The contract package encompasses the HVAC module, the manual control head and the condenser. The product development is done entirely in India.

“Behr will equip the Nano with state-of-the-art climate control technology. The biggest challenge was to create an air conditioner that combined cost-effectiveness with the capacity to fully accommodate the hot and humid climatic conditions in India,” says Behr India CEO Sunil Kaul.

“Behr is well placed to participate in the success of low-cost vehicles. We have production locations in China, India, Mexico, Brazil and the Czech Republic, as well as development centres in Brazil, China, and India. We have also set up sales structures in all of the relevant markets and developed special low-cost products,” states Klemens Schmiederer, a member of the Board of Management at Behr.

A special feature of Behr’s AC technology is the integration of the BehrOxal coating process for aluminium evaporators. This innovative process improves corrosion protection and condensed water drainage in evaporators, while at the same time protecting the environment, as it does not contain any chemical coating or any chromate (VI).

For the HVAC assembly, Behr is currently setting up a new plant in Singur near Kolkata. Production at the new site is slated to start in mid-2008.