US OEMs Trend Towards Hybrids, Chinese Towards BEVs: Sona Comstar CFO

Powertrain preferences among global automakers are becoming increasingly geography-dependent, with US OEMs trending more towards hybrids while Chinese manufacturers remain firmly focused on battery electric vehicles (BEVs), according to Sona Comstar Group CFO Rohit Nanda.

During an exclusive conversation with Autocar Professional, Nanda said the divergence reflects evolving market dynamics rather than a single global transition path. “It may be geography dependent. In the US, at least as of now, for OEMs the choice of powertrain may be trending more towards hybrids, whereas in China it’s clearly BEVs,” Nanda said.

However, he stressed that global automakers are not abandoning either technology. “But across the world OEMs are keeping both strategies open with a mix of hybrids and BEV launches, maybe to keep both short-term and long-term hedged,” he added.

Nanda’s comments also provide context to Sona Comstar’s latest order wins. During Q1 FY27, the company secured a ₹640 crore differential assembly programme for hybrid passenger vehicles from a North American OEM, with production scheduled to begin in the second half of FY29.

North America remains Sona Comstar’s largest overseas market, accounting for 26% of the company’s Q1 FY27 revenue, behind India at 50%. Europe contributed 15%, while China accounted for 9% of revenue during the quarter.

The company also continued to expand its battery electric vehicle business. BEV revenue more than doubled year-on-year to ₹435.5 crore during Q1 FY27, accounting for 44% of automotive product revenue. At the end of the quarter, Sona Comstar had 69 EV programmes across 36 customers.

Despite the differing regional trends highlighted by Nanda, Sona Comstar’s order book continues to span multiple powertrain technologies. Its net order book stood at ₹24,000 crore at the end of Q1 FY27, with automotive EV programmes accounting for ₹15,400 crore, or 64%, and automotive non-EV programmes contributing ₹6,600 crore, or 28%.

Nanda’s comments suggest global OEMs are increasingly tailoring their powertrain strategies to individual markets, balancing hybrids and BEVs based on regional demand while retaining flexibility in their long-term electrification plans.