Behr India Opens New Automotive Climate Control Components Plant
MUMBAI, India, Jan. 31, 2007 -- Behr India, a joint-venture company between Behr GmbH & Co. KG of Germany and Anand Automotive Systems of India, has opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, at Chakan in the Pune District in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Behr is one of the world's leading suppliers of original equipment for passenger and commercial vehicles and Anand Automotive Systems is India's leading manufacturer of automotive components and systems. The partners invested a total of $12 million in the project last year and plan to invest another $5 million by the end of 2007.
Behr India's Pune plant is spread over ten acres. With state-of-the-art production equipment, it will produce a variety of automotive components including heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) modules, engine- cooling modules, as well as heat exchangers including radiators, charge air coolers, condensers and Visco(R) fan drive systems.
The facility will employ 400 people. With the new plant, the company expects to achieve sales of $90 million in 2007. Sales are expected to increase by an additional 50 percent by 2010.
"Our vision is to make Behr India the clear leader in the Indian market in the fields of automotive air conditioning and engine cooling," said Markus Flik, CEO, Behr GmbH & Co. KG, who attended the plant's dedication. "Behr India is contributing to the company's strategic goal, which is to generate ten percent of company sales from Asia by the end of 2010."
Behr India currently exports heat exchangers and Visco(R) clutches and also sources components including castings, exhaust-gas-recirculation (EGR) cooler parts and wiring harnesses for Behr worldwide. In India, Behr's key customers include Ashok, General Motors, Mahindra-Mahindra, MAN Force, Leyland, Renault, TATA Cummins and Tata Motors.
Anand Automotive Systems Chairman Deep C. Anand said, "We manufacture and deliver locally, yet we guarantee that our products comply with the same international standards that are synonymous with the Behr brand.
"Pune is one of the most important locations for the automotive industry in India and most of our partners and customers are located there," Anand added. "This new plant brings us even closer to our customers and to the business opportunities presented by one of the world's fastest-growing automotive markets."
India is the fourth-largest automotive producing country in Asia. The auto industry in India is growing at the rate of 20-25 percent per year.
"We are investing Behr's technical expertise and management know-how to support Behr India's growth," Flik noted. "We have implemented technology transfer programs, coached the local team on global project management skills and promoted Behr's corporate values of innovation and quality."
About Behr India
Behr India Ltd. was established in Pune in 1997 as a joint-venture company between Behr GmbH & Co. KG of Germany and Anand Automotive Systems. Behr India reported sales of $65 million in 2005 and employs approximately 400 people.
About Anand Automotive Systems
Anand Automotive Systems is a leading manufacturer of automotive components and systems in India, supplying to virtually every vehicle and engine manufacturer in the country. With the largest range of automotive components, the group has sales of $550 million. The group comprises 17 companies with 40 manufacturing locations spread in nine states across India. Anand employs 6,000 people. Visit www.anandgroupindia.com for more information.
About Behr GmbH & Co. KG
Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, is a systems partner for the international automobile industry. A specialist for automotive air-conditioning and engine- cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for passenger and commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2005 business year were approximately $3.8 billion. Currently Behr employs more than 18,000 people at 10 development and 30 production sites in Europe, North and South America, Asia and South Africa. Additional information is at www.behrgroup.com.
About Behr America
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.