Tenneco Automotive India Private Limited (TAIPL), the Indian arm of Tenneco Inc, a manufacturer and marketer of emission control and ride control products and systems for automotive industry, plans to expand its manufacturing facilities in India, a top company official said.
“We have invested over $20 million in the last three years in India. Over the next three years, we plan to make similar investments to expand our capacities in Chennai and Bawal and introduce new products for the automotive OEMs,” Abhijit Mukherjee, managing director, TAIPL said.
Tenneco, which currently supplies emission control systems, shocks and struts to OEMs in India including Suzuki, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, Tata Motors, M&M among others, is now planning to foray into two-wheeler segment. The company is currently in talks with several two-wheeler makers including TVS Motor. “We are in advanced talks with TVS Motor for supply of front forks and rear shock absorbers to TVS Scooty Pep, a 100 cc scooter,” Mukherjee told Business Standard.
He said Tenneco was also in talks with commercial vehicle manufacturers including Tata Motors, M&M and Ashok Leyland for supply of emission control systems.
Presently, the Indian arm of Tenneco contributes less than 5 per cent of the global sales of Tenneco at $4.6 billion and in the next three years aims to increase substantially, Mukherjee said.
The company’s facilities in India support domestic and international vehicle manufacturers and are integrated with Tenneco’s worldwide manufacturing and engineering resources, he said adding that the company would launch many new products for the Indian market to support global car makers who are set to introduce advanced passenger cars in India.
Currently, the company operates six manufacturing plants in India and recently opened its seventh plant in Chennai. The plant will primarily produce emission control products and systems for original equipment manufacturers, initially supplying Nissan’s global small car platform.
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The company invested $5 million in the 2,600 square-meter facility - which began producing exhaust systems for the Nissan Micra in May this year. Tenneco is also supplying modular assembled struts and shocks to Ford from this new facility. The plant currently employs about 60 people and is expected to expand employment and operations as the company wins new business with OEMs operating in the Chennai area.
“Our new plant in Chennai is part of our strategy to expand Tenneco’s position in fast-growing automotive markets such as India,” said Gregg Sherrill, chairman and CEO, Tenneco Inc, said.
Tenneco first established manufacturing in India in 1995 and has grown its operations to now include 1,500 employees at five production plants and two Just-in-Time (JIT) facilities.
In addition to Chennai, the company produces emission control components in Halol and Pune. Tenneco’s ride control production is in Bawal, Pune, Hosur, and Puducherry.