German family-owned leading automotive independent aftermarket company Bilstein Group has formally entered India with the establishment of Ferdinand Bilstein India. 

The 23rd international subsidiary of Ferdinand Bilstein was incorporated in February 2025, but formally opened on 1 April 2025 with the onboarding of Ramachandra Puttana as its Managing Director.

Bilstein Group currently sells parts under the febi, SWAG and Blue Print brands for the passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle segment. The German brand has a turnover of over EUR 1.12 billion (in 2023), supplies parts to over 170 countries and has a catalogue of over 75,000 different products.

Automotive industry veteran Puttana comes with over three decades of experience having worked with major brands such as Fenner India, Bosch India, Oman Trading, Magneti Marelli and the ZF Group. In his last role at Greaves Retail, Puttana was responsible for the strategic expansion of product solutions for electric vehicles. 

“I am very much looking forward to supporting the international growth of the bilstein group and contributing my experience to enthuse the Indian market about the group's products and services. However, the aim is not only to work more closely with existing customers, but also to persuade others that the bilstein group is a reliable and above all, long-term partner,” said Puttana.

Karsten Schussler-Bilstein, Group Managing Director, bilstein group, said, “The expansion into India is of great importance to us. We see the Indian market as a subcontinent with a diverse vehicle fleet and rapid development in the automotive aftermarket business. We want to actively accompany and support this dynamic growth. In addition, the expansion of our presence in India underlines the increasing importance of the bilstein group as a global player. We also achieved growth of more than 10 percent in 2024. We are continuously investing in the international expansion of our sales and logistics network. Last year, we received 24 awards from international trade cooperations and industry associations. We would like to build on this success. In Ramachandra Puttanna, we have gained a very experienced and committed manager. I am confident that he will help us make great progress in India.” 

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Mumbai-headquartered JNV Group (formerly Sujan Group) has announced the strategic appointment of Sandeep Jad as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its Automotive business.

Jad brings around three decades of experience in the automotive and mobility sectors, having held various cross-functional leadership roles with prominent multinational and Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). His domain expertise encompasses Strategic Sourcing, Project Management, Operations, Process Excellence and Quality Management.

JNV Group operates as a vital industrial partner to global automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, offering solutions across cars, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers and the agricultural sectors. The company operates 20 manufacturing facilities in India and 3 dedicated technical centres.

The Group's automotive sector business framework comprises a diverse network of operating companies including – Sujan ContiTech AVS, Polyrub CooperStandard FTS, WBTL India, JNV Gold, Polyrub Plastics, Mega KLC Polymer Technologies, CGS and Intrenio.

Vijay J Sujan, Director, JNV Group, said, “I am thrilled to welcome Sandeep Jad to the JNV Group. His appointment comes at a crucial time as the group evolves with a new portfolio and moves into new areas such as mechatronics. Our vision includes diversifying into braking systems, including ADAS, as well as suspension products and solutions. We aim to create enduring value for customers and be among the Top 50 companies in the automotive parts vertical.”

Sandeep Jad, added, “I am excited to join JNV Group at a time when Indian automobile industry is going through big technological transformation. As we look to the future, my priority will be to build upon the legacy and at the same time focus on delivering greater value to our customers by offering them best technologies and a range of new products.”

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JK Fenner (India) has announced the appointment of Jegapriyan Govindarajan as the company's new President. Based out of Chennai, he will report directly to Vikrampati Singhania, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director of JK Fenner.

Govindarajan comes with nearly three decades of industrial and automotive sector experience to the role, with a professional track record of leading business transformations and profitable growth across both domestic and multinational organisations.

Prior to joining JK Fenner, Govindarajan served as the Managing Director & General Manager (India) at Garrett Motion Technologies India. His previous executive leadership stints include tenures as Managing Director at Tecumseh Products Company and Valeo Lighting Systems India.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Madurai Kamraj University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur.

JK Fenner operates a robust manufacturing and research network across India, consisting of 9 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and 4 advanced R&D centres. The company's domestic distribution channels establish an all-India market presence, complemented by an international export footprint that spans more than 50 countries.

The company supplies specialised mechanical and industrial components to critical sectors such as steel, cement, power, textiles, agriculture, and automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Its core product portfolio encompasses – Oil Seals & Hoses; Gearboxes & Geared Motors; Pulleys & Belt Tensioners; Front-End Accessory Drive (FEAD) Systems and Moulded Rubber Products.

Moving forward, JK Fenner is expanding its technical and engineering frameworks to target emerging industrial sectors. The company's long-term strategy focuses on developing components tailored for the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, integrating AI and digital technologies into its operations and increasing corporate focuses on environmental sustainability.

Vikrampati Singhania said, “I am confident that Govindarajan will provide strong and adept leadership and steer JK Fenner on a new growth trajectory.”

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FORVIA Clarion Electronics has been awarded four distinct vehicle display supply contracts spanning China, India and South America. The business wins underscore the company's regional footprint and its ongoing commercial relationships with prominent domestic and international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across China, India and Europe.

The engineering and development phase for these display programs is scheduled to run from Q2 of 2026 through Q4 of 2027. Mass production and delivery will utilise the company's localised, ‘local-for-local’ manufacturing strategy to maximise operational efficiency and maintain proximity to assembly lines in major automotive markets.

The newly secured business covers multiple digital cockpit and vision technologies, reflecting the ongoing transformation of vehicles into software-defined, connected platforms. The awards comprise large-format display solution, which are designed to provide an immersive, digitally enhanced cockpit experience to satisfy consumer demand for higher-resolution interior interfaces. An advanced digital mirror display program aimed at enhancing driver safety, visibility and vehicle aerodynamics. Two additional display implementations tailored to modular and scalable vehicle platforms across diverse price segments.

As vehicle cockpits evolve, global automakers are increasingly demanding integrated, cost-effective display electronics that offer flexibility and customisation without compromising scalability. These contract wins align with FORVIA’s broader IGNITE corporate strategy, which prioritises technological scaling, system integration capabilities and rapid innovation within the In-Cockpit Experience (ICX) domain.

Yves Dumoulin, Executive Vice-President, FORVIA Clarion Electronics, said, “These wins reflect the trust our customers place in our ability to deliver high-performance electronics across diverse regions, customer profiles and market. They demonstrate how our teams continue to execute with excellence while aligning fully with FORVIA’s IGNITE strategy, focusing our strengths, scaling our technologies, and accelerating innovation for In-Cockpit Experience (ICX). These achievements show that FORVIA Clarion Electronics is not only delivering today but building the foundation for long-term leadership.”

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Automotive component manufacturer Tenneco Clean Air India has announced its financial results for the Q4 and FY2026. The company, which supplies emission controls, powertrains and suspension systems to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), reported a value-added revenue (VAR) increase of 17.5 percent YoY for Q4 and 12.3 percent for the full fiscal year.

The company said it utilises value-added revenue as its primary performance metric to exclude pass-through substrate costs from its operations.

For Q4, value-added revenue reached INR 14,058 million, up from INR 11,963 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the quarter stood at INR 2,573 million, representing an 18.3 percent margin on value-added revenue. Profit after tax (PAT) for Q4 grew 19 percent YoY to INR 1,668 million, yielding an 11.9 percent margin.

For FY2026, total value-added revenue rose to INR 54,040 million compared to INR 48,904 million in FY2025. Full-year EBITDA reached INR 9,255 million, establishing a margin profile of 18.8 percent. Annual profit after tax concluded at INR 6,044 million, equivalent to a 12.3 percent margin, while return on capital employed (ROCE) increased to 94 percent from 57 percent in the prior fiscal year.

The company's revenue streams are divided across two core business segments:

• Clean Air & Powertrain Solutions: Generated INR 6,905 million in Q4 FY2026 and INR 49,180 million for the full fiscal year.
• Advanced Ride Technologies (ART): Generated INR 7,153 million in Q4 FY2026 and INR 24,885 million for the full fiscal year.

The total cumulative lifetime order book, excluding programs already in active commercial production, reached INR 124,000 million as of 31 March 2026. This order volume encompasses the revenue targets set by management for the fiscal year 2028.

During the fiscal year, Tenneco India secured several development contracts across its operating divisions, including the selection of its advanced suspension system for a vehicle platform by an Indian SUV manufacturer.

Additional contracts were signed with a Japanese passenger vehicle manufacturer for emission systems, a European commercial vehicle manufacturer for aftertreatment solutions and an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer for an engine platform. The company also executed a technology proof-of-concept for a Euro VII emission control layout with a European truck manufacturer and secured a contract for bearing systems with a Japanese passenger car OEM.

To accommodate current order volumes, the company has approved a total capital expenditure allocation of INR 1,400 million. The investment framework funds the construction of two production sites: a greenfield manufacturing plant for Clean Air Systems located in North India, alongside a greenfield facility for Advanced Ride Technologies located in West India.

Arvind Chandra, Whole-Time Director and CEO, Tenneco India, said, “Over the past few years, the team has worked diligently to build a resilient, diversified and execution led business model. This was clearly demonstrated during the quarter and the year under review. Despite geopolitical headwinds since the end of February 2026 and the incremental overheads associated with becoming a listed entity, the team delivered a FY2026 double-digit topline growth at 12 percent and, more importantly, a strong operating performance with the highest-ever EBITDA margin at 18.8 percent. Supported by a strong and expanding order book, we continue to proactively scale our manufacturing capabilities to meet rising customer demand. In addition to the recently announced expansion in Northern India of INR 710 million, we plan to expand our manufacturing presence in Western India with an investment of INR 690 million, leading to a total of INR 1,400 million. These strategic capacity additions position us well to capture incremental growth opportunities, strengthen customer partnerships and support long term value creation. We recently completed a strategic Proof of Concept with a leading European Truck OEM for a Euro VII–compliant Clean Air solution, thereby strengthening capabilities in advanced emission technologies and readiness for future legislations. Also, we were honoured with the Zero-Defect Supplier Award by Toyota in the ART business, underscoring our commitment to operational excellence. In addition, we secured a strategic entry into the engine bearings business at a leading Japanese OEM, due to superior product technology, better quality and longstanding business relationship across other product verticals. Our H2 FY2026 order book addition stands at INR 60,254 million. Combined with the previously announced H1 order book, net of orders currently under production, the incremental lifetime order book reached INR 124,000 million as of March 31, 2026. This robust order book provides strong revenue visibility covering more than 100 percent of FY28 target revenues underpinning a healthy double-digit CAGR trajectory.”

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