Picture Credit: Knorr-Bremse Group
Germany-based Knorr-Bremse Group, a global leader in braking systems and safety-critical subsystems for rail and commercial vehicles, is set to establish a new manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu with an investment of ₹1,907 crore.
Sriperumbudur Plant to Anchor Expansion
According to a report published in TOI, the proposed greenfield unit will come up along the Sriperumbudur industrial corridor, with Knorr-Bremse’s Indian subsidiary, Haryana-headquartered Knorr-Bremse India, developing the facility on a 46-acre plot at SIPCOT Industrial Park, Sriperumbudur Phase IV. The details are part of documents submitted for statutory approvals.
Focus on Rail Doors and Braking Systems
The new factory will manufacture doors for metro, regional and high-speed trains, along with friction materials used in railway braking systems. According to the project plans, the facility will also house a technology centre dedicated to research and development for rail and truck braking systems, as well as digital products catering to both Indian and global markets.
Planned Production Capacity
Once operational, the plant is expected to produce around 700 door drive units and 1,000 door leaf units per month for metro and electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. The product range will cover applications from low-rail vehicles to very high-speed trains, reflecting Knorr-Bremse’s focus on advanced rail mobility solutions.
Employment Generation
The greenfield investment is projected to generate permanent employment for approximately 3,700 people, adding to the company’s growing manufacturing and engineering footprint in India.
Chennai’s Growing Role in Knorr-Bremse’s Digital Strategy
The announcement follows the group’s earlier decision to launch its global artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Chennai. The AI hub is focused on developing solutions to enhance process efficiency, performance and implementation speed across Knorr-Bremse’s worldwide operations.
Leadership Ties to India
Knorr-Bremse Group’s global CEO, Marc Llistosella, has deep professional links with India. He previously served as the first managing director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and played a pivotal role in setting up Daimler’s ₹4,400-crore manufacturing operations at Oragadam. He also led the launch of the BharatBenz truck and bus brand in India between 2008 and 2014.
With the latest investment, Knorr-Bremse is reinforcing its long-term commitment to India as a key manufacturing, engineering and innovation hub within its global network.
