Kia Motors has received outstanding recognition where its first offering in India, the Seltos, is concerned. Bookings crossed the 50,000 unit mark in 49 days of launch; while waiting period is extended to over 2 months.
Kia Seltos has now managed to receive the fastest 50,000 bookings since launch, in Indian auto industry history. This record was earlier with Hyundai Venue, which was launched in May this year. Hyundai Venue achieved 50k bookings in 60 days post launch. Kia Seltos has achieved 50k bookings in 49 days since launch on 22nd August 2019.
This bookings record comes at a time when the auto industry in India is going through a slow down. The company now plans to increase production from the Kia India plant in Andhra Pradesh which has the capacity to product around 25,000 units per month but is not currently working to full capacity.
There are many reasons why the Kia Seltos is a winner. It is regaled for its distinctive styling, smart exteriors, spacious interiors and is the most feature laden car in its segment. Its aggressive pricing, starting from Rs.9.69 lakhs has also made it appeal to a larger segment of buyers in the country.
Earlier today, Kia India launched BEAT360, which is a three-zone immersive hub for Kia enthusiasts. The first such Kia BEAT360 in India is located at Gurugram. Kia says, “Beat in BEAT360 stands for BEATing of heart, 3 means three zones, 6 means six senses and 0 means no boundaries. 360 also represents all directions, meaning that we provide three-dimensional experience. BEAT360 houses engagement arenas like the Surround Media Zone, Mixed Reality Zone, and the Configurator Zone to enable the audience to customize and design a car of their dreams and witness its intricate detailing.
The larger idea behind BEAT360 is to enable customers to have experiences that go beyond the boundaries of conventional mobility and which truly resonate with the vision and values of Kia Motors. To bring this immersive hub to life, there is a Café zone at the facility. It is a fully dedicated space, where a variety of cultural events including brand immersion workshops, musical & entertainment gigs, industry expert meets among others, would be held to engage with enthusiasts from various walks of life to provide a pleasant Kia experience.”
Kia Seltos is powered by three engine options, all of which are BS VI compliant. These include a 1.5 liter petrol engine offering 115 hp power and 144 Nm torque, a 1.5 liter diesel engine producing 115 hp power and 250 Nm torque and a top of the line 1.4 liter turbo diesel engine capable of 140 hp power and 242 Nm torque. Each of these engines is mated to a 6 speed MT, 6 speed AT, CVT and 7 Speed DCT. The engines are built with Hyundai Group’s Smartstream technology and will be seen on all models from Kia and Hyundai in the future.
In view of the increased demand, Kia Motors recently introduced a top end variant of the Seltos, the GTX+ trim gets a DCT gearbox and diesel engine option and with this, the Kia Seltos is now offered in a total of 16 variants with 3 engine and 4 transmission options.
Following the successful launch of the Seltos, Kia Motors also plans 5 new launches for the Indian market. This could include two EVs (Soul and Niro), the Telluride, Sorento and the Stinger. These cars will come in via the CKD route to be assembled at the company’s Anantapur plant in Andhra Pradesh.
