With Nexon, Tata enters compact SUV space
Tata Motors has entered the fast-expanding compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment with the launch of Nexon at an aggressive starting price of ~5.87 lakh to take on rivals like Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Ford EcoSport. Nexon is the third new launch of the company in 2017 after Hexa SUV and Tigor sedan. Tata Motors is eyeing the third position in the domestic car market by 2019, up two notches from its current fifth position.
At ~5.87 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai) for petrol entry-model, Nexon becomes the most affordable compact SUV in the country. The diesel entry-model is priced at ~6.87 lakh. Nexon boasts features like day-night LED, Android Auto, auto climate control, anti-lock braking system and dual airbags.
The compact SUV segment, with vehicle length under four metres, is among the fastestgrowing categories in the domestic car market. It accounts for 12 per cent of the total domestic passenger vehicle market and enjoys a market share of 40 per cent in the utility vehicle (UV) space. The domestic UV market has expanded 16 per cent during the April-August period of FY18 to 355,636 units. Of these, compact SUV sales totalled over 142,000 units. Brezza is the leader in this segment.
MayankPareek, presidentof Tata Motors’ passenger vehicles, said the launch of Nexon comes at right time, with the festive season round the corner.