Knorr-Bremse has committed up to €200 million to a new modular campus in Chennai, India, strengthening its truck braking production and engineering footprint.
The future campus, spanning around 188,000m², will combine production, engineering and Artificial Intelligence (AI) activities in one location. For truck manufacturers and fleets, the most significant development is the inclusion of production plants for braking system components for commercial vehicles, due to begin operations by the end of 2027.
The site will complement Knorr-Bremse’s existing Indian operations in Pune and Palwal and is designed to accommodate up to 3,500 employees in the long term.
“India is a key region for us with great potential – as a location for innovation, a production hub, and a transport market,” said Llistosella.
“Our future campus enables us to connect global capabilities even more closely, make processes more efficient and accelerate projects. This creates a strong foundation for our Rail and Truck divisions to grow profitably – in India as well as in international markets.
“The campus is an important building block in our global strategy and a clear commitment to Knorr-Bremse’s long-term growth path.”
For truck manufacturers, the Chennai investment strengthens localised production of braking components in a market experiencing rapid growth in heavy duty trucks, buses and delivery vehicles.
Knorr-Bremse said the first construction phase will include production facilities for commercial vehicle braking system components alongside rail entrance systems. By integrating engineering and AI expertise on-site, the company aims to accelerate product development cycles and improve manufacturing efficiency.
The co-location of its recently opened AI centre in Chennai, launched in mid-2025, is expected to play a role in advancing intelligent braking technologies, digital services and process optimisation. This has implications for next-generation safety systems, predictive maintenance and connected vehicle solutions increasingly demanded by truck OEMs and large fleets.
Sales across Knorr-Bremse’s Rail and Truck divisions in India already exceed €300 million annually, with strong growth forecast in the commercial vehicle segment.
Products manufactured at the Chennai campus will serve both the Indian market and global export programs, reinforcing India’s role as a supply base for international truck platforms.
For truck builders operating in or sourcing from India, the expansion signals improved local value creation and potentially shorter supply chains for braking components.
Knorr-Bremse said the campus reflects its strategy of investing between four and five per cent of annual revenue into long-term growth and efficiency initiatives.
The new campus is designed to meet LEED Platinum standards for energy efficiency and environmental performance. In the first phase alone, photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of around 2,500kWp are planned.
With operations set to begin in 2027, the Chennai campus marks a significant expansion of Knorr-Bremse’s truck braking manufacturing and technology capabilities in the Indian and global commercial vehicle markets.
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