The world’s third-largest automotive market, India is far more than a growth market for OPmobility. It is a strategic laboratory where speed of execution, technological innovation and social responsibility come together to shape the industrial model of tomorrow. As the Kharkhoda plant opens on October 27, 2026, we look back at an Indian journey that has continued to evolve year after year.
With only 34 cars per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with more than 500 per 1,000 in Europe, India offers considerable growth potential. The world’s third-largest automotive market is expected to produce 7.4 million vehicles by 2030, compared with 3.7 million in Mexico and 1.4 million in France. Annual vehicle production is projected to grow by 5.2% by 2030. The transition to electric mobility is also accelerating: the electric vehicle segment is expected to grow by 45% by 2030.
“As the world’s most populous country, India has made green mobility a key priority. Our battery and hydrogen solutions have a promising future. More than 700,000 vehicles already run on natural gas, and we anticipate the fleet will transition toward biogas and hydrogen.” Gyanendra Sharma, Chairperson India, OPmobility
This potential is reinforced by a favorable geopolitical environment: the “Make in India” policy launched in 2014, ongoing free trade negotiations with the European Union, and the elimination of tariffs on 99% of exports to the United Kingdom since May 2025 have made India a leading manufacturing hub at the crossroads of domestic and international markets.
Kharkhoda: a New Industrial Milestone
Since establishing operations in India in 2007, OPmobility has steadily built a strong presence, first taking root in major regional automotive hubs such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat before expanding its footprint into Maharashtra.
Dedicated to energy storage systems, the new Kharkhoda plant complements the regional hub in Pune and the Badhalwadi site, which opened in October 2025 in the state of Maharashtra. At 40,000 square meters, Badhalwadi is OPmobility’s largest production site in India. Together, these facilities reflect the Group’s ambition to operate 10 sites in India by 2030. OPmobility, which already equips more than one in three vehicles produced annually in India, aims to double its sales in the Indian market over the next five years.
Agility as a Competitive Advantage
In a market where speed is a decisive advantage, OPmobility’s teams in India have demonstrated their capabilities. By developing a bumper and grille in record time for one of an Indian automaker’s light-duty truck models, they delivered a prototype and then a product ready for mass production in less than 15 months, compared with an average of 26 months in India. The difference reflects an agile organization, well-controlled processes and an execution capability that appeals to both domestic and international automakers.
“We have the talent and expertise, particularly in software development. Our ambition is to be the best, in both production and engineering.” Gyanendra Sharma, Chairperson India, OPmobility
A Strong Social Commitment
OPmobility’s industrial performance in India is measured by more than numbers. It is also reflected in the way the Group puts down roots in local communities, in line with its global ACT FOR ALL™ program.
OPmobility currently employs 400 engineers in India and aims to increase that number to 1,500 by 2030. At the Badhalwadi site, women hold 90% of all positions, a strong signal in a historically male-dominated industry. In 2019, women accounted for less than 5% of OPmobility’s workforce in India. Today, that figure has reached 16%, reflecting a proactive, long-term policy.
The Group also invests in training the talent of tomorrow through partnerships with startup incubators such as the Bhau Institute in Pune and SINE in Mumbai. A DOJO, an action-learning space for training and sharing expertise, has opened in Manesar, and daycare centers for employees’ children have been introduced at several sites.
In India, OPmobility is doing more than supporting the growth of the automotive market. The Group is shaping the balance of tomorrow’s industry, where value creation, innovation and responsibility reinforce one another. It is a vision whose influence already extends well beyond the country’s borders.
