Harman International Industries, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, announced an investment of ₹345 crore (approximately US $42 million) over the next three years to expand its automotive electronics manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.
With this additional capital, the cumulative investment at the site will reach ₹554 crore (aboutUS$67 million) since operations began in 2014.
The expansion is part of a broader push by Harman to strengthen India’s position in its global manufacturing network for connected vehicle technologies.
The Pune plant, already a hub for the production of infotainment systems, car audio components and telematics control units (TCUs), will see its capacity increase by more than 50 percent.
By 2027, the site is expected to produce around four million audio parts, 1.4 million infotainment units and 0.8 million telematics units annually.
The investment is divided into two phases: approximately ₹45 crore is earmarked for immediate expansion, which includes the addition of 71,500 square feet of built-up area, with a new 45,000 square foot production floor and four new surface-mount technology (SMT) lines, as well as module and speaker manufacturing.
The remaining ₹300 crore will be allocated over the next three years toward development of advanced telematics and connectivity modules, including 4G and 5G TCUs.
Harman’s Pune facility supplies major Indian automakers such as Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra, and also exports to Europe and North America.
The company aims to manufacture locally its “Harman Ready Connect” platform, co-developed with Samsung, which includes features such as over-the-air updates, vehicle diagnostics and vehicle-to-network connectivity.
Beyond capacity expansion, the initiative also emphasises sustainability and job creation.
The plant is set to create roughly 300 new jobs in Pune over the next two years.
It already generates over 317,000 kWh of electricity annually via its solar installations and aims to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity usage by 2030, having phased out diesel generators and optimised production lines for lower energy use.
Industry analysts see the move as a strategic indicator of India’s growing importance in the global automotive supply chain—particularly in connected vehicle electronics.
By locating development, manufacturing and export capability in India, Harman is reinforcing the country’s “Make in India, for the World” narrative and ensuring stronger localisation of advanced vehicle electronics.
The key challenge will be delivering on the projected capacity and component volumes amid intensifying global competition and supply-chain pressures.
Nonetheless, the expansion positions the Chakan facility as a critical node for manufacturing next-generation automotive electronics, particularly as automakers increasingly prioritise connectivity, telematics and smart vehicle architectures.
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