BRANDED CONTENT: SM Auto and Gotech energy inaugurate their first battery pack assembly plant in Pune

In 2020, SMA announced a technical collaboration with Gotech Energy (Taiwan) to design, develop and manufacture advanced lithium ion battery packs and battery management systems for the Indian two-, three- and four- wheeler electric vehicle (EV) market, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and stationary applications.

The plant was inaugurated by senior representatives of the Taiwan Trade Council led by Homer Chang- Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC), Seaver Chang – Director, TECC and Edison Hsu - Director, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).

During the opening Homer Chang commented “In recent years, cooperation between India and Taiwan has witnessed significant progress in numerous domains. Bilateral trade between India and Taiwan has grown nearly seven-fold from 1.13 billion USD in 2001 to 7.11 billion USD in 2022. With India’s “Make in India” policy clubbed with our “New Southbound Policy” we are assured that our countries can be natural partners. This is clearly exemplified in today’s inauguration. I wish this cooperation between SM Auto and Gotech great success.”

The state of art plant is designed with safety in mind and is made with special construction material that are fire resistant and houses advanced fire protection systems. All its quality equipment, welding sources and testing equipment are sourced from renowned manufacturers in Japan and Taiwan. The partners are currently in advanced stages of battery pack validations with OEMs and will start production FY 24-25.

Jackson Ka, Chairman, Supreme Electronics and GTE commented: “The Indian government’s initiative towards electrification is very encouraging and an important step to help India achieve its goal of reducing harmful emissions. We strongly believe that the India is poised to become a leader in EVs and hence, this plant is the first phase of our commitment to India. Together with SMA we have envisioned a long-term plan and there will be more exciting products we will offer. SMA’s strong manufacturing knowledge, extensive experience of the industry make them an ideal partner. By partnering with them we have full confidence in supplying superior battery packs and BMS for the Indian market.”

Sanjay Chopda, Managing Director, SMA added: “The rapid growth of the EVs especially in the two and three market is a strong indication that India is a strong candidate to be at the forefront of EV adoption. We see strong growth prospects in the EV sector and a need for providing our customers with reliable and high- quality EV components. To achieve this, we knew we have to manufacture locally and have the right technology provider. GTE has a solid technical base and that, coupled with the strengths of SMA, will help us be a top- notch supplier. Our plant in Pune is a real testament to the ‘Make-in-India’ vision. We as a company are working on other EV components that will further diversify our product portfolio and make us ready for the future ”

GTE was founded in 2010 by a group of technologists. It is now a part of the USD 6 billion Taiwan stock listed Supreme Electronics Group. Other than superior battery pack designing with novel thermal management systems and safety features, the company has also proven itself in designing accurate and reliable Battery Management Systems (BMS). GTE has a proven track record as it already supplies battery packs to OEMs in Europe and Asia.

SMA is a diversified system supplier of automotive heat exchangers, automotive sensors, two-wheeler chassis and swingarms, complete exhaust systems, body sub-assemblies, tubular and sheet metal assemblies, HDPE mudguards and spray suppressors.