Auto component maker Federal Mogul's Chennai plant to begin operations by March

S.MURALIDHAR
NEW DELHI, JAN. 6: 


The company has added after-market products to a range that was otherwise heavily oriented towards traditional engine parts such as pistons.

Global automotive components manufacturer Federal-Mogul's new facility for producing braking and friction materials, being set up in Chennai, will begin operations by March this year. The plant is expected to be inaugurated next month and will initially focus on after market products like linings and brake pads.

Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Auto Expo 2012 here on Friday, Mr Jean de Montiaur, Corporate Vice-President and CEO India, Federal-Mogul India group of companies said that the plant is being set up on a 10-acre plot and will be operational in phases. A total four phases within one large building will be set up over the next four years. The plant will expand the product range that is manufactured locally and will eventually enable Federal-Mogul to enter new segments, Mr Montiaur said.

He added that the Chennai is significant geographically due to the location of a large number of OE (original equipment) customers in the region and the plant will also enable the addition of products like brake pads for discs, linings for heavy commercial vehicles and other friction products. The products will enable Federal-Mogul to cater to both OE and the after-market customers.

Recently, the company added a number of after-market products like wiper blades, engine coolants and brake fluids to its portfolio. These brought in a considerable change in profile to its product range that was otherwise heavily oriented towards traditional engine parts such as pistons, piston rings and engine bearings. The new Chennai facility will focus largely on catering to the demands of the domestic market here, though it can also double up and act as a back-up facility in the event of any production disruption at any of the Federal-Mogul plants globally, clarified Mr Montiaur.

The company wants to aggressively increase its focus on the after-market. The aftermarket is growing rapidly as the influx of new vehicles has expanded the total Indian car market, which was 14 million vehicles in 2005 and is projected to grow to 55 million vehicles in 2020. This will drive new requirements for high quality OEM-style repair and maintenance parts, felt Mr Montiaur.

Federal-Mogul's Indian headquarters is in Delhi, and one of the company's 18 globally networked technical centres is in Bangalore.

(Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2781093.ece)

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)

GKN Driveline looking to enter differential segment in India

3 JAN, 2012, 02.35PM IST, PTI 


NEW DELHI: UK-based automotive driveline components provider GKN Driveline today said the company is looking to enter differential segment in India as part of its expansion plans in the country.

The company, currently manufactures only constant velocity joint (CVJ) systems across its three facilities in India and is in process of setting up a new facility at Pune at an investment of Rs 130 crore.

"We are looking to enter differential business and have started discussions with our customers. We are keen to get into this business," GKN Driveline India Managing Director Ravindra Ojha told reporters here.

Ojha, however, declined to comment on the time frame for the entry into the segment.

In automobiles and other wheeled vehicles, the differential allows each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds.

The company's Pune facility would employ more than 200 people and would produce CVJ systems and trans-axle solutions. The facility is located near the plants of its major customers including Fiat, Volkswagen, General Motors and Tata.

"The plant will have a capacity of 6 lakh sideshafts in the the first phase which could be expanded to 12 lakh in the second phase," Ojha said.

The plant is expected to be fully operational in September 2012 and would help the company serve its customers in the region, Ojha added.

GKN has been investing on regular intervals in the country and in November last year opened a precision forge at Oragadam near Chennai at an investment of Rs 48 crore.

"We expect India to remain a high growth automotive market for many years to come and will continue to invest here to meet our customers need," Ojha said.

(Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/auto-components/gkn-driveline-looking-to-enter-differential-segment-in-india/articleshow/11350378.cms)

Aisin sets up 2 subsidiaries in India to make, sell auto parts

NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Major auto components supplier Aisin Seiki Co. said Wednesday it has established two subsidiaries to manufacture and market auto parts in India earlier this month to cash in on the burgeoning Indian auto market.

Aisin Automotive Haryana Pvt. Ltd. in the city of Rohtak on the outskirts of New Delhi is capitalized at 710 million rupees, or some 1 billion yen, while the other, Aisin Automotive Karnataka Pvt. Ltd. in the southern Indian city of Narsapur near Bangalore, at 310 million rupees, or some 460 million yen.

The Rohtak arm is also tasked with designing auto components.

Aisin Seiki has been making auto components in India since 1999.

(Mainichi Japan) December 29, 2011

(Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20111229p2g00m0bu054000c.html)

Auto parts maker Valeo plans unit at Sanand

CHENNAI, DEC. 27: 


Auto component maker Valeo is scouting for opportunities in Sanand, Gujarat to set up a manufacturing plant.

With big names such as Ford, Tata Motors and Peugeot driving into the region, Sanand is rapidly transforming into an auto hub.

Valeo expects to start construction at Sanand soon and have a plant running by 2013. This is part of the company's efforts to ramp up local manufacturing.

The company currently manufactures clutches, friction materials and lighting systems at its plants in Chennai, while its Pune plant makes security systems, starters and alternators.

By 2013, Valeo is looking to locally manufacture wiper systems, top column module, compressors and air management systems, said Mr P.R. Dhaamodharan, Group President and Managing Director, Valeo India.

“Of the 16 product groups globally, only four are manufactured locally at present. Valeo India will localise most products in the coming years.”

Valeo is expanding its friction material factory at Maraimalainagar, Chennai. It is also setting up a new factory at Oragadam, Chennai for clutches.

The company says it has already firmed up commitment from customers for the upcoming products.

“Localisation is important to eliminate concerns from currency volatility and tide over difficult economic conditions globally. Also, some products are customised to cater to unique needs of the Indian market which is in the small car segment,” says Mr Dhaamodharan.

Valeo's R&D team in Chennai is working on starters and alternators suited for small cars. “These products will be ready by 2012 and will cater to India and similar markets such as South America.”

(Source : http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2752548.ece)