Kinetic Engineering Ltd (KEL), a key player in India's automotive components business, plans to issue convertible warrants worth INR 1.77 billion with an 18-month conversion term as part of a strategic move proposed by its promoters. With the consent of SEBI and shareholders, the promoters have pledged to spend INR 550 million by March 2025, which comprises 25 percent of the warrant subscription amount for further investments. A total of INR 171 million has also been subscribed for by outside investors in warrants; Transaction Square LLP and Sai Geeta Penumetsa are two significant contributors.

A phased commitment of INR 600 million by March 2025, INR 440 million by March 2026, and INR 730 million by March 2027 is outlined in the investment plan. With the help of this strategic plan, Kinetic Engineering Ltd. (KEL) hopes to surpass its present sales of INR 1.5 billion and reach its ambitious revenue objective of INR 10 billion by 2029. Additionally, it supports the promoters' goal of raising their ownership of the business from 59 percent to 70 percent by 2027.

The promoters' share has increased gradually since 2017, rising from 49 percent to 70 percent, representing a 21 percent total gain. By July 2027, the promoters will have received about INR 9.36 million in additional shares as part of this plan, increasing their overall holdings to 22.6 million shares and the company's total outstanding shares to 32.6 million. Along with family-owned trusts, the Arun Firodia Trust and the Jayashree Firodia Trust, the investment is led by Arun Firodia, the company's founder and chairman.

The promoters' faith in KEL's long-term plan is demonstrated by this capital injection and the sale of strategic warrants, which position the business to take advantage of new possibilities in the changing mobility market. The investment will be used to improve production capacities, boost working capital, and stimulate product development innovation, especially in high-growth sectors like electric vehicle (EV) components.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice Chairman, Kinetic Group, said, “Kinetic Engineering Limited has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing. It has successfully transformed into an auto components business and enjoys strong relationships with the world’s largest OEMs. Leveraging these long-standing partnerships, we expect to finalise significant business deals shortly. Additionally, we are heavily focused on the EV segment, with plans for our subsidiary, Kinetic Watts & Volts, nearing finalisation. These initiatives will drive an 8x to 10x revenue growth, and we are pleased to make this investment to meet the required capital expenditure, working capital and growth initiatives. This infusion of capital from the promoters reinforces our growth blueprint, enabling us to take bold strides toward achieving our INR 10 billion revenue milestone. We are committed to using this investment to fuel innovation, improve operational efficiencies and meet the evolving demands of the automotive and EV industries. This capital infusion empowers us to accelerate our transformation journey, explore new business verticals and unlock greater value for our stakeholders. The time for Kinetic to reinvent, grow and scale up has arrived. Our priority is to build a future-ready organisation that anticipates market shifts and responds proactively.”

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American powertrain major BorgWarner has secured a supply agreement with Stellantis for its 50 mm variable turbine geometry (VTG) turbocharger. The turbocharger will be used in the automaker’s new Hurricane 4 Turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine.

The Hurricane 4 Turbo engine will feature in the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. BorgWarner will also supply its electric variable cam timing (eVCT) technology for the OEM’s Jeep Cherokee platforms and its EP6 four-cylinder engine.

BorgWarner’s VTG turbocharger technology combines its turbo with wastegate functionality to improve emissions efficiency and engine performance. It is claimed to be the only turbocharger to combine VTG and wastegate technologies.

• The wastegate enables faster catalyst heating during cold starts.
• The VTG provides a tighter boost and control of the engine.

The VTG technology also supports a high Miller cycle, which optimises performance across engine speeds, delivering lower boost at low speeds for improved fuel economy and increasing boost at higher speeds for greater power output.

The integration of BorgWarner’s eVCT into the Jeep Cherokee’s EP6 engine is the first use of an eVCT on a Stellantis engine. This application is expected to improve fuel economy and performance while reducing emissions. The eVCT technology functions independently of oil pressure, offering a wider phasing range than traditional systems.

Dr Volker Weng, Vice-President of BorgWarner Inc. and President and General Manager, Turbos and Thermal Technologies, said, “We are pleased to partner with Stellantis on these exciting project launches. Our long-standing relationship includes supplying the OEM with several turbos for previous vehicle models, and this specific project marks our shift into the next generation of turbos.”

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Tier 1 supplier Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2026 and H1 FY2026. The component supplier reported its highest-ever quarterly revenue, EBITDA and net profit in the Q2 FY2026. The company reported significant growth driven primarily by its electric vehicle (EV) traction motor and railway businesses in India.

Sona Comstar's revenue grew by 24 percent YoY, reaching INR 11.44 billion and net profit at INR 1.73 billion saw a 20 percent YoY growth. Revenue from Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV contributed 32 percent of the total revenue for the quarter.

For H1 FY2026, the revenue came at INR 19.94 billion, up 10 percent YoY, net profit at INR 2.97 billion, with 14.6 percent margin.

The company's net order book stands at INR 236 billion as of 30 September 2025, with 70 percent of the book attributed to EV programmes.

It noted a shift in its motor design due to the unavailability of heavy rare-earth magnets, moving to light rare-earth magnet motors for electric two-wheelers. It has also developed a rare-earth-free ferrite-assisted synchronous reluctance motor for three-wheelers and light commercial vehicles.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD & Group CEO, Sona Comstar, said, “We achieved our highest-ever quarterly revenue, EBITDA and net profit in Q2 FY26. Our revenue grew by 24 percent YoY, primarily driven by the expansion of our electric vehicle traction motor and railway business in India. Due to the unavailability of heavy rare-earth magnets, we shifted to alternative motor designs and now manufacture light rare-earth magnet motors for electric two-wheelers. We have developed a rare-earth-free ferrite-assisted synchronous reluctance motor for three-wheelers and light commercial vehicles. It was also a successful quarter for business development as we won several significant new orders. We have been nominated for two additional programs – one in Asia and the other in Europe – to supply our motors and motor controllers for predictive active suspension systems. These nominations are important as they indicate that our innovative suspension system is gaining wider acceptance just months after its first commercial launch. We received our first order from our new driveline plant in Mexico to supply differential assemblies to an OEM in the USA, amid ongoing trade uncertainties. Lastly, we are partnering with Neura Robotics to jointly develop advanced components and technologies, with a focus on industrialising robots, cobots and humanoids in India and other markets.”

The company has secured new orders, including nominations in Asia and Europe to supply motors and motor controllers for predictive active suspension systems. It also received its first order from its new driveline plant in Mexico to supply differential assemblies to an OEM in the USA.

Sona Comstar is also partnering with Neura Robotics to jointly develop advanced components and technologies for industrialising robots, cobots and humanoids in India and other markets.

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German tier 1 supplier ZF’s Supervisory Board has announced changes to the leadership team, with Andreas Moser, the previous head of the Industrial Technology division, appointed to the Board of Management.

Effective 1 November 2025, he will be responsible for the Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology Divisions and the India Region. He has been with ZF for over three decades.

Sebastian Schmitt has been appointed head of the Electrified Powertrain Technology (E) division, which handles the company's conventional, hybrid and electric passenger-car drivetrain technologies. He currently leads the Electrified Powertrain Systems product line. CEO Mathias Miedreich retains Board of Management responsibility for the E division.

Dr. Rolf Breidenbach, Chairman, ZF Supervisory Board, said, “Following the changes to the Board of Management, it was important for the Supervisory Board to create clarity in the Group’s management. In Andreas Moser, we’ve found a Board member who has been with ZF for more than 30 years, many of them in management positions in ZF’s Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology divisions. This means competence and continuity. We’ve thus succeeded in setting up ZF’s management committee within a very short time so that the Group’s current challenges can be mastered.”

Mathias Miedreich, noted, “With this new Management Board, we have a strong and highly competent leadership team that will successfully guide ZF into the future.”

To drive the company’s realignment, the Group Board of Management will be reduced from six to five members. ZF is also establishing a Transformation Committee, a body that links key business areas – sales, materials management, production and strategy –directly with the Board. This team will manage the group-wide performance programme.

Miedreich, emphasised, “Our entire focus in the coming years will be on strengthening ZF’s operations, further increasing profitability and consistently expanding our financial stability. The new Transformation Committee stands for speed, clarity and impact – with the clearly defined objective of supporting our customers through forward-looking technologies and reliable partnerships.”

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Pune-headquartered automotive supplier Varroc has appointed Avinash Chintawar as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Business I, effective 15 October 2025. He will report to Arjun Jain, Whole Time Director & CEO – Business I.

In his new role, Chintawar will oversee the Operations Vertical within Business I, with a focus on strengthening efficiencies and performance.

Prior to joining, Varroc, Chintawar served as Managing Director of Bosch Chassis Systems India and as Chairman of Bosch India Foundation. He previously held leadership positions within the Bosch Group, including Director of Operations at Robert Bosch Bamberg (Germany) and Managing Director at Bosch Electrical Drives India. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology.

Jain, said, “We are delighted to welcome Avinash to the Varroc leadership team. His extensive experience and deep understanding of achieving operational excellence align perfectly with our needs as we drive the next phase of our growth. I am confident that under his leadership our operation will scale new heights of efficiency and sustainability.”

Chintawar, said, “I am excited to join Varroc at a time when the industry is undergoing such dynamic change. I look forward to working closely with the team to enhance operational excellence and contribute to its vision of sustainable and future-ready growth.”

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