Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited, the 23rd international subsidiary of Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG, has been founded. The certificate of incorporation was already notarised in February 2025, but the official opening took place when Managing Director Ramachandra Puttanna started his work on April 1st.
The graduate mechanical engineer and qualified business manager can look back on an impressive career in the automotive industry. The 56-year-old has more than 35 years of experience in the industry, gained at renowned companies such as Fenner India, Bosch India, Oman Trading, Magneti Marelli and the ZF Group. Most recently, Ramachandra worked at mobility provider Greaves Retail, where he was responsible for the strategic expansion of product solutions for electric vehicles.
“I am very much looking forward to supporting the international growth of the bilstein group and contributing my experience to enthuse the Indian market about the group’s products and services. However, the aim is not only to work more closely with existing customers, but also to persuade others that the bilstein group is a reliable and, above all, long-term partner,” says Ramachandra, summarising his role.
For Karsten Schüssler-Bilstein, Group Managing Director of the bilstein group, the Indian subsidiary is more than just a strategic addition: “The expansion into India is of great importance to us. We see the Indian market as a subcontinent with a diverse vehicle fleet and rapid development in the automotive aftermarket business. We want to actively accompany and support this dynamic growth. In addition, the expansion of our presence in India underlines the increasing importance of the bilstein group as a global player.
We also achieved growth of more than 10 per cent in 2024. We are continuously investing in the international expansion of our sales and logistics network. Last year, we received 24 awards from international trade cooperations and industry associations. We would like to build on this success. In Ramachandra Puttanna, we have gained a very experienced and committed manager. I am confident that he will help us make great progress in India.”
Ferdinand Bilstein combines the well-known product brands febi, SWAG and Blue Print under the bilstein group umbrella. Together, the bilstein group offers more than 80,000 different technical replacement parts for professional vehicle repairs. The internationally operating group of companies supplies its products to over 170 countries.
