ABB Deepens Karnataka Footprint with New Investments to Serve High-Growth Emerging Sectors

Greenfield Campuses and Advanced Production Facilities to Scale "Local-for-Local" Strategy in Bengaluru

BENGALURU — March 11, 2026 — ABB, a global technology leader in electrification and automation, has announced a major expansion of its manufacturing and R&D presence in Karnataka. Led by ABB Group CEO Morten Wierod, the company broke ground on a new integrated Motion facility in Peenya and officially inaugurated the Electrification and Automation Nelamangala Campus 2.

This latest move is part of a strategic $75 million investment planned for 2026, following a $35 million spend in 2025. The expansion reinforces Bengaluru's status as a critical global hub for ABB, bringing its total manufacturing workforce in the state to over 3,000 professionals.

Peenya Campus: A Hub for Energy Efficiency

The Motion business expansion in Peenya adds 6,100 sq m. of specialized manufacturing space. This facility is dedicated to producing high-efficiency hardware that directly supports India’s energy transition.

Key Production Focus in Peenya:

• Energy-Efficient Motors: Manufacturing of flameproof (Ex) designs, roller table variants, and large smoke ventilation models.

• Low-Voltage Drives & PLCs: Scaling production of programmable logic controllers and drives critical for industrial automation.

• Service & Training Center: A new digital-first hub offering remote diagnostics and life-cycle support for customers.

• Energy Impact: ABB’s installed base of motors and drives in India has already saved approximately 20 TWh of energy annually—nearly half of Delhi’s yearly electricity consumption.

  

Nelamangala Campus 2: Powering the Digital Economy

The new 16,470 sq m. multi-business hub on Kunigal Road is designed to serve high-growth sectors, with a massive emphasis on the booming data center market.

Strategic Highlights of Nelamangala:

• Data Center Infrastructure: Production of power management solutions will scale tenfold, supporting the 30% of Indian hyperscale data centers already powered by ABB.

• Export Hub: The excitation supply factory will produce systems for both domestic use and regional export, supporting resilient power grids.

• Industrial Blending: A dedicated facility for the paint and lube industries, featuring an assembly line for pigging line valves and automation staging cabinets.

• Make in India: Integration of gas analyzer systems and high-power rectifiers for the chemical and metals sectors.

Long-Term Commitment to India

This expansion is a cornerstone of ABB’s "local-for-local" strategy, ensuring that advanced technologies are developed and manufactured close to the end-user.

“This expansion reflects ABB’s long-term commitment to India. By strengthening our manufacturing and technology capabilities in Karnataka, we are bringing advanced ABB technologies closer to customers, enabling industries to improve energy efficiency and support India’s infrastructure growth.” — Sanjeev Sharma, Country Head and Managing Director, ABB India.

FAQ.

What is ABB’s "local-for-local" strategy?

This strategy focuses on manufacturing products in the same region where they are sold. By expanding in Karnataka, ABB reduces supply chain lead times, lowers logistics emissions, and tailors its engineering to the specific requirements of the Indian industrial landscape.

Why is the Nelamangala expansion significant for data centers?

India is currently seeing a massive surge in hyperscale data center construction. These facilities require specialized, ultra-reliable power management and medium-voltage systems. By scaling production tenfold at Nelamangala, ABB ensures it can meet the urgent hardware demands of global cloud providers and local enterprises.

How many jobs is this investment creating?

The 2026 investment is expected to create over 300 new skilled jobs in engineering, research and development, and advanced manufacturing operations. This builds on an existing workforce of 3,000 people in the state.