Hyundai Begins Eco Friendly Export of Cars to Nepal
Hyundai Motor began its first-ever eco-friendly export of cars using Railway mode. The company dispatched its first consignment of 125 cars to Nepal from Walajabad Railway Hub near Irungattukkottai, Chennai. The company expects to reduce its carbon footprint by 20,260 tonnes by switching to this Eco-friendly mode of transporting cars instead of transporting them via road.
The first Export consignment was flagged-off by Mr. Ganesh Mani S, Director-Production, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, and Mr S Subramanian, Additional Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway. The flagging-off took place from the Walajabad Railway Hub near the Irungattukkottai-based HMIL Production facility near Chennai. The train will reach the India-Nepal border at Nautanwa near the border town of Sonauli, from where last-mile delivery will be through the roadways owing to the topography of Nepal.
The overall on-road movement time is expected to reduce from 8 days to 5 days, bringing the cars faster and more eco-friendly manner to the customers. Commenting on this initiative, Mr Ganesh Mani Ssaid, “Hyundai is committed to eco-friendly initiatives. As a progressive OEM, all our production processes follow Green practices for conservation of natural resources.”
He added, “Our innovative practices like using coastal shipment for domestic logistics of cars have already been appreciated by the authorities, and we send out over 14% of our Domestic Car volumes by the rail route instead of road. Our thanks to the Indian Railways for their unstinted support in such innovative practices which will have long-lasting positive impact on the environment.”
As the country’s largest exporter of automobiles sending Hyundai cars to over 88 countries, Hyundai surpassed the 3 million vehicle export milestone earlier in 2020. Hyundai Motor India has recorded multiple export milestones over the years. It has crossed several Exports-related milestones in the journey, completing 5 lakh Export cars in March 2008, 10 lakh Exports in February 2010, 20 lakh cars in March 2014 and 30 lakh Cars in January 2020.
Hyundai has also established several innovative practices in domestic logistics, using railways (over 14% of the volumes) and waterways to send cars across India from the Irungattukkottai-based production facility. Hyundai currently has 11 car models across segments SANTRO, GRAND i10, GRAND i10 NIOS, all-new i20, AURA, VENUE, Spirited New VERNA, All New CRETA, ELANTRA, New 2020 TUCSON & KONA Electric. Let us hope as Hyundai moves further towards the concerns of climate change and sustainability, we will see many more Electric car models that that company can start manufacturing.