Hyundai to launch Santa Fe next year, 800cc car by '11

Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor plans to launch its sports utility vehicle -- Santa Fe -- in India by next year.

The company also plans to launch an 800cc small car in the country by 2011.

"We will be bringing in the Santa Fe to India by next year and we also hope to bring our smaller car than Santro, which will be an 800 cc vehicle, by 2011," Hyundai Motor India managing director H S Lheem told reporters on the sideline of the SIAM annual convention in New Delhi.

He, however, did not divulge details like price range of the two cars.

Hyundai Motor India also plans to raise its sales in the overseas market this year.

Last year, we exported 245,000 units to over 100 countries from India. This year we are targeting an exports figure of 270,000 units, Lheem said, adding that it is looking at increasing domestic sales to 280,000 units this year from 2,45,000 units in 2008.

The carmaker is also shifting the production base of hatchback i20 to one of its European plants.

"This will be done to save logistics expenses and import duty in the European market," Lheem said.