Business · Companies · 20 hrs ago
Tenneco India explores acquisitions beyond the auto sector
Tenneco Clean Air India is exploring acquisitions to expand beyond its automotive business.
The company is considering industrial sectors such as rail, aerospace and defence, CEO Arvind Chandra said.
It wants to reduce its reliance on a cyclical auto market and enter other areas that may grow faster.
Tenneco says potential acquisition targets should have strong technology, healthy margins and a clear market position, ideally with plans for India.
It also aims to offer products that work across petrol, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Its order book has risen to ₹16,500 crore, from about ₹12,000 crore in the previous quarter, and management expects double-digit growth through 2030.
New business usually takes 12 to 18 months to begin production, then ramps up, but the company has not named a deal or said which sectors it will pursue first.
Tenneco Clean Air India is exploring acquisitions to diversify beyond the automotive sector.
The company is considering industrial markets including rail, aerospace and defence, as well as automotive products for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Chief Executive Officer Arvind Chandra said acquisition targets should have strong technology, decent margins and a distinct market position.
He said Tenneco’s order book had reached ₹16,500 crore, up from about ₹12,000 crore in the previous quarter.
Suspension products account for about 65 per cent of the order book, while the company expects double-digit growth through 2030.
- Who
- Tenneco Clean Air India, an automotive components company. Chief Executive Officer Arvind Chandra discussed its plans.
- What
- The company is exploring acquisitions to diversify beyond the auto sector and expand its automotive products across vehicle powertrains.
- When
- The reports were published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- India; the company is also considering industrial markets including rail, aerospace and defence.
- Why
- Automotive markets have historically had cyclical demand. Acquisitions could help Tenneco enter a faster-growing area.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Tenneco’s order book was about ₹12,000 crore.
Reports said the company was exploring acquisition opportunities and its order book had reached ₹16,500 crore.
Chandra said a programme won that year could reach full production around mid-2028.
A programme won in 2026 could reach full production around this time.
- Acquisition sectors
- Rail, aerospace and defence
- Acquisition criteria
- Strong technology, decent margins and a distinct market position
- Order book
- ₹16,500 crore, up from about ₹12,000 crore in the previous quarter
- Suspension share of order book
- About 65 per cent
- Revenue mix
- About 51 per cent suspension and 49 per cent clean air and powertrain
- Growth outlook
- Double-digit growth through 2030
2 sources
What people are saying
We are looking for related diversification. We are also looking for unrelated diversification. There are inorganic M&A opportunities that we are looking at. We are quite excited about it
It must have some sort of a strong differentiator. And of course, there should be an India story attached to it so that we can do something with the asset.
We can do a good, decent, good-size acquisition with the cash we have.
Our own internal strategy says that we want to grow. We want to be powertrain-agnostic, so whether it is ICE vehicles or electric or hybrid vehicles, we should have a product that fits into all three categories