Bring your operations to the US: Sergio Gor pitches America to India’s auto component players

US Ambassador asks ACMA members to consider manufacturing, R&D, and distribution investments in the US as Washington seeks deeper integration of Indian suppliers into its automotive supply chain.

The US has stepped up its pitch to Indian auto component manufacturers to expand their manufacturing and investment footprint in America, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor urging companies to consider setting up greenfield plants, research and development centres and distribution networks in the country.

Addressing the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India’s (ACMA) 66th annual session, Gor said the US-India automotive relationship was evolving beyond conventional component trade towards deeper integration of manufacturing and supply chains.

“When the global automotive industry moves, the U.S.-India cooperation is the engine under that hood. We are no longer just shipping components across oceans. We are co-designing the future of mobility together,” Gor said.

The pitch comes as Washington and New Delhi work towards strengthening their trade relationship, with Gor emphasising the need for greater two-way market access and investment.

US seeks deeper role in India's auto supply chain

Gor said supply-chain resilience was becoming increasingly important as disruptions can affect global manufacturing, making trusted partnerships between the US and India critical.

He highlighted the footprint of American companies in India's automotive manufacturing ecosystem, including Ford, Cummins, BorgWarner, Tenneco, Dana, Meritor and John Deere.

Ford, he noted, recently announced a $370 million investment to retool its Chennai facility to manufacture next-generation engines for the global market. He also cited the 40-year partnership between Meritor and Bharat Forge, which resulted in Automotive Axles Limited, as an example of US-India industrial cooperation.

“The United States isn't just a customer of India's industrial success. We are an active partner in its speed and scale,” Gor said.

Indian companies already expanding on American soil

Gor pointed to Bharat Forge, Sundaram Clayton and Mahindra as examples of Indian companies building manufacturing capabilities in the US.

Bharat Forge has established a greenfield facility in North Carolina for lightweight aluminium components for electric vehicles, while Sundaram Clayton operates precision aluminium die-casting operations in South Carolina. Mahindra, meanwhile, manufactures vehicles in Michigan.

For Indian auto component makers, Gor said, the US offered more than an export market and could serve as a launch pad for global expansion.

He invited ACMA members to participate in the Select USA Investment Summit, saying the US Embassy was ready to connect Indian companies with state and local economic development authorities seeking investment.

Gor also stressed that market access needed to be reciprocal, with American suppliers and technology gaining access to Indian manufacturers while Indian companies competed fairly in the US market.