Leading braking systems manufacturer Brakes India will invest at least Rs 1,000 crore by the end of the decade as it plans capacity expansion across various plants. This comes amid the company's continued push for research and development, according to a senior company official.
“Our typical capex ranges from Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore. This is what we will need to invest for both ongoing programs as well as more capacity that may come up…We will at least have to invest another Rs 1,000 crore in the five years,” Brakes India Managing Director Sriram Viji told Autocar Professional.
Brakes India is owned by the TSF Group, erstwhile TVS Group, which operates across segments from component manufacturing, parts distribution, vehicle dealership and vehicle financing. Its business includes braking systems for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and tractors, as well as iron foundry, and has around 17 manufacturing facilities in India. The company recorded Rs 7,500 crore in revenue during the financial year 2024.
“Expansions are going on in many of our facilities, given the growth of the Indian automobile industry. On and off we have expansion across various plants and some green field sites are going to come,” Viji said.
Brakes India set up a joint venture with Japanese premium brake system supplier ADVICS to design, develop, and manufacture advanced braking products for the Indian light vehicle market. Brakes India and ADVICS have a stake of 51% and 49%, respectively in the joint venture with a total investment of Rs 500 crore planned for a new production facility in Hosur. Electronic stability control is the first product that will be rolled out under the joint venture and it will go for production in 2027.
“As we go forward, a few things are happening on the braking side such as software and features. From a relatively traditional braking product, a lot of safety and enhancement features can be provided. We are working hard to improve our software and electronic capabilities in the next 4-5 years with big investments planned,” he said.
Brakes India is diversifying their braking product range for commercial vehicles with high safety braking products and pneumatic systems.
Viji also noted that sustainability is a big area of focus for the company with a lot of customers looking at carbon emissions and other initiatives of sustainability. "Sourcing of green power such as solar as well as analysing all our in-house processes to see how we can reduce energy consumption and recycle are of big focus,” he added.