While much of the automotive headlines from India talk about how its consumer are now a major market, there is another substantial megatrend that is just as interesting.
In my book, Doing Business in 21st Century India, I wrote how Hyundai Motors of Korea was starting to export its cars from their Chennai manufacturing facility to Africa and Europe and perhaps even phasing out certain models from manufacture at home in South Korea. Now there is news that American carmakers are following suit. One of Ford Motor Company’s successes in India is the Figo, a small car that has enjoyed brisk acceptance since its release earlier this year.
Exports to Nepal and South Africa have begun already and Ford India Managing Director Michael Boneham announced that “Next year onwards we are planning to cover 48 countries. Initially we will export it to North African market, South America, Mexico and in the Emirates region….” The India Expert thinks that this trend could accelerate in the next five years. If they can ship the Figo all the say to Mexico, it certainly possible that we might see a Made In India labelled car in Canada or the USA by 2015.
