Toyota Boshoku expands in India automotive market

KARIYA, Japan – Toyota Boshoku Corporation (TOKYO:3116), a premier manufacturer of automotive interior systems, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to establish a joint sales venture with Relan Group of Industries, an automotive components supplier that makes seats and other components in India.

With the aim to strengthen its sales structure and expand business in the decisive Indian market, the Toyota Boshoku group has established a joint sales venture, Toyota Boshoku Relan India Private Limited.

Toyota Boshoku strengthens sales for automotive manufacturers in India with Relan Group (from left ) Sharda Motor Industries Limited director Rohit Relan, Toyota Boshoku Corporation president Dr Shuhei Toyoda and Toyota Boshoku Asia CEO Shozo Ishikawa

In 2012, Toyota Boshoku and Relan Group agreed to combine their collective strengths to expand their seat and interior component business in India by tapping Toyota Boshoku’s global R&D power and high quality manufacturing with Relan Group’s sales and purchasing strengths. Toyota Boshoku’s technical operations will support sales activities to realize swift and accurate assessment of customers and their needs in the Indian market.

Toyota Boshoku’s management hub for the Asia & Oceania region, Toyota Boshoku Asia Co., Ltd., and Relan Group’s automotive components company, Sharda Motor Industries Limited will invest equally in the joint venture, which will open in Pune City, Maharashtra State in November 2013. The chairman of the new company shall be N. D. Relan, representing the Relan Group, and heading up the company as managing director will be Toshifumi Chujo, representing Toyota Boshoku Asia. The company has been set up with a capital of 80 million Indian rupees (approx. %1.4 million) and is equally held by Toyota Boshoku Asia and Sharda Motor Industries Limited. The company will head up sales activities for automotive seats and interior components in India.

Toyota Boshoku has been doing business in India since it set up its subsidiary Toyota Boshoku Automotive India Private Limited in 1998. The company’s 800 employees produce seats, door trim, air cleaners and other automotive components.

Toyota Boshoku will continue to strengthen its business in each region and offer customers worldwide appealing, comfortable and safe automobile interior space.