Lumax’s New R&D Center in Bengaluru Fuels Drive Toward Modular Integration

Lumax Auto Technologies Limited is evolving its engineering strategy toward the burgeoning Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) market, leveraging a new dedicated research and development facility to move beyond traditional hardware manufacturing.

The facility in Bengaluru, named SHIFT (Smart Hub for Innovation and Future Trends), marks a strategic attempt to place software innovation at the core of the company's electronics portfolio.

The company leadership during a post-result analyst call on June 1 stated that the center is already driving software integration for Lumax Auto's upcoming Body Control Modules (BCM), which are scheduled to reach Start of Production (SOP) within the next 45 to 60 days.

Lumax Auto is employing a lean operational model for the SHIFT center. The facility currently operates with a bench strength of approximately 20 engineers, with an annual expenditure projected between Rs 5-7 crore. Management characterized this as a "negligible spend" given the expected return on investment in the high-growth electronics sector.

The center's mandate extends beyond internal product development; it is also tasked with localizing the electronic and software offerings of Lumax Auto’s various joint ventures to provide customized solutions for the Indian market.

"So still I would say, the first 6 months of the opening of the centre, and we are very happy with the way it is on traction now," said Vikas Marwah, Chief Executive Officer, Lumax Auto Technologies Limited, noted during the call.

This software push aligns with the rapid expansion of Lumax Auto’s Mechatronics segment, which recorded a 150% year-over-year revenue increase in FY 2025-26, rising from Rs 115 crore to Rs 281 crore, with an order book of around Rs 400 crore. The company views this vertical as critical to its relevance in the industry-wide shift toward intelligent mobility systems.

The move into software-heavy architectures is a pillar of Lumax Auto's broader mid-term strategy to evolve from a traditional Tier 1 supplier into a Tier 0.5 system integrator. This transition is designed to meet increasing OEM demand for modular, sequential supply systems where software and hardware are pre-integrated before reaching the assembly line.