Car News in India

Mahindra Renault has been taken to the Delhi High Court by Hyundai Motor India. Hyundai has objected the Mahindra Renault’s plan to launch a compact car in the country with the name ‘Sandero’, claiming that the rival was trying to utilize the popularity of its much-admired brand Santro, with a similar sounding product.

“They (Mahindra Renault) are planning to launch Sandero, which is very similar sounding to our Santro. Both are hatchbacks and Santro is an established trademark and they are trying to get mileage out of it,” a senior Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) official told PTI.

HMIL's plea requests the court not to allow Mahindra Renault to launch the car under the name Sandero, he added.

Santro is the flagship model of Santro that was launched in September 1998. And since its launch, a total of over 15 lakh units have been sold both in the domestic and the overseas markets.

Mahindra Renault has been putting in lots of effort to mark its presence in the Indian car market. With its single product Logan not making much profit and speculations of a break-up of the joint venture between Mahindra and Mahindra and French auto major Renault Sandero is a means through which the company is trying to make a comeback.