While last year was a difficult period, but his biggest professional challenge was during the 2008-2009 recession. "But it showed me how to manage business in tough conditions and taught me that business models need to keep evolving with times," he says.

Accordingly, he used to lean period to streamline the operations and diversify into new areas (off highway vehicles) with the aim of de-risking the business. Of course, with the challenging times behind the back, Kapur is hopeful for a good positive growth in the times to come.

He wants the Indian auto components industry to become the global sourcing platform for the auto industry worldwide. "We should become like a sophisticated engineering app store for the global automotive OEMs, including those in India," he says. And the Sona Group is already working towards making this happen. This is the reason why Kapur has been emphasising on having robust in-house design capabilities.

Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd is the largest manufacturer of steering systems and driveline components for the passenger car market having over 50 percent market share in India. Kapur is focussed on consolidating the position in this product segment but is also open to diversify in the safety category. While there are no plans in the immediate future, he also doesn't rule out any acquisitions going ahead. "If the right opportunity exists then we will definitely go for it," he says.

Today the Sona Group has 16 manufacturing plants in India, three in Germany, one in the US, as well as manufacturing interests in France, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. A key reason for the Group's success has been its ability to leverage on technological partnerships at global level and Kapur is confident of taking this factor to the higher level as he readies for the next stage of growth.
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