First production expected in 3Q’19

Michigan-based Maxion Wheels, the world’s largest wheel manufacturer, plans to develop and produce four million light vehicle aluminum wheels annually in India.

It has formed Maxion Wheels Aluminum India Private Limited and secured a property in Pune to initially build a 25,000 square meters manufacturing plant with annual capacity of two million wheels. Production is expected to begin from the third quarter of 2019.

Additional land was also purchased for a plant expansion that will increase annual capacity to four million wheels in the coming years, said Mexion Wheels, the producer of wheels for agriculture and military vehicles as well as other off-highway applications.

“Maxion Wheels is committed to serving its customers’ growing demand for light vehicle aluminum wheels, especially in India where market growth is outpacing available capacity,” said its chief executive Pieter Klinkers.

“We’ve been in India for more than 20 years, providing original equipment manufacturers with light and commercial vehicle steel wheels. We’re pleased to satisfy our global customers’ growing request that we bring our recognized global aluminum wheel expertise to India, and we are excited about the opportunity our new plant will afford us to strengthen our global footprint and strategically expand our presence in the region,” he said.

The new wholly-owned operation, expected to initially bring more than 500 new jobs to the region, will produce low pressure die cast aluminum wheels with a high-end wheel finish.

A groundbreaking (Bhoomi Pooja) ceremony for customers, employees, and local dignitaries is scheduled for 19 February 2018.

The company is producing 56 million wheels per year and serves its global OEM customers from 28 locations in 15 countries on five continents. fii-news.com