- Business
- Automotive Axles Limited (AAL), established in 1981 as a joint venture between Kalyani Group and Meritor Inc., manufactures rear drive axle assemblies, light, medium and heavy-duty drive axles, front steer axles, non-drive axles, defense and off-highway axles, drum and disc brakes, suspension systems, and aftermarket parts and services; the company also provides customized solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the commercial vehicle sector. Headquartered in Mysuru, Karnataka, with manufacturing facilities in Mysuru, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), and Hosur (Tamil Nadu), AAL serves domestic and global markets including trucks, buses, military vehicles, and off-highway applications, positioning it as one of India's largest independent rear drive axle producers. In FY 2024-25, the company introduced its flagship MS185 axle to additional customers, ramped up volumes, entered a new technical and service agreement with Meritor HVS (India) Limited enabling direct sales to OEMs while retaining support in market intelligence, product design, and testing, and invested further in solar power procurement entities Torrent Surya Urja 3 Private Limited and Parola Renewables Private Limited to meet regulatory requirements under the Electricity Act. Despite softer demand and a 6% revenue decline to INR 21,048 million, AAL sustained an EBITDA margin of 11.9% through cost optimization and operational efficiency, maintaining a debt-free balance sheet amid strategic shifts like the rejection of a proposed material related party transaction with Meritor HVS (India) Limited by shareholders in late 2024.