[AvinashKeezh]

Originally Posted by MrBoombastic

Very well said... (2004 onwards) What you say is very true, but at the same time I think Hyundai Motor India has made a big mistake stripping down their Indian version of the Sonata Embera so much (especially when that particular competes with a car like the Honda Accord).

you can say that has affected their sales (atleast for the embera), well on second thoughts, it seems they didn't want to give the accord much competition, coz the buyers are necessarily going to be luxury minded when they go in for a car of that cost and if they strip down their interiors and make it look plain jane, it merely sends across a message that they are not serious about the product. but we can't say the same for their other products on their lineup. they have hit the nail right where they wanted, mixing what the lower and mid budgeted customers want, and that has really stood them in testing times.
ak

[amit]

I have asked myself this question zillions of times and i'd like to ask this question to all of you. Remember I am not taking away any credit from Hyundai and I repeat, Ford and Opel deserved what they got from the Indian customers for trying to rip us off using their brand leverage.
use your powers of visualization to go back in 1995. What cars do we have? Maruti Esteem for about Rs.6 lacs, Daewoo Cielo for about Rs.6.5-7.5lacs, Ford Escort for about Rs.6.5-7.5lacs, Opel Astra for about Rs.8-9 lacs.(all prices approx). Then a company comes in advertising itself as South Korea's largest car maker. Forget the average Indian customers, many of us, team-bhpian's don't know that there is a company called Hyundai making cars. These guys launch a car called XG 300 and ask you to pay Rs.7-8lacs for it.
Would you buy it or would you buy the Ford Escort or Opel Astra?