Tata cars to adopt keyless entry systems

Changing gears with time, over a year from now, Tata Motors will roll out keyless small and mid-size cars from its portfolio. This is the first time an Indian OEM will be sporting complete keyless entry systems in their cars. Germany based manufacturer of electro-mechanical and electronic switches and switching systems for automobiles Marquardt Group has set up R & D centre in Pune to provide required technology for Tata cars.

"In the past year, we have received what was for us the largest contract in India. Starting in the third quarter of 2016, we are delivering Passive Entry Passive Start Systems for various models of passenger cars to Tata Motors. This is the first time an Indian OEM will be sporting complete keyless entry systems in their cars," Harald Marquardt, CEO, Marquardt Group, said.

However, Marquardt has not disclosed the value of the contract, but indicated that it ran into "double digit million euro" and delivery will start with 10,000 pieces. The new system will be found in Tata car models from Q3 of 2016.

Marquardt added, "Within the order, we are developing keys, control units, antenna, door sensors, electronic steering lock and a start-stop button. We will start delivering these products to them in the third quarter of 2016. This order from Tata Motors marks the largest order for us from India so far."

Marquardt is a maker of intelligent driver authorisation systems and makes anti-theft security systems that are found in Mercedes, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Chrysler. Apart from India, the company has other R&D centres in the USA, Germany, Romania, and China.

Ran Bahadur Singh, CEO, Marquardt India said, "The company will invest close to Rs 12 crore over next 30 months in India to set up this state-of-the-art facility. We have a manufacturing facility in Mumbai, which has enough capacity to locally produce the products for passenger cars and commercial vehicles."

According to company, the order from Tata Motors has impacted in terms of the Marquardt Group considering further investments in India in the coming years and scouting for more orders from OEMs. Marquardt India already supplies switches majorly to Panasonic from its Mumbai plant. The company has been present in India since 1965, it forayed into the automotive products segment in 2008, with major focus on the same from 2013.