"Due to the ever increasing petrol prices, the focus of auto-customers are gradually shifting to diesel-fuelled cars. Now we produce petrol and diesel sedans (Accent and Elantra) in equal proportion. However, by 2007 end, this ratio would shift to 60:40 in favour of diesel," said Arvind Saxena, vice-president, marketing and sales, HMIL.
During March 2006, HMIL rolled out an equal number of (about 2,500) diesel and petrol variants of Accent. The same month, it manufactured about 100 diesel and same number of petrol Elantra sedans.
HMIL would increase its capacity from the current 3.5 lakh cars per year to 6 lakh cars by 2007 end. Added focus would be on Santro and Getz.
Diesel sedans could replace the petrol ones, once the company starts assembling diesel engines in India. "Currently, Hyundai imports diesel engines. If it decides to locally assemble CRDi engines in future, the company would be able to adapt the engines even for small cars like Getz and Santro. Also, the prices of its diesel cars would come down," said sources close to the company.
Hyundai Accent is priced between Rs 6 lakh (petrol) and Rs 7.40 lakh (diesel). The petrol model is fitted with a 1.6 litre engine and diesel with 1.5 litre CRDi engine.
Hyundai Elantra is priced between Rs 9 lakh (petrol) and Rs 11 lakh (diesel). Petrol Elantra has a 1.8 litre engine and the diesel Elantra, a 2 litre CRDi engine. Right now, diesel engines have been provided to Accent, Elantra and Tucson.
To avail of 8 per cent reduction in excise duty for small diesel run cars, HMIL is planning to deploy 1500 cc CRDi engine on its hatchback Getz.
The Centre has announced a cut in excise for small cars, which falls under the length of 4 m and has an engine of 1,200 cc (petrol) and 1500 cc (diesel).
