Sport Utility Vehicle Market in India
Indian automobile industry registered a monstrous 68% increase in its sales at 10.05 lakh units for the month of Dec 2009. Like its passenger car segment, that witnessed a growth of 40.27% at 115,268 units, the upward trend was also seen its Sports Utility Vehicles or the SUVs market.
Origin of Sports Utility Vehicles
The concept of SUVs or Sports Utility Vehicles was derived from the usage of martial jeeps after the repercussion period of the World War II. Considering its off-road competence, SUVs gradually became popular in India as well as abroad. Sensing the business prospects in this segment, majors like Toyota, Chevrolet, Land Rover launched their SUVs in international market. With SUVs gaining recognition in small towns, the auto market for SUV cars witnessed an escalation in their demand.
Overview of Indian Sport Utility Vehicle Market
Over the last few years the Indian Sport Utility Vehicle Market has undergone considerable alternations. Today it boasts of an entire range of SUVs launched by Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra ranging from Tata Sumo and Tata Safari to Voyager, Bolero and Scorpio.
Other conglomerates that launched their SUVs in India are Japan based Toyota Motors, Hindustan Motors of India and Hyundai Motors of South Korea. While Toyota has introduced Prado, Qualis and Innova to Indian high end users, Hyundai has launched Terracan and Tuscon. Hindustan Motors too have come up with SUVs in the form of Pajero, Pushpak and Trekker.
Considering the growing demand for SUVs in India, both local and international automobile manufacturers are laying various initiatives to introduce new and advanced adaptations of SUVs.
SUVs in Indian Automobile Market
- Tata Safari Dicor
Price Range: ` 6,37,860 - 13,07,000 - Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Price Range: ` 14, 85,000 - 17,67,000 - Ford Endeavour Price Range: ` 18,60,000 - 20,46,000
- Mahindra Scorpio
Price Range: ` 7,95,000 - 9,79,000 - Nissan X-Trail
Price Range: ` 21, 50,000 - 29, 40,000 - Hyundai Tucson
Price Range: ` 16, 95,000 - 19, 84,000 - Honda CR-V
Price Range: ` 14, 63,827 - 23, 79,000 - Mitsubishi Pajero
Price Range: ` 19, 67,000 - 21, 86,000 - Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Price Range: ` 41, 62,000 - 48, 28,000 - BMW X5
Price Range: ` 66, 90,000 - 94, 96,000
New SUVs launched in India In 2010
The bigger and stronger automobiles in India mainly SUVs are widely admired by Indian customers in comparison to their foreign counterparts who prefer fuel-efficient and small cars. The major reason behind this viewpoint is the look out for money spinning prospects by promotional departments in Indian market that willingly spends on big cars due to an increase in their disposable incomes.
The recent Auto Expo 2010 witnessed the display of savvy SUVs by auto biggies like BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Toyota, Land Rover, etc slated to be launched in the present financial year. The makers are planning to start their production in India rather than spending on importing their goods. This proves that the makers are hoping for bigger production volumes in India besides triggering the nation's economy.
Some of the well-established SUV models in Indian automobile market are Mitsubishi Outlander, Tata Safari Dicor, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Audi Q7, Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra Scorpio, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Chevrolet Captiva and Ford Endeavour.
To strengthen the brand battles, BMW has now introduced two SUVs namely - SUV X6 and SUV X1. Audi which has registered 50% growth in their SUVs sales in Indian market began the production of its SUV Q7 and SUV Q5. To give a tough competition to BMW and Audi, Tata Motors is all set to launch its Land Rover Discovery and Tata Indicruz in India in the first quarter of 2010.
Other SUVs to be launched in India in 2010 are:
- XC60 by Sweden based auto manufacturer Volvo will be launched in mid 2010.
- Toureg SUV and Tiguan by Volkswagen
- Skoda Yeti
- SUV Fortuner by Toyota Kirloskar
- ICML Inspire by Tata Motors
- Santa FE by Hyundai Motor India will be launched in mid 2010.
Last Updated on 26 june 2011