Bilstein Group has announced the establishment of Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited, its 23rd international subsidiary, to strengthen its presence in the Indian automotive aftermarket. According to a report by Autocar Professional, the subsidiary is set to officially commence operations on April 1, 2025.
Ramachandra Puttanna has been appointed as Managing Director for the India region. He will oversee the company’s expansion efforts, focusing on its brands Febi, SWAG, and Blue Print. Puttanna has over 35 years of experience in the automotive sector, having worked with companies such as Fenner India, Bosch India, Oman Trading, Magneti Marelli, and ZF Group. His previous roles include Vice-President of the Aftermarket business at ZF Group, where he managed operations in India and the SAARC regions, and Business Head for EV Solutions & New Businesses at Greaves Cotton’s Retail division.
Bilstein Group Managing Director Karsten Schüssler-Bilstein commented on the expansion, stating, “With Ramachandra Puttanna, we have an experienced leader who will help us strengthen our presence in India.”
The Bilstein Group, headquartered in Germany, specializes in the automotive aftermarket and provides repair solutions for passenger and commercial vehicles through its Febi, SWAG, and Blue Print brands. The company offers a range of replacement parts designed for professional vehicle repairs.
In India, Bilstein Group has previously operated through partnerships with local distributors. Pete’s Automotive Private Limited has been one such partner, distributing Bilstein shock absorbers for vehicles including the Toyota Fortuner. These suspension systems are available for various automotive brands such as Maruti, Honda, Fiat, Ford, Mahindra, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Skoda, and Porsche.
The company has been expanding its presence in the Indian market since 2013, when Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH & Co. KG announced plans to introduce its Febi and Blue Print brands for the truck sector. The initiative aimed to supply approximately 2,000 spare parts for trucks while exploring partnerships to facilitate market entry. Additionally, the Blue Print brand was introduced to offer spare parts for Korean and Japanese vehicles in India.
Bilstein Group operates in over 70 countries through 22 international subsidiaries and sales partners. The establishment of its Indian subsidiary marks a further step in its global expansion strategy.