Gabriel India says that an investment of around USD 22 million (Rs 181 crore) will be made in order to set up a new manufacturing plant in Chennai.
Automotive supplier Anand Group-backed Gabriel India has announced to come in a technical collaboration with Dutch-based Inalfa Roof Systems (Inalfa) to manufacture sunroofs in India. Gabriel is in the business of manufacturing and supplying auto components and this partnership is said to let the company expand its product portfolio from products such as shock absorbers, dampers, strut assembly, hydraulic systems and front forks to sunroofs.
Under the agreement, Gabriel India will establish a fully owned subsidiary named Inalfa Gabriel Sunroof Systems (IGSS) to produce sunroofs for passenger vehicles. The subsidiary will operate at a new facility located near Chennai, set to commence operations by March 2024. The projected investment for this venture amounts to USD 22 million (INR 181 crore).
The long-term plan involves transforming IGSS into a joint venture, with Inalfa acquiring a majority stake of 51 per cent in the company.
Anand Group’s Executive Chairperson, Anjali Singh, said, “The partnership supports the government’s Atmanirbhar manufacturing drive. It provides our OEM customers with a domestic supply chain for sunroofs and expands Gabriel’s product range. This will create over 250 direct and indirect jobs in India.”
Linda Gao, CEO of Inalfa Group, said, “For Inalfa this is a great opportunity to enter into the growing automotive market in India with a well-established partner.”
In recent years, India has witnessed a surge in demand for sunroofs due to increasing aspirations, the boost in personal mobility driven by the Covid pandemic, and heightened consumer awareness of advanced features in passenger vehicles like connectivity and voice control. Some OEMs are observing that approximately one in every five cars sold includes sunroofs, irrespective of the vehicle’s powertrain.
Remarkably, certain OEMs, including Gabriel’s customers, are reporting that nearly 40 per cent of their passenger vehicle sales consist of models equipped with sunroofs.
