Saietta VNA and UK’s Saietta Group has commenced production of the latter’s axial-flux technology (AFT) electric motors for EV application at a brand-new facility in Manesar, Haryana.
The 33,000-square-foot production facility has an installed capacity of 150,000 e-drive systems per year, and the company is currently ramping up to cater to its first customer – an Indian light-duty mobility OEM – for whom it has earmarked supplies of 80,000 AFT electric motors beginning in Q3 CY2023.
According to the firm, the new facility demonstrates its commitment to India’s transformation to sustainable mobility and Saietta VNA’s ‘Make-in-India’ policy. Vehicles driven by Saietta’s AFT and RFT motors are slated to hit Indian roads in H1 CY2024, and the business sees a large market for its goods.
Pradumna Walimbe, CEO, Saietta VNA, said, “The market potential in India for our eDrive technology is vast and right now we are 100 percent focused on serving the Indian market. Saietta VNA is procuring all raw materials for manufacturing its products locally in India, except automotive-grade magnets and semiconductors, which it is unable to source from Indian suppliers at this point. The company says it is willing to work with suppliers who have a positive, open mindset to learning. “Working in partnership with our clients and suppliers is central to our business approach because we recognise that the collaboration is the key to delivering successfully at the required time, quality, and cost.”
According to Walimbe, “While we are completely focused on serving the Indian market, making in India and exporting to the world, is, of course, a distinct possibility as we move forward, and we will consider it at some point in the future.”
Tony Gott, Executive Chairman, Saietta Group, said, “Our ambition with the Saietta VNA JV is to grow the capability of Indian operations very strongly over the next few years. India is one of the most challenging markets globally in terms of climatic conditions, use cases and cost, and we will build our volumes in India and the economies of scale achieved here will enable us to export from the country. Other than Asia, we will also explore export opportunities to Europe, and Africa,” Gott said, while showing his bullishness about the demand for its unique eDrive systems in the Indian market which is particularly cost sensitive.”
“If we look at the number of light-duty vehicles, including two-, three- and four-wheel categories, currently operating in India, the number stands at around 250 million vehicles. While there are combinations of multiple powertrains – CNG, LPG, petrol and diesel – but as the push from the government as well as consumer pull intensifies, a majority of these vehicles will switch to becoming electrics,” Tony Gott signed off.
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