NHK Spring Co. will start manufacturing motor cores for electric vehicles in India by fiscal 2026, joining a wave of Japanese suppliers redirecting investment away from China, Nikkei reported.
The Yokohama-based company plans to spend ¥10 billion ($64 million) on the project through 2030. An initial ¥1.5 billion ($10 million) will go toward retrofitting an existing Indian facility that currently produces other automotive components. Production capacity will expand in phases, though the company has not disclosed volume targets.
Motor cores—laminated steel components that form the magnetic heart of EV drive motors—represent a critical piece of the electrification supply chain. NHK Spring already operates a similar production line in Mexico and claims to be among the world’s leading manufacturers of the precision-stamped parts.
The investment follows broader Japanese industry trends. Toyota, Honda and Suzuki have collectively committed roughly $11 billion to expand Indian operations as automakers seek alternatives to China’s increasingly competitive and subsidy-driven market. India’s restrictions on Chinese investment have created openings for Japanese and Korean suppliers.
Whether NHK Spring can establish a meaningful position remains uncertain. India’s EV market, while growing, still represents a fraction of global demand. Battery-powered passenger vehicle production there is projected to reach just 300,000 units in 2025—a rounding error compared with China’s output.
