German mechatronics specialist Marquardt has inaugurated its new plant in Talegaon in Pune, Maharashtra, which replaces its existing production facility near Mumbai.

The new facility is equipped with in-house electronics production and logistics to support Marquardt’s customers for complete mechatronic solutions, including drive authorisation systems, gear selector switches and battery management systems (BMS) for electric vehicles.

With a total investment of INR 1.8 billion towards the new plant, the facility will improve supply chain, response time for its customers. The company expects to create 500 new jobs in the next five years.

Bjorn Twiehaus, Chief Executive Officer, Marquardt Group, said, “India is an important growth market for Marquardt with great potential. We work closely with leading vehicle manufacturers here and utilise the innovative strength and expertise of our Indian team. With the opening of the plant in Talegaon, we are continuing our success story in India and strengthening our position as a leading supplier of mechatronic systems for the mobility of the future."

Vishal Narvekar, General Manager, Marquardt India, added, "The inauguration of our new facility in Talegaon marks a significant milestone for Marquardt in India. Our strong and long-standing relationships with customers in the Indian automotive industry have been instrumental in our growth. With this expansion, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering world-class mechatronic solutions tailored to the needs of our local partners. Additionally, this facility underscores our contribution to the 'Make in India' initiative by enhancing local production, fostering innovation, and creating new employment opportunities."

The new facility will complement and work in sync with the company’s development centre which has already been active for the last decade. With around 450 employees the development centre supports Marquadt’s domestic & global customers, and is a key part of the company’s innovation network.

Dr. Harald Marquardt, Shareholder and Board Member, Marquadt, added, "Our team in India is a cornerstone of our global success. The high level of innovation, efficiency and commitment of our Indian experts are groundbreaking. With this new plant, we are underlining our long-term commitment to our customers in India and worldwide."

American powertrain major BorgWarner has announced that it has elevated Chandrasekar Krishnamurthy as the Global Director of Product Management for BorgWarner PowerDrive Systems, effective 1 March 2025.

The company shared that the elevation is part of its future growth strategy, which aims to realign focus on its product family to drive competitiveness in cost, technical maturity, time to market, and compliance.

In his new role Krishnamurthy will be responsible for leading the product management team by accelerating product industrialisation readiness. Developing competitive product platform solutions in collaboration with other functions.

He will also focus on aligning product roadmaps with sales strategy, along with delivering competitive and compliant solutions on time. In addition, he will also contribute to engineering efficiency initiatives and continuously improve engineering development framework and product safety/security compliance.

Tier 1 automotive supplier Tata AutoComp Systems (Tata AutoComp) has announced that it is set to acquire International Automotive Components Group Sweden AB (IAC Sweden), a leading supplier of automotive interior systems and components.

The Swedish company currently operates three facilities in Lassby, Fargelanda and Skara is a key supplier to Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks and Scania. It specialises in plastic moulding, high-precision painting and assembly of interior components with an estimated turnover of USD 800 million.

Tata AutoComp aims to strengthen its presence in Sweden and enhance the company’s relationships with key European OEMs in both the passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle segments.

The acquisition presents strong synergy opportunities, allowing Tata AutoComp to leverage advanced manufacturing capabilities, cutting-edge technology and well-established customer relationships in the premium automotive space.

The transaction is subject to European regulatory approvals.

Arvind Goel, Vice Chairman, Tata AutoComp Systems, said, “We are delighted to welcome IAC Sweden into the Tata AutoComp family. This acquisition aligns with our long-term vision of expanding in global markets and strengthening our relationships with European OEMs. IAC Sweden has a strong legacy of delivering high-quality interior solutions, and we look forward to working together to drive innovation and excellence in the automotive industry. This move reinforces our commitment to driving sustainable, high-quality, and customer-centric automotive solutions across geographies.”

Manoj Kolhatkar, MD & CEO, Tata AutoComp Systems,  said, “This acquisition is a pivotal step in Tata AutoComp’s journey to enhance our global presence and technology portfolio.”

The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu, the investment promotion and single-window clearance arm of the Government of Tamil Nadu, hosted a landmark event in Chennai on 20 March 2025, titled Unveiling India’s New Automotive Hub: Where Wheels of Progress Turn.

The summit convened senior government officials, global and Indian automotive leaders, and key stakeholders to explore Tamil Nadu’s rise as India’s next major automotive and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub.

Dr TRB Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, was the Chief Guest at the event. “Tamil Nadu is not just attracting investments; we are shaping the future of mobility – cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive. With a skilled workforce, progressive policies, and a strong focus on sustainability and women’s empowerment, Tamil Nadu is poised for its next big leap,” he said.

Shradha Suri Marwah, President of ACMA and CMD of Subros, noted, “The state has long been a pioneer in industrial transformation. It’s no surprise that Tamil Nadu is now a magnet for domestic and global automotive players, hosting over 400 auto component manufacturers. Events like these foster collaboration between industry and government to drive growth and innovation.”

Darez Ahamed, Managing Director, Guidance Tamil Nadu, called Thoothukudi as ‘India’s New Automotive Hub,’ highlighting the state’s strategic emphasis on EV manufacturing, industry-academia partnerships, and investor-friendly infrastructure.

A key highlight was an exclusive fireside chat with senior leaders from VinFast Auto, moderated by Vinnie Mehta, Director General of ACMA. Sang Yu Won, Purchasing Head, and Prakalathan Tirupathi, Project Head of VinFast India, outlined their vision for EV innovation and emphasised Tamil Nadu’s pivotal role in their India strategy, along with expectations from the local supply ecosystem.

Other prominent speakers included Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President of ACMA and MD of JK Fenner; Sriram Viji, Chairman of ACMA Southern Region and MD of Brakes India and Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairman of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority.

Pankaj M Munjal-led Hero Motors has announced a new joint venture with German component manufacturer SchmiedeTechnik Plettenberg (SchmiedeTechnik) in India.

Based out of Hero Industrial Park in Ludhiana, Punjab the new JV will manufacture forged powertrain components in the country for the global markets.

Pankaj M Munjal, Group Chairman Hero Motors, said, “With our strong R&D manufacturing capabilities, this partnership with STP (SchmiedeTechnik) will enable us to capture a significant share of the global powertrain components market.”

Cornel Mueller, Chairman & CEO, SchmiedeTechnik, said, “Partnering with HML strengthens our global footprint and enhances cost efficiencies. Beyond manufacturing in India, our goal is to foster cross-border knowledge exchange and integrate best practices between Germany and India.”

SchmiedeTechnik is a leading player in forging and metallurgy with six facilities in Germany. It produces high-precision forged and machined components for automotive and industrial applications.