Hyundai Motor India Ltd., the largest passenger car exporter and second largest car manufacturer in India, is all set to step-up its export of the premium hatchback i20 in the non-European markets. In light of Hyundai Motor India?s growing role to make India as a manufacturing hub, it plans to increase its export base to 42 new non-European countries.
The immensely popular i20 which was revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008 was earlier being shipped to approximately 47 countries predominantly the European market and a few countries in Middle East, Africa & Latin America.
In order to meet the growing demand, Hyundai has stepped up the production of the i20 at its Sreeperumbedur plant, outside Chennai so that it can increase its penetration in the countries of Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia & Pacific, South Africa and even Australia.
Hyundai aims to increase its export volumes manifold and enhance its presence in Europe as well as non-European markets. In the first half of 2009, Hyundai exported over 6,500 units of premium hatchback i20 per month and this is likely to go up to 10,000 units per month with the addition of these new export destinations. Hyundai has already received initial orders from new countries like South Africa, Isreal and Indonesia.
Commenting on the occasion, H S Lheem, MD, HMIL, said, ?Just as in the Indian market, the i20 has been the most popular car overseas. Keeping this in mind, we have planned to increase our penetration in other key potential markets. This in turn also reiterates our commitment to emerge as a global hub for manufacturing and exporting small cars.?
While Hyundai cars ply in all five continents, amongst the non-European markets, Libya has emerged as an important export destination for HMIL in the recent past. Hyundai?s mid size sedan, the Accent is exported to Libya and the market in Libya continues to be very positive with the expectation of big orders in the coming months.