“The only limits are my own,” states Pal-Levente Tibori, Executive Vice President at Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec (SMR), part of the Vision Systems Division of Motherson. “The more I put in, the more I can get out.” This mindset has guided him through a remarkable journey of transformation and success.
Pal-Levente's story with Motherson began during a challenging time. When Motherson acquired Visiocorp, now SMR, the company was financially distressed and demoralised. Morale was low, employees were leaving in droves, and those who remained were bracing for layoffs. However, Motherson's arrival marked a turning point. The promise was clear: “Together we can turn this around.”
An engineer at the time, Pal-Levente embraced the challenge. He made a commitment to improve himself and rise to the occasion. At Motherson, we say: By Yourself, Better Yourself. It means you should be your benchmark. Set it high and constantly beat it.
Through hard work and dedication, Pal-Levente ascended from engineer to team leader and ultimately to Executive Vice President. Today, SMR is one of the most profitable entities within the Motherson Group. That’s our promise to every one of our employees: we provide the room to flourish. Grow with us, and we’ll make space for you.
“Relationships aren’t built on an assembly line,” explains Pankaj Mital, COO, Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd. (SAMIL), (formerly Motherson Sumi Systems Limited (MSSL)) “Trust takes time. We build it each day with everything we do.”
This principle is deeply embedded in our company culture, extending beyond our customers to encompass nearly 200,000 employees and their families worldwide. Their livelihoods depend on us, and we take this responsibility seriously. Our growth is a testament to this commitment because it allows us to create exciting and sustainable opportunities for all our people.
“Reflecting on significant challenges, Pankaj recalls the closure of the last auto plant in Australia in 2017. “We could have cut and run,” he says, “but we’ve never closed a production site or laid off an entire workforce. That’s not how we operate.
Instead, we redirected our team’s capabilities toward medical, clean tech, and white goods production, ensuring that both our investment and the trust placed in us by our employees were preserved. “That kind of mutual commitment is at the heart of our company,” Pankaj explains. “For our employees, our customers, all our stakeholders, we believe in building trust by consistently putting them first — through both small acts and grand gestures.” This dedication to nurturing relationships is what sets Motherson apart as a reliable partner in the industry.
Teamwork at Motherson
“Give people the ownership and accountability to make things right. Empower them to make changes, and you will see the results,” asserts Rodrigo Yamamoto, General Manager of the Modules & Polymer Products division at our facility in Brazil.
This philosophy became critical as the Curitiba facility grappled with significant operational challenges, including frequent disruptions to customer lines. Recognising the urgency of the situation, decisive action was necessary to regain control. To address these challenges, a new management team was appointed. As the saying goes, “A good coach can change the game, but a great coach can transform lives.”
“The primary objective was to empower the team, inspire them, and unlock their full potential. The belief in our workforce was unwavering. Anybody can buy machines and build plants, it is the individuals who possess the true knowledge, skills, and passion essential for driving lasting success,” emphasises Sergio Borges, Director of Operations.
By making individuals accountable for their actions and enabling them to take initiative at critical moments, we witnessed a remarkable transformation. Through a focus on open communication, leadership development, and continuous improvement, our plant not only overcame its operational hurdles but also turned these challenges into opportunities. This approach built a more motivated and resilient team.
As we progressed through this journey, one lesson stood out above all: “Teamwork truly makes the dream work.”
