Saietta VNA commences axial-flux e-motor production at Manesar plant

Saietta VNA, the joint venture between India’s Padmini VNA Mechatronics, and UK’s Saietta Group, has commenced production of the latter’s axial-flux technology (AFT) electric motors for EV application at a brand-new facility in Manesar, Haryana.

The production site, spread over an area of 33,000 square feet, is set up with an installed capacity of 150,000 e-drive systems annually, and the company is presently in ramp-up mode to cater to its first customer – an Indian light-duty mobility OEM – for which it has earmarked supplies of 80,000 units of the AFT electric motors, starting Q3 CY2023.

Saietta VNA also plans to begin production of Saietta’s radial-flux technology (RFT) electric motors from Q2 CY2024 at this plant by utilising a largely local supply chain. Both the AFT and RFT motors are designed and developed at Saietta’s global technical centre in Silverstone, UK, by realising a sharp focus on the unique requirements of the Indian market.

Saietta VNA is to supply AFT electric motors to an Indian light-duty mobility vehicle manufacturer from Q3 CY2023. The contract is for 80,000 units.

The company says the new facility is a testament to its commitment to India’s transition to sustainable mobility, and Saietta VNA’s ‘Make-in-India’ strategy. Vehicles powered by Saietta’s AFT and RFT motors are expected to be on India’s roads in H1 CY2024, and the company envisions strong market potential for its products.

“The market potential in India for our eDrive technology is vast and right now we are 100 percent focused on serving the Indian market,” Pradumna Walimbe, CEO, Saietta VNA, told Autocar Professional in an email response.

High on localisation, exports in sight

Saietta VNA is procuring all raw materials for manufacturing its products locally in India, except automotive-grade magnets and semiconductors, which it is unable to source from Indian suppliers at this point. The company says it is willing to work with suppliers who have a positive, open mindset to learning. “Working in partnership with our clients and suppliers is central to our business approach because we recognise that the collaboration is the key to delivering successfully at the required time, quality, and cost,” Walimbe added.

While the Saietta VNA JV was inked in May 2021, earlier this year in March, the Saietta Group signed an eDrive supply pact with one of India’s leading powertrain and precision-engineered products manufacturers – AVTEC – to combine the locally-produced AFT and RFT electric motors by Saietta VNA with AVTEC’s transmissions to supply a combined eDrive solution to customers.

The 48V-96V eDrives systems have been designed for three- and four-wheeler lightweight EV applications, and solutions for the electric two-wheeler segment are also being explored. Over the course of the initial five years of the supply contract, Saietta and AVTEC will have the capability to produce a minimum of 150,000 units of eDrive units for customers globally, with 80,000 units being reserved for the launch OEM in India.

According to Walimbe, “While we are completely focused on serving the Indian market, making in India and exporting to the world, is, of course, a distinct possibility as we move forward, and we will consider it at some point in the future.”

In an earlier interaction in March 2023, Tony Gott, Executive Chairman, Saietta Group, had told Autocar Professional that the company recognises a huge potential for India to cater to the rest of the Asian market in the future. “Our ambition with the Saietta VNA JV is to grow the capability of Indian operations very strongly over the next few years. India is one of the most challenging markets globally in terms of climatic conditions, use cases and cost, and we will build our volumes in India and the economies of scale achieved here will enable us to export from the country.

“Other than Asia, we will also explore export opportunities to Europe, and Africa,” Gott said, while showing his bullishness about the demand for its unique eDrive systems in the Indian market which is particularly cost sensitive,” Gott said.

“If we look at the number of light-duty vehicles, including two-, three- and four-wheel categories, currently operating in India, the number stands at around 250 million vehicles. While there are combinations of multiple powertrains – CNG, LPG, petrol and diesel – but as the push from the government as well as consumer pull intensifies, a majority of these vehicles will switch to becoming electrics,” he signed off.

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