The Hindu Business Line : ICML’s world car to hit market by 2010

World concept: Mr Deepak Mittal, Managing Director, International Cars and Motors Ltd, unveiling ICML's `World Car', which is the Concept car, at the 9th Auto Expo in the Capital on Friday. - Kamal Narang

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Jan. 11

International Cars and Motors Ltd (ICML), a Sonalika Group company, has announced its plans to launch a world car by 2010. The company has entered into a technical collaboration with Italian car designer Pininfarina for design and process engineering.

Unveiling the concept car at the Auto Expo here, the ICML Chairman, Mr L.D. Mittal, said, “The new concept car is a new generation, high performing sophisticated breed of SUVs. It will launched by 2010 and sold worldwide”.

He said the company is also looking for a strategic partner. “There are some talks with possible strategic partners for upgradation of products and new models.”

On the investments, Mr Mittal said the company has already invested Rs 300 crore and would be putting another Rs 700 crore over the next three years. The car will be manufactured in its plant at Amb in Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking on the collaboration, Mr Michele Straniero, Overseas Sales Director, Pininfarina, said, “The collaboration started as a style research and it has been evolving in a wider range of areas, including design and engineering support”.

He also noted that Pininfarina has tied up with National Institute of Design, and will have three students to intern at its design centre.

The company had earlier unveiled a new version of its multi-utility vehicle (MUV) Rhino Rx. The 2-litre Bharat Stage III diesel engine vehicle carries a price tag between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 7.35 lakh.

The company is also exporting its MUVs to countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. It will soon start its exports to Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.