Delta Electronics expects to boost its India operations as global tariff regimes continue to shift supply chains, a senior executive told Digitimes Asia in an interview, adding that the company is preparing to bring more global customers to its local manufacturing facilities.
"Currently, we still feel this is more beneficial to India," said Benjamin Lin, President and CEO of Delta Electronics India. "We will try to bring more customers to visit India...our whole team is focused on this business."
The Taiwanese electronics giant has seen rising interest in its Indian operations amid efforts by multinational companies to diversify away from China. Lin said Delta is having "many meetings with customers" and consulting with external advisors to understand how to capitalize on evolving tariff structures.
The company operates a 120-acre manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, split between a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for exports and a Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) for local sales. It currently manufactures and exports power supply units for consumer appliances, industrial power supplies, and telecom power modules, among others.
Expanding local R&D and EV focus
Delta, which entered India in 2003 through the acquisition of Ascom, has been steadily diversifying beyond telecom power solutions and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Its Bangalore-based R&D center now plays a significant role in developing products for both local and global markets, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) segment.
"We are targeting local EVs, and we're working on designs for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers," Lin said, noting that Delta has already seen positive feedback from Indian customers. The company is also readying its Krishnagiri site to begin local manufacturing of EV chargers.
Globally, Delta supplies onboard chargers, traction inverters, and motors to luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. In India, the company is pursuing opportunities despite what Lin described as "very price-sensitive" domestic OEMs such as Tata and Mahindra. "We are ready; we just need to find the right match," he said, adding that their factory is on track to receive IATF 16949 certification by September, a prerequisite for automotive production.
Betting on India's AI and data center potential
Delta is also increasing its focus on India's emerging AI and data center markets. "India is well-positioned for AI applications," Lin said, citing the country's large IT talent pool and its growing adoption of AI technologies.
The company plans to build a new team focused on server power supply solutions and expand collaborations with clients like IBM and Cisco. Delta's India operations are expected to play a larger role in supporting global growth.
"We are already planning our five-year strategy, with a focus on expanding our design team," Lin said, adding that the company is recruiting from India's top engineering schools and collaborating with Taiwanese universities for dual-degree programs.
Renewables and energy storage need policy push
Despite India's 45 percent renewable energy share, Delta believes more government support is needed for energy storage systems (ESS).
"If you cannot consume solar power during the day, it is wasted," Lin said. He emphasized the need for incentives and clearer policies to make ESS commercially viable, pointing to Delta's strength in power conversion systems and battery technologies.
Lin also praised India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which he said now includes component-level manufacturing, calling it a positive step for companies like Delta that operate across multiple tiers of the electronics supply chain.
Automation and robotics on the horizon
While India's labor cost advantage has historically slowed the adoption of robotics, Delta sees a turning tide. "The robot market is growing, and there is potential in the industry," Lin said.
Delta is working both as a developer of its own robots and a supplier of drives and controllers to other manufacturers. Lin added that India's government must carefully balance automation with employment concerns, especially as robots enter traditional manufacturing domains.
With manufacturing currently accounting for 14 percent of India's GDP, half of which comes from the automobile sector, Delta sees automation and robotics as key to meeting future productivity and quality benchmarks.
"As long as India continues to support the full ecosystem, from R&D to manufacturing, we are confident in our ability to grow here," Lin said.
Article edited by Jack Wu
