Mahle is taking a significant step in its transformation by refining its corporate structure to enhance agility and efficiency under its 2030+ strategy. The changes involve merging business units to strengthen the core areas of electrification and thermal management, both structurally and operationally. As part of this restructuring, Mahle will acquire the remaining 25 percent minority stake in its thermal management subsidiary, Mahle Behr GmbH and Co. KG, cementing its commitment to this strategic area. The group management board reduced from seven members to four, effective 1 January 2025.

Starting in 2025, Mahle consolidated its five business units into three. Four existing units merged to form two new entities, aligning related production technologies to accelerate internal collaboration and establish a more cohesive operational framework.

“Mahle is doing its homework for the transformation,” said Chief Executive Officer Arnd Franz. He added, “Through these far-reaching changes, we will make our business ready for the future. We are accelerating the implementation of our group strategy which will position us as an innovative and sustainably profitable shaper of future mobility.”

Chairman of the Mahle Supervisory Board Dr. Heinz K. Junker said, “Through the reorganisation and the resulting streamlining of the Management Board, we will significantly improve the integration of our group and be able to make more effective use of synergies.”

The company’s Chief Exectuive Officer emphasised that this reorganisation would not only improve internal cooperation but also provide new opportunities for locations historically tied to combustion engine technologies, enabling them to apply their expertise to emerging, future-oriented sectors. This restructuring is also expected to create a high-performance production network while delivering cost savings.

The new powertrain and charging business unit will integrate the former engine systems and components and electronics and mechatronics units. This move will leverage Mahle’s extensive experience in engine systems to advance its electrification strategy, focusing on efficient electric motors and intelligent charging solutions. A key success in this area is the development of the electric compressor, one of the company’s most prominent products.

Similarly, the thermal and fluid systems business unit will combine the former filtration and engine peripherals and thermal management units. By integrating filtration expertise into its thermal management capabilities, Mahle aims to deliver competitive, future-oriented technologies to the market. The company’s dedication to thermal management is further demonstrated by its full acquisition of Mahle Behr GmbH & Co. KG, completing a process that began with its initial stake in 2010.

The aftermarket division with its established product range and growing focus on electrification and digitalisation will continue as a standalone unit under the new name lifecycle and mobility.

Franz will remain management board chairman and CEO while also assuming the role of statutory Labour Director, as human resources will no longer be a separate function on the board. Dr Beate Bungartz, the current labour director, stepped down on November 29, 2024. Markus Kapaun will continue as Cheif Financial Officer. Jumana Al-Sibai, currently responsible for the thermal management unit, will lead the new thermal and fluid systems business unit. Martin Weidlich, previously in charge of filtration and engine peripherals departed the company on November 29, 2024.

Georg Dietz, presently heading the engine systems and components unit, will lead the new powertrain and charging business unit. Additionally, Martin Wellhoeffer, currently overseeing the electronics and mechatronics unit, will transition to the thermal and fluid systems unit as Chief Operating Officer.

With its restructured organisation, Mahle aims to strengthen its position in electrification and thermal management while ensuring a more agile and cost-effective approach to future challenges. 

“Following several major acquisitions in the thermal management field, this step will successfully complete the integration of this business in the Mahle Group,” said Franz.

Commenting on the development, Junker said: “On behalf of the Mahle supervisory bodies, I would like to thank the management board members Dr. Beate Bungartz and Martin Weidlich, who are now leaving the group, for their excellent and dedicated work. In his five years with Mahle, Weidlich has performed great services both for the filtration and engine peripherals business unit and in his group responsibility for operational excellence, production and purchasing. Over the past two years, Bungartz has successfully continued the development of our human resources organisation and has initiated the transformation dialogue with employee representatives in Germany. Bungartz and Weidlich have my best wishes for their personal lives and careers in the future. Equally, the supervisory bodies and I would like to thank Wellhoeffer for his considerable commitment as a management board member. Under his leadership for almost two years, the electronics and mechatronics business unit has significantly expanded the competences of Mahle in the fields of efficient electric drive systems and intelligent charging. We are convinced that Wellhoeffer will forge ahead with the operational excellence and transformation as COO of what is to be our largest business unit in the future."

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Ludhiana-based auto components manufacturer Kay Jay Forgings has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The proposed INR 3.6 billion initial public offering (IPO) consists of a fresh issue of equity shares up to INR 3 billion and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to INR 600 million by existing shareholders.

The company plans to deploy the net proceeds from the fresh issue for capital expenditure and debt reduction. It aims to invest INR 1.18 billion towards a new forging facility, a machining facility and a solar power plant. INR 900 million towards debt repayment and the remaining funds to be utilised for operational purposes.

The company may also consider a pre-IPO placement of up to INR 400 million, which would reduce the size of the fresh issue accordingly.

Kay Jay Forgings is a precision engineering company manufacturing machined components for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). It also serves the farm equipment, mining, and home appliance sectors with a portfolio of 286 products.

The company claims it is the largest supplier of crankshafts and crankshaft assemblies to two-wheeler OEMs in India, with an estimated 36 percent domestic market share in FY2025. It operates 6 manufacturing units in Ludhiana, Punjab, and Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The company reported a customer rejection rate of less than 1 percent for the 6-month period ended 30 September 2025.

It maintains long-term relationships with several manufacturers, including a 37-year partnership with TVS Motor Company. Other clients include Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajajsons.

Future strategies focus on diversifying into lightweight aluminium forged and machined components. These powertrain-agnostic parts are intended to help OEMs meet emission norms and improve fuel efficiency.

In terms of financial performance, the company reported revenue of INR 7.5 billion in FY2025, up 12 percent YoY, as against INR 6.72 billion a year ago. Net profit for FY2025 came at INR 290 million, up 20 percent YoY, as against INR 240 million a year ago.

For H1 FY2026, the company reported a net profit of INR 213 million. The global automotive forging market is projected to grow from USD 45.1 billion in 2025 to USD 65.8 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 7–9 percent.

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Avendus Capital has released a report on the Indian auto component industry, identifying a structural shift in global supply chains. The study projects that India’s automotive metal forming market – comprising casting, forging, stamping, and machining – will grow at a 12 percent CAGR to reach USD 90–95 billion by FY2030.

The report indicates that value within the global automotive supply chain is shifting toward process specialists rather than diversified product suppliers. These specialists rely on metallurgical expertise and precision tooling, creating high entry barriers.

The Indian auto component sector surpassed USD 80 billion in FY2025. India has transitioned to a net exporter, with exports reaching approximately USD 23 billion. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers are diversifying sourcing bases to India due to geopolitical factors and cost competitiveness.

Core metal-forming processes remain essential for both Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Electric Vehicle (EV) platforms. As global suppliers reallocate capital toward electrification, the report suggests India holds a ‘last man standing’ advantage in ICE components.

India is positioned to fill the supply gap for critical drivetrain components, including crankshafts, gears and axles. With a global fleet of over 1.5 billion ICE vehicles, the segment also presents substantial opportunities in the aftermarket.

The sector is experiencing a consolidation cycle led by capabilities rather than just scale. Recent deal activity shows increased participation from global private equity firms and strategic acquirers focusing on export-oriented platforms with deep process expertise.

Koushik Bhattacharyya, Managing Director and Head, Industrials Investment Banking, Avendus Capital, stated, “The Indian auto component sector is moving beyond a scale-driven growth phase into a capability-led consolidation cycle. We are seeing a clear shift in value toward process specialists, where deep manufacturing expertise and operational precision are becoming the key differentiators. As global supply chains evolve, India is uniquely positioned to capture this opportunity, particularly in core metal-forming segments. We expect this to translate into sustained deal activity, as investors look to build scaled, capability-led platforms in the sector.”

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French tier 1 automotive supplier Valeo has inaugurated a new manufacturing line for electric powertrain systems at its facility in Lonikand, Pune. The line will produce integrated 3-in-1 e-Axles for Mahindra & Mahindra’s ‘Born Electric’ vehicle platform. The inauguration was attended by R Velusamy, President of Automotive Business at Mahindra and Mahindra and Xavier Dupont, CEO, Valeo Power Division.

The facility produces a 3-in-1 e-Axle system that integrates the electric motor, inverter and reducer into a single unit. This configuration is designed to improve efficiency and reliability while reducing the overall footprint of the powertrain.

The Pune plant's technical capabilities include automated lines for U-Pin or Hairpin winding technologies. Dedicated sections for reducer assembly and inverter production. The facility utilises automation, digital tracing and quality control systems for end-to-end monitoring of the assembly process.

Valeo has operated in India since 1997 and currently maintains six production sites across Chennai, Pune, Sanand, and Gurgaon. The company employs 7,500 people in the country, including an engineering workforce of over 3,750 focused on global research and development.

Xavier Dupont, said, “India is a key region in Valeo’s ‘Elevate 2028’ strategic plan. Our investments in Pune supports our commitment to deeper localization of advanced technologies in India. By localizing the production of our highly integrated 3-in-1 e-Axle systems, we are strengthening our ability to deliver advanced technologies to our customers and contributing to India’s transition towards safer, and more sustainable mobility.”

Jayakumar G, President, Valeo India, added, “The inauguration of this line marks an important milestone in Valeo’s journey in India. Our new e-Axle manufacturing line in Pune is a key step in our growth strategy. It reflects our commitment to bringing advanced technology solutions closer to our customers. We are proud to develop and manufacture this e-Axle for Mahindra’s Born Electric Vehicles and to contribute to the growth of India’s EV ecosystem.“

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Gujarat-based embedded electronics and power systems company Bacancy Systems has closed an INR 400 million Series A funding round led by Sabre Partners and Greenstone Capital, both of whom have acquired minority stakes in the firm.

The company intends to deploy the capital to scale manufacturing infrastructure, accelerate product development and expand into international markets. The funding will also support research and development (R&D) in two primary industrial segments:

Electric Mobility: Development of DC charger controllers and power electronics for EV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and charging infrastructure providers.

Railway Electronics: Expansion into Train Control and Management Systems (TCMS), traction converter control systems, and remote monitoring platforms.

Founded in 2021, Bacancy operates at the intersection of hardware, firmware and cloud technologies.

Binal Patel, Founder and CEO, Bacancy Systems, said, “Closing our first fund raise is indeed a defining moment for Bacancy Systems. This milestone validates what we have believed from day one – that deep, purpose-built R&D in Electric mobility, Railways, is not just the future, but an urgent necessity, and local manufacturing of the same under the Make in India initiative is equally essential to empower India and build a reliable supply chain. With over two decades of industry experience, I am more confident than ever that the innovations we are building will define the next generation of India’s industrial backbone. This capital empowers us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in EV infrastructure, Railways, and beyond – and we are just getting started.”

Tanushree Agarwal, Partner, Sabre Partners, added, “Bacancy represents a compelling play on India’s electrification and indigenisation themes. The company has built strong capabilities in power electronics and controller systems, with a clear focus on IP-led product development. We believe Bacancy is well-positioned to benefit from the rapid growth in EV infrastructure and railway modernisation, and we are excited to partner with the management team to support the next phase of growth and scale.”

Paresh Thakker, Managing Partner at Greenstone Capital, stated, “Bacancy’s strong engineering capability and focus on indigenised embedded systems position it well within India’s evolving EV and railway electronics ecosystem. We are pleased to collaborate with the company in driving its upcoming phase of growth and transformation.”

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