Switzerland-based international technology and market leader in electrolamination stamping, fineblanking and forming company Feintool has officially inaugurated its first manufacturing site in India, located in Pune.

The facility, which has begun ramping up production, is designed to support the local automotive market with high-precision fineblanked components. The company had earmarked an initial investment of CHF 15 million (approx USD 19 million) towards the facility, which will produce seat adjusters for various major automotive manufacturers in India.

The company has adopted a ‘local-for-local’ approach, allowing it to supply automotive customers directly within the Indian market. This move is intended to reduce reliance on long-distance supply chains and respond to the growth of India’s automotive sector, which is the third-largest in the world.

Lars Reich, CEO, Feintool, said, “Feintool is proud to meet its customers’ demand for local production in India with the facility in Pune. We are in the right place at the right time to benefit sustainably from the momentum in the Indian automotive industry and to capitalise on further opportunities in the growing industrial markets in India.”

Initial operations at the Pune site are focused on the production of fine-blanked automotive seating systems. However, the facility is designed to support future expansion into additional core technologies, including cold forming, e-lamination stamping (for e-motor cores) and hydrogen applications.

Tobias Gries, Managing Director, Feintool India, said, “We have established a strong team in India. With Feintool’s global expertise, we are now ramping up production in Pune—starting with fineblanked automotive seating systems. Looking ahead, we are ready to expand into cold forming, e-motor core production and even hydrogen applications. The plant is fully prepared for further expansion as demand develops.”

This new site joins Feintool’s network of 18 production facilities across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

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Auto component manufacturer Eastman Auto and Power has appointed Rajesh Jindal as Chief Executive Officer.

He comes with over 34 years of corporate experience spanning sales, marketing and product management, following a 24-year tenure at Amara Raja Energy and Mobility, where he most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for automotive batteries in India.

Jindal holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering alongside a Master of Business Administration qualification. During his career, he has managed distribution networks, channel partner relations and go-to-market strategies within the energy storage and automotive component sectors.

Shekhar Singal, MD, Eastman Auto and Power, said, "With over 34 years of experience, Jindal has garnered experience in sales, marketing and product development and is well-positioned to accelerate Eastman’s growth journey. As he begins this new chapter at Eastman, we look forward to his leadership in deepening our commitment for delivering sustainable value for our customers, partners, employees and stakeholders - advancing the company's long-term growth aspirations and inspiring the organisation to achieve new milestones together."

Established in 2000, Eastman Auto and Power operates across three business verticals: last-mile electric mobility solutions, residential solar storage systems and energy storage solutions.

The company employs over 3,600 personnel across seven manufacturing plants in India, supported by a distribution network of more than 1,200 direct partners and over 400 original equipment manufacturer clients worldwide.

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Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) recently took part in the SAE International Thermal Management Systems Symposium, held on 6–7 October 2026 in Dearborn, Michigan. The event gathered mobility-industry professionals to discuss technologies and emerging challenges in vehicle thermal management. Throughout the two-day symposium, the Kuraray GENESTAR team connected with attendees at Booth #19, sharing insights into high-performance engineering materials.

The team demonstrated how GENESTAR PA9T can meet demanding automotive application requirements. This heat-resistant polyamide engineering plastic was developed by Kuraray using unique monomers, combining low water absorption, high heat resistance, chemical resistance, dimensional precision and excellent moldability. It also offers electrical properties suitable for demanding electrical and electronic applications, including low water absorption, chemical resistance, moldability, insulation performance, thermal resistance and dimensional stability.

These characteristics make GENESTAR relevant for a broad range of electrical, electronic and automotive components. Kuraray lists automotive applications including connectors, relays, insulators and wire harnesses, while GENESTAR materials also serve in sliding, fuel and air-intake systems. The company reports use in automotive gears, bearings, piping and intercooler tanks, and the material is being considered for electric-vehicle applications as well.

The SAE symposium provided a forum for exchanging insights into evolving thermal management technologies. The 2026 programme covered battery and electronics cooling, climate control, alternative refrigerants and vehicle thermal engineering approaches. For Kuraray, participation enabled direct engagement with engineers and industry professionals about how high-performance materials can address increasingly complex automotive design requirements, with GENESTAR PA9T offering a material option where multiple performance demands must be met simultaneously.

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Highway Roop Precision Technologies, a Carlyle-backed manufacturer of precision torque and control components, has completed the acquisition of Chamundi Die Cast, which manufactures complex aluminium die-cast components for automotive and industrial applications.

The transaction adds integrated aluminium die-casting and machining capabilities to Highway Roop's existing forging and precision-machining operations across steering, transmission and powertrain systems.

The acquisition expands Highway Roop’s product portfolio into lightweight vehicle solutions and electric vehicle components, while establishing a manufacturing footprint in South India alongside Chamundi's existing customer base in India, North America and Europe.

At present, Chamundi exports 60 percent of its products to global markets, while domestic business accounts for 40 percent. Interestingly, 98 percent of its business comes from the automotive industry, while the remaining comes from non-automotive sector.

Mohit Oswal, Chairman, Highway Roop, said, “This acquisition is an important milestone in our journey to build Highway Roop into a scaled, diversified precision manufacturing platform anchored in mission-critical torque and control applications. Chamundi’s capabilities and customer relationships complement our existing strengths and strengthen our ability to serve customers across automotive and industrial applications. Together, we are building a stronger platform for the next phase of growth.”

Dharmesh Arora, Group CEO and Director, Highway Roop, said, “Chamundi meaningfully strengthens Highway Roop’s capabilities around our core focus on torque and control applications. Its integrated aluminum die-casting and precision-machining capabilities expand our ability to deliver complex, lightweight engineered solutions across vehicle technologies. Its South India manufacturing base also diversifies our footprint, brings us closer to key customers, and strengthens the resilience of our manufacturing network and supply chain. We are delighted to welcome the Chamundi team to Highway Roop and look forward to building a stronger platform together.”

Yasin Khan, Managing Director, Chamundi, said, “Over four decades, Chamundi has built a strong business anchored in engineering excellence, a committed workforce and long-standing customer relationships. We are pleased to partner with Highway Roop for the next phase of our journey and will continue to hold a stake in the combined entity. Highway Roop’s complementary capabilities and scale will enable us to build on this foundation, deepen our relationships with customers, and create new opportunities for our employees, as we grow together.”

Amit Jain, Partner and Head, Carlyle India Advisors, said, “This transaction reflects Carlyle’s continued commitment to building a scaled, differentiated precision manufacturing platform in India. Highway Roop has established itself as a trusted partner to global OEMs for mission-critical torque and control components, and Chamundi adds complementary capabilities that further strengthen its customer proposition. We remain focused on supporting Highway Roop as it scales its capabilities and builds towards becoming one of India’s leading precision manufacturing companies serving automotive and industrial customers globally.”

Following the completion of the acquisition, Chamundi's leadership will retain an equity stake in the combined entity as part of the integration into Highway Roop's global supply platform.

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American component supplier Stoneridge has appointed Uwe Brandenburg as its Global Vice-President, Engineering and Innovation, effective 2 November 2026. Brandenburg will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Natalia Noblet and join the company’s executive management team.

In his new role, Brandenburg will oversee Stoneridge’s global engineering division, managing product development, technology innovation and product roadmaps across vision systems, safety technology, vehicle intelligence and connectivity platforms for commercial vehicles and off-highway equipment.

Natalia Noblet said, "Uwe is a recognised voice in automotive electronics and engineering leadership, with a proven track record of building world-class engineering teams and delivering breakthrough innovations in ADAS, autonomous driving and software-defined vehicles. His extensive experience bringing next-generation radar, camera, safety electronics and AI-powered platforms to market, combined with his strategic vision and commitment to operational excellence, make him an exceptional addition to our Executive Team. We are excited to leverage his expertise to accelerate Stoneridge’s technology roadmap and strengthen our competitive position in vehicle intelligence and safety.”

Brandenburg comes with over 25 years of experience in Tier 1 automotive electronics, software engineering and vehicle systems. Prior to joining Stoneridge, he served as Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice-President for Automotive and Manufacturing at DXC Technology.

His previous positions include Global Head of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer for advanced driver assistance systems at Valeo, alongside engineering leadership roles at Continental, Autoliv and TRW Automotive focused on radar, camera and safety electronics systems.

Uwe Brandenburg said, “Stoneridge has a clear technology strategy, a highly talented engineering organisation, and a mission centred on improving safety, reducing emissions and increasing vehicle efficiency for our customers. When cutting-edge technology is paired with the right team and a purpose that truly matters, we have what it takes to create strong value for our customers. I look forward to building on this strong foundation and helping the team deliver the next generation of vision and safety solutions.”

Brandenburg holds a degree in Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Constance and currently serves on the board of directors of BlincVision.

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