On Monday, March 9, 2026, Switzerland-based automation and electrification leader ABB announced its largest annual investment in India to date, earmarking $75 million (~₹630 crore) for 2026.
This capital infusion follows a $35 million spend in 2025 and is part of a decade-long “local-for-local” strategy, where approximately 85% of the company’s products sold in India are already manufactured domestically.
Facility-Wise Investment Breakdown
The investment is strategically spread across five key industrial hubs to support India’s energy transition, data center boom, and rail expansion.
| Location | Investment | Core Focus & New Technologies |
| Nashik | $22 Million | Expanding circuit breaker and vacuum interrupter production; localizing 33kV gas-insulated switchgear and SF6-free tech by 2028. |
| Peenya (Bengaluru) | $21 Million | Boosting capacity for low-voltage drives and specialized motors (flameproof/smoke-venting); adding a new Innovation Lab. |
| Nelamangala (Bengaluru) | $14 Million | Scaling converter manufacturing for high-speed rail and metro; 10x expansion of UPS production at Campus 2. |
| Hyderabad | $12 Million | Development of a new 12,400-sqm R&D and engineering hub; Phase 2 includes a High-Power Laboratory. |
| Vadodara | $6 Million | Expanding synchronous generators and induction motor production; adding a new regional Training Centre. |
Strategic Rationale: Powering India’s Infrastructure
CEO Morten Wierod highlighted that the expansion is directly tied to four critical “megatrends” currently driving the Indian economy:
- Sustainable Mobility: ABB’s Nelamangala plant will be central to supplying propulsion systems and traction motors for India’s rapidly expanding Metro and High-Speed Rail networks.
- Digital Economy: The expanded UPS and electrical protection production will serve the surge in Data Center construction across Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
- Grid Modernization: The Nashik expansion addresses the urgent need for smart, eco-efficient switchgear as India upgrades its aging power distribution grid.
- Renewable Energy: Vadodara’s synchronous generators are being scaled specifically to support the wind energy and heavy industrial sectors (cement/steel).
Economic & Labor Impact
- Job Creation: The expansion is expected to create over 300 skilled roles in engineering, research, and high-tech operations.
- Financial Scale: ABB India reported record revenue exceeding $1.5 billion in 2025 (representing ~4% of global revenue) and entered 2026 with a robust order backlog of ₹10,471 crore.
- Regional Hub: Beyond domestic needs, these expanded facilities are designed to serve as a manufacturing export base for other regional markets in Asia and the Middle East.
“India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Our expanded facilities will ensure we meet this demand while enhancing our capabilities to serve other markets in the region.” — Morten Wierod, CEO, ABB.
