New Delhi: MG Motor India is exploring export opportunities in the UK and South Africa, besides drawing up plans to tap right-hand drive countries in the global automotive market as it prepares for the long term to enhance overseas shipments from India, according to a top company official.

The company, which has started exporting to Nepal. plans to make India an export hub for the neighbouring markets.

"Though at present, there is a shortage of chips… We need to prepare ourselves for the long term. We wanted to expand our base and make India an export hub for neighbouring markets," MG Motor India President and Managing Director Rajeev Chaba told PTI.

The company has already started export activities with Nepal and dispatched the first batch of MG Hector. It will continue with the Hector SUV right now and then add the newly launched mid-sized SUV MG Astor and ZS EV next year, he added.

"So, Nepal is the first country but we are active explor ing other countries in the re gion, namely, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Also, we have got inquiries from the UK because the UK is the right-hand market. So, we are also exploring the opportunity of exporting and MG Hector to the UK." Chaba said.

In South Africa, another right-hand-drive market, he said MG operations still have to start in the country as it has been delayed because of COVID-19.

"It's not ruled out… Once MG operation starts in South Africa that also will be a potential market." he said, adding that the right-hand drive countries in the global automotive market "could be potential export markets for the company's MG Hector SUV".

Explaining the rationale behind the company starting exports despite having an order backlog in the domestic market due to a semiconductor shortage, he said, "This export is for the long term and we are seeding the markets right now.

Source: PTI