The Mahindra TUV300 has created a niche for itself by offering the AMT unit that is raking in good numbers despite the marginally expensive price tag over the standard model.
Clutch-less vehicles have been increasingly getting popular in the Indian market and a big credit goes to the use of Automated Manual Transmissions (AMT), making the tech attainable with a competitive price tag. Apart from Maruti and Tata, Mahindra too saw the potential quite early on and was quick to introduce an AMT unit on its new TUV300. The trick has surely paid off as more buyers are opting for the AMT variants on the compact SUV.
Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra, conveyed that almost 50 percent of the total sales on the TUV300 have come for the AMT variants. This goes on to show that the convenience offered by the automatic transmission is far more appreciated than the competitive asking price on the rugged SUV. Available on the T6+ and T8+ trims of the TUV300, the AMT trim is Rs. 72,000/- more expensive than its manual derivative. However, when compared to rival Ford EcoSport, the prices definitely seem more competitive.
Mahindra developed the AMT in-house with help coming from a European based company Ricardo, making the TUV300 the first compact SUV to get the technology. Power on the other hand comes from the new 1.5-litre mHawk 80 diesel engine with a twin-stage scroll turbocharger churning out 81 BHP of power and 230 Nm of torque. The ruggedly built TUV300 also gets one of the best looking cabins on a Mahindra.
Since its launch in September this year, the Mahindra TUV300 has received over 12,000 bookings and the company currently has a monthly production capacity of 5000 units to address the demand. The automaker will soon commence exports of the compact SUV to other markets and could increase production based on the demand. The overwhelming response to the TUV300 has also helped the automaker restrengthen its position in the market, attaining a year-on-year growth of 19 percent. October 2015 saw Mahindra push out 4551 units of the compact SUV.
Source – AutocarIndia.com
