Saar: But don’t expect them to come before 2020.

Kia Motors, as we all know, is gunning to get its game going in India. The very first product will be based on the SP Concept SUV that the South Korean carmaker showcased during this year’s Auto Expo. The company even ran a christening campaign for the compact SUV and the name which came on top was Tusker. The SUV is expected to hit Kia Motors India’s production line, which is currently being set up in Andhra Pradesh, sometime next year.

Of course, all that is news from the past. But, according to a media report, information about the next two products from Kia has surfaced. It is believed that the company’s product-offensive strategy for India will include direct rivals for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Honda City. In other words, Kia Motors is prepping a premium hatchback and a sedan. Logically speaking, the strategy has substance since both the segments are flourishing in India at the moment.

Kia Rio Europe-Spec

But what models will fill in those gaps for Kia in India? Will the company bring in a global product? That’s unlikely because, in India, the car classifications are different. In all likelihood, Kia Motors India will borrow the skeletons from its South Korean sibling, Hyundai, and make its own versions. As far as the premium hatchback segment is concerned, Kia could borrow the underpinnings from the Hyundai Elite i20. Similarly, to land a rival to for the City, Yaris or Ciaz, the platform and powertrains from the Hyundai Verna could very well come in handy for Kia Motors.

Kia Motors India Mulling Production Of Electric And Hybrid Vehicles

If Kia is after the big guns in India, it would also be eyeing to land a product in the sub-4 metre SUV segment soon. There have been reports that suggest Kia might consider bringing the Stonic crosshatch to India. Frankly, the model will need a lot of homologation before it is fit, equipped, trimmed and priced well enough to take on the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Tata Nexon. We all know Hyundai is working on a sub-4 metre SUV. The company probably has finished finalising the basics. Now those basics, which include the platform and the powertrain options, is something that Kia Motors can build on.

Source: Mint