The greenfield plant at Sriperumbudur to be built by the Ashok Leyland and Nissan Motors partnership will be used to implement the second phase of vehicle manufacture under the joint venture agreement.
“The first phase will see three separate platforms being launched at intervals of 12-15 months,” Dr V. Sumantran, Executive Vice-Chairman, Hinduja Automotive, said. The first of these, christened Dost, has been launched. “Beyond this, will be Phase 2, and we will use the facility at Sriperumbudur,” he said, adding that the joint venture company had acquired 380 acres for the purpose.
Elaborating on the product range under the first phase, Dr Sumantran said the second vehicle due for launch in late 2012 will be a van-like vehicle that will be produced at Nissan’s plant in Oragadam near Chennai.
“It may have different possibilities for different customers,” he said, explaining that in the personal space it will be more sophisticated and upscale than the smaller people carriers in the market today. The third platform will use the Hosur plant.
Aerospace plans
On the Group’s plan to expand into the aerospace business, Dr Sumanran said, “We now look at a more mixed portfolio to insulate us from the cyclicality of the core truck business. We are looking at a range of opportunities in fixed wing aircraft and helicopters,” he said and added that options for full aircraft manufacture as well as parts were being examined.
“We may consider going with a foreign partner,” he said, adding that if the aerospace venture materialises, it will be in the next six months.