New Delhi, Delhi, India, April 2025 – Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited has officially been established, marking the 23rd international subsidiary of Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG. In conjunction with the opening, the company has announced the appointment of Ramachandra Puttanna as Managing Director to lead its operations in India.
With over 35 years of experience in the automotive and aftermarket sector, Ramachandra brings deep industry knowledge and operational excellence to this newly created leadership role. His previous stints include senior leadership roles at Greaves Retail, ZF Group, WABCO, Magneti Marelli, Bosch India, and JK Fenner, demonstrating a robust track record in aftermarket operations, fleet solutions, and business development across India and the SAARC region.
“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,” said Ramachandra Puttanna.
Prior to joining Ferdinand Bilstein India, Ramachandra served as Business Head – EV Solutions & New Businesses at Greaves Retail, where he led strategic business initiatives across electric vehicle solutions, aftermarket services, and component integration. Before that, he was Vice President – Aftermarket & Fleet Solutions at ZF Group, and held similar leadership roles at WABCO and Magneti Marelli, successfully establishing market presence and profitability for various automotive brands and services.
“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. 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,” stated Karsten Schüssler-Bilstein, Group Managing Director of Ferdinand Bilstein.
Ramachandra’s appointment is part of Ferdinand Bilstein’s broader commitment to creating customer-centric, high-quality aftermarket solutions in India. Under his leadership, the Indian arm of the group will promote globally recognized brands such as febi, SWAG, and Blue Print, bringing OE-quality repair solutions to one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets.
About Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited
Ferdinand Bilstein India Private Limited is the newly launched Indian subsidiary of Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG, a leading German automotive parts manufacturer and distributor. The Indian entity will cater to the automotive aftermarket with a wide portfolio of over 75,000 OE-matching quality parts under brands like febi, SWAG, and Blue Print. This launch strengthens the bilstein group’s presence across Asia and reflects its long-term vision to serve local markets with high-quality, precise-fit components.
About Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG
Ferdinand Bilstein is a family-owned company based in Germany, known for its robust product offering and logistics capabilities. The company employs over 2,700 people globally, operates 23 international subsidiaries, and maintains three major logistics centers to ensure wide availability and fast delivery. With four strong brands – febi, SWAG, Blue Print, and Motair – the bilstein group is committed to delivering excellence in the automotive aftermarket and preparing for the future of mobility with solutions for combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles.
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