Hyundai delays launch of i10 and i20
July 23, 2009 by David Twomey
While its i30 range is selling up big in Australia, Korean importer Hyundai is facing problems with the logical expansion of its range into the smaller i20 and i10 vehicles.
The trouble is the complicated issue of building the cars in India using parts mostly made in Korea and then shipping the vehicles to Australia and finding an economical process to handle all that.
At the announcement last week of the very good four-star ANCAP ratings for the Hyundai iLoad and iMax vans the Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s director of sales and marketing, Kevin McCann, told CarAdvice that the launch plans for the i20 and i10 had been put back until at least early next year.
He also confirmed that Hyundai would continue to sell its all-conquering Getz, light hatch, when the i10 and i20 came onto the market, as a bargain basement offering.
Mr McCann said original plans to launch the i20 and i10 in the later part of this year were virtually dead.
He told CarAdvice that as both cars were built in the Indian factory from primarily Korean made parts and the cars then had to be shipped to Australia, it had proved very complex to determine pricing given necessity to work with three different currencies.
An additional problem was the lack of a direct roll-on-roll-off shipping service from India to Australia, which meant HMCA was currently considering shipping the cars back to Korea and then on to Australia.
Two other cars that come from India, the Suzuki Alto and the Mahindra Pik Up are shipped through either Singapore or Hong Kong for the same reason.
He said HMCA would have to consider how to handle the shipping costs involved and whether it would be possible to change to direct shipping at some time in the future.
He admitted that pricing was extremely sensitive in the Sub-light and Light Car classes in Australia and the company needed to be sure it had the issue resolved before it launched either the i10 or the i20 in Australia.
Tags: Hyundai i10 blue, hyundai i20
Bad move from Hyundai. This could cost them. The Getz is getting seriously long in the tooth.
There has to be a manufacturing issue in Korea or a compliancy issue which is driving this delay.
While I’d agree with you that it’s unfortunate, there are no such issues with the cars, the problems are as stated, fixing the pricing given the complicated, but cheaper build process of India/Korea and the issue, which other companies also have, of no RORO shipping between India and Australia
I just took delivery of an i30 crdi for my wife. I was blown away with the value and quality. I am a turbo diesel convert now.
Wanting to downsize but looking for something with some “go” I thought what about one of these i20s I have been reading about. I was very disappointed to here I won’t be upgrading for another 6 months. I am very hopeful that Hyundai see their way to importing a 1.6 crdi model such as is available in the UK. It would be a real gem and do lots to inspire young buyers. (Think of the effect that the original mini cooper S had on 60s car buyers. Hardly any of them could afford a cooper S but lots of them still bought a mini.)
I agree, this is a bad move for Hyundai.
Firstly, the Hyundai Getz is terribly old and not up to par with current safety standards.
Secondly, a slew of mini cars are approaching the Australian market. Delays in launching the Hyundai i20 will result in lost market share.
I agree with Marvin. I am currently in the market for a car for my daughter and have been holding back purchase waiting on the pending release of the i20 in September or October 2009. However as the release of the i20 has now been held back to sometime early in 2010 month unknown I will have to seriously consider purchasing either a Mazda 2 or a Suzuki Alto. Would of preferred to purchased the i20 however can’t wait forever.
Here’s an opportunity for someone in shipping. I recently bought a Hyundai Getz 1400 Manual 5 door. First of all, the frontal view of the Getz is much more pleasing than that of the i10 or i20. I like the conservative, clean grille of the Getz. That thing in the middle looking like something ready to drip from a nose in the i10 and i20 is positively ugly. Most new cars have lost the plot when it comes to frontal appearance. The Getz has been around for seven or so years – plenty of time for Hyundai to iron out problems. I filled it up with petrol last night. The consumption was a very pleasing 5.8L/100Km. Driving tended to be more open road than city. It only has 1200Km on the clock, so this may even improve. The engine is very smooth. It doesn’t do much below 2500 revs/min, but quickly reaches highway speeds and easily maintains them. So far I’ve tried to not exceed 3000 revs/min. It has no rattles or squeaks, the doors close nicely and the seats are nice and firm and high. Ground clearance is good. At $13500 ($490 below the current special offer – search the Internet for dealers willing to do a deal) drive away, brand new, it was a very good buy. There is no reason to shun a Getz.