Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) Automobile major Mahindra and Mahindra Monday said it will launch sports utility vehicles (SUVs) from SsangYong in India by the middle of next year after its newest SUV debuts in December.

“Some of SsangYong SUVs will come by middle of next year, after the ‘XUV 500′ which will come by December,” Vivek Nayer, senior vice president, marketing, automotive division, Mahindra and Mahindra told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The South Korean automobile giant, known for its SUVs, was acquired by Mahindra and Mahindra in February 2011.

According to Nayer, the company is currently focusing on growing its core brands such as Scorpio, Bolero and Xylo, while it is also focusing on its other brands such as the sedan Verito and pick-up truck Maxximo.

“Currently, we are focusing on our core brands of Scorpio, Bolero and Xylo and trying to grow other brands such as Verito and pick-up truck Maxximo,” Nayer said.

Nayer further said that the company has managed to grow in the sedan segment with its solo-offering of Verito.

“A little over a year ago we took over the platform and brand from Renault. That time we used to sell 300 units per month and now we are at 1,710 units, so we have been able to grow in the sedan segment.”

The company said it was also considering a new version of Verito having a four-metre length.

“We are considering that option as it provides us excessive duty cuts,” Nayer said.

Earlier, the company reported good sales figure for August with an increase of 30.38 percent at 37,684 units as against 28,903 units in the corresponding period of 2010.

In the domestic market, the company’s sales grew by 31.09 percent at 35,756 units during August as compared to 27,275 units in the like period of last year.