Marelli Joint Venture Opens New Automotive Plant in India
Automotive technology supplier Marelli, along with its joint venture partner Motherson, has inaugurated a new manufacturing facility in Sanand, India. The plant will produce automotive lighting and introduces several new technologies to the country. The opening expands the company's manufacturing footprint in a key automotive growth market.
- The joint venture, Marelli Motherson Automotive Lighting India Pvt Ltd (MMLI), is a 50-50 partnership between Marelli Europe S.p.A. and Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd. that was first established in 2008. - This new 8,200-square-meter facility is the joint venture's second plant in Sanand, Gujarat, and one of eight MMLI plants in India. With this addition, Marelli's total footprint in India now includes 16 production facilities and three R&D centers. - The plant will introduce several technologies to the country for the first time, including the manufacturing of single-piece, end-to-end Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and the localization of ultra-slim headlamp modules. - Production will utilize specialized equipment not previously used in Indian automotive lighting plants, such as high-tonnage (2,000T to 2,700T) multi-color molding machines and overhead cranes engineered to handle heavy tooling. - The Indian automotive LED lighting market was valued at approximately USD 1.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over USD 2.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of around 5.5%. - This expansion is designed to meet rising domestic demand for premium lighting from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), as the passenger vehicle segment commands over 68% of the Indian automotive lighting market. - On the day of the announcement, February 23, 2026, the stock price for Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd closed 1.08% higher, reflecting cautious optimism from investors.
