Global OEMs to export 3 lakh cars from Ennore Port in next two years

The corporate port is expected to handle more than 1.60 lakh cars this year

Multinational auto majors, including Ford, Toyoto, Renault and Nissan, will collectively export around three lakh cars from the Port Ennore, near Chennai in the next two years.

These OEMs have their manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Chennai.

S P Velumani, chairman and managing director, Ennore Port Ltd, country's first corporate port set up by the Ministry of Shipping, said that last year the port handled 1.04 lakh cars and this year it will cross 1.60 lakh cars.

Velumani expects the port to handle 1.80 lakh cars next year and three lakh units in two years, which is the full capacity of the port.

He was talking on the sidelines of Renault's first export consignment flagging off ceremony from Ennore.

Velumani said Japanese auto major Nissan was exporting 80,000 units today and plans to export 1.20 lakh units this year. The company would increase the number to 1.80 lakh units in two years.

It may be noted Nissan has set up a manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near Chennai. The facility was set up along with Renault, the French auto major.

Renault India today commenced exports of its first batch of Duster SUV. The company exported 350 cars to the United Kingdom, marking its foray into right-hand drive markers across the globe.

Marc Nassif, MD, Renault India said that the first consignment is for UK and Ireland.

"The Oragam facility, near Chennai, is currently the only facility globally to produce the right-hand drive Duster, which will be sold in the domestic market as well as exported from here. India will be the right-hand hub for Renault," said Nassif.

Both Nassif and Velumani did not comment on Renault's export numbers.

The other auto major Toyoto is looking at 30,000 units this year and is expected to increase it to 80,000 units.

The US auto major Ford is expected to export 30,000 units, major portion of which will be Ford.