Wheels India Limited has signed a technical assistance agreement with Japan-based Topy Industries to strengthen its aluminium alloy wheel design and manufacturing capabilities, while outlining plans to expand production capacity at its Thervoy Kandigai plant near Chennai. The agreement is expected to support new business opportunities in the aluminium wheels segment and deepen the company’s engagement with domestic and international original equipment manufacturers.
Topy Industries will provide technical knowhow and engineering support to Wheels India for the design, development and manufacture of cast aluminium alloy wheels. The collaboration is aimed at enhancing Wheels India’s capabilities in the aluminium wheels business, which the company entered in financial year 2020–21.
Wheels India established its alloy wheel manufacturing facility at Thervoy Kandigai on the outskirts of Chennai to initially serve export markets, supplying aluminium wheels to the US and European aftermarket. The company has since shifted focus towards the domestic market and has commenced supplies to Indian original equipment manufacturers including Tata Motors and Stellantis.
The company has also secured new orders from Hyundai and Volkswagen for its aluminium wheels business and expects to begin supplies to these customers next year.
Srivats Ram, Managing Director of Wheels India, said the partnership with Topy Industries is expected to bring significant technical expertise to the aluminium wheel segment and support the company’s efforts to win new business and strengthen its position in cast aluminium wheels.
In addition to supporting current operations, the agreement could help the company target Japanese original equipment manufacturers operating in India in the alloy wheel segment. The company already has an existing joint venture with Topy Industries in the steel wheels segment through WIL Car Wheels Limited, in which Wheels India holds a 74 percent equity stake. This joint venture focuses on supplying steel wheels to Japanese OEMs in India.
Alongside the technical collaboration, Wheels India is undertaking a phased expansion of aluminium wheel production capacity at its Thervoy Kandigai plant. The company is currently increasing annual capacity to 700,000 wheels from the existing 500,000 wheels per annum, with completion expected by the end of the next quarter. It has also outlined plans to further expand capacity to 1 million wheels per annum, with the additional expansion scheduled for completion by the end of financial year 2026–27.
Wheels India Limited manufactures wheels for trucks, agricultural tractors, passenger vehicles and construction equipment, as well as air suspension systems for trucks and buses and industrial components for the construction and windmill sectors. The company operates manufacturing facilities across Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
