New Delhi: Gabriel India Limited, the flagship of the $2.6 billion-plus ANAND Group, has formed a joint venture with France's Forvia to bring advanced automotive seating systems to the Indian market, marking a significant step in its shift from a component maker to a diversified mobility technology company.

The venture, incorporated as Faurecia ANAND Seating India Private Limited, gives Forvia a 50% plus one share stake, while Gabriel India holds 50% less one share.

The deal is aimed at expanding Gabriel India's presence in a fast-growing vehicle systems segment. As vehicle architectures grow more sophisticated, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are looking for suppliers who can deliver integrated, technology-heavy systems rather than standalone parts. The joint venture will offer next-generation seating with enhanced comfort and safety features, aimed at connected, safe and intelligent vehicles.

"This partnership is a natural extension of Gabriel India's transformation into a broader mobility solutions enterprise," said Jaisal Singh, Vice Chairman of ANAND Group, who leads the group's mergers and acquisitions. He said the ability to participate across a wider spectrum of the automotive value chain is becoming strategically important, and that the venture adds "a globally proven capability" to the portfolio.

Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson of ANAND Group and Gabriel India, said the venture builds on a longstanding relationship with Forvia and on complementary strengths. She described it as a platform that is "both strategically significant and future-ready," adding that it reflects the group's aim of building institutions that contribute to the evolution of the mobility sector.

The seating venture follows Gabriel India's recent tie-up with South Korea's HL Klemove for automotive electronics and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The two partnerships have been forged to pair global technology leadership with local market depth to enter high-growth segments beyond Gabriel India's traditional strength in shock absorbers and suspension components.

The move also underlines ANAND Group's positioning as a preferred partner for global automotive companies seeking a stake in India's long-term growth. For Forvia, one of the world's leading automotive technology suppliers, the venture offers a controlling position in a market where vehicle production and feature content per car are both rising. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.