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FORVIA and India’s ANAND Group have agreed to establish a joint venture focused on seat frames and complete seats, extending the European supplier’s push into the Indian automotive market. The new company, Faurecia Anand Seating India Private Limited, is planned to be controlled by FORVIA, which will own 50% plus one share; Gabriel India, ANAND’s listed flagship, will hold the remainder minus one share.
FORVIA said the venture supports its ambition to reach approximately 10% of India’s seating market within five years. Shares of the French automotive supplier rose more than 6% on Wednesday, October 7, according to Investing.com; Reuters-republished market data showed the stock up 7.99% in Paris. The agreement was announced on October 6, and completion is expected by the end of 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
A controlled venture focused on seats
The planned business will concentrate on seat frames and complete seats, combining FORVIA Seating’s technology, engineering resources and manufacturing capabilities with ANAND Group’s local presence and customer relationships. The companies said the venture will have access to FORVIA Seating’s full product portfolio and engineering capabilities.
FORVIA described the partnership as a way to improve access to Indian vehicle manufacturers and strengthen local industrial, supply-chain and talent capabilities. The companies have not disclosed the venture’s planned investment, production capacity, factory locations, named customers or expected revenue. Those details were not included in the public announcement and remain unknown.
Five-year market-share ambition
The approximately 10% market-share figure is a stated goal for FORVIA Seating in India over the next five years, not a forecast of the joint venture’s sales or a reported current share. FORVIA characterized it as an initial milestone in a longer-term development strategy for the country.
In its release, chief executive Martin Fischer said India had been identified as a growth driver under FORVIA’s IGNITE strategy, unveiled earlier in 2026. He also said the agreement followed the award of the company’s first complete-seat program in India a few months earlier; the release did not identify the customer or program.
Partnership extends back to 1991
The companies said their relationship began in 1991 with a partnership in Clean Mobility. The seating venture would extend that existing relationship into another automotive systems business, bringing together FORVIA’s global seating operation and ANAND’s established Indian business network.
ANAND Group vice chairman Jaisal Singh described the deal as part of Gabriel India’s move toward a broader mobility-solutions portfolio. Executive chairperson Anjali Singh said the partnership combines FORVIA’s international expertise with Gabriel India’s market presence. These comments were made in the companies’ announcement; neither side disclosed specific commercial targets beyond the market-share ambition.
Closing remains the next milestone
Gabriel India, listed on India’s National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange, is best known for ride-control products and also has businesses spanning other automotive components. The planned seating venture adds a new product area to its portfolio, while giving FORVIA a local partner for expansion in India.
The transaction is expected to close by December 31, 2026, subject to applicable approvals and other customary conditions. Until closing, the proposed company’s operational timetable, staffing, investment requirements and customer pipeline have not been publicly specified.
