The ACMA Mobility Foundation (AMF), an initiative of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Germany, to advance cutting-edge Research and Development (R&D) collaboration for India’s auto component industry.

The MoU was signed in the backdrop of the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024) in New Delhi. The strategic partnership aims to provide a robust platform for industry-driven research and innovation, to the Indian auto component industry as it transforms to support the mobility industry in addressing challenges of carbon neutrality, circularity, safety and environment. Through this collaboration, AMF and Fraunhofer will leverage their expertise to drive advancements in technology, sustainability, and product innovation, thereby contributing to the growth and competitiveness of the Indian automotive ecosystem. The MoU will be effective for an initial period of three years, with potential extensions based on mutual agreement.

The partnership will focus on the following –

R&D Collaboration: Fraunhofer Institutes will work with AMF on applied research, focusing on new product development, process innovations, and competitive R&D for the Indian auto components sector.

Technical Expertise: Fraunhofer's technical experts will engage with Indian automotive companies to improve process technologies and introduce sustainable production methods.

Sustainability and Road Safety: Joint projects aimed at sustainable production and road safety will be explored, with a focus on circular economy principles and pre-competitive technologies that can be implemented across the automotive sector.

Vikrampati Singhania, Director, AMF & MD, JK Fenner (India) said, “This is a significant milestone for the Indian auto component industry. Collaborating with Fraunhofer, a world leader in applied research, will strengthen our efforts to drive innovation, enhance product quality, and accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility solutions. This partnership underscores our commitment to shaping a future-ready automotive industry in India.”

Vinnie Mehta, Director & Secretary, AMF added “This partnership will enable Indian companies to tap into Fraunhofer’s vast expertise and experience in applied research, helping them meet global standards while fostering innovation at a competitive cost.”

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, with its 76 research institutes and a significant global presence, brings over 3.4 billion euros (INR 298 billion) in annual research funding. The Fraunhofer Traffic and Transportation Alliance, with its cluster of 18 institutes, will be at the forefront of this collaboration, providing specialised research and development services to the automotive ecosystem in India.

Dr Johann Feckl, Director and Section Head Precompetitive Research and International Relations, Fraunhofer HQ, highlighting the strengths and capabilities of the Fraunhofer Institutes elaborated, “India and Germany are strong and natural partners in mobility. Fraunhofer possesses excellent strengths in applied research around the entire value chain of mobility from materials to manufacturing and even mobility concepts and India’s strengths are in manufacturing and qualified manpower. We are delighted that on the occasion of the Intergovernmental consultations, we are concluding this very important partnership with ACMA. We look forward to strengthening our long standing partnership.”

Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office India said, “Fraunhofer works closely with the industry to crunch the innovation cycle and bring new processes and products faster to the market. We are already working very strongly with the Indian automotive industry since the last 16 years with ACMA as a valued partner. It will be exciting to bring the German and Indian industry to work on India- specific challenges, create proof of concepts and then scale it at a much faster pace, thus combining German engineering and Indian ingenuity for a win-win alliance,”

This partnership is set to enhance technology and trade relations between India and Germany, while creating a sustainable talent pool of skilled researchers and technical experts well-versed in global best practices.

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German technology and services major Bosch has announced its financial performance for Q4 and FY2025. The company reported revenue of INR 49 billion in Q4 FY2025, up 16 percent YoY and profit after tax of INR 5.54 billion, up 11.1 percent YoY.  It attributed the performance on the back of a buoyant automotive market, particularly within the tractor and passenger car segments.

During the period, Bosch’s Mobility business sector's product revenue grew by 14.9 percent QoQ, driven by increased sales in the off-highway and passenger car segments. The Beyond Mobility business sector saw a flat growth of 1.7 percent.

Guruprasad Mudlapur, President of the Bosch Group in India and Managing Director of Bosch, said, "Amid a challenging business environment, we concluded FY2024-25 with strong revenue growth and increased sales across businesses. Sustained demand in the off-highway and passenger car segments contributed to our performance this quarter. This development reflects our agility in adapting to dynamic market needs and our continuous focus on customer centricity."

For FY2024-25, revenue from operations climbed by 8.1 percent to INR 180 billion, bolstered by increased sales in the off-highway segment and the Mobility Aftermarket business. The profit after tax came at INR 20 billion, which was 11.1 percent of the revenue.

Within the Mobility business sector, product sales for the fiscal year increased by 7 percent, predominantly due to growth in the overall passenger and tractor segments. Domestic sales for this sector also rose by 6.2 percent. The Powertrain Solutions division experienced a 5.8 percent sales increase, driven by the tractor segment and increased export sales. Meanwhile, the Mobility Aftermarket division saw an 8.4 percent rise, thanks to heightened market demand for diesel components and filters. The Beyond Mobility sector recorded a 4.4 percent increase in sales, propelled by the consumer goods segment.

Bosch Limited also announced a strategic decision to divest its 6.97 percent shareholding in Nivaata Systems (Routematic), having achieved its goals for the initial investment made in 2020.

Future Outlook

Sharing his perspective on the company’s performance for FY2026 and beyond, Mudlapur, said, "India is poised to become a leading automotive powerhouse with high levels of engineering and manufacturing excellence. In the coming years, we expect substantial growth in India as a strategic market, with an accelerated shift towards digitalisation, electrification and sustainable mobility. At Bosch, we are fully geared to lead this change and remain committed to being the preferred technology partner for OEMs in India and the world over."

The company anticipates continued growth in non-mobility areas through sustained infrastructural investments, reinforcing its position as a multi-sector technology leader.

The broader Bosch Group is forging ahead with its ambitious Strategy 2030, aiming to solidify its competitive standing. Despite a challenging market environment last year, which saw sales revenue decrease by 1.4 percent to EUR 90.3 billion (0.5 percent adjusted for exchange-rate effects), the group remains focused on its long-term objectives. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) from operations stood at EUR 3.1 billion (2023: EUR 4.8 billion), with an EBIT margin from operations of 3.5 percent.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch, affirmed: "In the 2024 business year, we achieved important improvements in terms of costs, structures, and portfolio. We are sticking to our ambitious targets in order to continue to grow and strengthen our financial independence. Our Strategy 2030 gives us the orientation we need, especially in times of global turbulence, to become one of the top three providers in our core markets in five years’ time at the latest.”

Going forward, Bosch has outlined its financial targets of attaining 6 percent and 8 percent annual average growth until 2030, assuming a normal inflation rate of between 2 percent and 3 percent.

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Tier 1 supplier Minda Corporation, the flagship company of Spark Minda, has announced its financial results for the Q4 and FY2025.

The company reported a consolidated revenue of INR 13 billion for Q4 FY25, marking an 8.7 percent YoY growth. The EBITDA came at INR 1.53 billion, with its highest-ever EBITDA margin of 11.6 percent, Profit After Tax (PAT) at INR 520 million, representing a margin of 3.9 percent.

During the quarter, the company formed a strategic partnership with Flash Electronics to establish India’s fastest-growing electric vehicle (EV) platform. As part of this collaboration, Minda Corporation acquired a 49 percent equity stake in Flash Electronics. The partnership brings together complementary strengths, with Minda Corporation focusing on automotive body electronics and Flash Electronics specialising in engine and powertrain electronics. This alliance is expected to drive the creation of a comprehensive and synergistic product portfolio to accelerate EV market growth.

For FY2025, Minda Corporation reported consolidated revenue of INR 50.56 billion, representing an 8.7 percent YoY increase. EBITDA for the year stood at INR 5.75 billion, with an EBITDA margin of 11.4 percent and PAT at INR 2.55 billion, up 12.4 percent YoY.

Ashok Minda, Chairman and Group CEO, Spark Minda, said, “FY2025 was a year of consistent execution and strategic progress for Spark Minda. Amid an evolving industry environment, we stayed focused on strengthening core capabilities, enhancing technology integration, and deepening customer partnerships. These efforts have reinforced our ability to deliver value across key segments while building a more agile, innovation-led organization. As we conclude the year, we remain committed to driving sustainable growth, expanding market reach, and unlocking new opportunities through operational excellence and strategic investments.”

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Tier 1 supplier Uno Minda has announced its financial results for Q4 FY2025 and FY2025. The company reported strong growth across the year on the back of strong performance across its key product segments, including switches, lighting, seating, casting, sensors, controllers and EV products.

For Q4 FY2025, the revenue came at INR 45 billion, up 19 percent YoY, as compared to INR 37 billion for the same period last year. The EBITDA came at INR 5.2 billion, up 11 percent, profit after tax at INR 2.66 billion, a relatively flat growth, as against INR 2.65 billion last year.

For FY2025, Uno Minda posted consolidated revenue of INR 167 billion, a robust growth of 20 percent, as against INR 140 billion last year. The EBITDA grew by 18 percent at INR 18 billion, profit after tax at INR 9.3 billion, up 9 percent, as against INR 8.5 billion last year.

Ravi Mehra, Managing Director, Uno Minda Group, said, “FY2025 has been a defining year for Uno Minda, marked by strategic progress and solid execution. We undertook several high-impact initiatives – including expansion into new product segments like Sunroof, the launch of new ventures like 4W EV products with Inovance Automotive and StarCharge, and the execution of our planned capital expenditure – to strengthen our growth platform. Our commitment to innovation and operational excellence continues to be the cornerstone of our success. We remain confident in our ability to outperform industry growth and create sustained value for all our stakeholders.”

Sunil Bohra, CFO, Uno Minda Group, said, “We continue to deliver strong quarterly and annual performance, with full-year revenue growing by 20 percent. This growth was broad-based across key segments such as switches, lighting, alloy wheels and emerging technologies like sensors, ADAS and EV products, and was further supported by the successful commissioning of four major expansion projects. Looking ahead, with around 12 new capacity expansion projects currently underway, we remain confident in sustaining our growth momentum and creating long-term value.”

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Tier 1 supplier Minda Corporation, the flagship company of the Spark Minda Group, has appointed Ajay Agarwal as its new President – Finance & Strategy.

With more than two decades of experience, Agarwal is a Chartered Accountant and Lawyer. He has executive experience across industries, with a proven track record in driving business and financial performance, executing complex transactions and supporting scalable business models. In his last role, he served as the President for Finance & Strategy at Vedanta and has also worked at KPMG and PwC in the past.

In his new role he will be responsible for formulating strategies and developing the organisation structure to facilitate growth. Agarwal will also spearhead the financial function, including strategy, corporate planning, Merger & Acquisition, Joint Ventures, Investor Relations and various strategic growth initiatives.

Aakash Minda, Executive Director, Minda Corporation, said, “As Minda Corporation enters its next phase of growth, Ajay Agarwal’s appointment positions us strongly to scale with confidence. His commercial acumen, capital markets expertise, and strategic mindset will be key in shaping our financial platform to support innovation and expansion.”

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