History

“Start-up” had a different meaning in 1975. We were, literally, a mother-&-son team in a country finding its economic feet. Today, India is a high-tech hub and we’ve reached the Forbes Global 2000. One thing that’s never changed is our belief that we can — and must — write our own history.

1975–1982

A family affair

Motherson was founded as a small family trading company by our current chairman, Vivek Chaand Sehgal and his late mother, Shrimati Swaran Lata Sehgal. Within a few short years, the company would move from silver trading to making electrical wiring for homes.

“It was my father who suggested the name Motherson,” explains Sehgal. “I loved it immediately. It signifies trust, which is still the driving force behind our company after all these years. Today, it’s a constant reminder of where we came from and why we’re here.”  

1975
Motherson founded in Delhi, India
1977
First cable factory launches a new direction for the family firm

1983–1986

An automotive revolution

The first affordable car to be assembled locally, the Suzuki Maruti 800, kickstarted a true revolution in Indian transportation.

“When I learned that the wiring was designed by a Japanese company,” recalls Vivek Chaand Sehgal, “I got a visa and I was in Tokyo within ten days! I pitched for the business, but they refused to show me the factory. I came back to India with samples, and worked day and night to reproduce them.”

Persistence paid off. When the Maruti plant was inaugurated, Motherson’s wiring harnesses were on proud display as one of the very few Indian-made parts. Motherson’s automotive journey had begun.

1983
First automotive component (wiring harness) produced in India | Maruti Suzuki
1986
Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd. established in joint venture with Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Japan

1987–1998

Growth in India

Mercedes was the first luxury car brand to enter the Indian market in 1994. Two years later, they opened a local assembly line in Pune. In just 39 days, we set up a whole new plant to produce their wiring harnesses. We won their trust and soon added dashboard assemblies to our production for them. 

For the first time, we were able to demonstrate our quality standards to an iconic global brand. It turned out to be the beginnings of a long partnership that continues to this day.

By 1997, two milestones allowed us to start building relationships with automakers from Asia and America. The time was becoming right to go international.

1991
First wiring harnesses for commercial vehicles | Tata
1993
The flagship company of the Group, Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd. (MSSL) listed on Indian stock exchanges
1995
First partnership with a luxury automotive brand | Mercedes
1997
First parts for models exported from India | Hyundai
1997
First collaboration with a US automaker | Ford

1999–2007

Arrival in Europe

By 1999, we were growing steadily and strongly. But we were still operating only in India. We opened our first overseas office in Europe, but the real breakthrough came in 2002.

A customer asked us to look at taking over a bankrupt supplier. In the end, we couldn’t save the company, so we bought the plant. And shipped 3500 miles from Dublin to Sharjah in the UAE. In just 10 weeks, we moved and installed over 500 tons of equipment — and the customers’ assembly lines never stopped. We could now supply to customers in Europe in one-third of the time.

This was the acquisition of Wexford Electronics in Ireland and this was our first in our string of acquisitions to follow later. Between 2002 to 2007 there were six acquisitions, of which five were from Europe. In this period Motherson expanded to ten more countries- Singapore, Mauritius, Ireland, Sri Lanka, UK, USA, Sharjah, Germany, Czech Republic.

1999
First overseas office in Graz, Austria
2000
5-year plan announced publicly for the first time
2001
First partnership in the off-road segment | Caterpillar
2002
First acquisition by Motherson Group I Wexford Electronics
2002
First overseas plant in Sharjah, UAE
2003
First Motherson operation in Europe | Ford
2004
European headquarters opened in Germany

2008–2021

Going global

Since 2008, the group has grown multi- dimensionally. We continued to focus on the three fold growth strategy – organic, collaborations and inorganic. This resulted in expanding our footprint to 41 countries, diversifying our product portfolio, forging new partnerships and acquiring companies that have synergies with us. Since our first acquisition in 2002, we’ve welcomed 21 more companies into the Motherson family. But our international expansion really took off with the acquisition of mirror maker SMR — a company that was twice our size at the time. 

That was followed by SMP, a major producer of polymer modules, which doubled the size of the Motherson Group. Through SMR and SMP we became supplier to the global top automotive OEMs. These landmark acquisitions propelled us into the top league of automotive suppliers worldwide. 

2009
Acquisition of Visiocorp(rearview mirror business), SMR established
2011
Peguform acquisition, SMP established
2014
Acquisition of wiring harness division of Stoneridge Inc, entering CV segment in USA
2017
PKC acquisition, leadership position in Amercian, European and Chinese CV market
2018
Reydel acquisition, closer relations with French OEMs
2019
Acquisition of Bombardier’s UK rolling stock electrical component business
2020
Proposed Motherson Group reorganization
2021
Acquisition of Plast Met Group, Turkey
2021
Acquisition of Bombardier’s Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) business in Huehuetoca, Mexico
2021
Acquisition of majority stake in Nanchang JMCG Mekra Lang Vehicle Mirror Co., Ltd
2021
Acquisition of CIM Tools Private Limited for machining and sub-assembly of components for the aerospace industry

2022-present

Starting a new chapter. Motherson was restructured with the objective of creating value for all stakeholders.
More simplicity, synergy and unity that will help us to grow further

2022
Group Reorganisation Completed
2022
Motherson Sumi Wiring India Limited (MSWIL) listing on stock exchanges
2022
Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (SAMIL) was merged into Motherson Sumi Systems Limited (MSSL) and the new combined entity renamed and is known as Samvardhana Motherson International Limited
2022
Two listed companies under the Motherson umbrella: Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (SAMIL) and Motherson Sumi Wiring India Limited (MSWIL)
2022
Acquisition of Ichikoh, rearview mirror business, Japan stake purchase
2022
Acquisition of Frame Manufacturing and Assembly Business of DICV Pvt Ltd. India Asset Purchase
2023
Acquisition of Saddles International, India
2023
Acquisition of SAS Autosystemtechnik GmbH, Germany
2023
Acquisition of Fritzmeier Motherson Cabin Engineering Pvt Ltd, India
2023
Acquisition of Bolta, USA
2023
Acquisition of YMAT, India
2023
Acquisition of Cirma Entreprise SAS, France
2023
Acquisition of Yachiyo 4W, Japan
2023
Acquisition of Prysm Systems, USA
2023
Acquisition of Rollon Hydraulics Private Limited, India
2023
Acquisition of Dr Schneider Group, Germany
2023
Acquisition of Irillic Pvt. Ltd., India
2023
Acquisition of AD Industries, France
2023
Acquisition of Samvardhana Motherson Adsys Tech Ltd., India
2023
Acquisition of Deltacarb SA, Switzerland
2023
Acquisition of Lumen Group, Australia