IT Minister Lokesh specifically mentioned Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Anantapur as strategic locations for establishing automobile manufacturing and supply chain operations.
Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, on Tuesday, invited ZF Foxconn to establish its unit in Andhra Pradesh, describing the State as a strategic location for the expansion of supply chain operations.
Lokesh, who is attending the World Economic Forum summit in Davos, met Eike Dorff, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules, on the second day of his visit at the Belvedere Hotel. During the meeting, Lokesh highlighted that Andhra Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a key hub for the automobile sector. He informed Dorff that major car manufacturers, such as Kia and Isuzu, have already set up their units in the state.
The IT Minister further noted that bus manufacturing companies like Ashok Leyland, Veera, and Azad Mobility are also planning to expand Lokesh specifically mentioned Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Anantapur as strategic locations for establishing automobile manufacturing and supply chain operations.
Lokesh assured Dorff that the state’s infrastructure, including wide roads, ports, and airports, would greatly facilitate supply chain operations. He also emphasized the state government’s focus on providing employment opportunities to the youth and enhancing their skills. The Minister urged ZF Foxconn to collaborate with the government in setting up engineering and skilling centres in Andhra Pradesh.
In response, Dorff informed Lokesh that ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules, in partnership with Hero Motors, already operates a plant in Chennai and provides essential global customer services to BMW. The CEO shared that the company aims to increase its transactions in India to $8.8 billion by 2029, up from the current $4.4 billion. He assured Lokesh that a positive decision would be made soon, following discussions at the company’s board meeting regarding the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposal.