TARUN GARG COO, HYUNDAI MOTOR INDIA

Hyundai Motor India has jumped into the mico-SUV segment to mark its presence in this highly competitive space with its Exter. Ramesh Somani, Editor and Publisher - of BBC TopGear India, talks to Mr Tarun Garg, COO- of Hyundai Motor India, about the new Exter, the future of the brand, electrification, marketing strategies, and a lot more.

- Ramesh Somani

Ramesh Somani: Why do you think the new Exter would be a groundbreaking product in its segment? 

Tarun Garg: Ever since we introduced the name Exter back in February, the response has been phenomenal because we believe this car is path-breaking. The kind of things we have done in terms of safety with six airbags as standard and, of course, the SUV body type, which is the flavour of the market.

RS: Why the name Exter? What was the thought process behind it?

TG: Two things brought in the name - Exter. One is - we have always tried to think out of the box; since the time Hyundai came to India, we have believed in pushing the envelope. The second thing is especially when you look at millennials - the whole spirit of being outside, enjoying your drive and having a fun life. I think that's pretty much the whole spirit of really not only thinking outside but doing things which set the adrenaline up. The name Exter perfectly resembles all of these characters.

RS: Hyundai has a full-fledged SUV lineup ranging from the Tucson, Creta and then there's sub-compact SUV Venue. Now, we have the Exter too. When can we expect to see a coupe SUV?

TG: If you see our SUV segment, Exter is now our 8th car in that segment. We are very proud that now we have a full range of SUVs. If you remember, it was 2015 when the Creta was launched, and we are proud of its success. We strongly believe that in the less than 10 lakh Rupees segment, Exter could really become a big game changer because there are so many customers from hatchbacks and, of course, for people who are looking for a lot of space, technology and imagery. I believe Exter will really draw in customers.

RS: What took you so much time to bring up Exter in the Indian market?