SDLG India has announced plans to invest about ₹1,500 crore in India including a ₹300 crore manufacturing plant in Gujarat. What does this investment signify for the company’s long-term growth strategy?
The planned investment of ~ ₹1,500 crore marks an important phase in SDLG India’s long-term growth strategy and reflects our confidence in India’s construction equipment market and its growth potential. As the first step, we have invested ₹300 crore in a new manufacturing plant in Gujarat, which will have the capacity to produce up to 3,000 units annually in a phased manner.The facility will manufacture key equipment categories, including wheel loaders, excavators and electric machines (EVs), enabling us to progressively increase local production and respond more effectively to market demand. The investment will also support greater localisation, increased sourcing from Indian suppliers and the development of a stronger domestic supplier ecosystem.
We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the Indian market from the very beginning and build the business with a long-term perspective. This naturally comes with its own challenges, but we are investing in developing our team and dealer network alongside the growth of the business.
At the same time, a significant part of our portfolio will comprise new products, including electric equipment. This requires us to build the right technical capabilities and support infrastructure in parallel. For us, introducing new products is not just about bringing them to market, but also about ensuring that our teams and partners have the expertise and support needed to serve customers effectively.
The Gujarat facility will initially focus on the manufacturing of wheel loaders, with plans to progressively expand its capabilities to include excavators. As the facility and our local capabilities develop, we also see opportunities to extend this to electric machines in the future.
Our approach is to build these capabilities in a phased and sustainable manner, ensuring that each stage is aligned with the requirements of the Indian market. This allows us to progressively strengthen our local manufacturing, technical expertise and support ecosystem, while maintaining the product quality, reliability and performance that our customers expect.
How is SDLG positioning its products in India, where customers increasingly demand technologically advanced equipment but remain highly price-sensitive?
Our entire product range of excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders and bulldozers is developed to serve a wide range of applications and customer requirements. As a brand, we believe in staying ahead of the market by bringing the right combination of technology, performance, reliability and value to our customers.The Indian customer is smart, demanding and increasingly aware of technology. They look for technology that delivers a clear and measurable benefi t to their business. Our focus is therefore on bringing advanced products that enhance productivity, efficiency and overall operating value, while keeping them relevant to the needs of the Indian market.
The market is also evolving beyond the product itself. Customers increasingly value the complete ownership experience, including product support, service, parts availability, dealer reach and the overall accessibility of the brand. We see this as an important part of our proposition and are building a strong ecosystem around our products to support customers throughout their ownership journey.
Our growing presence and localisation in India are central to this approach. With local manufacturing, a strengthening dealer and service network, and a broader product portfolio, we are building SDLG as a brand that is close to its customers and responsive to their evolving needs. Our objective is to offer technology and performance that create genuine value for Indian customers, while building a strong and sustainable presence in the market.
What role does technology play in the new excavator range showcased at bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2026, and how have customer requirements infl uenced their development?
Technology plays an important role in our new excavator range. Our diesel excavators feature positive fl ow control hydraulics, electronic joysticks, electro-hydraulic controls and 11 working modes, offering better control, efficiency and fl exibility across applications.We are also expanding our electric portfolio. The new 23-tonne E6225 HEV combines a high-torque permanent magnet motor with a 423-kWh battery, offering fast charging and 6–10 hours of operating time. Its intelligent cooling system helps optimise energy efficiency, while the spacious ROPS/FOPS cabin focuses on operator safety and comfort.
We are developing products around the needs of the Indian market, and our ambition is to continue building SDLG as a brand that customers trust and choose.Ultimately, our focus is on bringing technology that makes a real diff erence in the fi eld. India has diverse operating conditions, and customer requirements continue to evolve. With our diesel and electric portfolio, we want to offer customers the fl exibility to choose the right technology for their application, productivity and business needs.
How are you approaching component localisation and the development of a local supplier ecosystem in India?
Our localisation journey is already underway, and we plan to significantly increase the level of local sourcing over the next few years.As our manufacturing operations grow, we are also focused on developing a strong local supplier base. This includes working closely with component manufacturers and vendor partners to build technical capabilities, improve local sourcing and create the right support systems for our expanding product portfolio.
Our objective is to build a strong and sustainable manufacturing ecosystem in India. We want SDLG India and our local partners to grow together, creating long-term value for our customers and the wider industry.
As SDLG expands its manufacturing and product portfolio, how are you strengthening customer support and service accessibility across India?
We are developing our dealer network alongside our manufacturing and product expansion. Our dealers will be present across India, supported by our warehouses and manufacturing facility.Our objective is to be highly accessible to customers and provide the right support wherever they operate. We believe in taking action from day one and committing the necessary resources to deliver on our commitments. This is an important part of our commitment to the Indian market. Customers should experience SDLG as a brand that is present on the ground, responsive to their needs and focused on turning its plans into action.
SDLG has also introduced digital and telematics capabilities. How are these solutions helping customers manage their machines and service requirements?
We have the SDLG Customer App, which is integrated with our H Series machines. Customers can access it through their mobile or desktop to view information such as operating hours, daily, monthly and yearly usage, fuel consumption and other machine-related data.What makes it more useful is the way we have connected telematics with service support. Along with information such as machine location, fuel consumption, working modes and operating hours, customers can also raise service requests directly through the SDLG Customer App.
The system is designed to be simple and intuitive, so customers can download, install and start using it from day one. It gives them better visibility of machine performance while also making communication with the service team easier and more convenient.
SDLG has been promoting electric equipment in India for several years. How has customer interest evolved, and what are you seeing in the market today?
We were the first company to launch an electric wheel loader in India in 2023 with the 956EV. At that time, our focus was on educating customers and helping them understand the benefits of electric equipment.Today, we are seeing a clear shift in the market from push to pull. Customers are increasingly approaching us to explore electric equipment and understand how it can improve productivity, efficiency and operating costs.
Greater access to information has also made customers and operators more aware of the technology. The conversation today is no longer just about electric equipment as a new technology, but about the value it can bring to their operations and business.
As electric equipment adoption increases, how is SDLG addressing battery recycling, battery swapping and other aspects of sustainability?
We have already started working on these areas. Globally, SDLG has more than 10 years of experience with electric equipment, and we are leveraging the knowledge and support of our global teams as the Indian market continues to develop.As electric equipment adoption grows, areas such as battery recycling, battery swapping and power bank solutions will become increasingly important. We are already engaging in these areas today, so that we can build the right solutions alongside the growth of the market.
Do you see alternative power solutions as the future of equipment industry?
We see the future of the equipment industry as a combination of different power technologies rather than a single solution. Depending on the application and operating environment, we will see battery-electric, hydrogen, fuel cell and other technologies develop alongside conventional diesel.Infrastructure and application requirements will play an important role in how this transition evolves. At the same time, diesel technology will continue to have an important place, particularly in demanding applications. Our focus is on making diesel machines more efficient through advanced technologies.
Hydraulic efficiency has a direct impact on both machine performance and fuel consumption, which is why we continue to invest in hydraulic and electro-hydraulic technology. The objective is simple: to deliver better efficiency and performance through technology that is built into the machine and creates real value for the customer.
How are financing solutions and SDLG’s customer-focused approach helping the company address different customer segments in India?
Finance is an important part of the overall customer proposition, particularly in a market where customers look at both the machine and the overall business case for their investment. We are working closely with our finance partners to develop solutions that improve accessibility and make machine investments easier for customers.Our focus is on providing financing options that are aligned with different customer requirements. We want to make the financing process simple and supportive, helping customers access the right equipment with greater ease.
How important is the Indian market for SDLG’s global strategy and what are the company’s plans for the next phase of growth?
India is a key market in SDLG’s global growth strategy, and we see strong long-term potential here. Having been present in India since 2009, we further strengthened our commitment in 2026 by establishing full-fledged operations to support the growing needs of the market.Our priorities are clear: expand our product portfolio, deepen localisation, strengthen manufacturing and service capabilities, and develop solutions around the needs of Indian customers. At bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2026, we introduced 10 new construction equipment products across diesel and electric excavators, wheel loaders and motor graders, reflecting our focus on India’s evolving infrastructure, construction and mining requirements.
We are highly committed to India. Establishing a manufacturing plant here within a short period reflects our commitment to Indian customers. We have taken this step because we believe in the Indian market and are focused on building a strong, long-term presence here.
