During the visit of the state commerce and industries minister, MB Patil, to Japan, Karnataka has got new investments from Japanese companies in the electric vehicles, steel and advanced manufacturing industries. JFE Shoji confirmed a ₹400 crore project to make motor cores for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Karnataka. “We are finalising land site options and will ground the investment soon,” company executives assured. The minister also invited JFE Shoji to investigate the use of its transformer expertise in reviving the NGEF Hubballi plant.
To enhance the steel industry, the Sumitomo Group, reaffirmed its ₹2,345 crore investment to construct a greenfield steelmaking plant in Koppal with its joint venture; Mukand Sumi Special Steel. The plant, to be operational by 2028, will produce 3,50,000 tonnes per year and 95% of its desired energy usage will be taken from renewable energy sources. The company has also shown interest with biomass energy in Karnataka. Automation leader Yaskawa announced that it is expanding its motion control and drives unit in Bengaluru and Shinko Nameplate said it committed ₹100 crore to a greenfield plant for vehicle parts near Bengaluru for parts like emblems, key fobs and vehicle interiors.
Cataler, belonging to the Toyota Group, will invest ₹140 crore to expand its Bidadi facility till 2030, while Saginomiya said it will establish a new plant in Karnataka for control devices and testing systems. “Karnataka has shown once again that it is India’s preferred destination for high-value manufacturing and innovation,” Patil said, after wrapping up meetings with leaders from JFE Shoji, Sumitomo, Yaskawa, Shinko, Cataler and Saginomiya.
China: The Global Factory
Over the past two decades, China has claimed the title of the “world’s factory.” China has a manufacturing output of over $4.6 trillion and contributes almost one-third of total global output. China has built its dominance of factories, labor, and supply chains that support nearly every industry.
Zhou Qunfei, Founder of Chinese glass and touch-screen maker Lens Technology, which is also an Apple supplier, said, "Smart manufacturing and automation can help us boost efficiency and improve the qualification rate of products. It is a must-choose road for us."
China is the leader in electronics manufacturing, manufacturing everything from smartphones, laptops, semiconductors, to consumer electronics. China is also a giant in steel, cement, and construction materials, providing essential inputs for global infrastructure development.
Liu Bingjiang, Chief engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said, "Supported by digital and intelligent advancements, we are integrating green practices into the steel industry, persistently advancing high-quality development by safeguarding our ecological and environmental integrity."