New Delhi: Musashi Auto Parts India Pvt Ltd (Musashi), a subsidiary of Japan’s Musashi Seimitsu Industries and a prominent manufacturer of transmission components for two-wheelers and four-wheelers in India, has entered into a joint venture with Delta Electronics, Inc. (Delta) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota Tsusho) to produce and sell electric vehicle (EV) drive units for two-wheeled vehicles in India.
The joint venture, known as Musashi Delta e-Axle India Private Limited, aims to manufacture one million EV drive units to be sold by 2030.
Musashi Leads the Joint Venture
Musashi holds a majority stake of 51% in this partnership, followed by Delta with 34% and Toyota Tsusho with 15%. The venture will establish motor assembly and drive unit assembly factories at the Musashi Bangalore plant. By September 2024, it aims to achieve a localization level exceeding two-thirds of the total cost. The manufactured products will also be exported to the ASEAN and African markets.
Environmental Considerations Drive the Collaboration
Hiroshi Otsuka, President and Group CEO of Musashi Seimitsu Industries, emphasized the increasing acceptance of electric mobility in India’s two-wheeler market due to the environmental impact of emissions from traditional vehicles. He noted that supplying EV drive units through this joint venture would contribute to the adoption of two-wheeled EVs in India and worldwide while aiding in the realization of carbon neutrality.
Benefits of the Joint Venture
The partnership focuses on developing, manufacturing, and selling high-performance, compact, lightweight, and quiet drive units, which are crucial for electric vehicles. It also facilitates rapid and flexible research and development to adapt to market and technological changes. Leveraging the strengths of Musashi, Delta, and Toyota Tsusho, the collaboration aims to streamline procurement and sales processes.
Plans for EV Adoption in India
In the Indian market, Musashi India has been working with BNC, an EV startup company in which Musashi has invested and collaborated. They have agreed to commence the sale of two-wheeled EVs from February 2024, with a primary focus on the 125cc class, the key segment for motorcycles in the Indian market. The joint venture intends to supply EV drive units to various customers, further supporting the proliferation of clean electric mobility.