Steelbird Hi-Tech India Ltd, a leading helmet manufacturer supplying to brands like Hero, Honda, Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Ola, and TVS, is setting up a new production facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The project, with an initial capital expenditure of ₹100 crore and a total planned investment of ₹250 crore, aims to expand the company’s manufacturing capacity significantly.
The Hosur plant will begin with a production capacity of 20,000 helmets per day and is expected to generate direct employment for around 2,000 people. Steelbird currently operates six manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh and three in Noida. The company is also planning to establish a cycle helmet manufacturing facility, which is expected to become operational in the second half of 2025.
Steelbird holds a 40% share of India’s branded helmet market and sees enormous growth potential. According to Managing Director Rajeev Kapur, “The annual demand for helmets in India is approximately 100 million units, but branded helmet production accounts for less than 30 million units, leaving a significant gap.”
He further added, “India has over 17 crore vehicles on the road. With a five-year replacement cycle, the replacement demand alone is about 34 million helmets annually. Additionally, new demand for helmets, considering two helmets per two-wheeler, could add another 40 million units each year. This highlights the immense scope for branded helmets in the market.” The company has identified South India as a key growth region, expecting it to contribute ₹500 crore to its revenue target of ₹2,500 crore by 2030.
Steelbird, established in 1964, started as a manufacturer of automobile filters before diversifying into helmets and rubber components. In 2023, the company produced 8 million helmets and plans to increase output to over 10 million helmets by the end of 2024.
