Gurugram: Automotive components manufacturer Uno Minda Limited has announced its entry into the complete four-wheeler passenger vehicle seating systems business, backed by a proposed investment of approximately ₹320 crore in a new manufacturing facility in Maharashtra.
The company’s Board of Directors has approved the establishment of a greenfield plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad. The facility is expected to begin operations by the fourth quarter of the 2027-28 financial year.
The project will be undertaken through Uno Minda Tachi-S Seating Private Limited, the company’s joint venture with Japan-based automotive seating manufacturer TACHI-S Company Limited.
The expansion will take Uno Minda beyond individual seating components and into the production of complete passenger vehicle seating systems, a higher-value category within the automotive supply chain.
Uno Minda entered into the joint venture with TACHI-S in September 2022, initially focusing on the manufacture and sale of seat recliners for passenger vehicles. The latest investment marks the second stage of that partnership and represents a significant expansion in the scope of its operations.
The move is expected to increase Uno Minda’s revenue potential from each vehicle it supplies, while strengthening its presence in an area closely linked to passenger comfort, cabin design and the overall premium feel of a car. Seats, after all, may not receive as much attention as engines or touchscreens, but occupants tend to notice them for considerably longer.
The joint venture has already secured an anchor order from a leading original equipment manufacturer, or OEM. Uno Minda did not disclose the identity of the customer or the financial value of the order.
The early order provides commercial validation for the company’s entry into the segment and indicates that the proposed facility will have confirmed demand as it moves towards production.
Ravi Mehra, Managing Director, Uno Minda Limited, said:
“This is one of the most exciting chapters in Uno Minda’s growth story. Entering the complete 4W Passenger Vehicle Seating Systems segment isn’t just a product expansion — it’s a strategic leap that substantially increases our per-vehicle value potential and deepens our footprint in a segment that is central to the premium vehicle experience.
This greenfield facility reflects our unwavering commitment to advanced domestic manufacturing and delivering the kind of high-performance seating comfort that India’s rapidly evolving automotive market demands.”
The investment comes as automotive component manufacturers seek to supply a larger share of each vehicle and reduce their dependence on individual parts. Complete seating systems can include frames, recliners, cushioning, upholstery and related mechanisms, making them substantially more valuable than standalone components.
For Uno Minda, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar project is both a manufacturing expansion and a move further up the automotive supply chain. Its success will depend on timely execution, production quality and the joint venture’s ability to secure additional vehicle programmes beyond its first anchor order.
