Showing posts with label Expansion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Expansion. Show all posts

Friday, January 13, 2012

Auto parts maker Anand Group has Defence sector in crosshairs

ROUDRA BHATTACHARYA
NEW DELHI, JAN. 12:

Auto component major Anand Group is actively looking to enter the defence sector as a parts supplier.

The Group is in talks with a few companies for a likely joint venture and may even set up a dedicated entity for the business.

The “investment and gestation” periods are higher in the sector, Mr Sandeep Balooja, President, Global Business Development, Anand Automotive told Business Line. “The (defence) industry has a lot of potential. The standards are much higher for the precision components, but the margins are also good. We're discussing at this point, as this will have to be a different mindset for us,” Mr Balooja said.

The company is particularly interested in the defence aviation business as it feels it already has certain synergies in the area. It is eyeing the Government-mandated offsets clause for local manufacturing and technology sharing from the upcoming defence deals, such as the one on fighter planes.

AEROSPACE

“Aerospace could be preferred because of partnerships, but we are interested in all areas. We could start initially with opening an engineering centre for defence. The issue is the limitation of FDI in the sector, which limits foreign participation,” he said.

The Anand Group incidentally also operates two resorts as another separate business interest. However, its core interest is in auto components — it operates 19 companies, and 14 joint ventures with major global brands — and manufactures shock absorbers, exhausts and brake systems among others.

The group expects turnover to increase by 21 per cent this fiscal, to Rs 5,100 crore. In 2012-13, it expects a growth of 16-17 per cent. And, by 2015, the sales target is Rs 10,000 crore.

“We're looking to get into electronic components. That is the future for the business. We're not adding any fresh capacity this year; all our expansion plans are already complete,” Mr Balooja said.

(Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2795885.ece?ref=wl_opinion)

Monday, January 9, 2012

Auto supplier Denso to invest in new plant, tech centre

ROUDRA BHATTACHARYA
NEW DELHI, JAN. 7:


Japanese component maker Denso is investing around Rs 400 crore in India on a new plant in Haryana and a new R&D centre.

To start by 2013, its Rs 300-crore fifth new manufacturing plant near Gurgaon, will make motors for wipers and power windows and supply to carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai.

Meanwhile, it has invested Rs 150 crore in a technical centre that starts operations by March.

“Our strategy for the Group is R&D expansion and growing our business in emerging markets. That we think is the key to success in the future. Denso spends over nine per cent on R&D,” Mr Yasushi Nei, Chairman & CFO, Denso International India, told Business Line.

The company, which currently supplies to two-wheelers and passenger cars, is expanding to the commercial vehicle segment. It is planning a new product range with engine management systems for petrol cars, in preparation for Bharat Stage V cars. It is also planning to make airbag control units and software for global needs locally.

“We've successfully developed a new technology in India where we are sharing the same components across products like radiator and condensers. We are taking this to other markets,” said Mr K.K. Viswanathan, Vice-President, Denso International India.

Denso came into India in 1984 with Suzuki (Maruti Suzuki). Currently, it has six Group companies, two joint ventures to Subros and Pricol, apart from a technical assistance tie-up with Lucas-TVS. It makes various products ranging from motors, vehicles radiators/air-conditioners and engine management systems. India accounts for 10 per cent of the Asian revenues of the $38-billion company.

(Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2783413.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

Continental AG to invest over Rs 800 crore in India by 2013

8 JAN, 2012, 12.09PM IST, PTI


NEW DELHI: German auto component-maker Continental AG will invest over Rs 800 crore in India over the next two years to strengthen its operations in the country, as well as make an entry into the radial tyres segment.

While the firm will spend Rs 500 crore to ramp up its electronics division and enhance its R&D capabilities, it will pump in over 50 million euros (about Rs 330 crore) to get into the radial tyre segment. The company acquired Modi Tyres for 18.5 million euros last year.

"We will invest Rs 100 crore every year on electronics equipment. This will be for introducing new products from our Bangalore plant and supporting new customers," Continental AG Member of the Executive Board (Division Interior) Helmut Matschi told PTI at 11th Auto Expo here.

In addition, the auto major will invest Rs 150 crore every year on its R&D division, he added.

Continental Automotive Components (India) currently employs 800 people in its R&D wing.

"We will invest 50 million euros at Modi Tyres' plant at Modipuram, in UP. We will launch radial tyres for both commercial and passenger vehicles from the plant by 2013," Matschi said.

The company will commence production of radial tyres with an initial capacity of 8,00,000 units a year.

Continental Automotive Components (India) Managing Director Claude d'Gama Rose said the company plans to increase the production capacity of cross-ly tyres from the plant to 10 lakh units annually from 5 lakh units at present.

Asked about its workforce, he said the company will hike its manpower strength at Modipuran by 800 by next year.

The company has six more manufacturing facilities at Bangalore, Manesar, Pune, Gurgaon, Sonepat and Kolkata for production of various automotive and non-automotive products for the Indian market.

Continental Automotive Components (India) had registered a sales revenue of about 200 million euros in 2011 and is expecting to grow "faster than global operations", Matschi said.

Globally, the company witnessed growth of about 11 per cent in revenues last year to 29.5 billion euros.

(Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/auto-components/continental-ag-to-invest-over-rs-800-cr-in-india-by-2013/articleshow/11411142.cms)

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Bosch to invest Rs 2,200 crore in India in next 2 years


NEW DELHI: Auto component maker Bosch said it will invest Rs 2,200 crore in India in the next two years to enhance its production capacity and develop new technologies for the domestic market.

The company, which achieved sales of Rs 11,000 crore in 2011, said the investment is in line with its strategy to increase focus on localising its products and maintain a growth of 20-21 per cent in the coming years in India.


Besides, Bosch announced that the company will invest Rs 140 crore to support research activities at universities in India in the next 10 years.

"Between 2012 and 2013, the Bosch Group plans to invest some 22 billion rupees (Rs 2,200 crore) in India. Most of these funds will go into further expanding our local activities," Bosch Automotive Group Chairman Bernd Bohr told reporters.

He said a major portion of the investment will go on increasing the production capacities of its existing facilities located in Nashik, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

"As Asia's emerging economies develop, demand for small, low cost vehicles will continue to grow. In response to this trend, we continue to focus our efforts on developing affordable technologies that meet local needs," he said.

Of the total investment, Rs 700 crore will be used in enhancing Nashik plant capacity while the rest will be spent on executing the expansion plans of other facilities.

At present, Bosch has 13 manufacturing sites and 4 development centres across the country. Besides, the company is currently building new plants in Chennai and Ahmedabad, which are likely to be operation this year.

"The Nashik plant can produce around 7-8 million fuel injection products. A large chunk of the investment -- around Rs 700 crore will go expanding the capacity of the plant," Bosch India Managing Director V K Vishwanathan said, adding that firm is also ramping up production of hangars at its Jaipur plant.

He, however, did not disclose how much the plant is likely to produce after the expansion.

Besides, the company said it has dedicated Rs 320 crore to support research activities in India, China, Germany and United States. "Almost half of the total investment (around Rs 140 crore) will support educational and research initiatives in India," Bohr said.

In line with its growth strategy and expansion plans in the country, the company is also increasing the headcount to 32,000 associates by the end of 2013. At present, it has 25,000 associates working for Bosch companies in India.

(Source : http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-04/news/30588787_1_bernd-bohr-jaipur-plant-bosch-automotive-group)