Delphi Corporation is growing its presence in India and, like a host of international auto component makers, is setting up shop in Chennai. The company has begun constructing a new electronics manufacturing facility in Oragadam. The new plant is expected to be operational toward the end of 2009.

Speaking at the foundation stone ceremony, Ashok B Ramaswamy, president and managing drector, Delphi India, said: “This event highlights how important India has become for Delphi and marks the beginning of Delphi’s electronic manufacturing presence in India. India’s automotive industry has expanded at a rapid pace in recent years and Delphi has also grown in India along with industry. Delphi India, set up in 1994, has four manufacturing plants including one in UP, two in Haryana, and another facility and a technical centre in Bangalore. At present, these plants produce a variety of products in the areas of power train, thermal, wiring harnesses and electrical architecture and steering and chassis for supply to all leading automobile manufacturers in India.”

He added that “This automotive electronics plant enhances our ability to support our customers in India by bringing the entire value stream with local capabilities. This will include sales, advance development, product development and with project management, hardware and software design, validation, manufacturing in supply chain management.”

Spelling out the company’s vision, Ramaswamy said, “Our vision in India is to grow profitably through broad range of locally manufactured products and also support India’s growing small car development activity. Delphi believes in being close to its customers and Chennai is attractive to us due to the growing automobile industry and the existing electronics skill base. Therefore, we plan to invest Rs 250 crore over three planned phases at this 10-acre facility. In this plant, Delphi will manufacture automotive electronics products in the areas of security electronics, safety systems and entertainment communications. In the first phase, the plant will produce instrument clusters, body computers, immobilisers and driver information systems. This will be followed by safety products like seatbelts, airbags and audio-related products.”

Chennai draws praise

Jeffery Owens, president, Delphi Electronics and Safety, and president, Delphi Asia-Pacific, who unveiled the foundation stone, said: “We have very high regard for Chennai which has a highly educated and skilled workforce and is a growing hub to the automotive and electronics industries, both of which are important to the continued expansion of Delphi’s business in India. For more than 70 years, Delphi Electronics’ safety division has supplied vehicle electronics products for global applications. This division is now a global organisation and the manufacturing and engineering resource centres are strategically located around the world. Our skilled workforce across the world combines hi-tech engineering, high volume manufacturing of thousands of specialised products everyday.

"We are well positioned to help our customers meet consumer trends and the main products are safe, green and connected. Delphi Electronics’ Safety division makes everything from immobilisers, body computer and instrument clusters, passive and active systems and components, to advanced perception audio in car navigation systems. We are also rapidly expanding our business in the hybrid and electrical vehicle markets.

"India is a key market for us and with new technologies becoming a reality every day, we believe that providing a range of safety and electronics products will be the way forward in the Indian automobile industry.” Emphasising the significance of the Indian market, Owens said, “India is a key market for Delphi. We believe that extending our manufacturing process will help us meet the needs of customers herein this market. We appreciate the efforts of the Government to ensure that the Indian economy continues to grow. Finally, I want to thank the Tamil Nadu government officials as well for the proactive support.”

MF Farooqui, principal secretary to the Industries Department in Tamil Nadu said, “Our visit to Delphi’s Technical Centre left us really impressed with the kind of products they make, the professionalism, innovation and scientific inputs which they bring to each product of theirs. We are happy that Delphi has thought it fit that Tamil Nadu is a good destination.”