All PressEquipmake, the UK-based engineering specialist pioneering the development and production of electrification products across the automotive, aerospace, bus and coach industries, is pleased to announce it has signed a licensing agreement with Sona BLW Precision Forging Limited (Sona Comstar).
The agreement will see Equipmake license certain products from its range of electric drive motors, inverter, and electric powertrain technology to Sona Comstar – a global automotive systems and components manufacturer, headquartered in India – for applications in electric cars, buses, commercial vehicles and off-road vehicles in India, Thailand and other select South Asian countries.
Sona Comstar will lead the business development and customer sales in India, Thailand and select South Asian countries. It will exclusively manufacture EV powertrains,
sub-systems, and components, based on Equipmake’s patented technology, for the target applications exclusively in India and other select markets. The companies expect the serial production of these systems to commence in 2025.
Sona Comstar is an innovation-led automotive technology company delivering mission-critical systems and components to customers worldwide. It offers a wide range of traction motors and controllers for India’s electric two- and three-wheeler segments. It is one of the largest manufacturers of EV traction motors in India and has sold more than 180,000 EV traction motors since starting production of these indigenous traction motors at its Chennai plant in November 2020.
India is a high growth market, with share for electric passenger vehicles forecast to increase to 25% by 2032, up from less than 1% in 2022, and electric buses to increase to 21% by 2032, up from 5% in 2022.1
The company’s strategic objective is to develop traction motors and inverters for all mobility segments and offer the right motor, made using the right technology, to each vehicle application. With this partnership with Equipmake, Sona Comstar will expand its offerings to include high-voltage motors and inverters for electric buses, commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
Both parties will jointly address other markets and territories for certain Equipmake products, utilising Sona Comstar’s manufacturing and distribution networks.
Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake, said: “Sona Comstar is a global automotive systems and components manufacturer and one of India’s leading automotive technology companies. This agreement provides a material gear change for our business and opens new and strategic markets for Equipmake which would otherwise be inaccessible.“
“Sona Comstar approaching and selecting Equipmake as its partner is a demonstration of a UK engineering success story which will enable us to export our considerable expertise and product offering to significant and fast-growing automotive markets in Asia, whilst continuing to grow our engineering and manufacturing operations in the UK to satisfy our increasingly international and varied customer base.“
“I am delighted with this development and believe that this has the potential to create substantial value for our shareholders as we continue to build our reputation for electric powertrain innovation and product excellence with customers around the world.”
Mr Sat Mohan Gupta, CEO of Motor Business at Sona Comstar, said: “Equipmake’s patented next generation spoke motors and inverters offer one of the highest power and torque density in its segments globally and we are delighted to partner with Equipmake to bring their cutting-edge motors and inverters technologies to India.“
“With Equipmake’s advanced technology and Sona Comstar’s manufacturing and sales capabilities, we aim to offer our customers high-performance, efficient, cost-effective electrified drivetrain solutions. This is yet another step towards our commitment to offering innovative solutions to drive faster adoption of electric mobility in India and globally.”
