At Auto Expo 2018, all eyes are going to be on two new car companies entering India – Kia Motors and MG. Kia just announced it is debuting a new concept SUV at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida. Besides the concept SUV, it will also be showcasing 16 of its global car models, some of which will go on sale in India too, in 2019.
Kia is South Korea’s second-largest car company and a sister concern of Hyundai. It is setting up a plant in Anantapur in India, at a cost of over Rs 7,000 crore. The plant will have a production capacity of three lakh cars a year.
The Kia SP Concept is a compact SUV that Kia will likely develop into a product for the Indian market post 2019. The company says it is ‘inspired by Indian heritage and driven by advanced technology’. In other words, it’s just eyeing the lucrative compact SUV market in India, that has been growing at over 30 percent every year.
What’s going to be the highlight of Kia’s showcase at the Auto Expo though is its range of hybrid and electric cars. It will have some full electric cars, as well as some plug-in hybrid vehicles on display.
Kia will also showcase the Stinger Sports sedan at the Auto Expo. This sports sedan will likely make its way to India later.
Besides the Kia Stinger, the company will also showcase some of its globally popular models such as the Kia Rio and the Kia Picanto. The company’s main focus for India would be small hatchbacks, compact sedans and compact SUVs.
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