Ever wondered on the coinage of car names such as i20, SX4, TUV300, etc? Here ... - ETAuto.com
Which explains why Hyundai has the i10 and i20, Maruti the SX4, Mahindra the XUV500 and, the soon-to-be launched TUV300. Some of the reasons for this trend gaining ground, if carmakers are to be believed, is that letters and numbers are easier to secure from a legal standpoint, a mix of letters and numbers transcends cultural barriers and, of course, the best names... The Germans started this trend, with the Audi 5000, Mercedes-Benz 300, BMW 535i, the Jaguar XJ6 and Volvo 760 joined in. Back home, consumers seem to be warming up to the alphabet-number soup. Says Pravin Shah, president & chief executive, automotive, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M): "Our research has shown a clear preference for alphanumeric brand names amongst Indian buyers. The use of alphanumeric branding also tends to make the brand more premium and aspirational to new-generation and urban buyers. For example, M&M reckons the alphabet "X" symbolises sports, youth, passion which explains why it chose XUV500 for its cheetah-inspired sports utility vehicle. With the soon-to-be-launched TUV300, M&M intends to create a category of 'tough' true-blue SUVs in the sub-4 metre category. Source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com
