In the complicated world of automobile manufacturing, India holds a special place. It’s special because it’s known to be the burial ground for some of the biggest carmakers in the world – just ask General Motors. Marked by unique demands, diverse geography and challenging infrastructure, and a lack of clarity in government policy, the Indian market offers a high degree of complexity to say the least. As the now-infamous Mr Carlos Ghosn once said to me over lunch, before the launch of the Kwid, ‘India is definitely one of the toughest, if not the toughest, markets in the world to understand and succeed in.’
The challenge
Considering that two manufacturers account for around 70% of the passenger car market in India, it’s clear that Kia Motors has its work cut out for it. To be honest, though, Kia has followed quite a deliberate strategy right from the day they announced their decision to enter the Indian market – their vast display at the Auto Expo made that apparent.
Subsequent to that, Kia managed to keep the buzz around the brand alive – highlighting its massive investment in India (over $1.1 billion at last count) to build a 3,00,000-unit plant in Anantapur, as well as to build anticipation and excitement for its first product, the Seltos SUV.
Enter the Seltos
The Seltos made its first appearance at the 2018 Auto Expo in the form of the SP2 concept, and it’s good to see that, by and large, Kia has stuck to the design of the concept car. As a result, what we get is a very attractive SUV that features many mature design touches to make it stand out in a crowded market.
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av autoX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2019-utgaven av autoX.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GOOD OLD DAYS...
Is the old Marc Marquez finally back? The race in Jerez surely gave flashes of it...
Prancing Off-Road
The SUV trend has even caught on with Ferrari, which is evident with the introduction of the Purosangue. However, does a Ferrari of this type really make sense?
Ahead of the Curve
There's not one but two new GT variants available with the Volkswagen Taigun now, meaning there's one for everyone!
SPACE WARS
There are plenty of budget-friendly seven-seat MPVs on the market, but what if you desire ample space without compromising on style?
GOING BIG
The 3XO makes big promises on all fronts - from features and safety to styling and value proposition. But does it deliver on these promises?
HAMMER TIME
The new Gurkha 5-door comes with updated styling, improved performance, and better features. So, do these changes make it the practical 'proper' off-roader we've all been waiting for?
MOUNTAIN GOAT
With a mid-life facelift, the Jeep Wrangler has received several noteworthy upgrades. But does it truly live up to the reputation of being unstoppable
SUPERSPORT TRILOGY
We embark on a 300km journey on three of the finest supersport twins in the world. Which one would reign supreme at the end?
SECOND WIND
Bajaj is once again stirring the pot with the updated Pulsar N250. But has it nailed the recipe this time around?
PASSION & Precision
A brand new V12 supercar! In this era of downsizing & electrification, that's about as rare as seeing a total eclipse and the Northern Lights on the same day. But if the V12 remains the heart & soul of the automobile, well, then, Ferrari is its saviour.
