State of the Economy 2019

Braving Adversity

Auto ancillaries and manufacturers in Chakan remain cautiously optimistic of demand uptick despite local challenges and sluggish sales

Photographs by Amey Ghatge

A metallic thudding reverberates through the shop floor as we enter Autocomp Corporation’s plant in Chakan, Pune. Workers, dressed in blue uniforms and helmets, go about their task with rhythmic precision, as the assembly lines chug along. Amid the cacophony, Rajeev Panse, managing director, tells us with a tinge of pride that their business grew by 28% in FY18 — operating income for FY17 was Rs.3.46 billion. The company, established in 1983, makes ancillaries including metal body parts, assemblies, chassis and seating structures for big automakers such as Tata Motors, Eicher Motors and Ashok Leyland. “We are growing faster than the industry,” adds an upbeat Panse.