Wheels India has signed a Technical Assistance Agreement with Tokyo-headquartered Topy Industries to strengthen its design, development and manufacturing capabilities in aluminium alloy wheels. The agreement is expected to support new business wins in the aluminium wheels segment and reinforce the company’s presence in both domestic and international markets.

Under the agreement, Topy Industries will provide technical knowhow and engineering support to Wheels India’s cast aluminium wheel operations. Topy is a globally renowned wheel manufacturer with over a century of experience and advanced technologies in aluminium wheels, which are expected to enhance Wheels India’s competitive edge in the segment.

Wheels India entered the alloy wheel business in FY21 with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Thervoy Kandigai, near Chennai. Initially focused on exports to the US and European aftermarket, the company is now scaling up its domestic footprint. It has already commenced supplies to Indian OEMs such as 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 OEMs next year. With rising demand, Wheels India is targeting additional opportunities, including Japanese OEMs operating in India.

Commenting on the agreement, Srivats Ram, Managing Director, Wheels India, said: “Topy Industries is an over 100 year old globally renowned wheel manufacturer. They are a leading manufacturer of aluminium wheels with evolved cutting-edge technologies. This agreement is expected to bring in considerable technical expertise in the aluminium wheel segment for Wheels India. We are confident that this agreement will also help us win new businesses and bolster our competitive advantage in the cast aluminium segment.”

On market expansion, he added: “Through this agreement, we are hoping to make fresh inroads into the Japanese OEMs in India in the alloy wheel segment.”

To support growth, Wheels India is expanding annual capacity at its Thervoy Kandigai plant to 7 lakh wheels per annum from the current 5 lakh, with completion expected by the end of next quarter. The company also plans a further expansion to 10 lakh wheels per annum, targeted for completion by the end of FY27.

Wheels India already has a joint venture with Topy Industries for steel wheels through WIL Car Wheels, in which it holds a 74 per cent equity stake, catering primarily to Japanese OEMs in India.