Olsa seeks Indian partner

Italian automaker Fiat is in the midst of a renewed thrust in India with the commencement of production at its new Ranjangaon plant.

As part of this effort, the company is also working to enable its Italian suppliers to enter the Indian market to assist in its India gameplan. One such company is Olsa which is headquartered in the northern Italian city of Turin and for whom Fiat is its second largest customer for interior and exterior lighting products. Reluctant to enter into India on its own, the company is currently in the process of scouting for a suitable partner that would help it to start production in the country.

Impressive clientele

Globally, Olsa has a rather impressive list of customers including BMW, GM, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot-Citreon, Suzuki, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Nissan, Renault, Volkswagen, Bentley and Mercedes. During 2008, the company expects to supply 26 percent of its output to the VW Group and 23 percent to Fiat Group, which are its two largest customers. The company’s headquarters in Turin are spread over 7200 square metres and employ 155 people. Besides production activities, this site also houses the research department, pilot production facility and a tool shop.

Its range of products includes interior lights like dome lamps and glove box lamps, as well high- mounted stop lamps (with bulbs and LED’s). Other interior lights include sun visor lamps, hood, trunk and door lamps. For the exterior of the vehicle, Olsa makes license plate lamps, side indicators (for both the body and side mirrors) and tail-lamps. In 2007, rear lamps were its largest product line contributing to 37 percent of turnover, followed by interior lights (35 percent) and side repeaters (15 percent).

Among the new global models, it has supplied are the BMW 1 and 6 Series, Suzuki Palette, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mini Clubman, Fiat 500, Audi A6 and A5 and Renault Clio and Twingo. To improve its development abilities, the company added thermal and structural simulation equipment as well as ALIAS rendering to its research division last year.