Sona Comstar to invest $4 million in suspension technology company ClearMotion

Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar) will invest Rs $4 million (around Rs 34.6 crore) in US-based automotive technology company ClearMotion Inc in the form of convertible preferred stock, according to an exchange filing. Sona Comstar’s board has approved the investment.

ClearMotion makes products that enable a smooth user experience in vehicles. The company's proactive suspension and road sensing software mitigate vehicle motion across uneven road surfaces. It has a presence in the US, UK and China.

Sona Comstar said ClearMotion’s active suspension technology controlled by its BLDC motor-controller-based actuator has five-fold lower latency compared to the other existing alternatives available in the market. 

ClearMotion has commercialized this technology, and it is already under production for Nio ET9. With this investment, Sona Comstar looks to partner with ClearMotion for mutual success through close collaboration as both investor and supplier.

In 2023, ClearMotion registered an annual revenue of $4 million. Sona Comstar expects to complete the transaction in March. 

In April, Sona Comstar’s board constituted a new merger and acquisition committee to review, evaluate, scrutinize and consider all proposals for making investments, divestments, strategic alliances/technological tie-ups and foreign collaborations, and make appropriate recommendations to the board.

Sona Comstar’s recent acquisition includes Serbia-based radar sensor company Novelic. It is also buying Escorts Kubota’s railway equipment business for Rs 1,600 crore in a bid to diversify into the broader mobility space.