As the mass segment of the car market seethes in turmoil, manufacturers witness cut-throat competitions in the form of thin margins and falling profitabilities. Hyundai has been no exception, and we expect to see a shift in its strategy to encounter the changing landscape according to Financial Express.
Hyundai is unmistakably a player of the mass market segment. Its models straddle the lower end of the car lineup, and are generally less pricier as compared to products from the luxury barons like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. However, Hyundai does have a few products in its stable which could make the cut if Hyundai decides to go hammer-and-tongs after the luxury segment.
The products include the unconventional and the sporty hatch “Veloster” (which Hyundai showcased in India a few months back) and the high-end luxury coupe “Genesis”. Another such product from Hyundai is the “Equus’ luxury sedan which is sold in a few select markets such as South Korea, North America and China. Infact, the Equus sedan doesn’t bear the Hyundai name in some markets and is sold under its distinctive badging.
The strategy of going up the value chain is a pretty sound one. The cars of the luxury segment are priced higher, and command higher profit margins. Such a strategy could help Hyundai stay well adrift of the tough market conditions that affect the mass car segment.
Check Out Hyundai Veloster Details & Indian Pic Gallery
However, a few challenges lay ahead of Hyundai. They are summarised below :
- Brand Acceptance – It remains to be seen if the luxury cars from Hyundai will be lapped up by the audience or not. The German Trio of Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW has a stranglehold over this segment. It will be a tough challenge for Hyundai to shake off its own perceived image of being a mass market player. And then, it would have to contend with the three German manufacturers.
- Different Sales Chain and Network – The move planned by Hyundai could require massive investment in the form of a completely different sales chain and network. It will also require a very long term strategy, and deep pockets in case the strategy is scuttled or encounters some roadblocks.
It could be a Make-it-or-Break-it chance for Hyundai when it comes to the luxury segment of the Indian market. With growing affluence, India’s luxury car market is expected to inflate. However, the landscape could be crowded with other players who are lining up with their product launches. These include Jaguar-Land Rover, Volvo and Toyota’s Lexus as well as Honda’s Acura. If Hyundai dilly-dallies over its decision, other established manufacturers may gain an upper hand and it will end up playing the catch-up game forever.
The odds here are loaded against Hyundai. But we feel Hyundai has been doing a good job with the designing of its higher-end vehicles specially the Elantra. It is just a question of upping the ante, isn’t it??
Also Check Out: Upcoming Hyundai’s Compact SUV Will NOT Be a Sub-4 Meter Car; New Details Revealed
It will be failure in Indian market because Hyundai is known for mass market, and if they try a segment above with German rival’s, it will be a failure like Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi… 😛