Hyundai Plan To Debut i10 In Taxi Market

Hyundai Motor, the South Korean carmaker is looking to introduce the i10 to the taxi market in Mumbai. The company is looking to introduce the hatchback to the black and yellow taxi market in Mumbai first, followed by Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata in the following weeks.

The very popular Santro, at the end of its life, the Hyundai i10 will be a worthy successor in the taxi market from the South Korean manufacturer.

The Mumbai taxi market will have around 7,843 permits, which will be ready in the coming few months, which is a very good time to introduce the i10 as an option.

Rakesh Srivastava, the Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Hyundai Motor India said, "Hyundai Santro is the most preferred car in the taxi segment on account of low cost of acquisition and low cost of operation. To build on this segment further, Hyundai would be introducing i10 as a taxi option so as to provide taxi operators with another option."

The company will offer the i10 with a retrofitted CNG kit, which will not be provided by the company and have also introduced a basic trim level of the car, without power steering and air conditioning.

There has already been around 25,000 cab owners who have placed orders for a Santro, to replace the old Premier Padmini taxis.

The taxi drivers feel that as long as the i10 is appropriately priced for the taxi market, it will be good for cab drivers to switch.

Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors are also looking to penetrate this taxi market with the Ritz and Indica.