Suprajit Engineering Limited (532509) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

March 27, 2024

BSE Limited IN Consumer Discretionary Automobile Components shareholder_meeting 47 min

Earnings Call Speaker Segments

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#1

So welcome, Ajith sir, in Bharat Connect Arihant Rising Stars Summit -- Conference. And Ajith sir, he is Chairman of Suprajit Engineering.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#2

Hi, good morning.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#3

Good morning, sir.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#4

Now I think I can't start my audio -- video. So if it is okay, I'm without video.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#5

Yes, that is fine, sir. That is fine. Thank you all the participants to join Arihant conference. And sir, we can start.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#6

Good morning, everybody. Thank you for the interest in Suprajit and having me on this call. I see the group interaction, so I don't really know how much everybody knows about us or what generally everybody wants to know about.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#7

Sorry to interrupt you. Initial 10 minutes or 15 minutes about the company, current business development, that will work and then we'll come to the Q&A part.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#8

Okay. Thanks. As you all know, Suprajit is in auto component space. Our core product range is cables and halogen lamps. Off late, we have diversified into electronics. And even further later -- recently, we also launched our Braking Products division. So Suprajit is headquartered in Bangalore. More than 50% of our business is outside of India. We have not just offices overseas, we have manufacturing footprint. We have tech centers and we have got business development centers as well. Broadly, we are categorized into, let's say, 4 divisions. Domestic Cable Division is the one with which we originally started way back in 1985. And it basically deals with cables also, although we have off late started to go a little beyond cables as well within the division. And we have multiple plants across 8 states, very close to customers. And again, the main product there is cable. This division is doing exceptionally well. That's been our backbone all through our journey. Good business growth, good margins in that division. Then we have -- domestically, we also have another 3 plants under Phoenix Lamps Division, where we do halogen lamps. Of course, now we also graduated into making LED lighting systems. We also have a small, specialized automation division within this, so that's also being exploited for future growth. Phoenix Lamps Division is majorly into halogen lamps. That business has been doing pretty well. It has grown over the years, and it's also off late you -- those who have been tracking Suprajit would see that the margins have been improving continuously in the last couple of quarters. Although halogen lamp business is sort of considered as a business, which is not growing. We have been able to grow with margin improvement with solid operational improvements as well as acquiring new businesses globally, not just in India. Suprajit Controls Division is all our business outside of India in the cables and cable-related products, including actuators. This is sort of agglomeration of multiple acquisitions that we have done in cables, right from Gills Cables in the U.K. to Wescon. And in the last -- couple of years ago, the Light Duty Cables of Kongsberg. That division is now clubbed under one global president, who is now in the process of integrating all these operations for better performance. Last year has been a bit of a challenge, I mean, the current year as well, largely due to geopolitical reasons, issues relating to, of course, the UAW strike, there is Red Sea crisis, there has been, of course, Ukraine war. Now more wars around the world. All these do have an effect. Particularly impacted is the nonautomotive business, and that business has actually degrown in the last year due to high interest rates and economic scenario across the world. That has dragged down the -- also, there was an issue relating to China relocation. We have a Chinese plant. Just to give a quick brief, there is a plant in China. There is a plant in Hungary. There's 2 plants in Mexico and one plant in the U.S. in a place called Wichita in Kansas. We have tech centers out of Detroit. We have also a tech center out of -- near Birmingham called Tamworth. And of course, we have Suprajit Technology Center sitting out of India. So under SCD, business growth has been stagnant last year. I mean I'm talking about the current year. Margins have been under pressure. It's about 5%, 6% EBITDA margin. The aim is over the next year or so to graduate to double-digit margins, that's about Controls Division. Then the last division is the latest division of ours, is the Suprajit Electronics Division. It's more like a start-up. It is the new product that has been developed under Suprajit Technology Center, have been commercialized in this division. It's now 4-5 quarters into its production, has done very well. The business has grown quite well, and margins have also started improving very well. In fact, last quarter, we had a double-digit margin in that business. So to support all these things is we have our Technology Center, which is doing lots of good work in terms of new product development relating to Electronics and Electromechanical Systems as well as Braking division -- braking products. So this is the -- largely what I would call as the overall company's perspective. Overall, company has been doing well. Business has been stable this year. Margins have been about around 12%, 13% and we expect that to improve going forward with Controls Division hopefully in the next few quarters starting to turn around in terms of margin profile. Business wins in the group has been quite good. Domestic business has been growing more or less in line with the business. Global business having a strong traction because we have been winning lot of new contracts, new businesses. They will all be implemented over the next 2, 3, 4 years' time. So the outlook is that there will be a good growth. Controls Division will require some more time to complete all the restructuring and planned activities. But we feel that as the second largest cable maker in the world today, we will have our ability to attract new customers, more business from existing customers and continue to do well and improve the margins of Controls Division. The other divisions will continue to do the way it has been doing in the past. So with that, I think it's 10 minutes since I started speaking. So I would probably open the floor for questions, and I'm happy to answer.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#9

[Operator Instructions] So like in general, acquisition have a low base rate of success. Given that, why Suprajit is such as acquisitive company? And does it add unnecessary complexity to the organization?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#10

A little bit. Yes, of course, the global operations is complex. There is geodiversity involved. The local cultures are involved. So managing global business is certainly not the same as managing a domestic business. But I think if you look at the companies which are wanting to grow, we could have remained a purely domestic intensive company and just to give kind of an equation. The domestic, let's say, car business is 4 million, whereas the global business is 80 million cars. So it needs to be that if you really want to grow the business and continue to be leading the business, we need to be in multiple geographies and close to the customer. So I think that is the reason why some of these acquisitions have been envisaged. And we have been able to generally be able to manage these acquisitions well. And I think most of the places, the operations have been reasonably stable, I would say.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#11

[Operator Instructions] And sir, domestic business has grown less than the 2-wheeler industry growth this year. Just wanted to know whether we have lost market share or not.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#12

Not at all, actually. If you look at our last quarter, I think our stand-alone business has grown by 10%, which is in line with the industry. Overall industry has grown at about, I think, 5%, 6% -- 5% or so whereas we have grown at about 3% or 4%. I think the gap is basically because this year has been a fairly tepid year for our aftermarket. It has nothing to do with the OEM. Aftermarket has been not up to our expectation, it has not grown. I think that is the reason why there is probably 1% or 2% of drop. I think that's all the difference. There's no loss of market share anywhere with the customers.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#13

Okay. Sir, we have question from Hardik Doshi.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#14

I can't hear.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#15

Okay. Now we have a question from [ Shehans ].

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#16

So just wanted to understand what was the rationale for us venturing into the braking side. Could you spell out more in terms of what is the opportunity that we see? Or is it -- was it more because we see that the Cable Division might go through a little bit of stagnation going forward? Or what was the rationale overall for venturing into...

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#17

I think, basic rationale is that, as you know, we have set up this Suprajit Technology Center 4-5 years ago. That has been working on, I would say, largely into 3 areas in terms of the future of Suprajit. One is, as you know, one of the things that we've always said, this derisk can grow profitably. And as you know, we have completely done that in a very significant way in terms of customers, regions, segments, et cetera, et cetera. But in terms of our core business, it's still been cable. So one of the major, let's say, work that Technology Center has been doing is how to go beyond cables. It has nothing to do with the cables. I think we see -- continue to see a significant requirement of cables globally. And I think our position in the global market is still not very significant. So there's a lot more work to be done. Although domestically, we're probably the leading player. We are the leading player. I think globally, we are yet. So there's still a lot of work to be done. So there's nothing to say that it's because of cables. But we are seeing that as an organization, we need to sort of derisk a single product as well. So that is the basic reasoning. And I think what we have done at STC is focus on 3 areas. One is the Braking Products division, one is the actuator and actuator-related products and third one is Electronics, which is basically digital clusters, throttle position sensors, et cetera, et cetera. So the idea is to be a diversified automotive component company. I think that's in short the answer.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#18

Fair enough. Understood. And so anything you can talk about in terms of...

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#19

Can you speak a little louder, sir, because you are not audible to us?

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#20

Is it better now?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#21

Yes.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#22

So anything you can talk about in terms of opportunity size or anything, like when can we expect a meaningful contribution from this segment?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#23

One thing is these are all homegrown product developments. And you have seen it in Electronics division how the business has grown because there is significant interesting opportunities we were able to get and execute. I think Braking Products division is another division where we feel that on a longer term, I mean, this is just a start for us, where we are currently doing brake shoes or, let's say, CBS, et cetera. But there are other products that are in the pipeline, which we need to be launched, things like MDBS, et cetera. So I don't think there is any big numbers you have to allocate to that at this moment. I think the next one year is a year where we will establish the division, get the customer approvals, get few orders, we already have few orders, by the way, and execute them well. I think that is when the numbers will start showing in a next level. So I think this is, let's say, a seed that we have sown. And I think given a year's time, we'll be in a clear position that what is the traction that we will have. So I think that is the time we would be able to say more about it. But there's a lot of interest, some of the products that we are developing has been well accepted by customers. They're all in advanced stage of testing at customer's end. So we have won some contracts, and I'm sure in the next couple of quarters, we'll continue to do more in this.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#24

Who are these customers, sir, whom we have won the orders from?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#25

At the moment, I am not able to -- liberty to tell. We are on an NDA with some of them. But these businesses are both from EV and ICE customers.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#26

Your next question, we have Ronak.

Ronak Vora

analyst
#27

Sir, just on the new divisions, right, when we talk about braking systems or the digital clusters, when we look at the industry, right, this is largely a duopoly market in both the segments where you have large incumbents, who have a very high market share. So sir, how do we think of winning business? Is -- it will be like one customer, one model and then you test the product and you win products, and so it will be all incremental or from a stock basis also we can demonstrate and these -- it's easy for the customer to shift? Just wanted to get your sense on how do we win the business in the new segments of braking and digital clusters.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#28

Good point. I think it's the same thing, right? I mean automotive component business is always a very competitive business, which is -- strong players are -- incumbents exist in any business in automotive. That doesn't mean that there aren't opportunities for the new players. The idea is that what is it that we offer to them in terms of value for money, right? Value for money is not necessarily just the price. It's the ability to give what they want, when they want and how they want. Some of the incumbents may not be able to provide it, and that's where we find certain vacuums in these areas. And I think the classic example that we have been able to break the ice is in Electronics division. In fact, we have been declaring, I think, 3 or 4 quarters' numbers very clearly. It shows that there is a very good traction that we are able to get despite entering -- for example, Braking division is not technical. It's a mechanical product, right? Whereas Electronics is totally new for us. But the kind of tractions we have been able to get and the kind of margins we have been able to generate, I think that shows that as long as the product has a right USP and the need of the customer has been met to their satisfaction, there is always a new business and more business for new entrants. And that is why we got also the confidence that we will be able to do the other products, which were all under development and under STC can also be launched. So I think the successor of Electronics division within the 4 quarters of operation is a clear signal that Suprajit has been accepted as a viable, capable, technologically-adept supplier who can meet the customer requirement. I think that is what needs to be addressed and we have been addressing that.

Ronak Vora

analyst
#29

So the way to think of these segments scaling up would be over next 2 to 3 years. That is how we should think of these segments, right?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#30

Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes.

Ronak Vora

analyst
#31

And sir, my second question is, we know how global macros have hurt the overseas business. Is there now a clear path of growth for LDC, Wescon and the export business from India or the uncertainty still persists?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#32

I think you -- the question is at a larger level of the Suprajit Controls Division, as I mentioned in my introduction. That is a division which will undergo some more, what I would call, consolidation and testing phase in terms of what's happening in the global geopolitical field and global business itself, I think. Yes, it's a large business. I talked about 4 million and 80 million in the global business, but the business is undergoing a lot of turmoil and it is necessary to stay patient in that business. And I think what we have been able to prove to our customers has been that we are a viable, capable, deep-pocketed supplier, who will stand by the customers. Some of the recent wins, which we also made some announcements in the past, clear statement that Suprajit has been accepted as a global capable supplier. So we have to go through that global Samudra Manthanam, if I may use that word, and have to wait for our time. So the business is solid. Business will continue to grow. There is tremendous pressure on prices because of whether it is some duty-related issues, whether it has become freight-related issues, whether it is becoming some inflation-related issues, which is not always possible to pass on to customers. So the hard times are there I'm sure for another 2, 3 quarters or so. But as we pass through and continue our consolidation process and continue to win new businesses and go to next level of operation, I think that's when we will see margins significantly improve.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#33

Next question we have from Anirudh.

Anirudh Shetty

analyst
#34

Just continuation to the last question on the Controls Division. We have acquired a company, and now we are looking to localize the production. And we have, as you mentioned in the initial remarks that you have got new Group Director on the Board who will look after this whole segment. I just wanted to know how we look at this space -- the growth for this space, like this segment? You have mentioned about actuators. What's the opportunity size over there? And how we are going to get market share or entry into this business for the local? Whether we have plans to enter into the local market for the 4 wheelers and other? How we look at it on the broader perspective that I would like to know, plus what would be the -- if we want to do it, what would be the time lines for this, like product development to the PSW part, how long it will take? Just if you can elaborate on that part, that would be helpful.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#35

You're talking about actuators or all the Controls Division products?

Anirudh Shetty

analyst
#36

Yes. If you can elaborate on both the parts, that would be very helpful.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#37

On the Controls Division, I think we -- I think a couple of quarters ago, we also have made a list of winnings that we have had, so which is very clear that we have been winning significant new businesses, which will all go into production in the next '24, '25, '26. So that gives us a clear road map as to how the business is likely to grow. Whereas I can say that the global 4-wheeler business, the numbers are not growing. But despite that, I think we expect that Suprajit Controls Division will grow its business. That's because of these new business wins. Now actuators is not a new product for us. In terms of India, it is a new product. But in terms of Suprajit Controls, it is not a new product. We have been supplying to actuators to quite a few of the seat manufacturers for many years. So they continue to win new contracts in the global market and introduced some of these Tier 1 customers. So it's a continuing business. What we have done in India is to adopt some of those products and tailor-make it to India through our Suprajit Technology Centers. Through that, we have first entered into the 2-wheeler side of it, things like seat actuators or lock actuators. I think they are the initial product that we have launched as an actuator in India. We are, of course, in discussion with other non-2-wheelers as well, but it's a new business for us in India. So obviously, it will take its own time. But there has been interesting development. Two of them has already -- 2 customers have already accepted. I mean we have started deliveries itself. So I'm sure that it will gather strength with time.

Anirudh Shetty

analyst
#38

Okay. And what would be our competitive advantage in these actuators as compared to others? Like the major part if I understand currently would be, one is battery of the motor and the mechanical parts. So whether we have cost advantage over here and as we are -- we have scaled in other parts like cables, we have achieved humungous scale. Do we plan to have -- accordingly, we have plans to scale it and approach -- when we approach the multiple customers?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#39

Yes, obviously, I think as we get more and more customers, scale will automatically increase. And all I can say is that I don't know about the completion. Whatever the actuators that we have won, we have our good double-digit margin. So whether it has been our ability to source the components well or whether it's our ability to operationalize it better in terms of the cost of operations. So I don't know the answer to it, but we have no issues on the contract that we have won in terms of margins. So customer always wants a customer-friendly supplier in terms of quality, in terms of cost, in terms of ability to develop and deliver. So that's what we have been proving time and again in the last 35 years. And that's one of the things why customer is happy to discuss with us for some of these new products.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#40

Next question we have from Hardik. Hardik, do you have any questions?

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#41

So I had a question on the EV side. So let's say, there have been talks like just looking at the content per vehicle, so the number of cables would reduce in an EV versus an ICE. So just wanted the color, how will it impact our Cables Division?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#42

I think it is not because of the EV, the content is reducing. It is because of some other changing technologies. For example, today, hydraulic braking system is coming more prevalent in India. So some of the brake cables that we use though is not required. It's not because of EV actually. It is because of some of the changing technologies. So we typically have 4 to 6 cables in the past. It's probably now 2, 3 or 4 in an EV. I mean that's how we see it. We have already stated a couple of years ago that our intent is to have more content for 2-wheeler despite whatever is the cable content. More content per 2-wheeler going forward, whether it is EV or ICE. That's why these new products are being launched and are commercialized. The digital clusters, actuators, throttle position sensors, et cetera, et cetera. They are all part of -- or the braking products that we have just launched. They're all in that direction where we are all working with the 2-wheeler both ICE as well as EV customers to ensure that our content per 2-wheeler will only increase going forward and not decrease. And that's what we have been successful so far.

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#43

Got it. So just one follow-up question on this -- let's say, for example, we are [indiscernible] throttle and a customer needs to make a decision. So is it possible since we have a good penetration in the mechanical cable side, he would choose us for the throttle supply versus going to our competitor? So do the synergies play out across Cables and the Electronics division?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#44

Yes and no. I think I'll take the example of TPS, that is the throttle position sensor. There are 2 types of them. I'm not an electronics engineer, but basically, there are 2 types. One will cable and one without cable. And if a customer wants a system supplier, then they will come to us because we'll give them the cable and also the throttle position sensor together as a system supplier. So that is the advantage we have. And as an integrated supplier, we probably have a certain -- I mean, I presume that we'll have a certain pricing advantage. And the customer has to only approach one supplier, not 2 suppliers. Is it possible to go to 2 separate suppliers? The answer is yes. But for us, throttle position sensor is a new business and whoever comes to us is fine. And if somebody wants a cable along with that, we are happy to supply that also. So for us, both ways work. So there is no real issues on that.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#45

Sir, we have certain questions in the Q&A box, so we can take that. Like what is the impact of EVs on core cable business, if you can clearly break out the content per vehicle in ICE versus in the EV?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#46

I think answered just now. I just answered the same question somebody else has asked.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#47

How much of the portfolio at EV risk and how we are mitigating it?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#48

Sorry, sorry, I didn't get that.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#49

How much of the portfolio at EV risk and how are you mitigating it?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#50

Again, the same point. I think as I said, 4 to 6 cables are in a regular ICE engine. Actually, I explained that it is not because of EV that cable has come down. It's actually the same answer.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#51

Yes. In the LDC business, how has business progressed with global large EV players since the takeover example, Tesla?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#52

Yes. I think I'll give you a generalized, I'm not expected to talk a specific customers due to the NDA. I think we have very good portfolio of business with this particular customer actually. But generally, the product developments today happening, particularly on the cable side is both for ICE and EV passenger vehicles globally. Typically, a vehicle is launched in a similar platform, both under EV version and in an ICE version. So we have done some internal work recently. I think -- by next year, I think our own portfolio of probably -- I mean, in the passenger vehicles, our exports probably would be something like 20% for EVs and probably 80% for ICE. But when you look at a 5-year time period, it increases much more. So that is where we are. But I must also generally talk about the changing thinking in the world about EV as well, lot of hybrids are talked about. Hydrogen is being talked about. One major European passenger vehicle manufacturer is talking about stopping the EV developments itself. So I think there's lots of newer things happening. So we are very mindful of what's happening in the business. Having said that, I think as far as we are concerned, none of those newer developments have any impact on our product range, particularly cables have no, what I would say, obsolescence threat. So while we are watching carefully, we are also seeing opportunities where we could present ourselves to customers in some of these newer technologies or products with our products as well.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#53

Okay. Has the company set up a goal for the next 4 to 5 years in terms of revenue, margin and product mix, if we can guide?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#54

We actually don't give guidance for the future years. All we would like to say is that the endeavor of Suprajit is to grow faster than, let's say -- all these days, we were talking about benchmarking ourselves with the domestic business and domestic business growth. Now that more than 50% of the business is not in India, I think benchmarking against that is probably not the fair way of doing it. All I would like to say that our growth is expected to be faster than what the world's automotive business will do, which obviously hardly going to be anything in this year or next year. But we'll certainly outperform it because the kind of visibility we have on our order book is such that we expect to continue to grow the business, despite underlying businesses are not really growing. So I don't want to give a margin, excepting to say that we have work to do on the Controls Division, Suprajit Controls Division, which is at mid- single-digit number. The endeavor is to certainly go towards the double digit, which is what we are aiming and working towards, too. And that's a kind of a process and a journey, it will take some time, but that certainly is what we are all working together. Rest of the parts of the business are doing well. They're already in double-digit businesses. So that will continue to be there where it is.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#55

And also a similar question on the margin side. Like can we reach back to 16%, 17% level? And what could be time line for the same?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#56

I think our domestic business is still doing that. All I can say is that there are very -- probably it would be not correct to say nobody, but excepting some completely monopolistic auto component industry, very few have that kind of margin. Global businesses are all mid-single, late-single-digit businesses because that's how the global business model works. Because you must realize that the global business costs are completely different than what it is in India. The employee costs and the other overheads are much, much higher. So expecting that kind of margin in an international business is, I think, not realistic. But as I said, the international business is Controls Division. The aim is to go towards double digit and hopefully reach there sooner than later.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#57

Okay. And also, they have asked what is the current revenue split among the 4 divisions? I think we can answer later...

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#58

That is all available in our quarterly results. So I think somebody can get it from there.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#59

Yes, sir. And on Wescon, this is a higher-margin business. What is the outlook for FY '25?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#60

Wescon isn't really high -- it's part of Suprajit Controls Division. It has the same ups and downs of Suprajit Controls Division. In fact, Wescon had a kind of a setback in this year because it caters exclusively to non-automotive business. The non-automotive business as we have been saying in the last 3 quarterly con calls that had its setback in U.S. because the discretionary spends have come down significantly. That business -- the industry itself has come down by about 30-plus percent, which has also affected our business in the last 2, 3 quarters at Wescon. So it will take another at least a couple of 2, 3 quarters to recover from that because customers are still not buying, let's say, a power sport vehicle or a lawn mower or things like that. So that's where our customer profile is. So that will continue to have 1 or 2 tough quarters actually.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#61

Next question we have from Senthil.

Senthil Manikandan

analyst
#62

First question is with respect to the domestic 2-wheeler motorcycle market. So earlier in quarterly calls you mentioned both -- there has been a lag in growth of the entry-level 2-wheeler motorcycle. So how is the demand synergy level, sir, and are we seeing the similar levels or we are seeing any pickup in the entry-level motorcycle segment?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#63

I'm not really an expert. But to me, the entry-level segment growth would be -- continue to be a challenge because the aspiration of people are to go for the mid-range, high range and the more expensive bikes. And there are also lot of varieties that are there in the market. So market dynamics have changed completely in the last 5 years with all customers launching 150, 200, 250, 300, even higher CC motorcycles. So the entry level has been sort of not been growing. One of the explanations given is that the monsoon was bad and whatever reasons. The rural economy is not very good, so people are not buying motorcycles. I'm not so sure how true that is. I think generally, it's the tendency of people to move to be more aspirational in terms of purchases. And I think that's probably also one of the reasons for sure. So the entry-level bike growth, if you look at India's, like in this year's number, I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure you will see that the entry-level growth has been very muted, if at all. It is the other segments that have grown. So that's going to be the trend, I think, going forward also.

Senthil Manikandan

analyst
#64

Sir, second question is with respect to the new EV policy, which the government has announced. So with new global OEMs were expected to put up CapEx in India, so how does our product portfolio will fit into this new passenger vehicles seen on the powertrain domain, sir?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#65

We won't have any effect whatsoever, whoever comes. In terms of the requirement of cable, they will remain the same, and we don't see any issues at all. At least the one that has been talked about are in the print, they are already our customers. So if they come here, they will also buy from here itself. So we don't see any issues in that. But we have to see how it really pans out as to who actually will come to put infrastructural thing. We haven't really seen -- beyond the policy statements, I've not really seen much anybody really committing money into putting greenfield projects yet. The existing ones are launching new ones, that is for sure and they'll continue to do so, I think.

Senthil Manikandan

analyst
#66

The last question is on the actuators.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#67

Sorry?

Senthil Manikandan

analyst
#68

Last question is with respect to the actuators. With the new passenger vehicles on the SUV side, so how is our product positioned to address this market?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#69

Yes, good point. As you know, we are supplying to global passenger vehicle or SUVs, multiple actuator solutions. We have not been in the Indian market because we didn't have that product range. When we first got into this relationship with the LDC and started working on it, we first thought of the opportunities in certain EV 2-wheeler segmenters, for example, lock actuators and seat actuators, et cetera, which is what we first grabbed in the last one year. And that's what has been now commercialized. We've also made the pitch to other Indian passenger vehicle manufacturers. We had certain road shows done in the last few months. For the first one month -- sorry, for first one year or 18 months of acquisition, we are more concerned about making sure operationally everything falls into place. But in the off late, we have been showcasing our actuators to our customers in the Indian passenger vehicles. I mean it's a process. So it will probably take some more time. A couple of them have shown interest. There are further discussions on. But as I said, the initial success have been with the 2-wheelers.

Senthil Manikandan

analyst
#70

Sir, just one bit on the hydraulic braking. So I think the cost rise in the last call, you've mentioned, I think it's quite lower than the current disc brakes, but efficiency-wise, it's better than the existing drum brakes. So all with the competitors or is it a particular innovation from our company?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#71

Yes, yes, yes. I think you're talking about MDBS, I think, mechanical disc braking system. That is an innovation by us. It's a patented product. So it's a product of Suprajit. That's what we are doing pitching as a one between a drum brake and a hydraulic braking system. And this gives -- I don't know want to mention the number, only customer have to say eventually, but it comes very, very close to the hydraulic braking systems, but at a much, much lower price. So that is what the USP of the product is, and that's what we are pitching in. And we hopefully will commercialize at least with one customer pretty soon.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#72

Sir, we have a few more questions. Like what development will lead to our Controls Division to operate from currently 5% to 6% margin to double-digit margin, if you can guide us?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#73

I think I have answered this already. The idea is to -- this year has been a year where we had certain exceptionally high costs added on to our SCD thing. One is, of course, relocation in China. Second one is an ongoing issue on the duties on some of the products that we import from China into Mexico and then supply to U.S., which is under appeal with us. We presume that, that would be in our favor. That will take another 3, 4 months' time. That will be an ongoing unexpected cost, which has been pretty significant. So the other important point is the issues relating to wage increase in Mexico. I think we have mentioned in some of our business updates as well, which has been pretty significant. It's not 5%, 10%. It's like 25%, 30% in the last 2 years and every year. So that has had its impact. And what's happening is that the newer business that we are winning is coming at a more reasonable margin, whereas the existing business, these costs cannot be passed on. So as the current existing business, typically, in an automotive business, it is a 5- to 7-year contract. As some of the older contracts drop down from the production and the newer contracts add on as we do it in the next couple of years, the margin profile will also increase. And we -- in addition to that, we are doing certain restructuring where we are relocating, manufacturing from high cost to places like India. And we're also looking at some consolidation of things like an injection molding facilities, et cetera, within the group. All those things will add some tailwinds into it, but it is a process. As I said, internationally, a single-digit margin in auto component business is decent, but our aim is to go to double digits, we are at 5%, 6%. I think over the next year or so, we are hoping to improve it further. But exact road map to go to a double digit, I'm not able to give today. Maybe by the time we do our entire budget exercise in the next couple of weeks, and then we are coming out with our annual results sometime in May, we will be able to give a clear guidance in terms of how the businesses are going to be panning out in each division and the time line. So I think that's probably the more ideal time to discuss this.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#74

Okay. So sir, we have to end this call in 5 minutes. So I will be taking 2 more questions. So like now what is our competitive advantage against other players to win business?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#75

In which business you're talking?

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#76

I think generally, yes, overall business?

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#77

Okay. I mean, again, it's a very generalized answer. I think in cable business, I can easily say probably Suprajit is as efficient as anybody else in the world. Today, our margin profile particularly in the domestic business is unsurpassed by probably anybody else in the world. So that means to say that with the scale that we have, we have been able to optimize not just the operations, but also things like our overall overhead expenses. We are also able to optimize our supplier base. We are able to buy more economically, cheaper because the volumes are significant. And I think the ability to service customers because we are also being close to customers in most places. It helps us in getting better understanding of customer requirements and help them better. So that's as far as that is concerned. And I think today, with our current footprint globally, what we are able to offer to the customer is an option, which they can choose themselves. Today, let's say, U.S. customer wants to have production made out of the U.S., we can give that option. If they want a shorter lead time but lower cost, they can come to our Mexican plant. But if they only were looking at Chinese price and compete with China, we can also compete with them in India with our manufacturing base. So what's happening here is that we are able to offer these multiple solutions to customers and they can be doing offshoring, they can do close-shoring, they can do in-shoring. These are kind of options we are able to offer in some of these regions. So that helps in making some of these decisions easier for customers to award us business. So that are some of the USPs that we have, I think. I mean there's a lot more, but I think considering the time I would stop there.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#78

Yes, sir. Sir, now we can end the call here, and thank you for giving us the time.

Kula Ajith Rai

executive
#79

Yes, no problem. Thank you very much for having me. I appreciate your continued interest in Suprajit. And if there's any more inquiries or interest, please connect with us either with our CFO or in my office. We'll be able to see what we can do in terms of responding to your queries. So thank you so much, and I appreciate Arihant and their team for hosting us for this call. Thank you so much.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#80

Thank you, sir, and thank you all the participants who joined us. Thank you.

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