During the recently concluded electronica India 2024, Electronics Maker Executive Editor Vaishali Umredkar had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Gursharan Singh Bhatia, Country Head at Littelfuse. The two sides exchanged insights on the expanding market opportunities in the Indian electronic components industry and Littelfuse aggressive push into the smart metering, automotive (especially electric vehicles), and telecom markets. Mr. Bhatia emphasized that the company is aligned with the “Make in India” initiative and is working with the R&D team to acquire complementary technologies to drive continued growth. He also emphasized the development of local manufacturing capabilities to meet the growing market demand and address the infrastructural challenges posed by the development process, especially in the area of electric vehicles, which is critical to the growth of the industry. He said that the future of India is promising, with the support of the government’s favorable policies, which will greatly stimulate India’s potential to become a global hub for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
Expanding Market Opportunities and Strategic Growth in India’s Electronics Components Industry
When asked about Littelfuse business plans, Mr. Bhatia said, “The electronics components industry in India is seeing significant demand in key areas such as smart metering, UPS/inverters, automotive (particularly EVs), and telecommunications (with government initiatives like BSNL’s fiber optic rollout). Littelfuse is tapping into these markets by offering design and component solutions, particularly in automotive and smart metering.
In terms of business strategy, Littelfuse technical and sales teams engage closely with R&D departments to provide customized solutions through block diagrams and expert advice on components. Our growth has been driven by identifying market needs and acquiring companies with complementary technologies, such as switches and sensors. We focus on protection, control, interconnect, and sensing solutions, which are core to our business. Furthermore, the company is committed to aligning with India’s “Make in India” initiative and is open to local partnerships and collaborations to meet market demands and ensure growth”.
India’s Electronics Components Market: Driving Growth through Local Manufacturing and Government Support
According to Mr. Bhatia, “The electronics components market in India is poised for significant growth, potentially reaching $300 billion to $500 billion in the next few years. However, the key challenge remains the lack of local manufacturing, as most components are still imported. To achieve this ambitious growth, the focus must shift to boosting domestic production. While government initiatives are encouraging, real transformation will occur when manufacturing ecosystems are fully developed in India”.
He compares India’s potential to a “sleeping elephant,” now awakening and ready to take action under current leadership. Local production is essential for companies to offer competitive pricing and contribute to the growing market. The acquisition of companies like C&K has enabled Littelfuse to establish a manufacturing presence in India, with plans to localize further in the next two to three years.
There is optimism for the future, especially for young professionals, as the market is expected to expand rapidly over the next decade, driven by increasing local production and favorable government policies.
Infrastructure Development: A Key to Unlocking India’s Electronics Industry Potential
While talking about challenges, Mr. Bhatia mentioned, “The major challenge in India’s electronics industry is infrastructure. For example, in the EV sector, the lack of widespread charging stations hinders consistent growth. This leads to fluctuations in the market, with many companies struggling to sustain operations. Strong infrastructure is crucial not only for EVs but also for broader applications like airports, railways, metros, and data centers, which rely heavily on electronics.
Building more robust infrastructure will support the electronics sector’s expansion, including data centers, which are vital for the future of technology”. Mr. Bhatia expresses optimism about India’s future growth, especially with initiatives like “Make in India” and investments from companies like Adani in infrastructure projects. The vision is for India to become a global hub for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, backed by strong leadership and diplomacy that attracts foreign investments.
