Amid speculation as to which automaker would actually follow Tata Motors in setting up shop in Gujarat, a delegation of French car manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroen called on the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, here on Thursday.
Interestingly, this meeting took place in the backdrop of reports on Wednesday that the company had chosen Tamil Nadu over Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and that it would invest Rs 4,000 crore in a plant at Sriperumbudur.
In February, Peugeot announced its re-entry into India.
Peugeot officials had visited Gujarat a few months ago to explore possibilities at Sanand and Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) among others.
On Wednesday, Hero Honda said it has shortlisted Gujarat and Karnataka for its fourth manufacturing plant. However, a final decision was yet to be taken.
Since Tata Motors relocated its Nano plant from Singur to Sanand in 2008, and the State Government announced its readiness to make Gujarat an auto-hub, a number of automobile companies have been flocking to Gujarat.
However, nothing concrete has emerged so far in any of these cases with automakers apparently seeking matching concessions given to Tata Motors.
On May 31, a delegation of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) met Mr Modi amid speculation that India's largest carmaker would set up a manufacturing plant in the State. The delegation also hinted that it is considering other States as well.
The State Government has, for some years, been promoting Gujarat as an auto hub on the lines of Tamil Nadu which houses Ford, Mitsubishi, Renault-Nissan and Ashok Leyland facilities.
In Gujarat, which has a strong manufacturing base, General Motors has an LCV plant near Vadodara. Bombardier Transportation too has a plant in the State.