Chennai: It was the year in which Madras changed its name to Chennai. Korea’s link to the metropolis began that year when the foundation of an automobile factory was laid. In a function held with business like precision Friday, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) celebrated its 20th Foundation Day at its factory premises in Sriperumbudur.
Back in 1996, the Koreans of Hyundai did not bring with them just an early “make in India” business. They brought with them a whole new work culture that helped transform the city into the flourishing “Detroit of India” it is today with so many multinationals making their cars here and exporting them too. Among them, Hyundai is the clear leader – the second largest car manufacturer in India (4.189 million cars sold to date) and the country’s top exporter with 2.35 million cars sent to 92 countries.
It was with a great sense of pride that Mr Y.K. Koo, MD & CEO, HMIL, talked of their 20-year journey even as he spoke Tamil words like vanakkam and nanri with relish, reflecting the fact he knew the importance of the idiom and the meaning of the greetings just like any other Chennaiite.
“We went from Korean to global with 17 plants in 8 countries now,” Mr Koo recalled even as he stressed how special Chennai was in the growth of Hyundai as a brand.
The iconic “Tallboy” Santro, with an MPFI engine, was only the introduction of Hyundai to India, back in 1998. Today, the Korean giant, with two big plants in the same mini-city in one central location in Sriperumbudur, eyes a future with at least two new models to be released every year as part of the company’s plans based on four pillars to the future: 1.To be a great workplace, 2.To attain market leadership, 3.To be loved by the customer and 4.To be a modern premium brand. There is a whole load of plans for the next 20 years with new technology, hybrid engines specifically designed for India, maybe a sub-compact SUV and also an eye on the environment as well as top quality cars.
The winner of four “Car of the Year” awards in 10 years, including three in a row in the last 3 years, Hyundai (with $3.1 billion investment in India) has reason to pat itself on the back for having spotted India’s potential as a great carmaker.
Thos who made it all happen - executives, dealers, vendors and suppliers - were felicitated in an hour of festivities at the R&D Centre at which Mr Venu Srinivasan, Goodwill Envoy for Public Diplomacy of the Republic of Korea, was the guest of honour.
The connection to Chennai as the gateway to international fame for the Korean company was reiterated in the cultural presentation too in which the Mozart of Madras’ tunes in Chinna Chinna Asai and Jaya Ho were enacted coloufully.
It was on May 6, 1996 that the foundation stone was laid and the factory came up within two years to make its first Santro.
The tales of Korean efficiency in the building of the factory is part of Chennai folklore now. Those associated with building the enterprise remember how the place would be videographed in the morning and again after work finished in the evening to check on physical progress made and payment would be made for the work done, all in one working day.
