 "Seating assembly; Image courtesy: Magna International")
Canadian auto component supplier Magna International has opened two manufacturing facilities in Sanand (Gujarat) to fulfil the requirements of its customer, Ford India. Both facilities are located within a supplier park adjacent to the Ford Motor Co assembly plant.
“Today represents another exciting step forward in the growth and development of Magna’s business in India. We continue to expand our footprint - in sales, engineering, program management and manufacturing - to align with our customers and the increasing vehicle production forecast for the India automotive industry,” said Jim Tobin, chief marketing officer and president of Magna Asia, during inauguration on December 9, 2015.
At one of the new Sanand facilities, Magna will assemble and provide just-in-time delivery of complete seat systems for Ford. The 215,000 square foot plant is expected to employ approximately 200 people at full production to produce approximately 240,000 complete seat systems per year.
At Magna’s second new facility in Sanand, the company will manufacture body and chassis systems for Ford. The 356,000 square foot plant is expected to employ approximately 400 people at full production.
While the new plants reflect business awards for vehicles that are built from global-platform architectures, it will also help position Magna for further growth in India as vehicle production expands. Including the two new Sanand facilities, Magna has 11 manufacturing locations and three engineering centres in the country.
Many auto component manufacturers have opened their plant in Sanand as the region is emerging as manufacturing hub for car makers, especially after Tata Motors set up its facility to Sanand. Besides Tata Motors and Ford, Honda and Maruti are also in process of setting up plants in Sanand.
In addition to Ford, Magna is eyeing to tap other automotive manufacturers in the vicinity including Tata Motors, and the upcoming projects of Maruti Suzuki and Honda Cars.
