PUNE: The boom in the Indian auto sector and growth in manufacturing is encouraging global companies to set up a direct presence in India. Dassault Systemes, 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions company has entered India.

Dassault has teamed up with Pune-based DesignTech Systems to bring its PLM solutions to the application and services market in India.

“IBM has been Dassault’s global distributor of products. However, IBM will now focus on key strategic customers for Dassault in India. Other customers will be serviced through either DesignTech or the existing business partners of IBM who will now be transitioned to Dassault,” Suman Bose, country director –India, Dassault Systemes PLM Sales said.

“Dassault is involved with the design and execution element of the one-lakh car coming from Tata Motors. Tata Motors represents a global opportunity for Dassault and it is an extremely important relationship for the company. Decisions are being taken at the board level,” he said.

“Honda, Ashok Leyland and Mahindra & Mahindra are important customers for the company and we will leverage the company’s existing relationships with the global players who are setting base in India,” Bose said.

Volkswagen, Renault, Nissan and General Motors have announced plans of setting up base in India. “DesignTech will resell Dassault brands of Catia, Enovia, Delmia and Simulia. DesignTech has deep understanding of the local market in India and will act as a catalyst in bringing more value,” Bose said.

Vikas Khanvelkar, MD, DesignTech, said that his company had around 140 engineers working in R&D at Pune and Hyderabad.

DesignTech has around 1,500 customers in the automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial machinery, jewellery design and manufacturing and has a strong presence in the SMB segment, he said.

Dassault has over 800 customers in India across sectors in automotive, aerospace and defense. Bose said that IBM would continue to service around 20 key customers in India including Mahindra & Mahindra, Honda and Ashok Leyland. Apart from the subsidiary in Delhi, Dassault is setting up offices in Pune, Bangalore and Chennai to get closer to the customer. There are plans to set up incubation centres with partners to encourage IP creation and global service delivery centres.