Leading European car parts producer Grupo Antolin has strengthened its presence in Asia with the launch of its sixth parts factory in India.
At a new location in Sanand — the automotive industry hub of Gujarat state in northwestern India — Burgos, Spain-based Antolin will manufacture vehicle sunvisors, overhead systems and interior plastic parts.
The sixth facility, equipped with the latest production technology, will employ 130 workers and initially supply global automakers Ford Motor Co. of Dearborn, Mich., and Mumbai, India-based Tata Motors Ltd.
Antolin has been present in India since 1996 and already runs five factories, two "just in time" centers and a technical sales office. The newest plant is close to a Tata Motors factory nearby in Sanand which is a suburb of the Gujarat city of Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Antolin has reported improved results for the first quarter of 2016, reflecting its successful absorption of the Magna International Inc. vehicle interiors business acquired in September 2016. Quarterly sales jumped 95 percent to just over 1.3 billion euros ($1.49 billion) and, even excluding this major acquisition, the group saw its revenue grow by 10 percent, it reported.
Antolin put this growth down to a “good performance” of products in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific markets. But the success was dampened by falling income in the Mercosur free trade area of South America and depreciation of the euro.
The Spanish group, which also has business units in Pune, Chennai and New Delhi, now employs 1,300 across India.
