Vivek Chaand Sehgal is an Indian businessman and the chairman of Samvardhana Motherson International. The company is better known as Motherson and is one of the major auto component companies from India.
Motherson supplies parts and systems to many automobile companies around the world. Its products are used in cars, commercial vehicles, and other vehicles.
Vivek Sehgal did not start with a large international company. He started a small business with his mother. Over many years, the business grew through partnerships, acquisitions, manufacturing, and international expansion.
Today, Motherson has operations in many countries and supplies products to some of the world’s major automobile manufacturers.
Early Life of Vivek Sehgal
Vivek Chaand Sehgal was born in Delhi.
He grew up in a business family. His father, S. P. Sehgal, was involved in business, and his mother, Sunita Sehgal, later became an important part of his business journey.
Vivek Sehgal studied at Delhi University.
His early career was not focused on building a large automobile company. He started by looking for a business opportunity where he could build something from a small beginning.
Starting the Business
In 1975, Vivek Sehgal and his mother started a small business dealing in gold and silver.
The business was called Motherson.
The early business was very different from the automobile component company that exists today.
Vivek Sehgal learned about buying, selling, customers, suppliers, and managing money through this early business.
Later, he saw an opportunity in the growing automobile industry.
Entering the Auto Component Business
India’s automobile industry was developing during the 1980s.
Car production was increasing, and automobile manufacturers needed reliable suppliers for different parts.
Vivek Sehgal saw an opportunity in this market.
In 1986, Motherson entered the automotive components business.
The company started producing wiring harnesses and other components for automobiles.
This was an important change in the business.
Instead of only being involved in trading, the company was now making products for the automobile industry.
Partnership With Sumitomo
One of the most important steps in Motherson’s growth was its partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries.
The partnership began in 1986.
The joint venture was called Motherson Electrical Wires.
Sumitomo brought technical knowledge and experience in wiring systems. Motherson brought its understanding of the Indian market and its growing manufacturing network.
This partnership helped the company develop its technology and production capabilities.
It also gave Motherson experience in working with a major international company.
Growth of Motherson
The company did not remain limited to one product.
Over the years, Motherson expanded into different automobile components and systems.
Its products included wiring harnesses, mirrors, interior systems, exterior parts, polymer products, electronics, and other components.
The company also started supplying products to customers outside India.
International expansion became an important part of the business.
Moving Into International Markets
Motherson began acquiring companies in different countries.
These acquisitions helped the company gain new technologies, factories, employees, and customers.
Instead of building every new business from the beginning, Motherson could acquire an existing company and add it to its global network.
This became an important part of Vivek Sehgal’s business approach.
The company expanded its operations across Europe, North America, Asia, and other regions.
Acquisition of Visiocorp
One major acquisition was Visiocorp in 2009.
Visiocorp was a major manufacturer of vehicle rear-view mirrors.
Motherson acquired the company from the UK’s Visiocorp Group.
The acquisition helped Motherson become a major global supplier of automotive mirrors.
It also expanded the company’s relationship with international automobile manufacturers.
This was an important step in the transformation of Motherson into a global auto component company.
Acquisition of Peguform
Another major step came in 2011 when Motherson acquired the automotive business of Peguform.
The business was renamed Samvardhana Motherson Peguform, or SMP.
SMP was involved in making automotive components such as exterior and interior parts.
The acquisition significantly increased Motherson’s international manufacturing operations.
It also gave the company a stronger position with automobile manufacturers in Europe and other markets.
The Role of Acquisitions
Acquisitions have played a major role in Motherson’s growth.
The company has acquired many businesses over the years.
These companies often brought technology, production facilities, engineering skills, and relationships with automobile manufacturers.
However, acquisitions also create challenges.
A company has to bring different teams and systems together.
It also has to manage debt, costs, production, and customer relationships.
Motherson has continued to use acquisitions as one of its main ways to expand.
Changing the Company Name
Motherson Sumi Systems was one of the main listed companies associated with the group.
Over time, the company structure changed as the group expanded.
In 2022, Motherson Sumi Systems was renamed Samvardhana Motherson International.
The name Motherson continues to be widely used for the group.
The company has businesses in many areas of automobile manufacturing.
Motherson’s Products
Motherson is no longer only a wiring harness company.
Its product range has become much wider.
The company makes and supplies products such as:
- Wiring harnesses
- Automotive mirrors
- Interior systems
- Exterior parts
- Polymer components
- Electronics
- Modules and assemblies
- Vehicle lighting-related products
- Other automotive components
The company also works with customers outside the traditional passenger car market.
Its products are used in commercial vehicles, electric vehicles, and other types of transportation.
Working With Global Car Companies
Motherson supplies components to many major automobile manufacturers.
Its customers include companies in Europe, Asia, North America, and other markets.
The company often works closely with automobile manufacturers during vehicle development.
This means suppliers need to meet strict quality and delivery requirements.
Automobile companies cannot afford frequent problems with important components.
Motherson therefore has to maintain manufacturing quality across many factories.
Challenges in the Automobile Industry
The automobile component business has many challenges.
Raw material prices can change quickly.
Car manufacturers can also change their production plans.
A slowdown in vehicle sales can affect suppliers.
There are also strict quality requirements.
Another major change is the move toward electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles have different components and systems compared with traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.
Motherson has been investing in products and technologies that can be used in newer vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Opportunity
The growth of electric vehicles has changed the automobile industry.
Electric cars need different parts, but they still require wiring systems, interiors, mirrors, electronics, plastics, and many other components.
This creates new opportunities for companies such as Motherson.
The company has been working on products for electric and connected vehicles.
Technology is becoming more important in automobiles, and suppliers have to keep developing new products.
Vivek Sehgal’s Business Approach
Vivek Sehgal’s business approach has focused strongly on long-term relationships and expansion.
The partnership with Sumitomo is one example.
Instead of trying to build every technology on its own, Motherson worked with an experienced global company.
Acquisitions have been another important part of the strategy.
Motherson has bought companies that already had technology, factories, employees, and customers.
The company then added these businesses to its wider network.
Building a Global Company From India
One of the notable parts of Motherson’s story is its international growth.
The company started in India but gradually built factories and businesses around the world.
Today, Motherson has a large global workforce and operations across many countries.
Its customers are also spread across different regions.
This means the company is not dependent only on the Indian automobile market.
At the same time, global operations bring their own challenges. Different countries have different labour rules, taxes, currencies, regulations, and business conditions.
Vivek Sehgal and the Family Business
Vivek Sehgal’s mother, Sunita Sehgal, played an important role in the early years of the business.
The company name Motherson itself reflects the partnership between mother and son.
Over the years, the business grew far beyond its original size.
Vivek Sehgal remained closely involved in the company’s development and became one of the important figures in India’s automobile component industry.
Motherson Today
Samvardhana Motherson International is now a large global manufacturing group.
Its main business remains connected with the automobile industry, but its operations cover many different products and technologies.
The company has manufacturing plants, engineering centres, and offices in many countries.
It supplies products to major vehicle manufacturers around the world.
Motherson has also been expanding beyond traditional automobile components into areas such as aerospace, medical equipment, logistics, and other businesses.
Conclusion
Vivek Chaand Sehgal’s business journey started with a small business run with his mother.
The company later entered the automobile component industry and built a strong position in wiring systems.
The partnership with Sumitomo helped Motherson gain technology and international experience.
Large acquisitions such as Visiocorp and Peguform helped the company expand its product range and global presence.
Today, Motherson is a major supplier to the global automobile industry. It operates in many countries and makes a wide range of components.
The business has also had to deal with changing vehicle technology, electric vehicles, raw material costs, competition, and the challenges of managing a large international company.
Vivek Sehgal’s journey shows how a small Indian business can grow into a global manufacturing company over several decades through partnerships, acquisitions, and steady expansion.
