INDIAN CARS

Export Growth It has finally happened! Indians are buying cars like never before. According to the Society of IndiaIn June last year B V R Subbu, president, Hyundai India, announced that the Indian company was going to become the global manufacturing hub of Hyundai's small car. n Automobile Manufacturers, (SIAM) sales of passenger cars in India have exceeded the magical one million mark putting India among a select group of prosperous countries where passenger cars sell in such high numbers. The exact sales figure (including exports) was 1.03 million for the year 2003.

Hyundai India

In June last year B V R Subbu, president, Hyundai India, announced that the Indian company was going to become the global manufacturing hub of Hyundai's small car.

Hyundai's plant at Irrungattukottai near Chennai is its only production centre outside South Korea. Its production capacity is being increased to 250,000 units a year from the earlier 150,000 units

SUVs Mahindra & Mahindra is another automobile manufacturer that is focusing on the exports market. Its sports utility vehicle, Scorpio, received a good response at the Detroit Auto Show in 2003 for its design as well as for its affordable price tag

At present India is not a big name in the global automobile market but as more and more companies turn to India to make it their sourcing and manufacturing hub it will not be long before India begins to rival China in the region