PSA Group and CK Birla Group sign JV, cars by 2020

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Its official now. The PSA Group has signed two JVs with CK Birla Group for manufacturing cars and components, at an initial investment close to Rs 700 Crores (€100 million) with a goal of market entry by 2020.

As part of the first agreement, the PSA Group will hold a majority stake in the joint-venture company being set-up with HMFCL (Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation) for the assembly and distribution of PSA cars in India. As per the second agreement, a 50:50 joint-venture is being set-up between the PSA Group and AVTEC Ltd for manufacture and supply of powertrains. The manufacturing sites for both vehicle assembly and powertrains will be based in the state of Tamil Nadu.

The initial manufacturing capacity will be set at about 100,000 vehicles per year and will be followed by incremental investment to support a progressive ramp-up of the long term project. The manufacturing capacity for powertrains will cater to the domestic market needs and global OEMs. The performance of the industrial set-up will be supported by a significant level of localization, in order to reach the necessary cost competitiveness, the company said.

This long term partnership will allow both companies to participate in the growth of the Indian automotive market, which is expected to reach 8 to 10 million cars by 2025 from current 3 million in 2016.

Commenting on the agreements, Carlos Tavares, Chairman of the Managing Board of PSA Group said: “Benefitting from the strong support of our Indian partner, the CK Birla Group, and a shared vision, this project is consistent with the strong execution of our Push to Pass strategic plan and represents a major step in PSA Group’s worldwide profitable growth in key automotive markets.”

Speaking to the press in Paris on this occasion, CK Birla, Chairman, the CK Birla Group, said “We have embraced ‘Make in India for India and the World’ for several decades and are among the early adopters of frugal manufacturing in the country. I am confident that the coming together of the latest state-of-the-art technology from the PSA Group and the engineering and manufacturing excellence of the CK Birla Group will benefit the automotive sector in India.”