DAF Trucks Vlaanderen is celebrating 60 years of manufacturing at its facility in the Belgian Kempen region. Established in 1966 to meet demand for truck cabs, the site has expanded into a production hub for both cabs and axles within DAF’s international network.

The facility in Oevel began operations in the first half of 1966 on a 400,000 sqmt site. Axle production was transferred from Eindhoven to Westerlo in 1971. Today, the site employs 2,000 people and works with 1,000 suppliers.

Over the past decade, DAF has invested more than EUR 650 million in the Westerlo plant. These funds supported the introduction of the XD, XF, XG and XG+ truck generations, as well as their electric variants. The facility was named ‘Factory of the Future’ by the Belgian technology federation Agoria in 2024.

Key infrastructure developments include:

• Cab Paint Shop: A facility nearly 150 metres long utilising robots to apply 3,000 colours while reducing emissions by 50 percent.
• Body Department: A section featuring 145 robots for fully automated production of body-in-white cabs.
• Axle Factory: Automated lines designed to increase output and optimise working conditions.

DAF Vlaanderen operates on a 'just-in-time' principle, delivering components to assembly plants in Eindhoven and Leyland, Great Britain, based on customer orders. In 2021, the facility produced its 3 millionth axle, and it is scheduled to manufacture its 1.5 millionth cab this year.

Jos Habets, member of the DAF Board of Management responsible for Production, stated, “Sixty years of production in Belgium is a tribute to the generations of employees who have built DAF in Westerlo into what it is today: an ultramodern, future-focused production site. And, of course, it is also a fantastic recognition for our 2,000 employees and 1,000 suppliers, including around 400 in Belgium. Thanks to their dedication and commitment, we are able to build trucks that lead the industry in terms of reliability, comfort, and quality. With our ongoing investments in DAF Trucks Vlaanderen N.V., our Belgian factory has a bright future ahead.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Vega Auto, the parent company of helmet brand Axor, has commenced production of Revo optical-coated helmet visors in India, marking the start of local manufacturing for the component.

The production launch follows an investment of over INR 20 million in optical coating technology and manufacturing infrastructure. The company plans to produce up to 2.4 million units of the coated visors at its domestic facilities.

The visors utilise multilayer optical coating technology designed to control light glare in bright environmental conditions and reduce visual fatigue. The product engineering focuses on glare management and optical clarity during daylight riding, expanding safety design beyond structural impact protection to address rider visual field requirements and road environment awareness.

Girdhari Chandak, Managing Director, Vega Auto Accessories, said, "At Axor, we believe rider safety begins long before impact, it begins with vision. A rider who can see more clearly can anticipate better, react faster and ride with greater confidence. Becoming the first company in India to manufacture Revo Optical Coated Helmet Visors is a proud milestone for Vega Auto. Our investment of over INR 20 million in advanced optical coating technology reflects our commitment to building world-class innovation in India. Revo is more than a premium visor. It represents a new approach to helmet innovation, one that combines protection with superior visual performance, comfort and rider confidence. This is only the beginning of our journey to redefine rider vision technology."

The manufacturing process incorporates multilayer coatings applied directly to the visor surface to produce a reflective finish while maintaining light transmission properties. Vega Auto will integrate the locally produced visors into its Axor product portfolio while continuing the development of component manufacturing capabilities in India.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commenced commercial production at Plant D, the fourth manufacturing unit at its Hansalpur facility in Gujarat.

The new line adds 250,000 units of annual capacity, raising the total annual production capability at the Hansalpur site from 750,000 units to one million vehicles. The expansion makes Hansalpur the first manufacturing location across Suzuki's international network to achieve a million-unit annual capacity and establishes the site as the largest single-location passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in India.

The commissioning of Plant D increases Maruti Suzuki's total installed manufacturing capacity across India to 2.9 million units per year. Total investment in the Hansalpur site stands at INR 252.88 billion, which includes INR 39 billion allocated for the construction and equipping of Plant D. Initial assembly operations at the new plant will focus on the company's battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara.

In addition to the e Vitara, the Hansalpur manufacturing complex produces the Fronx, Baleno and Swift models. The site serves as a primary export hub for Maruti Suzuki, generating approximately 47 percent of the company's total overseas vehicle shipments during the 2025-26 financial year.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Gujarat has emerged as a manufacturing and export hub for Maruti Suzuki, backed by strong infrastructure and a progressive industrial ecosystem. The start of commercial production at the fourth plant of our Hansalpur facility augments its annual production capacity to one million vehicles, making it India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturing facility at a single location. The new line will further strengthen our ability to meet the growing demand from customers in India and overseas while advancing our ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision and expanding our global footprint.”

“Together, the Hansalpur and the upcoming Sanand facility in Gujarat will play a pivotal role in achieving our long-term ambition of producing 4 million units annually in India. These projects reflect our commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness, creating employment, boosting exports, and contributing towards Viksit Bharat,” he added.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Godrej Enterprises Group's Tooling business is expanding its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to support domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers as the Indian automotive sector increases localisation and develops new mobility platforms.

With over 85 percent of its business linked to the automotive industry, the division supplies precision tooling solutions across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, commercial vehicles and electric vehicle platforms.

At present, 95 percent of the tooling supplied to its automotive client base is manufactured locally within India, driven by government initiatives such as Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes that encourage domestic supply chain resilience.

The business produces press tools, die-casting dies and precision tooling systems. Alongside its core automotive operations, the unit supplies components to industrial machinery, railways, metro rail networks and defence manufacturing sectors.

Pankaj Abhyankar, Business Head – Tooling at Godrej Enterprises Group, said: "India's automotive industry is evolving rapidly, driven by localisation, changing mobility technologies, and the need for greater manufacturing agility. As vehicle architectures become more advanced, tooling is playing an increasingly important role in enabling precision, productivity, quality, and faster product development cycles. Our focus remains on building advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities that help customers meet these evolving requirements while supporting India's manufacturing ambitions."

To meet changing manufacturing standards, the division is integrating digital simulations, additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring systems and large-tonnage dye equipment into its production processes. The business is also utilising vacuum-assisted systems, thermo-regulation processes, squeeze casting and conformal cooling methods.

The expansion comes as the Indian tooling market experiences increased demand driven by capital investments in automotive manufacturing, electric mobility infrastructure, railways and defence production. Godrej Enterprises Group aims to scale its domestic manufacturing output to support long-term supply chain localisation across these industrial sectors.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), one of the largest petrochemicals manufacturers globally, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CEER, Saudi Arabia's electric vehicle brand, to explore cooperation in applying SABIC's materials and solutions in the design, development and manufacture of electric vehicles.

The signing ceremony took place at SABIC's headquarters in Riyadh, with attendance from SABIC CEO Dr. Faisal M. Alfaqeer and CEER CEO James DeLuca.

The agreement establishes a framework for evaluating the use of SABIC materials in EV applications and jointly developing material and processing solutions. The collaboration also covers knowledge sharing on sustainability and technology, exploring strategic sourcing opportunities to build a local supply chain and identifying joint areas of cooperation.

Dr. Al-Faqeer, said, “The memorandum represents a strategic collaboration which leverages SABIC’s global expertise in advanced material solutions for the electric vehicle industry. Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate innovation, enhance local content and build an integrated national supply chain that enhances global competitiveness. This collaboration also reflects our shared commitment to contribute to Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy, empowering national talent, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for future industries and technologies.”

James DeLuca, said, “This strategic collaboration with SABIC marks a significant step in CEER's journey toward designing, engineering and manufacturing a world-class electric vehicle right here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In order to develop next-generation electric vehicles with leading safety and efficiency performance, we are partnering with global prominent companies that share our commitment to innovation. By integrating SABIC’s materials and deep technical expertise into our vehicles, we are building a robust and reliable local supply chain while enhancing CEER’s rule as a key player in the Kingdom’s transformation into sustainable advanced hub for mobility and technology, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!