in this segment, all the manufacturers feel that the market is small but opening up.

At a hefty price tag of around Rs 41 lakh and Rs 38 lakh (ex-showroom) Daimler Chrysler has managed to sell around 15 M Class vehicles since its launch and Hindustan Motors is confident of selling 25-30 vehicles every month since the roll out of first Pajero in the first week of July.