Sandhar Technologies signs new JV to produce audio panel

Gurgaon-based Sandhar Technologies Ltd., a diversified auto component manufacturing company, has signed a new joint venture (JV) with Korean auto component maker Jinyong to manufacture audio panel for Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai Mobis has been importing these products and this JV will help it source them locally. The joint venture, named as Jinyong Sandhar Mechatronics, is expected to start production by August this year at Sandhar Technologies existing plant in Chennai. Jinyong Sandhar Mechatronics, will also manufacture and supply Audio AVN panel Assemblies and switches from this plant.

Jayant Davar, Founder, CoChairman and Managing Director of Sandhar, said, “Sandhar and Jinyong are taking their relationship to the next level by doing this 50:50 joint venture, with both partners holding equal shares.” However, he declined to comment on the investment plans.

“India is a very large automotive market with a number of wellestablished Korean companies. The strengthening of our existing relationship with Sandhar through this joint venture gives us an opportunity to cater to Hyundai in India and expand our footprint as well,” Doo-Yung Kim, President, Jinyong Electro-Mechanics (JEM), said. JEM is already supplying to Hyundai Mobis in Korea, he said.

Sandhar has another joint venture with Jinyoung Electro-Mechanics to manufacture relays, switches, multi-functional switches, latches etc. Sandhar Group founded in 1985 is a fast-growing auto component major with over 6,500 employees, 34 manufacturing plants and subsidiary companies in Spain, Mexico and Poland.

Sandhar manufactures lock kits, mirrors, handles, latches, hinges, stamped and tubular components, plastic injected components, zinc and aluminium pressure die castings, relays, fuel level senders, operator cabins, canopies, housings, panels, switchboards, control cabinets, moulds, dies and structural parts for off-highway vehicles. It also supplies steel wheel rims and assemblies, handlebars, clutch and brake panels to two-wheeler manufacturers.

Jinyoung Electro-Mechanics, which was set up in 1996, specialises in automotive relays, switches, multi-functional switches, latches and buzzer units. It has three plants, a dedicated R&D Centre in South Korea, three plants in China and one in Mexico. It has technical tie-ups with Niles, Panasonic and Miyamoto of Japan for switches, PCB relays and horn relays, respectively.

Began as a supplier to Hero Honda, Sandhar has been growing consistently adding more components or rather increasing the content per vehicle. It began its business with Hero Honda by supplying sheet metal components. Latter it added locks, mirrors and many more things.

For TVS Motors it began with locks and latter it supplied mirrors, wheels, clutch assembly and handlebar assembly. The company also has presence in the commercial vehicle sector and is one of the significant suppliers of components to companies like Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors.