NEW DELHI: Global automotive technology company FORVIA has announced a major expansion of its operations in India with the establishment of its first dedicated complete seat manufacturing plant, following the award of a significant seating programme. The new facility will be the company's 10th manufacturing plant in India, reinforcing its industrial presence in one of the world's fastest-growing automotive markets.

The expansion comes as India's automotive sector continues its strong growth, with vehicle sales rising nearly 22% year-on-year to a record 2.6 million units during the first half of 2026. FORVIA said India has become a strategic growth market under its IGNITE business strategy, driven by rising demand for advanced automotive technologies, increasing vehicle production and a rapidly expanding engineering ecosystem.

The new plant, scheduled to begin production in 2027, will manufacture complete seating systems, including seat structures, mechanisms, foam, seat covers and final assembly for both first- and second-row seats. It will also introduce FORVIA's proprietary Cover Carving Technology, designed to optimize cabin space, improve passenger comfort and enhance seat aesthetics.

Martin Fischer, CEO of FORVIA, said India has emerged as one of the world's most dynamic automotive markets and a key pillar of the company's long-term growth strategy. He added that the Group will continue expanding its industrial footprint, increasing localization, investing in advanced mobility technologies and strengthening engineering and artificial intelligence capabilities across the country.

With the new facility, FORVIA will operate 10 manufacturing plants across India, located in Mehsana, Pune, Ammavaruppali, Bengaluru, Chennai, Derabassi, Gurugram/Dankhot and Manesar. The company said the expansion reflects its "local-for-local" manufacturing strategy and its commitment to providing locally engineered mobility solutions for domestic and global automobile manufacturers.

FORVIA also highlighted India's growing importance as one of its global innovation and engineering hubs. The company currently employs more than 2,400 engineers in the country and has filed 61 patent applications, with 30 patents granted. Indian engineering teams are developing next-generation technologies, including zonal controllers, smartphone-based vehicle access systems, electrification solutions, radar-based rider assistance systems and AI-enabled automotive technologies.

The company added that FORVIA HELLA India has been designated as a Global AI Center of Competence, leading the development of artificial intelligence applications for engineering, manufacturing and automotive safety solutions, including child presence detection, adaptive lighting, radar intelligence and predictive anomaly detection.