FORVIA has announced a significant expansion of its Indian operations, marked by a new seating programme award that will result in the construction of a dedicated manufacturing plant for complete seat assembly. This new facility will represent the Group’s 10th manufacturing site in India and its first specifically for complete seat production. The move comes as the Indian automotive market demonstrates robust growth, with vehicle sales reaching a record 2.6 million units in the first half of 2026.

The upcoming plant, scheduled to begin production in 2027, will handle end-to-end manufacturing of complete seating systems, including structures, mechanisms, foam, covers and final assembly for both first- and second-row seats. The site will feature FORVIA’s proprietary Cover Carving Technology, a polyurethane-based innovation that optimises seat geometry to maximise rear cabin space and improve passenger comfort while enhancing surface finish quality.

India has emerged as a pivotal engineering hub for FORVIA, employing over 2,400 engineers and technical experts. The country’s teams are developing next-generation mobility technologies, including zonal controllers, smartphone-based vehicle access and radar-based rider assistance. FORVIA HELLA India has been established as a Global AI Center of Competence, focusing on artificial intelligence solutions for engineering and manufacturing applications.

The expansion is a core component of FORVIA’s IGNITE strategic plan, prioritising growth in high-potential regions. With the new facility, the Group will operate manufacturing sites across multiple locations, including Mehsana, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Manesar. The Group has secured several programme awards with leading OEMs since the start of 2026, spanning Seating, Electronics and Clean Mobility.

The Group’s growth strategy is supported by strong local partnerships, notably the joint venture between FORVIA Clean Mobility and Anand Group, combining global expertise with local market knowledge. FORVIA India has filed 61 patent applications and been granted 30 patents, underscoring India’s strategic importance in FORVIA’s ambition to strengthen its position as a leading mobility technology partner for original equipment manufacturers.

Martin Fischer, CEO, FORVIA, said, "India is becoming one of the world's most dynamic automotive markets and a strategic pillar of FORVIA's growth trajectory. Beyond this new Seating investment, we continue to expand our industrial footprint, strengthen localisation, invest in advanced technologies and develop world-class engineering and AI capabilities across the country."

Sébastien Limousin, Executive Vice President, FORVIA Seating Business Group, said, "This new plant reinforces our positioning in India, a market expected to represent around EUR 4 billion by 2030 for automotive seating. It reflects our commitment to expanding complete seat system capabilities in India, with locally developed and manufactured solutions, and bringing advanced seating technologies to high-growth markets.”

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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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HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS will participate in CAMX 2026, the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, held in Atlanta from 22 to 24 September. As North America's largest exhibition for composite and advanced materials, it expects over 500 companies and roughly 7,000 visitors. The company has exhibited every year since the event's debut in 2014, strengthening its North American presence.

At this year's show, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS will display 3K carbon fibre, 3K fabrics and composites for drones and high-pressure vessels for satellites. Carbon fibre applications are expanding across automotive wheels, hoods and brake discs, sports goods such as hockey sticks, pickleball rackets and surfboards, wire cores and increasingly aerospace, defence and drones.

TANSOME, independently developed in 2011 as Korea's first proprietary carbon fibre, weighs one-quarter as much as steel while offering ten times the strength and seven times the elasticity. Commercial production began in Jeonju in 2013, followed by a China base in 2024 and planned Vietnam operations in late 2026, ensuring a stable global supply chain.

International certifications validate the company's capabilities, including IATF 16949 in 2019 and AS9100 in 2021. In 2022, it developed H3065, a T-1000-grade ultra-high-strength carbon fibre, becoming only the third company worldwide after Japan and the United States to do so.

Jin-dal Lim, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “CAMX 2026 is an important platform for sharing the latest technologies and market trends with leading companies and customers in the global composite materials industry and exploring new business opportunities. We will provide differentiated carbon fibre solutions for advanced industries, including aerospace and aviation, based on our high-performance carbon fibre technologies and stable supply capabilities.”

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Imperial Auto Industries Limited has appointed James Gaylord as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary, Imperial Auto USA Corp. In his new role, Gaylord will lead Imperial Auto’s operations across the Americas and drive the company’s next phase of growth in the region. He will report to Vikram Wagh, Managing Director & CEO, Imperial Auto Industries Limited.

Gaylord's mandate would include expanding Imperial Auto’s presence into new markets across the American region while driving significant revenue growth over the coming years. He will also focus on strengthening the company’s product engineering and new product development capabilities in the Americas, while leading initiatives to localise the supply chain, enhance purchasing capabilities and build strategic partnerships with suppliers to support the company’s regional growth.

With nearly three decades of experience across the automotive and manufacturing sectors, Gaylord brings with him proven expertise in business development, operational excellence, transformation and growth. Prior to joining Imperial Auto, he served as the Global Sales Director at Gentex. He has also held leadership roles at organisations including Johnson Controls, ATI and Tenneco.
 

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