Tata Motors hopes to double UV sales in Gujarat

Launches new Sumo Grande MK II

Tata Motors is aiming to double its utility vehicles sales in Gujarat from only 50-60 units a month now on the back of its latest launch, Sumo Grande MK II, an upgraded version of the Sumo Grande.

"In Gujarat, we have traditionally had a low base for the Sumo, as most customers would opt for the Safari that came in around Rs 8 lakh for a base model in place of a Sumo Grande GX, the highest variant, at Rs 7.8 lakh. We are now offering the new Grande MK II in three variants priced between Rs 6.55 lakh to Rs 7.65 lakh ex-showroom in Ahmedabad.", said Jatin Lakra, assistant general manager, product group, utility vehicles, Tata Motors.

There has been a price reduction in the range of Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000 across variants in the uplift version of the Grande in place of a price rise and this sets the Sumo in a distinct price bracket compared to a Safari which is premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) offering from the Tata Motors stable.

Besides, value additions in both the interiors and exteriors of the Sumo Grande, the drive ratio in the Grande MK II gives a boost to low speed performance in city driving conditions, the company claimed.

Tata Motors is hoping that the new launch will help to drive an additional sales of 1,000 to 1,500 units per month in the Sumo segment which is selling around 2,000 vehicles per month across India. The Sumo has sold around 4.5 lakh vehicles since its launch. The Grande variant was launched in 2008.

Utility vehicle sales for the company had dipped by around 20 per cent during the first eight months of the fiscal, Lakra informed adding that with the new Sumo Grande MK II and upcoming cross-over SUV expected in 2010 the overall UV & SUV sales should improve from a current average of 3,000 units a month to at least 4,000 units a month in the coming year.