MAHLE Group has made announcement about the opening of its new filter fabrication facility, MAHLE Filter Systems India, in Chennai.

As per reports, the newly opened plant, which takes up series production, will supply Indian vehicle makers with air cleaner modules.

Initial orders of clients are at hand.

During June last year (2010), the innovational ceremonial occasion for the new facility happened as per Hindu customs.

The edifice was finished until December, 2010, and the fitting of construction equipment and basic facilities was settled down by the end of January this year.

The plant is situated at two hour's drive from the port of the metropolis of Chennai, formerly named as Madras. In the primary step of construction, the building of the plant has a ground surface of 3,300 square meters.

In the medium term, it is projected to manufacture air filter systems, intake modules, and cylinder head covers with incorporated oil mist separation in the novel facility.

MAHLE has already bagged big orders for these product groups and will supply auto makers in the Chennai region out of the plant.

At present, MAHLE hires 80 staff in Chennai, this number is said to be raised to about 150 in the medium term. The first intake modules and air filters will be dispatched from August, 2011.

Prof. Dr. Heinz K. Junker, Chairman of the Management Board of the MAHLE Group stated, "The proximity to the vehicle manufacturers strengthens our position in the Indian market."

"The new plant in Chennai will be established as competence center for injection molding. It will play a model role for the other MAHLE filter factories in India, as we do no in-house injection molding there so far, apart from overmolded air filter elements in the Gurgaon location," Dr. Heinz added.

The MAHLE Group is one of the 30 biggest firms in the automotive supply industry all over the world.

During the last year, the MAHLE Group attained sales of around EUR 5.3 billion (USD 7 billion); over 47,000 employees work at more than 100 production facilities and eight r&d centers.