HM plans Pajero launch

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, NOV. 5. Hindustan Motors is actively planning to manufacture Mitsubishi's Pajero at its Tiruvallur plant on the outskirts of Chennai.

There is a strong demand for Pajero according to a recent study conducted by the company said Mr. B. K. Chaturvedi, President, Hindustan Motors at a press conference held in its plant here today. The vehicle costing between Rs. 25 lakhs and Rs. 35 lakhs, is at present imported by the customers directly. The Pajero will require another manufacturing line in the existing facility.

About the existing Lancer model, he said the company proposed to increase the localisation level from 56 per cent to 60 per cent by March 2001 and 70 per cent by March 2002. The 70 per cent target had been envisaged earlier by the end of the current fiscal.

On introducing new models and more variants, Mr. Chaturvedi said, " We can go for a lower variant or for a small car. However, discussions regarding this are on. But it should all be done without losing the brand equity". The company was looking at the export market for Lancer in neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

He said Lancer had set a benchmark of 84 problems per hundred vehicles against the industry standard of 100 problems per hundred vehicles in the country. It had been rated as the best premium midsize car on the Indian roads by JD Power Asia Pacific 2000 India Initial Quality Study (ISQ).

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Section  : Business
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