Hyundai Motor India has rolled out its 10 millionth made-in-India car – an Alcazar SUV – from its manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The production milestone comes 23 years after the Korean carmaker began operations in September 1998 at Hyundai’s first integrated plant outside Korea.
- Hyundai achieves production milestone in 273 months
- A Hyundai Alcazar was the 10 millionth car to roll off the line
From beginning the production of the first car through to the rollout of the milestone 10 millionth car today, Hyundai Motor India has taken all of 273 months or a month under 23 years to do so. The carmaker had rolled out its 9 millionth car in 2019 while the 8 millionth model rolled off the line in 2018.
Commenting on the 10 millionth car rollout, S S Kim, MD and CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “This historic milestone is a testimony of Hyundai’s commitment towards the Make in India initiative. Furthermore, it also showcases our vision of boosting the socio-economic development in the state of Tamil Nadu and making the country more self-reliant.”
Making in India. . . for the world
For Hyundai, it is a quarter century since its make-in-India journey began with the carmaker recently completing 25 years in India this year. It was on May 6, 1996, that Hyundai Motor India officials laid the foundation of the manufacturing facility at Irungattukkottai in Sriperumbudur with its first car, the Santro, rolling off the line in 1998. The carmaker’s second facility in Chennai was inaugurated in 2008. The two plants have an installed capacity of 7,50,000 units per annum.
Made-in-India export leader
Hyundai Motor India, which wrested the No. 1 made-in-India passenger vehicle (PV) exporter title from Ford India in FY2020, retained the title in FY2021. In FY2019, the Korean carmaker missed being India's top PV exporter by a whisker – of 696 units!
With total shipments of 1,04,342 units in FY2021, the Korean carmaker steamed ahead of Maruti Suzuki India, which exported 94,938 units. Hyundai Motor India, has the Verna and new Creta as its export demand drivers.
In early 2020, Hyundai Motor India surpassed the 3-million passenger vehicle export milestone.
Upcoming models for India
With the all-new Alcazar SUV now on sale, Hyundai’s next big launch for the Indian market is expected to be its micro-SUV codenamed AX1. The AX1 will go up against the likes of the Tata HBX and has been seen testing on international roads.
Hyundai has also begun testing a facelift for the popular Creta SUV with the updated SUV likely to make its debut in global markets next year.
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