Malaysia On Indian Auto-Maker MAahindra's Radar

By P.Vijian NEW DELHI, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- One of India's top auto-makers, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), has hinted that Malaysia could be a choice for its proposed new regional assembly plant. The automotive company, a leading arm of India's reputable Mahindra Group conglomerate, is considering several countries in the Asean region, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. "The company is exploring Indonesia and Thailand for the automotive business, and from the tractors perspective, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar are on the radar," Pravin Shah, chief executive, international operations, automotive & farm equipment sectors, told the Economic Times. Terming Southeast Asia as "an important, big markets for M&M's overseas growth," Shah said the proposed new plant would cater for the entire region. The plant is likely to roll out M&M's utility vehicles, pick-up trucks and tractors. "We are at present in talks with various parties and evaluating the different possibilities for setting up base with an appropriate business model," Shah told the newspaper. The company at present exports about 700,000 units of utility vehicles and pick-up trucks, and 55,000 tractors to major Asean markets annually. -- BERNAMA