GURUGRAM: With a Rs 2,000-crore investment plan in tow, Hyundai landed in Gurugram with great fanfare, setting foot into the millennium city, which is known as much for its corporate buzz and urban culture as also for the Korean company’s archrival Maruti Suzuki, the company that set foot in the same city in the ’80s and went on to revolutionise India’s car industry.
As Hyundai formally threw open its swanky and mega-corporate office in the heart of Gurugram — built at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore over the past three years — what surprised almost everyone was the presence of Maruti MD Kenichi Ayukawa at the event, which was attended by Haryana chief minister ML Khattar.
“I am here as the president of auto industry body Siam, at the invitation of Hyundai. I do not have anything more to
add here,” Ayukawa said.
However, for Hyundai, the entry into Gurugram in a bold fashion is no less than a signature statement and one that
it is flaunting with aplomb.
The company’s India headquarters has a total built-up area of 28,000sqft, perhaps the biggest for an MNC auto company, and has green elements such as 50kw solar panels on the roof top, 14 charging units for electric vehicles, and a 400sqmt ‘green wall’ with plants.
“With a strong commitment towards people and environment, this headquarters will be a focal point of innovation and realise Hyundai India’s vision of ‘Progress for the People, Prosperity for the Planet’,” company MD & CEO S S Kim said.
Hyundai’s entry into Haryana’s corporate setup comes at a time when Maruti Suzuki plans investments of up to Rs 18,000 crore in the state for a one-million capacity factory premises.
Maruti is making investments as part of plans to shift its Gurugram plant (the oldest and first car plant of the company) and move over to a new large and modern manufacturing setup, its chairman R C Bhargava told TOI recently.
