JBM Partners with Sodecia to Bring Advanced Hot-Stamping Technology to India

JBM Group has teamed up with Portugal’s Sodecia to start a new hot-stamping plant in Pune to make strong, lightweight automotive parts.

In a development with significant implications for India’s commercial vehicle manufacturing ecosystem, the JBM Group has announced a strategic joint venture with Portugal-based Sodecia Automotive International SA, a global leader in hot-stamped automotive structures.

The partnership aims to establish a cutting-edge hot stamping systems and components facility in Pune, strengthening the supply chain for high-strength, lightweight vehicle structures critical to both traditional and electric buses.

The foundation stone for the new facility was laid at JBM Group’s Neel Metal Products Ltd., campus in Chakan by Acharya Devvrat, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra & Gujarat, in the presence of JBM Group Chairman S.K. Arya, Vice Chairman Nishant Arya, and senior leadership from Sodecia.

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A Boost for Safer, Lighter Bus Structures

Hot-stamped components—known for extremely high tensile strength and reduced weight—are increasingly vital for modern buses as OEMs push for:

• Improved passenger safety
• Lower overall vehicle weight for better fuel efficiency
• Extended driving range in electric buses
• Compliance with tightening emission and crash-safety norms

For the bus industry, these advancements translate to stronger body-in-white structures, enhanced rollover and crash protection, and longer component life—key priorities for both state transport undertakings and private fleet operators.

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New Pune Plant to Be Operational by Q2 FY27

Under the joint venture, JBM and Sodecia will invest ₹150 crore to establish a state-of-the-art hot stamping plant at the Chakan Industrial Area. The facility, slated to begin operations by Q2 FY27, will supply safety-critical, lightweight, high-strength automotive systems for both ICE and EV platforms.

For JBM, one of India’s largest bus manufacturers with a strong presence in electric buses, this facility further strengthens its vertical integration in critical components.

The Group already operates a hot-stamping die manufacturing plant in Greater Noida, and the new JV expands its capability deeper into advanced materials and body structures.

This collaboration will accelerate the deployment of high-strength, lightweight systems, critical for modern mobility and further strengthen our role as a trusted technology partner to OEMs globally.

S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM Group.

Impact on the Indian Bus Industry

With bus OEMs increasingly shifting to next-gen lightweight structures—especially for electric buses where every kilogram impacts range—the JV is expected to:

• Enhance domestic availability of high-strength structural components
• Reduce dependence on imported stamped parts
• Accelerate the adoption of advanced materials in Indian buses
• Support Make-in-India and safety-compliance initiatives
• Strengthen JBM’s capabilities as a full-stack bus manufacturer

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Hot Stamping: A Technology Tailored for Modern Mobility

Hot stamping, or press hardening, involves heating metal blanks to very high temperatures followed by rapid cooling in specially designed dies. The resulting components are significantly stronger yet lighter—ideal for bus frames, crash structures, battery enclosures, door beams, and other critical safety parts.

As bus OEMs transition toward global safety benchmarks and lightweight EV platforms, the JBM–Sodecia JV marks a timely and strategic investment for India’s commercial mobility landscape.