INDIA, A STRATEGIC REGIONAL HUB for OPmobility OPMOBILITY ON THE MOVE GYANENDRA SHARMA Chairperson, India 7.4 million vehicles are set to be produced in India by 2030 (compared to 1.4 million in France and 3.7 million in South Korea and Mexico)(2) +45% Expected growth in electric vehicles in India by 2030(2) +6% Expected growth in India’s GDP in 2026(2) India government’s agenda. OPmobility’s technologies are of particular interest to Indian manufacturers, because the electrification market, from privately owned cars to last-mile delivery vehicles, threewheelers, trucks and buses, is growing rapidly and needs our expertise. Our battery electrification and hydrogen solutions have a bright future. More than 700,000 vehicles in the country already run on natural gas and we are anticipating a shift towards biogas and hydrogen. Does the geopolitical context work to your advantage? G. S. India is opening up. The free trade agreements that were negotiated with the United Kingdom in May 2025 are a turning point: the taxes on our products exported to this market were reduced by 99%. Discussions are ongoing with the European Union. We hope that they will further encourage the export of automotive parts to Europe. Your ambition goes beyond technology and cost leadership, doesn’t it? G. S. We want to be much more than that. We have the talent and the intelligence, particularly when it comes to software development. Today, OPmobility employs 400 engineers in India. We want to increase this to 1,000 in 2028 and 1,500 in 2030. We aim to be the best, both in production and engineering. (1) Source: OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers). (2) Source: S&P Global. Globally, what position does the Indian market currently occupy? Gyanendra Sharma. Today, India is the world’s third largest automotive market. With just 34 cars for 1,000 inhabitants(1), the domestic market’s growth potential is considerable. Moreover, the Make In India policy, launched in 2014, aims to establish India as a manufacturing hub, an industrial power, and a key destination for foreign investment in the future. To support this growth, OPmobility is accelerating its investments. The Group already has 5 plants in the country and 4 R&D centers. A sixth plant is under construction and, based on our business plan, we aim to have 10 production sites by 2030. Our objective? To better serve Indian manufacturers and international customers by supporting the transition to sustainable mobility. In addition to our work with Tata, and Maruti Suzuki, a key player preparing to open a new plant next year near New Delhi, we also work with Hyundai, Renault, Škoda, and Toyota. Which of OPmobility’s technologies are the most promising in India? G. S. As the world’s most populous country, sustainable mobility is a key priority for India and a major issue on the • 19 18 •
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