Utility vehicle-maker Mahindra & Mahindra commenced exports of the micro SUV KUV100 to right-hand-drive countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa. The company has so far exported over 400 units from India reports Autocar Professional.
Among the importing countries, South Africa has received over 220 units this month, exported from Bombay Port. The SUV has been well received in the domestic market and had bookings for over 37,000 units till mid-April. Mahindra had sold 14,210 units of the KUV100 — launched on Jan. 15 — in the domestic market till March 2016. This is also the second-largest selling model of Mahindra in March after its workhorse, the Bolero.
Previous reports also suggested that Mahindra is planning to ramp up the production of the micro SUV to 12,000 units from the current production capacity of 9,000 units at its Chakan plant in Maharashtra due to the increasing demand for the KUV100.
Priced between Rs. 4.42 lakh and Rs. 6.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune), the KUV100 is offered in four variants — K2, K4, K6 and K8 — and three sub-variants — K2+, K4+ and K6+. The SUV is powered by new mFalcon engines. The petrol 1.2-litre mFalcon G80 engine is tuned to churn out 82bhp and 114Nm while the 1.2-litre mFalcon D75 diesel engine can develop 77bhp and a peak torque of 190Nm. Both engines come mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
