Harman Announces ₹345 Crore Investment Over Three Years to Expand Manufacturing at Chakan Plant

Harman, the audio products and digital services giant, has announced a new ₹345 crore investment in its Chakan, Maharashtra manufacturing plant specifically for automotive electronics. The company, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of Samsung, is perhaps best known for the multiple consumer and pro audio brands it operates including Harman Kardon, JBL, Bowers & Wilkins, Polk Audio and Denon, but also has a significant presence in the automotive audio, infotainment, and safety markets. 

The company’s clients in India include Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Mahindra & Mahindra, and exports also make up a significant share of the plant’s output. 

The investment plan includes an immediate spend of ₹45 crore, with the other ₹300 crore added over the next three years. Harman specifically intends to expand production of its next-gen connected automotive hardware and new 4G- and 5G-enabled telematics offerings including the next-gen Harman Ready Connect solution. The company also says it is committed to sustainable manufacturing. 

This new tranche takes Harman’s total investments in the plant up to ₹554 crore, since it was set up in 2014. The company says the money will be used to increase manufacturing capacity by 50 percent, with four new surface-mount component production lines, with new products including speakers manufactured there for the first time. 71,505 square feet of built-up area are set to be added to the facility, including a 45,000 sq ft production shop floor.  

According to a press statement, the facility will be able to deliver 4 million car audio components, 1.4 million infotainment units, and 800,000 telematics control units (TCUs) per year by 2027. The expansion will also create 300 new jobs in the Pune region. The plant will transition to 100 percent green energy by 2030.

Harman says it employs 5,000 people in India, performing development and validation functions for its various automotive products in addition to manufacturing operations. 

Christian Sobottka, CEO and President of Automotive, Harmah, said in a statement, “This investment is a clear signal of our commitment to India. Pune is not just adding capacity – it’s building the future of connected cars. From 5G telematics to sustainable manufacturing, India’s talent and innovation strength make it central to Harman’s global automotive growth.”