Michelin signs MoU with TN for tyre project near Chennai

Coming as yet another big ticket investment attracted by Tamil Nadu in the auto sector, the global tyre giant, Michelin Group, France
signed an Mou with Tamil Nadu government on Monday for setting up its tyre manufacturing plant, near Chennai.
The project with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore will come up on 290 acres at the new Sipcot complex at Thervoy Kandigai, 50 km north of Chennai in Thiruvallur district.
The MoU was signed by State industries Secretary M F Farooqui and Michelin Africa-India-Middle East President, Prashant Prabhu before the State Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, deputy CM, M K Stalin and senior officials.
"The manufacturing facility will focus on a range of radial\bus tyres. The plant will start operations in 2012 and will focus on the growing Indian market," the company said in a statement. It will absorb 1,500 workers locally.
It is learnt the plant will produce heavy commercial vehicles tyres besides off-road heavy tyres fitted in construction equipment made by players like Komatsu, JCB, John Deere and Caterpillar.
It is also understood that the investments could touch Rs 7,000 crore once the project takes off, considering the supplier chain that would be developed.
Apparently, Michelin would use TN as the centralised facility and to achieve economies of scale, it could also consider shifting its existing plant in Maharashtra. Also, since the tyre mix has not been finalised, the plant capacity could not be ascertained.
Soon after inking the MoU, Mr Prabhu, who will be steering the newly formed, Michelin Tires India (Tamil Nadu) told ET, "We are attracted to TN both from the people and professional point of view. It has a very good manufacturing environment and offers multi-model connectivity. Besides the availability of good people and professionals, the State has a good educational system and recreational facilities".
Stating it is looking at catering to both customers (OEM market) as well as users (replacement market), he said capacity for the plant will depend on the requirements. He declined to comment on the status of Michelin’s project earlier announced in Maharashtra. But, he said the plant near Chennai will be its first greenfield project in India.

TN clears M&M's 1800 cr auto project near Chennai

Tamil Nadu Cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal of Mahindra & Mahindra to set up an automobile project at Cheyyar near Chennai with
an investment tag of Rs 1800 crore.
The Government has already allotted 200 acres of the total 450 acres required for the project which will have a capacity of 1.5 lakh that will primarily manufacture tractors, SUVs and commercial vehicles besides auto parts. It will have the flexiability to make cars if the company desired so. The investment will also cover a dedicated test track so that the company will have an integrated operation.
Besides this facility, M & M will utilise its existing landbank of 100 odd acres at Mahindra world city at Maraimalainagar to set up one of the world’s largest R & D and vehicle design centres. The MoU for the project is expected to be inked in about two months.
Official sources said the investment will generate direct jobs for 2500 people and several thousand jobs indirectly.
The multiplier effect of the project will mean an additional investment of over Rs 5000 crore, they said.
"By default, it would have gone to Maharashra where M & M has huge land bank. But, it is a hard won project for Tamil Nadu considering the slow down in the global market. It is expected to make it an undisputed leader in the auto space which will be difficult to be challenged by other States", the sources.
It is also a striking victory for the State considering the series of labour unrest and disputes the State had witnessed in the last couple of months.
The sources said the State has already signed MoUs and cleared projects for creating a capacity of 13.5 lakh cars per annum. "Given the global slow down, the M & M investment is a big victory for the State. It will reinforce its leadership position in the auto sector", they said.
M & M clinching the deal in TN also comes close on the heels of its strained relationship with Renault ( Over the failure of Logan car) and the three way venture between Renault-Nissan and Bajaj for the small car project finally taking shape.
M & M’s mega investment near Chennai will also herald the entry of Indian’s numero uno tractor major into the State, which already has the second largest tractor manufacturer, Tafe and Deutsche-Same.
It also signals Mahindra’s big bang return to the Detroit of India after it had exited the JV with Ford Motors which was floated to set up the greenfield project near Chennai.

கேப்டனாக கங்குலி மீண்டும் நியமனம்

கொல்கத்தா நைட் ரைடர்ஸ் அணியின் கேப்டனாக சவுரங் கங்குலி மீண்டும் நியமனம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளார். மேலும், கொல்கத்தா அணியின் பயிற்சியாளராக தேவ் வாட்மோர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.
இந்தியன் பிரிமியர் லீக்கின் (ஐ.பி.எல்.) 3ஆவது தொடரில் கங்குலி கேப்டனாக செயல்படுவார் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
ஐ.பி.எல். 20 ஓவர் போட்டி ரசிகர்களிடேயே மிகுந்த வரவேற்பை பெற்றுள்ள விறுவிறுப்புக்கு பஞ்சம் இல்லாத ஒரு போட்டித் தொடராகும். இதில் கொல்கத்தா நைட் ரைடர்ஸ் அணிக்கு பாலிவுட் சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் ஷாருக்கான் உரிமையாளர் ஆவார்.
ஐ.பி.எல். முதல் தொடரில் கங்குலி கேப்டனாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். அந்தத் தொடரில் கொல்கத்தா நைட்ரைடர்ஸ் அணி சரியாக சோபிக்கவில்லை. இதையடுத்து 2ஆவது ஐ.பி.எல். தொடருக்கு கங்குலிக்குப் பதிலாக மெக்குல்லம் கேப்டனா நியமிக்கப்பட்டார்.
ஆனால் 2ஆவது ஐபிஎல் தொடரிலும் கொல்கத்தா நைட் ரைடர்ஸ் அணி படுதோல்வியைச் சந்தித்து.
இந்த நிலையில் ஐ.பி.எல். 3ஆவது தொடரில் கங்குலி மீண்டும் கேப்டனாக செயல்படுவார் என இன்று அறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.