Pricol inks tech pact with Chinese firm for BS VI fuel pumps and modules

The Coimbatore-based Pricol Ltd has announced an exclusive agreement with Wenzhou Huirun Electrical Machinery Co of China for technical collaboration, supply and production of fuel pumps and fuel pump modules in India.

Through this strategic agreement, Pricol aims to further strengthen its automotive pump portfolio in India and will now become a comprehensive supplier of fuel pump modules for Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) systems. Wenzhou Huirun will support Pricol with product and process technologies for new business opportunities across the two-, three-, four-wheeler, CV and off-road vehicle (both petrol and diesel) segments.

Growth strategy
With an initial investment of Rs 20 crore over the next three years, Pricol is eying a market share of over 30 percent in this product segment in the booming 2-wheeler segment in India. With an already confirmed order for this product with a leading two-wheeler OEM in India, it plans to manufacture 3 to 6 million fuel pump modules once BS VI kicks in by April 2020.

That is also when entire two-wheeler industry will migrate to EFI which sees the fuel pump module critical to its functioning. The fuel pump module, which is controlled by an ECU, will inject a metered amount of air and fuel mixture into the engine for effective combustion.

According to Vikram Mohan, managing director, Pricol, “FY2017 is going to be the most definitive year with our various strategic partnerships. Our priorities will be to strengthen our product portfolio, technology and production capabilities to meet the BS VI norms by 2020. India has overtaken China to emerge as the world's biggest market for two-wheelers. With Wenzhou Huirun’s partnership, we are targeting an over-30 percent market share in this product segment in the two-wheeler market in India which is on a course to touch the 20-million mark by 2020. With Pricol already being the leader in the manufacture of fuel level sensor for two-wheelers, this partnership perfectly suits our product portfolio and capabilities.”

Signing the partnership agreement, Huang Guoyao, director of Wenzhou Huirun Electrical Machinery Co, said, “Until now, the majority of motorcycles in India have employed the conventional carburetor fuel system. Through our exclusive partnership with Pricol, we are looking forward in supporting them with our electric fuel pump and fuel pump modules which will enhance fuel economy, engine performance and also assist in reducing exhaust emissions.”

Pricol’s Chinese partner is a hi-tech enterprise with independent IPR, engaged in research, design, development and manufacturing of automobile electric fuel pumps and modules. It claims to have helped draft the electric fuel pump standard in China. Over 90 percent of its products are exported, mainly to America and Europe. It has ties with leading automakers including SAIC, Dongfeng Nissan Zhengzhou, FAW and Nanjing Iveco as regards R&D in automobile electric fuel pumps and modules.