Dana Holding Corporation has just signed a definitive agreement with Axles India Ltd. (AIL) to acquire select assets of AIL’s commercial truck axle business. Under the agreement, Dana will assume full ownership of AIL’s axle drive head and final axle-assembly operations. (The axle drive head includes the pinion, ring gear, differential lock, bearings, lube pump, and yoke inside the axle housing.)
Dana will also assume responsibility for the marketing, sales and engineering of these medium and heavy-duty axles. AIL, a joint venture between Dana and two India-based companies, will continue to manufacture axle housings for Dana and other customers.
AIL is a joint venture of Wheels India Ltd., Sundaram Finance Group and Dana Holding Corporation. Started in 1983, it supplies 180,000 pressed axle housings, from two manufacturing facilities, to medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle manufacturers annually.
“This agreement further extends our capabilities and operations in another rapidly growing market,” said Mark Wallace, president of Dana’s Heavy Vehicle Products Group. “With the compound annual growth rate of India’s commercial vehicle market at 8 per cent, we have high expectations for this investment.”
Dana’s Managing Director of India, BD Singh observed: “Dana’s recognized manufacturing and engineering leadership will be a key advantage in growing this business. Introducing lean manufacturing and applying Dana’s product engineering experience will benefit all of our customers.”
Key customers of this business are Ashok Leyland and Mahindra & Mahindra.
Closing of the transaction, expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year, is subject to government regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Dana’s investment of $13 million in this transaction is expected to generate approximately $50 million in annual revenue.
