hyundai accent production stopped - Team-BHP

abhijitnallani · 30th March 2006, 08:58

CHENNAI: Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has stopped producing its popular mid-size segment car, Accent, for the domestic market. However, it continues to produce its left-hand drive variant for export markets at its Irungattukottai plant near Chennai.

The move comes in the wake of HMIL’s plans to introduce a “successor model” to Accent in India in the second half of this year. In fact, it is understood, the company has identified ‘Hyundai Verna’ as the model to replace the Accent.

“The production of Accent for the domestic market has been stopped since the beginning of this week. However, the left-hand drive model of the Accent is still being produced, though in smaller numbers, for the export market,” official sources in the company told ET.

Consequently, Accent has become the company’s first popular model whose production has been stopped. Accent held a 16.4% market share of the mid-size segment at the end of January ’06.

Though, HMIL had earlier stopped producing its high-end Sonata, it still retained the option of rolling out the same under the ‘made to order’ policy. And indications are that the company has such an option for its Elantra too.

However, it is not clear, whether the company has retained such an option for the Accent too, as for as the domestic market is concerned. “The company has enough stocks of Accent on hand to meet the demand over the next few months, until the Verna is launched,” sources pointed out.

“We will launch a newly-designed car, with new powertrains, as the successor for Accent by September this year,” HMIL’s managing director, HS Lheem, told the media at the plant on March 13, after the company’s one-millionth car rolled out of the assembly line.

However, the company may have a surprise up its sleeve over the timing of Verna’s launch. “Verna’s production schedule is about to be finalised.

And it is likely to start rolling out, albeit in smaller numbers initially, as early as May from the company’s assembly line,” the sources observed, while hinting that it will be launched sooner rather than later.

taken from economic times

durvasa · 30th March 2006, 09:41

It makes sense. Whats Verna size compared to the old Accent and Elantra? Midway??

Steeroid · 30th March 2006, 09:42

Sounds good - this effectively means that the new Accent will not take the Fiesta route and peg itself at a higher price point than the outgoing model.

In any case the Elantra petrol is doing that job now at its highly discounted prices.

tsk1979 · 30th March 2006, 09:59

Kudos to Hyundai. Selling Accent alongside the Verna would have only confused the buyers. This way hyundai clearly states that the Verna is a replacement for accent. But sept is too far, which means no midsizer in hyundai stable for 4 months!

Ram · 30th March 2006, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Sounds good - this effectively means that the new Accent will not take the Fiesta route and peg itself at a higher price point than the outgoing model.

Steeroid, I wouldn't be surprised if the new Accent demands a higher price point than the discontinued model.
Reason: So Hyundai India, can capitalize on the novelty value of their new offering, before the newness wears off and the offering is seen for what it is. For all we know, the Verna may be down-market compared to the old Accent, inasmuch as the NHC is down-market compared to the old Civic-like City.

My question, will this so called "new" Accent be this model? which is new only for India.

Or this newer one?

sumitsingh · 30th March 2006, 10:46

From the writeup, it seems that Hyundai might be doing the same to the Elantra? If there a new elantra in the offering too? Doesn't the poor response to the elantra and heavy discounts on the model suggest that?

Inputs...

-Sumit

jkdas · 30th March 2006, 11:00

@ ram; teh second set of pix are teh sport one; 3 door version. NOt for India I guess,unless taht Chevy Optra Srv (?) brings a demand for perfromance cars with 8lac + budget.

kpzen · 30th March 2006, 12:26

Good marketing strategy by hyundai again......

speedbuster · 30th March 2006, 13:03

ohhh dammmm...

i bought my brand new accent just 2 weeks back...
****..
now guys, what to do? will the spares be available??
feel like crying :((

himanshugoswami · 30th March 2006, 13:13

Hmmmm..... the three door looks like an uncanny cross between teh Toyota Yaris and the seat Leon.

But a nice looking car, nonetheless,

Cant say the same about the 4 door though

But lets see how te final indian version looks like. Also the "viva" version should be interesting. Hopefully, it will be a five door version of the 3 door pictured here!

goldie_malhotra · 30th March 2006, 13:13

Am sure that Hyundai would have something planned out to make sure that the market sees no gap in between the phasing out of accent and introduction of the verna. They might have enough stocks of the accent in their inventory to see them through the time verna hits the market.

But, all in all, a really bold move by the company. To pull out a model which was the best-seller in its segment (until recently), and to introduce a totally new car is something of a risk only a Toyota or a Honda used to take. Hope it pays of well for them, and the verna is a far better car than accent.

MUL - will you pleeeaase take the cue ???

tsk1979 · 30th March 2006, 13:14

Dont worry about spares and all. I doubt hyundai will stop making spares after discontinuing the car. There are so many accents out there.

Fiero · 30th March 2006, 13:40

yes its a good move ... MUL should learn from this ... esteem needs a replacement badly ... they've been hanging on to it for well over a decade.
about the pricing of the new hyundai ... well i think it wll be pitted agianst the aveo/fiesta ... so the battle in the 'new mid-size' segment will heat up as the year progresses.

filcord · 30th March 2006, 13:46

Speedbuster, don't worry, there's a large base of accents for spares never to be a problem, and Hyundai are good at support. Re-sale value will suffer, though if you are keeping the car five years or more, it really will not matter.

GTO · 30th March 2006, 14:40

A-W-E-Hyundai-S-O-M-E!! Kudos to Hyundai for not doing a Skoda / Maruti by selling two generations of the same car side by side. This is a car company recognising the maturity of the Indian car market, and one that clearly looks at the bigger picture.

How far away is the Verna then? A month of two? The Fiesta better watch out....this reminds me of the Ikon vs Accent battle.

GTO

30th March 2006, 08:58	#1 (permalink)
abhijitnallani Newbie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 4	hyundai accent production stopped CHENNAI: Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has stopped producing its popular mid-size segment car, Accent, for the domestic market. However, it continues to produce its left-hand drive variant for export markets at its Irungattukottai plant near Chennai. The move comes in the wake of HMIL’s plans to introduce a “successor model” to Accent in India in the second half of this year. In fact, it is understood, the company has identified ‘Hyundai Verna’ as the model to replace the Accent. “The production of Accent for the domestic market has been stopped since the beginning of this week. However, the left-hand drive model of the Accent is still being produced, though in smaller numbers, for the export market,” official sources in the company told ET. Consequently, Accent has become the company’s first popular model whose production has been stopped. Accent held a 16.4% market share of the mid-size segment at the end of January ’06. Though, HMIL had earlier stopped producing its high-end Sonata, it still retained the option of rolling out the same under the ‘made to order’ policy. And indications are that the company has such an option for its Elantra too. However, it is not clear, whether the company has retained such an option for the Accent too, as for as the domestic market is concerned. “The company has enough stocks of Accent on hand to meet the demand over the next few months, until the Verna is launched,” sources pointed out. “We will launch a newly-designed car, with new powertrains, as the successor for Accent by September this year,” HMIL’s managing director, HS Lheem, told the media at the plant on March 13, after the company’s one-millionth car rolled out of the assembly line. However, the company may have a surprise up its sleeve over the timing of Verna’s launch. “Verna’s production schedule is about to be finalised. And it is likely to start rolling out, albeit in smaller numbers initially, as early as May from the company’s assembly line,” the sources observed, while hinting that it will be launched sooner rather than later. taken from economic times

30th March 2006, 09:42	#3 (permalink)
Steeroid Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: DXB Posts: 5,483 View My Garage	Sounds good - this effectively means that the new Accent will not take the Fiesta route and peg itself at a higher price point than the outgoing model. In any case the Elantra petrol is doing that job now at its highly discounted prices. __________________ Cheers Steer Back in Touch - lost the i, became a Pro!

30th March 2006, 09:59	#4 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,532 View My Garage	Kudos to Hyundai. Selling Accent alongside the Verna would have only confused the buyers. This way hyundai clearly states that the Verna is a replacement for accent. But sept is too far, which means no midsizer in hyundai stable for 4 months! __________________ Reclaiming.....!

30th March 2006, 10:46	#6 (permalink)
sumitsingh BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Noida Posts: 121 View My Garage	From the writeup, it seems that Hyundai might be doing the same to the Elantra? If there a new elantra in the offering too? Doesn't the poor response to the elantra and heavy discounts on the model suggest that? Inputs... -Sumit __________________ " For Some, Its a Wheel, For me, Its the World "

30th March 2006, 11:00	#7 (permalink)
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapuram Posts: 5,330 View My Garage	@ ram; teh second set of pix are teh sport one; 3 door version. NOt for India I guess,unless taht Chevy Optra Srv (?) brings a demand for perfromance cars with 8lac + budget. __________________ "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

30th March 2006, 09:41	#2 (permalink)
durvasa Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15	It makes sense. Whats Verna size compared to the old Accent and Elantra? Midway??

30th March 2006, 12:26	#8 (permalink)
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Greater Noida Posts: 3,302 View My Garage	Good marketing strategy by hyundai again...... __________________ Prajesh If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

30th March 2006, 13:03	#9 (permalink)
speedbuster BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: delhi Posts: 124	ohhh dammmm... i bought my brand new accent just 2 weeks back... ****.. now guys, what to do? will the spares be available?? feel like crying :((

30th March 2006, 13:13	#10 (permalink)
himanshugoswami BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 882	Hmmmm..... the three door looks like an uncanny cross between teh Toyota Yaris and the seat Leon. But a nice looking car, nonetheless, Cant say the same about the 4 door though But lets see how te final indian version looks like. Also the "viva" version should be interesting. Hopefully, it will be a five door version of the 3 door pictured here! __________________ I asked Mom if I was a gifted child...she said they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.- Calvin

30th March 2006, 13:13	#11 (permalink)
goldie_malhotra BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 684	Am sure that Hyundai would have something planned out to make sure that the market sees no gap in between the phasing out of accent and introduction of the verna. They might have enough stocks of the accent in their inventory to see them through the time verna hits the market. But, all in all, a really bold move by the company. To pull out a model which was the best-seller in its segment (until recently), and to introduce a totally new car is something of a risk only a Toyota or a Honda used to take. Hope it pays of well for them, and the verna is a far better car than accent. MUL - will you pleeeaase take the cue ??? __________________ Too much work, too less play - seems like I need some BHP

30th March 2006, 13:14	#12 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,532 View My Garage	Dont worry about spares and all. I doubt hyundai will stop making spares after discontinuing the car. There are so many accents out there. __________________ Reclaiming.....!

30th March 2006, 13:40	#13 (permalink)
Fiero BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: new delhi / pune Posts: 285	yes its a good move ... MUL should learn from this ... esteem needs a replacement badly ... they've been hanging on to it for well over a decade. about the pricing of the new hyundai ... well i think it wll be pitted agianst the aveo/fiesta ... so the battle in the 'new mid-size' segment will heat up as the year progresses. __________________ When angry , count to four . When very angry , swear !

30th March 2006, 13:46	#14 (permalink)
filcord BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: goa Posts: 424	Speedbuster, don't worry, there's a large base of accents for spares never to be a problem, and Hyundai are good at support. Re-sale value will suffer, though if you are keeping the car five years or more, it really will not matter. __________________ Hyundai Getz 05 Baleno Vxi 05

30th March 2006, 14:40	#15 (permalink)
GTO Super-Admin Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 12,572 View My Garage	A-W-E-Hyundai-S-O-M-E!! Kudos to Hyundai for not doing a Skoda / Maruti by selling two generations of the same car side by side. This is a car company recognising the maturity of the Indian car market, and one that clearly looks at the bigger picture. How far away is the Verna then? A month of two? The Fiesta better watch out....this reminds me of the Ikon vs Accent battle. GTO __________________ GTO Change the way you think, and watch the world change around you. Please don't PM for support. Use the Contact Form instead. Please read the NEW Team-BHP FAQ section for all your queries.

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