India now production hub for Hyundai Verna, like Jeep Compass

Hyundai India has announced that India will become the global hub for its latest model – Verna. Hyundai will ramp up the production in India and will shift the manufacturing from the South Korean facility. The move is expected to boost the “Make in India” initiative.

Hyundai has its plant in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The facility is expected to start the provide vehicles to the global markets from January 2018. The automotive giant is now targeting annual production of about 1.3 lakh units of the Verna in India. The company plans to export over 60-70 percent of the total units produced in the market. The plant is currently running on 95-98 percent of total capacity.

The company is planning to manufacture around 50,000 units of the Verna for the Indian market while another 80,000 units for the markets like Latin America, Africa, Middle East and other Asian countries.

Hyundai India Managing Director, YK Koo said.

“Initially we will export 60,000 units and eventually scale it up to 80,000. The model is very important for Hyundai Motor India from exports perspective.

The company will continue to manufacture vehicles in China and Russia for domestic consumption. Hyundai India has already received over 7,000 bookings for the vehicle. The Verna was launched 0n August 22, 2017, and has received a good response from the market. Hyundai India is planning to deliver over 10,000 units of the vehicles in the Indian market by Diwali.

The Verna is built on an all-new platform and comes with many segment first features like ventilated front seats, smart trunk operation, EcoAir, impact sensing door unlock and sliding central armrest. Other features include six airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX hooks, 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Currently, the car is powered by a set of 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines but the company is also planning to re-launch the 1.4-litre diesel and petrol engine options to price the vehicle even more competitively.