ULTIMATE CREATION

We witness the birth of a new generation of the SUV that created the mid-size segment in India

- AFZAL RAWUTHER

HE MID-SIZE SUV SPACE IS A HOTLY contested part of the Indian automotive market right now. Most brands are targeting the high volume segment with new products and the nameplate that is synonymous with the segment is now due for an update. In fact, it was the Hyundai Creta’s success –more than four lakh units sold in India – that prompted every other manufacturer to throw their hat into the ring.

Close on the heels of the unveiling of the new Creta at the Auto Expo, Hyundai offered us the opportunity to have a look behind the curtain to witness it being made from scratch at the plant outside Chennai, and we couldn’t say no. The launch of the new Hyundai Creta is also around the corner and in what proved to be a surprise, we could actually trace the production of the car that will join our evo India fleet in a short while.

The facility at Sriperumbudur is an integrate unit where all of Hyundai India’s cars are made and it produces more than 700,000 units every year. Hyundai has its order books full and the Creta is rolling out in large numbers ahead of an expected launch later this month.