Hyundai Motor, a "first in Indian history," achieves cumulative exports of 4 million units as it inaugurates new Pune plant

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Marking the 30th anniversary of its entry into India, Hyundai Motor held the inauguration ceremony for its new Pune plant in Talegaon, Maharashtra state. The new Pune facility is a smart manufacturing hub reconstructed by Hyundai after it acquired the former General Motors (GM) plant, which had ceased operations in 2020, in 2023. Attendees at the ceremony included Chung Eui-sun, chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group; Jang Jae-hoon, vice chairman; Jose Munoz, president; Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra state; Lee Seong-ho, ambassador to India; and other political and business figures from both countries.

The initial annual production capacity of the new Pune plant is 170,000 units, with plans to expand in stages to 250,000 units by 2028 and 320,000 units by 2030. A flexible multi-model production system including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) will be established. The first model produced at the plant is a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), the "All New Venue," which will be sold in the Indian domestic market and exported to more than 30 countries worldwide, including Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia. With the operation of this new plant, Hyundai has secured an annual production capacity of nearly 1 million units within India, including its Chennai Plant 1 and Plant 2.

The new Pune plant extensively applies advanced smart manufacturing technologies, including an artificial intelligence (AI)-based crack detection system, more than 200 industrial robots, and augmented reality (AR)-based training programs. In particular, as the Pune plant takes on the dedicated production of the Venue, a local strategic model, the existing Chennai plant can accelerate its transition to electric vehicles (EVs). Hyundai plans to launch a new compact electric SUV as a local strategic model in the first quarter of next year.

Along with the inauguration of the new Pune plant, Hyundai officially announced its medium- and long-term investment plan for the next 30 years. From this year through 2032, over a seven-year period, the company will invest a total of $15.5 billion (approximately 20.7 trillion won) across the entire industrial ecosystem, including research and development (R&D), parts supply chains, and new business ventures. In addition, Hyundai is pursuing an electric three-wheeler business in collaboration with local two-wheeler manufacturer TVS, targeting commercialization by the end of next year, and is working with group companies to establish a dedicated investment corporation within India.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor's Indian subsidiary announced that it has achieved cumulative passenger car exports of 4 million units over its 30 years in the local market. This marks a first in the history of the Indian automotive industry.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original