CASE Construction Equipment, a subsidiary of NYSE-listed CNH Industrial, is strengthening India’s position as a critical hub for exporting construction machinery and components, according to company executives at the Bharat Construction Equipment Expo 2025. Emre Karazli, Vice President of CNH’s Construction Segment for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, highlighted India’s growing importance beyond its domestic market.
“India’s strong manufacturing and sourcing capabilities are making it a vital supply base for our global operations,” Karazli said. The country now exports machinery like backhoe loaders, skid-steer loaders, excavators, and compactors to more than 100 countries, underscoring its expanding role in CNH’s global supply chain.
CASE’s strategy involves manufacturing complete components in India for export to CNH facilities worldwide, as well as sourcing sub-components from Indian suppliers for assembly processes. This dual approach not only improves cost-efficiency but also aligns with CNH’s stringent global quality standards. The Pithampur plant, CASE’s second-largest production facility after its North American site, is central to this strategy.
India’s contribution to CNH’s business is significant. The country accounts for about 10% of CNH’s APAC sales, with 3,500 units sold domestically out of a global total of 40,000 units.
Satendra Tiwari, Executive Director of Operations at CASE, pointed out that fabrication costs in India are now on par with China. This shift is partly driven by the global “China Plus One” strategy, which encourages companies to diversify their supply chains away from China.
While some advanced components, such as hydraulic pumps and proprietary technologies, are still imported from countries like South Korea and Japan, Tiwari noted that local manufacturing initiatives are gaining traction. “Suppliers are establishing local production, which is making the supply chain more cost-competitive,” he said.
CASE’s expansion in India is backed by significant investments in local infrastructure. Over the past five to six years, the company has invested more than ₹1,000 crore in its Indian operations, particularly in the Pithampur facility, which is a cornerstone of its global strategy.
Shalabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director for India and SAARC at CASE, outlined plans for further growth. These include adding new production lines and increasing capacity at facilities in Pithampur, Greater Noida, and Pune. The company also aims to deepen its localization efforts to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen its supply chain.
With these initiatives, CASE is positioning India as a pivotal player in its global operations, leveraging the country’s manufacturing prowess to meet growing international demand.
