Hyundai exports i20 to Europe; eyes 110 countries by '09

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the country's largest passenger car exporter, today dispatched its maiden shipment of all-new i20 to European market, and aims to export it to 110 countries by December next.

The first consignment of 2,820 units of i20, which was revealed at the recently held Paris Motor Show last month, will be shipped to the countries in Europe such as United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Austria, Croatia, Spain, Belgium, Holland and Hungary.

''The all-new Hyundai i20 is set to become a best-seller in the Hyundai's European range. We are proud of the fact that within a month of its world debut, it has received such a phenomenal response,'' company's MD H S Lheem said.

The European market accounts for almost 50 per cent of the company's total exports.

In 2009, Hyundai has set an ambitious export target of 110 countries; thereby increasing its reach to Asia Pacific (Australia, Singapore, New Zealand), Latin America (Martinique), Africa, Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine) and Europe (Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan), while consolidating its foothold in the current markets, a statement said.

In line with Hyundai India's positioning as the global export hub for compact cars, the company recently started the third shift of operations to meet the anticipated demand, Mr Lheem said.

HMIL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of South Korea's largest car maker Hyundai Motor, presently markets 33 variants of passenger cars across segments.

The Santro in the B segment, the Getz Prime and the i10 in the B+ segment, the Accent and the Verna in the C segment, the Sonata Embera in the E segment and the Tucson in the SUV segment.

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