KPIT Cummins to focus on Chinese market

IT consulting firm KPIT Cummins today said it will increase its focus on the Chinese market and plans to tie-up with more automobile companies and components makers for providing software solutions.

The company also aims to cash upon the craze for small and green cars in the domestic auto market with cost-effective solutions.

"We have just ventured into the Chinese market and have tied-up with two original equipment makers (OEM) for providing software solutions, including mechanical and engineering designs. Our aim is to further increase presence in that country and for that we will also tap the component players," KPIT Cummins Infosystems Managing Director and CEO Kishor Patil told PTI at the 10th Auto Expo here.

He said the company will soon set up a full-fledged customer support and application systems centre in China.

"The centre will come up this year. We want to provide local servicing to our Chinese customers," Patil said.

He, however, refused to disclose details regarding the investments or proposed staff strenght at the China centre.

In the domestic Indian market, KPIT Cummins is planning to focus more on small car and green technology inititiatives.

"Many of the softwares and solutions are not cost- effective, specially for small component makers. Our aim is to make technology affordable and this will involve major changes in software desigining," Patil said.

During the last five years  KPIT has invested $20 million for its design and development strategy.

It has two R&D centres in the country located at Pune and Bangalore with a total strength of 5,000 engineers.

Patil also said the company is focusing on national and international level initiatives like the CAR Project of the Indian government and the European Standard Body for creating solutions for in-vehicle networks.

The $175 million company has presence in over a dozen countries and is engaged in over 1,200 projects and 300-odd production programmes.