Chennai emerging as global export hub for small cars: TN Govt

Chennai is fast emerging as a global export hub for small cars with the presence of major auto companies in and around the city, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister P Thangamani said today.
"With shipping of products by automaker Renault-Nissan and Korean automaker Hyundai, Chennai has become the global export hub for small cars" Thangamani said after inaugurating the International Automotive Engineering Trade Show here.
It has become the leader in automobile manufacturing with major global auto makers as Ford, Hyundai, BMW and commercial vehicle maker Daimler, he said.
"Chennai will have an installed capacity to produce 13.8 lakh cars and 3.61 lakh commercial vehicles each year. That is about three cars in every minute, one commercial vehicle in every 90 seconds (is produced)," Thangamani added.

Nissan began exports five years ago and presently ships vehicles to over 106 countries. Last month, the company said exports of its cars had crossed five lakh mark.
Hyundai Motor which has two manufacturing facilities at Sriperumbudur near Chennai, is the largest car exporter in India.
The minister further said that introduction of industrial policies by the previous AIADMK regimes during its earlier tenures in 1992 and 2003 had given a further boost to bringing automobile companies to Tamil Nadu.
He said Tamil Nadu Government was looking at attracting over Rs one lakh crore investment during the Global Investors Meet scheduled to be held in September.