Rane TRW Steering Systems has announced its foray into airbags. The auto component firm intends to make an investment of Rs 35 crore over the next five years for manufacture of airbags and seat belts.

Rane TRW, a 50:50 joint venture between Rane Holdings, holding company of the Rs 2,650 crore Rane group and TRW Automotive US, will expand its operations beyond seat belt systems. The airbags will be produced at its plant, which currently manufactures seat belt systems, near Chennai.

The proposed investment and foray into manufacture of airbags has been necessitated in view of the growing trend towards stronger vehicle safety. The company will make 3.2 lakh units of air bags per annum initially, with a ramp up of manufacturing capacity to 8.1 lakh units in three to five years’ time.

The manufacturing facility will utilise driver and passenger airbag technology developed by TRW in Germany and the company is drawing up plans to leverage the Rane group supplier network in a phased manner for this venture.

“We are excited to bring these new technologies to the Indian market and will work closely with TRW,” Harish Lakshman, managing director, Rane TRW said in a statement.

Frank Mueller, vice-president & GM — global occupant safety systems, TRW Automotive GmbH, said “India is a very important market for TRW and we look forward to our continued partnership with Rane to bring the best of our technologies to help protect drivers and occupants here. As a global leader in safety, we are committed to providing affordable safety for all car drivers.”

Rane TRW is the market leader in hydraulic power steering space in India with an annual turnover of over Rs 672 crore in 2011-2012. It has five manufacturing units in India to produce range of steering and safety products and caters to wide spectrum of top OEMs.

balachandarg@mydigitalfc.com