Tata Motors’ newly launched SUV, Tata Harrier, sold around 1,600 units in the very first month since its launch on January 23.
The company had sold 420 units of the SUV in the first ten days.
Harrier, the company’s latest attempt to crack the SUV market after models like Safari, Hexa and Aria, is also one of the company’s first modern and technologically advanced premium SUV.
Harrier, sold in the range of Rs 12-16 lakh, competes with the premium brands like Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass and Mahindra & Mahindra’s XUV300.
Tata has much riding on Harrier as it will be a test of its strategy to bring in technology and design elements from its Jaguar Land Rover unit to spruce up its Indian line-up.
Developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover, Harrier’s design derives inspiration from the JLR’s D8 architecture style.
The company, the largest automobile manufacturer in India, is yet to get a big hit in the country since the initial success of its Indica brand.
However, with the launch of its latest products, including the Tiago hatchback, Tigor compact sedan and the Nexon compact SUV have helped the company revive sales lately.
At the same time, the overall market has been lacklustre and the company has not been able to take full advantage of the new-line up that includes Tigor, Nexon and Tiago.
The Indian auto market has shown a visible slowdown in the last six months, even as global asset prices have slipped after the US central bank started sucking out liquidity from the market.
Tata Motors reported a 2% increase in its passenger vehicle sales for February, thanks in part to Harrier.