India has become the fastest-growing economy in the world in recent years. This fast growth, coupled with rising incomes, a boost in infrastructure spending and increased manufacturing incentives, has accelerated the automobile industry. The two-wheeler segment dominated the automobile industry because of the Indian middle class, with automobile sales standing at 19.72 million units in FY24 (April- January).

Significant demand for automobiles also led to the emergence of more original equipment and auto components manufacturers. As a result, India developed expertise in automobiles and auto components, which helped boost international demand for Indian automobiles and auto components. Hence, the Indian automobile industry has a considerable impact on the auto component industry.

India’s auto component industry is an important sector driving macroeconomic growth and employment. The industry comprises players of all sizes, from large corporations to micro entities, spread across clusters throughout the country. The auto components industry accounted for= 2.3% of India’s GDP and provided direct employment to more than 1.5 million people. By 2026, the automobile component sector will contribute 5-7% of India's GDP. The Automotive Mission Plan (2016-26) projects to provide direct incremental employment to 3.2 million by 2026.

The industry is a leader in exports and provides jobs to over 3.7 crore people. From FY16-FY22, the industry registered a CAGR of 6.35% and was valued at US$ 56.50 billion in FY22. In 2023-24 (April-September), the export value of auto components/parts was estimated at US$ 10.4 billion. North America, which accounts for 33% of total exports, increased by 2%, while Europe and Asia, which account for 33% and 24% of total exports, increased by 12% and declined by 4%, respectively. The key export items included drive transmission and steering, engine components, body/chassis, suspension and braking etc.

Due to the high development prospects in all vehicle industry segments, the auto component sector is expected to see double-digit growth in FY22. The industry is expected to stand at US$ 200 billion by FY26.