Commerce Minister highlights ACMA’s six-decade journey, rising exports, FTAs and growing participation of women in the sector
New Delhi : Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal addressed the 66th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), calling on the industry to expand its manufacturing base, strengthen exports and make greater use of India’s recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to establish a stronger presence in global markets.
The session was attended by U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Harjinder Kang, HM Trade Commissioner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India. The discussions also came against the backdrop of efforts to deepen India’s international trade and investment linkages.
Goyal appreciated ACMA’s significant contribution to the development of India’s auto component ecosystem, particularly its role in enhancing the sector’s global competitiveness, promoting exports and supporting Indian manufacturers in accessing international markets.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, emphasised that competitiveness in the automotive sector cannot be achieved by individual companies alone, but depends on the strength and capabilities of the wider industry ecosystem. Addressing the valedictory session of the 66th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Takeuchi said, “Competitiveness is not an individual company phenomenon, it’s a wider ecosystem.” He identified four key enablers of resilience for the automotive industry:
- Deep localisation – strengthening domestic sourcing and reducing dependence on external supply chains.
- Human resources – developing a skilled and future-ready workforce capable of handling rapidly changing technologies.
- Collective learning – encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing across manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders.
- Technology – accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies to improve productivity, quality and global competitiveness.
Takeuchi’s remarks assume significance as India’s automotive industry seeks to strengthen its position in global supply chains amid rapid technological transformation and evolving mobility trends. He stressed that building a resilient and globally competitive automotive ecosystem requires collective efforts across OEMs, component manufacturers, technology providers and the wider supplier network.
Describing his participation in the 66th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) as a “homecoming of sorts,” R. Mukundan, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Managing Director & CEO of Tata Chemicals, expressed his pleasure at being invited to the industry gathering and thanked the organisers and participants.
Addressing the session, Mukundan highlighted trade, talent and technology as the three key priorities for the automotive industry at a time when the architecture of the sector is undergoing rapid transformation.He noted that as globalisation deepens and the automotive industry moves steadily up the value chain, Indian manufacturers will need to strengthen their capabilities and adapt to changing global market dynamics.
Mukundan emphasised that this transformation cannot take place in isolation. He stressed the importance of genuine partnership and coexistence between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and component suppliers, with stronger collaboration needed across the entire automotive ecosystem.According to him, closer cooperation between OEMs and suppliers will be critical to building capabilities, improving innovation, strengthening supply chains and enabling Indian companies to compete more effectively in international markets. His remarks come as India’s auto component industry seeks to expand its global footprint while simultaneously adapting to new technologies, evolving mobility solutions, changing consumer expectations and increasingly complex international supply chains.
Shailesh Chandra, President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Managing Director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Motors Passenger Electric Mobility, highlighted India’s growing position in the global automotive industry, noting that the country now ranks among the top three globally in passenger vehicles and two-wheelers.
Addressing the 66th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Chandra said the Indian automotive industry is entering a new phase of growth, with GST 2.0 providing further momentum to the sector. He pointed to the continued rise in auto component industry turnover as another indicator of India’s strengthening position as a major global automotive manufacturing hub. Chandra stressed that India’s next challenge is to translate its growing manufacturing scale into globally competitive products.
He called on the industry to identify specific areas where India can develop products that can compete successfully in international markets on the basis of quality, technology, cost and innovation. According to him, strengthening India’s global competitiveness will require greater collaboration across the automotive ecosystem, including OEMs, component manufacturers, technology companies and suppliers. The remarks assume significance as Indian automotive companies and component manufacturers seek to deepen their participation in global supply chains and expand exports amid rapid changes in mobility, technology and consumer preferences.
Vikrampati Singhania, President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Vice Chairman & Managing Director of J.K. Fenner (India), and Managing Director of JK Agri Genetics, highlighted India’s growing opportunity to emerge as a global partner of choice in the automotive and auto component industry.
Addressing the 66th Annual Session of ACMA, Singhania said the transformation of India’s manufacturing capabilities over the past decade has created a strong foundation for the country to expand its role in global automotive supply chains. He said, “The last decade showed that India can manufacture for the world; the next must demonstrate that India can build deeply and compete confidently on the global stage.”
Singhania emphasised that India’s next phase of growth should go beyond manufacturing at scale and focus on developing deep capabilities, advanced technologies, innovation and globally competitive products.He underlined the need for Indian component manufacturers to strengthen their technological capabilities, build resilient and integrated supply chains, and move higher up the global value chain.
According to Singhania, India has a significant opportunity to position itself as a trusted and preferred partner for global automotive manufacturers, particularly as companies worldwide look to diversify supply chains and identify reliable manufacturing destinations. He also stressed that achieving this ambition will require closer collaboration among OEMs, component manufacturers, policymakers, technology providers and other stakeholders across the automotive ecosystem. The remarks were made at ACMA’s 66th Annual Session, themed “Beyond Resilience,” which brought together senior government officials and industry leaders to discuss India’s next phase of automotive growth, global competitiveness, technology adoption, localisation and export expansion.
ACMA’s Six-Decade Journey
Established in 1959, ACMA has grown into the apex industry association representing India’s automotive component manufacturers. Over more than six decades, it has worked at the intersection of industry, government and global markets, advocating policies conducive to the sector’s growth and supporting manufacturers in technology adoption, quality enhancement, productivity improvement and international business development.
From its early role in representing the interests of component manufacturers, ACMA has evolved alongside India’s automotive industry, supporting the sector’s transition towards global quality standards, advanced technology, research and development, sustainable manufacturing and integration into international supply chains.
The association today has more than 1,100 member companies and works to strengthen the competitiveness of Indian component manufacturers through policy advocacy, capability building, industry collaboration, international partnerships, trade exhibitions and buyer-seller engagements.
Auto Component Industry Reaches Record Turnover
The growth of the industry is reflected in its recent performance. According to ACMA, the Indian auto component industry recorded its highest-ever turnover of ₹7.59 lakh crore (US$85.9 billion) in FY2025-26, registering 12.7% growth over the previous year. Auto component exports also reached US$24 billion, underlining the sector’s growing role in global automotive supply chains.
Against this backdrop, Goyal encouraged manufacturers to further expand production capacity and leverage India’s expanding network of FTAs to diversify markets and increase exports.
Focus on Women and Future Growth
The Minister also highlighted the growing participation of women in the automotive component sector, appreciating their increasing contribution to the industry’s development and competitiveness.
He reiterated that the Modi Government remains committed to supporting Indian industry in expanding its capabilities, increasing investments, creating employment opportunities and competing successfully in international markets.
The Minister’s message assumes added significance as India’s auto component industry seeks to move beyond traditional manufacturing towards innovation, advanced technology, localisation and higher-value global supply chains.
In essence, ACMA’s journey from its establishment in 1959 to becoming a major voice for India’s auto component industry mirrors the transformation of the country’s automotive sector—from a domestic supplier base to an increasingly important global manufacturing and export hub.
