Hindustan Will Build and Sell the Mitsubishi Outlander in India
Published Mar 5, 2008
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MUMBAI, India — Hindustan Motors (HM) is planning to launch the Mitsubishi Outlander in India at a sub-$50,000 price in a bid to steal market share from its main rival, the Honda CR-V.
Unlike the CR-V, which is completely imported (and hence attracts a 120 percent tax penalty), the Outlander will be locally assembled by HM in its Thiruvallur plant, where the Lancer and Cedia are also assembled. Locally assembled cars pay far less tax than imported cars, and this is the key reason why HM can price the Outlander competitively.
The Outlander is similar in size and specs to the CR-V. It has a 170-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with six preselected ratios that can be controlled via paddles on the steering wheel.
According to sources at HM, the Outlander will come in essentially one trim level. It will be fully loaded with such features as a standard high-end entertainment system with four 6-inch speakers, twin dome tweeters, a 10-inch subwoofer and a 650-watt amplifier.
HM plans to begin trial production of the Outlander by mid-2008 and to launch it soon after.
What this means to you: Even at $50,000, the market for the Outlander in India is pretty narrow. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent
Unlike the CR-V, which is completely imported (and hence attracts a 120 percent tax penalty), the Outlander will be locally assembled by HM in its Thiruvallur plant, where the Lancer and Cedia are also assembled. Locally assembled cars pay far less tax than imported cars, and this is the key reason why HM can price the Outlander competitively.
The Outlander is similar in size and specs to the CR-V. It has a 170-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Transmission options include a six-speed manual and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with six preselected ratios that can be controlled via paddles on the steering wheel.
According to sources at HM, the Outlander will come in essentially one trim level. It will be fully loaded with such features as a standard high-end entertainment system with four 6-inch speakers, twin dome tweeters, a 10-inch subwoofer and a 650-watt amplifier.
HM plans to begin trial production of the Outlander by mid-2008 and to launch it soon after.
What this means to you: Even at $50,000, the market for the Outlander in India is pretty narrow. — Hormazd Sorabjee, Correspondent