India`s Motown

Chennai is fast turning out to be India’s Detroit, and at such a furious pace that Detroit might soon be called the US’ Chennai.

The action in the auto sector is hotting up every passing second with 1.28 million cars set to roll out of factories around the city over the next two years.

Revving up the growth engine are car majors, mostly foreign ones, based in the outskirts.

In Maraimalai Nagar (located 30 km south of Chennai), in Sriperumbudur (40 km south-west of Chennai ) and in Thiruvallur (50 km north-west of Chennai), it has become a common sight to see trucks heading towards Chennai and Ennore Ports carrying vehicles for the export markets.

While Hyundai and Ford remain the big daddies in the game by virtue of their early arrival, other top players too are heading to this port city, with Renault-Nissan the latest to set up its facility at Oragadam (30 km south-west of Chennai).

With the Rs 470-crore Global Automotive Research Centre also coming up at Oragadam to meet the world-class testing requirements of auto companies, things are only looking up.

What has attracted these auto majors to set up shop in Chennai is the presence of auto component suppliers and abundant talent. While MRF Tyres, Sundaram Clayton, Sundaram Fasteners are already around in Chennai, Apollo Tyres and UK-based Caparo Group are also keen on gaining a foothold here with their new facilities.

A quick look at some of the biggies who are changing the face of this once quiet and conservative city.

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