December 23, 2013: A year and seven months after the UNO Minda Group and Fujitsu Ten, a leading manufacturer of car navigation and audio systems, ECUs for engine and airbag control, and mobile communication equipment, announced a joint venture for car infotainment products, the two companies have inaugurated a new plant at Bawal in Haryana.
Fujitsu-Ten Minda India, the new company , will tap into the OEM/OES audio market by providing high technology and locally manufactured, cost-effective products to car manufacturers in the country. At present, most cars sold in India have audio systems installed as OEM/OES or aftermarket fitment.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, T Shigematsu, president, Fujitsu Ten, commented: “Fujitsu Ten’s strong product and process technology combined with the equally strong manufacturing and marketing skills of the UNO Minda Group will help the JV to be the best of its kind in the industry.”
N K Minda, CMD, UNO Minda, added: “The customers would benefit in the form of high-quality, competitive cost, timely delivery and faster response to their requirements.” He also assured OEMs that the JV would meet and exceed customer expectations.
“Although the automobile market is going through difficult times, investment in this new plant is in the right direction towards localisation and industrialisation,” said Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Meanwhile, Kenichi Ayukawa, MD, Maruti Suzuki India, stressed the cost-competitiveness and benefits that will accrue from this local manufacturing plant.
The all-new plant includes a captive tool room, moulding shop, press shop and SMT assembly line to manufacture CD tuners, display audios and navigation systems.
To match the rigorous requirement of automobile manufacturers, the plant also houses a varied range of testing, inspection and endurance equipment. This integrated manufacturing plant of audio systems is expected to alter the largely fragmented and CBU import market in the country.
A surface mount technology line for mounting components on the PCB and two assembly lines have already started in Phase 1 of production and audio systems are in the pipeline for Maruti Suzuki India.
SHOBHA MATHUR
Photograph (L-R): N K Minda, CMD, UNO Minda; T Shigematsu, president, Fujitsu Ten; K Ayukawa, MD, Maruti Suzuki India, and H Nakagawa, MD, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, at the inauguration of the new Fujitsu-Ten Minda India plant at Bawal, Haryana, today.