Gurugram-headquartered Asahi India Glass (AIS), which is a key player in the automotive glass business with a nearly-65 percent combined market share across the passenger vehicle, three-wheeler, commercial vehicle, and off-highway segments in the country, has announced its partnership with INOX Air Products.
The tie-up will see AIS procure green hydrogen for its upcoming greenfield facility in Soniyana, Rajasthan, from the latter which is a leading manufacturer of medical and industrial gases in India. INOX Air Products will supply green hydrogen to power AIS' new float glass facility that will have an monthly capacity of up to 17,000MT.
With a key focus on sustainability, AIS aims to leverage green hydrogen to reduce CO2 emissions to the tune of 25,000MT over two decades from this plant. The new facility which is being pegged as a green facility, will rely on renewable energy for over 95 percent of its energy requirements, while only 5 percent will be induced from thermal power.
Mega Rs 1400 crore investment
AIS is investing Rs 1400 crore into this new float glass facility which will be commissioned by end-CY25. The company aims to localise at least 70 percent of its float glass (raw material for automotive glasses) requirement in India and enhance its 'Make-in-India' appeal.
The greenfield facility in Soniyana, in Chiitorgarh, Rajasthan will supply to AIS' existing 5 glass processing facilities in India - in Bawal (Haryana), Patan (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Roorkee (Uttarakhand), and Taloja (Maharashtra). The company will continue to import the remaining float glass from its joint venture partner - Asahi Glass Corporation - from the latter's plant in Indonesia, and continue to leverage the India-Indonesia FTA benefits.
The localisation move will strengthen the AIS supply chain in the country, while also de-risking its dependence on completely imported float glass. With growing demand for innovative automotive glasses - such as UV-cut side window glasses that improve solar control performance and have also been approved under Indian government's Auto PLI scheme - AIS is betting big on its new greenfield facility to cater to its customers' needs in a better way.