Chennai, 26 March 2009: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), country’s largest auto exporter and the second largest car manufacturer, was honoured with the ‘EXIM Achievement Award’ for the year 2007-08 at a function organized by The Tamil Chamber of Commerce (TCC).
The award was conferred for Hyundai’s outstanding achievement in the export-import category.
His Excellency, The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala gave away the award to H.S. Lheem, Managing Director, HMIL at a function in Chennai. The Tamil Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1944 and this is the first year that an EXIM achievement award has been established to honour both Private and Public sector undertakings for their achievements.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd this year bagged the inaugural EXIM achievement award for the top exporter and the second place for the import category in the private sector category for the year 2007-08.
Last year, HMIL received the ‘Niryat Shree’ Silver Trophy for the year 2005-06 from the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) as well as the EEPC ‘Top Exporter of the year’ award for the year 2005-06.
HMIL, which is the largest passenger car exporter from India accounts for over 70% of the car exports from the country. The company, in 1999 started exports with a batch of 20 cars to neighbouring Nepal and today it exports to over 100 countries across the globe which includes European Union, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and South East Asia.
Within the Hyundai family HMIL has been designated as a small car hub which means that all the compact cars starting from the popular Santro, i10 to i20 will only be manufactured here at Hyundai’s facility in Sreeperumbedur and exported globally. In addition to these models HMIL also exports the Accent.
HMIL achieved its first milestone of exporting 1,00,000 cars in four years and ten months in October 2004. In October 2005, it exported its 2,00,000th car followed by its 3,00,000th car and 4,00,000th car in October 2006 and August 2007 respectively. In March 2008, Hyundai crossed the half million mark for exports and became the fastest Indian manufacturer to reach this commendable figure.
Speaking on the occasion, H.S. Lheem, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “We are honoured and extremely delighted to receive this prestigious award. We at Hyundai Motor India believe that our contribution towards the Indian economy as a manufacturer as well as an exporter plays a major role in India’s economic growth.”