Indian auto company Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has acquired near total ownership of Britain's largest automotive forging supplier, Stokes Forgings Group Ltd., for an undisclosed purchase price.
The group has three manufacturing units in Walsall and Dudley, near Birmingham, and in 2004 had a combined sales of 25 million British pounds (US$43.6 million), according to Mahindra officials. Stokes forges a wide range of metal parts for powertrains and suspensions.
Mahindra acquired 98.6% ownership of Stokes as part of the company’s plan to offer "a full range of services from design to delivery covering engineering services (and) strategic sourcing of components" to automotive manufacturers
Mahindra is one of India's largest automotive companies and makes trucks, tractors, and sport utility vehicles. It employs about 12,000 people.