Bilstein Group has announced the establishment of Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited, marking its 23rd international subsidiary. The official opening is scheduled for April 1, 2025, as the company expands its presence in the Indian automotive aftermarket.
Ramachandra Puttanna has been appointed as Managing Director – India Region. With over 35 years of industry experience, he will oversee the group's operations in India, focusing on promoting its brands Febi, SWAG, and Blue Print.
His professional background includes over 35 years of experience with companies such as Fenner India, Bosch India, Oman Trading, Magneti Marelli, and ZF Group. Notably, he served as Vice-President of the Aftermarket business at ZF Group, managing operations across India and the SAARC regions. In October 2024, Puttanna was appointed as the Business Head for EV Solutions & New Businesses within Greaves Cotton's Retail division.
Bilstein Group Managing Director Karsten Schüssler-Bilstein emphasised the importance of the expansion, describing India as a key market with a diverse vehicle fleet and a growing automotive aftermarket. He added, "With Ramachandra Puttanna, we have an experienced leader who will help us strengthen our presence in India."
The Bilstein Group is a German company specializing in the automotive aftermarket. It provides repair solutions for passenger cars and commercial vehicles through its brands, including febi, SWAG, and Blue Print. The company offers a wide range of replacement parts designed for professional vehicle repairs.
In India, the Bilstein Group operates through collaborations with local partners. One such partnership is with Pete’s Automotive Private Limited, which distributes Bilstein shock absorbers for vehicles, including the Toyota Fortuner. These suspension systems are available for various car brands such as Maruti, Honda, Fiat, Ford, Mahindra, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Skoda, and Porsche.
In 2013, Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH & Co. KG announced plans to expand into the Indian truck sector by introducing its febi and Blue Print brands. The company aimed to supply approximately 2,000 spare parts for trucks and explored partnerships to support its market entry. Additionally, the Blue Print brand was introduced to offer spare parts for Korean and Japanese vehicles in India.
The Bilstein Group has 22 international subsidiaries and works with sales partners in over 70 countries. However, there is no publicly available information on a dedicated subsidiary or office in India. Instead, the company’s presence in the Indian market is primarily through local partnerships and distributors.