JCB one of the world’s top three construction equipment makers, plans to transform its Indian operation into a global manufacturing hub for South Asia and Middle East markets.

The company has started export of excavators to Indonesia and plans to export its complete product line, including backhoe loaders, shovels, handlers, cranes and compactors. This comes on the heels of JCB investing INR 300 crore for a new backhoe loader plant in Faridabad.

Mr Vipin Sondhi CEO and MD of JCB India said that “We see this as an opportunity to reduce freight costs, which is quite high in our industry. It will make us more competitive in markets like the Middle-East and South Asia.”

Apart from India, JCB makes machines in Brazil, China, UK and the US. Mr Sondhi said that “The opportunity does exist to export from India to several other countries, including to our parent company. But we are yet to finalize anything.”

At present, JCB exports fabrication parts to its parent company in the UK.

(Sourced from ET)