Diversified engineering major Greaves Cotton is in the process of setting up its fifth automotive engine plant, which is expected to be operational in the next couple of months. With this unit, the company?s overall automotive engine capacity is seen at four lakh units per annum.
The new plant will manufacture both petrol and diesel engines. It will come up at Aurangabad and have a capacity of 80,000 per annum. In line with its expansion plans, the company is looking at expanding from its currently three-wheeler and four wheeler small commercial vehicle (sub-one tonne) portfolio to other segments such as one-tonne commercial vehicles and small cars, if opportunity arises.
?We are predominantly a diesel engine manufacturer (single and twin cylinder as well) and cater to sub-one tonne segment. However, we are also producing gasoline (petrol) engine and want to expand our portfolio to one-tonne segment and other automotive space as well, if opportunity arises,? said Prabhakar Dev, MD and CEO, Greaves Cotton.
The automotive clientele of Greaves Cotton includes Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Atul Auto, Scooters India and Piaggio. Indicating that the company has technology ready to power small cars and even produce alternative fuel technology engines, Dev said, ?If our automotive clients will have a requirement, we are in a position to support them. We can take our twin cylinder engines to three cylinder,? he said when asked about possibility to power small cars.
Automotive engines make a significant part of the overall engine production of the company for other sectors such as agricultural, industrial, auxiliary power and marine. There are around 2 million Greaves Cotton automotive engines already in the use in the country.