The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu, the investment promotion and single-window clearance arm of the Government of Tamil Nadu, hosted a landmark event in Chennai on 20 March 2025, titled Unveiling India’s New Automotive Hub: Where Wheels of Progress Turn.

The summit convened senior government officials, global and Indian automotive leaders, and key stakeholders to explore Tamil Nadu’s rise as India’s next major automotive and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub.

Dr TRB Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, was the Chief Guest at the event. “Tamil Nadu is not just attracting investments; we are shaping the future of mobility – cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive. With a skilled workforce, progressive policies, and a strong focus on sustainability and women’s empowerment, Tamil Nadu is poised for its next big leap,” he said.

Shradha Suri Marwah, President of ACMA and CMD of Subros, noted, “The state has long been a pioneer in industrial transformation. It’s no surprise that Tamil Nadu is now a magnet for domestic and global automotive players, hosting over 400 auto component manufacturers. Events like these foster collaboration between industry and government to drive growth and innovation.”

Darez Ahamed, Managing Director, Guidance Tamil Nadu, called Thoothukudi as ‘India’s New Automotive Hub,’ highlighting the state’s strategic emphasis on EV manufacturing, industry-academia partnerships, and investor-friendly infrastructure.

A key highlight was an exclusive fireside chat with senior leaders from VinFast Auto, moderated by Vinnie Mehta, Director General of ACMA. Sang Yu Won, Purchasing Head, and Prakalathan Tirupathi, Project Head of VinFast India, outlined their vision for EV innovation and emphasised Tamil Nadu’s pivotal role in their India strategy, along with expectations from the local supply ecosystem.

Other prominent speakers included Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President of ACMA and MD of JK Fenner; Sriram Viji, Chairman of ACMA Southern Region and MD of Brakes India and Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairman of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority.

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Tier 1 supplier Uno Minda has announced that its Board of Directors has approved setting up of a greenfield manufacturing facility for aluminium die casting in Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra.

The new facility is targeted to meet the growing demand for casting components, particularly in electric two- and four-wheelers. As automakers look to introduce alternative energy vehicles with higher energy efficiency, lightweighting becomes a critical focus area. This is an area where aluminium die casting has emerged as a critical requirement for lightweight, high-performance vehicle platforms. EVs fundamentally require significantly more aluminium-based structural and thermal components compared to their internal combustion counterparts—making advanced die casting capabilities central to EV powertrain and body applications.

In addition, the upcoming facility will play vital role in supporting Uno Minda’s backward integration strategy by supplying essential casting components to its forthcoming four-wheeler electric vehicle powertrain plant.

The new project involves a total planned capital investment of approximately INR 2.1 billion, to be implemented in a phased manner over the next five years. The investment will be funded through a balanced mix of internal accruals and debt. Phase 1 of the plant is expected to commence commercial operations by Q2 FY27.

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German private equity investor Mutares SE & Co is set to acquire Continental’s drum brakes production and R&D location in Cairo Montenotte (Italy) as part of its new platform investment in the automotive and mobility segment.

This follows the Continental Group’s recent announcement to spin off its automotive business as an independent company, Aumovio in September 2025.

As per the understanding, Mutares will take over all employees and business activities related to Continental’s drum brake business in Cairo Montenotte. This is expected to add about EUR 100 million in revenue for the company in 2025. The facility in Cairo Montenotte, Italy, is a production and R&D site for hydraulic drum brakes and manufactures products such as the Parking Brake for Simplex Brakes (EPB-Si) and the Drum Brake (Si). It employs around 400 people.

Johannes Laumann, CIO, Mutares, said, “With the acquisition of Continental’s Cairo Montenotte site we are strengthening our automotive and mobility segment. The long-standing expertise, strong product portfolio and highly skilled workforce provide an excellent foundation for operational development and future growth.”

Philipp von Hirschheydt, member of the Continental Executive Board and CEO of the future Aumovio, added, “We are confident that Mutares, with its extensive experience in the automotive business, is the right owner to lead this site into the future. Our shared goal is to ensure continuity for employees, customers and partners while securing long-term prospects for the Cairo Montenotte location.”

“With this agreement, we further consolidate our European manufacturing footprint. Moreover, it marks an important step in our strategy in Europe to better allocate R&D and investments with our product strategy and future technologies, such as electric braking or integrated friction solutions. The transaction deal follows Automotive’s strategy to sharpen our focus on our core business and streamline our business operations,” added Hirschheydt.

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Forvia Hella has announced the appointment of Subramanian Narayanan (Subu) as the new Head of Global Development Center India.

It was in May 2001, Narayanan started his journey in the automotive industry as a Product Designer at Visteon Corporation.

In 2005, Subu joined the Forvia Hella Group (formerly Hella Lighting and Faurecia) and over the course of nearly two decades, he held various positions in the company. Most recently, he was the Head – Technical Center and Program Management.

In his new role, Narayanan will be tasked with leading new product development and technological trends for Forvia Hella.

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Highway Roop Precision Technologies (Highway Roop), a global auto components platform formed by the integration of Highway Industries and Roop Automotives, has appointed Dharmesh Arora as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Arora brings a wealth of experience to Highway Roop, having most recently served as CEO for Asia Pacific at Schaeffler Group for over five years. Prior to that, he held the position of CEO for Schaeffler India for seven years. His extensive career also includes two decades in leadership roles within purchasing and supply chain at General Motors. He started his journey in the automotive sector in 1986 as a Product Engineer at Maruti Suzuki India, making him a seasoned industry veteran.

Mohit Oswal, Non-Executive Chairman of Highway Roop, said, “We are excited that Dharmesh has joined as CEO of Highway Roop. He is a highly experienced professional who has a deep understanding of the automotive industry and brings decades of global experience in building and managing automotive businesses”.

He added that Arora’s focus will be on "accelerating growth, driving operational excellence and leveraging innovation to deliver enhanced value for the Platform’s customers and strengthen its market position."

Dharmesh Arora said, “I am honoured to join Highway Roop at such an exciting time for India’s automotive industry. The platform’s strong manufacturing capabilities, diverse product portfolio, and global customer base create a powerful foundation for expansion.”

Highway Roop is a prominent manufacturer of forged and precision-machined components, including steering system assemblies and various transmission and powertrain applications. The company caters to electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles. The platform has also indicated its intent to acquire synergistic assets as part of its growth and expansion strategy within the auto components sector.

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