Williams Controls'' Pune facility to go on stream next month

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) US-based Williams Controls plansto manufacture 10-lakh units of electronic pedals forcommercial vehicles per year at its Pune facility which willgo on-stream next month, a top company official has said.

The company has so far invested over USD 2-million inthe facility and will start production in February. The plantwill manufacture electronic pedals for Williams'' growing baseof customers in India''s truck, bus and off-road markets.

"Our aim is to tap the growing commercial vehiclemarket in India. The Pune facility will cater to the needs ofdomestic demand, which will go on-stream next month," WilliamsControls President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick WCavanagh told PTI here.

"We have invested over USD 2 million in our Punefacility and it will manufacture 10-lakh units of electronicpedals per year," Cavanagh said, adding, "we will enhance ourcapacity to up to 15-lakh units annually by 2012."

Rating agency Fitch expects that growth momentum inIndian automotive sales volumes will continue during 2011,with commercial vehicles witnessing a growth of about 10-12per cent.

"We have developed a world-class facility and strongmanagement team here and we look forward to growing togetherin this dynamic market," Cavanagh said, adding "the Indianmarket is one of the company''s top markets for commercialvehicles worldwide." .

"We will continue to grow as the Government moves to implement more stringent vehicle emission standards," Cavanaghsaid.

At present, the company has employed 10 professionalsand plans to hire 40 more by end-this year. "We will hire 40more professionals by 2011," he said.

The firm has two plants in China and America andemploys more than 250 people globally.