Harman, global provider of audio and infotainment solutions, is setting up a manufacturing facility and acoustic systems engineering centre in Pune. 

Situated on a 4-acre expanse in Chakan, Pune, the manufacturing facility, the ground-breaking for which was done today, will have the capacity to support over 400,000 car sets annually, and entail SMT and infotainment manufacturing capabilities. It is slated to be operational by the end of 2013.

The Harman Acoustic Systems Engineering Centre, equipped to global standards, will be fully operational by April 2013.  

Michael Mauser, Executive Vice-President and Co-President, Infotainment and Lifestyle Divisions, said Pune will serve in Harman’s recently announced strategic multi-year relationship to develop and supply branded audio and infotainment solutions for leading players such as Tata Motors.

“Our growth plan in India is intensive. We will invest $10 million in the first phase with 100 employees. With its huge base of automotive OEMs, Pune is an ideal location. The input costs will be lower and to start with we will also conduct local sourcing to the tune of 30 per cent. Our products and systems will be specially customised for the Indian market,” he said.

“We will start with manufacturing of infotainment products like radio and navigation units and then scale up our operations by bringing in lifestyle products. Over a period of time, we will bring in our entire product portfolio into India. This manufacturing facility can also be looked at for exports at a later stage,” he added.

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