Mumbai, 24 Nov: JBM Group, a USD 3.3 bn global Indian conglomerate, has entered a strategic joint venture with Sodecia Automotive International SA, a global leader in automotive components to design, develop and supply hot-stamped automotive systems and assemblies to Indian OEMs. The foundation stone of the proposed hot stamping plant was laid by Acharya Devvrat, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra & Gujarat at JBM Group’s Neel Metal Products Ltd. plant in Chakan, Pune. Present on the occasion were S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM Group; Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman, JBM Group and senior leadership from Sodecia.
Under this JV agreement, both companies will set up a state-of-the-art Hot Stamping manufacturing facility at Chakan Industrial Area, Pune. With an investment to the tune of INR 150cr, the proposed facility is scheduled to be operational by Q2FY27. This collaboration leverages JBM Group’s 4-decade legacy in the automotive manufacturing excellence with Sodecia’s advanced hot stamping technology.
The new facility will manufacture safety critical, lightweight, high-strength auto systems by incorporating advanced automotive technologies in India for both ICE and electric vehicles. This joint venture underscores JBM Group’s commitment to safer, sustainable mobility and further reinforces its position as a trusted partner to OEMs globally. Over the years, JBM Group has been working towards strengthening its hot stamping ecosystem across its various facilities. In this direction, the company has already set up its dedicated hot stamping die manufacturing facility at Greater Noida.
This JV represents another important step for the Sodecia Group in consolidating its activities as a global supplier and strengthening its strategy for developing the Indian market, which has high growth potential. The connection with the JBM Group is seen as an opportunity to combine the best skills with a highly valuable and experienced partner.
Commenting on the occasion, S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM Group, said, “Our joint venture with Sodecia underscores JBM Group’s commitment to developing world-class manufacturing capabilities and bringing best-in-class global technologies to India. This collaboration will accelerate the deployment of high-strength, lightweight systems, critical for modern mobility and further strengthen our role as a trusted technology partner to OEMs globally. Our partnership with Sodecia reflects a shared commitment to innovation, safety and sustainability”.
Rui Monteiro, CEO, Sodecia, said, “We are delighted to partner with JBM Group, a trusted industry leader with strong manufacturing foundation and deep OEM relationships that complement Sodecia’s technological leadership in hot stamping. This joint venture will enable us to bring our global expertise to one of the world’s most dynamic automotive markets”.
Hot stamping, also known as press hardening, involves heating of sheet metal blanks to high temperature and rapidly cooling them in dies to achieve exceptional high tensile strength with lesser weight of parts. These parts are increasingly vital for passenger vehicles, driven by stringent environmental norms and the growing need for lightweight EV platforms.