Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology International and Sharda Motor Industries have signed an agreement for a 50:50 joint venture – Eberspaecher Sharda Exhaust Technology – to develop, produce and sell exhaust aftertreatment systems for Indian commercial vehicle manufacturers. Essentially, in order to help CV OEMs comply with the highest emission standard of Bharat Stage VI in India, the new joint venture’s products will be utilised in trucks and buses from 2020 onwards.

Sharda Motor, the leading local exhaust aftertreatment system manufacturer in India, and Eberspaecher, the global technology leader in emission control technologies for commercial vehicles which meet the highest emission standards, each will own 50 percent of the new JV.

Both companies view the JV as the future of environmentally friendly mobility: "Our customers will benefit from this partnership because they will gain local market expertise coupled with our global technology and production know-how – for significantly reduced emissions from long-distance and distribution traffic in India," emphasises Dr Thomas Waldhier, COO Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology. Ajay Relan, managing director, Sharda Motor adds: “This partnership is an important step for our company in implementing high-tech products for a clean mobility. With our existing client and supplier base we bring local expertise into the joint venture company." 

New technology plants 
In future, exhaust aftertreatment technology meeting the new emission standard Bharat Stage VI will be manufactured at several locations. This represents a major technological leap from the previous Bharat Stage IV standard and requires far more complex emission control solutions. The standard will enter into force in April 2020 and will be in line with the Euro 6 standard in Europe.

For the initial start of production, two new technology plants will be launched, one in the Pune and the other in Northern India. The first exhaust systems will be manufactured in the second half of 2019.

For Eberspaecher, the cooperation is another important milestone of the consistent implementation of its growth strategy. The aim is to continue to build a leading position in the Asian commercial vehicle exhaust technology markets.

In August 2018, the Esslingen-based supplier set up another joint venture company in China in order to meet the growing demand for effective emission control systems and ensure environmentally friendly mobility. In the future, the company will offer emission reduction systems for commercial vehicles, which will meet the China 6 standard from 2020 onwards.