The United States President, Donald Trump, announced a new set of tariffs as part of its ‘Liberation Day’ initiative on 2 April 2025. This new rate of tariffs is part of Trump’s administration to boost national production and what he claimed is to resolve ‘trade imbalances.’

A statement issued by ACMA India mentioned that as per an order by Trump on 26 March 2025, Section 232 charges 25 percent tariffs, but there is no mention of ‘Autos & auto parts and steel & aluminium articles.’

The industry body stated that the detailed list of auto components that will be subject to 25 percent import tariff in the United States was awaited.

Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM, said, “Commenting on the recent announcement by US Govt on Reciprocal Tariffs, it is to be noted that autos are not covered in this order since they are already subject to Section 232 tariffs at 25 percent, announced earlier in President Trump’s order on March 26, 2025.  We don't expect any significant impact on the Indian automobile industry since there are limited exports to US, but we will continue to monitor the situation."

Shradha Suri Marwah, President, ACMA and CMD, Subros, said, “ACMA remains hopeful that the ongoing bilateral negotiations between the Indian and U.S. governments will lead to a balanced resolution that benefits both economies. We believe that the strong trade relationship between India and the United States, especially in the auto components sector, will encourage continued dialogue to mitigate the impacts of these measures. ACMA is committed to engaging with all stakeholders to ensure the long-term interests of the Indian auto component industry.”

A statement from the White House mentioned that President Trump was working to level the playing field for American businesses and workers by confronting the unfair tariff disparities and non-tariff barriers imposed by other countries.

‘For generations, countries have taken advantage of the United States, tariffing us at higher rates. For example: The United States imposes a 2.5 percent tariff on passenger vehicle imports (with internal combustion engines), while the European Union (10 percent) and India (70 percent) impose much higher duties on the same product.’

For FY2024, India exported USD 6.79 billion worth of auto components, which translates to 27 percent of the total exports from India. On the other hand, India’s automotive component imports from the United States was valued at USD 1.63 billion or 7 percent of the total imports.

Saurabh Agarwal, Partner & Automotive Tax Leader at EY India, stated, “With US automotive tariffs rising, India's electric vehicle sector has a prime opportunity to capture a larger share of the US market, especially in the budget car segment. China's 2023 auto and component exports to the US stood at USD 17.99 billion, while India's were only USD 2.1 billion in 2024, highlighting the potential for growth. To accelerate this, the government should enhance the PLI scheme by including more auto components, opening it to new players, and extending it by two years."

Arun Agarwal, VP – Fundamental Research – Automobiles, Kotak Securities, said, “US has imposed 25 percent tariffs on imported cars, light trucks and select auto parts sourced from outside of North America. Further, almost 150 auto parts will face tariffs at similar rate. This move could result into increase in car prices in the US and cost pressure for component suppliers. In the event of car prices going up, the US car market may witness a steep volume decline and that can impact revenue for component players supplying parts to the US car/light truck industry. Further, margins of suppliers may come under pressure as they may need to partly absorb cost pressures. We believe there will be some impact, which the suppliers will have to bear, leading to negative implications on margins. Having said that, it needs to be seen on how higher tariffs are absorbed across the supply chain that includes customers, OEMs and suppliers. The extent of impact for Indian players will also depend on the US-India bilateral agreement over the next few months.”

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The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the apex body representing component manufacturers in the country, has appointed Sriram Viji, Managing Director, Brakes India, as President for the 2026–27 term.

The industry body also named Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson of ANAND Group and Gabriel India, as President-Designate. 

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Sriram Viji and Mrs. Anjali Singh to their new roles. Their rich industry experience and strategic vision will guide ACMA as the sector navigates geopolitical uncertainty and the evolving mobility landscape. I am confident that their leadership will strengthen our engagement with Government and industry partners to diversify supply chains, improve access to critical raw materials and enhance India’s global competitiveness.” 

Sriram Viji, President, ACMA, said, “It is an honour to lead ACMA as India strengthens its position as a trusted partner in global automotive value chains. Our priority is to deepen local capabilities and accelerate investment in advanced technologies, R&D and innovation, while embedding sustainability across the industry. As electric, connected and new-energy mobility create fresh opportunities, we must move beyond adapting to change to shaping it. Together with our members, we will work to position India as a global hub for high-value manufacturing and next-generation mobility solutions.”

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German automotive supplier MAHLE has established an e-compressor production facility in Coimbatore, which it claims makes it the first company to manufacture the component in India.

The German firm has invested EUR 7 million in the site to produce e-compressors, which regulate thermal management, battery life, charging speeds and driving range in electric vehicles.

The production line has a capacity of over 300,000 e-compressors annually to supply domestic and international vehicle manufacturers. The launch creates 50 jobs, aligning with the Indian government's ‘Make in India 2.0’ manufacturing initiative.

The Coimbatore facility already produces starter motors, alternators, controllers and traction motors for two-wheelers and three-wheelers. Following the setup of an R&D facility in 2023 for product validation, MAHLE has outlined plans for women to represent 75 percent of the plant's total workforce by 2027.

The company entered India in 1958 through a piston manufacturing joint venture and now has expanded its operation across 15 locations in the country with 5,900 employees.

Ivan Lenehan, Vice-President, MAHLE Powertrain and Charging, India, China & East Asia, said, “India continues to play an increasingly important role in the global mobility transformation. This facility strengthens our presence in one of the world’s most dynamic automotive markets and reinforces our commitment to sustainable mobility solutions.”

Milind Mhaiskar, MD, MAHLE Electric Drives India, said, “This production facility underscores our focus on localisation and customer-centric innovation. The success of this project reflects the dedication of our teams and our collaborative approach with business partners.”

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Delhi NCR-based fluid transmission provider Imperial Auto has appointed Sandeep Bathla as its new Chief Global Operations Officer.

In his new role, Bathla will oversee manufacturing operations and direct programs to update automation, expand production capabilities and streamline supply-chain networks across company facilities. He will report to Vikram Wagh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Auto.

Bathla brings over three decades of industry experience to the role and previously served as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at Plasser India, following management roles at Blue Star, Motherson Sintermetal Technology and Eicher Tractors. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Kurukshetra and a PhD from European International University, Paris.

Vikram Wagh said, “As Imperial Auto continues to scale its operations and strengthen its position in global markets, building a future-ready and high-performing manufacturing organisation will be critical. Sandeep brings extensive experience across manufacturing and the automotive industry, along with a strong understanding of operational excellence. His leadership will be instrumental in enhancing our manufacturing capabilities, improving responsiveness and creating greater value for our customers.”

The executive change aligns with Imperial Auto's plans to expand its international manufacturing footprint and engineering capabilities.

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Lumax Auto Technologies, part of the DK Jain Group, has further strengthened its management team by onboarding Ambarish Kumar Gupta as the new Vice-President – Operations.

Gupta comes with over two decades of experience in the automotive industry, with senior roles across financial operations.

The industry executive has worked with the likes of Forvia Faurecia, Marelli, Brose, Magna Steyr, Infosys, L&T Technology Services, BlueBinaries Engineering & Solutions and PGUB Management Consulting, among others.

In his new role, he will be responsible for advancing futuristic automotive electronics, strengthening operations and making the company future-ready.

Gupta will also support Lumax Auto Technologies’ innovation, technology and operational excellence roadmap.

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