Korean auto major Hyundai is aiming to develop cars from the scratch in India, which is its second biggest global market after China, in its bid to strengthen position in the country.
The company, which will launch a new compact car Grand i10 next month in the market, is hoping to cater markets similar to India with such products which will be designed and developed here. "Yes, the aim is to have a car fully developed here in India. It won't happen in the next three to four years. It can happen after five years or more," Hyundai Motor India ltd (HMIl) Chief Coordinator Shar Rukh Han told the news agency.
Elaborating reasons for the need to be able to develop cars in India, he said: "At present, HMIl engineers are only playing a supporting role in HMC's (Hyundai Motor Co) global development. But for HMIl not only to strengthen position in India but also to able to cater to similar markets, it is important for it to be able to develop cars on its own."
Han, however, said such a programme is in the long term as the current capability and strength of the company's research and development centre at Hyderabad is still much lower compared to the parent's centre in Korea. Started in 2009, HMIl's R&D centre has been providing an active supporting role in adapting products for the Indian requirement on platforms developed by the parent, mainly in areas of safety features and design components. For instance, in the upcoming Grand i10, which will be positioned between i20 and i10, the Indian engineers had modified the product to suit local market.