German automotive supplier Continental AG’s ContiTech arm will be focusing on its industrial segment in India, noted Chief Executive Officer of ContiTech Groupe, Phillip Nelles, during a visit to Kolkata.

Speaking to Motoring Trends exclusively, Nelles said, “ContiTech is doubling down on industrial applications, seizing opportunities amid India's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure and energy investments. With sweeping transformations underway, the company aims to cement its position as a leader in material-driven solutions. Our strategy is to focus on industrial sectors such as commercial vehicles, railways, construction and construction machinery, where we can deliver the highest impact.”

Picking up the sentiment, Hannes Friederichsen, Head of BA Industrial Solutions APAC, Continental AG, said, “We specialises in rubber, thermoplastic materials and rubber-metal bonded components, ensuring system-critical reliability for industrial clients. If a conveyor belt fails, it’s not just an inconvenience – it’s a system-critical disruption. That’s where we add real value.” 

The parent company recently announced plans to spin off its automotive division and Contitech’s OESL. While industrial applications remain the core focus, the company acknowledges that the automotive sector operates on a different business model, requiring a distinct strategic approach.

In focus

ContiTech's core industries in India include mining, ports, energy, cement, highway vehicles, heavy trucks and construction machinery. Additionally, the company has a plant in Pune for its surface solutions vertical, producing foils and surfaces for vehicle interiors and living environments. Having already established a strong presence in Europe and the Americas, the company is now investing in APAC, with India playing a central role in its regional strategy. 

The company operates a conveyor belt plant in Kalyani and another facility in Sonipat for power transmission belts and air springs. While specific investment figures were not disclosed, ContiTech plans to expand operations in both Sonipat and Kalyani, potentially diversifying the product portfolio in these locations.

“We’ve been laying the groundwork for major investments and are now scaling up with an expanded product portfolio and localised operations. In the commercial vehicle segment, we are focusing on air springs for trucks, trailers and buses, driven by increasing demand for comfort and tyre wear reduction. Additionally, we are exploring rubber-metal bonding systems for heavy-duty applications. The Pune facility remains a key part of this growth strategy, supporting increasing production volumes,” said Friederichsen.

The company is also eyeing opportunities in the motorcycle segment, particularly in seat coverings. As it expands, it plans to bring advanced technologies from its European and US operations into India, focusing on design, functionality and sustainability. 

“Sustainability is a growing priority, and we have the expertise to integrate recycled materials into our products. We’re also enhancing functionality with features like embedded buttons and translucent surfaces for interactive displays while ensuring that vehicle interiors reflect modern design trends,” noted Nelles.  

The company’s future innovations span beyond the cockpit, extending to seating, interior coverings and mid-arm components.

Another area of expansion is predictive maintenance services, aimed at identifying early warning signs for component replacement or repair. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce downtime and operational costs for industrial customers.

Additionally, ContiTech is actively involved in air springs for high-speed trains and metros. With India’s rapid rail infrastructure development, ContiTech is transferring its expertise to support high-speed and metro train projects.

Smart surface solutions

ContiTech is adapting its smart surface solutions portfolio for the Indian market. Commenting on the same, Friederichsen said, “Leveraging our material expertise, advanced design capabilities and expertise in living solutions, we're empowering our customers to design the car interior of the future. This includes the development of functional surfaces that bring the comfort and aesthetics of home interiors to future car interiors. Moreover, we're committed to sustainability, as evident from our first carbon-neutral product, XPRESHN - Carbon Neutral. We've also developed a comprehensive sustainability toolbox for our PVC products, catering to the diverse needs of our customers. Last year, we launched our Benova Eco Protect Line, a testament to our dedication to reducing environmental footprint.”

“In the commercial vehicle segment, our easy-to-clean surfaces, equipped with the staynu technology, are designed to enhance the well-being of truck drivers. By providing attractive cabin solutions, we are contributing to a better driving experience. In the Asia-Pacific region, we are observing a strong preference for translucent materials and super soft materials. We're well positioned to cater to these requirements, with a broad range of products that are generating significant interest among our customers,” he added. 

Alluding to the significance of his visit to Kolkata, he noted, “We have been in the Indian market for many years and we are constantly scanning the market to identify opportunities to grow. Kalyani plant remains in focus for us to expand Indian operations, and as we follow the principle of ‘in the market, for the market’, we are evaluating opportunities of extending our local product portfolio too.”

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American tier 1 supplier BorgWarner has secured two significant ‘conquest’ program awards in Asia, strengthening its position in both the combustion and hybrid powertrain segments. The contracts involve a latest-generation wet dual clutch for a Chinese OEM and a specialised variable cam timing (VCT) system for a Japanese OEM.

The awards were disclosed alongside the company’s Q1 2026 financial results, which highlighted a total of 12 new business wins across its global portfolio.

BorgWarner will supply its latest-generation wet dual clutch. The system uses high-performance friction materials and an optimised groove design to reduce drag torque, improving overall transmission efficiency and fuel economy. It features a new integrated wave spring for enhanced robustness and cost-effectiveness. Start of production (SOP) is planned for the second half of 2026.

Secondly, the company won a contract for a Torsional Assist (TA) Variable Cam Timing (VCT) system. This centre-bolt architecture simplifies internal oil passages compared to traditional oil-pressure systems, enabling faster cam phasing and more reliable lock-pin engagement – critical for the high-efficiency requirements of modern hybrid engines. The production is slated to begin in 2028.

Isabelle McKenzie, Vice President of BorgWarner Inc. and President and General Manager, Drivetrain and Morse Systems, said, “These new conquest awards reflect BorgWarner’s continued commitment to advancing efficient and competitive propulsion solutions. They demonstrate the resilience and growth potential of our propulsion business in Asia.”

The ‘conquest’ nature of these wins – securing business previously held by competitors – underscores BorgWarner's aggressive expansion in the Asian market. These announcements follow a string of recent successes in the region, including three eMotor awards in China and South Korea announced in April 2026.

While the company reported a slight organic net sales decline of approximately 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent for the full year 2026 due to volatile market conditions, these long-term contracts in the hybrid and SUV segments are expected to be key drivers for profitable growth through the end of the decade.

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Schaeffler, a motion technology company, will showcase its range of electrified powertrain technologies at the 13th Schaeffler Automotive Symposium in Buhl this June.

The event, themed ‘Beyond Driving. Innovation made by Schaeffler.’, will highlight solutions for the entire spectrum of drive systems, including battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and range extender applications (REEV).

In the battery electric segment, the company focuses on highly integrated and scalable systems. The key developments include system integration, which combines e-axles, drive units and software to create efficient overall systems. Scalable inverter solutions platforms with X-in-1 functionality designed for faster time-to-market and lower costs. Enhancing electric motors and bearings – such as current-insulated variants – through material efficiency and modern manufacturing. Lastly, streamlining development using new approaches to reduce product complexity and accelerate market readiness.

For the hybrid and range extender architectures, Schaeffler will present technologies designed for diverse hybrid topologies, ranging from P1 to P3 systems. These solutions include:

• Dedicated Hybrid Transmissions: An all-in-one platform for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles that integrates software and mechanical components.
• Range Extenders: Systems that utilise internal combustion engines more efficiently to support the ongoing transition to electric mobility.
• Seamless Integration: High-performance actuators and sensors used to make engine operation quiet and clean for vehicle occupants.
• Platform Compatibility: Designs that can be integrated into existing vehicle architectures while meeting cost and performance requirements.

Matthias Zink, CEO, Powertrain & Chassis, Schaeffler, said, “With our Powertrain technology cluster, we will be showcasing Schaeffler’s extensive development capabilities in the powertrain segment at the Schaeffler Automotive Symposium. We offer all customers the entire spectrum of powertrain technologies – from components to functionally integrated systems.”

Thomas Stierle, CEO, E-Mobility, Schaeffler, added, “Our expertise in mechanical engineering, electronics and software enables us to develop scalable system solutions. Thanks to a consistently integrated approach, Schaeffler is developing electric powertrains that optimally combine efficiency, a compact footprint, functionality, sustainability and industrialization.”

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Sundram Fasteners has announced that it achieved its highest ever annual revenue, EBITDA and profits in FY2026. The company surpassed the INR 60 billion consolidated income milestone during this period.

For FY2026, the company’s consolidated income reached INR 63.68 billion, EBITDA at INR 1.07 billion and net profit of INR 5.92 billion.

In Q4 FY2026, the income came at INR 15.29 billion, up 12 percent YoY, domestic sales grew by 14 percent at INR 10.28 billion, net profit of INR 1.79 billion, up 34 percent YoY.

In FY2026, Sundram Fasteners incurred INR 4.04 billion in capital expenditure to expand capacity for existing business lines and new projects.

Growth was supported by momentum in non-auto segments, including wind energy, aerospace and railways. In the automotive sector, sales were bolstered by the North American Class 8 truck market and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales.

Arathi Krishna, Managing Director, Sundram Fasteners, said, “Our performance this quarter reflects the strength of our operational discipline and our unwavering focus on customer centricity. Despite a challenging global environment marked by geopolitical uncertainties, we have delivered all-time high results driven by robust domestic demand and improved efficiencies. We continue to see strong momentum in our non-auto segments such as wind energy, aerospace, and railways, which provide significant headroom for future growth. Additionally, new business wins across geographies have enabled us to further expand our global footprint. The uptick in North American Class 8 truck and ICE vehicle sales has supported growth in our automotive portfolio, while our strategic shift to directly engage with OEMs outside India in the fasteners division has enhanced both margins and market access, even amid broader industry sluggishness.”

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has announced its financial results Q4 FY2026 and FY2026, reporting its highest levels of revenue and profitability to date.  The company recorded growth in its electric vehicle segment, with revenue from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) contributing 39 percent share for FY2026.

For Q4 FY2026, the revenue grew by 47 percent YoY to reach INR 12.72 billion, EBITDA at INR 3.11 billion, up 32 percent YoY, PAT at INR 1.92 billion, an uptick of 17 percent YoY. Interestingly, revenue from battery electric vehicles program reached INR 3.59 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY increase.

During the quarter, the company secured four driveline programs. This included three orders from European manufacturers, marking the first time the firm has won three such contracts in a single quarter. These programs include:

• North American BEV Program: An order from a European manufacturer to supply gears, adding INR 2.2 billion to the order book.
• European BEV Program: A contract from a luxury manufacturer for assemblies, valued at INR 1.4 billion.
• Hybrid Platform: An INR 1.2 billion order from a European client for assemblies.
• Indian BEV Platform: An INR 1 billion order to supply assemblies for the Indian market.

For the full financial year, Sona Comstar recorded revenue of INR 44.75 billion, up 26 percent as compared to FY2026.  EBITDA for the year stood at INR 11.07 billion with a margin of 24.7 percent. The company expanded its portfolio by adding nine new electric vehicle programs and three customers, bringing its total to 67 programs across 35 customers.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD & Group CEO, said, “Q4 FY26 was our strongest quarter financially and an important step forward in our strategic and technology roadmap, with new customers added in Europe and two new railway products commercialised. We delivered our best-ever quarter, with the highest revenue, EBITDA, PAT, BEV revenue and BEV revenue share. Revenue grew by 47 percent YoY, primarily driven by growth in EV traction and suspension motors, differential gears, differential assemblies along with consolidation of railway business. BEV revenue grew 22 percent YoY and BEV revenue share reached an all-time high of 39 percent. During the quarter, we won four driveline orders which includes three EV programs and one hybrid program. For the first time, we won three orders from European OEMs, and this is our first EV program win from Europe in almost four years. The hybrid program wins reinforce our view that hybrids are an opportunity for us, not a risk.”

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