New Delhi: After making India its global manufacturing hub for small cars, Korean car maker Hyundai Motor Co (HMC) today said by next year its unit in the country will account for 30 per cent of the company's international production.

"Hyundai Motors in India is poised to play an important role not only in India but also in HMC's global plans and we hope that with India becoming a hub for small cars, we expect production in the country to account for 30 per cent of overseas production by 2009," HMC President Jae Kook Choi told reporters here.

"By 2009, when the overall production capacity touches 600,000 units, in India we expect half of it to be exported," he added. In line with its international production plans, the company today held the global premiere of its new compact car i10 here, which will be manufactured only in India and exported to over 70 countries. This is the first car from Hyundai stable that made its international debut in India.

Priced between Rs 3.39 lakh and Rs 4.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the domestic market, the company is pinning its hope on the 1.1 litre petrol engine driven new car. It has been positioned between its flagship Santro Xing and premium hatchback Getz Prime. "We expect to sell a minimum of 1.5 lakh units of i10 next year in the domestic market," Hyundai Motor India Ltd Managing Director HS Lheem said. The i10 and Santro put together, the company is expecting to export about 2 lakh units next year with each having equal share, Lheem added.

Source : PTI