Inauguration of the first Kia Motors dealership that goes by the name of Allied Motors marks the official entry of the brand in India. However, the operations are yet to start in the next few months. Allied Motors is located in Noida and comes to be a multi-floor building with Kia Rio and Stinger on display. The first dealership will help citizens experience the quality and presentation of Kia products. The brand has partnered with Alyson Group for three dealerships in Kerala (Kannur, Calicut, and Malappuram). These may be the next operation Kia touch-points in the country. The products on display at the Noida-based dealership are not the ones that will arrive in the first phase.
Kia SP2i SUV will be the first product from the South Korean brand and its trial production successfully begun last month. The car has been spotted with camouflage only but details like the iconic Kia grille, massive shoulder section, and 18-inch alloy wheels are already visible through the same. The car will arrive with segment-leading features like a heads-up display and in-car WiFi. Some other important features include ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, and wireless charging. The upcoming SP2i will arrive in various variants spreading across INR 10-16 lakh of ex-showroom spectrum.
The engine options known till date for the SUV are 1.5L petrol and 1.5L diesel. The rivals for this segment of SUVs include Renault Captur, Nissan Kicks, Hyundai Creta, and upcoming MG Motors Hector. Tata Harrier and Jeep Compass can be listed among the indirect rivals for Kia SP2i. The compact SUV segment with a length of more than 4m currently has less than 15,000 units per month of sales volume. On the other hand, the sub-4m compact SUV segment has double monthly sales volume. The entry of a product with less competition was a smart move by Kia as even Hyundai is yet to make a space for itself in the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and Ford EcoSport bracket.
