Getz sets pace for i20

This month promises to be an interesting one in the VFACTS light-car segment. Hyundai has the segment sewn up with its Getz model in year to date sales, but the Toyota Yaris is 418 units behind its Korean rival -- a margin that's not unassailable over the remainder of this year.

June, the final month of the financial year, is also traditionally the month when Toyota pulls out all stops to make sales. But Hyundai has proved that it has the smarts to increase sales of its cars during even the worst of financial and economic times, so don't expect it to leave the door open for Toyota.

2010 is understood to be the last full year of Getz sales, with plans allegedly afoot to discontinue production of the car some time next year. It was always intended that the Getz and the larger i20 would sell alongside each in the short term, but how long will that situation continue?

Getz is still on a roll in Australia, based on VFACTS figures for May. The Hyundai outperformed the Yaris for the month with 1957 units sold -- equating to the leading 17.6 per cent share of the segment for the month.

"The team at Hyundai and the Hyundai Dealer network are especially pleased with the continuing interest in the Getz line-up," said Damien Meredith, Hyundai's Director of Sales, welcoming the result.

Since Hyundai plans to introduce the i20 to the local market in July, the importer possibly expects to see the Getz's sales domination in the light-car segment dissipate through the rest of the year. Some buyers will abscond to the newer design, which is likely to be priced not too far above the Getz, although Hyundai Australia claims the new model's pricing structure has not been finalised.

The i20 has already won an award from a local media outlet for its environmental efficiency before it has even been introduced to the Aussie motoring media at large, so it's lining up to be a formidable entrant in the light-car segment. And that could mean sales stagnation and rapid decay for the Getz, selling from the same showrooms during the second half of 2010.

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