Santro set to drive into sunset - Santro, the car that heralded

1/5

Santro, the car that heralded entry of Hyundai in India, is all set to ride into sunset as the Korean auto giant bids adieu to one of the country's most successful models.

In This Pic : Santro set to drive into sunset

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

2/5

Along with iconic Maruti800, the Santro dominated the hearts of millions of Indians as the 'sunshine car' after being introduced by film star Shah Rukh Khan in late nineties.

In This Pic : Santro set to drive into sunset

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

3/5

Ironically, Santro's exit this year coincides with Maruti800 and one of the country's most iconic brands -Ambassador of Hindustan Motors. Sources in the dealer network and suppliers said Santro will be moving out of the market very soon as Hyundai focuses on newer models like Eon and i10, which have become the backbone of the company's operations. Hyundai will continue to provide sales, service and spare parts support to the model.

In This Pic : Santro set to drive into sunset

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

4/5

Officially, Hyundai says the model still has some time to go before an exit. "Santro is one of the strong brands in Hyundai Motor India's portfolio. Santro has sold over 13.6 lakh units in domestic market and over 5.35 lakh units overseas ... We affirm Santro is in production and is a part of our portfolio of 10 brands and is available at all dealerships for sale," a company spokesperson said. The model, targeted at first-time buyers, still clocks respectable numbers, which Hyundai pegged at nearly 3,000 units monthly. It is uncommon for car companies operating in India to phase out their successful models, considering the huge brand equity the models enjoy and the strong recall value that they enjoy with buyers.

In This Pic : Santro set to drive into sunset

Pic Courtesy : BCCL

5/5

Ditto was the case with Ambassador, which was the status symbol of the country's rich and powerful in the '70s and '80s, but gradually lost its hold as the lighter and zippier Maruti800 made its debut in 1983. Production of the model was only stopped this year. While these models had reached nearly the end of their lifecycle, Toyota's decision to withdraw Qualis was shocking. One of the most-trusted brands in the Indian market, Qualis was abruptly pulled out around 2003 and replaced with more modern Innova, which has also tasted success.

In This Pic : Santro set to drive into sunset

Pic Courtesy : BCCL