Chennai set to become car export hub

Chennai and Ennore ports are set to become hub for car exports from South India. After Hyundai, the two ports have started attracting global manufacturers like Renault SA, Nissan, and Ford.

French car-maker Renault SA and its affiliate Nissan Motor of Japan, which signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Tamil Nadu government on Friday for setting up a manufacturing facility near Chennai, are planning to export around 200,000 cars every year through Ennore port.

Speaking to Business Standard, S Velumani, chairman and managing director, Ennore Port Ltd (EPL), said the company had approached the port and sought facilities to export 200,000 cars, primarily to the European market.

EPL has decided to construct an exclusive terminal for cars at a cost of Rs 140 crore. The berth's depth of 12 metres would enable loading of 5,000 cars at a time, Velumani said.

Hyundai exported around 115,000 cars during 2006-07 from the Chennai port. The company plans to increase this to 250,000 annually by 2009.

The Chennai Port Trust plans to construct a dedicated ro-ro (roll in-roll out) car terminal at a cost of Rs 80 crore on a build, own and transfer (for 30 years) basis. The port trust also has plans to build multi-level car parking facilities inside the port at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

The proposed ro-ro terminals will drive in wheeled vehicles into the ship. The berths will be constructed in 250-metre length, 30-metre width and 12-metre depth.