Force Motors enters into JV with Rolls-Royce Power Systems

Force Motors and Rolls-Royce Power Systems have signed an agreement to form a new joint venture (JV) company called Force MTU Power Systems Pvt. Ltd. Force Motors will hold 51% stake in the JV while Rolls-Royce Power Systems will control the remaining 49%.

Both companies are investing Rs. 300 crore in the JV. A new manufacturing facility will be setup in Chakan near Pune, which is expected to start production by Q3 2019. The factory will produce MTU's 10 and 12-cylinder Series 1600 units. The Series 1600 series engine family was launched in 2009. These are turbocharged, common rail injection diesel engines with outputs ranging from 545 to 1,050 HP and are suited for power generation and rail under floor applications. The company will also build Series 1600 generator sets.

The generator sets will be sold in Indian and global markets, with those sold in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka will be branded as Force-MTU. Gen-sets delivered to the rest of the world will be branded as 'MTU Onsite Energy', while the engine will continue to have MTU branding. The JV will also handle sales and service of the Series 1600 generator sets in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Force Motors currently has tie-ups with BMW and Mercedes-Benz and has set up factories at Chennai and Chakan respectively, for manufacturing engines.