9:01 am, September 12, 2013
HYUNDAI will not sell tens of thousands of its new i10 because it will damage other models in its UK line-up.
Speaking to Car Dealer, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor UK Tony Whitehorn said he would not flood the market with its all-new city car – because if that happens, there could be a devastating effect on both the brand and the firm’s other cars.
‘Historically we have been too reliant on our small cars,’ Whitehorn told us. ‘We have been selling 20,000 i10s every year since we launched the car in 2008. Back then we sold 57,000 vehicles in total while today we sell 78,000.
‘That increment has come through i30, i40 and ix35. We have maintained our small car sales but increased our other products – and that is our strategy as we move forwards.’
Whitehorn said he would sell 40,000 i10s just because he could. He wants all models to have equal sales figures.
‘I’m only looking to sell 20,000-25,000 i10s,’ Whitehorn explained. ‘We need to increase selling more i40s, ix25s and Santa Fes.
‘I don’t want to sell 40,000 i10s because that is not healthy.’
The all-new Hyundai i10 – which the company hopes will compete with the popular Volkswagen Up – will reach UK showrooms early next year in five-door guise only.
