Nellore: Chennai-based Brakes India Ltd has been gearing up to set up a grey iron, SG (spheroidal graphite) iron & alloy casting manufacturing unit at the APIIC Industrial Park in Menakuru near Nayudupeta. An offspring of popular TVS Group, Brakes India was incorporated in 1962 as a joint venture between TV Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Ltd and Lucas Industries Ltd, UK (Subsidiary of TRW Inc. USA) to manufacture equipment for automotive and non-automotive applications.
It caters to over 60 per cent of the domestic OEM market besides exporting its products to over 35 countries abroad. This is the first time the largest manufacturer and distributor of auto components in India moving out of Tamil Nadu, according to APIIC officials. The credit goes to former IAS officer and APIIC Chairman P. Krishnaiah for bringing the auto giant to Andhra Pradesh that too when Tamil Nadu government is bent upon preventing any industry going out of Tamil Nadu.
Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation authorities strongly believe that the entry of TVS to Nellore district would pave way for other manufacturers of automobile accessories to bee line to Nellore and transform the region as automobile hub. According to APIIC officials, 40 acres of land has been allotted to Brakes India and they are likely to invest Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore. The Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu took special interest on the unit and the decision to allot the land with special incentives was taken at his level.
