ABB to invest $75 million in India to expand manufacturing and R&D

Swiss-Swedish electrification and automation company ABB has announced plans to invest about $75 million in India in 2026 to expand manufacturing capacity and research infrastructure across multiple locations.

The investment, disclosed in a filing to the stock exchanges on March 9, follows more than $35 million invested in India in 2025. With the latest allocation, ABB’s cumulative investment in the country over the past decade exceeds $230 million. The company, which has operated in India for 76 years, generates more than $1.5 billion in annual revenue from the market, accounting for around 4% of its global revenue.

Morten Wierod, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABB, said the investment responds to rising demand linked to India’s energy transition, grid modernisation, data centre growth and expansion of metro and high-speed rail networks.

The capital will be deployed across ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation business areas and is expected to create about 300 skilled jobs in engineering, operations and research.

Nashik will receive the largest share of the investment, about $22 million, for expanding production of indoor and outdoor circuit breakers. The company will also scale up its Vacuum Interrupter factory and localise manufacturing of 33 kV primary gas insulated switchgear, including the introduction of SF6-free technologies by 2028.

In Bengaluru’s Peenya industrial area, ABB plans to invest $21 million to expand manufacturing of low-voltage drives and specialised motors. The investment will also support the establishment of an innovation laboratory, remote monitoring systems and upgraded training facilities. An additional $14 million will be invested in ABB’s two campuses in Nelamangala to expand converter manufacturing for high-speed rail and metro applications.

Hyderabad will receive $12 million in 2026 as the first phase of a new research and development hub. The project is centred around a recently commissioned 12,400 square metre office and laboratory facility, with a high-power laboratory planned in the next phase.

In Vadodara, about $6 million will be invested to expand production of slow-speed synchronous generators and induction motors to support demand from sectors such as metals, oil and gas, cement and wind energy.

ABB stated that about 85% of the products it sells in India are manufactured locally, and the new investments are intended to further strengthen this local manufacturing approach.

Photo credit: ABB