The Hindu Business Line : Kinetic Engg bags gearbox orders from Tata Motors, others

Growth plans
The company has developed a petrol engine for the three-wheeler market.
Increase in domestic and export orders, development of a new three-wheeler engine is part of the company's strategy to generate a turnover of Rs 160 crore in 2007.

MS SULAJJA FIRODIA MOTWANI

Mumbai June 10 Kinetic Engineering Ltd (KEL), the engine and gearbox manufacturing arm of the Kinetic group, has recently bagged orders from premier Indian automobile companies.

It has bagged the order to supply gearboxes for the forthcoming Tata Motors' panel van (based on the Renault Trafic platform) and Force Motors' Minidoor and Mini 4-door three-wheeler, said Ms Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Joint Managing Director, Kinetic Engineering Ltd.

Export order

In addition to these domestic orders, the company has bagged an export order to supply 50cc engines to a Holland-based moped company.

The export order is to the tune of Rs 25 crore with annual export shipment of 30,000 engines starting shortly.

Ms Motwani did not disclose much on the domestic orders, as they would be primarily driven on market response generated by the respective vehicles. However, the panel van is likely to be launched shortly with Tata Motors having acquired the jigs and fixtures for around Rs 80 crore almost a year ago.

With the intent of sourcing gearboxes locally made in the country, it is clear that Tata Motors intends having a high local content in the vehicle at the time of its launch.

With respect to the Force range of three-wheeler - Minidoor, the product has been in the market for quite some time with 14 model variants currently. It is most likely that the gearbox would be applicable in almost all variants.

Besides manufacturing of engines and gearbox for the automotive industry, the company has gone one step ahead and developed a petrol engine for the three-wheeler market; the company is currently in talks with several domestic players for possible new orders.

The Holland order is not the first export order for the company; earlier it had acquired orders from major two-wheeler players such as MV Agusta of Italy and another from Tomos of Slovakia to design and develop 125cc and 50cc motorcycle engines. Increase in domestic and export orders, development of a new three-wheeler engine is part of the company's strategy to generate a turnover of Rs 160 crore in 2007 with a targeted turnover of Rs 500 crore for 2009.

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