

When carmakers are racing ahead, can parts makers be far behind?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India's top auto part makers are rushing to add more capacity, after the September cut in goods and services tax (GST) sparked a scramble for cars, scooters and sport utility vehicles. Component makers such as Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd, Bosch Ltd, Belrise Industries Ltd, Uno Minda Ltd and Bosch Ltd have either kicked off capacity expansion plans or are evaluating them, as demand rises for wheels, seating systems, and electric vehicle components.
Large automakers have already pointed to the need for capacity expansion at their suppliers. Bosch Ltd, which makes braking and fuel injection systems and electric drive units, reviews capacity and investment plans based on volume trends, chief financial officer Karin Gilges told analysts on 9 February. The company routinely checks predicted volumes, analyses capacities and adjusts investments in every demand cycle, Gilges said.
Meanwhile, Uno Minda expanded capacity at alloy wheel factories in Maharashtra and Haryana and commissioned a new plant in Haryana. The company board has signed off on yet another wheel plant in Haryana, group CFO Sunil Bohra told analysts on 5 February. Shares of Uno Minda and Bosch are up 39% and 33% over the past one year, while the Nifty Auto and the benchmark Nifty are up 29% and 12% respectively.
Harshvardhan Sharma, group head of automotive technology and innovation at Nomura Research Institute, said capacity additions currently are focused through extraction of more units from existing plants. “Capacity utilization at suppliers has moved to the 75-85% range, which is typically the trigger zone for expansion," Sharma said. “However, instead of launching large greenfield projects, most players are adding 5-10%
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