Hindustan Motors plans to sell 2,500 units of Pajero this fiscal

C K Birla flagship company Hindustan Motors plans to sell about 2,500 units of its latest premium SUV Mitsubishi Pajero in this financial year, a company official said.

"Last year we sold about 1,800 units. This year we are planning to sell about 2,500 units. I would say since its launch (in 2002), we should have sold about 60,000 units", Hindustan Motors Ltd., head, sales and channel expansion, Ashish Kaul told PTI.

He said the company was also planning to introduce variants of the Pajero and diesel powered SUVs "Outlander" and "Montero" this fiscal.

Mr. Kaul claimed that Pajero currently ranks second in this segment behind Toyota Motor Company's SUV "Fortuner".

To a query, he said the volatility of the rupee against the US Dollar was affecting the company "badly" and it would increase the cost of Pajero in September.

"Yes. It is affecting us very badly. As of now, we are offering it (Pajero) at an introductory price of Rs 23.60 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai) till August 31. Definitely, we will increase it next month", he said, but declined to reveal the quantum of increase.

Hindustan Motors had entered into a technical collaboration with Japanese auto major Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 1998 to manufacture and market the latter's passenger vehicles in the country.

It retails several models, including premium sedans Lancer, Cedia, SUVs Montero and Outlander in the country. Kaul and senior company officials were here to unveil the "Anniversary Edition" of the Pajero Sport.

To attract new buyers, the company is also offering through finance schemes for the first time on the sales of Pajero, he said.

Some new features included in the Anniversary Edition are navigation system, body coloured bumpers, audio system and rear view camera, among others.