Germany’s Marquardt to supply Tata Motors with key systems

Tata Motors has tied up with Germany-based Marquardt to introduce 'Passive Entry Passive Start Systems', marking the first time that a fully 'made in India' car will sport this keyless entry system.

This is the first time an Indian OEM will be sporting complete keyless entry systems in their cars, Harald Marquardt, chief executive of the Marquardt Group, said.

The new system will be found in Tata car models from Q3 of 2016, he said. The company is also setting up its R&D centre in Pune and plans to establish a production facility as well in the near future based on the market response to its products.

A family-owned company, Marquardt makes intelligent driver authorisation systems and anti-theft security systems that are found in Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Chrysler cars.

The delivery package per vehicle for Tata Motors includes key control unit, antenna, door sensor, electronic steering local and a start-stop button.

Declining to give details on the order value, Marquardt said that the initial supplies will come from the company's China plant, and depending on market response, the company will take a call on establishing its own production facility in India.

He said his company is a 100-per cent keyless systems supplier to Mercedes, Audi, Chrysler, Mini BMW, VW Touareg and this is the first time the company will be looking at smaller cars. Globally, some partial keyless entry systems are found in some Japanese cars, he said.

Cars from the Tata Motors stable have never really taken off in India and the company hopes to revamp its appeal with this new system.

Marquardt, a maker of mechatronic components, has set up an R&D centre at Hinjewadi in Pune district to help collaborate on products for the global automotive segment.

''In the past year we have received our largest contract in India from Tata Motors. Starting in the third quarter of 2016, we will deliver Passive Entry Passive Start Systems for various cars of the OEM,'' Dr Harald Marquardt, CEO of the group, said.

The company will develop the products across its R&D centres in India, China, Romania and Germany, and begin supplies to Tata Motors from the plant in China.

Marquardt also plans to set up a manufacturing company, most likely in Pune in the next four-five years, the boss of the tightly-held firm said.

The company, which makes a variety of electronic and electro-mechanical switches for automobiles, power tools and home appliances, already has a plant for switches in Mumbai. Panasonic is another major client.