[sidindica]

(Disclaimer: Images are copyrighted SS and AK. Use of the images without giving credit/ source link by other websites strictly prohibited.)

DAEWOO MOTORS

Its often said that "a picture speaks more than a worth of a one thousand word truth". Truth, be told, lke many times before, often lies on the senses of the listener and the believer.

If you look at the picture above, this place was once home to the biggest automobile manufacturing plant in Asia in the mid to late 90s. Today, this place lies deserted, isolated, calm, forgotten yet unforgetteable. But, whats the real inside story today? Are things still in place after the pendulum of events that made news nationwide? The place, that was once bristling with activity and winning many hearts and minds alike (mine including in 2000) lies almost dead, in the middle of the town of Surajpur, at the ourskirts of greater noida, just opposite the yamaha plant.

Think you know it all? If not, think again.

Welcome to the isolated world of daewoo motors India limited, surajpur, UP factory, now mostly owned by Mr. BVR Subbu's Argentum motors.

The board above may claim that daewoo made some great automobiles since the past 30 years, but reality was that this same boad was put in place in 1998 at the time of the matiz launch, which took place in november 1998 in India.
Daewoo's innings, lasting 7 odd years (1995-2002) were an innings akin to a cricket match, or in other words, a corporate cricket match ran by decisions inspired by both see-saw and pendulum. Manufacturers of cars like the Cielo, Matiz and Nexia, these shortlived products did leave a lasting impression in the Indian market in that time.
The company may have been a victim of big worldwide corporate bankruptcy which affected the Indian operations, but at that time, Daewoo motors India limited was the company that invested the maximum amount in settling up a full fledged integrated manufacturing facility in the country, as well as one of the early MNC's to enter the market after the policy of librelization in late 1991.
During their shortlived innings, they gave India many firsts, namely:

1. First automobile with MPFI engine technology (the E220 W124 was launched after the cielo).
2. First mass producton car with an optional driver airbag and a 6 CD changer plus tilt steering (cielo GLX)
3. First regular production car with a 3 speed automatic transmission
4. First "true luxury car" for upper class packed with features.
5. First application of cab forward design (matiz)
6. First production car ever to sport reverse parking sensors (final edtion matiz, 2001)

Along with this, they were eary adopters of 16V DOHC technology gasoline engine (second after ford escort 1.6 zetec) and after the santro, matiz was only the second compact car to get fuel injected technology. Debatable or not, daewoo cars were loved by owners in general (maybe not those who cried hue about the pathetic mileage of the cielo 1.5), especially the matiz, and at that time the company's after sales quality was also steller. Though their marketing left much to be desired, often involved in Korean wars with Hyundai and sometimes maruti, the investment that they did make showed a lot of comitment to the Indian market.

The factory houses a full fledged press shop, paint shop, engine shop and final assembly line. Located around a vast area, we were taken around in electric scooters (more on that later) and since there were security issues and restrictions, we were only allowed to click selective pics.

But, still, every pic is a story in itself.

Let me once again take this opportunity to thank a special friend of mine who took pains to get this organised. How did it happen, obviously I cannot disclose it. But the pics that you see are the freshest ever, anywhere, clicked just a few hours back.

[sidindica]

The engine components room

The engine and transaxle assembly line is 1.5 kms inside from the main entry gate. Its a huge unit where daewoo invested thousands of crores of rupees in tooling, machinery and components. Once entered, towards the left side, lies this section where individual components/ engine pats and a couple of engines were displayed. Even after 12 years, their condition is still pristine. About 15-20 people are employed in its maintenance department. This room has components for the Cielo 1.5 MT, 1.6 3 speed AT and Nexia 1.5 DOHC MT engines. I tried searching something for the matiz but couldn't find any.

The nexia engine. A combination of aluminum head and cast iron block. 1498 cc, 92 PS 16V DOHC.


The transaxle of the same engine.


Another view angle of the same engine.


Daewoo branding on the transaxle.


These components belong to the Cielo 1.5 SOHC 80 PS engine.


Some more components.


The cylinder head, crankshafts and connecting rods of cielo's engine.




A pic of an employee inspecting the transaxle for quality.




Another pic of another employee inspecting the crankshafts.


Cylinder block and cylinder head of Cielo's 1.6 SOHC 3 speed AT engine.


The process workflow of how to assemble an engine and driveshaft using a combination of parts sourced from Indian vendors and Daewoo Korea (knocked down kits).




The timeline of operations at engine and transaxle shop.


Cylinder head and some more components of the cielo's engine.


Various other engine parts.


A cutaway of the nexia 1.5 DOHC engine.


Mated to the driveshaft.


Cylinder block of the Cielo 1.6 AT engine

[sidindica]

The engine components room-some more pics

A closer view of the Cielo 1.6 AT cylinder block.


Gear components and a pic of the Cielo.


Crankshaft, bearing cap, camshaft and connecting rod.


May its soul rest in peace.


A pic of the lanos that daewoo was frantically planning to launch in 2000 in the ikon, accent segment. This was to be positioned below the cielo.


A pic of the 1999 Nubira. When the Indian operations received negative publicity, this was another car that daewoo was planning to launch. A roadshow in different cities was conducted and a facelifted model of this car was showcasd in 2001. That model never came, but its next generation surely was launched. Remember the old chevrolet optra?


The D segment car from daewoo, the leganza which was never considered for launch.


Daewoo's big ticket volumes car, the matiz at the time of launch. Sold in decent numbers before dying a slow death.


Cielo 1.5 MT engine block.


Cielo 1.6 AT engine block.

[sidindica]

The engine and transaxle shop

Now this is where the real excitement begins. Every machine, every tooling is in great working condition. This plant is H-U-G-E. Around 15 people are employed who take care of the entire machinery and generators which supply power to run its machines. No, the assembly line is no longer running, but given an opportunity and some amount of money pumped in, they will run just as smooth as they used to a decade ago.

This particular assembly line made nexia engines. Components were sourced from both Korea and India and final engines were made for both domestic consumption as well as export. The domestic version was a 1.5 with 92 PS, the engines that you see here are export oriented 1.6 units with 110 PS. we were litrelly shocked by what we found. Its a dream of any petrolhead....brand new packed engines, in pristine condition, even after a decade. With all the fluids, they can still be started....but that day never came...will it come ever?

It's anybody's guess....each and every picture shows a dark side of an abrupt halt of operations, not with a bang, but with a slow, gradual whimper...

One of the machines used to run the assembly line.


Some more machinery...pictures don't do justice. The area is humongous.


Some rusting is there, but they run just as fine. Only time will tell when this place will brim with activity ever again..


A closer look...the plant had an installed capacity of 100000 engines per annum.


Machines used to assemble engines starting from cylinder block.


Thousands of brand new cylinder blocks still lie unused....


...and many more. Packed, forgotten....


The stock is humongous.


A part imported from Korea.


The sticker tells the whole story. this container had pistons made in Korea for the nexia engines.


More piston boxes lying unused.


Thousands of crankshafts lie unused.


A closer look of the brand new unused crankshafts. even after a decade, they just look as good as new.


The transaxles, packed seperately. bulkloads present.


A closer view of the transaxle. Notice the daewoo logo. Quite a sad sight...


And theres some more.


And many more driveshafts were also packed.


A closer look at one of them. Still looks as good as brand new even after a decade.


First look at the complete engine after assembly. They appear just brand new, fresh out of the oven.


Another nexia 1.6 DOHC 110 ps engine. Notice the compact lightweight construction.

[sidindica]

The engine and transaxle shop-part 2

Like I said earlier, words fail to describe the scene here. Walk around and you feel as if nothing has happened...its just like an automotive art museum...but instead of a museum, all that lies is remains of a company that became a victim of its own practices. the pictures describe the whle truth...never before seen anywhere, but now, feast your eyes. Not tens, not hundreds but thousands of engines lie packed and unused.

Just appearing as fresh as a daisy, waiting to be cranked, awaiting that
light of the day when someone may save them somehow in some form...

The 1.6 DOHC nexia engine.


Some more engines lying unused..


and some more. Sights like these can bring tears to the eyes of any petrol head, even though it was not considered as one of the best gasoline engines around.


Engines still lie packed....


And some more.




The picture says it all. Like a friend of mine quotes " each part of the plant cries to meet the other and become a car!".


This is the final engine assembly line, lying idle.


A close up pic of the same..


And another shot from another angle. it stil appears to be in top notch condition, thanks to the untiring efforts of the maintenance personnel.






The plant now belongs to someone else, but the original name is still very much present.




In this area, parts were categorised and chosen accordingly to classification needed.


The engine testing line.


Far view of the quality control team area which used to test engines randomly.






A bigger view of the same. The amount invested by daewoo in its engine plant was humongous. The engine line was told to be flexible.

[sidindica]

The cylinder Block Assembly line

One of the best and tecnically modern lines was set up by dewoo in 1997 when the plant was into operations. Picture this.


Another angle of the same pic.


Thousands of packed engines and other components imported from korea still lie here.


The connecting rods line.


Many of the engine blocks lying unused.

[sidindica]

The press shop and matiz graveyard

Both the matiz and Cielo/ Nexia's body was completely manufactured in the press shop, about half a km east to the engine shop. The pics still show steel for the panels lying idle. Most of the uncut raw material belonged to the matiz and have began to rust after years of negligence. Outside the shop, many of the matiz cars with stripped off mechanicals lie ignored gathering a pile of dust. What will be done to them, is anyone's guess....even the maintenance personel have no idea about it.

The matiz steel coils.


The body-in-white of a matiz, lying ignored.


he press shop is huge inside. This particular matiz shows the cutaway of its inner safety panels.


Few matiz bodyshells lying as it is, outside.


Same here, notice to the right side near the warehouse and you will find more side panels. The once loved car is now history.

[sidindica]

Fast forward

The once bristling surajpur factory is almost like a ghosttown, comments Forbes in its one time article in late 2010. Today, yes its still part ghost town, but theres some good news:
Opposite to press shop, the company has set up a new assembly line which now manufactures electric scooters and soon they will also start manufacturing three wheelers under the argentum brand. I couldn't get any further information on whats int he pipeline but contract spare part manufacturing is surely in the cards. In fact, the same has commenced albiet silently.

We wish good luck to argentum motors and their future plans to infuse some life into the once start of the plant and someday, the plant sould start bristling with activities once again.

Maybe its the end of the daewoes, after all...


Test prototype of the Indian matiz.


Matiz cars during their launch in late 1998. Pic sourced from an unknown website long ago.


The new electric three wheeler panels. To be assembled soon.


The new product rolling out: Argentum branded electric scooters. Looks almost like a normal scooter with great fit and finish.


As we leave the gate, we take this last and final pic. That of the daewoo espero.

--THE END--

[Vid6639]

Moderator's note: Thread moved from Assembly Line to Indian Car Scene. Thanks for Sharing!

[ajmat]

Looks like a missed opportunity.

Mitsubishi could have moved operations to this place
Peugeout could have started up from here

So many options.

It will take some cash to re-comission those machines and also to dispose of the now obsolete inventory

[Warwithwheels]

It really pains to see the factory in such a state. Spare a moment to think what the employees and other people dependent on the factory would have had to go thru' when the productions lines were shut.

Thanks so much sindica for sharing this invaluable report along with some heart moving pictures.

Anyways glad that the company has now been brought out from the brink and back on track registering excellent growth!

Any info that you can share on why the stocks have not yet been liquidated?

[lancer_rit]

Great narration, pictures and report sidindica :-)
Yeah, a colossal loss. GM India really had to take this plant up solving whatever issues, since all the products they launched would have fit - Spark, Aveo, UVA, Optra. And they could have become #2 or #3 in the car industry if they had moved then.

Good if the place finally gets put to some productive use...

[amitg79]

Phenomenal job, Sid. Suddenly brought a flood of memories of our old Cielo. The color was Canterbury Green. It turned heads everywhere back in the day. And after the Maruti Omni, it was a huge change for the family to travel in a 'luxury' car.

[jalsa777]

Super super thread. 5 Star rating from me.

I really felt sad looking at those pictures. I cannot even imagine how you must have felt there. And believe me when I say, after reading through this thread, I could not eat my lunch properly, something just did not feel right.

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I think the facility could be put to good use for contract manufacturing.
Something on the lines of Magna Steyr (Click here for more info). This company contract manufactures the Aston Martin Rapide, Mercedes SLS AMG's body shell, etc.

[chennai-indian]

What a sad state of affairs - it pains to see such a wonderful plant lying idle. And the cars - each one of them could have been a winner in our market. Matiz in the form of Spark still sells in India.