Hitachi's auto components unit to come up near Chennai.

Hitachi Automotive Systems India will start manufacturing electrical auto components at its new factory at the OneHub industrial park near here.

Announcing the formal inauguration of the factory about 50 km south of Chennai, Kunihiko Ohnuma, CEO, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Japan, said the decision to set up the Rs. 313-crore factory is part of Hitachi Automotive's plan to expand its business through 'local production for local consumption'. In fiscal 2015, more than half its targeted revenue of One Trillion Yen will be from operations outside Japan, he said.

Hitachi Automotive will initially make ignition coils and valve timing controls and is one of three Hitachi subsidiaries in India with the other two being Hueco Electronic (India) making rectifiers and other electrical auto components and Clarion, a local sales company for car navigation and audio systems.

Bradley J Maggart, Senior Vice-President and GM, India Business, said the company has 24 acres at OneHub, adequate to accommodate the company's long-term expansion plans. Production at the new factory will start in October .

It will generate over 230 jobs directly by the year-end.

Its production will cater to domestic and international markets such as Brazil, Europe and Asean.

Hitachi Automotive's customers include multinational car manufacturers such as Nissan, Ford, Hyundai and Honda.

OneHub is a 1,500-acre industrial park near Mahabalipuram on the east coast, promoted as a joint venture between Ascendas, a Singapore-based industrial and commercial space developer; Ireo, a real estate developer; JGC Corporation, a Japanese engineering company; and Mizuho Bank, Japan.


HBL