The Kia SP Concept-based SUV’s market launch was
initially set to take place by Diwali next year, in the month of September or
October. The operations are running ahead of schedule and Kia has decided to
prepone both production and market launch. Announcing the latter’s timeline at
the framework installation ceremony at the first Kia plant in India yesterday,
Kia’s President said:
The SP concept SUV will be built in India by Indian
employees and will hit the Indian roads by mid next year. Kia is building its
first Indian plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The construction work is
moving two months ahead of schedule. Mr. Park has said that the construction
work is expected to get completed by Q1 2019 (January-March 2019) now. The new
plant will have an annual production capacity of 3 lakh vehicles.
The Kia SP Concept-based SUV will compete with the
Hyundai Creta in India. If it receives a good market response, Kia will
consider a 7-seat version.
