India’s Steelbird to set up production unit in Bangladesh

India’s Steelbird International, the automotive components manufacturing company specialising in automotive filters, will set up manufacturing operations in Bangladesh.

It has already formalised a joint venture with TVS Auto Bangladesh to manufacture automotive filters for all types of vehicles, including 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers passenger cars, tractors and commercial vehicles.

Steelbird announced the decision on its 58th Founder’s Day, reported Financial Express, according to India’s media.

“This JV will be the first collaboration in this sector and definitely has a huge potential considering automotive industrialisation as a localised auto component and quality concern of our vehicle users,” TVS Auto Bangladesh Managing Director J Ekram Hussain.

Steelbird currently sells auto filters to German OEMs and 15 other countries, with the product holding a 45 percent share in its overall portfolio.

Steelbird International Executive Director Manav Kapur said, “Both JV partners share unconditional corporate value systems and are like-minded in their commitment to product quality, customer safety & satisfaction, delivery and strength of the product width and depth.”

Steelbird manufactures air filters, oil filters, fuel filters and cabin filters, and had set up an automotive filters plant in north India in 1964.

“The collaboration with TVS underlines the coming together of two formidable brands, Steelbird and TVS, the former poised to start manufacturing in Bangladesh to cater to the expanding aftermarket and OEM segment, while the latter with all the experience of the market and consumers in that region will facilitate the go-to-market strategy, protocols, channel management, retail and OEM growth in Bangladesh,” said Steelbird said in a statement.

It said it will manufacture automotive filters for all types of vehicles, from two-wheelers and three-wheelers to passenger cars, tractors and commercial vehicles.

Bangladesh has been among the fastest growing economies in the world over the past decade, supported by a positive demographic dividend, strong ready-made garment exports, and stable macroeconomic conditions. The growth of the automobile industry has steadily increased due to the socio-economic development and purchasing power of the middle and upper middle class of the country.

“I would say Steelbird as a company is now in the right company of TVS Auto Bangladesh; in a promising market that should result in a win-win scenario for both the seller and buyer,” said Kapur.

The latest collaboration underlines the coming together of brands, Steelbird and TVS, the former poised to start manufacturing in Bangladesh to cater to the expanding aftermarket and OEM segment, while the latter with all the experience of the market and consumers in that region will facilitate the go-to-market strategy protocols, channel management, retail and OEM growth in Bangladesh, the release added.

Manav Kapur; the executive director of Steelbird International has authored a book ..titled ‘An Introduction to Automotive Filters’. It serves as the single most effective user’s handbook for any professional related to the category, the company said.