Despite the global slowdown in the automobile sector, Anand Automotive Systems still plans to go ahead with the investment worth Rs 600 crore to set up 13 plants across the country by 2010. 

The company accepts that the slowdown in the domestic automobile sector has put the group's bottom lines under pressure but said the company was confident that old export as well as domestic orders would help it tide over the current crisis. 

The Anand Group, which started operations with the establishment of Gabriel India, the group's flagship company, comprises 18 companies with 44 manufacturing locations currently. The group companies manufacture shock absorbers, struts, front forks, engine bearings, piston rings, castings and gaskets. 

The group's domestic clients include auto majors such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Yamaha, Honda, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and TVS.

The company earns 20 per cent of its revenue through exports orders in overseas markets including US and UK. The company has set a target of becoming a $1 billion turnover group by 2010.

The market analysts expect that the company can show good performance as it has decided to go ahead with the expansion plans despite the slowdown. The company has adequate internal resources to fund expansion.