FORVIA is strengthening its industrial and business presence in India, a key growth market at the centre of the Group’s IGNITE strategy, following the award of a major seating programme that will support the establishment of a new manufacturing facility dedicated to complete seat assembly. The site will become FORVIA’s 10th manufacturing plant in India and its first facility focused exclusively on complete seating systems.
The new plant is expected to begin production in 2027 and will manufacture complete seating solutions, including seat structures, mechanisms, foam, covers and final assembly for first- and second-row seats. The investment will enhance FORVIA’s local-for-local manufacturing strategy and expand its ability to deliver integrated, locally engineered seating solutions to automotive customers in India.
The programme will also introduce FORVIA’s proprietary Cover Carving Technology, a polyurethane-based innovation designed to optimize seat geometry and increase available rear cabin space. The technology aims to improve second-row passenger comfort while maintaining vehicle packaging requirements and delivering a cleaner, more refined seat surface finish.
Martin Fischer, CEO of FORVIA, said: “India is becoming one of the world’s most dynamic automotive markets and a strategic pillar of FORVIA’s growth trajectory. Beyond this new Seating investment, we continue to expand our industrial footprint, strengthen localization, invest in advanced technologies and develop world-class engineering and AI capabilities across the country.”
The new facility further strengthens FORVIA’s position in India’s automotive seating market, which is expected to reach approximately €4 billion by 2030. Sébastien Limousin, Executive Vice President, FORVIA Seating Business Group, said the investment demonstrates the Group’s commitment to developing and manufacturing complete seat systems locally while bringing advanced technologies to high-growth markets.
With the addition of the new facility, FORVIA will operate 10 manufacturing sites across India, complementing its established presence in Mehsana, Pune, Ammavaruppali, Bengaluru, Chennai, Derabassi, Gurugram/Dankhot and Manesar. The Group has also secured several programme awards since the beginning of 2026 across Seating, Electronics and Clean Mobility, strengthening its engagement with leading domestic and global OEMs.
India is also emerging as a major engineering and innovation hub for FORVIA, with more than 2,400 engineers and technical specialists working across Seating, Interiors, Clean Mobility, Electronics and Lighting. The country has contributed 61 patent applications and 30 granted patents to the Group’s innovation portfolio.
FORVIA’s Indian engineering teams are developing technologies spanning zonal controllers, smartphone-based vehicle access, electrification and radar-based rider assistance systems. FORVIA HELLA India has also established a Global AI Center of Competence focused on AI applications including child presence detection, adaptive lighting, radar intelligence and predictive anomaly detection, further reinforcing India’s role in the Group’s global technology ecosystem.
