M&M eyeing South Africa, Asean to serve as alternate manufacturing base

Manufacturing companies can no longer be content with merely appointing a local distributor

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has identified two regions, South Africa and an ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nation) country, for a potential manufacturing base outside India. The company’s recent move of setting up an assembly plant in South Africa is a step forward towards a long-term strategy, Arvind Matthew, chief of international operations, Mahindra and Mahindra, told Business Standard. The Anand Mahindra –led firm first announced its plans of creating alternative manufacturing bases outside India in March 2017. It had said the move was prompted by the need to globalise its footprint, de-risk and ride out inevitable market fluctuations