The Hindu Business Line : Ashok Leyland may source components from units in Hubli

After addressing a meeting at the North Karnataka Small-Scale Industries (NKSSIA) Association here recently, Mr R. Seshasayee, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, told Business Line that in the days to come, the company may buy some auto components from the small-scale industrial units in the region.

Mr Seshasayee informed that some of the auto components that were on display at the exhibition organised by NKSSIA had caught his attention and he had asked his junior officials to proceed in this regard.

Expansion: He said the company is on an expansion mode and is looking for suitable partners. "We are expanding our product range and our efforts to increase the market share have met with success. We will be having a sort of partnership with Vijayanand Roadlines Ltd (VRL), which is our valued customer. The partnership is for getting regular feedbacks from VRL, which we will be using to improve our products," he said.

To a question on whether Hubli will figure in the map of the expansion plans of the company, he said: "At this point, I should say no. Maybe at a later stage it may be considered. But I can't commit anything on that."

He ruled out the company making any investment in the region twin cities. Regarding Hubli he said: "There is lot of engineering skills and entrepreneurship in this region. Only they have to come out of that small-scale industry limitations and form clusters, which would certainly help them in expanding their market."

Mr Vijay Sankeshwar, Chairman, VRL group, informed that the group is contemplating setting up a manufacturing unit of auto component parts in the days to come. "We are in the process of chalking out the plan," he said.

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