Hyundai may develop own car in India.

Hyundai could explore building a car from scratch in India, independent of expertise from South Korea.

Hyundai Motor India, the country's second-largest car maker, could follow in market leader Maruti Suzuki's footsteps, giving more power to its local research and development (R&D) centre to facilitate the development of new cars.

Maruti Suzuki, which accounts for every second car sold in India, is investing Rs. 2,000 crore in a greenfield R&D centre in Rohtak, Haryana.

Maruti Suzuki employs 1,000 engineers. Sources said the headcount at Hyundai Motor India Engineering (HMIE) in Hyderabad could be raised from 500 engineers to upgrade it from a customisation clinic to a full-fledged development centre. The centre was set up as Hyundai’s global hub for engineering small cars.

Recent success with the Grand i10, Xcent and i20 Elite, which carry significant inputs from HMIE, has given Hyundai confidence about locally developed cars. HMIE has been tuning Hyundai cars such as the Grand i10 to suit Indian customers.

Compact sedan Xcent, launched in March, was a joint effort by HMIE and Hyundai Motor Company Namyang R&D Engineers, South Korea. The premium hatchback i20 Elite, which recorded about 15,300 bookings in 20 days, is to be sold only in India.


BS