Hyundai Getz News

Cars like the Yaris and Corolla are a touch too pricey for many first car buyers to consider now - so what fills that space?

Hyundai Australia CEO Edward Lee says the company's plan is no longer centred on entry-level pricing, but values such as safety, driving experience and ride quality. With the exit of the Getz and the introduction of the Accent, the company now has a full five-star safety rating on all of its passenger vehicle fleet. "We're not concerned with leaving the bottom of the market," Lee says. "I think we changed people's perception of the brand a lot already. Five-star safety is our new strategy. Australian people think safety is one of the most important things along with driving and ride." Sales and marketing manager Oliver Mann says the Getz name has gone the way of the Excel and doesn't expect to see either model name returned to the brand. Hyundai produced 1,390,084 Getz models between 2002 and 2011 and Australians bought 153,000. There are only about 400 left after production ended last year. That's less than half the 1000 they sell each month. The entry level Getz 1.4-litre three-door is listed at $13,990 and the base model Accent starts at $16,990. It's a big hole for Hyundai to fill, but Mann is not concerned. "Even though it was our entry level car, we mainly sold the 1.6-litre five-door model, anyway," Mann says. "We're not planning to fill the entry level price again. We're getting out of the bottom end of the market. Getz won't be replaced directly." With the introduction of the 1.6-litre, slightly larger Accent, the 1.6-litre i20 models have been deleted and the $15,490 1.4-litre three-door is being sold at $14,990 driveaway. Hyundai also does not have room in its five-star strategy for the four-star i10 as a replacement bargain car. "We looked long and hard at the i10 business case, but it wasn't profitable and didn't fit in with our five-star safety rating strategy," Mann says. Product planning senior manager Roland Rivero says supply of the Indian-made i10 also could not be guaranteed with the factory able to build 450,000 a year and the domestic market taking 400,000. "That would leave Europe and ask to argue over the remainder," he says. Cars that were killed off THERE are more famous nameplates than Getz that have been killed off in Australia over the years. Perhaps the most famous is the Monaro, although Holden says "never say never" in regards to bringing it back. Other nameplates killed off that could make a re-appearance include Celica, Integra and Prelude. Nissan canned the Pulsar in 2007 worldwide but in 2006 in Australia and many a backwards-cap-wearing youth bemoans that fact. Nissan not only axed the Pulsar, but also its changed its company name from Datsun in 1986. More recently Ford chopped the Fairlane from its line-up in 2007 and Mitsubishi excised Magna from its fleet in 2000. Other beloved nameplates to disappear over the years include Kingswood, Premier, Futura, Valiant, Charger, Skyline and Bluebird, while nameplates that have been replaced include Rodeo (now Colorado) and Courier (now Ranger).

The biggest increase on our roads in the past five years has been European cars, up 312,000 to just over one million (42 per cent), according to Roy Morgan Research data. Of the 14.9 million drivers on Australian roads about 8.7 million are in Asian cars, an increase of almost 22 per cent in the past five years, American cars are up 22,000 to 98,000 (29 per cent) while Australian cars have decreased 311,000 to 4.6 million (-6 per cent). Roy Morgan industry communications director Norman Morris rejects the swing is anything to do with a cultural cringe, pointing out that satisfaction levels are up for Holden (from 88 to 89 per cent) and Ford (86 to 87 per cent). "I think it's just that people's preferences are moving away from larger cars," he says. "Ford and Holden have been all about Falcon and Commodore and there has been a big decline in the large car segment while there has been a rise in SUVs and small cars. There is also more preference toward diesel and alternate fuels which again supports the European flood of diesel cars. For example, BMW last year sold more diesel than petrol cars which is the first time for any brand as far as I know. It took Ford a long time to get a diesel in their Territory. Ford and Holden have been slow to react to this trend, so it will probably continue." He says the rise of American and Asian cars could also be due to the free trade agreement with the US and Thailand making their vehicles more attractive on price. Morris says 44.9 per cent of buyers are now more concerned about how a car is put together rather than the company that makes it. "That's a very high number," he says. Honda drivers are the happiest customers with 94 per cent of owners satisfied with their vehicle, up from 92 per cent in 2006. Of the top 10 brands, Subaru and Volkswagen are the only ones to experience a drop in satisfaction levels. Both are down 1 per cent but Subaru is still the second highest, while Volkswagen is sixth. Toyota increased its satisfaction levels by 1 per cent to 92 per cent and third place, despite worldwide controversy in the past few years with safety recalls. Morris points out that Korean brands Hyundai and Kia have made positive gains over the past five years. Hyundai is in the top 10 at seventh place with 90 per cent satisfaction, up from 89 per cent in 2006. There are now 828,000 Hyundais in Australia, up 47.4 per cent from 578,000, while Kia has more than doubled from 115,000 to 235,000. Another brand to have increased substantially, but off a lower base is Volkswagen up 98.3 per cent from 119,000 to 236,000. Morris says the number of diesel models in the VW line-up had contributed to the growth spurt. Citroen and Saab had the biggest declines in driver satisfaction with Citroen dropping 10 percentage points and Saab five. Morris says it will be interesting to look at the results again when Chinese brands such as Great Wall, Geely and Cherry have established themselves in the marketplace.

Hyundai Australia CEO Edward Lee says the company's plan is no longer centred on entry-level pricing, but values such as safety, driving experience and ride quality. With the exit of the Getz and the introduction of the Accent, the company now has a full five-star safety rating on all of its passenger vehicle fleet. "We're not concerned with leaving the bottom of the market," Lee says. “I think we changed people's perception of the brand a lot already.Five-star safety is our new strategy.” "Australian people think safety is one of the most important things along with driving and ride." Sales and marketing manager Oliver Mann says the Getz name has gone the way of the Excel and doesn't expect to see either model name returned to the brand. Australians bought 153,000 Getz in their model lifetime and only about 400 are left after production ended last year. That's less than half the 1000 they sell each month. The Getz 1.4-litre three-door is listed at $13,990. It's a big hole for Hyundai to fill, but Mann is not concerned. "Even though it was our entry level car, we mainly sold the 1.6-litre five-door model, anyway," Mann says. "We're not planning to fill the entry level price again.” "We're getting out of the bottom end of the market. Getz won't be replaced directly." However, with the introduction of the 1.6-litre, slightly larger Accent, the 1.6-litre i20 models have been deleted and the $15,490 1.4-litre three-door is being sold at $14,990 driveaway. Hyundai also does not have room in its five-star strategy for the four-star i10 as a replacement bargain car. "We looked long and hard at the i10 business case, but it wasn't profitable and didn't fit in with our five-star safety rating strategy," Mann says. Product planning senior manager Roland Rivero says supply of the Indian-made i10 also could not be guaranteed with the factory able to build 450,000 a year and the domestic market taking 400,000. "That would leave Europe and ask to argue over the remainder," he says.

….over the past year thanks to decreasing finance costs and fixed price servicing. The Suzuki Alto, Barina Spark and Hyundai Getz shared the honours as the cheapest cars on our roads, according to annual surveys of a range of popular cars released this week by automobile clubs in all states except NSW. Toyota's LandCruiser is the most expensive vehicle to keep on our roads with the RAC of Western Australia estimating the 4.5-litre V8 costs as much as $406.84 a week. LandCruiser has retained the dubious honour as the most expensive vehicle to run in Queensland for the past six years. The auto club surveys tally costs such as fuel, tyres, registration, service, repairs, depreciation and loan interest. Costs vary between states with South Australia reporting a drop in costs and Western Australia the only state reporting a substantial rise of $50 in running costs. RAC spokesman David Moir attributed the rise to fuel costs which are now second only to vehicle depreciation in total running costs in Western Australia. Although most of the costs vary between states, the surveys found the cheapest small car is Hyundai's petrol i30. Toyota Camry, Suzuki Kizashi and Holden Epica share the honours as the most frugal medium cars, while Holden Commodore dual-fuel (petrol and LPG) model is the cheapest large car to own in Victoria and Queensland, Toyota Aurion is the best bet in South Australia and Ford Falcon XT LPG takes the honours in Western Australia. The RAC survey also shatters the myth that frugal hybrids and diesels are cheaper to run. In Queensland, the Camry hybrid costs $11.68 more a week in ownership costs than the petrol model. RACQ spokesman Steve Spalding says diesels are also less attractive this year. "Last year diesel and petrol fuel prices were much closer together, so diesel owners were picking up the benefits of fuel consumption," he says. "But this year the higher premium on diesel fuel means we aren't seeing the same overall savings." He says it also depends on the model as car companies charge between $2000 and $10,000 more for a diesel variant. The best way to save on running costs is to bargain for a cheaper price and pay with cash, Spalding advises. "Depreciation and finance are the biggest costs in running a car, not fuel and maintenance," he says. "Depreciation is 35 to 45 per cent of running costs and even though finance costs have dropped in the past year, it still represents about 20 per cent of total ownership costs. "So the more you shop around and the better you bargain, the more those costs drop."

Price cuts and extra equipment in both the baby Jazz and family-sized Accord have nearly tripled recent showroom results for the Japanese brands, which had been struggling for sales through the early months of 2011. "It's definitely working. We're definitely back on shopping lists," says Lindsay Smalley, senior director of Honda Australia, at the opening of the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. "Sales of the Jazz have really jumped. They've nearly tripled." Honda is also being helped by a return to normal production numbers in Japan as the company finally gets back to full capacity after the disastrous earthquake and tsunami in March. Smalley says Honda is well placed for buyers, with no waiting lists in Australia. It's a contrast to Toyota, which is still struggling with supplies of popular models including the Corolla and HiLux. Brand T usually sells more than 20,000 cars each June but its 2011 result was off by more than 8000 vehicles because of short supplies. At Honda, Smalley says the new value-added strategy is working and tapping into the latest customer demand for the right prices. He says the tripling of Accord VTi figures is directly linked to the recent strategy to improve specification and "adjust" pricing. The starting price of the VTi came down by more than $4000, from $32,490 to $28,199, in a move that also saw close to $2000 slashed from the price of the Accord Euro. At the bottom end, the Jazz is now prices from $14,990 - a $2000 cut - while the car has a five-star ANCAP crash rating, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. "We've tried a lot of things with product value but at the end of the day sticker price is a real driver for our customers," Smalley says.

Australian chief operating officer Tony Barlow says the new Rio, coming in September, will be good value with sleek design, new engine technologies and six airbags standard. “We know what we have to for to put it in the market,” he says. “We will not enter into bargain basement pricing. Some models are around $10,000-$11,000 and we are not playing that game.” The new Rio was released at the Melbourne Motor Show in a carnivale atmosphere with Dancing with the Stars judge Tom McKenny giving a 10 out of 10 performance of Peter Allen’s I Go To Rio with a dance troupe. The performance reflects the sleek new look of the Peter Shreyer design. For the first time, the car will come with a choice of three, four and five doors, with the latter the first to be launched here. The others will follow next year. Barlow says the car is not only an improvement in design, but also technology, featuring new diesel and direct-injection petrol engines. The top-of-the-range model is available with such luxury car fittings as LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth and cornering headlights. The new Rio is 55mm longer, 25mm wider and 15mm lower with a 70mm longer wheelbase to improve passenger space and cargo capacity. It will arrive with a choice of 10 body colours. Barlow says the car is the next step in their commitment to optimisied handling for local conditions. “We have spent hundreds of hours and thousands of kilometers in testing,” he says. “It’s a development program championed for Australia in Australia.”

doesn't faze Australia's first manufacturer of EVs....Ross Blade of Blade Electric Vehicles in Victoria says they will take on the big companies with a cheaper and faster-charging home-made product.Their Electron Mark V, which is based on a Hyundai Getz, costs about $48,000 despite the petrol-powered equivalent Getz selling for $13,990-$16,340.However, Blade says they will still be cheaper than EVs such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf."We also have features in our product which are superior," he says.While the average charge time from standard mains power is about eight hours for most mass-produced EVs, Blade claims their vehicles recharge in two to four hours because they are designed for 15 amps tops and we are designed to take the full 30 amps."Our vehicle is designed to optimise the standard charging point infrastructure now being rolled out in Melbourne," he says."We've been in the business four years now and we know what technologies are coming and can make big changes quickly."The major car companies make their decisions several years in advance and can't make rapid change."Blade is moving from the Hyundai Getz (Electron Mark V) to the i20 this year (Electron Gen II) and the Holden Cruze late next year."Cruze will ultimately be our prime business as we want a locally made chassis to match our locally made components."We'll have a Cruze prototype this year, a pre-production model early next year and we're looking to make it available as a commercial product late next year."It will be fully ANCAP crash tested and we'll be targeting a minimum of a four-star safety rating."Since production began in February 2008, Blade has sold 40 petrol-powered Getz models converted to electric power.But Blade doesn't refer to his business as electric conversion."We crash test our vehicles and are licensed, so we're a second-stage manufacturer," he says.Most of their customers are private, not government or business, but they recently broke into the fleet market."We've now taken a big step forward where we are accepted by lease and insurance companies which is a whole new playing field."DISCARDED ENGINESBlade has a couple of container loads of discarded Hyundai petrol engines in their backyard.Company owner Ross Blade says they eventually will be used as "tri-generation gas generators" for heating or cooling."But right now we have our hands full manufacturing electric cars," he says.Blade buys petrol-powered cars directly from Hyundai Motor Company Australia."Why do we bring them in with a petrol motor? Because it's expensive to push a car body on and off a ship," he says.Blade removes the exhaust system, fuel tank, engine and gearbox before implanting an AC synchronous electric motor, Azure Dynamics drivetrain, lithium iron phosphate battery and management system.

It is the fourth year in a row that the $13,990 Korean hatch has edged out the competition in the RACV's annual ownership survey.  A Getz costs $118.44 a week to run, just $3.79 more than last year.  At the other end of the scale, three rugged Toyota LandCruiser models are again the most expensive.  The popular off-roader costs a mighty $385.79 a week to run for the V8 diesel and $369.88 for the V8 petrol.  The LandCruiser ute costs $328.48 a week. The RACV's general manager public policy, Brian Negus, said overall costs had risen 4.5 per cent over the past 12 months.  But Mr Negus said of the 78 cars surveyed many running costs were still below or at a similar level to where they were two years ago. "Costs haven't gone up astronomically but they've risen pretty much in line with CPI," Negus said.  Negus said that excellent fuel economy was no guarantee of a car gaining top spot in its category. "Australia's most fuel efficient car, the Ford Fiesta Econetic was the cheapest in the entire survey to run at 10.23 cents a kilometre," he says.  "Bit its larger purchase price made it more expensive to own at $149.29 a week, than other light cars." However, the Econetic diesel is significantly cheaper to run than a hybrid Toyota Prius of Honda Civic, which cost $222.22 and $191.44 a week.  LPG vehicles are also cheaper to run than petrol cars. An LPG Commodore cost $3.22 less to run than a normal Commodore while an LPG Falcon was $13.27 less.  Negus said depreciation was one of the biggest hidden costs, accounting for 37 per cent of ownership costs for any given vehicle. "It is the ticking time bomb," he said.  "It's not an out-of-pocket expense each week.  It's a hidden cost.  But in five years time when many are looking to trade in their vehicle, that's when depreciation kicks in significantly."  The survey factors in depreciation, fuel costs, servicing, stamp duty, spare parts, tyres, insurance and registration.What your car costs (per week) LightHyundai Getz $118.44Suzuki Swift $119.36Kia Rio $126.25Ford Fiesta $128.55Toyota Yaris $129.98 SmallNissan Tiida $153.79Hyundai i30 petrol $154.01Hyundai i30 diesel $159.22Ford Focus $161.73Holden Cruze $164.69 MediumMazda6 $204.29Ford Mondeo $204.35Toyota Camry $205.16Toyota Camry hybrid $220.16Honda Accord Euro $222.82 LargeHolden Commodore dual fuel $227.57Holden Commodore petrol $230.79Ford Falcon LPG $238.99Toyota Aurion $240.68Ford Falcon petrol $252.26 People MoverKia Carnival $224.53Hyundai iMax $231.32Honda Odyssey $247.09Toyota Tarago $284.86Compact off-roadersHyundai ix35 $182.19Subaru Forester $213.03Mitsubishi Outlander $215.12Mazda CX7 $218.81Nissan X-Trail $220.01Medium off-roadersHolden Captiva $207.70Holden Captiva diesel $226.12Ford Territory $228.27Toyota Kluger $235.91Toyota Kluger 4x4 $249.16 Large off-roadersNissan Patrol diesel $291.91Nissan Patrol petrol $325.89Toyota LandCruiser petrol V8 $369.88Toyota LandCruiser diesel V8 $385.79 UtesMitsubishi Triton diesel $192.46Ford Falcon LPG $203.50Holden Commodore dual fuel $210.96Holden Commodore V6 petrol $211.91Toyota HiLux V6 $212.74  

Small car sales were up more than 40 per cent last month as the industry tracks to a bumper one million-plus sales year. Budget buys continue to dominate, filling out seven of the top 10 sales spots in April.South Korean importer Hyundai was one of the stars, recording 16 consecutive months of month-on-month sales growth. Its sales are up 65 per cent this year. Hyundai's budget sub-$15,000 Getz and i30 hatch, which starts around $20,300, are the big sellers. Spokesman, Stephen Howard, said more buyers are chasing value for money with small cars. "And that's our whole philosophy," he said.Toyota's HiLux ute was the No1 seller last month, beating the Holden Commodore by just 254 cars. Despite the popularity of the workman's ute, the home-grown Holden remains the country's top selling family sedan. More than 14,500 Commodores have been sold this year.Solid sales delivered the second highest April result on record. Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show that 81,401 vehicles were sold last month, up 27 per cent on the same month in 2009. FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said most segments were strong."It is certainly very encouraging and shows the competition between the brands is intense," he said. "But challenges still remain."McKellar warns that interest rate increases could dampen demand in coming months. "However, the industry is hopeful that they are now at a level where further increases will be more difficult to justify," he said.Toyota holds on to its top selling position with a market share of 20.5 per cent. Holden is in second spot with 12.2 per cent and Ford third with 10.1 per cent. This year-to-date, 333,228 vehicles have been sold.Top 10 sellers1 Toyota HiLux 34192 Holden Commodore 31653 Mazda3 30794 Toyota Corolla 28295 Ford Falcon 27636 Holden Cruze 25147 Hyundai i30 24838 Hyundai Getz 21929 Mitsubishi Lancer 191210 Toyota Yaris 1799