The company would also set-up an engineering centre at the Chennai factory, with the support of one of the promoters ThyssenKrupp Automotive, according to Mr Bernard Robinson, chairman of the company. Mr Robinson was speaking on the eve of the official inauguration of ThyssenKrupp JBM factory, on the outskirts of Chennai on Monday. The factory was officially declared open by Mr Philip G Spender, managing director, Ford India Ltd.

Mr Robinson said, the plant is intended to fulfill the requirements of Ford India's domestic, as well as export programmes. However, the capacities are also planned in such a way, that the needs of other auto majors in and outside the country could also be catered to, he added.

He said the company also has plans to set-up a state-of-the-art engineering centre at the Chennai factory, with the support of one of the promoting companies, ThyssenKrupp Automotive. "Given the facility, the company will have capacity to handle turnkey projects, from design and development through to lean management. This additional facility will also enhance and support the current structure within ThyssenKrupp automotive operations", he added. Inaugurating the plant, Ford India, Mr Philip G Spender MD, said India has got all the right things to emerge as a global major, in the auto component market and should try to spruce up the image of the `Made in India' brand. "We have to consistently upgrade quality and benchmark ourselves against the best of the world standards", he said.

Dr Jooss, director, ThyssenKrupp Automotive Germany said the group has positioned India, as the hub for its Asian operations and continues to build capacity, by investing in technology and infrastructure in the coming days to do justice to this commitment. He said the group would soon form two other joint ventures, which would justify the commitment the company has towards India.

Incorporated in 1997, ThyssenKrupp JBM is a joint venture between the German auto component major ThyssenKrupp and the sheet metal conglomerate JBM group. The company is a major supplier to auto major Ford world-wide, and produce a range of products including chassis assemblies, fuel filter assembly, body part panels and sub-assemblies and aluminium heat shields. The Chennai factory is equipped with three press lines of five presses each, flexible welding shops and tool repair facilities.