Knorr-Bremse has started construction work on a modular campus in India that will bring together production, engineering, and artificial intelligence activities in a single location. The ceremony took place on February 12 in the city of Chennai.
With an investment volume of up to EUR 200 million, the company is further strengthening its presence in one of the most important future markets and expanding its local value creation capacity and technological expertise.
Starting at the end of 2027, the location will complement Knorr-Bremse’s existing development and production sites in Pune and Palwal and will accommodate up to 3,500 employees in the long term.
“India is a key region for us with great potential – as a location for innovation, a production hub, and a transportation market. The ‘campus of the future’ allows us to connect our global capabilities even more closely, streamline processes, and accelerate projects. This creates a solid foundation for our Rail and Truck divisions to grow profitably – both in India and in international markets,” said Marc Llistosella, CEO of Knorr-Bremse AG.
Knorr-Bremse will build the cross-divisional industrial facility, which will cover a total area of approximately 188,000 m², in several phases.
The first phase will include the construction of production facilities for entry systems for metros, regional and high-speed trains, as well as for commercial vehicle braking system components, which will commence operations at the end of 2027.
Additional office complexes, where employees will drive the intelligent consolidation of global business and administrative processes, will be completed by 2030 and beyond. In particular, with the consolidation of Global Business Services in Chennai in areas such as HR and Finance, Knorr-Bremse aims to increase the efficiency and speed of global processes in the long term.
A technology hub in Chennai
In Chennai, Knorr-Bremse opened an Artificial Intelligence center in the summer of 2025 as part of its global digital strategy. Built in close proximity to the AI center, the new complex can be flexibly expanded thanks to its modular design. Overall, the scale of the major project reflects Knorr-Bremse’s long-term approach, investing between four and five percent of its annual turnover.
The products manufactured at the modular campus in India will be destined for both the local market and global export. Knorr-Bremse is thus responding to the anticipated growth in India in its core segments of rail freight and passenger transport and, increasingly, commercial vehicles such as trucks, delivery vehicles, and buses.
Knorr-Bremse is already involved in rail projects in Delhi and Chennai, among others, as the main supplier of braking and entry systems for metro trains, and will also equip India’s first high-speed trains with braking, entry, air conditioning, and sanitation systems. The sales volume of both Knorr-Bremse divisions in India is growing strongly, already exceeding EUR 300 million per year. The sales volume of both Knorr-Bremse divisions in India is growing strongly, already reaching over 300 million EUR per year.
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