DURA partners with Aditya Auto Products

BANGALORE: DURA Automotive Systems, Inc.has announced its technical alliance with Aditya Auto Products and Engineering Pvt. Ltd., based in Bangalore.

The alliance aims to bring new automotive technologies to the growing domestic Indian and Asian markets. DURA will supply technology to Aditya to manufacture products such as pedals, parking brakes, shifters and spare tyre carriers.

Aditya will produce the products and provide local support to automotive OEMs in the region. DURA and Aditya anticipate that the alliance will commence manufacturing of DURA components in India by the first quarter of 2008.

"Establishing a manufacturing presence in India is a key component of our global growth strategy, which is designed to leverage DURA technology investments and provide local support to customers anywhere in the world," said Larry Denton, DURA Automotive's chief executive officer.

"The DURA and Aditya partnership opens significant opportunities for us in fast-growing automotive markets," he added.

By 2012, India is projected to be the seventh largest automobile producer in the world and the establishment of the alliance in Bangalore, a major Indian market, also provides access to neighboring Asian markets.

C Jayaraman, Aditya's managing director and chief executive officer, said: "Our alliance brings Aditya's expertise in designing and manufacturing systems with DURA's world-class technology to meet the requirements of leading automakers in this region."

DURA will contribute designs, intellectual property and technical resources. Under the terms of the agreement, the alliance is planned to become a joint venture in three years. Once initiated, the joint venture will operate under the name Aditya DURA Pvt. Ltd.

DURA currently has a presence in 16 countries with 69 locations, including its manufacturing facilities, technology and customer service centers, andjoint venture companies.

CIOL Bureau