Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) on Tuesday exported 500 units of its popular small car Santro, branded as Kia Visto, to Indonesia as part of a total export order of 2,200 units.

In addition, the company has also bagged an order to export 600 Completely Built Units (CBUS) of Santro to Algeria, a statement issued in New Delhi on Tuesday said. This comes close on the heels of the 760 units of accent and Santro which were shipped to Algeria in July this year. HMIL executive director (sales and marketing) J.H. Kim said that with this, the company expects to record an export turnover of $ 35-40 million by shipping 5,000 units this fiscal.

Regarding the fresh order from Indonesia, Mr Kim said, that the cars will be branded as Kia Visto. The entire order will be executed by mid-November, 2000.

With the flagging off of this export consignment to Indonesia, Hyundai is well on its way to achieve the set export target of 5,000 units for the year 2000. ''Moreover, export of cars made in India, as Kia Visto, is a clear indication of Kia motor company Korea's trust in the international quality of HMIL’s plant near Chennai,'' said Kim. In fact, the model Visto is derived from the existing Santro range. Hmil managing director Y.S. Kim said that the company is driven to make the Irrungattukottai plant near Chennai the global supply source for cars and auto components of highest international quality.

Visto is being manufactured at the Chennai plant at HMIL, which has an annual installed capacity of 130,000 engine and transmission sets and 120,000 CBUS. The same plant is also manufacturing Santro and Accent. HMIL has set a target of expanding annual production capacity to two lakh units by the year 2003 and making India the global hub of auto component supplies and CBUS to achieve maximum economies of scale. Bureau Report